As the new year begins to unfold, there are some lingering annoyances left over from 2020. The main one – Covid 19. However, hope is on the way by means of the vaccine. While it will not cure Covid 19, it will one day lessen the chances of catching the disease as well as lessen the devastating effects felt by many.
During my sermon on Sunday, I asked you to consider coming up with a vision board. Why a vision board?
1. It makes us think of what goals we want to achieve for ourselves this year.
2. It gives us a purpose.
3. It helps us to focus on what could be possible.
No one truly wants another year to go by and wonder at the end of the year – what did I really achieve in this year. Did I do something to further myself? Did I do something for someone else?
Many of us make new year resolutions that by Jan 10th we either forgot about them or we started in earnest on Jan 1st and fizzled by Jan 20th.
This is why I think a vision board – yes, an actual board placed in a prominent place as a reminder will serve us well. Notice I am including myself in this project, for I too need a vision board. “Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.” Habakkuk 2:2This vision came to the prophet Habakkuk from the Lord. These words tell us that we too ought to write out our vision/goals and make it plain enough, that as we dash by the board, we can still read them clearly. God knew who He was dealing with.
In the Book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah sets out to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. The pagan king gives his consent along with supplies of foods and building materials. Nehemiah is besieged with naysayers from both his fellow Israelites and from their enemies. But despite it all, Nehemiah presses on. He declares,” The God of heaven is the one who will give us success.” Nehemiah 2:20 And God does indeed make them successful in accomplishing their goal of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.
It serves us well to have a vision for our lives – at home, at work, in organizations, the sports teams. Whatever we are engaged in, there ought to be a vision/goals for it. Jeremiah 29:11-13 declares “11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
I do believe that prayer and discernment are required before we even begin to write on the vision board. What is God’s will and how will it be realized? As I said earlier, coming up with a vision board will allow us to focus – to center ourselves. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians writes of what they have received from God and His Son Jesus Christ and I ask for you to take note of it. From Ephesians 1:17-20
“17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe,”
My friends, on this, The Feast of The Epiphany where Jesus was revealed to the world, I pray you will receive the revelation to create a vision for yourself. What do you want from this year? Do not let the year go by as just another year.
Enjoy - Be Thou my Vision
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Optrm7lF16s
Be Blessed! Stay Safe!!