Devotion is not about giving up on our dreams—it is about giving our dreams to God and taking up the dreams He gives us.

Some of us may hesitate in our relationship with God due to a misunderstanding about devotion and surrender. We might think that devotion requires giving up all our dreams, seeing them as manifestations of a mentality that distances us from God. While it is true that some of our desires can distract us from Him and need to be given up, this does not mean that all dreams and desires are inherently bad.

Desires and dreams arise naturally from consciousness, a gift from God. Dreams, formed through imagination and intelligence, envision an inspiring future. These, too, are ultimately divine gifts and, if directed rightly, can help us grow closer to God.

How dreams can bring us closer to God

Dreams can serve this purpose in two key ways:

  1. Offering our dreams to God

Instead of simply renouncing our dreams, we can prayerfully offer them to God. This means presenting to Him our vision of how we can fulfill the potential He has given us and make meaningful contributions in service to the world He has created. Such prayerful offerings strengthen our bond with Him, just as sharing our deepest aspirations with someone fosters a sense of closeness.

  1. Accepting the dreams God gives us

After offering our dreams to God, we can cultivate openness and receptivity through devotional practices and prayer. God may affirm, refine, or even replace our dreams. The dreams He gives us may come through sacred texts, the words of spiritual guides, or convictions arising within our hearts.

The Bhagavad Gita (10.10) highlights this reciprocity, stating that God guides those who serve Him with affection, showing them paths that bring them closer to Him. Whether or not our dreams come directly from God or are immediately fulfilled is less important than the direction they take us. If our dreams bring us closer to Him and are pursued with devotion, our hearts will find increasing fulfillment.

Summary:

  • Devotion does not demand abandoning all dreams—only those that distract us from God. Consciousness, with its capacity to desire and dream, is a gift from Him.
  • We can offer our dreams to God, presenting our aspirations and visions prayerfully as a way of aligning them with His purpose.
  • We can accept the dreams God gives us, cultivating openness to His guidance through sacred texts, spiritual mentors, or inner convictions. Pursuing these dreams in a mood of service draws us closer to Him and fills our hearts with fulfillment.

Think it over:

  • Why is the idea that devotion requires giving up on all dreams misleading?
  • What dream would you like to offer to God as a prayerful submission?
  • How can you open your heart to receive and follow the dream God wants to give you?

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10.10 To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.