What Does It Mean to “Write the Vision”? | Why It’s Important to Record What God Speaks to You
In Habakkuk 2, God says to “write the vision.” But why is writing the vision—the goal or revelation that God gives us—so important? Why do we need to make goals and write them down?
Discover how goal setting teaches you to use the time God has given you wisely and why writing them down helps you to achieve His perfect plans for our lives—plans to prosper, as spoken in Jeremiah 29:11!
Write the Vision…
“Then the Lord answered me and said:
‘Write the vision
and make it plain on tablets,
that he may run who reads it.For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
—Habakkuk 2:2-3
but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
because it will surely come,
it will not tarry.’”
God told the prophet to write the vision. But more than that, He told the prophet to make it plain so that not only the prophet himself could read it, but all who would be fulfilling it could read it and run with it in its appointed time.
This is not to say the prophet wasn’t to be involved in fulfilling the vision. But it was mainly for anyone reading the vision. They would have great clarity and would all be able to follow the plans God laid forth in every detail. Not out of legalism but to achieve the fullness of the vision!
Don’t Let Your Expectation of the Vision Get in the Way of God’s
But there’s another point we can easily forget: Sometimes, the hour we expect the vision to go from written word to action may not be the true appointed time for the vision. God’s plans, the vision—goal or revelation—that He has His children write down and believe for will not be late. They will happen at the appointed time!
It is a matter of faith. Have faith that God will do what He said because His timing is perfect. And the vision will NOT delay!
What Does This Mean for Us?
Opportunity to Access
It’s easy to believe that only someone who is called to be a prophet is meant to write down the vision—goals or revelations—that God gives. But this is not entirely true. Yes, the prophets are meant to record their God-given vision so those who read or hear it can run with it. But as God’s children, we all have an opportunity for this unique access to Him and the ability to hear His voice. Not only to know God as our Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior, but also to accept and know the residing fullness of His Holy Spirit within us!
Opportunity to Hear His Voice
With God in us, we can hear His voice, know His heart, and access the prophetic. And while it is true that we are not all full-time prophets in God’s Kingdom plan, we all have prophetic giftings and abilities. We all can hear His voice. And this means that God can give us a vision—a goal or revelation—that will advance His Kingdom and our personal walk with Him, and we can write that vision down. Making it plain so that those who read it can run!
It doesn’t matter which of the 7 Mountains of Influence God has us walk in, He has visions specifically designed for each. For example, He may give us visions for:
- Starting a Business
- Creating a Marketing Strategy
- Childcare
- Design
- Witty Inventions
- Youth Missions
- Insurance Plans
- And so much more!!
No matter what our mountain or calling within God’s Kingdom may be, there are reasons for us to write the vision and make it plain!
How Do We Write the Vision?
Whether it’s a multi-national vision or one that seems only to include ourselves, there are many reasons why we should write the vision down. But how do we do that? And does it always look the same?
Ultimately, God will lead us in what the vision should look like and what will make it most straightforward for us and others. But some things we may consider in writing the vision include:
- Write the Goal
Yes, a vision in itself is a type of goal, but knowing where it will finish is vital to understanding how to accomplish it. It makes the vision plain. Yet, it’s important to note that sometimes God may not give the vision’s full end but allow us to see a starting point or limited amount, so we do not become overwhelmed or distracted.
- Know the Skills You Have and Will Need
Once we know the goal, it’s important to make a clear and honest assessment of the skills needed to reach that goal: the skills we currently have, which of our current skills need improving, and what skills (or skills of others) we need to add.
God will show us our strengths and weaknesses and help us improve and thrive in what we need. Prayer, time spent in God’s Word, and fellowship with Him and other Believers are keys to success here.
- Write the Steps That Will Bring You Closer to the Goal
Few goals are achieved within hours after God provides the vision. However, steps or subgoals needed to reach it can range from daily to yearly steps. It’s important to prayerfully consider what steps we—or others involved—can take to bring the vision to fruition. Steps can be as simple as spending five minutes a day learning a skill needed for the vision or as large as saving up enough money to start a business. However, no matter the step, it should bring the vision to fruition, be measurable, and have a reasonable completion date.
- Ask God How He Wants You to Invest Time/Money into Others
The Word says that with the same measure we use, it is measured back to us and that what we give, we will receive. If the vision is for us to start a business, maybe we need to give into a business God leads us to. If the vision is for us to enter a new Mountain of Influence, perhaps we need to give to someone or someplace within that Mountain. Often the very thing we need is the same thing that will catapult us into the next season if we would only give it to another person—be it money, kindness, wisdom, etc.
While these are only some aspects necessary to writing the vision clearly, they are useful starting points. It is important to remember that, ultimately, God will give us the wisdom and direction for writing the vision. The prayer and seeking of God put the words in place. And with each act of obedience, whether sitting down to write the vision, writing more of it or doing something that propels us forward, God does the big thing!
It takes faith. It takes action to set that faith in motion. It takes God’s heart—His love and Kingdom purpose. All these take the Spirit-inspired vision from a beautiful idea to a written action and, ultimately, to an amazing, God-glorifying reality!
Are You Ready to Write the Vision?
Is there something that has been on your heart for some time that you believe is from God? Is there something that keeps coming back into your thoughts—a new business idea, an invention, a dream—but you believe it is beyond your abilities? Perhaps it is God telling you to write the vision, to make it clear so that you and even others can run with it. Be encouraged to set your heaven-inspired goals and write that vision!
Change can be intimidating, but God is ready, willing, and able to take us through it! Sometimes all it takes are small acts of faith to produce a cascade of vision and change. Sometimes all it takes is faith and courage to write the vision, make it plain, and run with it! And with each step of the journey, God will be there, doing the big thing, because He sees that we have the courage to do the small thing! Step out in faith!