What is your VISION? Awaken to Presence Transform your life workshop series Dr. M. Omar November 2012, Orlando

Problem statement: We want our lives to work as we think is best We want blessings to pour to our lives and we become upset and sad when they don’t… The pressure to achieve is ON We want God to give us the life we want… Our relationship with God is based on fulfilling our needs… We view God as a vending machine!

VISION: Blessings VISION: Blessings Self-Pride Anger Depression Anger Depression In this view, God is someone who help us to live the way we want…

What do I want in this life? Is my vision for my life a perfect house, a perfect job, a perfect family, and a great bank account? Is that what my life is about? Is running after these goals making me happy? Does accomplishing these goals make me happy? Is there another way? Is there another vision for my life?

But, the reality is that we were created for a different purpose… God has different VISION for us God wants to give us something else…

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا Wealth and children are the attractions of this worldly life, but lasting good works have a better reward with your Lord and give better grounds for hope. (Qur’an 18:46)

God’s VISION for my life وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ And I have not created the invisible beings and men but to [know and] worship Me. (Qur’an 51:56) Experiential Knowledge of God Witness Divine Attributes Reflect Divine Attributes

God wants to give us Himself… The ability to: Know Him Love Him and glorify him with praise Be with Him forever God wants to have a close relationship with us, but we are too busy running after the blessings of the world… Experiential Knowledge of God Witness Divine Attributes Reflect Divine Attributes

God is making Himself known to us trough His creation… He reflects his beauty on the flowers, so that we grow in our love towards Him… So that we praise Him by reflecting on creation…

But, what do we do? We get in love with the mirror of God’s attributes (the flower), and we forget about the All-Beautiful… Example: Your friend gives you a present to show his love to you. You get the present, kiss the present, play with it, and never even look back at your friend…

“I am too busy to have a relationship with God. Don’t you see?” But, what are we busy with? God’s blessings… But God is not in the picture! He comes to the picture if He can supply me with what I need… And let it be quick please… We still have other things to do!

But life won’t continue this way… Death is always near, and some unexpected events are around the corner! Most of the times our plans will halt, our dreams will shatter…. Then, we become angry at God… Or, we may come to know: the joy of brokenness!

The pressure now is off … It is not about accomplishments and achievements anymore… We recognized that we are a mess without God It is about turning to God with a broken heart… It is about surrendering to His Love… Just because we want Him… not His blessings.. قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّه ِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ Say: “[Thus speaks God:] ‘O you servants of Mine who have transgressed against your own selves! Despair not of God’s mercy: behold, God forgives all sins – for, verily, He alone is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace!’” (Quran 39:53)

Self-centered God-centered False Self Content Self = True Self I demand my needs to be fulfilled. NOW! God, how can I glorify You? I can’t do it by myself, help me represent you! Help me witness your works!

Living with God Running after the blessings of life… life Experiential Knowledge of God Witness Divine Attributes Reflect Divine Attributes

How about the blessings of life in this NEW VISION? Can it be that we are not here primarily to enjoy the blessings of life, but to know, love and glorify the Loving One? If we pick this vision, how would our life be different than our current life? The mode of interaction with blessings Needs… View on life Decision making