Hey friends; some years ago I was having some private time in the book of Hebrews, Chapter 11 when God began to speak to me about catching a vision for my life. In that Chapter (affectionately called the "Hall of Fame of Faith") the Scriptures set forth a number of God's people who, by faith, caught God's vision for their lives. The Scriptures teach that these people fit a pattern laid out in the text. The key verse states that the people of God mentioned died in faith without fully receiving all of the promises, but (1) having seen them afar off (2) they were assured or persuaded of them (3)they embraced them and (4) they confessed that God had given them a new agenda in life. This is a paraphrase of Hebrews 11:13.I believe that this pattern is still operative today. It is a blueprint for how God's people may begin to see God's vision for their lives. In other words, if we are to know God's will for our lives, we must begin to (1) see God's vision (2) become assured or persuaded by the vision (3) embrace the vision and (4) confess it with our words and our actions. If we are willing to go through this process with God, I believe that He will reveal Himself in powerful ways. So how do we get started?
You must begin to see the vision. Well, that sounds easy, but everyone knows it is not. How do we practically begin to see God's vision for our lives? I suggest that we can do a few things. First, we must understand that God speaks over time. Hebrews 1:1-2 says that God has been speaking over time and in various ways through His prophets, but now He is speaking through His Son. God has always been involved in the lives of His people, but He rarely reveals His complete will for a people or an individual all at once. Most people who lived out God's calling in Scripture and in real life did so over time. It is a process, so don't knock yourself if you feel like you're missing the will of God. He will reveal His will to you over time.
However, the most significant part of God's will for your life is that you be rightly related to Him. Hebrews 1:1:3 says that Jesus, the express image of God, died for the sins of mankind and purged those sins from anyone who would believe Him and receive His forgiveness. Having completed the work of redemption, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. Thus, in order to be rightly related to the Father, we must receive forgiveness for our sins from the Son.
Once you receive that forgiveness, which is a free gift for the asking, you must begin to seek Him for your assignment. I suggest that you begin to seek Him in prayer and fasting. Here are some ideas for ways in which to seek Him. When you pray, be honest with God about all your feelings and concerns. Psalm 62:8 says we are to pour out our souls to the Lord. Pray also constantly (the Scriptures tell us to pray without ceasing); pray confidently (believe that you will hear from God when you pray and if you don't believe admit it and ask Him to help you to believe); pray with someone or a small group (there is power in group prayer) and pray with intensity (add fasting to your prayers).
Finally, be watchful. Once you have sought the Lord in all the ways mentioned above, be mindful of what is going on around you. Did anything change? Did God open (or close) any doors? Did you experience an inner heart change? What have your loved ones, spouse or others been saying to you? What is going on in your life and in your church? All of these things will come together to begin to paint a picture of God's vision for your life. Like the people of the Scriptures, you will begin to see God's vision "afar off" and it will begin to draw near to you as you draw near to God.
Friends, there is no microwave version of this process. It involves realizing that the vision emerges over time; it starts by being rightly related to God; comes alive when we begin to seek Him in prayer and fasting and will appear when we are watchful and expectant. I challenge you to take these steps in your spiritual life and watch God show up with great power and blessing!
Tune in next week for Part II - You Must be Persuaded by the Vision! Until then, God bless you and keep you as you seek His vision for your life!
Image by areavoices.com
No comments:
Post a Comment