Prov. 29:18
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
I have been drawn back to this verse time and time again. It’s been kind of a magnet to me. You see, over the course of my ministry I've learned that vision is not just necessary, its essential to our walk, as well as to our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. There are three essential elements one must have if one is to be successful in ministry and in life, and if one is to be truly happy.
The first one is a godly VISION. If you can’t see it yourself, don’t expect others to see it. Your vision must be burned into your innermost being. It must never depart from you. Vision is what points you in the right direction. It doesn’t guarantee that you’ll necessarily hit the target, but if you are true to your vision, it will get you close enough.
Secondly, one must have a PASSION. Passion is the propellant that drives you toward your vision. Passion is what gets you through the “tough times.” When the world appears to collapse around you, and everyone seemingly abandons you, your passion alone that will help you stand, walk or crawl if you have to, often against all odds, and frequently by yourself toward your divine destiny.
Lastly, and most importantly, you must have DISCIPLINE. I call this the “D” word. You can have an awesome vision, and be passionate about achieving it, but if you’re not willing to make the necessary sacrifices implicit in any worthwhile endeavor, you will spend the rest of your life just trying to get there; eternally relegated to being a "dreamer," and never a doer. It is a formula for never-ending frustration. You see, discipline not only prepares you for the race, it is your own personal way of winning before you even start. Paul speaks of discipline this way:
1 Cor. 9:24-27
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
A Godly vision, powered by Spirit led passion, and sustained by self-sacrificial inner-discpline, will set you on your way toward your personal destiny. It will probably require a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears. That's the price of admission to this show. It is what is meant by the term to "keep," used in Prov. 29:18. It means to be diligent in observing. If you stay the course and maintain your discipline, not only will you ultimately be successful, but you will also be happy, the Hebrew term for “blessed” used in this scripture.
Do you want to be happy? Pursue God's Vision for your life. Do so passionately. And be disciplined about the journey. And no matter what, don't ever give up.
Oh yeah, and don't forget to laugh (It's much better than crying. lol)
"Listen to me, all you who are serious about right living and committed to seeking God... I, God, will comfort Zion, comfort all her mounds of ruins. I'll transform her dead ground into Eden, her moonscape into the garden of God, A place filled with exuberance and laughter, thankful voices and melodic songs." Isaiah 51:1-3
luv ya,
Pastor Mario
