God’s word is very clear regarding vision: Proverbs 3:18 declares “Where there is no vision the people perish”. I clearly need one for my on-going spiritual journey with the Lord.
What we reach for must exceed beyond our grasp.
My vision for the “much more” of God is beyond my grasp. Only God can take me there. This is the birthright of every Believer. As I walk in humility and obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He will take me to that hallowed place…….daily. Each day bristles with opportunity to press forward to, and in, the vision.
Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. Every day presents opportunity in thought, belief and action to answer and respond to that call on my life. Right thinking, produces right believing, produces right action. Wrong believing and disobedience produces “wood, hay and stubble”.
The vision is birthed of God. The waiting time for the fulfillment of it is not denial or indifference. It is a precious time to God as He works in patience with us and preparation in the trial of our faith.
Habakkuk 2:3 “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie. Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry”. That which is birthed of God cannot die but will come to pass.
When the Covid19 crisis eventually dies down, the Church of God needs to move forward with fresh vision, leaving behind old ways, comfort zones and past “knowledge”. The old “normal” will not fit into the new day in God. Lot’s wife looked back longingly at what she had left behind, as she escaped from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and was turned into a pillar of salt, (Genesis 19:26). I cannot carry old baggage into the new vision, it keeps me in the old ways and inhibits spiritual growth. The much more of God beckons me to reach beyond what I have ever known, to reach beyond what I have grasped, that He would take me ever further to the fullness of the Son, Jesus Christ, living more and more through His Church, in full stature to fulfil God’s vision and destiny for His Bride, (Ephesians 4:13).
Many have wrongly claimed “It is hard being a Christian. It’s a struggle!” The struggle is produced by my lack of surrender to the Lord. The struggle is because I want things my way and won’t surrender. When I finally give up, give in, repent and surrender, (to God, not to a situation), God takes over. Here I abandon my will, my all and learn to trust the Lord Jesus and prove Who He says He is, and let Him perform His mighty works in me and situations beyond my control. Here, He gifts me with His peace. I prove God and take up His challenge: “Prove Me now”, (Malachi 3:10). Stand back…….watch the floodgates of heaven open.
Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”, Matthew 11:28. Jesus is the Waymaker and Promise Keeper. Our problem is that so often, we just don’t come and abandon our cares to Him. Instead we fret and try to work things out our way, to suit us because we are stuck in our old ways and we refuse to trust God. We struggle……how foolish when He has made a way! Our old ways are a millstone around our necks. Jesus came to renew, transform and replace. Now is the time to gain the new ground He offers in Him, to reach beyond our grasp, surrender and watch Him move us on, yoked to Him.
We have often been guided by circumstances that God has had to use to teach us His ways, but the highest is hearing the still, small Voice and obeying it .
Isaiah 43: 18-21 “Do not remember the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing , now it will spring forth, shall you not know it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ……I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people I have formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise”.
Don’t look back, press on with Jesus, and let Him take us to the vision beyond our grasp…..ever forward!
