Real Hope: VisionSample

A Vision for This Year

The new year is guaranteed to be interesting and tense and possibly with ‘horses and chariots’ surrounding individuals and cities, literally and figuratively speaking. Having said that, this is nothing new. When the Arameans were fighting the Israelites around 864 BC, Elisha the prophet was caught up in the conflict and even targeted by the enemy. I love this story, and the servant’s reaction, and Elisha’s faith.

There are at least two keys to the story. The first is that Elisha asked the Lord to open the servant’s eyes so that the servant could see the reality of God’s mighty protecting army around His people. The second, which is more obscure and delightfully interesting to my mind, is that Elisha may not have seen God’s invisible army at all but, rather, he just knew they were there. Elisha said to the servant – ‘Don’t be afraid... Those who are with us are more than those who are with them’ (v16).

And so, my encouragement to you this year is this: Will our clear and immovable vision be for the ‘unseen hand of God’, for His guidance, protection and care? Or for the fear and despair projected onto our screens and minds from those who forget who God is and miss sight of His plans?

Written by JOHN SCOTT

Want more? Check out the Real Hope Conversations Podcast and delve deeper into our conversation about stepping into the New Year with Clear Vision. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.