Living Your Purposeنموونە

Vast Visioning

Have you created a vision board? Mine comes in two forms. One is a black dry-erase board filled with neon-colored words and illustrations I artistically design; it’s like a checklist and idea generator all in one. Another is a large bulletin board where I’ve pinned magazine clippings, Pinterest printouts, photos of old trees, and some inspirational quotes. Sometimes I spend more time imagining than engaging with the vision I’ve set out to accomplish. Sometimes just looking at the boards gives me enough pleasure. They are happy, after all, full of potential and positivity. Soon enough, though, I stop and catch myself, and the Mary Oliver quote plays in my head: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”  Oh yeah, the boards aren’t enough . . . I have to activate the vision. Why is the stage of active engagement intimidating? My experience is that we fear failure; we fear the vision won’t live up to our expectations. Or we fear how life will change if we activate a new cycle of creativity. Can we tolerate change in our daily routine if “the vision” succeeds? All these worries are to be tossed aside, because God promises endurance. Endurance builds the soul's stamina and teaches us to trust in Him. Patience and wisdom are its gifts. As long as we resist engaging in our vision, we cannot embrace endurance and allow it to work in us and change us. Psalm 119:31-32 says, “I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding (NIV).” 

King David confidently commanded his son, Solomon, to get busy building the temple: “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NIV). Building a temple is no small vision, and I wonder if David and Solomon ever felt overwhelmed at the assignment (approximately twenty years of work!). But it was the Lord’s plan that the vision was acted upon and fulfilled.  Read David’s words again: “Be strong and do the work.” Now close your eyes and hear God say that to you: Be strong and do the work! God will supply the emotional, physical, and spiritual resources you need to follow through with your vision. 

“What if you could get past your fears and insecurities and spend the rest of your life running your guts out after His purposes for you?” challenges Jennie Allen. Whew!  I feel woke. I feel caffeinated. I feel like approaching the starting block and running before the gun is even fired! Let’s go! But if you still need another nudge, Joshua says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (1:9 NIV).

Questions to ask yourself:

·  Anaïs Nin wrote, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Can you relate this to your life? Where has your life shrunk because of fear or expanded because of courage? 

·  What is your interpretation of Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (KJV)? Have you ever floated through life without a specific goal and ended up with “nothing amazing”? On the flip side, have you spent time visioning your best day, week, year and seen positive results?

God, provide me with the grace of endurance and the grace of restoration.