A vision is beyond just a good idea. It must be a God idea. God does not obligate Himself to our good ideas or brainstorming sessions. God commits Himself to us when we connect with His heart and vision for the world.

There are five principles about vision I want to share with you:

1. Vision given: God alone gives the vision. Therefore, we have to connect with God not only daily, but deeply. Vision is not duplicating what someone else does. Vision is crafted by God into your life and leadership, using your giftedness within the context you are ministering.

2. Vision written: Write down what God is saying to you. Daily, I write a one-page prayer to God. I record what God is putting into my heart and what He has said through His Word to me. Whenever I am about to communicate a major vision to our church, I write down the vision.

It is easier to stay focused on the vision when it is written down. It is also easier to bring others alongside you in your vision when they see it in words and graphics.

3. Vision declared: Communicate by faith what God has put into your heart. When you know God has crafted His vision into your life and you have it recorded in writing, you can stand and communicate it effectively. Communicating a vision is critical to allowing others to join you in the vision. A well-crafted document that can be communicated clearly and in a compelling manner can ascend the vision greatly.

4. Vision faithed: Trust God via prayer until He fulfills it. There is a period of time that can become a little uncomfortable. It is the time between communicating the vision and seeing it realized. Therefore, your faith has to be strong. Your trust in God increases until you see with your eyes what you have already seen spiritually. True vision is seeing it before you see it! Therefore, until you see with your physical eyes, you trust God and communicate the vision clearly and in the most compelling way.

5. Vision realized: If God says it, in time, He will do it. The Lord finishes what He begins. When He places a vision in your heart, consuming you with the vision, in time, our God will fulfill the vision! He will do it! You have to forget the “what ifs” of your vision and embrace the “What we will do when we see it happen?” moments.

There is nothing like seeing a vision realized that God has placed into your heart. It ignites your faith and energizes your very soul. Yes, you can count on this: If God indeed gives you a vision, in time, He will do it!

Oh, by the way, if you will go right now and read Habakkuk 2:1-4, you will find these biblical principles for vision. God always has the final word, even the final word on vision.

Ronnie Floyd has been a pastor for over 36 years. Since 1986, Pastor Floyd has served as the senior pastor of Cross Church, Northwest Arkansas, which has baptized more than 17,000 people during his tenure. Cross Church was one of the first churches in America to go multisite. Pastor Floyd has authored 20 books, including Our Last Great Hope: Awakening the Great Commission.

For the original article, visit pastors.com.

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