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CONTENTS

Introduction

Step1:BuildaBridgetoYourFuture1It’sYourFuture—OwnIt!2LeaveOrdinaryBehind3SetYourCourseTowardTomorrow

Step2:PutYourselfWhereYouSeeYourself4DaretoDream5ReimagineYourFuture6RenewYourMind

Step3:WriteYourOwnHistory7AwaketoYourDivineDestiny8FindYourLifeCompass9CreateYourCanvas

Step4:DaretoDoSomethingGreat10VoiceprintYourVision11IgniteYourDivineGenius12DiscoverYourNewFrontier

EpilogueAppendix:DeclarationsandPrayersNotes

INTRODUCTION

Forlastyear’swordsbelongtolastyear’slanguageAndnextyear’swordsawaitanothervoice.

—T.S.ELIOT

ITSEEMSMYentirelifeI’vebeenonamissiontoempowerordinarypeople,peoplelikeyouandme,tofindtheirvoiceandmakeitheardinextraordinaryways.Inallofmytravelsacrosstheglobe,theonecommondenominatorIseeamongpeopleeverywhereistheneedtofeelasthoughtheyhaveavoice—aself-determiningvoicethat,ifnothingelse,putstheminthedriver’sseatoftheirownlives.Thishasalsobeenacommonthreadthroughoutallofmybooks,beginningwiththeoriginalRulesofEngagement.I’vediscoveredthatnotonlyisthisneeduniversal;it’sasdeeplyfelttodayas

ithaseverbeen.Morethanever,myaudienceswanttoknowhowtobridgethegapbetweenwhatisandwhatcanbe—betweenwhotheyarenowandwhotheycanultimatelybecome.They’relookingforpracticalstrategiesnotonlytoenablethemto“presstowardthemarkfortheprizeofthehighcallingofGod”(Phil.3:14,KJV)butalsotodiscernwhatthathighcallingisforthem.Amapandcompasscanhelpyougetanywhere,butyoumustfirstknowwhereyou’regoing.Iwanttohelpyoushiftyourthinkingsoyouareabletoseefartherafieldin

thedirectionofwhat’spossibleforyou.Iwanttoequipyouwiththetoolsyouneedtolaunchyourselfintothedeepofyourgreatestpotential.Iwanttoshowyouhowtotapintoyourownpowerfulvoiceandyourimaginationtosteertheshipofyourlife—andthenhowtounfurlthesailsoffaithtospeedyourselfonyourwaytothefulfillmentofGod-inspiredvision.InCommandingYourMorning,Itaughtindetailabouthowtoharnessthe

powerofyourthoughtsandwordstoreorderyourdayandultimatelyyourlife.InHello,Tomorrow!,Iwanttoshowyouhowtoharnessthepowerofacompellingvisiontochangenotonlyyourfuturebutultimatelytheworld.Iwant

togiveyouanewvoiceforanewday.ThewordvoiceisrootedintheLatinvocare,whichmeanstocallorinvoke.1

AnEnglishunderstandingofthewordlendsthemeaning“invisiblespiritorforcethatdirectsorsuggests.”Frenchaddsthesense“report,”2whileintheOxfordEnglishDictionarywefind“anagencybywhichaparticularpointofviewisexpressedorrepresented,”leadingtoitsimplicationofone’s“distinctivetoneorstyle.”3Interestinglythewordhellowasoriginallyusedasacalltoattractattention.It

isanalterationofhallo,whichcomesfromafifteenth-centurywordmeaning“ashipman’scrytoinciteeffort.”Hellogainedpopularityasawordwiththeriseofthetelephone,anditcouldbeconsideredawordthatgivesvoicetoyourvoice.IncidentallyhellowonoutoverAlexanderGrahamBell’ssuggestionofusingahoywhenansweringthetelephone.Ialsogotakickoutoflearningthatbythelate1880stelephoneoperatorswereknownas“hello-girls.”4Sohowdowecalltoattractorinvokethebestthattomorrowhastooffer?

Howdowecrossthatbridgefromwherewearetodaytowherewewanttobeinthetomorrowsofthefuture?Howdowenavigatetheshipofourlifeclosertotheshoreofourdreams,wherewecancallout“Hello!”toourdestiny?Wedothiswithvision.Visioncallsyououtofyourpasttoparticipateinyour

future.Itpointstoculturaltransformation,institutionalrestructuring,systemicchange,humanprogress,politicalenfranchisement,futurepotentialities,spiritualrealities,andeconomicpossibilities—allofwhichhavethepowertochangethetrajectoryofindividuallives,corporations,communities,andcountries.Thisisthetransformationalpowerofvision—ofbeingabletoseethoseshores

ofpossibilityonthehorizon.Avisionthatpullsyouforwardenablesyoutoovercomeyourpastandsurmountthelimitationsofyourpresentconditions.Butnotonlydoyouhavetobeabletoseewhat’spossibleinthedistance—tobefarsighted,sotospeak—youmustalsobeabletomapoutandnavigatetowardwhatyousee.YoumustbecometheChristopherColumbusofyourownpotential.Youmustlearntofollowyourownnorthstarandnavigatethroughlife’sseasandstorms,andliketheMagiwhowereledtoJesusbyastar(Matt.2:1–2),youmustbeabletoreadthesignsfromheavenforcluesthatwillleadyoutowardanewworldofpossibilitiesyouhaveonlydreamedof.Withthisinmind,Iendeavortotakeyouonajourneyusingthefollowing

symbolsasmetaphors:

•Theship:yourlife

•Themap:yourvision

•Thecompass:yourvalues

•Thenorthstar:yourdesireddirection

•Theship’swheel:yourthoughtsandimagination

•Thesails:yourfaith

•Therudder:yourwords

•Thewind:yourpassion

•Theshore:yourdestiny

•Theanchor:yourfear

•Thehull:yourmind

•Barnaclesonthehull:yournegativeemotions

Asalifestrategist,minister,entrepreneur,thoughtleader,andbest-sellingauthor,Iamaskedeveryday,andoftenmanytimesaday,bypeopleinallwalksoflifethesametypesofquestions:HowcanIrealizemydreamsandaccomplishmygoals?HowcanIgetfrompointAtopointB?HowcanIfindhappiness?HowcanIfindmeaningandpurpose?HowcanImakeadifferenceinthisworld?Thequestions,nomatterhowworded,arethesame.Noonesetsoutinlifetofeelunfulfilled.Yetmodernlifehasawayof

stressingusoutuntilstressisallwefeel.Wakeup,hitthealarm,getup,getreadyforwork,makelunchesandpackbookbags,dropkidsoffatschool,fightwithtraffic,makeittotheoffice,wherethephonesarealreadyringing,attendmind-numbingmeetingaftermeeting,pickuptake-outonthewayhome,paybills,andonandonuntilwefallintobedexhaustedwayafter11p.m.Somedays,forsomepeople,thestressovershadowseverythingelse.Whenstressistheonlythingyoufocuson,youexperienceevenmoreofit—becausewhatwefocusonexpands.Insteadoffocusingonstress,focusonahorizonofunlimitedpossibilitiesthat

stretchesoutaheadofyou.Daretoleavethesafeharborofthefamiliarandsetsail.Thisbookhasbeenwrittentomakecertainyouhaveaclearlydeterminedwaytonavigatetheshipofyourlife—vision.Don’tbelikethemasseswhorefusetopushawayfromtheshoresofsafetybecausetheyareafraidofpossible

stormsbrewingoutatsea.Fearisanirrationalemotionthatcripplesyouandcausesyoutoremainanchoredattheharbor.Peopleseemtobuyupsomuchemotionalinsuranceagainstriskthatthey

havelittleornostrengthlefttopursuetheirdreamsandaccomplishtheirgoals.Lifeisriskybusiness.Ihaveheardofpeoplewalkingdownthestreetandbreakingtheirankles,ordrivingtoworkandexperiencingahead-oncollision,butIstillwalkdownstreetsanddrive.ThefamousmotivationalspeakerJimRohnoncesaidwittily,“Lifeisrisky.Letmetellyouhowriskyitis—youwon’tmakeitoutalive.”5Hefurtherquips,“Ifyouwantsomethingthatpullsyouthroughallkindsofchallengesanddifficulties,youhavetohavesomethingoutthere.Beyondtoday.Beyondnextweek.Beyondnextmonth.Beyondthisyear,thatpullsyouintothefuture.Andthecleareritis,thestrongeritpulls.”6Remember,ashipleftintheharborwilleventuallycorrodeandrotbecauseofthecorrosiveelementsofthesea.Sostayingputisasriskyaslaunchingoutintothedeep.Evenonyourmaidenvoyage,there’sariskofmeetingastormortwo,butashipequippedwiththesailsoffaithwillbeabletomakeitthrough.Eventhoughyoustandatthehelm,Godisultimatelythecaptainofyourship

andyourlife.Sinceyourcaptain’sresolvewilldeterminewhethertheshipreachesitsdestinationorturnsbacktotheharbor,youhavenothingtoworryabout.“‘ForIknowtheplansandthoughtsthatIhaveforyou,’saystheLORD,‘plansforpeaceandwell-beingandnotfordisaster,togiveyouafutureandahope’”(Jer.29:11,AMP).Socastoffyourfearandmakepreparations.Andwhenthestormsoflifecome,Hewillshowyouwhatemotionalcargoshouldbethrownoverboardtopreserveyourlife.Whilecontingencyplanscanhelpyouovercomeobstacles,lifeboatsarenot

recommended.Lifeboatsarewhatyouusewhenyoubelievetheshipisgoingtosink.Thesamecaptainwhoshowedyouyourdestinationviayourvisionwillhelpyouweatherthestormwhentheroughwatersriseandthewindsblow.Youmightbetemptedtogoforthelifeboat,butGod’swilliscertain,andthereisnoneedtoabandonship.BenjaminDisraelisaid,“Ihavebroughtmyself,bylongmeditation,tothe

convictionthatahumanbeingwithasettledpurposemustaccomplishit,andthatnothingcanresistawillthatwillstakeevenexistenceuponitsfulfillment.”7Simplyput,don’tquit.Makecoursecorrectionsasneededsothatyourshiparrivesatitsdestinationattheappointedtime.Hereissomethingelsetoconsider:Astheshipgetsclosetoshore,thefog

mightrollin.Don’tpanic.Instead,lookforthelighthouse.Itwillbetheverythingthatwillhelpyouavoidsharprocksandominousreefsthatwouldcause

youtorunaground.Yourlighthouseisyourbeaconofhope.Hopeisfaith’scompanion.Keepbelievingbecausetheseobstacleswillbethelasttestbeforeyoureachyournewharbor.AsDr.Seusssofamouslysaid,“Youhavebrainsinyourhead.Youhavefeet

inyourshoes.Youcansteeryourselfanydirectionyouchoose.”8Youhaveplacestogoandthingstodo,andIpraythetoolsandstrategies

offeredinthisbookwillhelpyougetthereandaccomplisheverythingyousetouttoaccomplish.Lifeisnotadressrehearsal,soIprayyouliveallthedaysofyourlifetotheirfullest,regrettingnothingintheprocess.

Someofyousetsailinbigships;youputtoseatodobusinessinfarawayports.OutatseayousawGodinaction,sawhisbreathtakingwayswiththeocean:Withawordhecalledupthewind—anoceanstorm,toweringwaves!Youshothighinthesky,thenthebottomdroppedout;yourheartswerestuckinyourthroats.Youwerespunlikeatop,youreeledlikeadrunk,youdidn’tknowwhichendwasup.ThenyoucalledouttoGodinyourdesperatecondition;hegotyououtinthenickoftime.Hequietedthewinddowntoawhisper,putamuzzleonallthebigwaves.Andyouweresogladwhenthestormdieddown,andheledyousafelybacktoharbor.SothankGodforhismarvelouslove,forhismiraclemercytothechildrenheloves.

—PSALM107:23–32,THEMESSAGE

“ListentothismessagefromtheLORD!ThisiswhattheLORDsays:Bythistimetomorrow...”—2KINGS7:1,NLT

STEPONE

BuildaBridgetoYourFuture

Mengoforthtomarvelattheheightsofmountainsandthehugewavesofthesea,thebroadflowoftherivers,thevastnessoftheocean,theorbitsofthe

stars,andyettheyneglecttomarvelatthemselves.—ST.AUGUSTINE

Youmaynotbeabletoseeapathrightnow,butthatdoesn’tmeanit’snotthere.

—NICKVUJICIC

CHAPTERONE

It’sYourFuture—OwnIt!

ThereisnogreaterdiscoverythanseeingGodastheauthorofyourdestiny.—RAVIZACHARIAS

Thereissurelyafuturehopeforyou,andyourhopewillnotbecutoff.—PROVERBS23:18

THEBIBLEGIVESatwo-verseglimpseintothelifeofamanbythenameofJabez,whosawhimselfdifferentlythanthosearoundhim.HerecognizedthatculturalandsociallimitationswererestrictinghisthinkingandaskedGodtoenlargehiscoast.

AndJabezcalledontheGodofIsrael,saying,Ohthatthouwouldestblessmeindeed,andenlargemycoast,andthatthinehandmightbewithme,andthatthouwouldestkeepmefromevil,thatitmaynotgrieveme!AndGodgrantedhimthatwhichherequested.

—1CHRONICLES4:10,KJV

Iconsideredthewordcoastandthoughtofitasametaphorforpsychologicalboundariesandself-imposedlimitationsthatrestrictusfromthinkingbigandexpectingmorethanwhatweperceiveispossiblebasedonourworldviewandtherealitiesofourpersonallives.Further,inseekingpracticalapplicationforthisverse,Iconsideredthefactthatmanypeoplearerestrictedfromprogressinginlifebecauseofsmallthinkingorfeeltheyarestuckinaparticularstationinlifebecauseofcircumstancesbeyondtheircontrol.PeoplestrugglingtogetabreakinlifeorfacingdiscouragingordesperatemomentsneedGodtodivinelyenlargetheirintellectualcapacitytothinkbeyondtheirlimitations.IbelieveJabez’sprayerwasarequestforGodtohelphimthinkdifferently—outsideoftheproverbialbox—sothathecouldliveablessedlife.Andthat’sexactlywhat

Goddid.Thisbegsthequestion“HowdoesGodenlargeone’sintellectualcapacity?”

Theansweristhroughthetransformationalpowerofvision.Goddoesn’tgivepeoplepowerfulvisionsbasedontheireducation,pedigree,

leadershipstyle,orpersonalitytype.Visionsaregiventopeoplewhocapturethemandbelievethatwhattheyperceiveispossible.UltimatelyitisGodwhoputsavisioninyourheart,justasHedoesHisdesires(Num.12:6;Ps.37:4).Godisalwaysspeaking,butareyoucapturingHisthoughts?Areyou

disciplinedenoughtohearwhatHeisconveyingtoyou?Justasprayer,fasting,Biblestudy,andworshipkeepusattunedtoGod’svoice,procuringavisionforyourlifeisaspiritualdisciplinethatkeepsyouinsyncwithGod’swillforyourlife.Haveyoueverconsideredthatyourthoughtsandideasarespiritualentities—

andthatthespiritualrealmisactuallythecausalrealm?LetmeclarifywhatImean:WhenIspeakofthingsthatarespiritual,Iamreferringtothatwhichisnonmaterial,incorporeal,intangible,conceptual,andtranscendent.Forexample,virtuessuchaslove,peace,respect,honor,andforgivenessarenotvisibletothenaturaleyebutneverthelessexistandcanbeashealingasmedicineorasfreeingasabreathoffreshair.Likewise,avisionthatyoucanseewithyourspiritualeyescanbeaspowerfulaswhatyouseewithyournaturaleyes.Avisionisadivinementalpreviewofcomingattractions.It’swhatyouare

abletoseetodayasapotentialityforyourtomorrow.Personally,Ilovegoingtothecinema.Believeitornot,whatmakesgoingtothemoviesexcitingformeisnotjusttheanticipationofthefeaturedfilmbutthecomingattractions—thepreviewsmightevenexcitememorethantheactualmovie.Iplanmymoviegoingitinerarybasedonthesetrailersbecausetheyarenotjustexcitingimagesofwhatcouldbebutwillbe.Theyarenotfigmentsofsomeone’simaginationbutannouncementsofwhatIcanexpecttoseeatafuturedate.ThisallowsmetoanticipateandprepareforwhatIplantosee.Justasmoviepreviewspiqueyourinterestandstirupyourzeal,avisionis

God’sappealtoyoutostiruplatentgifts,abilities,andtalentssoyoucananticipateandprepareforthevision’sactualization.Evenasmarketingexpertscraftscintillatingimagesandcatchphrasestograbyourattention,GodwillrouseyoursensesandstimulateyourspiritthroughillustrativedetailsthatvividlydescribehowHeseesyourfutureunfolding.Throughtheuseofimageryandwordsthatgenerateexcitementandpassion,yourvisionshouldbesodynamicthateveryonewhohearsaboutitwillbeinspiredtoeithergetinvolvedorpursuehisorherownvision.

RISETOMEETTHEFUTUREAmericaninventorCharlesKetteringwasamanaheadofhistime.Heheldmorethan140patents,andheinventedorwasinstrumentalinthedevelopmentofrefrigeratorcoolant,theelectricself-startingignition,quick-dryingpaint,anincubatorforprematurebabies,thediesellocomotiveengine,high-octanegasoline,andanaerialtorpedo.In1927hefoundedtheKetteringFoundation,whichstillpublishesitswidelyreadleadershipjournal,theKetteringReview.HegracedthecoverofTimemagazinein1933.Ketteringtookanactiveinterestinthefuture.Heiscommonlyquotedas

saying,“MyinterestisinthefuturebecauseIamgoingtospendtherestofmylifethere.”1Hedidn’twaitfortomorrowtocometohim;hereachedoutandgrabbeditthroughvision.CharlesKetteringunderstoodthevalueofideas.Hewasn’tafraidofthinking

beyond“thebox,”nordidhesecond-guesshiscapabilities.Whateverheneededtoknowheusedhisintellectualresourcestoprocure.Hewasconfidentthatwithenoughinformationandexperience,hecouldsolveanyproblemthatpresenteditself—andattheturnofthetwentiethcenturytherewereplentyofthemtosolve.Aswecontinueourmarchdeeperintothetwenty-firstcentury,problemsthat

needsolvingstillabound.Wecanchoosetowaitforsomeoneelsetosolvethem,orapproachthemlikeKetteringdidasrichopportunitiestomaximizeourpotential.Helookedbeyondtheproblemandsawwhatwaspossible.Doyoujustseetheproblem,ordoyouseewhat’spossible?Formanythisquestioncreatesanxietybecausetheylackconfidenceintheirabilitytocontributetoproblem-solvingefforts.ButasHenryFord,acontemporaryofKettering,isoftenquotedassaying,“Whetheryoubelieveyoucandoathingornot,youareright.”2Theworldneedspeoplewhothinktheycan,thosewhohaveawith-God-all-

things-are-possiblemind-set.AskGodtogiveyouapossibilitymind-set,aninsatiablecuriositytodiscoverwhatliesbeyondthewaythingsareorhavealwaysbeen,andthedivineempowermenttofindsolutions,meetneeds,andaddressissues.Iwanttoencourageyoutodaytostepoutinfaithandbecomethekindofpersonwhograbsholdofthefuture.InexaminingScripture,Ihavediscoveredyoucanactuallyprophesy

greatness,success,andprogressintoyourfuture.YoucanprovokeyourfutureandcauseittoconformtoGod’soriginalplanandpurposewithvisionandwisdomthatcomesfromGod(James1:5).LookatwhathappenedtoanentirecitywhenElishaprophesiedintoitsfuture.

ThenElishasaid,“HearthewordoftheLORD.ThussaystheLORD:‘Tomorrowaboutthistimeaseahoffineflourshallbesoldforashekel,andtwoseahsofbarleyforashekel,atthegateofSamaria.’”SoanofficeronwhosehandthekingleanedansweredthemanofGodandsaid,“Look,ifthe

LORDwouldmakewindowsinheaven,couldthisthingbe?”Andhesaid,“Infact,youshallseeitwithyoureyes,butyoushallnoteatofit.”...ThenthepeoplewentoutandplunderedthetentsoftheSyrians.Soaseahoffineflourwas

soldforashekel,andtwoseahsofbarleyforashekel,accordingtothewordoftheLORD.Nowthekinghadappointedtheofficeronwhosehandheleanedtohavechargeofthegate.Butthepeopletrampledhiminthegate,andhedied,justasthemanofGodhadsaid,whospokewhenthekingcamedowntohim.SoithappenedjustasthemanofGodhadspokentotheking,saying,“Twoseahsofbarleyforashekel,andaseahoffineflourforashekel,shallbesoldtomorrowaboutthistimeinthegateofSamaria.”ThenthatofficerhadansweredthemanofGod,andsaid,“Nowlook,iftheLORDwould

makewindowsinheaven,couldsuchathingbe?”Andhehadsaid,“Infact,youshallseeitwithyoureyes,butyoushallnoteatofit.”Andsoit

happenedtohim,forthepeopletrampledhiminthegate,andhedied.—2KINGS7:1–2,16–20

Iwanttohelpyouseewithneweyestheunexploredopportunitiesonthehorizon—theyet-to-be-chartedseasandnewsocial,cultural,spiritual,geopolitical,andindustry-specificfrontiersandbreakthroughsthatarewaitingtobediscovered.Iwanttochallengeyoutobecomeavisionaryforthisgeneration—toseeopportunitieslyingdormantineveryproblemandbringinnovativeideasandsolutionstothetablewiththepotentialtopositivelyimpactcommunitieswhilechangingthetrajectoryofhumanityintheprocess.

HOWYOUSEEYOURFUTUREBEGINSWITHHOWYOUSEEYOURSELF

Thepossibilitiesyouareabletoseedependonhowyouseeyourselfinthefuture.LetGodhelpyouseeyourlifefromHisperspective(Jer.29:11).HowfaryouareabletoseeintoyourfuturedependsonyourwillingnesstodisciplineyourmindandspiritthroughprayerandmeditationontheWordofGod.GodwillrevealhowyourpotentialwillunfoldaccordingtoHisdivineplansandpurposeforyourlife.YouwillseeyourgiftsandabilitiesfindingexpressiononthegrandstageoflifeandbecomingsynchronizedwithGod’splanforhumanity.Imaginethepossibilities!Youwilloftenhearmequote,“Yourfeetwillnevertakeyouwhereyourmind

hasneverbeen.”Thosewordshavestuckwithmeforalongtimenow.TheyarewhyIwantyoutoseeyourselfdoingextraordinarythings—creating,coaching,leading,writing,preaching,teaching,discovering,orbuilding—asiftheywerereality.LetGodpaintHisplansonthecanvasofyourmind.Spendtimealone

withHimandaskHimtoshowyouthegreatthingsHehaspreparedforyoutodoandaccomplish(1Cor.2:9–10).Letyourfaith,notyourfears,motivateyou.TrustGodtoempoweryouwithwisdomtomakeyourvisionareality.Thisprincipleissoessentialtolivingasuccessful,victoriouslifethatithasbeenthebackboneofmuchofwhatIteach.Itisthefoundationalprincipleofthisbook,alongwiththeScriptureversemuchakintoit:“Wherethereisnovision,thepeopleperish”(Prov.29:18,KJV).Visionissimplyamatterofhowyouseeyourselfinthefuture.Itisacquiring

afreshperspectiveforyourlifefromGod’svantagepoint.Justlikewhenyougotothemovies,avisionisadivineannouncementof“comingattractions.”

Yourfeetwillnevertakeyouwhereyourmindhasneverbeen.

Howyouseethefutureiscontingentuponwhatyoubelieveispossibleforyouandyourfamily,community,andnation;itiscontingentuponwhatyoubelieveaboutyourpotentialformakingsomethinghappen.Whatdoyoubelieveaboutyourpotentialtolivethelifeyou’veimagined?IwanttoencourageyouthatGoddoesnotplaygameswithourminds.Hewillnevergiveyouadesiretodosomethingandnotempoweryoutodoit.“DelightyourselfalsointheLORD,andHeshallgiveyouthedesiresofyourheart.CommityourwaytotheLORD,trustalsoinHim,andHeshallbringittopass”(Ps.37:4–5).Hewillnevergiveyouavisionandnotprovidetheresourcestomakeitareality.“Ifyoucanbelieve,allthingsarepossible”(Mark9:23).Visionisnotsomethingyouconjureupinyourownimagination,butthrough

prayerfulconsiderationyoudiscernthewillofGodforyourlife(Job32:8).YourvisionshouldlineupwiththeWordofGodandbeawayyoucanfulfillyourpartoftheGreatCommission:“Gothereforeandmakedisciplesofallnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFatherandoftheSonandoftheHolySpirit,teachingthemtoobserveallthingsIhavecommandedyou”(Matt.28:19–20,MEV).Onceyouhaveyourvision,youcanthendisciplineyourselftowritethevisiondownandputfeettowhatyouhavewritten.

YOURFOCUSDETERMINESYOURFUTUREWhatisthelensthroughwhichyoulookatchallengesandpossibilities?Doyouseethemassomethingotherpeoplearemoreinnatelywiredtoovercomeortakeadvantageof?Areyoumorefocusedonpotentiallimitationsorpotentialsuccesses,thepossiblerisksorpromisingrewards?

Yourfocusissubjecttoyourmind-setandparadigmofsuccess—howyousetyourmindframesyourmentalmodel.Whatyoubelievetobetrueaboutasituation,yourcountry,andthisworldiswhatyou’lllikelyexperience.Andwhatyoubelieveaboutyourcircumstancesislargelydeterminedbywhatyoubelievetobetrueaboutyourself.Yourbeliefsystemcolorsyourexpectationswiththebrillianceofitshueandinformsyouofwhatyouareworthyofreceiving,achieving,earning,learning,andbeing.“Yourchancesofsuccessinanyundertaking,”writesauthorRobertCollier,“canalwaysbemeasuredbyyourbeliefinyourself.”3Visiongivesyoutheabilitytoseewithnewanduntaintedeyes.Perhapsthe

greatest—oratleastmostrenowned—artist,architect,andengineertohaveeverlived,LeonardodaVinci,attributedhissuccesstoknowinghowtosee.Saperevedere,Latinfor“knowinghowtosee,”washispersonalmotto.HedevelopedwelltheartofseeingbeforehepaintedmasterpiecessuchasTheLastSupperortheMonaLisa—orconceivinginnovationssuchasthehelicopter,parachute,andscubagear.DaVinciwasamanofvision.Hewasthequintessentialvisionary,andhewas

akeyfigureduringtheRenaissance,alongwithothersincludingMichelangelodiLodovicoBuonarrotiSimoni.Whatsetthemapartwastheirabilitytoseedifferently:toseeDavidortheMadonnahiddeninablockofstone,tolookattheskyanddesignwaystoreachit,ortoviewablankceilingandenvisiontheSistineChapel.Theirabilitytoseebeyondtheconfinesofstoneorevengravitytranscendednaturalreason—itcouldalmostbeconsideredasupernaturalsight.ThewordvisionisfromtheOldFrenchvision,meaning“presence,sight;

view,look,appearance;dream,supernaturalsight.”TheFrenchwordisfromtheLatinvisionem,meaning“actofseeing,sight,thingseen.”InthetimeofLeonardodaVinciandMichelangeloitwasawordusedtodescribe“somethingseenintheimaginationorinthesupernatural.”4Ithinkofitassomeoneshiningalightintoadarkroom,exposingeverythingthattheroomcontains.Sometimesthatdarknesscanbewhatblindsustoourownpersonalpotential.

Sometimeswemustsimplyspeakintothatdarknessanddeclare,“Lettherebelight!”WeneedtotapintoChristwithinus.Heisthelightofoursouls(John1:4),wearecreatedinHisimage(Gen.1:27),andthroughHimwearebecomingmoreandmorelikeHim:thelightoftheworld(2Cor.3:18;John8:12).

ItstartedwhenGodsaid,“Lightupthedarkness!”andourlivesfilledupwithlight.—2CORINTHIANS4:6,THEMESSAGE

ThoseofuswhobelieveJesusChristisindeedthelifeandlightofmenshould

betakingtheleadinilluminatingtheyetunseensolutionsneededinanincreasinglydarkworld.InthisageyouandIarecalledtobethelightthatshinesthroughthedarkness(Isa.60:2;Matt.5:14).Knowingwhoyouareandwhoyou’recalledtobecomeinChrististhefirststepinlearninghowtoseeyourselfandwhatyou’retrulycapableof.Jesuspromised,“Ifyoufollowme,youwon’tbestumblingthroughthedarkness,forlivinglightwillfloodyourpath”(John8:12,TLB).Thelightyou’vebeengivenbyGodissupernaturalinsightintofuture

possibilities.WhenIthinkofthewordinsight,Ithinkofthenight-visiongogglesandbinocularsissuedtosoldiersthatallowthemtoseeinthedark.Likewise,youhavebeenequippedasasoldierofheaven(2Tim.2:3–4)withsupernaturalnightvision!ItwasGodwhosaid,“Letlightshineoutofdarkness”andthereby“madehislightshineinourheartstogiveusthelightoftheknowledge”(2Cor.4:6,NIV).Weshouldbeabletoseewhereotherscannot.Weshouldbeseeingthebeautifulformhiddeninwhatseemslikeimpenetrablerock,orgravity-defyingstructuresthathaveyettotakeflight.Weshouldbespeakinglifeandlightintowhatseemtobedeadanddarkplaces.

THEFARANDDISTANTSHOREAsyoubegintosetsailtowardthetomorrowsofyourfuture,youmustknowwhattypeofvesselyouare(Rom.9:21).Foritiswiththisrevelationthatyoucanpierceintothedarknessofyourpotentialtoseetheamazingtreasurethatliesbeneath(2Cor.4:7).TheBibletellsusthat“thefearoftheLORDisthebeginningofwisdom”(Ps.111:10;Prov.9:10).Butthereisalsowisdominknowingandunderstandingyourself.TheancientGreekaphorism“Knowthyself”wasthebasisforSocrates’statementthat“theunexaminedlifeisnotworthliving.”Socrates’studentPlatotaughtthattheessenceofknowledgeisself-knowledge.Knowingwhoyouare,whyyouarehere,whatyouvalue,whatyoubelieve,

andwhatyoustandforisnotonlypowerfullyinformativebutalsoempowering.Becominggroundedintheknowledgeofwhoyouareasauniqueindividualishowyoumaturespiritually.YoumustbeintimatelyacquaintedwithyourgiftsandcallingstobecomeaneffectiveandfullyfunctioningmemberofthebodyofChrist(Rom.12:3–8).Beingtruetoyourself—livingandspeakingyourtruthbasedonGod’struth—isanactofintegrity.AsPoloniussaidinShakespeare’sHamlet,“Thisaboveall:tothineownselfbetrue;anditmustfollow,asthenighttheday,thoucanstnotthenbefalsetoanyman.”5

BecometheChristopherColumbusofyourowndestiny.Ifyouaretoreachthatfaranddistantshoreofyourdream-inspireddestiny,youmustfirstandforemostbecomeaseaworthyvessel.Andinordertobecomeseaworthy,youmustknowwhatkindofvesselGodcreatedyoutobe—whetheraclipper,afrigate,agalleon,aschooner,orayacht.KnowingwhatkindofvesselGodcraftedyoutobewillenableyoutobetternavigatetheseasahead.Thereareanumberoftoolsyoucanusetogaingreaterself-understanding.BehavioralprofilessuchasDiSCcanbeextraordinarilyhelpfulinbroadeningyourself-knowledge,ascantheBarrettPersonalValuesAssessment.Althoughyoumostlikelyhaveageneralsenseofyourgreateststrengthsand

weaknesses,andperhapsevensomepotentialopportunitiesandthreats,Iencourageyoutotakeacloserlookatwhatyoumaynothavebeenawareofbefore.Takealookunderthehull—yourmind!Haveyoueverseenaboatontheshoreliftedupoffthegroundonlargecinderblocks?Therearetimeswhenitisbeneficialtoputyourselfindrydock,sotospeak.TaketimetoprayerfullyexaminetheamazingthingsGodisattemptingtorevealtoyouaboutyourfuture.Examineyourfaith.LikeAbraham,areyou“fullyconvincedthatwhat[God]hadpromisedHe[is]alsoabletoperform”(Rom.4:21)?DoyoureallybelievethatGodisabletoprovidetheresourcestoachieveeveryvisionHehasgivenyou?Onlybytakingacandidlookatwhat’sgoingonbeneaththesurfaceofyourspirituallifecanyouclearawaythebarnaclesofunbelief,doubt,andothernegativeemotionsthatattachthemselvestotheundersideofyoursoul.Thenyou’llgofartherandfaster,freeofwhatmayhavebeenunseennegativeentanglements.6Whenwetalkaboutthetransformationalpowerofvision,wearelargely

talkingaboutastateofmind:“theabilitytothinkaboutorplanthefuturewithimagination.”7Inthechaptersaheadwewillexplorehowtoeffectivelyharnessthepowerofimagination.Yourimaginationandthoughtsarevitaltoeffectivelysteeringyoutowardthefulfillmentofyourdreams.Ifyou’veeverheardmespeak,you’veheardmesay,“Youarealwaysonedecisionawayfromlivingthelifeofyourdreams.”Yourlifetodayisthesumtotalofeverydecisionyou’vemade.YoumustchoosetogoafterthevisionGodhasgivenyou.YoumustchoosetodowhatHehascalledyoutodoinordertobewhoHehascalledyoutobe.YoumustchoosetofocusonthefutureHepromisedyou.Everythoughtyouchoosetoentertainaffectsthecourseofyourdestiny.“Youcreateyourfuturebyenvisioningit,”saidJackCanfield.8CanyouimaginehowgreatyourfuturewillbeonceyourlifeisinsyncwithGod’splan?Youhavearacetorunandabrightfutureaheadofyou(Heb.12:1;Rev.21).

You’vebeengiveneverythingyouneedtoaccomplishwhateverGodhascalledyoutodo(2Pet.1:3).YouhavethemindofChrist(1Cor.2:16);thefavorofGod(Prov.8:35);spiritualgifts,talents,andabilities(1Cor.12:4–11);andthewisdomofheavenjustfortheasking(James1:5).Whatwillyoudowithwhatyou’vebeengiven?

PIONEERANEWFRONTIERAnewworldawaitsthosewillingtodiscoverit.IhavealwaysbeeninspiredbythewordsofUniversityofKansasChancellorE.H.Lindley,whointheearlytwentiethcenturyencouragedstudentsto“developthespiritoftheoldpioneerswhowerenotafraidofnewproblems,”9andJamesE.Faust,whoadmonishedhislistenersto“becomepioneersofthefuturewithallitsexcitingopportunities.”10Thistakesfaith,andfaithcanberiskybusiness.Theworldwasbuiltby

peoplewhowerenotafraidtotakerisks.Theywerethepioneerswhowerenotafraidofthewilderness,thescientistswhowerenotafraidofbeingridiculed,thethoughtleaderswhowerenotafraidofprogress,thepoliticianswhowerenotafraidtochallengethestatusquo,thetheologianswhowerenotafraidofbeingcalledaheretic,theslaveswhowerenotafraidofdying,theyouthwhowerenotafraidofasking“Why?”or“Whynot?”andthedreamerswhowerenotafraidtotakeaction.Ifyouaregoingtoleavetheshoresofthefamiliarinordertonavigategreat

oceansofsuccess(Ps.107:23–24),itwilltakesomedegreeofrisk.Ifyouaregoingtorealizeyourdreamsanddosomethinggreat,pursueadegree,becomeabest-sellingauthor,buildachildren’shomeinathird-worldcountry,startachurch,openacrisispregnancycenter,orestablishafoundationdedicatedtoeducatingunderprivilegedchildren,youmustacceptthefactthatadegreeofriskisinvolved.“WhatifIfail?”youmightask.“Whatifyousucceed?”ismyresponse!Thisisthedifferencebetweenthosewhotakerisksandthosewhoplayitsafe:

thosewhoplayitsafeoperatefromsight,andthosewhotakerisksoperatefromvision.Inhiscelebratedspeech“TheStrenuousLife,”TheodoreRooseveltfamouslystated,

Farbetterisittodaremightythings,towinglorioustriumphs,eventhoughcheckeredbyfailure,thantotakerankwiththosepoorspiritswhoneitherenjoymuchnorsuffermuch,becausetheyliveinthegraytwilightthatknowsnotvictorynordefeat.11

Manypeoplehavean“Iwantto”intheirspirit,buttheyallowfearto

immobilizethemuntilitdissolvesinto“Ican’t”or“I’mafraid.”Daretochangethe“Iwantto”into“Imust,”and“Ican’t”into“withthehelpofGod,Iwill.”(See2Timothy1:7.)Thiskindofattitudetakescourage.Itmeansthatyouhavetomovebeyondtheself-imposedlimitationsandexcuses.GeneralMatthewB.Ridgwaysaid:

Therearetwokindsofcourage,physicalandmoral,andhewhowouldbeatrueleadermusthaveboth.Botharetheproductsofthecharacter-formingprocess,ofthedevelopmentofself-control,self-discipline,physicalendurance,ofknowledgeofone’sjoband,therefore,ofconfidence.Thesequalitiesminimizefearandmaximizesoundjudgmentunderpressureand—withsomeofthatindispensablestuffcalledluck—oftenbringsuccessfromseeminglyhopelesssituations.12

Ifyouweretocriticallyanalyzeeverythingyoudoonadailybasis,fromdrivingyourcar,toflyingonanairplane,towalkingyourdog,eachinvolvessomedegreeofrisk.Bychangingyourthoughtsaboutdoingwhatyoureallywantregardlessoftheperceivedrisk,yousetapowerfulintentioninmotion.Yourisetothechallengeofbreakingfreefromlimitingbeliefsandhabitpatternsthatkeepyoustuck.Bychoosingtochangeyourbeliefaboutyourrighttoprogressandprosper,yougiveyourselfpermissiontosucceed.Bygettingridofself-destructivehabitsthatundermineyourpotential,youareabletoacquirenewhabitsthatfosternewbehaviors,attitudes,andbeliefs.Bycreatingano-excusezoneinyourmind,youwillarousethecouragetopursuethelifeofyourdreams.RobertSchuller,oneofAmerica’stwenty-first-centuryluminarypastors,

asked,“Whatgoalswouldyoubesettingforyourselfifyouknewyoucouldnotfail?”13Mostpeoplewastetheirtimefocusingonthepotentialforfailure.However,eventhoughfailureispossible,keepinmindthatfailureissimplythetuitionyoupayforfuturesuccess.Asimilarquestionyoumightaskyourselfis“WhatwouldIdoifIonlyhadafewmonthslefttolive?”Thesequestionsshouldstimulateyourfaithandinspireyoutoleapintoyour

future.Takingthoseleapsisthestartingpointofpersonalgreatness.JohnMasonsaid:

Ifyounevertakerisks,you’llneveraccomplishgreatthings.Everybodydies,butnoteveryonehaslived.14

Potentialisallyoucanbebuthavenotyetbecome,allyoucandobuthavenotyetdone,howfaryoucanreachbuthavenotyettried.Visionisthecatalystthatignitesyourpotential.Daretolookwithintoseeyourtruepotential,andthenshiftyourfocusfrom

whatlieswithintothepossibilitiesthataredirectlyinfrontofyou,thentowhatliesmonthsandyearsdowntheroad.Mayeverylidandlimitationbeblownoff

yourlife.Don’tlimityourselftowhatyouthinkispossible.Pushpastyourcurrentlimitationsandreachhigher.Peoplecommonlyoverestimatewhattheycandoinoneyearbutunderestimatewhattheycandoinfive.Don’tsellyourselfshort.Takethelongview.Headforthefaranddistantshorebypioneeringyourownnewfrontier.

Manisthemasterofthought,themoulderofcharacter,andthemakerandshaperofcondition,environment,anddestiny.AsabeingofPower,Intelligence,andLove...manholdsthekeytoeverysituation,andcontainswithinhimselfthattransformingandregenerativeagencybywhichhemaymakehimselfwhathewills.

—JAMESALLEN

Youcontrolyourfuture,yourdestiny.Whatyouthinkaboutcomesabout.Byrecordingyourdreamsandgoalsonpaper,yousetinmotiontheprocessofbecomingthepersonyoumostwanttobe.Putyourfutureingoodhands—yourown.

—MARKVICTORHANSEN

OTHERBOOKSBYCINDYTRIMM

CommandingYourMorning

CommandingYourMorningDailyDevotional

TheArtofWarforSpiritualBattle

ThePrayerWarrior’sWay

TheRulesofEngagement

TheRulesofEngagementforOvercomingYourPast

’TilHeavenInvadesEarth

WhenKingdomsClash

www.cindytrimmbooks.com