“Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes
I have facilitated several classes and workshops over the last three years and the main topic I discuss is vision. I always ask this one question to the participants, “Do you have a written vision for your life and family?” No matter the size of the class I get less than one percent of the people admit they have a written vision.
The missing ingredient
Of that one percent, I realized that a majority of their visions mainly consisted of the areas of career and finance. This is not a scientific survey, but after talking to hundreds of individuals, I have discovered that the lack of a focused vision that encompasses every area of life is the missing ingredient to abundant living.
- If you are living day to day without any real actionable plans, it is time to seek God’s face for a real plan of action.
- If you are just barely maintaining the status quo or drowning in mediocrity, it is time to implement a new strategy.
- If your life is like being on a treadmill, you are moving fast and sweating profusely, but you are not going anywhere, it is time to get off and do something different.
- If you are expending energy, depleting time and leaving exhausted at the end of the day, but you are still stuck in neutral, it is time to stop and reconstruct your vision.
Vision Construction
Many of us try to construct our lives without any real thought or planning. We are frantically living day to day lacking clear direction. Some of us are relying on a self-given vision that mainly focuses on what we can get or who we can get it from.
We can spend too much time consumed with how to advance in our careers, what business deals to pursue, how much money we want to make or what earthly possession we have to purchase.
If we become too consumed with any of these we will miss the whole concept of vision. I believe if you want to truly live the vision God designed for you, there are five other key life areas (spiritual, relational, physical, mental and social) that also need attention.
Imagine a builder trying to construct a building and his only focus is completing the foundation. He puts all his time, energy and resources building the foundation while neglecting everything else. There is no doubt that he will have a top-notch foundation which is very important, but there are other processes that goes into having a finished building to occupy.
The construction of the building will never be completed if the builder does not have a full view of the overall project. He will only have a partial building that cannot be occupied.
In order for the builder to complete the building, he must bring into focus the entire vision. Your life can be totally out of balance like this builder, if you do not approach your life as a whole part.
You cannot be as valuable to God’s ultimate plan if you do not have a vision that encompasses all areas of your life. Your overall life’s vision should be the primary motivator that moves you into action. It should provide you with a reason to get up in the morning, a path to follow and a target to hit.
My Vision Story
I remember as if it was yesterday, one evening after my family had gone to bed I went to my room in the basement to ask God some serious questions about my life’s direction. As I began to ask Him the most pressing questions on my heart, He led me to read the book of Habakkuk.
After reading the three chapters in Habakkuk several times, it hit me like a ton of bricks, I needed to realize, write and implement God’s vision for my life, marriage and family.
That night, I made a commitment to write a vision for every area of my life. Over the next couple of weeks, I sought God’s face and He revealed His vision for my life. I wrote my vision in explicit details and immediately started implementing it.
If I can be honest, I have detoured and even failed at times because;
- I allowed fear to dictate my walk.
- I allowed current situations to discourage my progress.
- I missed opportunities listening to the creation instead of the creator.
Abundant Living
God’s desire is for you to live an abundant life. If you have been living life in mediocrity it is time to take your life out of neutral, put it into high gear and live moving forward.
- No more making excuses.
- No more living in fear.
- No more waiting for others approval.
- No more standing on the outside looking in.
No matter how difficult or challenging life may become you can never give up on your vision. Once you realize that the missing ingredient to abundant living is a vision from God that encompasses every area of life, you will begin to see things differently.
You will develop a determined assurance that God has equipped you with the power and provisions you need to achieve your life’s vision. With this assurance, nothing or no one can stop you, but you.
Question: How can you live a more abundant life? Leave a comment.
floyd says
Great story and lesson! That is so cool how God spoke to you as you sought HIm! He revealed His purpose in your life. Without seeking Him we can’t know our purpose in life.
I think to be reminded by one another helps keep us on track to live the life our Father’s called us to in abundance. Thanks, Bernard.
Bernard Haynes says
Floyd, thanks for your input. The only true way to know your purpose is to seek the creator.
Loren Pinilis says
I love how you mention that you lost time listening to the creation instead of the creator. That’s something I struggle with in ways – pursuing idols. I think a clear vision helps us to go through life consciously and avoid as much as possible living for the wrong things.
Bernard Haynes says
Loren, you hit the nail on the head. A clear vision from the creator helps us navigate through life more effectively. It gives us the correct directions to live out our life the way God designed it.