Over the past few years I have adopted the tradition of asking the Lord for a word for my year. One year, my word was “quiet.” The Lord called me to greater stillness that year, to slowing down and spending more time in silence with Him. My word for 2017 has been “sing.” As a vocal artist, my first impressions of this word were many, but the Lord continues to reveal a depth of ways He calls me to song—in my vocations as wife, mother, and artist, in my prayer life. He meant literally, too; my musical gifts were renewed and shared in a special way this year. His plans when He first spoke this word to me were many and good, and far beyond what I imagined when He placed it upon my heart.

God’s dreams for us are always better than our own, sisters. His original plan for Adam and Eve was more beautiful than we can begin to conceive.

Today, on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate the dreams God had for our Blessed Mother. Even before He formed Mary in her mother’s womb, the Lord had plans for her. He had already chosen her to be the vessel from which Christ would be born for us.

What dreams did God have for you before He created you? Have you taken time to dream with Him lately? I have no doubt He has plans for you, sister—plans He dreamed up for you, personally.

Now, if you’re anything like Eve, or even Mary, there may be some fear involved as you approach the Lord in prayer about this. Fear tries to stop us from dreaming big with the Lord, from boldly following Him where He calls us. "Do not be afraid." (Luke 1:30) Or, perhaps the dreams He has for you seem too big, unrealistic, outrageous even. "Nothing will be impossible for God." (Luke 1:37)

Find some time to spend in prayer. Close your eyes, invite the Spirit to move, and come expectantly before our Father. Humbly ask Him what His dreams are for you. Ask Him, too, to grace you with a wide-open heart, that you might hear His voice and whatever it is He asks of you.

[bctt tweet="What dreams did God have for you when He created you? // @inendlesssong"]

Momma Mary, pray for us today, that we too might say yes to God’s wildly beautiful dreams for our lives.

Elise Howe is a devoted wife, momma, vocal artist and teacher. She currently resides in New York City, though she will always be a Midwestern gal at heart. Elise has a heart for ministry, dark chocolate (but not too dark) and coffee with a generous amount of cream + sugar. Find out more about her here.