Does your vision reflect a world view that gives hope for the future? (128-1)

Without hope for the future leaders will lack power in the present.  Read Psalm 73:1-17.

David wrote approximately half of the chapters in the book of Psalms. One of the other Psalm writers was Asaph. Asaph was one of three choir directors appointed by David to serve at the temple. Often Psalms were sung as part of worship. In Psalm 73 Asaph reflects on how the prosperity of the unrighteous has caused him to question God’s justice. Verse 17 is pivotal in his understanding. Asaph describes how he gained the needed vision that gave him hope for justice when he entered the sanctuary of God. There he finally grasped the long-term perspective that there are eternal dimensions to human destiny.

Vision gives hope and is the friend of every leader. Leaders with hope have the confidence to keep their perspective and stay on course. When Asaph is reminded that God is fair and just, he receives hope for his personal situation, he sees the final destiny of the wicked, and he is able to endure his season of oppression. It is crucial for a leader to know how to identify and cultivate personal vision that leads to hope for the future. When a leader demonstrates vision for their team, the hope generated by that vision energizes the team to use their skills, talents and resources to make the vision a reality.

Just a few of the many realities concerning vision that will lead to hope:

• The vision must be consistent with God’s principles and purposes.
• The vision must be balanced between specific, solid, clear direction and yet open to input that keeps the vision fresh. If the communication and activity isn’t kept focused there will be confusion for the team and hope will soon be lost. If the vision is closed to input the team loses motivation created by participation in the dream.
• Leaders can’t allow self-serving interests, theirs or someone else’s, to distort the vision. This is particularly critical for Christian leaders as self-serving motives generally oppose God’s purposes.

As a Christian leader does your vision reflect a Biblical world view that gives hope for the future?