Have you thought about your spiritual vision for 2023?
Recently I was reminded of a story I heard a long time ago, so I don’t remember all the particulars, but here’s the gist of it. It reminds me of the importance of having spiritual vision for our lives.
Over a hundred years ago, there was a very successful business that designed horse-drawn carriages of the highest quality. They had been in business for decades and had always been very successful because of their high standards. Their carriages were in high demand by the upper class. Not only were they the height of luxury, but they became quite a status symbol. If you had enough money to buy one of their carriages, you must be someone of great importance and great wealth.
As automobiles came on the scene and started to become more popular, the company made a conscious choice not to change the way they did business or alter their products. They couldn’t conceive of the vast and rapid changes which would come with more people owning cars. Within a few years, this very successful business closed because no one was really buying carriages anymore.
No vision
The owners of this business didn’t have any vision for the future. They could only see things the way they always had been and they assumed things would never change, or that they would be immune to the changes because they had been successful in the past.
It’s easy to look back in hindsight and see how short-sighted these folks were, but the same thing happens today.
Have you ever missed an opportunity because you couldn’t see the possibilities down the road? I certainly have. Is there anything going on in your life right now, where you need to open your eyes, so to speak, to get a better sense of what God has in store for you?
Think of all the changes going on in the world these days. It’s not always easy to know what to do or where to go next. There are lots of self-appointed modern-day prophets, secular and religious, who claim they have the answers and can tell you what’s going to happen in the future, but they’re usually wrong.
We need spiritual vision
What we need is some spiritual guidance. What we need is a sense of spiritual direction. What we need is vision.
I’ve been thinking about this verse from Proverbs recently,
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 KJV
The more I’ve thought about this verse, the more I’ve wondered: What are the deeper implications of having or not having vision, and what does that really mean? Now, I just quoted the familiar KJV translation. Here are a few others.
NKJV: Where there is no revelation, [or prophetic vision] the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
NLT: When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
NIV: Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
NASB20 (New American Standard Bible, 2020): Where there is no vision [or revelation], the people are unrestrained,
But happy is one who keeps the Law.
The word vision in this verse from KJV doesn’t just mean what you see with your eyeballs. Vision also means what you can see spiritually, prophetically, right now, through a revelation from God.
What is spiritual vision?
The Hebrew word for vision in this verse is ḥāzôn. It means: a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle:—vision.
It comes from a primitive root word ḥāzâ meaning: to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have a vision of:—behold, look, prophesy, provide, see.
Looking at all these translations of this one verse has given me a deeper sense of what this proverb could mean and why we need this kind of vision.
So why is vision, prophetic vision, revelation important?
On a very basic level, as well as on the deepest spiritual level, we need vision to see where we are and where we’re going.
If you’re looking at a map, whether on a piece of paper, on your cell phone, or the GPS in your car, to get where you want to go, you have to put in the starting point and the destination.
Where are you going spiritually this year?
And that brings us back to the title of this episode, What is your spiritual vision for 2023?
Or I could ask it this way, Where are you going in 2023? And I don’t mean where are you going for vacation. What do you see and where are you going spiritually in 2023?
This is where our need for spiritual vision comes in. A lot of people make New Year’s resolutions and set goals. They decide what they want to do and make plans to do it. And that’s great, but that’s not really what I’m talking about here.
I’m talking about our need to let God reveal to us what the possibilities are in our lives.
Human will versus God’s revelation
There’s a big difference between using your human will to make something happen, and listening for and following through with what God reveals to you to do.
What would it take for you to have that kind of clear spiritual vision that can see what God sees, and live your life accordingly?
Unfortunately, all too often, we get so caught up in the busyness of life that we often can’t see much further than the end of next week. So forget about looking at the spiritual possibilities for a whole year!
But isn’t that what we really need, to look at our lives from a more spiritual perspective?
Jesus started his mission with a bold spiritual vision
When Jesus started his public ministry, he was not timid about his message of profound spirituality. From the very first, he declared, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17 KJV)
Just think of the incredible depth of Jesus’s spiritual vision, with which he could see that heaven is at hand, share this fact with those willing to listen, then live this truth – that heaven is at hand – in his daily walk, healing and teaching people the deeper implications of what heaven was all about.
In other words, what could Jesus see with his spiritual vision and how did he share what he saw with others?
Well, he often told parables about what the kingdom of heaven was like. But if you just take those parables at face value and don’t dig down into the metaphors Jesus uses to explain the spiritual nature of things, they don’t always make sense.
The kingdom of heaven is not a woman baking bread or searching for a lost piece of silver. It’s not a guy selling everything he had to buy the most amazing pearl he’d ever seen, or a farmer planting wheat but having an enemy plant weeds in his wheat field.
Why did Jesus tell so many parables?
Jesus was telling so many parables that his disciples couldn’t figure out why he was doing it. In fact, one time they came to him and asked him this very question.
His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets [Greek: mysteries] of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.
For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Isaiah 6:9, 10 Septuagint] But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. Matthew 13:10-17 NLT
These ordinary guys, many of them fishermen, were seeing and hearing things the prophets in the Old Testament had not seen and heard. Jesus had revealed spiritual teachings that others had not been ready for.
We need spiritual vision to understand Jesus
Jesus is basically saying that to understand his message we need to hear and see spiritually. We need vision and discernment.
Would Jesus say to you, “Blessed are your eyes for they see”?
Or would he say you have “closed your eyes..[and] cannot see”? I think some days he would say one of those to me and some days the other.
I just noticed something interesting in the passage I just read. It’s the part where Jesus is quoting Isaiah. He doesn’t say the people can’t see and hear because they don’t have eyes and ears, but because they have closed them.
The folks Jesus was referring to with closed eyes and ears, still had the potential to hear and understand his message.
I find that rather comforting, especially on the days it seems my spiritual eyes are more closed than open. I still have the ability to open them, even if just a little wider, to see things more spiritually.
What spiritual vision isn’t
Two of my favorite verses in the Bible really get to the heart of what spiritual vision is and what it is not.
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” [Isaiah 64:4] But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10 NLT
Think about that for a minute: the Spirit “shows us God’s deep secrets.”
You cannot see or understand the spiritual meaning of Jesus’s message, or “what God has prepared for those who love him” with the material eyes or ears. Not even the human heart can discern it. This kind of vision comes only as a spiritual revelation from God.
How do we learn to see spiritually?
So, how do we learn to see in this way, to discern the revelations coming to us from God?
As always, we can learn a lot from looking at how Jesus thought and lived and what he taught his followers. Jesus did not settle upon what the five material sense had to say about any situation as the final fact in the case. He did not judge people or situations based on the surface appearance of things.
So, how did Jesus see?
There’s actually a Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament that gives us an insight and answers this question.
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. Isaiah 11:1-3 NLT
This is a prophecy of how the Messiah will see things, and how he will not see things: “He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.”
How often do we only see what appears on the surface of a situation? Sometimes we may go a little deeper and see the emotions, feelings, and limiting beliefs which are just beneath the surface and think we’ve figured everything out. And sometimes we may probe a little deeper still. But this is not necessarily the spiritual vision we need.
How did Jesus want us to see?
He tells us in
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24 KJV
The New Living Translation puts it this way:
NLT: Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.
How deep beneath the surface of things can you see? How deep into the heart of the Holy Spirit will you look?
Jesus sets the standard that we strive for. He could see what God is doing.
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. John 5:19, 20 NIV
You have spiritual vision
How does this apply to you and me? Now, you may be thinking, “James, this sounds great, but this is Jesus who sees everything the Father does. I can’t do that. I’m just me.”
I know, I have felt the same way many times. But this is where that prophecy from Isaiah reminds me that you and I have eyes to see. We just need to open them before we can see all the Father is doing.
Jesus knew God showed him everything He was doing. And Jesus always had his eyes all the way open, and could see all God was doing.
If you want to live like Jesus, to think, pray, and heal like Jesus, you need to see like Jesus. We need to see what the Father is doing. We need the spiritual vision that sees past the surface of things to the heart of spiritual reality.
And we already do have this ability. We just need to use it.
How did Jesus see himself?
Seeing the way Jesus sees has to do with how he saw himself, and consequently how we need to see ourselves.
Jesus said this in referring to himself,
No one has ascended to heaven but he who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. John 3:13 NKJV
Jesus could see himself in heaven, that this was his true dwelling place, even when he was here on earth.
Can you see yourself in heaven in this same way? Obviously not with the material eyes. This kind of vision comes directly, and only, as a revelation from God. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Is it so unreasonable to see ourselves there?
So how do you see things spiritually? What is your spiritual vision of yourself, those around you, and the world? You can’t figure this out intellectually or by listening to others who may think they have figured it out. No one can answer this question for you except God.
And that brings us back, once again to the title of this episode, What is your spiritual vision for 2023? It’s not so much about setting goals for what you want to accomplish. It’s about seeing what God has already done and is doing.
My spiritual vision
Now I can just hear someone asking, “James, you’re sharing these great ideas, but what is your vision for 2023?”
I’m so glad you asked. I’ve been thinking about this for a while actually.
What do I see in 2023? For myself, I see greater possibilities ahead that I could never have imagined several years ago. I see and feel an increasing awareness of God’s deep spiritual love for me, those I interact with, and all mankind, even the folks I disagree with religiously and politically. I see a growing spiritual awakening within myself.
On a larger scale, in the Christian world, I see more people questioning, challenging, and disposing of man-made doctrines and dogmas and returning to the simple message of Christ as a guide for living.
There is a deep hunger for true Christ-likeness in much of the church today. And the whole world is hungry for this as well. People are no longer satisfied with the traditionalism of years gone by. They want the authentic presence of Christ in their lives. They yearn to be in conscious communion with the Holy Spirit. They may not put it in those words, but that intense hunger for deep spiritual meaning is very present in the hearts of many.
In 2023, I see more and more people rediscovering the original essence of what church is intended to be, which is a community of people who hear the voice of God, see what God is doing and how He loves all His children, and go and do likewise.
Despite growing tensions and the tumult of war in various parts of the world, I see, in 2023, more people discovering, along with Paul, that
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 NIV
This is just a bit of my spiritual vision for 2023 and beyond.
Use your spiritual vision
In the coming year, I encourage you to open your eyes, your spiritual eyes, your ability to see what God reveals to you.
Don’t be surprised at how incredible it may seem to the way the world sees things.
I would suggest that you write down your vision and go back during the year to remind yourself what God revealed to you, and to add anything else God reveals to you during the year.
I would be very thoughtful about who you share these ideas with. Not everyone is ready to hear what you have received from God. Let the spiritual visions you have, take root in your heart and in your daily life. Let people see the way you live based on what God has revealed to you. Then, perhaps, they’ll be ready for something you share with them.
I will say with Jesus, “Blessed are your eyes for they see.” God has given you the ability to see way beneath and beyond the surface appearance of things and discern the things of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10.
Use this gift often. Open your spiritual eyes and you will see what God is doing in 2023.
_____________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Contact him here.
Subscribe to the podcast Make a donation to support the show
_____________
Bible References
Proverbs 29:18 KJV
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
NKJV
Where there is no revelation, [or prophetic vision] the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
NLT
When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
NIV
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
NASB20 (New American Standard Bible)
Where there is no vision [or revelation], the people are unrestrained,
But happy is one who keeps the Law.
Matthew 4:17 KJV
17 Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 13:10-17 NLT
10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets [Greek: mysteries] of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
13 That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’ [Isaiah 6:9, 10 – Greek Scriptures]
16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.
1 Corinthians 2:9, 10 NLT
9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.” [Isaiah 64:4]
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.
Isaiah 11:1-3 NLT
1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
3 He will delight in obeying the LORD.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
John 7:24 KJV
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
NLT
Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.
John 5:19, 20 NIV
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
John 3:13 NKJV
13 “No one has ascended to heaven but he who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 NIV
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
