Vision gives direction to life because God’s path for us is in the vision He gives. Without vision, we cannot get our bearings right. We must get our vision, locate our place in God and let the light of God shine on our paths. How, then, do we secure a vision? Genuine visions come from God; yet, man has a part to play.

A man who seeks a vision must stretch out his hands to God to receive it, just as the man who desires the gift of salvation steps out and confesses the Lordship of Jesus. Likewise, the visionary has to step out and call on the name of the Lord. There is a separation and an asking involved; be it revelation or salvation, they only come to those who call on His name.

In this chapter, we will examinet what this stepping out involves.

Realising Our Needs

God cannot supply what we don’t need. He will only supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). Only a fool will despise the need for a vision because the Word of God clearly spells out the consequence for the lack of it.

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

Lack of vision can bring regret to a whole generation and it can lead to the destruction of the saint of God. There is need for every believer to have a vision. It is not God’s wish that anyone should perish. He wants everyone to get to their promised land and only vision can take us there.

However, if we desire to enter our promised land and possess our possessions, we need a genuine vision from God. Vision is the gateway to greatness in the Kingdom and it makes a man. Let us see what happened to one of our covenant fathers.

All his life, Jacob had been a trickster and a usurper until he had an encounter with God at Bethel on his way to meet Laban. This was the turning point of his life. The usurper died, the trickster was buried in a covenant with God, and a new life began. He arrived at Laban’s place without a vision but he had a determination to live right.

However, this was not enough. For fourteen years, he sweated and laboured for the woman he loved. He was cheated and subjected to slavery. At the end of 14 years, he had no substance, no future; but only two wives and a battalion of children to show for his sweat.

Then, he remembered his covenant with God. He asked and received a terrific insight into cattle rearing, which he promptly put to work. He pursued it and he prospered. The Scripture says in Genesis 30:43 that:

“And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.”

The potential for greatness was in him, but until he saw the need for insight into the ways of God, he never received it. Vision brings about positive covenant changes in our lives when we see the need for it and are prepared to receive it.

See God’s Willingness to Reveal His Plan

God is always willing to reveal His plans. He didn’t make His plans for Himself, He made them for us. He devised them so that through them, we can arise as stars and bring about the re-establishment of His Kingdom on earth. I used the word “re-establishment” because Adam transferred the dominion of the earth to satan at the fall.

God is eager to see the re-establishment of His power and authority on earth. This explains why His eagerness to reveal His plans to us knows no limit.

“…I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” Isaiah 48:17

God has taken upon Himself the responsibility to lead us into our destinies.

How does He do this? By revealing His plans and showing us our own portion in His master plan. It was specially designed for us; so, we must go for it! God is eager to show us. He is just waiting for that moment when we will step out to receive it.

Seek God In Prayer

Prayer draws the hand of God into a situation. It is the link that connects man to the throne room of God. If we want to know the ways of God in any situation, we must pray and ask.

The man Daniel was a man of visions and revelations. He was also a man of prayer. He received his vision and revelations through the instrumentality of prayer. A time came when he discovered the set time for the captivity of Israel. He then took it upon himself to seek the face of….

This text is an extract from the book “UNDERSTANDING VISION” written by David O. Oyedepo. 
We invite you to read the following article “SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY“.