LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Wednesday 31st January 2024
DO YOU HAVE A VISION?
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 29
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, people perish. Vision is a clear picture of what you desire to achieve or experience in the future. We are sustained and kept on track in life by the quality of our vision. When we live our lives without any clear picture of where we are headed or what we want to do with the talents and opportunities we have, we waste the days and squander the gift of life that God has blessed us with.
Without a clear sense of where we are going and where we want to get to, we will settle for any destination. Without vision, we will accept anything that comes our way and allow other people to set our lives’ plan.
The NIV renders today’s verse as, ‘Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint’. To cast off restraint is to have no guide or control. Can you imagine what would happen if there was no pipe to guide the water from the pump station into your house? That pipe acts as the ‘restraint ’that controls and guides the water from the pump station. Without it, the water will be wasted. That is what vision is to us. Without it, you waste your precious life. Don’t go through this year and the rest of your life without a clear vision. Invest your time in reflecting on what you want to do and achieve this year.
- A vision gives us clarity. Each one of us who is used to good eyesight will struggle to move around with a blindfold. Though we can walk without any trouble, not seeing what is around us and where we are going, impedes our walk. A person without vision may have many resources and capacity yet be unable to make much progress.
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A vision gives us direction. A clear vision for our lives, guides and focuses our efforts. Our vision helps us mobilize all the resources we have. It is like the pipeline that holds all the water pumped through it, till the water gets to the point of use.
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A vision helps us prioritize. With a vision for our lives, we can determine what is essential and what is not. We can tell what to do first and what to do next.
This year, God is calling on you to develop a vision that will provide guidance and direction for every effort you make and all the energy you spend.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, show me what you want to do with my life. Help me to live with a sense of purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen!