You and Your Vision Habakkuk 2:2-4NLT
Fulfilling your life’s vision depends on several things.
1. Having a vision which calls for waiting on God until He reveals His plan for you.
2. Dedicating time and energy to it- which calls for patience and discipline.
3. How to overcome obstacles–which calls for good management. The Bible says, where there is no vision, the people perish.
Listen to Habakkuk 2: 2-4NLT Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. 3 This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. 4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.
Think about this, “Without vision we are like a rock that has been skipped on top of a lake. We have no way of guiding ourselves. We are at the lake’s mercy as to where we end up, as to how far we go, as to when we turn or stop.” P.H.
Without vision, we have no control over our own lives.
Helen Keller was asked once: “What would be worse than being born blind?” to which she replied “Having sight without a vision.”
South Pacific's lyrics: If you don't have a dream how you gonna have a dream come true?
Vision gives you direction, creativity and resilience. Without one you become passive, aimless and vulnerable to quitting. God can give you a vision instantly, but it's fulfillment will require learning, practicing, and managing life's daily challenges.
In Habakkuk the prophet spoke, Please God don’t let our enemies devour us. Twice God spoke back, “My people are so wicked.”
Remember this, Visions come with opportunities- and obstacles!
My brother Harry couched several girls on his Etowah tennis team over a 20 year span that had the ability to go forward and become Super-Stars in Tennis. With every potential star, he would sit down with the player and her family. He would ask them this kind of question. “Are you willing to let everything else go, and practice, play and strength train plus eat with discipline while place nothing over tennis?’ ‘Such as friends, boys, friends, or social gatherings?” Nothing!
He would say, “Playing is one thing but practicing 8 hours a day to stay on your ‘A’ game is another.”
Finally Habakkuk prays a humble prayer and submits to God’s will. Habakkuk 3:17-19NLT Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
Just like Habakkuk, between your dream and its fulfillment you will be tested.
You’ll face the faith test. Think about Joesph, he had to maintain his faith in a hostile environment!
The patience test. Again, Joesph’s dream didn’t come quickly.
Hebrews 10:36NKJB For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
The strength test. Joesph received an unearned criminal record. He was lied on.
The focus test. Joesph could have fixated on all the wrongs done to him. He could have lost focus and thrown in the towel.
There’s a story told about a mountain in the Swiss Alps.
Half way up this mountain there is a stop called the Halfway House, named this because it was located exactly halfway up one of the mountains. People climbing the peak would stop to rest before continuing on their journey. About half of the climbers would say, “Hey, we’re just going to wait here. We’re going to settle in. The rest of you go on ahead and we’ll catch you on the way back.” Everyday about half of the climbers would go on up the mountain and the other half would linger behind. Those who chose to remain would wave goodbye to the others and then they’d spend the next hour or so playing games, relaxing and talking, and indulging in more coffee and desserts. But around 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon, something always happened among the group that decided to stay behind.
Members of the group would begin to go over to the large picture window, look up at the top of the peak, and wonder about the others.
The atmosphere would go from laughter and happiness to one of melancholy. Despondency would set in as they wondered about their decision to forfeit the rest of the climb. They realized that they also would be at the summit if they would have just kept climbing. They chose to forfeit excellence for the mediocre. And in that moment they would realize – they weren’t going to achieve the goal they’d set that morning, the goal of reaching the top of the mountain.
The readiness test. When God did open up doors Joesph was ready, he was prepared.
Obstacles won’t destroy your vision, but your attitude can.
Two thoughts to remember concerning visions and dreams.
First, It’s not over until God says it’s over. Circumstances and people don’t have the last word- God does!
Remember Hebrews 12:2NKJB looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Secondly, Nothing can defeat you without your permission- and you don’t have to give it.
You can’t control what happens to you all the time, but you can control what you say and do.
If you control what you say and do, as God’s Son’s and Daughter’s, God will control the rest.
A good man decided he wanted to become a Mock, so he took his vow of silence. Every 7th year every mock got to say a few words. Our Mock served his first 7 years and then he said to the other mocks, “My bed is too hard!” Another 7 years go by and our mock said, “The food Stinks!” Another 7 years went by and our mock said, “It’s too cold!” Another 7 years went by and our mock finally said, “I quit!” The master mock spoke up and said, “Good all you’ve done since you got here is complain!”
The Lord taught me this, “Stop wringing your hands, and ask God what He’s going to do about it?” P.H.
You can't control being knocked down but you can determine whether are not you get “knocked out!”
In closing look and read with me 2 Corinthians 4:8-9NKJB We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
Hear this, Refusing to stay down denies your enemy permission to sabotage your destiny.
Question: “Does you present vision and dream stretch you? If not, ask God for a bigger one!”
Benediction.
