Life's Daily Challenge Devotional

Bringing vision out of the clouds

"... Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come..." Hab. 2:2-3.

Dear caretaker of vision,

Vision is a precious thing and not so mysterious as some would make it to be. Your spirit is constantly creating...looking for solutions to problems. You were given this ability by God. He wants to unite with you in this creative “secret place” to share His insight and instruction.

Strong’s Concordance defines vision as, "A sight (mentally) as in a dream, revelation, or oracle. It comes from the root word meaning to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); spec. to have a vision of -- behold, look, prophesy, provide, see."

Some people have visions or dreams like 3-D movies. The Bible is filled full of examples of people who were caught up into the very presence of God. More often than not, visions are simply impressions on your heart and mind. Your heart and mind connect with the heart and mind of God. The fact that God communicates with you through your own faculties makes it sometimes easy to dismiss His thoughts for your own. A little practice, however, makes it increasingly possible to discern when He is speaking to you.

It’s important to learn to cultivate these “God impressions” and to give them proper care. As mentioned in a previous devotion, we must write them down. We must keep them plain and simple, being careful not to add more than what God is revealing. Most of all, we must learn to wait. There is a birthing process that must be respected. It’s important that we not induce labor through our own impatience. Like the fetal development of a natural child, the vision will grow without our help. Our job is to nurture and protect the environment, or spiritual womb, that keeps it alive. When the vision is fully developed birth pangs will come. There will be no stopping its birth. Through the joy and pain that accompany the birth, a beautiful work of the Spirit will be born. In that moment all your painful waiting will be redeemed as God’s life is revealed.