The Power of Vision

Leadership and vision go hand in hand. Therefore, leadership must begin with a clear vision: whether it be for our personal life, our family, our church, or organization. If people around us don’t know where we’re going and where we’re trying to take them, they will have a hard time making the journey.

A clear vision communicates three things:

1. Why we’re here: our purpose.

What “business” are we in? Why do we exist? Why am I married? Why do we have children? What is the purpose of our parenting? Why is our church here? What is the primary goal of this company?

A clear vision should express a higher purpose for a greater good that gives meaning to each person’s efforts. A clear purpose provides direction.

2. Where we’re going: a picture of the future.

Where are we going? What will our future look like if we accomplish our purpose? A clear picture provides motivation.

3. What guides us along the way: what we value.

What do I stand for? What’s important around here? What governs our character and relationships? Values protect and provide guard rails.

Without clear vision, we’ll never end up where we want to be, much less where we need to be, and neither will anyone else! That’s what God tells us:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18, KJV).

"Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint" (Proverbs 29:18, NIV).

So how does this flesh itself out in our lives, families, churches, and jobs?

Vision Comes from God

Vision is indeed powerful. However, for those of us who are Christ followers, we don’t believe in vision as much as we do “revelation.” The vision we have for our lives comes from God! We don’t make up the vision for our life. We get it from Him! It’s a revelation from Him!

When we started Mountain Lake Church, He gave us His mission from His Word!

Our mission: “Giving people a place to belong in a healthy relationship with God and others and become more like Jesus Christ each day.”

This mission comes straight from God’s Word! He said the most important things in life were loving Him, loving each other, carrying His message to others, baptizing people into the family and helping people follow Jesus daily! (See Matthew 22:37-40; and Matthew 28:19-20).

When we begin to discover and then live out God’s vision for our lives, it becomes the most powerful force in our lives!

1. God’s vision sustains us.

When we want to quit (I want to quit about every seven days), His vision keeps us going.

2. God’s vision guides us.

What’s really important? What is the filter for everything we do? Vision keeps us going in a consistent direction.

3. God’s vision protects us.

Seeking and living His vision protects us from harm and even protects us from wasting our lives!

Do you know what God’s vision is for your life? Your family? Your business? Your church? You don’t have to make it up, you know. It’s there in black (and red) and white.

CC Image • C.P. Storm on Flickr