Some people go through the motions of life, not knowing why they’re doing the things that they’re doing. They are breathing, but not really alive. They have sight, but don’t really see. Vision gives us a sense of purpose. It controls the course of our life so that we don’t just drift around aimlessly.

Once you get your vision from God, cherish it… nurture it… guard it! Do not allow anything or anyone to steal it away from you. People may say that it’s too big for you. People may say that it’s impossible. People may say that you won’t be able to do it. Don’t listen to them. If God tells you to do something, He will surely help you. But sometimes we can be our greatest enemy. We look at ourselves and see our insufficiency. Negative thoughts will tell us that we can’t do it, that it would be better for us to just forget our vision and maintain status quo. Do not allow these thoughts to enter your heart lest they control you. The course of your life is determined by what’s in your heart. Do not abandon your vision just because of these thoughts.

Your vision should keep you awake at night. It should be so powerful that it consumes your whole life. Abraham was that kind of man. God promised to make Him into a great nation and guess what, Abraham believed God. He believed even when there was nothing in him or his circumstances that could bring that promise into fruition. He went through a lot of trials but still, he held on to his vision. He died without seeing his vision come to pass in his lifetime, but it doesn’t matter ‘cause he already saw it happen the moment God gave him the vision.

Imagine yourself in front of an empty canvass with a paintbrush in your hand. The master painter says you are free to paint whatever you want. What will you paint? Before you can paint a picture, you have to see it, imagine it. That is vision…to see things before they come to pass.

Do you have a vision for your life, your business or your ministry? Or are you still wondering what you are here on earth for? Pray and ask God to give you a vision. The Bible says, “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:10, NLT)

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:7 NLT

The dictionary defines wisdom as “the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand.”

True knowledge and wisdom comes from fearing the Lord, but what comes to mind when you hear the words “Fear of the Lord?”  For most people it is a little unsettling to say the least.

Until we understand who God is and develop a reverential fear of Him, we cannot have true wisdom. So let’s look at the fear of the Lord and get a better understanding of what this foundation of true knowledge and wisdom really is.

A biblical fear of God to followers of Jesus includes understanding how much God hates sin and fearing his judgment on sin – even in our own lives. Hebrews 12:5-11 describes the discipline of a follower of Jesus:

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,“ My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.

6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

God’s discipline is always done in love and motivated by love, but it is still a fearful thing…

Growing up I loved my parents and there was no doubt in my mind that they loved me….but I certainly feared their discipline.  I wasn’t afraid of them, but I was definitely fearful of the punishment I would receive from them if I disobeyed them.

Truth be told, my fear of discipline prevented some wrong behavior.

The same is true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline and seek to live our lives in such a way that pleases Him. Fearing God means having such a reverence (honor or respect that it is felt for or shown to someone or something) for Him that it has an impact on the way we live our lives.

The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe.

SO WHAT? WHO CARES? HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?

If I want true knowledge and wisdom I must obey God. In order to obey God I have to know Him. The only way to know Him and what He desires for my life is to spend time in His word, the Bible. Determine today to get to know God like never before by scheduling time each day to spend with Him. Remember, God’s commandments are not meant to keep you from enjoying life, rather they are motivated by love in order to protect you!

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
Proverbs 24:16 NLT

Michael Jordan, considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time; his brief bio on NBA.com he is described as ‘single-handedly redefining the NBA superstar’ and yet to get there he openly admits to failing more than most. In a famous ad campaign launched by ‘Nike’, Michael is quoted as saying he has:

- Lost almost 300 games (that’s more games than many NBA players have court time in)

- Missed over 9000 shots at goal (again more shots than an average NBA player even takes)

- 26 times he was given the ball to take the game winning shot and MISSED

Jordan goes on to say the reason he has succeeded boils down to his constantly failure and used failure as motivation to shoot for success. In other words Jordan viewed failures as stepping stones towards success; his shooting average was just below 50% so to score he would have to take two shots, one to fail the other to score.  People who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all have accomplished some of the most important things in the world. Success requires some failures, but the person who keeps getting up will succeed. Failure only occurs when you stop getting up. If you fall seven times, stand up eight.

SO WHAT? WHO CARES? HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?

When you fall down. Get up. When you fall down again. Get up again. No matter how many times you fall, keep getting up!