“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.”
— Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)
Let me ask you a question:
If you could wake up tomorrow in your ideal life, what would your day look like?
Where would you be living?
What would your morning feel like?
What kind of work would you do?
Who would you be serving?
And perhaps most importantly, why would it matter?
It’s surprising how few of us have answers to these questions. We know what we’re running from — stress, confusion, poverty, obscurity — but we rarely pause to define what we’re running toward. For the most part, we’ve been living our lives by default, not by design.
Now, it’s time to stop being driven by hustle or ambition and start running with a God-given vision.
A life of vision, rooted in God’s purpose, brings the most fruitful kind of success. Share on XThe Bible says in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Some translations say “cast off restraint” or “run wild.” In other words, when we lack direction, we scatter our energy, waste our days, and drift through life.
Have you ever felt like that?
I have.
There was a time in my life when I was working constantly, saying yes to every opportunity, staying up late to finish projects… and yet, I wasn’t moving forward. I was spinning in circles.
It wasn’t until I took time to seek God’s heart and get honest about my real desires that things began to shift.
The Power of Vision
God Himself is a visionary. From the beginning, He saw what could be, not just what was.
In Genesis 1, we see a formless, empty void… and God speaks light into it. He doesn’t complain about the darkness. He doesn’t panic about the chaos. He creates.
And then, incredibly, He makes us in His image with the ability to dream, to imagine, to design.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
– (Genesis 1:27, ESV)
That means the capacity to envision a better future is divinely coded into our DNA.
So how do we activate that gift?
Start by doing the inner work of vision. Not what the world tells you to want. But what you, in your spirit, are called to create.
Here are three simple but powerful exercises that can help you clarify your vision:
1. Write Your Life Plan
A life plan is a personal document where you articulate your life’s vision, clarify your priorities, and paint a picture of your desired end while also identifying the actions, decisions, habits, and disciplines that will get you there.
Writing your life plan helps you map out the things that matter in such a way as to put the various aspects of your life’s journey in perspective. You cannot control every outcome but you can determine major milestones and implement systems to help you stay on course.
A life plan gives your faith direction. You can’t steward a vision you never took the time to write down. Share on XAsk yourself:
- What do I want to be known for?
- What kind of impact do I want to leave behind?
- What does success look like for me in God’s eyes?
- What must I do to move from where I am to where I desire to be?
Be specific. Think in terms of character, contribution, and calling. Write it down in a way that can serve as a map for your life’s journey.
2. Describe Your Ideal Day
Sometimes we overcomplicate the process of living out our God-given purpose. This exercise simplifies it.
Imagine your dream life — but zoom into the daily rhythms.
What time do you wake up?
How do you spend your morning?
What kind of work fills your hours?
Who do you spend time with?
How does your evening end?
You’ll be surprised how revealing this exercise is. You’ll start to notice patterns — the values that matter most to you. Use this as a compass.
Legacy is built every day. Live now in the way you want to be remembered. Share on X3. Write Your Own Obituary
It may sound morbid, but it’s deeply clarifying.
At the end of your life, what do you want people to say about you?
How did you love?
How did you serve?
What legacy did you leave?
This helps you focus on what truly matters — and reminds you that life is short, but can be deeply meaningful.
Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Staying Anchored: Clarify Your Core Focus
As you begin designing your life, you need a core focus. A simple mission statement for your soul.
It might sound like:
- “I help young men discover and pursue their God-given purpose.”
- “I create solutions that bring joy to people’s everyday lives.”
- “I build systems that empower underserved communities.”
- “I teach, write, and mentor with the goal of multiplying kingdom impact.”
The specifics will evolve. But the heart remains.
When you live from a core focus, you experience what Jesus described in John 15:5 — abiding fruitfulness.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Vision without connection to the Author of life leads to burnout. Vision anchored in Christ leads to fruitfulness.
Why You Can’t Do Everything (And That’s Okay)
Let’s settle this once and for all: You are not called to do everything.
Even Jesus — with all power and authority — didn’t heal every sick person in Israel. He didn’t teach in every city. He didn’t meet every need.
He stayed close to the Father, and He moved with purpose.
“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing…” (John 5:19, ESV)
If Jesus needed divine direction, so do we.
Trying to do everything will leave you scattered and soul-weary. You’ll end up doing a hundred things halfway — instead of doing the few things that really matter, deeply and well.
So yes, explore. Learn. Try new things.
But always return to your focus.
The route may change, but the purpose remains. When your vision is anchored in God, detours still lead to destiny. Share on XLet your “yes” be grounded in vision — not guilt. Let your “no” be a gift to your future self.
Living from Vision, Not Circumstance
Here’s the final — and perhaps hardest — truth: The life you want will never happen by accident.
You must design it. And design it from your vision — not your limitations.
Most people live reactively. They wait for conditions to improve. They blame their lack of progress on their job, their finances, their background, or their season.
But a purpose-driven life starts now. In the middle of the mess. With whatever little you have.
God asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2)
It was just a staff. But in God’s hands, it parted seas and toppled empires.
What’s in your hand?
A laptop? A gift for writing? A love for children? A passion for design? A burden for your community?
Start there. Use what you have.
Your Life Is Designed One Step at a Time
Here’s the beautiful paradox of vision: It’s both big-picture and everyday.
It gives you long-term direction — and short-term clarity.
It shapes your decades — and your next 24 hours.
So how do you live it out, practically?
Let me offer a simple framework:
- Pray intentionally — Ask God to align your heart with His will daily.
- Review your vision — Revisit your life plan weekly or monthly.
- Say “yes” to alignment — Choose actions that match your calling.
- Say “no” to distraction — Release things that drain your energy.
- Reflect often — At the end of each week, ask: Did I live from vision or from reaction?
As you actively implement this framework, you will wake up one day — sooner than you think — and realise that you did not just dream up a good life; you actually lived it out.
A Word of Encouragement
I don’t know what season you’re in. You might feel behind. Scattered. Unsure.
Or maybe you’ve been living by someone else’s definition of success, quietly aching for something more.
Wherever you are — know this: God sees you. He loves you. And He wants to partner with you in building a life of meaning.
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
That means there’s a design already in place — not one you must fabricate from scratch, but one you get to discover and live into.
So let’s not waste another year chasing everything and arriving nowhere.
Let’s build with God. Let’s move with vision.
And let’s design not just a career, or a ministry, or a brand but a life.
One full of purpose, joy, and eternal impact.