Thursday, February 12, 2009

Can You See?

"Where there is no vision, the people persish.."
Proverbs 29:18a

I was on the elliptical at the gym today, and my mind was all over Africa. (I tell you this, because normally at the gym I am thinking, "How much longer?" Today, though, God was obviously interrupting my normal mental workout process with more important stuff!) Instantly, the above verse popped into my head. The King James version of the Bible uses the word vision, but the NASB and the NIV translate it as revelation. The original Greek word is hazon, which means a message from God with a possible focus on the visual aspects of the message He has laid upon your heart.

As we prepare to go many miles across the sky and sea to be the hands and feet of Jesus, it's important that we ask the Lord for a vision or revelation, corporately and individually. I sense Him prompting me to ask Him for a specific vision, and I also encourage you to sit for a while in quietness-- praising Him, beholding His presence, and asking Him for a vision, too. When we move forward with that new revelation, it helps us to focus in prayer. It also can greatly build our faith, because when we get there in the middle of it all--we will see Him and how deliberately and personally He was moving us along to accomplish His purpose. And, ultimately, He will be glorified, as we stand amazed once again at His greatness!

So, what or who do you see? Feel free to share if you are led or maybe the Lord just wants you to keep that between you and Him, for now. He's just that way sometimes. As for me, I need to purpose to sit still, which can be a ridiculous challenge, but I'll let you know what transpires. I know that I see sweet smiles on dark faces and me sitting on a step with another in conversation, an embrace...but I think there's something more. I think I'll keep asking and reaching.

"The secret of the Lord is with those fear Him; and He will make them know His covenant."
Psalm 25:14

Love to you all~
(Jen Maddox)