This article first appeared on The Inspired Woman blog | by Daphne Delay
It’s already a cliche I know — vision in 2020. But let’s run with it, shall we? It’s the end of December, the end of a year, the end of a decade. It’s also the beginning of a new year, and a new decade. And it happens to be the year 2020, a term used to describe perfect vision.
January is always a time when people reflect on the past and recalibrate themselves and their goals. Or at least it’s a good time to do so. And although we can do that anytime, it just feels right to set goals and cast vision at the beginning of a new year — which is why I paused recently and wondered when was the last time I set real-time goals for myself and my ministry? For many years I had one goal: to get picked up by a mainstream publisher. I renewed that goal every year and worked towards it until it finally happened in 2016.
Unfortunately, after that year, I let my goals and vision diminish a bit. And that’s what happens with eyesight if a person isn’t careful to protect their vision. Sight dims over time.
The Bible says, “A prudent person with insight foresees danger coming and prepares himself for it. But the senseless rush blindly forward and suffer the consequences” (Proverbs 22:3, TPT). A prudent person protects their sight. A senseless person moves forward blindly. Do I have to ask you which one is bound to fall into the ditch?
The crazy thing is we serve an amazing God who literally tells us to ASK for wisdom and vision. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get His help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who ‘worry their prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open” (James 1:5-8, Message).
Keeping all our options open is the same as putting on a blindfold and saying, “Whatever happens happens…” Really? Surely none of us really want to live that way– by chance –not when you have the option to see clearly.
One of the number one ways God speaks to us (besides His written Word) is through peace. The Bible calls it “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). In other words, despite what your head thinks, God can guide you forward by the inward witness of peace. I always tell others, no matter what you may be thinking, follow the peace. It never fails.
This is why the prudent person can foresee danger and not be fearful. He knows the God of peace. But the senseless person describes someone who has lost sense (reasoning). But isn’t it interesting that sight is considered one of the five senses? So it’s not too much of a stretch to say a senseless person (one who has lost his sight) struggles like a wave tossed on the sea.
As I looked back on past years, I realized I may not have set solid goals like getting published, but I didn’t go forward without vision. God’s Word is always a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalms 119:105). But this year, the Holy Spirit clearly said:
Don’t go blindly into 2020.
I pray that you will join me in seeking God’s will for this new year. He has a specific task and plan for each of us. It is vitally important that we move forward in faith and confidence.
