Proverbs 29:18 says that without vision people will perish.
Vision, here, is a clear understanding of how things should be. Perish means to suffer in some way, not necessarily keeling over and dying, but can be serious compromise or lack in some part of one’s life.
Vision provides three benefits:
- Destiny. Destiny is the targeted outcome of a major aspect of our life. It’s been said that if you aim for nothing, you’ll probably hit it. Having a clear mental image of how we want things to turn out is more powerful to bring about that very outcome than many realize.
- Energy. I’ve seen in my own experience that when I have a clear mental image of a strongly desired outcome, especially when I have certainty that image is Godly, I’m energized greatly to achieve that outcome. The idea of getting to my destiny is the powerful fuel it takes to get me there.
- Safety. One of the surprising benefits of having vision is that it provides the guardrails necessary to keep us on track and out of the trouble we’d experience without vision.
Concerning marriage, the question is, what is our vision for our marriage? Once we’ve answered that question, the vision, itself, will provide the benefits I stated above.
But here are a few pointers in ascertaining vision:
- Seek God for it. The more specific meaning of the Proverbs 29:18 vision is God’s vision; it can’t be just any ole vision; it must ultimately come from God, and seeking Him for it guarantees that you’ll get the best possible one. Remember the awesome promise that if we seek, we will find. (Matthew 7:7) The secret is in the seeking, so don’t worry about whether it’ll come; it’s a guarantee.
- Make it clear. Observe it, contemplate it and review it so much that the details are very clear to you. The more clearly you can see it, the more distinctly it will be etched into your mind.
- Write it down. Recording a vision statement solidifies it for you. You aren’t just getting it down on paper; your getting it into your heart, which is where it has to be if it’s going to do its thing.
Arriving at a vision for you marriage will take some time, thought, prayer and interspousal communication. But the work it takes to get it is a worthwhile investment that you’ll understand once your vision is realized.