Seeing Things Differently (post #1)

"Vision looks inward and becomes duty. Vision looks outward and becomes aspiration. Vision looks upward and becomes faith."

 ~ Stephen S. Wise



We've all heard it. "God has a great plan for you." "Follow God's purpose for your life." And we know it's true because God says, "For I know the plans I have toward you..." (Jeremiah 29:11). But, I'm still left with one question: What's my part in God's plan for me? Will God's purpose just "happen" or do I need to be doing something?



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"The spies are coming! The spies are coming!" shouted the people of Isreal. In the distance, the figures of several men appeared on foot, carrying large bundles of... something. Eagarly, the people awaited the spies' reports and curiously tried to figure out what they had brought back with them in those bundles.

Finally, Moses and Aaron had quited the Isrealites. Moses addressed the spies, "You have been forty days in the land of Canaan. Tell us, is the land good or bad? Are the cities fortified? How is the fruit? Are there many trees?"

With much excitment, the spies began describing the richness of the land. The bundles which they had carried contained the sweet, delicious fruit which grew in Canaan. The land was fertile and lusch.

A wave of excited anticipation rushed over the Isrealites. Was this really the land that God was going to give them? They couldn't think of a better place! But then the spies continued their description.

"Nevertheless," they went on, "the people of the land are big and strong. They dwell in heavily fortified cities."

Another spy came forward and exclaimed, "Not only that, but we saw the descendants of Anak there! The Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, and Canaanites all live there!"

"We don't stand a chance against them!" Another spy added.

The people gasped and began murmuring amoungst themselves. With their enemies (who just happened to be giants) well-armed in fortified walls, the Isrealities truly didn't stand a chance. The spies convinced the people that it was hopeless.

Then Caleb and Joshua stepped up.

(See Numbers 13:17-32)
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When everyone else saw the giants, they saw the fruit.
When everyone else saw the fortified walls, they saw the potential.
When everyone else saw the curses, they saw the blessings.

Caleb and Joshua had vision. Visionaries see things differently.

God calls you and me to be visionaries. He wants you to have a vision, a holy ambition. John Piper defines holy ambition as "something that you really, really, really want to do - and that God wants you to do also."  Like Joshua and Caleb, God wants you to see beyond the world's expectations and dream big.

Maybe you're thinking, well having a vision is great and all, Chloe, but I still don't know what God wants me to do. If I don't know what His calling for my life is yet, how can I have a vision for what He wants me to do?

Introducing post number two....

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