Proverbs 22:29, “ Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men . ”
VISION DEMANDS DILIGENCE AND DISCIPLINE
Bishop David Oyedepo told the story of how they started the Living Faith Church without much money and only six members. Those days, he preached as if he was preaching to thousands of people. Then, a lot of people mocked him as very unserious and unrealistic person. He also said he took the pursuit of his ministry assignment so serious that he resumes to his church office 8 0'clock like every worker. People thought he was a banker or office worker because of his carriage. He was so diligent and discipline in the pursuit of the 18 hour vision he had, today we can see with our very eyes the result of diligence and discipline.
To be diligent is to be careful and persistent in effort. No vision blossom immediately. You need to keep at it. Sometimes, most of the great visionaries didn't come to limelight not until after decades of diligent pursuit. I have seen young and new entrants into the ministry that want to gather crowd in thousands in less than three years. That person must be a sheep thief. True vision grows with time and it requires diligent pursuit. What is discipline? Discipline is to live as demanded not as desired. The flesh is naturally lazy. If you give the flesh food, comfort and sex, the flesh would feel at home but when it is time to work, the flesh would put up a struggle. It is the force of discipline that would conquer the flesh.
Indiscipline can kill the fulfillment of a vision. You cannot live anyhow and expect your vision to blossom. While others are sleeping, visionaries toil all night to shine in the day. I love Apostle Paul, though he achieved what he achieved by grace but not without hard work. Paul said he worked harder than other Apostles, 1Cor15:10. God can give two people similar vision but the man that work diligently and is disciplined is the man that will excel. Apply yourself to the demands of that vision God gave you if you want it to yield and produce fruit.
Father, I receive the grace to pursue the vision you gave me diligently and with great discipline In Jesus name.