One evening as I’m hanging out with Jesus he takes me somewhere new.
We come to a door off the stairs and I open it and step inside. It’s a large (but not huge) room full of babies—some in cribs and some playing on the floor—from newborn-sized to toddler.
We are welcomed with smiles from the angels taking care of them but they don’t speak to us, they’re too busy.
Me – What are these babies doing here?
Jesus – They’re ministries, dreams that belong to people. A dream is a living thing – it grows and develops and has a personality all its own. It’s precious and beautiful.
Me – (Thinking to myself, “But who will love them, parent them…”)
Jesus – Oh, they’re loved! They’re well taken care of here. We keep them until their parent makes a place for them, until their parent is ready.
Me – But what if they never get ready? They never pursue their dreams?
Jesus – We keep them. They’re happy and loved. But we wish more people took theirs, we want all babies to go home but many don’t. Each baby is uniquely created for their parent, to fit who that person is created to be. You can’t just put a baby with anyone – you can’t adopt one, it doesn’t work that way. Not with dreams – they’re specifically created to match their parent’s soul and spirit.
Me – I can’t tell by looking what the dream is. What about older dreams – do they grow up?
Jesus – Yes, as they get older they, if their parent never pursues their dream, can help someone else with their baby. They join with a similar dream and give it more life and maturity, enhance it…
Me – What happens when someone picks up their dream?
Jesus – They come and are handed over their baby to take with them.
Sitting at Panera with my friend Jan C she was telling me about all the work involved in creating YouTube videos – the set-up, the expense, and the scripts. She wants to help women build habits and a healthy lifestyle. “But that’s such a big topic,” I say. “I still don’t understand where you’re coming from. What is specific to you about this?”
She lights up like a match to a newspaper. “I saw my coworkers struggling. They were young but having health and weight issues! And I saw … I want to help them!” For the first time I truly understand her heart for doing this.
We all have spiritual babies, or destinies, that God placed within us at our creation. There are times when one baby (or passion) grows up and moves on and we’re given a new or different baby. It can be hard to recognize our baby but we can ask God to show it to us, and how he wants us to birth it and raise it.
For example, my baby has always been my passion to grow deeper in my relationship with Jesus and then tell others what is possible. In the physical that manifests as a writer and teacher. Yet even when I’m not physically writing and teaching, it’s still my baby.
Our babies aren’t the physical manifestation, that’s our ministry. Our baby is our identity, who we are in Jesus, what passion he has instilled in us as our part of the body.
Our spiritual babies of destiny aren’t physical actions. Jan C’s ministry is creating videos but her baby is her passion to help other women live healthier lives. Janie’s baby may be worship but it isn’t necessarily being a worship leader. It’s a spiritual part of our identity in Jesus. Marilyn’s baby might be her heart for the nations, her calling and passion to intercede for the martyrs. Though our baby may manifest physically, for example, I write books and I’ve taught, but it doesn’t mean that when I’m not physically doing that it doesn’t exist or that I’m not carrying my baby. Once we acknowledge our baby, it is within us at all times, it’s who we are in the Spirit, in Jesus.
The longer we’ve pursued our relationship with Jesus the more we’re changed without even realizing it. That’s how spiritual babies are birthed in us. A part of who we are comes alive, yet we might not realize that’s our baby. It was years before I identified myself as a writer. I believe our baby is born the day we realize we can’t separate this aspect of us from our identity. I can’t not be a writer.
What burns in you? What brings you alive? When you’re talking to someone what gets you passionate? When I’m talking about my baby I get excited and begin talking louder. I’ve actually been shushed in restaurants (so I’m trying to be more aware and stop embarrassing myself). If you don’t know what your baby is then pursue Jesus. The more you fall in love with him the more you’ll realize where your heart is.
Your baby is waiting!
