You can't have a vision without faith and faith is seeing what is not visible, before you can physically see it. It takes time for a vision to come to fruition; it is a continual process, with God working to do what He needs to do for that vision to take form. Your vision may be to discover a cure for a certain disease, or it could be for education; to establish a school in a foreign country for underprivileged children. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a vision for freedom, that all mankind be treated equally and without violence to obtain that freedom. Your vision may be on a smaller scale, such as being the first one in your family to graduate from high school or college. A vision can be seeing yourself breaking a bad habit. We usually see a vision as something great big, like "washing an elephant". Not all visions are like that. It may be overcoming the fear of modern technology and learning the computer or your smart phone. You may have a vision of how to spend your retirement years, traveling the world, seeing new things and places. To have a vision, one must be committed to hang in there and do whatever it takes to carry out that vision to the end. The vision actually becomes our mission and we have to set goals and timetables and even guidelines as we take the steps to reach the completion of that vision. Sometimes we set goals that are too far to reach and we become discouraged and want to quit. Set obtainable, sensible goals that we know we can reach if we work at it and keep trying. The Word of God says that without a vision the people perish. We should all have a vision, something to look forward to that is better than what we have now, better than where we are now; that will make us better than who we are now; and that will be a blessing in other people's lives. Each goal we reach puts us closer to seeing the manifestation of our vision, but we must activate our faith and trust God that it will happen. He gives us help along the way; people and connections we need to progress; resources, information: He opens closed doors for us to be able to carry out the vision. God doesn't leave us hanging out on our own; He says if we call on Him He will show us great the mighty things that we can't imagine. Jesus had a vision, and look what He went through in this life; the trials, tribulations, rejection, and in the end, dying on the cross for the sin of mankind. He did it because He knew He would see the completion of His vision, you and me, with the right to eternal life, because of our faith in Him and His great salvation. That's why He was able to say, "It is finished!". When we have a vision it takes us out of our comfort zone, it requires a lot of hard work, we have to make sacrifices and be willing to set our priorities in order. Seek the Lord and find out, if you don't know, what is your vision. Then, work at it, stay totally committed, be willing to make whatever sacrifices you have to make, to fulfill that vision. And remember, "By faith we draw it nigh." "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2. "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18a.
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Faith and Vision
By Barbara J. Scott
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In this day and time men need encouragement like never before. They need to know that they are loved and very much need in this world. They also need Godly wisdom and understanding of the ways of the kingdom of God. Jesus is our supreme example in how to live as holy men of God. He prayed often to the Father, putting His earthly life completely in God's hands.