Tunnel Vision

"The Lord answered me: 'Write down the vision;write it clearly on clay tablets so whoever reads it can run to tell others. It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon; the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not be delayed."---Habbakuk 2:3 (NCV)

"It's impossible for you to conceive how far up is, except for the limitations of your own mind."---Pat Ryan

"Man stands in his own shadow and wonders why it's dark."---Zen

Vision: the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be; a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation; an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency

Clearly: free from clouds, mist, or haze; not obscured or darkened; bright; easily seen through; transparent; free from flaw, blemish, or impurity; free from impediment, obstruction, or hindrance; open;easily perceptible to the eye or ear; distinct; discerning or perceiving easily; keen; free from doubt or confusion; certain; free from qualification or limitation; absolute; free from guilt; untroubled

Soon: within a short period after this or that time, event, etc.; before long; in the near future; at an early date; promptly or quickly; readily or willingly

Delayed: to postpone until a later time; defer;to cause to be later or slower than expected or desired;to act or move slowly; put off an action or a decision

A'ight, ya'll. I don't foresee this one being long at all...perhaps one of the shortest and most potent messages that God has ever given me. BUT DON'T MISS IT. IT'S LIFE-CHANGING...and CHALLENGING.

Last Sunday, I received an email from a friend of mine (I actually asked her permission to mention this because it is kind of putting her on blast...in a way). She is currently in a very troubled marriage and so she was asking me to pull her email address off of the distribution list when I send out the "So, How Did YOU Know?" marriage updates because it was "reminding her how much her husband was not 'the one'".

My immediate thought: OK, you're in a troubled marriage and you don't want to receive messages on marriage?!? From Christian marriages?!? Now, she is standing in the midst of this trial because she has a "vision" for how she would like her marriage to go. But, from her email, it would appear that she has placed limitations on how God can speak to her about her journey/destination/desire. How TUNNEL VISIONED (an extremely narrow or prejudiced outlook; narrow-mindedness).

I've been there...on some levels, I'm still there: Trying to tell God how to bring about certain manifestations when clearly the Word says that he doesn't think or act like I do (Isaiah 55:8-9); that to even try and predict how he rolls is arrogance at best (Proverbs 16:8); pure foolishness at worst (Proverbs 19:3)...and neither brings about a positive or progressive result.

What I didn't realize was the conversation was prompting this message; one that really asks only three questions that you and Your Father, God should spend some serious personal time on (so that you can ask and he can answer---Isaiah 1:18):

1. When it comes to what you desire for your life, HAVE YOU WRITTEN OUT A VISION? The lead scripture for today instructs us to write the vision...write what it is that you are anticipating to come...what isn't "actually present" (yet), but has come to mind. As a writer, let me tell you that when you pen something down, it already takes things from the invisible to the visible...from what you don't see to what you can. AND, it holds you personally accountable to what you have said. If you have a vision for a new Lexus (for instance), WRITE IT because the truth is (John 8:32), the human senses can be quite fickle. On Monday it could be a luxury vehicle and on Wednesday, an SUV. God didn't instruct us to write our visions for his benefit; before the womb he knew us (Jeremiah 1:5) and so you can best believe he knows what we want and need better than we do. However, writing it makes things more real...it merges your spiritual vision and physical eyesight together. After all, if you dream it, you can achieve it, right? You don't know how true that is!

2. HAVE YOU WRITTEN IT CLEARLY? Man, oh man! Woman, oh woman! Did you see all of those definitions for "clearly"? You want to start a new business, but you can't see how to make it happen (with as much as man-made wisdom can assist you); you have a general idea, but the concrete details are pretty HAZY. You desire to be married, but you're not living a pure life...one that would help you spiritually discern (Ecclesiastes 8:5) what is the desire of your flesh vs. your spirit...what is FREE FROM BLEMISH and what is not. You would like to move (into a new house...to another state), but you are "broke". However, every time you think about how you can make it possible, all you are listing are the LIMITATIONS. A clear vision has no limitations. Writing it is not good enough. You must write your vision for your life CLEARLY...distinctly...without confusion...in a way that is easily perceptible to the eyes and ears...a way that leaves you feeling untroubled. (If it causes you to doubt, it is not clear!)

3. Do you trust that it will NOT BE DELAYED; that it will come SOON? Family, without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God (Hebrews 11:6) and yet with God all things are POSSIBLE. (Matthew 19:26) If you want to make God delighted (to give great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment to; please highly) with you, stand on his Word...a part of it being that his promises (ALL OF THE PROMISES OF GOD IN HIM) and "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20); that he cannot lie...he cannot give "a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive" (Titus 1:2); and when he said that at the appointed (predetermined; arranged; set) time, because like God, YOUR VISION CANNOT LIE, you will receive it...it is in the "near future"...it will not be "postponed until a later time". Trust that...trust him.

After processing this, I don't know about you, but when it comes to certain things in my own life, immediately, I had to repent. For instance, I have had about three of my spiritual sisters tell me for several days now that it was time for me to write a certain vision for my life down. Have I done it? Nope. I've been praying about it, but when it comes to the manifestation of my visions, prayer comes in leading me to the vision (Jeremiah 29:12)...I MUST WRITE IT DOWN TO BRING IT TO PASS. And, I must write it clearly and without putting limitations on God re: how he is going to bring it to pass.

The Word says, "The earthis the Lord's, and all itsfullness, the world and those who dwell therein."---Psalm 24:1 (NKJV)

GET FREE AND SURRENDER TO THE FACT THAT GOD CAN USE WHATEVER PERSON, PLACE, THING OR IDEA HE LIKES TO BRING YOUR VISION TO PASS. DON'T BE SO TUNNEL VISIONED. YOUR JOB IS NOT TO MANIFEST THE VISION...JUST TO WRITE IT DOWN---CLEARLY.

OK, I'm done. Shoot, I've got my own visions to get to, but I pray that you really caught this important key to accessing the Kingdom of Heaven. BIG THINGS IN '09, YA'LL...BIG THINGS!!!

"But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."---I Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV)

Whew! You caught that, too, right? Even our relationship with God comes through the WRITTEN WORD. He is not requiring from us anything he has not done. He loved us enough to WRITE DOWN THE VISIONS he had for us, and I can attest to the power of what the WRITTEN WORD has done for me and my life. He did not lie...many of them (restoration, peace, sanctification, provision) have already come to pass.

So, what are you waitin' for? GET TO WRITIN'...CLEARLY...FOR ALL TO SEE...SOON.

©Shellie R. Warren/2009