Yesterday I hope you considered to be appreciative and notice the little things around you. Today, The question is asked, "Are you following a vision that the Lord has laid upon your heart?"
Many say this is terrible time to be starting a new venture, but what if you had been praying for the Lord's guidance and felt he spoke to you to step out in faith. Today most of us want a "sure thing" whether it is an investment in the stock exchange, a raise at our work, a great relationship with someone, or anything else that comes to mind. But the reality is that there is no "sure thing". so what do you do when you feel like the Lord is giving you a vision?
Many of us park the vision in the back of our mind and just prod along doing what we feel is safe. So there is no faith involved and you continue doing what you have already done.
It was when I lived in Ocala, FL that the Lord gave me a vision one night and I felt like I had to follow that vision. Our church had grown so rapidly that we were running out of temporary locations. There was a Kash and Carry in town that had been vacant for several years and it was ideal. The Food Lion real estate manager for the property noted that Kash and Carry still had the lease for another ten years but would sub-lease it for what they pay. Now this was way beyond what we could afford. There was literately no place else for us to go as a church.
Then on one Tuesday night, I felt God say that I needed to got to Salisbury, NC and make an appeal in person. "Why me Lord? I am just a lay person in the church." None the less I remember trying to find every reason in my thoughts why I was not the person to go.
Wednesday morning came with little sleep and I knew I had to go. First I called Food Lion Corporate for an appointment but could not get through to her office. I called the pastor and told my then girlfriend what had taken place. The pastor gave me a pictorial history book and Lynnette and the pastor prayed over meat 6:00 p.m. just before Wednesday night service. As I drove all night, about midnight I felt like I needed to pull off the interstate and get an ice cream. I was off the highway for about five minutes but on getting back on the highway, I noticed the traffic was stopping. A wreck had occurred just one mile ahead of me and the timing would have had me in about that position if I had not stopped.
At nine a.m. the next morning I was in the lobby at Food Lion and asked for the person I had left the message. The receptionist asked if I had an appointment and noted that I had not but would wait all day if necessary to see this lady. Before I could sit down, they called me to met her on the fifth floor. Our meeting was divine as I was talking to another believer and we soon became friends.
In order for this to not drag on, I will tell you we were told no by her boss but the Lord led me to write a letter to the CEO of Food Lion explaining our situation and need for the building. Just before Christmas, I got a phone call from the lady at Food Lion. Her conversation went something like this: "Merry Christmas Gary. I got a phone call from the CEO this morning and he personally approved you you having that building for the cost of insurance and upkeep." (A side note is that the CEO retired twenty days later)
If the Lord puts a vision on your heart, NEVER make excuses, or take no for an answer. It is the Lord's vision on your heart and you must follow it to the end. Bathing your vision in prayer with those prayer warriors and seeking wisdom only helps your faith become stronger and to witness how the Lord is REALLY in charge.
Is He using you for see a vision come to reality? Trust me, you will have giant leaps of faith when you look at God working in people's lives.
