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A New
Year: What is your vision?
Where there is no
vision, the people perish. Proverbs: 29:18
A New Year. A time for new beginnings. This is a
time where people make new goals for the New Year. The problem
is that many people do not even know which direction in which
their feet take them. Many wonder day after day without having
any purpose. What is God's vision for your life? What is your
purpose? Everyone has a unique calling and purpose. 2 Thes 1:11
says " With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our
God may count you worthy of His calling, and that
by His power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours
and every act prompted by your faith."
There are a couple reasons that people don't
walk in that calling and vision that God has for them. One
problem that people have is that they would rather try walking
in someone else's vision. God made individually and uniquely. If
we read in 1 Cor 12:12-31 we will find that we are part of the
body of Christ. We are all equally important and valuable in the
eyes of God and needed for the Church. We are unable to be one
part of the body does not make our purpose and calling less
valuable.
Another problem we face is that we rely on our
own strength. John 15:5 states that we can do nothing without
Christ. That means as much as you accomplish without Christ
being in the center, it is called nothing. That means everything
that anyone does, no matter how great or small, is nothing if
they are not living with Christ daily in all their activities.
Think how much more significant God plan is for your life then
popular icons in American society. Who are you trying to please?
Man or God? I guarantee you living for God will have much more
of a reward overall. Once again in 2 Thes 1:11 says it’s by His
power and Phil 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ who
strengthens us.
The last main problem is that we don't know how
to obtain the vision. That or we run with a wrong vision either
deceived by ourselves or by the enemy. How does one obtain a
vision and find out the purpose that God has for them? For each
I would think it’s different. Although God is not a respecter of
persons, He does have individual ways of speaking to us. But I
think there are some Biblical concepts to help us out and some
laws set in motion by God that hold true to all of us.
1. Why don't you ask? Jesus says in Matt 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock
and the door will be opened to you." Also in Jer 33:3 'Call to
me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable
things you do not know.' God is not one to go against His word.
Communication with God is valuable not only for deepening our
relationship with the Living God but also finding out what He
wants for our lives.
2. Don't rely on yourself. Isaiah 55:8-9 states,
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than
your thoughts." Yes God does make us individually and we make
plans for our lives. But those plans should be able to be
changed as God directs the steps (Proverbs 16:9, 20:24). Keep in
mind that God's thoughts are much higher then ours and that all
things work for the good of those who love Him who have been
called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). SO when He
directs our steps its always for the better good. The Bible is
true even if it doesn't seem like it at a time in our life. We
don't see the entire picture as God does. As we draw close to
Him and delight ourselves in Him, our desires become more
refined in His will and He eventually will give us the desires
of our heart.
3. Stay in the Word of God. God still
communicates with us in many different ways but its still has to
hold true to what the Bible says. God cannot go against Himself
and what He has spoken. God word illuminates our path (Psalms
119:105) and we should love it and meditate it (Psalms 119:97).
If you don't read your Bible everyday, you are missing out on
God's promises that He wants to give you.
Now
these are some basics and I pray that they will help you in
setting some visions and charting your life in the direction God
wants you to go. All this will only work if you have made Jesus,
Lord of your life. You see left to ourselves we would mess it
up. That's why you need to give control over to Jesus. If you
haven't made Him Lord, please click on
Salvation.
Now if you are a Christian and you need prayer on this subject I
would love to have the opportunity to pray for you. Please email
me. If you would like some ideas for a Bible reading program
please email me also and I will point out some things that have
worked for me. May the Lord Bless you richly.
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