Is Your Spiritual Vision

Clear or Cloudy?

Do you allow your vision to be enriched by the Word of God?  Has the Word made the way deep into your heart?  Or, do you just see the Bible as an intellectual journey of endless discussion, memorization and repeating of chapter and verse?  Do you perceive your life from a spiritual perspective or simply by what you see happening around you?

If the Word is to take root it must reside in your heart.  All the head knowledge in the world will not manifest in an anointed fulfillment of your vision. 

All starts in your heart (for it is always a heart issue).  If the Word does not grow in that place, there will be little vision or fruit in your own heart.  If there is little fruit in your own heart you will bear little if any fruit in your life.  Vision arises and grows in the rich soil of a heart surrendered to the Lord and willing to let the Word enter in and develop.

Watch and Pray

In Matthew 26 Jesus tells us to ‘watch and pray’ that we do not fall into temptation.  He reminds us that the spirit is willing but often our flesh can be weak.  I could not help but wonder, do we ‘watch?’  Do you stand guard over your thoughts so as not to fall from Kingdom thinking?  Do you see with spiritual eyes or eyes of the flesh?  Think about it for a little while.  If you are anxious about your life you are looking at things through eyes of the flesh.  Spiritual vision will carry you far above your circumstances whatever they may be.

Is it easy to maintain spiritual vision?  Perhaps for some it is but for most of us it can be challenging.  That is probably why Jesus tells us to safeguard as we pray.  Make it a daily habit to pray hedges of protection around yourself and your family, neighborhood, state and country.  ‘Watch and pray’ your vision.  This is especially important in the times in which we live.

‘Watch and pray’ about the people you allow close to you.  Are they speaking life into your situation or riddling you with ‘what if’s’ that only make you anxious?  Do they pray up and support your vision or gossip and complain about others?  The Bible tells us to ‘watch’ the company we keep.  How carefully do you watch those you let close to you?

How diligently do you ‘watch’ yourself, your words, your thoughts?  It is never too late to change who you allow close to you.  It is never too late to change your heart, words and thoughts.  ‘Watch and pray’ the direction the Lord would have you go in these areas.  ‘Watch and pray’ His grace around the vision He has given you.

Repent and Believe

In Mark 1:5 Jesus tells us to ‘repent and believe’ the gospel.  I never really noticed the order of His message:  repent then believe.  Once you repent God removes your sin as far as the East is from the West.  It is over in His eyes so let it go and pray His grace not to return to that sin again.  The next step is quite important: believe the Word of God.  Do not just quote it arbitrarily from your head but believe what the Word says!  To believe is to see with spiritual eyes. 

To believe is to know without doubt in your heart that the Word is for you in your life.  To fully believe the gospel is to nourish spiritual vision.

If you have allowed Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior every promise contained in His Word is yours.  However, if you look only with natural eyes and listen to people who speak only fleshly words, you will not see with spiritual eyes the possibilities before you.  So many things can choke out the Word in your heart: tribulation, persecution, daily stresses, lusts of worldly things, chasing after riches and status.  Even the enemy can steal away the promises in the Word if you do not ‘watch.’

Hear, Receive and Bring Forth Fruit!

It is critical to guard your position in the Kingdom of God. When you hear the Word, receive it deep into your heart.  Nourish your vision.  The closer you get to Jesus the more fruit will come forth in your heart and in your life.  All this requires action on your part.  Do not expect to sit on Sunday, hear a sermon and spend the next six days thinking that is all you have to do.

If you cultivate your heart daily in the Lord you create the good ground needed to hear the Word, receive it, believe it and bring forth fruit in your life: thirty, sixty, one hundred fold.  Watch, Pray, Repent, Believe, Hear, Receive and Bring Forth Fruit!  Each one of these words requires action on your part each and every day.   Are you ready?  Polish your spiritual glasses today to clean off any earthly deterrents to your God given vision and step out with clarity!

Quotes to Ponder This Week

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.   Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.”  ~Psalm 141:3-4

“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  ~Proverbs 12:26

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”  ~Proverbs 13:20

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  ~Jesus, Matthew 26:41

 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel.”  ~Jesus, Mark 1:15

“The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown.  And when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  …likewise are the ones sown on stony ground…they have no root in themselves…when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble….sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit; some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”  ~Jesus, Mark 4:14-20

“Do not be afraid; only believe.”  ~Jesus, Mark 5:36

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  ~Jesus, Mark 11:24

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them.  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ….” ~Romans 16:17

“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”  Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.”  ~1 Corinthians 15:33

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  Let all that you do be done with love.”  ~1 Corinthians 16:13-14

“You are called heavenward, to peace, and to holiness.  And I pray that you would grow in your revelation of who you are and what God has empowered you to do with your life!”  ~Sid Roth, It’s Supernatural

A Prayer Request

Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives.

God bless all our diplomatic and military personnel and their families. May the Lord keep them safe. Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history.

Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi and for safety in Israel. May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we may arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history.

We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.

Please Join Me in Prayer

Father we thank You that You have given us Your Word.  Let us open our eyes and hearts to the truths contained therein.  Let us walk in Your ways.  Cleanse our hearts of anything that is not pleasing to You.  In Your mercy, lead us in the direction of the vision You have planted deep in our heart from before the beginning of time.  Grace us to ‘watch and pray’ every area of our life each and every day so we line up completely with Your divine will. Anoint and empower us to bring Your Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.  We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and amen.