In my early teens, with guidance from my late father, I developed the habit of intense reading and writing. At that stage of life, my reading mainly included literary works. Over time, I expanded my reading to other disciplines while documenting insights through creative writing.
One day, a friend was shocked when he learned that I hadn’t watched television at home for the past seven(7) years. In his surprise, he asked, "How do you gather information?" My response was simple: I read and write - yes, reading and writing... of course, healthy books that place premium on one's worth. Personally, I enjoy it more than anything else in my life. In my opinion, every home should have a library to inspire our children to read enriching books and broaden their horizons.
Writing helps you express your thoughts, ideals, philosophies, and principles. The truth is, writing commits you to a task.
Furthermore, writing not only organizes your thoughts but also sharpens your focus on what truly matters. When you take the time to write, you gain a clearer understanding of your intentions and the steps required to bring them to life.
Through writing, dreams transform into structured plans, making it easier to identify the small, actionable steps needed for progress. So, don’t underestimate the value of written words; they serve as a personal blueprint, reminding you of your purpose and fueling your motivation along the journey.
Until you write down your vision, it becomes nearly impossible to commit yourself to its manifestation. It's not enough to say, "I have an idea." Don't even say, "It's in my mind."
Great achievers are WRITERS, not just TALKERS. They don't only spend time talking about the task at hand; they keep a book and a pen to document all those beautiful thoughts.
Take time to sit down and write your thoughts. Talking alone is excessive. I hope I haven't offended you - please forgive me.
Write it down... yes, write down your VISION. I love reading the book of Habakkuk. In fact, this week, I'm re-reading it, gleaning wisdom from that ancient manuscript that promotes flow-mode thinking.
Habakkuk was a prophet of Judah. His name means "he who embraces," or simply put, "love's embrace." In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet carried a burden; he was troubled by the social injustice of his time. He questioned God about the suffering of Judah.
At one point, he felt justified in his complaints about the suffering of the righteous at the hands of the unrighteous. If God is good and kind, why would He allow His people to suffer? If God is merciful, why wouldn’t He respond quickly to the plight of His people?
In Judah's case, their disobedience led to their punishment —serving as slaves under the Babylonian empire. The loss of identity led Judah to turn to idolatry. Yet, in every era, there are always remnants focused on repentance.
After many complaints, Habakkuk positioned himself in a place of prayer. In that moment of solitude, God's answer came by revelation in the form of a vision. To explain the suffering and eventual redemption of Israel from captivity, the prophet was instructed by the Spirit of God to write down the VISION on a tablet (perhaps the equivalent of a modern-day book or material for writing). Interestingly, writing binds you to deeper contemplation.
The phrase in Habakkuk 2:2, "WRITE THE VISION," becomes the crux of this message. Habakkuk's experience can be likened to our life experiences today. Until you write it, it cannot serve as a reference material for now and the future. So, write! What should you write about?
Identify the challenges in your life — career, academics, marriage, business, ministry, etc. List the root causes of each challenge. For example, what led to the collapse or near-collapse of that promising career? Was it a poor attitude or ignorance of crucial information?
What led to the challenges in your marriage, academics, ministry, etc.? Identify the root causes of these challenges through writing. When you find yourself in a solitary place, the answers to these questions will reveal themselves.
After identifying the root cause of each problem, seek relevant information to solve it. Perhaps you need to find a mentor or invest in healthy and relevant books to prevent the same mistakes.
In Habakkuk 2, the prophet is encouraged to understand the purpose of timing —also called the appointed time. Everything we desire is governed by time. When the time is right, nothing can alter it. Appointed time is when preparation meets divine opportunity.
Time invested in writing is never wasted. Time invested in learning from a mentor is an investment in bigger opportunities.
So, WRITE IT DOWN (the VISION), identify the cause of each challenge, give yourself time to overcome any emotional shock from your discoveries, give yourself time to recuperate, and regain momentum for achieving that vision.
Finally, seek relevant helpers, and trust God for the manifestation of your vision through PATIENCE —consistent waiting and the application of wisdom in your journey of exploits.
The writer is an academic, visiting lecturer, leadership coach, author, and the lead pastor of Wordsprings City Church, Kumasi.
Source: Dr. Patrick Owusu