More Than You Can See

What's your vision for your life?

"We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

"Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction." Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

"Speak, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3)

"The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions." 1 Samuel 3:1 (NIV)

"One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was." 1 Samuel 3:2–3 (NIV)

God speaks

"Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, 'Here I am.'" 1 Samuel 3:4 (NIV)

"And he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.' But Eli said, 'I did not call; go back and lie down.'" 1 Samuel 3:5 (NIV)

We learn to listen

"Then Eli realised that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."'" 1 Samuel 3:8–9 (NIV)

"The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" 1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV)

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 (NIV)

"Hearing God starts by understanding that He wants a conversation as part of a growing relationship." Nathan Finochio, Hearing God

We say yes

"And the Lord said to Samuel: 'See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.'" 1 Samuel 3:11 (NIV)

"Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision." 1 Samuel 3:15 (NIV)

"So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him." 1 Samuel 3:18 (NIV)

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42 (NIV)

Then we see

"The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognised that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word." 1 Samuel 3:19–21 (NIV)

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

God speaks. We listen. We say yes. Then we see.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8–10 (NIV)

Speak, Lord

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)