By Pastor Victor Folorunso
Prov. 29:18a:
NIV - Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. NLT - When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.
KJV - Without vision, the people perish.
MSG - if people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves.
The psalmist says: ‘You spoke in a vision, to your faithful people, you said… “I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him”’ (Psalm 89:19-21 NIV).
Vision comes from God. Great vision always precedes great achievement. And God is the giver of great visions, so ask Him for one. Vision gives birth to the goal; it sparks and fuels the fire within, and moves you forward in spite of the odds and obstacles.
The word vision has lots of meanings. Physical sight aside we can connect vision with messages from God, as in Acts 2:17, where we are told ‘your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams’(NIV).
We also come across the idea of vision when we think of plans for the future. We often think of our long-term goals in that way, calling them visions for our lives, or careers, or families. Both types of vision are important, and both are from God.
Since vision comes from God you must understand He knows what you are capable of and what He has gifted you to do. If, after seeking God for a vision, you still don’t have one, don’t give up.
Vision meets other people’s needs. A God-given vision goes far beyond God thinking only about you and is also often more than what one person can accomplish. It includes and blesses others. It is about fulfilling God’s purpose as it relates to others and the world in which you live.
Vision always attracts resources. Like a magnet, it draws, pulls, challenges, and unites people. It also draws finances and other resources. The greater your vision, the more faith-filled people it will attract.
In Jeremiah 29:11, God says ‘“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”’ (NIV). If we truly want to step into the life that God has ready for us, we will need to dig deep into what He wants to say to us, and what His plan is for our future.
In order to live like this, we have to put everything that we have into our relationship with God. James 4:8 says, ‘draw near to God and He will draw near to you’ (NKJV). It is only when we are close to Him that our hearts and minds become clear enough for us to receive any kind of vision from Him.
Let us commit ourselves therefore, to welcoming the Holy Spirit into our minds, pressing as close to our Father as we can, so that we may ‘see visions’ and ‘dream dreams’ for our lives.
I invite your comments and further discussion on the above.
May the Lord give you a vision, insight into His plans for your life this month in Jesus’ name.
Thank you pastor. If we only knew the end from the beginning, we will not be fazed by whatever we encounter on our journey. Vision does this for us. If we know God’s plans for us, our life and our future, we can be certain that irrespective of what battles we are faced with, or what struggles we have to deal with, God is there with us.
It is sure that His words will come to pass in our lives. He never lies. Moreover, if everything we do is “ALL ABOUT JESUS”, then Jesus is invested in our lives and whatever He has committed in our hands and He will bring it/them to fruition. Hallelujah.
May God open our eyes to see his plans for us.