At Bethel Seminary San Diego’s recent spiritual renewal conference, Dr. Dallas Willard presented VIM, a reliable pattern of kingdom growth.  VIM stand for Vision, Intention, and Means and it is a method of change, including spiritual change.

  • Vision is our reality of what is good, that which governs us.  
  • Intention is a decision whose stability is dependent on our vision.
  • Means is what allows the doing, dependent on proper vision and intention.

When we have a more accurate vision of God, we are primed to form stable intentions of becoming a disciple of God.  One of examples that Dr. Willard brought up was that of God’s love.  An inaccurate vision of God would be that he really doesn’t love us, that he merely lets us off the hook and gives us a break from what we deserve.  This inaccurate vision will result in unstable intentions and shortlived (worthless) means.  But when we consider the vision that God is love, right obedience in the form of right intentions and right means will come easily.  Dr. Willard noted that

“the main thing that has to change is our understanding of God, before our will can sign on to God.  When we have the correct vision of God, we are ready to form the intention of becoming a disciple of God.”

For me, one of the most difficult struggles is finding significance in my work.  My vision of life, career and vocation often drifts toward assigning significance to only the spiritual, ignoring the secular.  But if I were to take a step back and refresh my vision of career and vocation as something individually prepared by God, for me to be at the right time in the right place for the lives of those who I will come in contact with and have the responsibility and opportunity to influence for good, then I can make right intentions to hold on to that vision, and find means that God has provided right in front of me to make it happen.