Have you ever been driving down the road, your thoughts being neither here nor there, and then it hits you. Instantly you’re reminded that you’re hungry and what you’re hungry for. That’s right… It’s McDonald’s french fries. As you see the golden arches just up ahead you know that those french fries are just what you need, but one look at the clock tells you that you don’t have time to consider this little endeavor any further.. and you cruise past. Ten minutes later, you still have that rumble in your stomach but the thought of those fries is gone.
Often it’s like that for me and having a clear vision. I can talk about my vision for my ministry in broad, sweeping strokes. However, the nuts and bolts of that vision are fleeting. They’ll gently waft into my head (like the smell of french fries), but when the time comes to start putting it down and working it out those specific concepts, dreams, and ideas (the french fries) just aren’t there.
It’s something that I need to get better at. It’s something I’m trying to get better at. It’s something a lot of Christians need to get better at. We talk about seeing people come to Christ. We talk about changing culture. We talk about making the world a better place, but how do we do that? Our instincts usually come up with something like “Pray more and try harder.” How… ineffective.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking prayer, but God doesn’t want us to just have a seat and pray for Him to take care of it. He wants us to pray for a vision, for a plan, and then go get it. He’s a God who has asked us to join Him in His mission.
One of my favorite quotes comes from a video for a book called “The Vision & The Vow.” It says “They work as if it all depended on them, and pray because it all depends on God.”
… but it’s all for not without clear vision and a clear plan. Maybe it’s time for us (me) to stop throwing our prayers at lofty abstract dreams and rather pray for God to give us a clear vision and a clear plan… with a side of fries.