These are the steps I used when I asked God to give me an expansion of the dream and further clarification. I get Polaroid Vision. Have you ever taken a Polaroid picture and you stand there seeing it developing and as time goes on it gets clearer and clearer. I think there are very few people who have a hot line to God and know exactly everything that’s going to happen. God wants us to live by faith. He will give you a vague picture and as you spend time doing these steps it’s going to get clearer and clearer.
What is vision? Vision is the God-given ability to see the unseen. It’s seeing the transparent through the apparent. God wants all of us to become great visionaries. In fact, if we could see the vision that God has for our lives individually and also as a team, we wouldn’t believe it. If we go to heaven right now, and God could unfold his vision out for you and for me, we would go, “What?! You have got that kind of vision for my life, that kind of vision for my marriage, for my dating relationship, for my career? I can’t believe it, God. This is unbelievable!”
1. What is the need?
You’re going to have to think through your dream in a logical order. Proverbs 17:24 “A DISCERNING MAN KEEPS WISDOM IN VIEW, BUT A FOOL’S EYES WANDER TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.” Circle “aims”. The question you want to ask is “What is my target?” You can’t chase two rabbits at the same time. You need to focus on doing the right things.
2. Plan for problems
Never ignore a problem because a problem will never ignore you. It’s just going to hang around. Proverbs 22:3 “A PRUDENT MAN SEES DANGER AND TAKES REFUGE, BUT THE SIMPLE KEEP GOING AND SUFFER FOR IT.” Ask yourself “What can go wrong with this dream? And “What will happen if it does?” The Bible says that’s just being sensible. That’s not being pessimistic, that’s just being sensible.
3. Face your fears
This is probably the number one killer of vision and the reason why people aren’t willing to risk taking the leap of faith to carry out vision in their lives.We hate to admit it when we’re afraid. We like to pretend. God says to go ahead and admit it. Fear is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of humanity
You must be willing to risk. “BUT WHOEVER TRUSTS IN THE LORD IS KEPT SAFE..” That’s the secret. When you know the dream is from God, it gives you confidence.
4. Do It!
Procrastination is probably the second leading killer of vision. We have a great dream or vision to act on, yet we just don’t do it. We have been told as kids, “You can become anything you want”, yet when we act on our dreams people shoot them down as silly and unreachable. The result – we quit acting on on those dreams and vision. Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.”
There comes a point of decision where you’ve got to stop talking and start acting. You’ve got to begin. Once you’ve decided it’s worth the risk, you take off. You can’t get to second base without leaving first. There’s got to come a point in your life when you say, “God’s called me to do this. I’m going for it.” “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.”
