I’m currently doing a series at Crossroads called “Vision 2012″….in response to so many that are hungry for a simple, clear way to discover God’s vision for their life this year I’ve decided to take some time on this blog to unpack those steps…..
Step 1–discovering the simple, clear statement (or phrase)
”What is the over arching vision for your life (and family) in 2012?”
Meaning, what is the simple statement that will describe the way in which God wants to break into the world through your (and family) life in 2012?
Below are some thoughts that will help you to hear from God as to what this vision is:
Pray this prayer (by yourself and as a family) this week:
- “Daddy, how do you want to break into the world through my life (our family) in 2012? Daddy, what are the words you want us to use to describe how you want to break into the world through our lives in 2012? Daddy, give me (us) the strength to not stop wrestling with these words that describe this picture until you give me (us) peace about the description because Daddy, I don’t want to go around in circles this year but I (we) want to make an eternal impact with my life (our family) this year. Amen”
The vision (the statement) should be clear enough that you can describe it to anyone in one simple sentence (it should be able to fit on your fridge). It should be so clear that a first grader could hear it and remember it. It is this clarity that will create the confidence to pursue the vision under pressure. Courage is confidence under pressure. Hence, your clarity in your vision becomes the source of your courage to pursue the vision in the face of opposition.
Don’t worry about the details right now; over the coming weeks we will align the areas of our lives underneath the vision with specific goals to pursue. The first step is hearing from your Dad as to what the picture is of how He wants to break into the world through your life (and your family) this year.
Below is a snapshot of my vision for 2012 (this may help as a reference)
In asking the question of my Dad, “How do you want to break into the world through my life in 2012?” the answer that I received was a focus upon three different areas.
- 1.being intentional about friendship
- 2. Inviting friends into being a part of our family
- 3. Out of these relationships God would use my life and my family to produce disciples (faithful followers of Jesus).
Hence, God’s vision statement for my life in 2012 is to “make friends, create family, and produce disciples.”
The next step (which will come next week) is to put that vision into practice with some very specific strategy and goals for 2012. The way in which I put that vision into practice is that I want to align the different areas (roles) of my life in such a way that it lives into that vision. So I look at my marriage, family, fatherhood, friendship, work, community involvement, finances and get very specific about the goals and strategies I have for each area that will produce the kind of life that is “making friends, creating family, and producing disciples.”
The questions I’m asking of each area:
- How Does God want to use my marriage and my role as husband to “make friends, create family, and produce disciples”?
- How Does God want to use my family and my role as “Father” to “make friends, create family, and produce disciples?”
- How Does God want to use my role as “Leader” to “make friends, create family, and produce disciples?”
- How Does God want to use my role as “steward” (my finances) to “make friends, create family, and produce disciples?”
And then I want to ask the Holy Spirit to get very specific in revealing to me (and our family) what these specific goals are for in 2012…..knowing that one of the ways I can tell if it’s from God or not is if the goal doesn’t require God’s presence for it to be accomplished then it’s not from God. If the goal and strategy will require my Dad’s presence in involvement then it’s from Him and will be a tool He will use to break into the world through my life
I would love to hear the vision God gives you in a comment below…..just the simple statement.
Peace from Pastor P
Just the kind of prayer that is in my heart! Praise Jesus!