I once worked as a waitress, for quite a while I must admit, but during this time I had in my mind a colourful picture of where I wanted to be. I carried this picture with me everyday. Two years after university, my picture hadn’t materialised yet but I kept adding bits and pieces to it to make it even bigger. I saw myself working in a reputable company and pursuing my career. Sometimes I dressed to my waitressing job like I was going to resume at a big finance company. I saw myself going to work with my laptop case in one hand and the daily paper in the other hand.

One day, I got exactly what I’d pictured. My dreams actually became real. After years and years of waiting, speaking, praying and visualising what I desired. The picture had left my imagination and had now become part of my everyday life.

“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:33 (KJV)

A lot of times, when things are not looking right, people write themselves off. A classic example of this is when the children of Israel went to spy out the land. They saw that it was flowing with milk and honey just as God had said, but then they also saw the giants in the land. They immediately sized themselves up and concluded that they were like grasshoppers. When you take the time to read the full account, you will discover that it was the people who saw themselves as and called themselves grasshoppers-not the enemy. Today I ask; how do you see yourself and what are you saying about yourself?

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Understand that you cannot grow beyond your vision. The truth is that what you see about your life actually determines what you get because if you can see it, then you can have it. The question is, do you define yourself by the contrary events happening around you right now? Remember that a single event or temporary setback does not define you. You have been created by God to fulfill a purpose so don’t see yourself as a failure.

Men may describe you according to your challenges. They may call you a jobless man, a poor man, a barren woman, or an unmarried sister. The list is endless but no matter what they call you, I dare you to see a different picture of yourself. It is very easy to feel overwhelmed or defeated when faced with failures and challenges. Yet, that is the best time to try again with a renewed commitment to be better. The truth is, no matter how low you have fallen, remember that the bottom is a good place to start building again. Do away with the pity party. Wipe your tears. Think of new ways to achieve your goals. Get creative. Don’t allow self pity to destroy your creativity.

Take your eyes off where you are today. Don’t sit and complain about the things not going right in your life. Grumbling and worry do not produce results. Rather, focus on God and where you are going. See the bigger picture. Create the life that you want to live. Create a mental picture of what you want to see happen. Carry it around though circumstances may dictate differently. Be the believer who takes authority. Decree what God decrees. See with the eyes of God. God created you as a masterpiece. You are supernatural. Don’t lose sight of it. God will honour it.

Ruthy A.