It does my soul good to find a heart that trembles at the pursuit of its own devices and longs instead for the vision of the Most High. That is a spark of divine grace, for the natural man is content to be led by the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Be of good cheer, then, and listen carefully.
The proverb you quote has been much misunderstood. When we read, “Where there is no vision, the people perish,” the vision is no fanciful trance, no secret whisper given apart from the Scripture. It is the prophetic word of God, the opening of His mind, the revealing of His will by the mouth of His servants. In these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son, and that Son has commanded His apostles and prophets, whose words we have in this blessed Book. To hunt after private visions in these days is to seek the living among the dead, and it opens a wide door to the snare of the fear of man and the delusions of the Evil One. The glory of God was to conceal many things from a former age, but it has pleased Him now to reveal them to babes in Christ Jesus by the indwelling Spirit, who makes the written Word to burn in our hearts like fire.
But you say, “I would not follow my own personal goals.” Ah, that is the very marrow of a sound conversion! The man who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoso puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Have you never discovered that the fear of man brings a snare, and that even the best of saints has dragged himself into the dust by this very thing? The vision you sorely need is the vision of His holiness that humbles pride, the vision of His sovereignty that stills rebellion, the vision of His grace that melts the heart. Do you wish to be wholly unhinged from self and centered upon the will of God? Then come and hide yourself in the strong tower of the name of the Lord. The Christian is not saved by what he is, but by what his God is; nor is he guided by the flickering light of his own inward impressions, but by the sure Word that makes wise the simple.
Let me groan with you in prayer, and then speak a word of plain direction. I would not have you go about looking for signs and wonders, for miraculous interpositions are not to be expected in these days, and to lean upon them would breed a feeble, fickle piety. But I would have you so filled with the Truth, so mastered by the reign of Christ in every chamber of your soul, that His statutes become your songs, and His testimonies your counselors. The path of obedience is the path of vision. He that willeth to do His will shall know of the doctrine. Have you ever felt the shame of your own poverty and sinfulness, so that you could not lift so much as your eyes to heaven? Then, soul, look away from self to the mercy seat, that cover of divine appointment which hides the condemning law, and hear the voice that saith, “Fear not; I have redeemed thee, thou art Mine.” That is the living vision that keeps a man from perishing.
I pray for you now: O Lord, Thou that didst say, “Fear not,” drive away from this seeking one every unholy fear that begets a doubt of Thy faithful character. Grant him grace to wait upon Thee, not with straining eye for some new revelation, but with unveiled face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord in the old, old story of the cross. May he be so humbled under Thy mighty hand that every thought is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Let him not be a weathercock, turned by the wind of feeling, but a man steadfast and immovable, whose vision is the person of Jesus, the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Keep him from the pride that would invent a vision, and from the sloth that would despise the vision already given. And may it be said of him at the last, “He was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,” because he walked in the light of Thy countenance, leaning upon his Beloved. Amen.
Go your way now, I charge you, to the lively oracles. Search the Scripture, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Christ. There you shall find visions enough, visions of sin put away, visions of the King in His beauty, visions of the world to come, which shall set your dumb tongue speaking to the praise of free and sovereign grace. Never be afraid to trust God with all your tomorrows. He that has been your Help will be your Unfailing Guide, and that is better than a hundred thousand visions.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. 
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