I often teach about vision. One of the reasons it is a favorite subject of mine is because there are so many misconceptions about it. I really celebrate when someone captures an understanding that sets him free from his current frustration and launches him into journey toward purpose and destiny. The concept of such a journey, from a macro perspective is vast. However, every journey is completed in increments - particularly, the journey of life. As long as an individual pursues God, He will take that individual through a series of experiences, the sum of which becomes the path of their life.
While the reality of this process is real, the pain and aggravation it sometimes produces is equally real. I have found that most of this pain and aggravation is generally birthed from a lack of understanding. That is why God has made it clear in His word that certain things are vital to our spiritual, emotional and natural life.
Vision is one of those vital aspects. Proverbs 29:18 states:
"Where there is no vision (or revelation) the people perish (or cast of restraint)."
It is widely taught that vision is a picture of your desired future. This is true, but is only a part of the picture. Vision is seeing yourself from God's perspective. It is who you are as God designed you - alpha and omega, beginning to end. If you limit vision to just what is in front of you, you never fully recognize your complete path of life. Your "ups" become successes. Your "downs" become failures. Effective business people are wise enough to see their productivity over the duration of time. They look at a chart that records many ups and downs. They spot moments where failure is evident or success is ensured. They recognize that not every down turn or trial is a failure - it is merely a trend. They look at the overall vision of their company. They evaluate the long term path it has taken. They ask the crucial questions to make corrections to fulfill the purpose they have established for their company. Vision must include the entire picture.
The picture of the desired future is really a dream or a goal. It is the part that God naturally
created in man to give him an objective to achieve. There are many people
with a picture of their desired future who perish because
they have little desire to face their life NOW! They have a desire to "make it BIG" but will
not embrace the discipline to make the immediate changes that will ensure their success
They have a dream but no vision!
A dream is only as powerful as its pursuer. A person can declare that dream all day long. If he is unwilling to pursue that dream, it will evade him forever. It will become a hope that is "put off" or, perhaps completely lost. In the end it is destructive because "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." (Proverbs 13:12) That verse also goes on to state "…but when desire comes, it is a tree of life."
God gives you a dream to motivate you toward the future he designed for you. But, you must pursue the dream. In a recent interview on a major news network, Millionaire Maker, Laura Langemeier shared a "secret of success". To succeed, you must think success. She went on to explain that most people interpret this to mean "take some time to think about it. If you think about it, it will happen." Some people sit around their entire lives "thinking about" their dream.
To think success does not mean daydream
about your future.
To think success means to pursue your dream. You must develop the practice of thinking about the success of that dream as it pertains to your immediate life. When you are about to make a purchase, whether it is a car or a candy bar, you must think of the effect that action will have on the outcome of your dream. The more you develop this thought process, the more likely your dream will become a reality. True thought produces action. A dream fulfilled is a dream pursued.
I encourage you to day to ask God to give you a clear vision of your life. Be willing to evaluate it. Ask the painful questions. Chart your high and low points and determine what they have taught you. Take a fresh look at your desired future. Establish goals that will bring that future into reach. Make a decision. Pursue your dream!
