God-Given Vision -- part 1
In these next several weeks we are going to discuss the topic of God-given vision. We are all familiar with the Scripture in Proverbs 29:18a that says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
But what is vision and why is God-given vision so important to us as Mothers of Nations? I am excited to dig into this topic with you so let’s get started!
Vision is comprised of many elements. Some of these include:
- Seeing your final destination (future).
- Seeing your future through God’s eyes.
- Asking where you are headed.
- Asking why you are doing what you do.
- Asking what you will accomplish.
- Asking how you will get there.
- Asking who will help you.
Many years ago my husband and I met a man named Dr. Kaufman. He was a pastor in the Bronx of New York and we heard him teach a message titled “What the Lord Requires.” He used Micah 6:8 as a foundation Scripture. “The Lord has told you what is good and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Dr. Kaufman shared that he saw Micah 6:8 as a Word from the Lord for his personal vision for the inner city, his ministry assignment. He realized that his vision needed a God-given commission, a requirement from the Word. I will never forget the impact his message had on my life and how it cemented in my heart the need for God’s vision for my own life and ministry assignments.
What are the requirements for a vision? Let’s start with this one.
A vision requires a God-given revelation, a picture of the future through God’s eyes.
Think about the life of Moses. He had what could be considered a rare revelation of God-given vision: a burning bush experience!
Exodus 3: 7-10
7 And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Many years ago I personally had what could be compared to a burning bush experience. It was at a time when I was a newer believer and I was excited about reaching out to others and ministering in a wide variety of ways. One day I was in a restaurant having lunch with a ministry friend and as I looked over at the wall near our table I “saw” the words “start a church.” Now of course those words were not actually on the wall, but I had a vision, and those words were as plain as day to me.
At that very same time my husband, in another location across town, was also visited by the Holy Spirit. He had a thought run through his mind reminding him of all the times that I had given up jobs to move and support him in his career in our earlier years of marriage. God then spoke to his heart and said this, “Help Sharon start a church.” The Lord spontaneously placed vision in both of our hearts regarding the assignment of starting a church congregation and my husband knew it was his turn to help me do this.
Mothers of Nations, how has God placed vision in your heart? I would love to hear from you about your unique situations in receiving God-given revelation regarding your spiritual assignments!
Next week we will continue this study of vision by looking at more vision requirements. Have a blessed week and “keep your eyes open!”
Dr. Sharon Predovich
