Vision

The house where Gemma and I live doesn’t have a garden. It has a small enclosed back yard, which was bare and uninviting when we moved in last Autumn. For a while, I’ve been imagining how the yard space could be made more attractive and inviting, and as I did so, a picture began to form in my mind of how that could be achieved. I imagined the inner wall of the yard painted a warm yellow. I saw two garden chairs and a small round table just big enough for two hot drinks. I saw floral garden decorations and some green, grass-coloured covering on the concrete floor. All of those things were in my imagination and could have stayed there had I not begun to turn my vision of what the yard could be into reality by starting to take action. The process hasn’t been without its difficulties and there have been a few times when I’ve wondered if I should have started. But, as I write this Seed, the wall is now yellow, we have our chairs and table and patio decorations, and the concrete floor is covered with a rich green outdoor carpet. My vision is a completed reality that we can see and touch and enjoy.

The transformation of our back yard has been for me a picture of how spiritual vision from the Lord becomes a reality as we take simple, although sometimes costly, steps of obedience. In Hebrews 11:1 we read that faith is the ‘substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (NKJV) and then for the rest of the chapter we read how the faith of ordinary men and women was translated into reality by their actions.

We have a Father God who has a vision for each of our lives which was in His heart before we ever existed. From eternity He saw in His mind’s eye how our lives would be redeemed from sin and pain, through knowing Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and then changed from one degree of glory to another into His likeness by the working of His Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that ‘we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago (TLB).’

Perhaps, as you read this Seed, there are visions and dreams from the Lord which seem to have died within your heart. Why not ask the Lord, by His Spirit, to fan them into flame again, to help you dream again and then seek Him to show you the practical steps you need to take for them to be fulfilled?

Lead us Lord into a life of fruitfulness
Prepare our hearts to risk again
As we trust, taking simple steps of obedience
We know, that you will lead us Lord
(Brian Doerksen)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, here I am. Please lead me into all that You have planned for my life. For Your glory I pray. Amen.