DISCOVER GOD'S VISION: Managing God's Vision

Managing God’s Vision

- Matthew 25:21, Matthew 25:23, Hebrews 10:36

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
God gives His vision to those who are good stewards. God is looking for stewards who will manage His plans well, even in the face of opposition, frustration, impatience, or even spiritual attack.

As we follow God’s timeline, we may experience anxious moments and frustration while we wait for God’s plan to unfold. Satan will tempt us to bypass God’s timeline and question God’s direction. Yet God entrusts His vision to those He knows will persevere through criticism, seasons of waiting, and spiritual warfare.

God also gives His vision to those who are faithful in small things. He will give greater vision to those who are being faithful with what is already in their charge. The Bible teaches us that this is how God rewards His faithful servants. “You have been faithful with a few things: I will put you in charge of many things” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

The good news is that it is never too late to start seeking God’s vision. We are always at the right point in our lives to decide to honor God and to delight in Him.

Prayer: God, I pray that I will be a good steward of the vision You give me and that I will persevere no matter what challenges I face. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36).

DISCOVER GOD'S VISION: Asking for God's Vision

Asking for God’s Vision

- Jeremiah 33:3 Psalms 138:3

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
To understand and embrace God’s vision, we must ask Him for it. The Bible tells us we have not because we ask not—and sometimes when we do ask, we ask with selfish motives rather than God-honoring motives. But God promises us, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). God wishes to reveal Himself to us, but we must first ask with pure motives and persistence.

The word for “call” in this verse means to do so continuously. We are commanded to ask continuously until God reveals His vision to us. Persistence teaches us to rely on God while He is shaping our hearts to delight in Him.

God does a wonderful work in us when we seek His will. As we seek Him for His will, we learn who He is and we begin to delight in Him and His will rather than our own. As He becomes the desire of our hearts, we are aligned and ready to receive His will and vision for our lives.

Prayer: God, I pray that You would reveal Your vision to me today. Show me where You would have me go and what You would have me do. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted” (Psalm 138:3).

HOW DO I STUDY GOD'S WORD

How do I study God’s Word?

- Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-3, 4:12

The Bible is unlike any other narrative. It is God’s story chock-full of amazing depth and application for our lives. Jesus reminds us that the condition of our heart is important when we hear or read God’s Word. If we are open and receptive to God’s words, they will take root in our lives and transform us.
But how does our heart open up to God in order to be receptive to his words? Jesus told his disciples that after he returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit would come to reside in them and to remind them of everything he had said. This same Spirit lives in all believers today.
The desired outcome of studying God’s truth is transformation. It guides us along a path of maturity in Christ. We get into the Bible and the Bible turns around and gets into us and changes us for the good. (See Hebrews 5:11-6:3).

KEY VERSE

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

KEY IDEA

I study the Bible to know God and his truth and to find direction for my daily life.

KEY APPLICATION: What difference does this make in the way I live?

We regularly read and study God’s Word. We come to see that studying God’s Word in community with other believers is of great value. We align our lives to the Bible because we believe it is from God.
Consider this: What if for one week you exchanged your mobile phone for your Bible? Anywhere you normally take your phone, you take your Bible instead. Anytime you normally look at your phone, you look at God’s Word instead. The time you spend calling, texting, and browsing online with your phone is traded for time reading Scripture. If you normally place your phone next to you at a business meeting or by your plate at dinnertime, you now put your Bible there. What difference would this exchange make in your life in just one week? Whose life would be impacted? This line of questions is not intended to trigger guilt, but rather to inspire us to increase our engagement with the one instrument that can truly change not only our lives but the lives of those around us.