How to Write Your Vision for 2023
Do you know where you’re going? Like, really have a vision and plan for your life? Like most people, you might wake up, reach for your phone, and start aimlessly scrolling through social media, looking at the news, and checking your little red notifications. Before you have had a chance to collect your thoughts or thank God for a new day, you have become reactionary to whatever pulls at your attention.
We all have had mornings where people and things pull at our attention, telling us what to do instead of us being in control of our day from the start. The dangerous part is when those mornings turn into days, weeks, and months. Have you checked your screen time lately? Would it surprise you to know that, on average, people spend 3 hours a day on their phones? And 1 out of 5 smartphone users spends around 4.5 hours a day. That'sThat's approximately 24 hours a week – one whole day spent on the phone. About 96 hours a month or 4 days. And a whopping 4,992 hours or 96 days per year staring at our phones! That's a lot of time that could have been used to learn a new skill, exercise, or just connect face-to-face with those sitting right next to you.
I say all of that to make this point, we have to be purposeful to create the life we desire. Most importantly, to step into the life God has prepared for us. Proverbs 29:18 says, ""Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God]"" (AMP). In other words, without knowing God'sGod's vision and calling for your life, you will wander around aimlessly, trying to find the purpose of life. Unfortunately, many people can't find that divine purpose and fall into various forms of sin trying to fill a God-sized void.
So, what prevents people from stepping into their God-given destiny?
Fear - Fear of the unknown. Fear of starting something new. Fear of stepping out of your comfort zone. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment from others.
No Direction - Many people simply don't know where to start
No Motivation - What is your why? You will only follow through if you think something is important to you. Hint: Your why needs to be bigger than yourself. For example, my motivation for working out isn't so I look good, but so I have the energy to fulfill God's plan for my life – and have the energy to be active with my children and grandchildren (someday).
No Vision - If you don't know where you're going, how can you go in the right direction? Habakkuk 2:2 says, "Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it" (NKJV). It's a biblical practice to write your goals and vision for your life.
How to write your vision
The goal for all of us should be that when we stand before God one day (and we all will stand before Him), He will say, "Well done." I don't want Him to tell me, "Well, you did a lot of things, but it wasn't what I created you to do." Ouch! So, how can you find your "path" and cast the vision for your life?
Pray - I know this seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised at how many of us don't spend time talking to God about HIS plan for our life. Jeremiah 29:11 says He has good plans for us. Therefore we need to seek Him out through prayer.
Pray, "Lord, I know you have plans for me, and Your Word says they are good plans. So, I ask you to reveal the next step you have for me to take. I thank you that I hear Your still, small voice clearly as you speak to my heart. In Jesus'Jesus' name."
Ask Him to reveal to you a word for the year - something you can apply to every area of your life.
Write it - Write that word you felt in your heart or the next step to take. I find it helpful to keep a journal during my prayer time to write down what I feel the Lord is speaking to my heart. If you want assistance with your devotional time, click here for a free devotional journal guide.
I have also prepared a Vision Board Guide for you to use. It will walk you through how to use your word for the year and apply it to different areas of your life, creating your vision and goals for the year.
Apply Your Faith - The Vision Board Guide will also walk you through finding scriptures for each goal you create. Goals become faith projects when you find a promise in the Bible regarding your goal. Use the Bible app (using the discover button on the bottom) to find scriptures on whatever you need.
Sow a Seed - The kingdom of God operates by sowing and reaping. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." In other words, if you want to see your dreams come to pass in your life, sow a seed toward it. Stand in faith (on the scriptures that you found), and believe that through your faith and diligence in doing what God has told you to do, you will step into your calling like never before!
I would love to hear what dreams and goals you have for your life. Let me know in the comments below, and share this blog with a friend!