March 25, 2025
“Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind'; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”
- Genesis 1:24-26 (NKJV)
Building a successful future is the result of a process marked by intentionality and alignment with a clear goal. God has provided us with a blueprint to turn vision into reality. Today, we will explore God’s framework- a blueprint for building success. Each component of this blueprint is critical in ensuring that we don’t just reach the finish line, but that we finish well and strong. Let’s call it the “Five S’s”.
The first S is Strategy. Strategy is a high-level plan of action designed to achieve a goal. You must define your goal and have a clear vision of the future you want to build.
The second S is Strata. Strata refers to the various layers or levels within a project. It helps organize the process into manageable segments so that progress can be tracked and resources allocated effectively. Likewise, God created us with different dimensions – spirit, soul, mind, and body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 - Now May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 22:37 - Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Once you have a vision for the future, you can begin to nurture each of these layers and align them with that vision.
A documented vision gains power, especially when backed by the Word of God.
The third S is Sequence. Sequence is the prescribed order in which tasks or activities should be completed-a crucial factor in ensuring efficiency. For example, when building a house, you wouldn’t install the roof before laying the foundation, nor would you paint the house without first completing the wiring and plumbing. Honouring the proper sequence helps ensure that the future God brings to life is built on a solid foundation.
The fourth S is Steps. These are individual tasks required to achieve your objectives (i.e. the essential actions that bridge the gap between the present and a successful future). In Habakkuk 2:2, God commanded the Prophet to “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” Let’s pause and unpack this verse, it outlines three vital actions for transforming vision to a success: WRITE, READ and RUN. Writing makes the vision clear and tangible. Reading keeps your vision in view, ensuring you remain aware of your goal. Running signifies taking decisive action to execute the vision.
The fifth S is Seal. A mark that signifies the final approval or completion of the project. Just as a tradesperson is awarded a Red Seal, certifying that they have met national standards for their trade.
A well-documented vision gains tremendous power, especially when it is backed up by the Word of God. Proverbs 16:3 says, “In other words, commit your efforts wholly to the Lord, trust Him completely, and He will align your thoughts with His will. As a result, your plans will be established and succeed”.
Song of Worship
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me save that thou art.
Thou my best thought by day and by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Prayer - Heavenly Father we ask for Your Holy Spirit to bring clarity to us so that we can see the future that You have designed and ordained for us. Anoint our hands to WRITE, open our eyes to READ and ignite our feet to RUN with purpose in Jesus Name.