Prayers for the Spiritual Family
Day 13, January 14th 2019
FOCUS: to be served by visionary leader
Psalm 78:24:He rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.
Habakkuk 2:1:I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me.
Proverbs 29:18: Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.The crowd was buzzing.
The morning dew was burning off under the heating sun. Dogs barking, birds chirping, and the announcers giving instructions to the trainers to bring their racing greyhound dogs to the track in the appropriate gates. These dogs have been bred and trained since birth to do one thing, run after the lure (an artificial, mechanical bunny). They were made for this. The gate opens! The dogs sprint! The crowd erupts! The announcers shout! But this race had an unexpected turn...Part way through the race, the lure exploded! For a brief moment, the dogs continued to run, but eventually slowed down, not knowing what to do. Some ran around aimlessly, some ran back toward the gate where they began, and other dogs just laid down on the track pathetically with their tongues hanging out. There was no way to determine a winner, so the race was called off. The race was over.
So what caused the dogs to lose focus? Why couldn’t they continue the race? They lost their vision. Even though they had received the strictest training, they failed to achieve anything because they had nothing to aim for.
This story illustrates, in a simple way, the profound truth found in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This proverb takes on so many different applications to so many different settings. But let’s not mistake a ‘good plan’ as the complete thought here. A vision cannot be a ‘God given’ vision unless it is guided by... well... God. As Christians, we find our ultimate vision in the pages of God’s story, the Bible. Vision is built. Not just by human effort and planning, but by seeking God through His Word and prayer.
REFLECT: What dream is God revealing to you? • Are you ready to train and chase after God’s vision for your life?• Will you trust and pray for your church leaders?
PRAYER Father, the giver of vision, help me to hear Your voice through Your Word. Mold and motivate me to chase Your vision for my life and the vision You have for Your Church. Answer the prayers of the leaders of this church; give them a clear and passionate vision. Help the vision to stick on the hearts and minds of this congregation - that we might win the race with You! Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.