Creating Godly Vision

How do you develop a Godly vision for your life, company, or ministry? It's more than just a dream or a 5-year plan. It's an ordained destiny that has the power to draw you out of your ordinary self to pursue and achieve the amazing.

I am currently finishing up a Master's degree in Christian ministry and leadership and enrolled in a course on vision. Vision is a real buzz word these days that often gets dismissed as corporate dreaming or self-help fluff. We will discuss more on the why of vision next post.

In the mean time I want to look at how we can develop vision for our life, business, or ministry. Using the Biblical example of Abraham and the insights of Dr. John Maxwell, here are 7 keys in developing a God-given vision.

A vision must:

1. Always start with God's priorities (Gen. 12:1-2)
• Its easier to maintain passion for and purity of the vision if it comes from God.
2. Connect with the leader's identity (Gen. 15:2-4)
• Your vision is unique and personal. Don't fit your life into someone else's vision.
3. Include others (Gen. 12:2-3)
• God wants to use your vision to serve and bless others.
4. Be bigger than the leader (Gen. 17:1-8)
• God's vision for our lives is always more amazing and bigger than we could ever come up with on our own.
5. Connect with the leader's deepest convictions (Gen. 18:9-12)
• Our vision will mirror our strongest convictions and passions.
6. Be tangible and easily communicated (Gen. 15:5)
• For vision to be effective it needs to be constantly in front of us and our teams.
7. Have eternal value (Gen. 17:19-20)
• Lasting, impactful vision goes beyond our own lives and affects the destinies of those around us, beyond our generation.

My 3 year-old son has a vision of being a drummer and a rock star. What have I left out from my 7 points? How did you establish your vision? Please comment and share your feedback.