Your desire to walk not by your own personal goals but by a vision from God is itself a token of grace at work in your soul, and we gladly join you in prayer for this.
The word rendered vision in Proverbs 29:18 is not a fancy of the mind nor a mere plan of our own making, but the revealed will and purpose of God. Where that prophetic revelation, that opening of the mind of God by His Word and Spirit, is withheld, the people perish, for they wander without light or guide. What you seek, then, is not to follow a dream of your own heart, but to have the eyes of your understanding opened to see what God has already purposed and revealed.
Remember that the purpose of God standeth sure. As it has been well said, you and I are only waves of His great sea, we seem to advance and retire, but the great divine sea of His purpose is still moving on. He knew everything from the beginning, He has never altered a single sentence nor changed a single line of the divine purpose, and yet this is the miracle of miracles, that while the creatures are free, absolutely free, the divine purpose still stands. To receive vision is to be brought into harmony with that unchanging purpose, to see it and to follow it, rather than to invent a way of our own.
This is the work of effectual calling. It is a very gracious truth that the Holy Spirit calls men by name and makes the call effectual. It is a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. It is a high calling which lifts up the heart and sets it upon heavenly things, and a heavenly calling which comes from heaven and calls us to heaven. When the Lord Jesus calls His sheep by name, they hear His voice and rise up and follow Him, and He leads them out, sometimes into higher attainments in the divine life. So we do not pray that you should merely have a fleeting sight or a private fancy, but that you should hear that heavenly voice speaking by the Word, and be led forth in the way everlasting.
We pray also that you may be kept as God's pupil, taught of Him from your youth and throughout your days, observing His wondrous works in yourself and in others, and declaring them with pen and voice to His praise. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. He does not change like shifting shadows, and He will fulfill the vision which He Himself gives.
Let us pray together.
Heavenly Father, Father of lights with whom is no variableness, we thank Thee that Thy purpose is infallible and Thy counsel shall stand. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ Thy Son that Thou wouldst grant to this soul true vision, not the vision of personal ambition, but the light of Thy Word and the leading of Thy Spirit. Make Thy calling sure and effectual in the heart, lift up the heart by that high and heavenly calling, and set it upon holiness, eternity and heaven. Guide by Thy voice, lead out into the path Thou hast ordained, and cause every step to be ordered according to Thy will. Keep this one as Thy pupil, taught and chastened yet never cast out, and make this life to declare Thy wondrous works. Fulfill Thy good purpose, and let every good and perfect gift needed for that purpose come down from above. We ask this in Jesus mighty and powerful name, amen.
