December

 

December 1

 

The Tenth Principle:

 

Use Persistence The tenth principle in our Twelve Principles of Vision is that we must be persistent if we are going to achieve the visions God has given us. As I wrote earlier, you must realize that obstacles are going to come against you and your vision. Even though God gave the vision, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to obtain. Please don’t think that you are exempt from this reality. When you decide to be somebody, everything is going to try to get in the way of your vision. You must be prepared for the challenges, for they are coming.

 

God demonstrates persistence in His very nature. One word that describes the essence of His nature is faithfulness. Psalm 89 declares, “You established your faithfulness in heaven itself.…O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty,

 

O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you” (vv. 2, 8). God is faithful because He is true to what He has decided to accomplish, and nothing can stop Him. We need to manifest this characteristic in our own lives.

 

Another  word      that   helps us      understand  God’s         nature  in

 

relation to persistence in purpose is the word steadfast. Psalm 111:7–8 says, “The works of [God’s] hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.” To be steadfast means to stand fast or stand steady in the face of resistance. If you are steadfast, when opposition comes, you don’t turn and go back where you were. You push forward. Opposition should strengthen your resolve and revive your stamina.

 

Prayer: Father, You are faithful and steadfast in accomplishing Your will in my life. Please give me the strength to stand fast against resistance to my vision with godly persistence.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: You must be persistent if you are going to achieve the vision God has given you.

 

Reading: Ezekiel 40–41; 2 Peter 3

 

December 2

 

The Courage to Stand Courage is another key word in regard to persistence. It is the ability to stand up in the face of fear. In fact, it is impossible to have courage without fear. In a sense, if we don’t have any fear, we’re not living in faith. That may sound like a strange statement, but faith always demands that we do something we know we can’t do on our own. This challenge often causes us to be fearful at first.

 

Many times in the Bible, God’s people are encouraged to be courageous. God told Joshua, Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous.…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and

courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.(Joshua 1:6–7,

9)      Why did God speak about courage several times to Joshua? Clearly, Joshua must have been scared! Fear, however, is a positive thing when it gives birth to courage. Moses also told Joshua and the Israelite people, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them [their enemies], for the LORD your God goes with you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

 

If you’re afraid to step out in your vision because it’s so big,

 

then let your courage come to life as you trust God. Courage says, “I’m afraid, but I’m still moving.” Jesus loves for us to do the impossible because the impossible is always possible with God. (See Matthew 19:26.) Prayer: Father, You have not given us a spirit of fear.

Thank you that my courage can come to life as I trust in You and Your power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Courage is the ability to stand up in the face of fear.

 

Reading: Ezekiel 42–44; 1 John 1

 

December 3

 

Overcoming Challenges in Life During His time on earth, Jesus showed us how to bring a vision to pass in the midst of life’s challenges and pressures. He faced problems and obstacles similar to what you and I face today, yet His vision came to pass. Jesus is our greatest Teacher when it comes to learning how to overcome challenges. No matter what your background is, your relationship with your heavenly Father will help you rise above your difficult circumstances and fulfill your purpose.

 

Do you feel pressured by your family’s expectations to pursue a certain career or lifestyle when you know that isn’t God’s plan for you? You don’t always have to wait until you’re older or “have it all together” before you know God’s will for your life. Perhaps your parents have told you, “You are going to do this,” but you feel called to do something else. Jesus faced a similar challenge. When He was twelve, He knew what He was born to do. Yet Jesus’ earthly parents didn’t understand His vision, even when He said, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49; see verse 50). Then, when Jesus grew older, His mother tried to push Him into fulfilling His vision prematurely, and He had to tell her, “My time has not yet

 

come” (John 2:4). Even though Jesus respected and honored His parents (see Luke 2:51–52), He had to follow God’s purpose for His life. You must follow the vision God has given you. At the same time, you should always show your family love and respect.

 

Prayer: Father, please give me the strength to stand strong for what I believe You have called me to do.

 

Yet always help me to speak the truth to others with Your love.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Jesus is our greatest Teacher when it comes to learning how to overcome challenges.

 

Reading: Ezekiel 45–46; 1 John 2

 

December 4

 

Is Your Vision Larger Than Your Opposition?

 

Jesus  experienced  many  forms  of  opposition.  There  were

 

people who continually schemed to make Him fail. There were those who liked to set Him up for a fall by asking Him trick questions. A crowd once tried to push Him off a cliff. The religious leaders plotted to kill Him. Do you think people call you names? They called Jesus names, too. They called Him demon-possessed, illegitimate, a glutton, and a drunkard.

 

How did Jesus overcome? How did He succeed in His vision? How did He finish the work the Father had sent Him to do when He faced all that opposition? Jesus was able to remain composed through all those trials because what He had in His heart was bigger than all their threats, accusations, and insults. He knew how to persevere with a dream. Likewise, the vision in your heart needs to be larger than any opposition that comes against you so you can persist in your life’s purpose.

 

When a person knows his purpose, if trouble comes, he can smile and say, “This won’t last. With God, I’m tougher than this.” When you draw on God’s strength, you are tougher than your trials because you see them in a different light. You realize that every point of resistance to your vision gives you the opportunity to become wiser, not weaker. Let every opposing force strengthen you rather than stop you. Peter said that trials refine our faith and make us better. (See 1 Peter 1:7.) That is

 

why we can say, “Bring on the challenges!”

 

Prayer: Father, help me to persevere in my dream. Establish the vision in my heart so that it is bigger than any opposition that comes against me.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Let every opposition strengthen you

 

rather than stop you.

 

Reading: Ezekiel 47–48; 1 John 3

 

December 5

 

Destiny Demands Diligence Destiny demands

 

diligence. I recommend that you write that statement down on a piece of paper and put it where you can see it every day. If you are going to quit after a couple of challenges, you will never win. Persistence is withstanding all opposition.

 

Nehemiah could have stopped his work on the wall of Jerusalem because of all the problems, slander, and jeers, but he was persistent. He was determined to complete his vision. You will never be successful unless you have the spirit of persistence. Persistence means that you insist on having what you are going after; you stand up against resistance until you wear it down; you make people who are against you so tired of fighting that they either become your friends or leave you alone; and you stop only after you’ve finished.

 

Again, how badly do you want your vision? Jesus told a parable in Luke 18 about a persistent woman. She tirelessly appealed to the judge with her request for justice until he said, in essence, “Give it to her!” (See Luke 18:2–8.) God wants you to do the same. He wants you to say, “Life, this belongs to me.” If Life refuses, go back and say the same thing every day until it eventually says, “Here, take it!” Many people lose because they quit when Life says no the first time, but

 

persistent people win. They never take no for an answer when it comes to their visions.

 

Prayer: Father, I have been tempted to give up when I have experienced resistance to my vision. Please help me to develop persistence and determination to see my vision through to fulfillment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Persistence is withstanding

 

all opposition.

 

Reading: Daniel 1–2; 1 John 4

 

December 6

 

Jesus Encourages Persistence The parable of the woman and the judge that I mentioned yesterday illustrates the power that persistence can have in accomplishing what we truly desire. At another time, Jesus told a similar parable that teaches us that success comes to those who persist—not only in the natural realm, but also in the spiritual realm.

 

Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.” Then the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.(Luke 11:5–10) As you develop a spirit of persistence, remember these truths about the nature of your Creator and His own persistence in carrying out His purposes for you: •God is faithful.

 

•God does not lie.

 

•God has established His Word.

 

•Your purpose is already completed in Him.

 

•God delights in you and considers you His child.

 

 

Prayer: Father, You are persistent in carrying out

 

Your good purposes in my life. Please help me to be persistent in following after You and Your Word as I pursue my dream. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Jesus’ parables encourage us that success comes to those who persist.

 

Reading: Daniel 3–4; 1 John 5

 

December 7

 

Fight Through to Victory Once, when I was watching a boxing title match on television, one of the boxers was getting beaten badly. At the end of the sixth round, he stumbled back into his corner and sagged on the stool as if he were a sack of potatoes. In seconds, several men went to work on him. One grabbed a bucket of water and doused him with it. The next grabbed a soaking-wet sponge and squeezed water all over his face. Another applied ointment to soothe his wounds. Even though he was getting trounced, they were telling him, “You can do this. You can get back out there. You’re better than he is!” One of the men said, “Keep your left hook, okay? You can get him with that left.” After about two minutes, the boxer jumped up, saying, “Yeah! Oh, yeah!” He ran back out there, and everything changed in the seventh round. Guess who won? The one who had been about to quit in the sixth round won the fight and received the prize.

 

 

You may get beaten up pretty badly in life, but stay in the

 

fight. Fight until you feel the joy of victory. When you think you’re going to lose and you stumble back into the corner of life, the Lord will come and pour the cool water of His Word on your head. He will take the ointment of the Holy Spirit and bring healing to your wounds. He will rub life back into your spirit so you can get back out there and start throwing blows. Keep your left up. That’s persistence.

 

Prayer: Father, You encourage us in Your Word

 

to persist in fighting the good fight of faith.

 

Please strengthen me to stay in the fight so I may

 

experience the joy of victory in You.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Fight until you feel the joy of victory!

 

Reading: Daniel 5–7; 2 John

 

December 8

 

We Are Warriors We know that God wants us to be fighters because the Bible calls us soldiers.

 

(See 2 Timothy 2:3–4.) We are spiritual warriors. We are people of battle. The Bible also refers to us as those who “wrestle” (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV).

 

This is because we don’t just receive medals from God. We earn them. If God didn’t want you to fight, He would have given you the medal without the conflict.

 

The Bible says, “They overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). Some people don’t have a testimony of overcoming. Their testimony is, “I went through the fire, and I got burned. I went under the water and almost drowned.” Other people are so spiritually “clean-cut” that you know they have never had a skirmish with the devil. Those who have a true testimony usually don’t even have to talk about it because it is evident in their lives.

 

The fight can be tough, but God says He will stay with you and work out the steps of your vision.

 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

 

through Him who loved us [and called us and gave us our visions]. (Romans 8:35, 37) God has put so much in you that if you are willing to capture it, nothing can stop you. There is not enough darkness in the world to extinguish the light God has put within you.

 

Prayer: Father, thank You for the light of

 

Your Holy Spirit within me.

 

Thank You for Your love, which gives me

 

the strength to fight the battles of life.

 

I know that I will be victorious in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Thought: God has put so much in you that if you are willing to capture it, nothing can stop you.

 

Reading: Daniel 8–10; 3 John

 

December 9

 

Character under Pressure Perseverance actually means “to bear up under pressure.” I like this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, which actually applies to all people: “A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.” Successful people persevere under pressure and use it for their own benefit. People who have vision are stronger than the pressure life brings.

 

I have discovered that sometimes you don’t get the scent from the rose until you crush it. In order to draw the fragrance of His glory from your life, God will allow you to be subject to stress. We forget too easily that character is formed by pressure. The purpose of pressure is to get rid of what is not of God and to leave what is pure gold.

 

When God showed Abraham the land his descendants would inherit, He told him that everything as far as he could see would be his. However, the land was full of Moabites, Hittites, Canaanites, and Amorites—the Israelites’ future enemies! Likewise, whenever God shows us a vision, it is full of “enemies” or opposition that we can’t see at first. Initially, the vision looks great. But the enemies are still there. God doesn’t show you the “ites” right away because He doesn’t want to

 

frighten you. He’s building up your faith to prepare you for the time when you are ready to face the opposition and overcome it. Therefore, don’t run—stay in the fight! There is no stopping a person who understands that pressure is good for him because pressure is one of the keys to perseverance.

 

Prayer: Father, help me to understand that character

 

is formed by pressure and is vital for victory. Enable me to persevere under pressure and to use it for the benefit of my vision. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Successful people persevere under pressure and use it for their own benefit.

 

Reading: Daniel 11–12; Jude

 

December 10

 

Test Your Vision for Authenticity Let me

 

confess something to you: I wish I didn’t have to

 

be doing what I’m doing. I didn’t say that I don’t

 

want to. I said I wish I didn’t have to. That is not a

 

negative statement, just a realistic one, because I

 

know what the cost of my vision is going to be. In

 

the next twenty or thirty years of my life, I know

 

the cost is going to be high. That’s why I thank God that, earlier in my life, I had the privilege of observing firsthand the cost to another visionary, who told me, “Myles, my son, get ready for the price.” Because of that experience, I have been prepared to accept the cost.

 

At times, you will find it difficult to remain in your vision. I understand. At times, it’s tough for me to stay in mine. The demands that God makes on my ministry are high because the call requires it. Vision always demands a cost. Someone has to pay the price. Are you willing to do it? We need to be like Paul, who was obedient to the vision God had given him, even at great sacrifice.

 

Every true vision will be tested for authenticity. If your vision is authentic, life is going to try it, just to make sure. Don’t be

 

afraid when you make a declaration of what you’re going to do in life and difficulty follows; that opposition comes to test your resolve. If a vision is stopped by trials or tests, then perhaps it was not really a vision from God. Be careful not to become involved in superficial enterprises. Put the vision to the test.

 

Prayer: Father, testing my vision will make certain that I am following Your purpose in my life. I surrender to those tests with a heart of trust. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Every true vision will be tested for authenticity.

 

Reading: Hosea 1–4; Revelation 1

 

December 11

 

Action Steps to Fulfilling Vision Persistence is vital for your vision to be successful. All of us will encounter opposition and crises in life, but these challenges don’t have to be setbacks. They can be turning points at which our understanding

 

of and commitment to the vision is tested and matured. A crisis can lead us to greater challenge and victory. If you are encountering resistance to your vision, be encouraged that your faith is being strengthened. God is not only enabling you to stand strong in the face of opposition to your vision, but also to overcome it—to His glory and praise.

 

Therefore, ask yourself the following questions: In what areas of my life and vision am I in need of perseverance? What have I given up on that I need to pick up again and continue with? Ask God to develop faithfulness, steadfastness, and courage in you.

 

Write down the saying “Destiny demands diligence,” and put it where you can be reminded of it every day.

 

Let’s pray together: Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have shown us

 

that destiny and vision demand diligence in our lives. You graciously provide the vision and You generously give us the resources. Yet You have still called us

 

to persevere for the good things in our lives. You urge us not become weary in doing good with Your promise that at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 

Please strengthen us to be persistent.

 

Remind us daily that You have provided the Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, and give us the power to persevere. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Challenges to your vision don’t have to be setbacks—they can be turning points.

 

Reading: Hosea 5–8; Revelation 2

 

December 12

 

Principles of Persistence in Vision

 

Today, reflect on these principles  of persistence in vision:

 

1.Obstacles will come against you and your vision. You must be persistent if you are going to achieve the vision God has given you.

 

2.Faithfulness means being true to what you have decided to accomplish and letting nothing stop you.

 

3.Steadfastness means to stand fast or stand steady in the face of resistance.

 

4.Courage is the ability to stand up in the face of fear.

 

5.Fear is a positive thing when it gives birth to courage.

 

6.Even though there will be times of stress, disappointment, and pressure, your vision will come to pass.

 

7.Every point of resistance to your vision comes to make you wiser, not weaker. All opposition comes to strengthen you, not to stop you.

 

8.Destiny demands diligence.

 

9.Many people lose because they quit when life says no the first time, but persistent people win. They never take no for an answer when it comes to their visions.

 

10.There is not enough darkness in the world to extinguish the light God has put within you.

 

11.Perseverance means “to bear up under pressure.”

 

12.Character is formed by pressure. The purpose of pressure is to get rid of what is not of God and to leave what is pure gold.

 

13.There is no stopping a person who understands that pressure is good for him because pressure is one of the keys to perseverance.

 

14.Vision always demands a cost.

 

15.Every true vision will be tested for authenticity.

 

Reading: Hosea 9–11; Revelation 3

 

December 13

 

The Eleventh Principle:

 

Be Patient Principle number eleven in our Twelve Principles of Vision is that we must be patient in seeing the fulfillment of our visions. Again, it may take a while for your vision to come to fruition, but if you are willing to wait for it (which many people are not), it will come to pass. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere [“have need of patience” KJV] so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35–36). People who have steadfast patience will always win.

 

When some people make plans to carry out their visions, they try to force those plans into their own timetable or their own way of bringing them to pass. However, you cannot rush a vision. It is given by God, and He will carry it out in His own time. You may ask, “Then what is the reason for developing a plan in the first place?” Remember that the reason you make plans is to give you a direction to move in. You can modify the plans, as necessary and appropriate, along the way—while still

 

keeping to the overall vision. We are not all-knowing, as God is. We need to patiently rely on His guidance every step of the way.

 

As I wrote earlier, when we first receive our visions, we are yet not ready for them. We must learn to follow the subtle leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives in which we “hear a voice behind [us], saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21).

 

Prayer: Father, patience is one of the fruit

 

of the Spirit at work in our lives.

 

Please help me to wait patiently for

 

my vision’s fulfillment as You guide me daily.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: People who have steadfast patience will always win.

 

Reading: Hosea 12–14; Revelation 4

 

December 14

 

The Fullness of Time While it is important to establish deadlines for your goals, you must also be willing to rearrange those deadlines. Be assured that the vision is coming at just the right time. God sent Jesus to be our Savior about four thousand years after the fall of man. Humanly speaking, that was a long time to wait. But He came just as predicted and at just the right time. The Bible says, But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Galatians 4:4–5, emphasis added) As long as you can dream, there’s hope. As long as there’s hope, there’s life. It’s crucial that you and I maintain our dreams by patiently waiting for their fulfillment in the fullness of time. James 1:4 says, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (NKJV). Others who have gone before us have had their faith tested, and it has produced patience in them

 

(see verse 3) so that they were able to win the race. Let us do the same. The writer of Hebrews expressed it this way: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1 KJV) Prayer: Father, it is my desire to let patience

 

do a perfect work in me, to make me mature in

 

You

 

and ready for my vision. Please work in my heart

 

and help me to develop a patient spirit.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: As long as you can dream, there’s hope.

 

As long as there is hope, there’s life.

 

Reading: Joel; Revelation 5

 

December 15

 

Patience to Overcome When you are patient in the fulfillment of your vision, you are able to be calm in the midst of uncertainty. For example, you can be at peace when everyone else is worrying about being laid off. You can endure the cross when you have seen the joy of the end of your vision. (See Hebrews 12:2.) When you don’t have vision, you complain about the cross. You become frustrated about your position. You get angry about your salary. You worry about holding on to your job.

 

However, when you understand vision, you remember that vision takes time and patience and often involves change. As I wrote earlier, vision may constantly keep you unsettled, but it will also keep you fluid and mobile, ready to take the next step. When you keep company with God, you have to keep moving, but you have the assurance that He is always with you along the path toward your vision’s fulfillment.

 

Patience is also the key to power over adversity and turmoil. If you threaten a man and he just waits, your threat is going to wear off. The Bible says that a patient man is stronger than a mighty warrior: “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city” (Proverbs

 

16:32). When I first read that verse, I found it hard to believe that patience is more powerful than might. Then I came to understand the power of patience. A patient person makes others unsettled because they want that person to react to them, to become angry—but he never does.

 

Do you see the fruit of patience working actively in your life?

 

Prayer: Father, help me to be patient in spirit so that I can be calm in the midst of uncertainty, and overcome the opposition of the proud in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Patience is the key to power over

 

adversity and turmoil.

 

Reading: Amos 1–3; Revelation 6

 

December 16

 

Action Steps to Fulfilling Vision Have you been trying to force the timetable of the fulfillment of your vision? If so, what have you learned about patience in these last few days that will enable you to trust God to fulfill the vision in His timing? Encourage your spirit as you wait for your vision to come to pass by committing these verses to memory this week: But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.(James 1:4 NKJV) We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

 

(Hebrews 6:12) You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(Hebrews 10:36) Let’s pray together: Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we consider patience,

 

we realize how often we are impatient with the pace of our lives. When we pray and You reveal

 

our visions, we want to see them done now. Help us to understand how Your timetable is best

 

for us, no matter how impatient we may feel. Many times, the psalmist David wrote about waiting

 

for You, Lord, and he encourages us to do the

 

same.

 

We will learn to wait patiently for You, Lord,

 

and to trust that Your timing and

 

Your will are always perfect for our lives.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: “Let patience have its perfect work .”

 

Reading: Amos 4–6; Revelation 7

 

December 17

 

Principles of Patience for Vision Today, reflect on these principles of patience for vision: 1.We must be patient in seeing the fulfillment of our visions.

 

2.“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere [“have need of patience” KJV] so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35–36).

 

3.People who have steadfast patience will always win. Patience ensures the eventual success of your vision’s plan.

 

4.We cannot try to force our visions into our own timetables.

 

Vision is given by God, and He will carry it out in His own time.

 

5.Your vision will come to pass if you are willing to progress at the vision’s pace.

 

6.When you are patient in the fulfillment of your vision, you are able to be calm in the midst of uncertainty.

 

7.Vision takes time and patience and often involves change.

 

8.Patience is the key to power over adversity and turmoil.

 

9.The testing of our faith produces patience, and patience perfects our spiritual character and leads to the fulfillment of our visions. (See James 1:4.) 10.“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay

 

aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 KJV).

 

Reading: Amos 7–9; Revelation 8

 

December 18

 

The Twelfth Principle:

 

Have a Dynamic, Daily Prayer Life Principle number twelve in our Twelve Principles for Fulfilling Personal Vision is that, if you are going to be successful in your vision, you must have a daily, dynamic, personal prayer life with God. Why? Because you need continual communion and fellowship with the Source of vision.

 

Remember that you were born to consult God to find out His purpose for your life so that you can discover your vision. Yet, as the “Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 1:8 NKJV), God is not only the Author of your vision, but He is also your continuing Support as you progress toward its fulfillment. You will never achieve your vision without prayer because prayer is what keeps you connected to the Vision-Giver. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches....Apart from me you can do nothing.” If you

 

stay in touch with God, you will always be nourished in both life and vision.

 

Prayer is the place where you can take all your burdens to God and say, “God, I have to make it,” and He will say, “I’m with you. What are you afraid of?” “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of

 

my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). God will bring you through your difficulties and give you the victory through prayer based on His Word.

 

Prayer means getting away from the noise and confusion of life, but if you will let God encourage and refresh you, by the time you have finished praying, you will be saying, “I’m ready to go again!”

 

Prayer: Father, those whom we love, we want to see daily.

 

I want to fellowship with You each day and to have communion with you in prayer. I know that You are my lifeline. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: You must have a daily, dynamic, personal prayer life with God.

 

Reading: Obadiah; Revelation 9

 

December 19

 

Encouragement for the Fight Through our

 

prayers, God encourages us to get back out into the fight of faith. Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Yes, you will become tired, and sometimes you will want to quit. However, if you are willing to bear up in prayer and stand before God and say, “God, I’m hoping in You,” He will give you strength.

 

A real fighter doesn’t wear his medals on his chest. He wears them on his back. They are his scars. Only a few people will know what it took for you to achieve your vision. Yet you must be willing to take the scars if you want to wear the crown.

 

Believe me, a champion does not win every round, but if he perseveres, he wins the match. Since prayer is where you receive the ability to continue the fight, it is crucial for you to find times during the day when you can go to God and say things like, “God, I’m scared,” so that He can reassure you that He is with you. He says, “Surely I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). When you hear that, it is enough. You are able to say, “Let’s go back, Lord, and fight one more day.” You

 

can be victorious if you are willing to take what you are afraid of to God in prayer.

 

Prayer: Father, like the apostle Paul, help me to fight the good fight of faith. It is a fight that I believe I can win because You are always there to provide the power for victory.

 

Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Every champion does not win every round, but if he perseveres, he wins the match.

 

Reading: Jonah; Revelation 10

 

December 20

 

Prayer Is the Essential Resource Without prayer, you cannot get where you want to go.

 

There will be times when all you’ll have is prayer. You won’t have any money, people, or resources —just prayer. Yet that is all you need. God will see you through.

 

When all the trouble and opposition came to Nehemiah, he said to God, “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me” (Nehemiah 6:14). Nehemiah took all his troubles and enemies to God in prayer. He didn’t write a letter of complaint to the editor of the newspaper. He didn’t try to justify himself. He prayed, and God answered his prayer to deliver him. (See verses 15–16.) Likewise, when people attack your dream, go to God. Don’t try to explain and give an answer for everything because you can’t explain anything to critics. Their motives are already contaminated, and they’ll use your words against you. Instead, stay connected to your Source for the renewal of your purpose, faith, and strength, and you will be able to persevere to victory.

 

 

There are many days (and nights) when I stumble into my prayer room and say, “God, if You won’t help me in this, I want You to take me home to You.” Visions can be very demanding.

 

Sometimes you will wonder, “Am I ever going to make it?” That’s a good time to run to God. “If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand” (Psalm 37:23– 24).

 

Prayer: Father, thank You that when things are difficult and people attack my dream, I know I can run to You for purpose, faith, strength, and protection. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: When people attack your dream, go to God.

 

Reading: Micah 1–3; Revelation 11

 

December 21

 

Attached to the Power Supply In the Bahamas where I live, we are located in an area called the “hurricane zone.” During a monster storm in 2004, the electricity went out, and my wife and I were left sitting in darkness. I reached for the flashlight and surveyed the room. Then I took a walk through the darkened house and checked everything to make sure the shutters were holding. As I examined the rooms with the flashlight, I noticed the many items we had accumulated that had become so important to us, but that now were completely useless: the large-screen television, VCR, CD players, air conditioners, computers, printers, and other high-tech “toys” we had purchased.

 

I stood there in the dark for a moment and thought about all the power, potential, benefits, pleasure, and untapped functions trapped in each of these items that were completely useless to me at that moment. These things existed, but they could not contribute to my present situation and life. The items were filled to capacity with possibility, but they could not deliver. Why? Because they were cut off from their source,

 

their power supply.

 

I then saw a true picture of mankind: a powerful creature full of divine potential, talents, gifts, abilities, untapped capacity, creativity, ingenuity, and productivity. But unless man is connected to God, his true abilities lie dormant inside him. Man can fulfill his true potential and maximize his full capacity only by remaining connected to his Creator. Prayer and communion with God give us the power we need to fulfill our purposes in Him. Stay connected to your power supply.

 

Prayer: Father, thank You for creating me with the potential to accomplish great things. Please help me to recognize You as my only true power supply. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Stay connected to your power supply.

 

Reading: Micah 4–5; Revelation 12

 

December 22

 

Action Steps to Fulfilling Vision There is

 

nothing more important in life than establishing a

 

daily prayer time or communion with God

 

through Christ. God should be the Source of all that we do and are in life. Jesus reminded us that without Him we can do nothing. (See John 15:5.)

 

Committing everything in our lives to God and maintaining our relationship with Him through prayer is the only way we can have true meaning in our lives and fulfill the purposes for which we were created.

 

Have you established a daily prayer time with God? In what ways are you relying on God for your life and vision? In what ways aren’t you relying on Him? Commit to prayer the areas in which you aren’t currently relying on Him. Be honest with Him about how you are feeling and allow Him to strengthen, sustain, and encourage you through His presence and His Word.

 

Let’s pray together: Prayer: Heavenly Father, we want to meet with You

in prayer every day. Help us to know in our hearts that throughout the day, we can bring our prayers before You and know that You hear us.

 

May we never forget that You are always ready to listen to our hearts’ cries.

Help us to remember to bring our needs to You first, before we complain to others, or before we allow our fears to discourage our hearts.

 

You are the One who gives our visions meaning and purpose. May we long for communion

 

with You more and more each day.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: God should be the Source of all

 

that we do and are in life.

 

Reading: Micah 6–7; Revelation 13

 

December 23

 

Principles of Prayer for Vision

 

Today, reflect on these principles of prayer for your vision:

 

1.To be successful in your vision, you must have a daily, dynamic prayer life with God.

 

2.God is not only the Author of your vision, but also your continuing Support as you progress toward its fulfillment.

 

3.You will never achieve your vision without prayer because prayer is what keeps you connected to the Vision-Giver.

 

4.If you stay in touch with God, you will always be nourished in both life and vision.

 

5.Prayer sustains us in the demands of vision. God will bring you through your difficulties and give you the victory through prayer based on His Word.

 

6.Prayer encourages us to get back in the fight of faith.

 

7.Since prayer is where we receive the ability to continue the fight, it is crucial for us to find times during the day when we can go before God.

 

8.Prayer is the essential resource of vision. When people attack your dream, go to God. Remain connected to your Source for the renewal of your purpose, faith, and strength, and you will be able to persevere to victory.

 

9.Prayer and communion with God give us the power we need to fulfill our purposes in Him.

 

Reading: Nahum; Revelation 14

 

December 24

 

Seasons under Heaven

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a

 

season for every activity under heaven.” Like the calendar year, our lives have four seasons, and each of those seasons must come to pass.

 

The first season is birth and dependency. All of us go through this season in which we must rely totally on outside help, particularly our families, for survival. We need to be taught and trained in what is right and wrong and what is important in life.

 

The second season is one of independence, in which we capture what we were born to do. We no longer depend on other people to give us a vision for life or to help us survive. We focus in on our own goals.

 

The third season is interdependence. In this stage, we have become so free in our visions that we can give our dreams to other people. We can now pass on our visions to the next generation.

 

The final season is death, where our lives become the nourishment for other people’s dreams in succeeding generations. If people can’t receive life from the legacy you leave when you die, then you really didn’t live effectively. People should be able to flourish on the fruit of the vision you leave behind on earth.

 

Vision gives us assignments that will impact the earth. We

 

must be able to say we have changed the world in some way while we were here and that we have left a mark for those who will come after us. Let’s discover and pursue the visions God has placed in our hearts.

 

Prayer: Father, there is a time for everything, and our times are in Your hands. You are Lord over all the seasons of our lives. May each one of them bring glory to You.

 

In Jesus’ precious name, amen.

 

Thought: Like the calendar year, our lives have four seasons, and those seasons must come to pass.

 

Reading: Habakkuk; Revelation 15

 

December 25

 

Realizing Your Vision The ability to dream is the greatest power on earth. The ability to see your hope is the greatest motivator of humanity. Without hope, life has no positive future, and disillusionment becomes a way of life. The ability to dream is the greatest power on earth because it is the essence of true faith.

 

If you have a dream, or if you want to discover your vision, remember this: God loves dreamers. He gives visions, and He is attracted to people who love to dream big. In Genesis 37, God introduces us to one of the biggest dreamers in the Bible. Joseph had a dream from God that he was destined to be a ruler or leader among men. Joseph may not always have handled his vision correctly, but he trusted God, moved toward the dream, and saw it come to pass. God loves a dreamer who is surrendered to Him.

 

What is the difference between the dreamer who realizes his dream and the dreamer whose dream becomes a nightmare of unfulfilled hopes? The dreamer who succeeds is someone who has a clear vision and acts on it. As long as a person can hold on to his vision, then there is always a chance for him to move out of his present circumstances and toward the fulfillment of his purpose.

 

Be encouraged—God wants to see your dreams fulfilled in Him!

 

Prayer: Father, the life of Joseph has always been an excellent example of Your faithfulness. It is also an example of a vision that comes alive in a person’s life and is fulfilled through faith and perseverance.

 

I trust You that my vision will come alive in my life and will be fulfilled as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: The ability to dream is one of the greatest powers on earth.

 

Reading: Zephaniah; Revelation 16

 

December 26

 

Draw Solid Blueprints for Your Life Commit to

 

the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will

 

succeed” (Proverbs 16:3). Most of us are trying

 

to construct our lives without any real thought or

 

planning. We are like a contractor who is trying

 

to construct a building without a blueprint. As a

 

result, our lives are out of balance and unreliable.

 

Discovering and implementing your personal vision is a process of learning about yourself, growing in your relationship with and knowledge of the Lord, and continually fine-tuning your understanding of the vision God has given you. It would be a good idea to review your personal vision on a regular basis. At least every six months to a year, set aside a block of time to pray and reevaluate where you are in relation to your vision. You will add to or take away from certain elements of your plan as God refines your understanding of His purpose. Eventually, you will begin to see, “This is the real thing!” However, if you never write out a life blueprint, then God will have nothing to direct you in.

 

My prayer is that you will stop the construction of your life right where it is and go back and draw solid blueprints that will lead you where you want to go in life through the vision God has put in your heart. Over the next several days, we will look at guidelines for discovering and developing your personal

 

vision plan. I encourage you to use these last few days of this year to write a plan for your life.

 

Prayer: Father, guide me as I write down

 

the vision for my life. I commit my plans to You. Please help me to continue to fine-tune them as I seek Your direction in prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: When you write your vision,

 

realize that it won’t be a finished product, but it will be refined as God makes your purpose clearer.

 

Reading: Haggai; Revelation 17

 

December 27

 

How to Write Your Personal Vision Plan It is time to write down your personal vision plan, perhaps for the very first time. Even if you are revising your plan, complete the following steps. God has a wonderful blueprint to reveal to you.

 

Step One: Eliminate Distractions. Sit down somewhere by yourself, away from any distractions and responsibilities, and allow yourself some uninterrupted time to think and pray. Do this as often as you need to as you develop your plan.

 

Step Two: Find Your True Self. Until you know who you are, why God created you, and why you’re here, life will simply be a confusing experiment. Answering the following questions will help give you clarity and confidence in regard to your personal identity. Write down your answers to these questions, taking the time to answer them with much thought. You may also want to review the previous devotionals on finding out who you are in God.

 

•Who am I?

 

•Who am I in relation to God?

 

•Where do I come from as a person?

 

•How have I been created like my Source? (See Genesis 1:26–28.) •Why am I here?

 

Write out your personal purpose statement. Ask yourself, “What is my reason for existence as a human being and as an

 

individual?” (You may be able to answer this question only after you have completed the other steps. However, you may also want to write an answer now and then compare it with what you think after you have gone through the rest of the questions.) Prayer: Father, I am trusting You for Your clear guidance in developing my vision plan. Reveal my true self to me as You have designed me. Thank You for leading me in the way I should go.

 

In the precious name of Jesus, amen.

 

Thought: God has a wonderful blueprint to reveal to you.

 

Reading: Zechariah 1–4; Revelation 18

 

December 28

 

Finding Your True Vision Let us continue with the steps in writing your personal vision plan.

 

Step Three: Find Your True Vision. Prayerfully answer the following questions, and you’ll be amazed at the way God will begin to open your mind to His purpose and vision for you. You’ll begin to see things that you’ve never seen before. Write them down, read them over, think about them, pray about them, and begin to formulate ideas of what you want out of life. Ask yourself the following: •What do I want to do with my life?

 

•What am I inspired to do?

 

•What would I want to do more than anything else, even if I was never paid for it?

 

•What do I love to do so much that I forget to eat or sleep? Allow yourself to think freely. Don’t put any limitations of time  or  money  on  your  vision.  Because  many  of  us  are influenced by others’ opinions  of us  and by our own false expectations  for ourselves, it  may  take  you  a  little  time  to discover what you really want. Persevere through the process

 

and dig down deep to find your true desires.

 

Step Four: Discover Your True Motivation. A vision from God is never selfish. It will always help or uplift others in some way. It is designed to make the lives of mankind better and to improve society. It inspires and builds up others. Ask yourself the following and write down your answers: •How does my

 

vision help others?

 

•What is the motivation for my vision?

 

•Why do I want to do what I want to do?

 

•Can I accomplish my vision and still have integrity?

 

 

Prayer: Father, open my heart and my mind to Your purpose and vision for my life. Give me a heart to uplift others in all that I do.

 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: A vision from God is never selfish.

 

Reading: Zechariah 5–8; Revelation 19

 

December 29

 

Principles for Life Today, we will look at steps five and six to writing down your personal vision plan.

 

Step Five: Identify Your Principles. Your principles are your philosophy of life. In other words, they are how you intend to conduct yourself during your life. You must clarify what you will and won’t do. These principles are your guides for living, doing business, relating to other people, and relating to life. You must settle them in your heart and mind so that you will have standards to live by.

 

The Ten Commandments are great principles and a good starting point for developing your own principles. For example, you could write, “On my way to my vision, I will not steal, lie, or bear false witness; I won’t worship any god but God Almighty; I will not commit adultery; I will not covet,” and so on. Write out your life principles.

 

Step Six: Choose Your Goals and Objectives. Goals are the steps necessary to fulfill your vision. What practical things do you need to do to accomplish your dream? Goals are clear markers that indicate where you need to go. Write out your goals.

 

Objectives are the detailed steps of your goals. They determine when you want things to happen. You must clearly delineate what you need to do and when you need to do it in

 

order to get to where you want to go. For example, if you want to open a mechanics shop, and one of your goals is to go to school to learn mechanics, some of your objectives will be to choose a school, fill out an application, and start classes. Objectives should include specific timetables. Write out your objectives.

 

Prayer: Father, put Your laws in my mind and write them in my heart as my standard of conduct and living. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Goals are clear markers that indicate where you need to go, the steps necessary to fulfill your vision.

 

Reading: Zechariah 9–12; Revelation 20

 

December 30

 

Identifying Resources Here is the seventh step to take when writing down your personal vision plan.

 

Step Seven: Identify Your Resources. You now need to identify all the resources you will need to accomplish your vision.

 

Identify your human needs. What help do you need from others to fulfill your vision? What kind of personal associations do you need to have—and not have?

 

Identify your resource needs. What kinds of resources do you need to fulfill your vision? Don’t worry about how large they may seem. Write them down.

 

Write down your strengths. What are your gifts? What do you know you are good at? Write down your answers, and then make plans to refine your strengths. For example, if your vision requires that you must speak before large groups of people, you have to start stepping out and doing it. You don’t know what you can do until you have to do it. Some amazing gifts come out of people when they are under pressure.

 

Write down your weaknesses. What does your vision need that you aren’t good at? Don’t be ashamed of your weaknesses, because everyone has something he is not good at. However, you must identify them because God will supply

 

other people to do what you cannot do toward your vision. Remember, you need other people in your life because your vision cannot be fulfilled by you alone.

 

Prayer: Father, show me my strengths and weaknesses, and where I need others to help fulfill the vision You have given me.

 

Thank You for supplying all of my needs, including people, even before I knew I had need of them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Thought: Some amazing gifts surface and develop only when people are under pressure.

 

Reading: Zechariah 13–14; Revelation 21

 

December 31

 

Commit to Your Vision On this last day of the year, we come to the concluding step in writing out your vision plan.

 

Step Eight: Commit to Your Vision. You will never fulfill your vision if you are not committed to it. You will need to make a specific decision that you are going to follow through, acknowledging that God may refine your plans as He leads you through the process. Also, commit your vision to God on a regular basis. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

 

•        Commit to your vision.

 

•        Commit your vision to God.

 

•        Remember, God will bring your vision to fulfillment!

 

 

I have shared my vision openly in these devotional pages. My purpose is to inspire and encourage leadership and vision in the lives of people all over the world, and I am especially committed to doing so with the people of Third-World developing nations.

 

Life was designed to be lived intentionally and on purpose, but most of the people of the world exist under circumstances beyond their control. They live by duress rather than destiny. For most, history has robbed them of the capacity to dream and

 

to live with hope for a better future. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18) could describe many of the developing Third-World nations, where a lack of national pride, a poor work ethic, a culture of corruption, and the citizenry’s loss of hope are pervasive. We need the emergence of leadership that can see beyond their personal gain and capture a God-inspired vision of their nations that incorporates the aspirations of the people and their right to pursue their personal dreams and visions. I believe the key is visionary leadership. May the principles in this book be a source of igniting the passion of purpose in the hearts of this very special and unique group of people.

 

Reading: Malachi; Revelation 22