If we lose “the heavenly vision” God has given us, we alone are responsible— not God. We lose the vision because of our own lack of spiritual growth. If we do not apply our beliefs about God to the issues of everyday life, the vision God has given us will never be fulfilled. The only way to be obedient to “the heavenly vision” is to give our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory. This can be accomplished only when we make a determination to continually remember God’s vision. But the acid test is obedience to the vision in the details of our everyday life— sixty seconds out of every minute, and sixty minutes out of every hour, not just during times of personal prayer or public meetings.“Though it tarries, wait for it…” (Habakkuk 2:3). We cannot bring the vision to fulfillment through our own efforts, but must live under its inspiration until it fulfills itself. We try to be so practical that we forget the vision. At the very beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed off to do our practical work, and once the vision was fulfilled we could no longer even see it. Waiting for a vision that “tarries” is the true test of our faithfulness to God. It is at the risk of our own soul’s welfare that we get caught up in practical busy-work, only to miss the fulfillment of the vision.

Watch for the storms of God. The only way God plants His saints is through the whirlwind of His storms. Will you be proven to be an empty pod with no seed inside? That will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of the vision you have seen. Let God send you out through His storm, and don’t go until He does. If you select your own spot to be planted, you will prove yourself to be an unproductive, empty pod. However, if you allow God to plant you, you will “bear much fruit” (John 15:8).

It is essential that we live and “walk in the light” of God’s vision for us (1 John 1:7).

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March 11 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, walking in Your light, operating out of Your vision for my life seems filled with uncertainty. Not uncertainty about or with You and your promises; uncertain that I can maintain the necessary focus and discipline. My experience is that whenever I try really, really hard to stay connected and depend on You….I run into difficult times.

And God says…”Of course you will not be able to maintain focus and discipline in your struggle to walk in the vision(s) I have given you. Many times, you think the connection is over when you receive the vision or direction from Me.  The pattern has been …OK thank you God for the vision, now I can take it from here. But you have discovered that does not work. You not only must wait for the vision, you must wait for Me to bring it to fruition as well. I give you the vision so that it can be your inspiration as you “wait upon the Lord”.  As Chambers spells out in this devotional……..”We cannot bring the vision to fulfillment through our own efforts, but must live under its inspiration until it fulfills itself. We try to be so practical that we forget the vision. At the very beginning we saw the vision but did not wait for it. We rushed off to do our practical work…..”

“Practically speaking, you trust Me to provide the vision, and you must trust Me to do the practical work as well. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. I will show you when and how to execute on the practical things. Seek first the kingdom of God, and I will provide everything else you need…for the vision, and for an abundant life. “