Our own idealistic principles may actually lull us into ruin. Examine yourself spiritually to see if you have vision, or only principles.

Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what’s a heaven for?

“Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision]….” Once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless. We cast off certain restraints from activities we know are wrong. We set prayer aside as well and cease having God’s vision in the little things of life. We simply begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating only out of our own hand, and doing things solely on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path. We have lost the vision. Is our attitude today an attitude that flows from our vision of God? Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done before? Is there a freshness and a vitality in our spiritual outlook?

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May 9, 2016

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning God and thank you for this day and this devotional that took David and me on a brief journey right back to surrender and connection. In my research I found writers that believe many churches and pastors erroneously use this scripture to point to the need for a vision for their church and service. Another writer took me on a journey to understand that this scripture; where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision]; the people cast off restraint… —Proverbs 29:18 is really about living out of Gods guidance. Eugene Peterson’s The Message version says it clearly….18 if people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.

And God says…” When you live moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day in a surrendered, connected and curious way, your mantra then becomes…”all things work together for good”. It becomes easier for you to live in this space, because you are no longer (as Chambers says in this devotional) “eating out of your own hand”. Another way to read this scripture is; when you subordinate yourself to God’s guidance, you thrive! And how do you know God is guiding? Because I promised you that when you acknowledge Me in all your ways, I will make your paths straight. When you seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, which is Jesus, I will provide everything else you require. Knock and the door will be opened, seek and you shall find. Delight yourself in the Lord, and I will give you the desires of your heart.”