Getting on Board with the Lord’s Vision

Years ago, in a dream, I was called into an open field where my pastor was standing, wearing a white sailor’s suit and a captain’s hat. Behind him was a huge, white cruise ship. In my amazement, he informed me that everyone was on board and waiting for me so that the ship could sail. I made several excuses as to why I couldn’t board the ship at that time. After much debate, he convinced me, and I joyfully followed him on board. I woke up from the sound of a loud horn that was blown from the ship in my dream.

Throughout the years, I have met so many women who are living for God, but are not experiencing true fulfillment in their purpose or destiny. I was the same way. Being raised in a Christian home and attending religious schools did not guarantee me an intimate relationship with the Lord. For 10 years, I attended various churches regularly, married a great man of God, became a mother of two beautiful girls, and worked hard to climb the corporate ladder at a Fortune 500 company. Even though the future was promising, I recognized that there was a huge void and unsettledness in my life. It was about that time that a lifetime cruise began for me in an attempt to search out and discover my God-given purpose. The turning point began in the year 2000 when my husband and I discovered that stability in good ground is what causes permanent growth to occur. Prior to this, we were like seeds scattered into different soils which took no root and, as a result, could not bear fruit. The Word tells us in Psalm 92:13 that those that are “planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God” (NIV).

Successful people develop action plans or goals for their advancement in life. In the same way, after we accept Christ as our Savior, we should endeavor to:

• Plant ourselves in God’s anointed house and allow ourselves to take root in good ground.
• Saturate our minds by reading the Bible to gain knowledge, for it is written in Matthew 4:4 “…Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (NIV).
• Pray for and support our leaders. The Lord places spiritual authority (such as evangelists and pastors) to feed and water us into maturity by the power of the Holy Spirit. We should honor the anointing that is placed as covering over us (see Mark 6:4, Galatians 6:10).
• Embrace discipline and rebuke (see Revelation 3:19) and do not be easily offended by the messenger the Lord uses to correct us. We must also keep in mind that all increase and promotion comes from God (see 1 Corinthians 3:7).

As Christians, we get excited when we encounter a move of God and receive a prophetic word. We stay in a church in hope of the next word, but if the prophetic does not keep flowing to us, we lose hope and faith; we sometimes begin a search for a new word elsewhere. But the truth is, we can be empowered to fulfill our destiny through just one prophetic word that was spoken over us by God.

When we board a real ship and begin to sail into the deep seas, we can’t just “jump ship” every time we feel uneasy or queasy. If we attempt to, we’ll probably drown in the deep ocean. The same is true for our spiritual “ship.” We need to pray for and respect the leadership that is placed over us in the same way that every ship has an assigned captain and workers that help navigate it to its appointed destination.

It is time to quit making excuses to the Lord. He is waiting patiently for us to get on board His royal cruise ship and to embark on our spiritual expedition. In the pursuit of holiness, we must join in with the Lord’s vision as a lifetime journey.

There is good news for you – it’s not too late! If you feel like your life is empty and pointless, then your ship hasn’t sailed yet. Move ahead and pursue your purpose! Answer God’s call, and get on board with the vision He has for you. He has amazing and wonderful places He wants to take you.

Bon voyage!