The Word for Today
With Bob Gass

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Do You Have A Vision? (3) Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. - Habakkuk 2:3 TLB

When God gives you a vision - He also gives you the provision needed to fulfil it! Often He'll use something you already possess even though you don't know it, or think it's not equal to the challenge. Faced with feeding 5000 hungry people, the disciples felt totally inadequate. But Jesus said, "How many loaves do you have... Go and see" (Mk 6:38 NIV). God will open your Spiritual eyes to see what you already have - or what is within your reach. And when you recognise it, give it to Him and He will bless it, so it will be more than enough. The key to your success is found in the words "go and see".

Stop procrastinating, making excuses, feeling sorry for yourself, 'talking down' to yourself, or being intimidated by those who say you don't have what it takes. Listen to God! He has provided everything required to get you where you need to go. Paul writes, "Now glory be to God who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes" (Eph 3:20 TLB). Notice the words "far more" and "His mighty power at work within us".

Look in the mirror and announce, "I am full of resources. God has given me everything I need to fulfil His plan for my life." This is not hype, pride, or mind-over-matter. It's faith speaking, it's faith connecting with God, it's faith tapping into the resources needed to do what God has called you to do!

SoulFood Bible Readings: 1 Ki 8-9, Mk 14:27-31, Ps 113, Pr 12:7-11

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This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by:

The Word for Today
With Bob Gass

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Do You Have A Vision? (2) Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. - Habakkuk 2:3 TLB

Many people wear themselves out trying to fulfil a vision God didn't give them. So where did their vision come from?

• The most dominant influences in their life.
• Their need to 'prove' something to someone.
• Their unresolved issues: trying to win a parent's love, or to demonstrate they're as talented as their brother, sister, peer, or in some cases the pastor of the bigger church across town.

Abraham learned this lesson the hard way. God promised him a son. But he got impatient, worried about getting old, took bad advice and ended up fathering Ishmael. Be careful; all your praying, planning and pushing won't turn the wrong road into the right road! Furthermore, God won't empower you to do what He put into somebody else's heart to do. That's why it's foolish to compare yourself with others. God didn't promise to give you what He gave them. You're unique. So is His plan for your life. People who make this mistake end up with a sense of failure and frustration because they're constantly measuring themselves by somebody else's assignment. If you're not 'graced' to do it, you'll wear out yourself (and everybody else). Identify the origin of your vision!

Even when your vision is of God you'll experience disappointment, discouragement and delays. The truth is, the greater your vision the greater the attack that will come against you. But when you know deep down that your vision is of God, you'll be able to persevere through the hard times, and you'll have the assurance of the Psalmist, "The Lord will work out His plans for my life" (Ps 138:8 NLT).

SoulFood Bible Readings: 1 Ki 6-7, Mk 14:20-26, Ps 108, Pr 12:1-6

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Tell your friends about The Word For Today e-mail service. If you've been encouraged by The Word for Today, then your friends will be too. NZ - Click here, UK - Click here.

---

This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by:

The Word for Today
With Bob Gass

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Do You Have A Vision? (1) Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. - Habakkuk 2:3 TLB

In the early stages of pregnancy a baby is easier to lose. The same applies to your God-given vision; you need to protect it. The enemy tried to destroy Moses and Jesus before they reached their second birthday. Why? He feared their future - and he fears yours too! Furthermore, when a prospective mother is not 'showing', she has to go on the word of her physician. Getting the idea?

There are certain things you need to do in order to 'deliver' what God has promised. When your doctor says, "No smoking, drinking or eating certain foods, etc.," he's thinking about your future. "But others can do these things," you say. Yes, but they're not carrying within them what you are. The call to give birth to a vision means daring to be different, even radical. It means disconnecting from relationships that can hurt you, staying out of certain places, and reordering your priorities according to your God-given destiny, not popular consent. If you think fulfilling a vision is easy, check the price tag!

Like childbirth, it's hard, it's lonely, it's sleepless, it's appetite-changing, it's schedule-altering. It involves pain and leaves stretch marks. So before you give lip service to, or play around with God's purpose for your life, ask yourself, "Am I ready to carry this thing full term?" Visions aren't for the immature, the impatient or the faint of heart. And you can't downsize them when things get tough.

Esther's vision meant putting her life on the line and saying, "If I perish, I perish" (Es 4:16). Did she perish? No, but she had to be willing to. Are you?

SoulFood Bible Readings: Gal 5:23, Isa 40:9-11, Isa 42:1-4, Ps 18:31-35

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Tell your friends about The Word For Today e-mail service. If you've been encouraged by The Word for Today, then your friends will be too. NZ - Click here, UK - Click here.

---

This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by: