I love the question, “if you could do or be anything you wanted to, what would it be?” Unfortunately many people cannot readily answer that question when asked. I’m not talking about some weird fantasy like “Super bowl MVP” when you have never even played high school football let alone pursued the dream of the NFL. I’m talking about knowing your strengths, weaknesses, interest and opportunities enough that you can gauge your potential and establish a vision for your future.

Vision is simply a picture of a preferred future. Once you have vision based on your potential you can chart a course and begin to grow toward your potential. Reaching your potential does not happen by accident, it comes about only by intentional growth and growth is not automatic. The only thing that grows when neglected is weeds, anyone can grow weeds.  But charting a course toward your potential always requires growth and the desire and willingness to grow is birthed in vision. The more you continue to grow as a person toward the vision you have for your life, the more you will live a fulfilled life.

God’s Vision For Your Potential 

You are designed, by your creator, to have vision, grow and be fulfilled. Jesus said it this way in John 10:10: “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” He had a vision for His life and understood His purpose, and it included you living a rich and satisfying life. That is to say purposeful, fulfilled. He’s done His part by creating you with gifts, talents, and desires – potential – your part is to make intentional growth a daily application and it all begins with personal vision.

During a Baccalaureate address at Princeton University in 1907 President Woodrow Wilson said: “We live in an age disturbed, confused, bewildered, afraid of its own forces, in search not merely of its road but even of its direction. There are many voices of counsel, but few voices of vision; there is much excitement and feverish activity, but little concert of thoughtful purpose. We are distressed by our own ungoverned, undirected energies and do many things, but nothing long. It is our duty to find ourselves.”

There are many voices of counsel that are trying to chart the course of your life, some from genuine concern for you, others from a purely selfish motivation. However the voice of vision you need to hear and follow is the voice of the one who created you as His masterpiece, the one who built potential within you, who designed you for good, who in His own words says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”(Jer. 29:11, NLT)

5 Questions For Your Vision

Here are a few questions that you can prayerfully and carefully consider to help you discern God’s voice of vision for your life:

1. Do you find what you are doing fulfilling? I understand that you may be in a season where you have to do what you have to do to pay the bills. But long term, look beyond this temporary season, are you giving your life and energy to something that you find fulfilling?
2. Are you passionate about what you are doing? When you live in your passion you will live each day in vigor and enthusiasm. The more you live in your passion the more you will live out your potential. You will quickly discover that nothing seems like work when it’s your passion.
3. Are you capable of living your dream? Think again of the person who would flippantly say their life vision is to be a Super bowl MVP, has never played football and is now in their mid 40’s. That’s not a dream, that’s a fantasy with no connection to their gifts, talents, or potential.  You must identify what you are good at, what drives you, what you value. There may be a gap between your true potential and the vision God has for your life. When you discover a gap you have to begin to develop a strategy to overcome it. Don’t let a gap between your God-given potential and your current situation discourage you, ask God for a plan.
4. Do you know the “why” behind the “what”? If you cannot clearly state why you want to do something you will be vulnerable to discouragement when things aren’t going your way. This is an issue of motivation. Motivation matters!
5. Do you know “how” to get where you are going? If you are planning a vacation and have a destination in mind you have to know where you’re currently located and how to get from here to there. The same is true with your life vision and potential; otherwise you will become what Zig Ziglar called a “wondering generality on the face of the earth.”

Regardless of your age, past choices or your situation in life, as long as you have a pulse you have potential. To begin taking the path toward your potential you must begin and continue to listen to the voice of vision and determine to grow every day toward that vision.

Next Steps:

Take time today to prayerfully answer the five questions above, listen to God’s voice of vision for your life. Get started today, this is a journey you cannot afford to wait to begin. If you are already clear about your life vision, take time to answer these questions with the attitude and prayer of “growth” that is going toward the next level in listening to and living the voice of vision.