God’s Big Vision: his vision for your church

When God looks at the motley crew we call Winnipeg Centre Vineyard, I wonder what he sees.  When he hears us sing the music of our life together, what does he hear?  Of course we want him to hear beautiful music –  everyone singing on pitch, in time, and in perfect harmony.  But for the song to be what it’s meant to be, everyone needs to sing (it’s ok, those of you who feel you can’t hold a tune, it’s just a metaphor – I was once called a “tone-deaf moron!”).  The song isn’t complete and may even be discordant if each person isn’t singing their part.

What’s your part in WCV’s unique song.  Certainly, we’re joining in the bigger anthem of God’s redemption and restoration through Jesus, expressed through the his church.  But, what’s your part in the chorus?

The Challenge:

Today, ask for an understanding of his vision for you in WCV.  Why has he put you here?  What part of “the song” does he have for you to sing?

 “Only he who sings can understand the song.”  St. Bernard of Clariveaux

God’s Big Vision: his vision for our city

Praying in line with God’s vision is like planting seeds in a  garden.  We get to participate in the growing reality of God’s kingdom.

It’s a fun exercise to imagine what Winnipeg will look like when God’s perfect kingdom is fully expressed here.  When we get even a small glimpse of this reality, hope for our city is born.  If God were to “plant seeds” in our city, what would he plant?  What does he want to see grow, emerge or appear in our city?

The Challenge:

Today, ask God to show you one reason he’s put you in this city – and then ask him to help you plant it!

“Prayer is like planting.”

God’s Big Vision: his vision for your neighbours

People are every neighbourhood’s most important asset. Without neighbours, there would be no neighbourhoods.  Our blocks, streets and suburbs are full of our actual neighbours.  If we are to take Jesus’ command seriously, those are the people we are to love.

Many of us have understood this command outside of our neighbourhoods.  We’ve made it about people who are out there somewhere – perhaps those we run into on the bus, at work or in school.  This isn’t wrong.  However, our neighbours, first and foremost, are the people we live next to.  Whether they are the people across your fence in the suburb, sleeping on the next mat to you in the shelter, or across the back alley in the Elm-lined areas of our city, these are our real neighbours.

The Challenge:

Today, ask God to show you how you can love one of your neighbours.  Perhaps it starts with finding out their name…

“Love your neighbour as yourself.” Matthew 22:39, Romans 13:9

God’s Big Vision: his vision for your neighbourhood

Throughout the bible, God seemed to be concerned with location. Daniel was in Babylon for most of his life and, as we’ll explore later in this series, God helped him prosper in that land. In the very beginning, God created a beautiful garden for Adam and Eve to live in – and called the whole thing very good. Later on he gave the Hebrew people a particular piece land to live on. Jesus came and lived during a precise period of time, on a very specific piece of real estate.

The Message says Jesus “moved into the neighbourhood”. He’s not a God who is disconnected from the land we live on, only concerned with the relational ties to those who occupy it. He also cares deeply about where we live and the places we go. We are, after all, made from the dust of the earth and he called it good. Our streets and alleys matter to him. God likes your neighbourhood, if even if you don’t! He loves Winnipeg, and all of it’s unique areas that are full of people who need him.

The Challenge:

Today, ask God to show you today at least one reason why he loves your neighbourhood. You may want to take a walk and ask him while you’re out.

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” John 1:14

God’s Big Vision: his vision for your life

Death by lions is certainly not a pleasant thought.  But Daniel didn’t allow the threat of lions to deter him from his vision.  Don’t get me wrong – the lions were real and Daniel didn’t ignore this reality.  In fact, he prayed with desperation to be delivered from them (6:11).  But even in this intense situation, he prayed in the direction of Jerusalem – a land that encapsulated his long-term hope and God’s promise.  He didn’t let his circumstances dictate his calling in life.

It’s easy to be side-tracked by the “lions” in our lives.  However, we must take them seriously and at the same time hold true to the long-range, big picture that God is calling each one of us to live into.

Today, ask God to help you name your lions, deliver you from them and keep you eyes fixed on that distant land of Jerusalem (whatever that is for you).  You may want to use some of the following movements to fuel your prayer:

• From arrogance & murmuring towards humility & contentment.
• From greed & self-advancement towards generosity and compassion.
• From personal gain towards unselfishness.
• From personal strength / ability towards reliance on God’s provision.
• From addiction towards freedom.

“[Daniel] went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” 6:10

God’s Big Vision: his vision for your life

What do you love?  What dreams do you have that may be from God?  Some of us are afraid to have vision for our life.  Some of us have had the dreams beaten out of us.  But this doesn’t change the fact that God has exciting plans for each of his kids.

Could it be that some of your desires are from God?  The Psalmist sang that if you take delight in the Lord, he would give you the desires of your heart (37).  We have a Father who really wants the best for us – not just what’s good for us (think Buckley’s cough syrup). It’s our job to take delight in him (he already delights in us).

Today, ask the Lord to show you which of your desires are actually his desires.

“He’s always given me what I’ve desired, or rather, He’s made me desire what He wanted to give me.” St. Therese de Lisieux

God’s Big Vision: his vision for your life

Most of us overestimate what we can accomplish in one year and underestimate what we can accomplish over a lifetime.  God has vision for each of us.  He has plans and dreams for us.  Daniel prayed three times a day with his windows opened toward Jerusalem.  He prayed facing his long-term dream of one day returning to his homeland.

What is God’s vision for you?  What does he have for you to accomplish?  What does he see when he looks through the windows of your life?  Today, begin a conversation with God about these questions.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain

God’s Big Vision for You: his vision for you today

If God were to speak one word to you today, one phrase or thought, what would it be?  God sees you as you are now, but also as you will one day be.  He sees the future you just as clearly as he sees you today.

Ask God to give you a word, a thought or a picture for today that speaks of who he’s calling you to be.

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Cor 13

God’s Big Vision for You: his presence with you today

So many of us rush through our days without any thought or awareness of God’s presence with us.  But the reality is that he is always with us.  Perhaps God’s greatest wish for you today is simply that you are aware of his desire to be with you.  That, today, you would simply be awake to his presence.

Ask God to show how he is with you in the regular, mundane activities of your day.

“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.” Rev 21

A Big Vision of God: how big is your God?

Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed “who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” when three brave Hebrew men refused to bow and worship him.  They were thrown into a fiery furnace for their disobedience to the king (and for their obedience to God).  When the king saw the three Hebrew men walking unharmed in the flames along with one other “person” walking with them, he changed his tune and exclaimed, “there is no other god who is able to deliver this way!”

When we see that God is bigger than our circumstances, it changes how we see our present situations. He may not take our problems away, but he will be with us, just like he was with those in the furnace.

Ask God to reveal his presence with you in a special way today.