The three most important factors in selling real estate property are: 1) location, 2) location, and 3) location, so I am told. All other factors, such as the condition of the property, aesthetics, and selling price are certainly considered, but the main selling point with prospective buyers is where the property is located.

Similarly, there are three most important factors in walking with God, and I believe they are:  1) vision, 2) vision; and 3) vision. In other words, what we see—our vision—is to walking with God what location is to selling real estate—it far outweighs any of the other factors. Proverbs 29:18 says that “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This tells us that vision is essential for survival. If someone desires to walk with God, it is necessary that he sees what God wants him to see. Otherwise, he will not be able to follow God accurately, and according to this scripture, he could lose his way altogether.

A few years ago when I began to sense the call to write and to prepare myself for that call, God showed me I had a vision problem. This came as a total surprise, since I was totally unaware of any such problem. However, there were things about the message I intended to write that had to be corrected before I could go any further—either into a deeper walk with God or into a vocation of writing for Him. My vision was equally crucial in both cases.

As God began to deal with me about my vision—how I saw certain things—I discovered that I had worn blinders for much of my life. I think it is important to repeat what I mean by the word “blinders.” According to Webster, blinders are two flaps on a bridle that keep a horse from seeing to either side. They eliminate distractions to the animal and allow it to focus on the task at hand, such as running a horserace or plowing straight rows in a field. For people, we could then say that blinders are things that hinder us from seeing anything other than what is right in front of us and anything different from what we are intended to see. I believe blinders become ingrained in our personal belief systems formed by our parents, teachers, spiritual leaders, culture, etc. Whether good or bad, they help shape who we are and what we believe about many things. In some instances, they are placed there intentionally by those who rule over us. Other blinders are unintentional, such as family traditions simply handed down from one generation to the next. But whatever the case, they are a powerful force in our thinking, our opinions, and our values.

My purpose in addressing blinders is certainly not to offend anyone, but to share what God has shown me about my own blinders. My writings are not intended to be politically correct, slanted for or against any doctrine or group, nor written to win a popularity contest. My intent is solely to speak the truths shown to me. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:4 “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” My heart’s desire is to be pleasing to God, if in fact, He has entrusted me with His gospel. Before the changes in my vision occurred, I believe God had not nor could not entrust me with the gospel.

So buckle your seatbelts and hang on to your hats as we make this journey. We will take a deeper look into what God wants us to see and what might be hindering us from seeing it. We might just figure out why it feels like we have been going around in circles and getting nowhere. Walking with God really is about our vision, our vision, and our vision. ~Janie Kellogg