Write the Vision (Part I)

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:1-4

A vision is a prophetic word or picture that God speaks to His children in order for them to become aware of the work of God and to move forward in His purposes. The Bible is full of stories of God’s people receiving a prophetic word or vision from the Lord as they began their process.

For example, Moses tended his father-in-law’s sheep for four decades without, knowingly, being involved in anything spiritual. Moses didn’t have a vision for his life until God appeared to him in a burning bush in the desert when feeding the flock. When the Lord appeared to him, He told him that He had heard the cries of the Israelites enslaved in Egypt, and He wanted to rescue them by sending Moses to them. The Lord explained that He had a land flowing with milk and honey that He was going to take them into. It was already a difficult task for Moses, but without this vision, it would have been much more difficult for Moses to go before Pharaoh and ask for the children of Israel.

In the above passage, as Habakuk stood and watched God, the Lord began to instruct him to write down the vision. Why is writing it down so important!? First, the written vision becomes a point of encounter with God. Second, it becomes a tool for us to remember what God has spoken. Whenever the Lord met the Patriarchs in the Bible, they built an altar in that place as a point of remembrance. Third, by the written vision, we can fight the enemy when he comes to bring doubt, discouragement, and derailment.

Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

The Lord reveals His heart and His plan to His servants before He begins His work. The vision becomes a vague blueprint as to what the Lord intends to do. Generally, He does not give specific information such as the length of time or the obstacles ahead, but He provides us with enough information to keep us going in the direction that He has set out for us.

When Mary received the vision from the angel about having a baby, she did not have many details.  Basically, she knew that she was going to carry God’s son and that it required her stewardship of this child until such a time that God would reveal His plan for His life. Mary and Joseph had to overcome many obstacles. However, they continued to follow the Lord’s leading every step of the way, and the Lord was faithful to show them what they needed to do.

Has the Lord given you a prophetic word or a vision? If so, what have you done about it? Some may have given up on the vision after years of waiting.  The truth is that God’s vision does not always equate with activity, but it does equate with a process that may or may not appear spiritual.

Allow the Lord to bring to remembrance the words that He has spoken to you in the past some of which He may desire for you to focus on in this season. For others, the Lord may speak a new vision in your life. Incline your ear to Him and make sure you are in tune with His voice. When He speaks, write it down. Cooperating with the Holy Spirit allows us to have continued revelation of the work of God through the vision of God! Praise God for His vision for His children and His desire to walk with us on the journey!