A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  Motivational speaker Steve Chandler was a sportswriter back in 1976 when he interviewed a retired bodybuilder and aspiring actor named ArnoldSchwarzenegger.  In his book, 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself, Chandler recalls asking Schwarzenegger, “What are you going to do next?”  And with a calm voice, Schwarzenegger replied, “I’m going to be the No. 1 box-office star in all of Hollywood.”  “I tried not to show myamusement,” Chandler said.  “His first attempt at movies hadn’t promised much, and his Austrian accent and monstrous build didn’t suggest instant acceptance by audiences.”  “It’s the same process I used in bodybuilding,” Schwarzenegger went on to explain.  “What you do is create a vision of who you want to be, and then live into the picture, as if it were already true.” Chandler went on to say, “It sounded ridiculously simple.  But I wrote it down and never forgot it.”  Schwarzenegger’s core principle for achieving one’s goals is worthy of emulating.  Create a vision of who you want to be, then, live into the picture. God has created us with the ability to envision.  Unfortunately, we either downplay or dismiss the power of our imagination.  But it is with this tool that we can create a picture of what we desire our future to be.  An architect takes a basic concept then fashions elaborate drawings that eventually serve as the guide for a general contractor to bring to life the vision.  Every invention and innovation begins with a vision.  What you will become begins with an internal picture.  Today, no matter how much sand has passed through the hour glass, create a vision of what you desire to be, then, begin living into that picture.  Begin taking the necessary steps to achieve your dreams.  Live as if it were already true.  It is with this level of creativity and initiative that will enable you to translate faith into sight, and ultimately see you fulfill any vision you have created for your future become reality, with the steps you begin taking now, with this new day.