Paul believed he was doing God’s will by imprisoning and killing Christians. And when he discovered his true calling, it was in a dramatic way. ‘As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”’ (vv. 3-6 NKJV). On that day Paul’s ministry began, and it was a ministry that would change the world. As Paul’s life neared its end, he could say, ‘I obeyed that vision from heaven’ (Acts 26:19 NLT). Our vision must not spring from a need to impress others or be like them. We’re called to do God’s will, not our own, and not someone else’s. ‘It is better to trust the Lord than to trust people’ (Psalm 118:8 NCV). We must let our vision come from God’s divine guidance, not from the thoughts or influence of other people, so we can pray with confidence, ‘Lord, You gave me this vision, and I’m trusting You to provide what I need.’ The apostle John wrote, ‘This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us’ (1 John 5:14 NKJV).

What Now?

If you have a vision for your life, or if you’ve had guidance on the direction to take, spend some time today asking God for confirmation so you can be sure it’s really come from Him.