Creating a Vision for my Walk with God

“And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:2

There is a line in a song from South Pacific that got me re-thinking about goal setting. It goes, “Got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream. How you gonna make a dream come true?” Makes sense, doesn’t it. You have to have goals, make them visual so they are easily remembered. You also need to reflect on them, write about how one or more are reached and set new goals. I had not done that since retiring in 2015.

Recently, I attended a women’s vision building fellowship. We spent the day defining, working on and encouraging each other to build a personal statement of goals that reflect God’s Word in our lives. At the fellowship I worked on my personal vision board. I wanted to look at inspiring phrases, pictures from nature that delight me, and my goals. So I did. Later I would define goals.

The teacher inspired us with, “Believe for the impossible.” Her biblical reference was Matthew 19:26. We talked about ways we can resist the adversary in our daily lives, and how that can be a part of your goals. Later, with reflection from our fellowship, goals emerged as I thought, prayed, and listened quietly to the Father. My one reoccurring thought was, “What has God asked me to do?” Finally, five goals emerged. I wrote them on cards and attached them to my vision board. I didn’t stop there.

            Matthew 19:26: But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Goals can remain unobtainable and overwhelming if you let them stay as “out there somewhere ideas.” You have to make them personal and relevant to your personal life. I did this first, by taking each goal and teasing out two more layers of details. The first layer, my objectives, contains what things I want complete or learn or do. Then for each objective, I developed action statements. Things I can do each day to run my race and win. I asked myself these questions, When I am listening to God, what am I doing? Or What am I thinking? Answering them, helped me visualize my actions. When I visualize it, I can achieve it. Finally, I found appropriate verses to memorize and remind me of God’s promises. Second, I carry my goals with me. I have my board to see and inspire me every day. I know that working daily on them will help me attain them.

Here is my goal to listen expanded as an example of filling in the details.

Goal: Listen more effectively

Deuteronomy 29:4: Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Matthew 11:15: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

James 1:19: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

 Objective: Listen to and for God

• Actions:
• Pray perfectly and often
• Stop and reflect quietly
• Read and study the Word

Verses:1 Kings 19:11-12: And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.

2 Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

Objective: Listen to my husband

• Actions:
• Finish speaking and then be quiet as he speaks
• Ask questions, then be quiet as he speaks

Actively listen to his speaking and non-verbal communication, not rushing or interrupting him

Verses: Ephesians 5:22-23: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Objective: Listen to others

• Actions:
• Greet, and then listen to what others have to say
• In conversations, listen actively, not thinking about what I want to say.
• Don’t interrupt.
• Slow down, and not rush the conversation along with my own personal agenda.
• Minimize projecting my behaviors, actions and skills on others.

Verse: Ephesians 4:32: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.Ephesians 5:21: Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Objective: Listen to my body

• Actions:
• Slow down and take stock of what I am feeling throughout the day.
• Pause before making eating choices
• Reflect on daily, weekly and monthly choices in activities, eating and health.

Verse: James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.