Find the vision (4)

‘Write the vision and make it plain’ Habakkuk 2:2

The thing with following God’s vision for you that’s really important to remember, is that whatever happens along the way, you’re in it together – God’s with you every step of the way. The chances are that at some point on your journey in following the vision, things will get a bit tough. Obstacles will spring up, people may even tell you that you’re a little young to do what God’s put on your heart. When that happens, go back to that bit of paper and remind yourself that this isn’t your vision, but God’s, and if He’s told you to go with it, that’s what you need to do. So don’t see obstacles as bad things – instead, face them head on, take a look at the tough moments, and see how they could make you stronger instead. What might look like an obstacle now could actually look more like a stepping stone helping you along when you look back on it later. Be encouraged by the story of Joseph in Genesis 39. His brothers sold him to slave traders, who sold him to Potiphar, who put him in prison where he met the butler, who introduced him to Pharaoh, who made him Prime Minister of Egypt – fulfilling his dream! He could have given up on his vision at any point during those tough times – but he didn’t. He trusted God, and God took him through it. Never stop following!

Find the vision (3)

‘Write the vision and make it plain’ Habakkuk 2:2

It’s one thing to find your vision, but that’s not enough – you’ve got to follow it too. What’s the use of having a present but never opening it, or knowing how to speak but never opening your mouth? An un-followed vision is just as useless! This is where the verse for these last few days really comes into its own. Grab a pen and paper right now – what are you waiting for? – and write down your vision. It may not be completely clear to you yet, but write it as plainly and simply as you can. What is it that you feel God is calling you to do? What dream has He given you? Maybe it’s to start up a youth service at church? Maybe to get involved in fair-trade? Maybe it’s to really throw yourself into Bible study so you can make sense of the Bible when you’re chatting to others? Maybe it’s to one day have a family of your own and to start preparing for that today? Maybe it’s to study hard so you can go to medical school and eventually become a doctor? It could be absolutely anything! Don’t worry how big or small it is – every person’s vision will be different – but get it down on paper. Now you need to come back to it every day, read it, remember it, and ask God to help you come up with a plan of action to make it happen. Start taking those first little steps forwards, and see where God takes you with it.

source UCB

http://www.ucb.co.uk/index.cfm?itemid=92&testdate=04 Jan 2011

..”Write the vision and make it plain“… Habakkuk 2:2

Jesus said, ‘…for this reason I was born…’ (John 18:37 NIV). When you know why you’re here and what your God-given purpose is, you become virtually unstoppable. You won’t be flawless, but you’ll have the innate power to overcome each obstacle as you proceed. If you get turned around, God loves you enough to get your attention, correct and redirect you, and get you back on track. But to find the right answers you must first ask the right questions, such as:

1) What desires have been living in me most of my life?

Singing creativity, inspiring

2) What motivates me to be productive?

3) What keeps me going forward when I’m worn out?

4) What makes me refuse to quit when I meet with resistance or opposition? 5) What do I do that doesn’t seem like work?

Writing inspirationals; and songs

6) What do I do that brings positive response and support from others?

7) What am I doing, or what’s happening in my life when doors seem to open automatically and effortlessly?

8) What do discerning leaders and godly counsellors think about my work?

9) What makes me feel good about being who I am?

 10) What makes my creative juices flow?

11) What am I willing to sacrifice to accomplish it?

12) What am I doing that I’d be proud to offer for God’s approval?

13) What would I do without being paid for, if I could afford to?

14) What would I be willing to withstand satan over, in order to accomplish it?

What is God saying to you? It’s not too late; ‘find’ your vision and follow it!

source UCB

http://www.ucb.co.uk/index.cfm?itemid=92&testdate=04 Jan 2011

Let the gift not cause a rift

Between you and the Giver

Just as Abraham was tested

About Isaac, you will be tested.

Rather let the gift, bring a lift

To a place of trust, surrender

Worship, devotion, dedication

Consecration, adoration, adulation.

Know that what you give up to God

Will one day return, come back to you

As a blessing- an unexpected reward.

Concerning the gift: know you’re a steward.

Genesis 22:1-17 (New King James Version)

Genesis 22

Abraham’s Faith Confirmed

 ¹ Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
² Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
³ So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴ Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. ⁵ And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad^[a] and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
⁶ So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. ⁷ But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
⁸ And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
⁹ Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. ¹⁰ And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
¹¹ But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
¹² And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
¹³ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide;^[b] as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
¹⁵ Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, ¹⁶ and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— ¹⁷ blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

Gen 22:1-17

Children can be very funny and yet communicate life-changing truths to us. Can you imagine giving a child a gift and then moments later you ask for part of that gift and the child shrugs its shoulders telling you, ‘No! It’s mine.

We also do the same in many ways when God gives us things, people, children and requires us to surrender them to Him. God tests us like He did Abraham to see if we love Him more than what He has given to us. It is s test of sacrifice; a test of obedience, love, worship and dedication.

May we pass this test this year.

May we realise that when God wants something from us, it is to give Him the opportunity to give back to us, enlarge us, bless us to be a blessing, not just to our generation but the generations to come.

Let us pray:

Lord, I come in total surrender to You. I thank You for the gifts that you have given to me, realising that all good and perfect gifts come from You, our Father, who gives liberally.

Help me to loose my grip on the things you have given to me and be willing to surrender them to You in obedience and to show my love, loyalty, dedication and worship.

O Lord, may the gift not cause rift betweens You and I, in  Jesus’ name, Amen.

©Fenny West 2011-5 Devotion/test/trial of faith 01

www.inspiration4generations.com