By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
I love how God allows us the freedom to dream, cast a vision, then walk it out step-by-step.
In 2018, the Lord prompted me to cast a vision that at the time seemed impossible. It took place during a weeklong spiritual retreat where I went away to be alone with the Lord so I could seek His direction concerning the future of Living in Truth Ministries. The Lord did not disappoint.
While I was reading the book of Acts, a specific verse resonated in my spirit. Now, I’ve had this experience before, so I knew the Lord was prompting me to pay close attention.
The verse in question was Acts 1:8, where Luke journaled the final words that Jesus had spoken to His disciples before His ascension to heaven. It is often referred to as the Great Commission.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus was casting a vision for His disciples that would become the framework for His followers to reach the entire world with the gospel. All at once, I sensed the Lord was inviting me to use a similar framework for the future of Living in Truth Ministries. The year 2020 was just two years away at that point.
Lord, are you asking me to cast a vision with the year 2020 in mind, a vision that would stretch far beyond our current outreach?
It seemed like an impossible mission.
Then, God reminded me of the following scripture: “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
The irony did not escape me… casting a vision… 20/20 vision… clearer vision for Living in Truth Ministries… Thus began our God-sized dream to expand LITM’s outreach.
God revealed that in the context of Living in Truth Ministries, our “Jerusalem” was the tri-state where I lived (Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio), the area we had reached up to that point. “Judea and Samaria” represented women throughout the United States. The “ends of the earth” represented Living in Truth Ministries reaching women on a global scale.
To say I was overwhelmed by the prospect, is an understatement. I prayed: Lord, I don’t have a college degree, our ministry team is small, we have very little funds in our bank account, and I know nothing about growing a ministry.
Then God reassured me:
- “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
- “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Matthew 14:18-20).
- “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Encouraged by His unchanging truths, I wrote down what the Lord had given me, went back home, and shared the vision with my ministry team. We prayed together and then prayed for God’s guidance every single day. We couldn’t see how it could possibly happen, but we kept walking by faith, trusting the One who would lead us step-by-step.
When God casts the vision, it’s His job to carry it out. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
And that’s just what He did.
To be continued…
Looking for a way to connect with God daily? Check out our daily devotional books: Living in Truth Day by Day *** Living in Truth Mind, Body, Spirit *** Living in Truth: A Christmas Devotional