Envision More Than You Already See: Preparing for God’s Bigger Future

God is calling His people to prepare for prosperity in the coming years. This isn’t just about financial success, but about thriving in every area of life – faith, relationships, work, and finances. The decisions and actions we take this year are directly connected to what God wants to do in our lives over the next several years.

Why God Gives Us Vision

In Isaiah 54:1-3, God speaks to Israel through a powerful word picture. He tells them to imagine a barren woman who suddenly needs to enlarge her tent because she’s about to have more children than she ever dreamed possible. The message is clear: prepare for expansion using what you already have.

God told this woman to take her existing tent and make it bigger by stretching the curtains, lengthening the cords, and strengthening the stakes. He didn’t tell her to get a new tent – He wanted her to use what she had in a completely different way.

What Is Vision?

Vision is simply a glimpse from God – when He gives you a glimpse of a bigger, better future. As Isaiah 46:10 reveals, God always shows us the end from the beginning. He lets us in on the future before it happens.

God has created every human being with two sets of eyes: flesh eyes that see what is, and faith eyes that can see what could be. We all have the capacity to dream, imagine, and envision something that doesn’t yet exist around us.

Why We Need Vision

Vision serves several crucial purposes in our lives:

• Gives us something to look toward – It keeps us going and growing

• Provides focus and direction – Without vision, people go unrestrained in multiple directions

• Motivates action – You’re more likely to take steps toward something you can see

• Helps us stretch and grow – Vision sparks creative ideas we didn’t think of before

• Draws us forward – Instead of waiting for circumstances to drive us, vision pulls us toward our goals

 

What Hinders Vision?

Three major obstacles can kill our ability to envision God’s bigger future:

Limiting Beliefs

These are “truths” we’ve adopted about God, ourselves, or the world that actually limit what we believe is possible. Common limiting beliefs include thinking God won’t do certain things for people like us, or believing we’ve made too many mistakes for God to bless us.

Limiting Expectations

We often protect ourselves from disappointment by saying, “I don’t want to get my hopes up.” While this shields us from potential letdown, it also prevents us from dreaming big. Psalm 78:41 warns that unbelief can actually limit God’s ability to bless us.

Limiting Imagination

Many of us have put our minds on “birth control” – we don’t allow ourselves to think new thoughts or imagine bigger possibilities. We get so caught up in routine that we never exercise our God-given ability to dream.

How to Work with Your Vision

Once God gives you a vision, Habakkuk 2:1-3 provides a clear blueprint for what to do next:

1. Write It Down

Writing makes your vision permanent. Don’t just carry dreams in your heart or mind – put them on paper. It might be one word or one sentence about your future, but write it down.

2. Make It Plain

Make your vision clear and real so that others can understand it. God speaks clearly, and He wants our visions to be clear too.

3. Make It Practical

Give your vision some goals. If it’s about finances, create a budget or financial plan. If it’s about fitness, develop an exercise and meal plan. If it’s about spiritual growth, establish a Bible reading plan. Turn your vision into actionable steps.

4. Make It Phases

Break your vision into manageable pieces. One reason we don’t accomplish our goals is because we see them as one overwhelming task. Instead, identify phases you can tackle one at a time.

5. Make It a Picture

Create visual reminders of your vision. Faith needs something to carry along the journey – something tangible to hold onto and see.

The Power of Having Something to Work Toward

When we have a clear vision, work becomes energizing rather than draining. As one young child discovered while working to earn money for a game, “It’s fun to work when you have a goal.”

Vision doesn’t change the work we have to do, but it gives us the energy we need to keep working toward what we want. It provides the motivation to stretch, grow, and find creative solutions we never considered before.

Life Application

This week, commit to spending regular time before the Lord, listening and expecting Him to speak to you about His vision for your life. Don’t wait for circumstances to drive you toward change – let God’s vision draw you toward His bigger future.

Take time to write down what God is showing you. Make it plain by adding specific goals and practical steps. Break it into phases so it doesn’t feel overwhelming, and create visual reminders to keep you focused.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What limiting beliefs about God, myself, or my circumstances do I need to release?

• In what areas of my life have I settled for less than God’s best because I’m afraid of disappointment?

• What vision is God stirring in my heart that I need to write down and make plain?

• What practical steps can I take this week to move toward that vision?

 

Remember, God always shows the end from the beginning. He’s not asking you to prepare for a future you’re not ready for – He wants to help you use what you already have in a completely different way to close the gap between where you are and where He’s calling you to be.