How to Receive Vision from God

Do you have vision for your life?

Proverbs 29:18 says that "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." (KJV). Other translations use the word "revelation" instead of "vision;" and they say that without it, "the people are unrestrained" (rather than the word "perish").

Here's what I get from this:

1. We need specific revelation from the Lord about direction for our lives.
2. When we receive that "vision," we gain focus, rather than being "unrestrained."
3. As a result we are more effective for the Kingdom of God.

Now, something I've learned over the years, purely through observation, is that God gives both individual vision and corporate vision. The corporate vision is for the Church at large, and is clearly revealed in Scripture. But "individual vision" is the specific marching orders that God has given you to help fulfill that corporate vision.

So I'll ask you again: Do you have vision for your life?

Back in 2002, I was in Toronto when the Lord put a picture in my mind. I saw a map of the United States (my home country) with little red dots popping up all over the place. Rather quickly, those dots began to grow until they all bled into each other and the entire map was red. At the time, I had no idea what it meant, but I worte it down anyhow--knowing that it had something to do with my calling.

As time went on, the interpretation of this vision began to take shape. The things I was reading, writing, hearing in sermons, experiencing, and hearing from the Lord began to take on a common theme. I began to see that I was to somehow be involved in spreading Christianity accross my nation at wildfire speeds--not through the slow, expensive, and laborsome methods we're used to, but rather through simple, Book-of-Acts-style fellowship, discipleship, and evangelism. Then, through various other scriptures, prayer times, and confirmations from others, I also came to see that my calling would specifically involve my current generation.

I'll go into more detail in a later blog post. For now, though, the thing to keep in mind is that we need to be seeking the Lord for vision, and it may not come all in one lump. My vision developed over about four years, and only now (six years later) am I beginning to walk in it.

The key is that you must believe that God has a vision for your life. You can have your own vision, but the real question is whether or not you've caught His vision.

You were created with a purpose, a plan, and a destiny. That trumps anything you've ever done; it's who you are! So when you come before God in prayer to seek His vision for your life, don't let the enemy steal it away by pointing out your weaknesses, unworthiness, or failures. God's vision for you is far more powerful and true than any argument that you or the devil could hurl back at it. When God speaks His vision for you, believe Him! Without that revelation, you're unrestrained, un-focused, and you will perish!

Just recently, I found myself arguing against God's vision. I said, "Why me? That's too huge! There are so many people more qualified and better equipped for it! I've messed up too many times in my life to be used on that kind of a scale."

But God's loving response was to put me in my place: "Do you think I care about any of that? No! I created you with a purpose and a destiny that I intend to carry out!"

I wasn't off the hook, and yet it was the most liberating feeling I've ever had. I realized that when the Bible talks about being "predestined," it's not kidding!

God planned you before you were born and wrote His purpose into your DNA as you were being knit together in your mother's womb! You're not in any way a mistake. Real salvation is not just realizing that you're a sinner and asking for forgiveness--it also requires that you realize you've been reconciled back to God! You've been set free to pursue God's original purpose for your life! Now, in Christ, you're a SAINT! That means you're set apart for a purpose! Whose purpose? God's purpose!

As a child of God, there's more to life than being grateful for your redemption and looking forward to heaven. Your King has specific marching orders for you to carry out here and now! He has a vision for your life, and He wants you to seek Him for an understanding. As a result, He'll point your life in the right direction.

Proverbs 3:5,6--Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

If you want to receive God's vision for your life, you're not going to get it from some prophet or preacher--you're going to get it from Him. Other people may confirm the message, but you have to seek Him out yourself.

The key to receiving vision is that you first of all look to Jesus Christ--not the past Jesus, but the present Jesus. Vision doesn't come from asking "What would Jesus do?" It comes from asking Jesus, "What are You doing?"! Your place in the plan of God is intimately tied to your place in the Body of Christ. And in order to discover that, you need to start by looking to Jesus through prayer, fasting, and an active pursuit of Him (reading the Word, listening to Christian brothers and sisters, etc).

The Father's vision for you is wrapped up in His vision for Jesus Christ. God the Father sent His divine Son, Jesus, to earth for a purpose; and Jesus said, "As the Father sent me, so I send you!" God had a vision for Jesus; and since you're part of Christ's Body (the Church), you have a part in continuing to carry that vision out today! Jesus is the author and finisher of who we are, so we MUST look to Him! And remember, I'm talking about the presently living Jesus--not some outdated prophet.

As I close with the following two verses, notice the clear connection between spiritual vision and Christ's ascension to the right hand of the Father. He is alive!

Hebrews 12:2--Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Ephesians 1:17-23--I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

One last time: Do you have God's vision for your life?