Visionary Thinking . . .

Visionary Thinking . . .

If you were to ask God, He will give you a vision for your life, one that will enable you to view the end goal, get excited, and move toward it. When parents are worn-out with potty training, poor grades, teenage tantrums, and fender benders, and you remind them that it's only a temporary season, you are actually practicing visionary thinking. Visions are not limited to pastors, politicians, business leaders, not the president, they are for everyone. Visionary thinking gives you a larger perspective. It is like enlarging a picture; it expands not only what you can see, but what you believe you are capable of doing. This type of thinking requires three things: (1). Learning. Be sure of what you know and value it, but never settle for it. Develop new relationships, read new magazines and books, and learn new skills. Become a lifelong learner. (2). Listening. Search out those who have expertise in areas where you don't. Network with people who can do thins you can't. Ask questions that enlarge your understanding and thinking, and then listen carefully and record what you hear. (3). Looking. It is hard to see the picture while you are inside the frame. There is a world outside your own, so you must get outside of yourself and see it through the eyes of others. To essentially meet the needs of people, you must first discover how they think. That calls for humility, getting over your own personal agenda, and attempting to understand the other person's point of view. The Bible states it this way: "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).