“Show me your vision, and I’ll show you your future.”- South Korean Pastor David Yonggi Cho
Mark Batterson continues Chapter 15 of The Circle Maker with the observation that “vision starts with visualization.” He cites a 1995 study by Alvaro Pascual indicating that the brain’s motor cortex is just as active mentally rehearsing a five-finger piano exercise as it is during actual physical practice.
Mental rehearsal literally is mind over matter. At a minimum, it’s equal to physical practice- and may be more important. Mark explains:
“When you dream, your mind forms a mental image that becomes both a picture of and a map to your destiny. That picture of the future is one dimension of faith, and the way you frame it is by circling it in prayer.”
Goal-setting serves an important purpose. Goals are the GPS that gets you to the destination of your dreams. Goals are unique to each individual, reflecting one’s unique personality and passions. Everyone arrives at their goals via different avenues. Mark offers ten steps to goal-setting to help guide you as you circle your life goals. The first two steps are presented today.
1. Start with prayer. Mark emphasizes prayer is the best way to jump-start the goal-setting process. Setting your goals in the context of prayer raises the likelihood that those goals will glorify God. Unless your goals glorify God, they aren’t worth setting.
2. Check your motives. Mark encourages you to examine your motives with total honesty. Be certain your goals are God-glorifying. Mark writes: “. . . you make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.”
Today’s question: If you were asked “show me your vision,” what specific goals would you describe to achieve your dream? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “A stock clerk with a goal”
