I would like to share with you a subject that the Lord has teaching me about. It is a very important aspect of our lives and ministry, yet it remains a very overlooked area. We have probably all talked about it at one time or another, but I wonder how often we keep it before us?

The subject that I am talking about is "Vision."

We all have needs in our lives that we perceive to be important for us to get to the next level; however, God is not motivated by need. Just because we have a need does not guarantee that we will get the answer.

God is motivated or moved by faith and His Word, not need. Faith is an interesting subject and can be expounded on in several different ways, but there is one aspect of faith that we must understand, which is that faith works with an image.

Your Mind's Eye
To activate our faith, we must see ourselves having an answer even though it is not yet manifested. It will be very difficult for you to receive your healing if you picture yourself sick.

Proverbs 23:7 tells us, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." That image inside of you is key to your outcome.

The most common problem with us Christians is that everything we do in life and ministry is geared around the current activity, situation, or problem with no consideration given to the big picture.

Let me use an example that we can all relate to. What is the most common battle cry in working Americans? Have you ever heard the terminology, "TGIF"?

Most Americans grunge through a week of doing something that they don't want to do (67 percent of workers dislike their jobs) to get to the weekend to get a little satisfaction in their lives. For most, their whole motivation for doing anything is the weekend or maybe vacation time that is coming up in a few weeks.

Is it any wonder that 10 years later there is no real positive change in their circumstances and their main motivation is still the weekend? However, if you were to attend the high school graduation ceremonies of the 67 percent of workers, you would experience a "Who's Who" in people who were going to change the world.

We all leave high school with high hopes and great ambitions, but so many of us surrender our vision to circumstances somewhere along the way. How long have you been a Christian? Is your drive to accomplish as high as it was when you were saved?

Vision is actually a very simple concept. If you will study men of vision like Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Bill Gates, you will understand that vision simply means "sight" - very clear sight.

However, this "sight" has nothing to do with your eyeballs. It means being able to have a clear picture of your destination (vision) and how you plan to achieve it.

Guard Against Isolation
What keeps us from keeping our vision strong? One of the greatest dangers of the local church and Christians is isolation.

Proverbs 27:17 tells us, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." This is why it is so important to be connected to the Body. Too many times we get our "buddies" that we hang around with and we continually discuss our problems and difficulties, which reinforces mediocrity.

We need to get around people who are strong in vision. We need to associate ourselves with those who are willing to take a step of faith that we would never be comfortable taking. Don't spend all your time with those who think the same way you do. Don't spend a lot of time with those who are comfortable with the way things are.

We should have a vision for every aspect of our lives. The Lord has recently brought me back to the beginning. I am in the process of writing down where it is that I am going and I am holding myself accountable to make decisions that will get me there.

Don't allow yourself to operate your life and ministry on a day-to-day basis because you will be at the same level next year that you are at right now. Don't allow others to steal your vision.

My dad likes to tell the story of the "new" car salesman that was selling convertibles in the winter snow. He was selling one to two of these convertibles a day while all of the "experienced" salesmen were in the office drinking coffee.

As they watched him out in the snow talking to another customer, one of them made the following comment, "As soon as he finds out that you can't sell convertibles in the winter, he'll be in here with us!"

Vision is a dynamic biblical principle that will change your destiny and allow you to accomplish all that you want to be. Stay focused, and always know where you are going.

Copyright © Fellowship of Hope
All rights reserved. Used by permission.