I don’t know of an athlete that hasn’t dreamed of winning the Super Bowl, hitting the game-winning home run, scoring the last second shot at the buzzer, or touching the pad milliseconds before others to win gold at the Olympics.

We dream, think about, and imagine ourselves standing on the podium accepting our reward for all to see us as champions!

But have you ever wondered or imagined what the future holds for you and your faith in Christ?

Have you ever dreamed about raising your hands in worship with millions of people surrounding the throne of Jesus?

Have you ever imagined what the streets of gold actually look like?

Our imaginations are powerful instruments that God uses to produce imagery to spur us on, to insight excitement, to keep moving forward when things and life get tough.

I remember early in my basketball career visualizing myself guarding the best player on the other team; stealing the ball and going in the opposite direction for two points. I remember imagining myself taking the last minute shot for the win and my teammates crowding around me as we celebrated!

I remember dreaming of the “crack” I would hear when the ball jumped off my bat to hit the homerun. I imagined it all!

John writes in Revelation 7:9-11: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.”

Imagine the future of your faith in Christ and what that means for you today! The future is full of people; tribes, nations and languages that represent a cornucopia of humanity.

Athlete, what does your future look like? What does your faith in Christ dream about for your future? What does your heart call out for that is still not yet seen or experienced that is imagined in His Word?

This week’s devotionals walk you through the SHIFT framework, assisting athletes through successful transition in sport and life. You can hear stories and learn more about SHIFT on The SHIFT Podcast on iTunes and Spotify as well as online at theshiftcourse.com.