August 2024 - But do you see?

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." - Helen Keller

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18

Do you have a vision? What are your dreams, your desires? God gave each and every one of us our own unique dreams and desires that only we can accomplish, but we have to be willing to follow His plan. So let's map out your vision. 

Over this past month I have created what's called a vision board. To create a vision board, you first need to write down your wildest desires: for me that included a business of my own, a family, zip lining, being an accomplished violinist, and so on. After you write down everything you can think of, find a picture that coincides with each goal. I used Pinterest. Once you have printed or ordered your pictures, put them together in some manner in which you can see them every day, and don't forget to make it cute; you will be looking at it every day after all. I hung them directly on my wall; my sister made hers into a scrapbook; a friend hooked hers on a cork board, and another friend used a poster board. There are many different ways to put it together, so choose one that works for you and that will allow you to see it every day. 

Now that you have a vision board, it's time to use it. Lamentations 3:51 says, "Mine eye affecteth mine heart..." What you see is what you think about, what you think about is how you feel, and how you feel is what you do. So much of our life is spent aimlessly wandering; we are reactive rather than proactive. Having a vision board enables you to live with intention. Each morning when you get up, look at your vision board, choose a couple of your goals to work towards, and think, 'What can I do today to help bring that desire to fruition?' If you desire a toned body, go for a run today. If you want to be a musician, practice your instrument for half an hour. If you want to learn how to cook, try a new recipe. Living with purpose is not a mindboggling thing; it simply takes consistency, determination, and action. 

In 1 Corinthians, it talks about 'striving for the mastery.' In other words, being the best you can be in your area of expertise. It is so easy to settle for mediocrity, but that's not what God wants for us. Charlie Becker said, "I have a friend who makes high six figures as an engineer. I once asked him his secret and he was like, 'Honestly man, I just read one engineering textbook every year, which is one more book than everyone else I know reads." For Charlie's friend it was the simple step of one book a year. Now I don't care how much you hate reading, anyone can do one book a year. It just takes that extra step of effort. So as you endeavor to live out your dreams, go the extra mile, practice the extra ten minutes, read the extra chapter. One of my favorite quotes says, "You may be more talented than me, you may be smarter than me, and you may be better looking than me, but you won't outwork me." Don't settle for less: be the best!

Have a vision; plan your vision; act your vision. "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18