LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL

By Pastor Mensa Otabil
 
Saturday 3rd January 2026

SET NEW GOALS

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 29
 

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18

To make the most of the year, we must look ahead and work with specific targets. We need to have a vision for the year and set goals to achieve it.

Vision.

 Where there is no vision, people perish. Vision is a clear picture of what you desire to achieve or experience in the future. We are sustained and kept on track in life by the quality of our vision. When we live our lives without any clear picture of where we are headed or what we want to do with the talents and opportunities we have, we waste the days and squander the gift of life that God has blessed us with.

Goals are part of a vision.

 They are the vision broken down into achievable parts. We can use days, weeks, and months to set clear targets for our vision. When we do that, we can measure our progress as the days turn to weeks; and weeks turn to months.
 
Without a clear sense of where we are going and where we want to get to, we will settle for any destination. Without vision, we will accept anything that comes our way and allow other people to set the agenda for our lives.
 
The NIV renders today’s verse as, ‘Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.” To cast off restraint is to have no guide or control. Can you imagine what would happen if there were no pipe to guide the water from the pump station into your house? That pipe acts as the ‘restraint’ that controls and guides the water from the pump station. Without it, the water will be wasted.
 
That is what vision is like. Without it, you waste your precious life. Don’t go through this year and the rest of your life without a clear vision. Invest your time in reflecting on what you want to do and achieve this year.
 
This year, God is calling on you to develop a vision that will provide guidance and direction for every effort you make and all the energy you spend.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to live purposefully this year. Give me the discipline to follow through with your plan for my life. In Jesus’ name, *Amen.*_