Blog Entries tagged 'vision'

I Want A Piece Of That

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I had seen video footage on the TV showing how beautiful the snowfields looked and I thought, "I want a piece of that!"

Deuteronomy 11:1-32

Reference: v.11 But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drink rain from heaven. (NIV Bible)

Explore: As it's Winter in Australia I decided it would be a great idea to go skiing. I had seen video footage on the TV showing how beautiful the snowfields looked and I thought, "I want a piece of that!" So the vision was set: Linda would ski at the snow this Winter. For a few days I lived in the excitement of going to the snow but if this vision was to become a reality I needed to start planning my ski trip fairly soon. That's when I started hitting hurdles. We couldn't justify spending a great deal of money at the moment so staying on the mountain was not an option. I couldn't go to the snow on my own as I didn't know how to connect chains to my car tires if needed. I didn't have any skis or ski gear so I would need to hire all of this. And then my greatest fear of all, maybe I will have forgotten how to ski! While the vision had been so majestic, all the hurdles I had to cross to get there seemed to dim the potential of it coming to fruition.

Application: The picture painted of the Promised Land to the people of Israel was absolutely stunning - even better than my vision of the snow fields. Moses was constantly reminding the people about how great the Promised Land was going to be. He would tell of a place that was flowing with milk and honey and the Israelites would think, "I want a piece of that!" The thing is, I've read this story before and remember that the first time the Israelites get to the Promised Land they chicken out because the hurdles seem too great. Even though God had promised it to them, He had declared it would be theirs, He reminded them how great is was going to be, they were still overwhelmed by the hurdles they had to cross to obtain it.
This can happen in our lives too. We may have a vision for our life, we may feel called by God to do something, or we may feel a desire to follow someone else's vision for God's church and we say, "I want a piece of that!" But there is little doubt that we will soon come up against some hurdles along the way and often it's at that point that our vision starts to waver. 'It costs too much'; 'I don't have enough time'; 'I don't know enough'; 'I can't see six steps ahead...' and soon enough we are stopped in our tracks. But this is not what God desires for us. Just as He proclaimed a Promised Land over the Israelites, He proclaims a life of purpose, value and love for you as well. There will be hurdles along the way but we must be strong and courageous (just like God told Joshua to be when he did inherit the Promised land - Joshua 1:6-9) and we will reach our vision. It's not always easy, but it's worth it in the end.
(By the way, I did overcome my hurdles and made it to the snowfields. Best skiing day yet!)

Prayer: Lord, You do have a vision for our lives and yet we can get so overcome by the hurdles that we face. Give us Your [...]

Cistern Moments

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Even when we feel we have a vision from God that we are passionate about making happen, we can still find ourselves in a 'cistern moment'.

Genesis 37:1-36

Reference: v.23-24a So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe - the richly ornamented robe he was wearing - and they took him and threw him into the cistern. (NIV Bible)

Explore: When Joseph was attacked by his brothers and sold to a group of travelling foreigners, we only hear the story from his brothers point of view. But I'm sure we could have a pretty good guess of what was going through Joseph's mind as he sat at the bottom of that water cistern. He was certainly a far cry away from those glorious dreams which represented his brothers and his parents bowing down to him. The hurt, the fear, the pain and the betrayal must have been extreme.

Application: When we have a goal or a vision we can be quite determined about reaching the final result. However, as we go along we often find the path ahead of us has many peaks and troughs. Even when we feel we have a vision from God that we are passionate about making happen, we can still find ourselves in a 'cistern moment'. The kind of moment where everything seems to have been turned on it's head and there is no way out. Throughout Joseph's journey he had numerous cistern moments. But he did not allow that stopping him from continuing his journey and doing his best - whether he was in a throne room or a cistern! What a challenge for us to do the same. Even when we find ourselves in a cistern moment we are still called to be faithful and represent God in our words and actions.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes the cisterns seem so deep that there feels like there is no way out. Help us to be faithful to You and be Your light to this world. Amen.

When have you experienced a 'cistern moment'?

Nehemiah's Nemesis

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0100

I think we all have a nemesis. It may be an actual person, like Nehemiah, or it might be an emotion that holds us back, like my fear.

Nehemiah 6:1-14

Reference: v.9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed."
But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands." (NIV Bible)

Explore: Nehemiah was working so hard to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Yet these characters, Sanballat and Tobiah, keep rearing their ugly heads in an effort to thwart all of Nehemiah's good work. Just when Nehemiah has held firm against them they come at him again in their attempt to have him and his work stopped. Sanballat was Nehemiah's nemesis.
I have a nemesis; it's fear. When ever I am working towards a vision and a goal my heart becomes filled with fear and it often thwarts my intentions. I may not be able to see fear but it's certainly real in my life.

Application: I think we all have a nemesis. It may be an actual person, like Nehemiah, or it might be an emotion that holds us back, like my fear. The important part of overcoming a challenge is naming it. Once you acknowledge that your nemesis is at work it helps to put everything in perspective. Yes, my fear is real when I am putting myself on the line but when I acknowledge that it is just my nemesis at work it no longer overpowers my vision. It is still present but in the right proportion. We must not let our nemesis - be it people or emotions - over-ride all our thoughts and feelings. Remembering that God's purpose for our lives is bigger than any nemesis that may be lingering in the shadows.

Prayer: Lord, other people and our own insecurities seem to become so large at times. Help us to have the wisdom to keep them all in perspective. Amen.

What or who would you say your nemesis is?

Reality Bites

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:00:00 +0100

Vision is exciting. But in looking ahead we must be aware of the present.

Nehemiah 5:1-19

Reference: v.2 Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain." (NIV Bible)

Explore: Vision is exciting. Moving towards an important goal brings hope for a better future. But in looking ahead we must be aware of the present. Sometimes reality bites. We may have all the best intentions for our strategies and plans but we have to be realistic in our goals. I may want to run 4 mission activities for our neighbourhood, but when I only have 10 willing helpers then I need to be realistic about how much we can effectively achieve.

Application: Reality certainly hit Nehemiah pretty hard when he was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. He had so many willing helpers that were putting their crops and families on the line to help reconstruct their city. But reality bit hard. The people were going hungry, they were mortgaging their homes and they were having to give their children to slavery just to survive. While the vision of the wall was essential for the future, was it worth the demise of the people? It is important to have a vision and goals to work towards but we must be aware of the sacrifice it means to the people around us. If our vision gets in the way of caring for people then maybe we are focussing in the wrong direction.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we can get carried away with our own vision and purpose. Help us to stay focussed on you. Amen.

Which side do you lean more towards:
Letting your vision blur reality or letting the present reality curb your vision?