A program is written with the end in view. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, one of the definitions of a “program” in relation to this discourse is “a plan or system under which action may be taken towards a goal.” Other synonymous words are curriculum, syllablus, prospectus, etc. Those who write programs are called programmers; it’s a familiar word as it points us to computer software programmers.
Every living person on earth is given a program for their life’s journey. Wow! How beautiful it is when you know that God has written a detailed program for your life, it’s beyond the hidden code of a computer programmer called the back end; such is rarely visible or accessible to a user of the system. But in the case of our great God, He unveils His great plans for us at every stage because He loves us.
Programs are in levels and stages and it takes keeping to the guidelines to experience the full package it carries. Let’s take a glimpse of what He said to us in the Scripture below:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).
We are not only given an idea of the program but eyes to see it, though it takes one’s choice to see and embrace it. What you don’t see, you can’t achieve.
Imagine what the world would look like if we were born without sight. God sees the end from the beginning, He graced us with the power of imagination, illumination and the power to see ahead. Jesus endured hardship, scorns and reproach from evil men because of He already saw the joy that was ahead of Him. In the same vein, anyone can endure any hardship when his eyes are set on our greatest Model of all times – Jesus Christ.
Vision shapes our behavior and energizes us for tomorrow. Vision is more than just dreaming, but putting reality into a pictorial form until the goal is achieved.
The greatest ability a leader possesses is to set visions of hope and possibilities before the people. He must be ahead, and often, others may not see what he saw at the beginning. This is a call not to be discouraged when his people don’t understand. Leaders of great vision, often stand alone but persistence keeps them going, knowing that the future awaits.
Vision constrains, compels, and empowers. In vision, all our energy is focused to achieve a goal set ahead. The world is in ruin today because leaders set no vision before the people. Vision is the power a leader gives to the followers to achieve greatness.
Leadership is all about influence since the true leader causes their followers to pursue a course. The power is a compelling vision, it may take time and strategies. Recall that Jesus was patient with the disciples till they came into the full picture of His mission on earth despite explaining it several times.
Every leader must challenge their followers to see what they are seeing in order to achieve great heights together. In Mark 10:51, the blind man asked Jesus to receive his sight, note the phrase “I want to see” that should be the desire of every leader. In the long run, we must not forget that God is the Master planner and the programmer, and every genuine leader must subscribe to his leading toward a greater goal.
God has given us the ability to see. Often he asks, what do you see? What we see determines how He leads us to the expected end.
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Michael Okuneye is a certified Facilitator with Lead like Jesus and also the African Representative. Experienced with missions and leadership matters since 1993. He is the Executive Director of Livingword Global leadership Mission; served as a missionary in Niger, Chad and in Nigeria where he resides, training Church Planters and Community Champions to build stronger and transformational churches in Africa. Having raised and trained many leaders in several nations, it has given him the voice in Leadership matters in Nigeria. He served as the Assistant to the National director of Bible league in Chad, later rose to National Head of Operations of Bible League Nigeria before proceeding to advance the course of Leadership and Mission. He is currently the Coordinator of the Teens Church in his local assembly where he raises leaders. As a great motivator, he has encouraged many, coupled with his unique approach to coaching and mentoring lives in diverse fields of specialization, more than 10,000 lives have been affected by his leadership. He is also championing the cause of community development in rural areas for positive changes. He is married to Titilope his best friend and they are blessed with five boys.
