Weekly Wisdom - VISION

Vision: the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom.

How many times have you been asked, where to you see yourself in five or ten years? This propels many of us into the mindset of what we would like to accomplish, position we would like to be in, and the amount of money we would like to be making. I wonder what our answers would be if we challenged ourselves to think about that question more internally than externally. That internal would focus on where we would like our hearts to be and what our values are. It would also include the types of relationships we would like to have.

God’s vision for us has always been a desire for pure hearts as well as authentic and healthy relationships. The greatest commandment states that we should love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is emphasized in Luke 10:25-28. Having this perspective will completely shift our desires and it becomes less about us and more about pleasing God and serving others.

Please allow me a caveat by stating that there is nothing wrong with wanting to have nice things and experience life to the fullest but not at the expense of being selfish and to accumulate more and more to keep for yourself. We are blessed abundantly so that we can give abundantly.

Now to your vision specifically. What would be the vision for your life over the next few years if you considered the type of relationships you would like to have with your wife, children, extended family, and other brothers. The vision for your calling in your profession. This vision for what your heart longs most for and how do you give out of this desire. Most importantly, what’s the vision for your commitment and connection with God, Christ, and The Holy Spirit? As you ponder these questions, meditate on these scriptures:

• Proverbs 16:1- The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is

from the Lord.

• Proverbs 16:3-Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

• Proverbs 16:9-The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

• Proverbs 19:21- Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of

the Lord that will stand.

There is a guarantee and a promise that your life will be more fulfilling when your vision is concentrated on the internal instead of the external. Also, the external will come when the focus is primarily on the internal. The internal will guide you into all truth whereas the external will lead to a false sense of security and fulfilment.

Lastly, I love vision as it allows you to dream about your unlimited possibilities in life and the impact that it will have on those you love and serve. Keep visioning your life!

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Exercise Your Power this week

1. Write a 2-3 sentence statement on the vision for your life.

2. Meditate on the Proverbs Scriptures above.

3. Identify the external desires that may hinder your true fulfillment in life.