Foundations: Imagine
Proverbs 23:7 (King James Version)
7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Genesis 6:5-6 (New King James Version)
5 Then the LORD[a] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
Psalm 13:2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Psalm 94:11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man
Jeremiah 29:11 (King James Version)
11“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”
Psalm 144:3 O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
2 Peter 3:1 (New International Version)
1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
Imagine.
Most of us are familiar with John Lennon’s song, “Imagine”.
It speaks of imagining now war, no poverty as well as other themes that were common among the hippie movement.
The imagination is a powerful force both for your good and for your detriment.
With it, mankind has given birth to amazing things.
Everything you see around you started out in someone’s mind.
The design of the chair your sitting in, the computer in front of you, the clothes your wearing, the car you drove today all started in someone’s imagination as they thought of what could be.
The Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7
Imagine yourself being all that God has for you.
Imagine what we discussed in day one (your motivation)…. Can you see yourself successful?
Greatness is in the eye of the beholder. For some your greatest ambition would be for you to travel the world as a jet setting businessperson sharing your faith with everyone you meet. Someone else may want to be a successful preacher or teaching. Still someone else may seem his or her life complete in being a good mother or father. Which one of these ambitions is the most successful?
Well that entirely depends on you and the condition of your heart. Which is your purpose of wanting to be a successful businessperson or a successful parent. What are your motives? They are all important and worthy goals. Which one fits you? Can you ‘think it’ in your heart?
Your imagination can also be used for evil. The atom bomb, the holocaust, and terrorist attacks of 9/11 were also once only within the recesses of someone’s mind. Are you careful where you let your mind wander to?
Daydreaming can be a distraction when it causes you to think on unholy things or bring you into captivity to depression or unfruitful thinking.
Paul tells us that it’s important to keep our powerful minds only on the right things. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
As much as you want to be successful as a mature Christian and operate in the Power of God, all the more God wants you to be successful too. You may be saying to yourself, “Well of course He does. Everybody knows that.” Do we? Why do we so many times act as if we have to convince God to give us another chance to serve Him or to operate in His Kingdom? He wants us to be healthy and active in His Kingdom even more than we do. According to the Word of God, He’s thinking about you. He has plans for you. His plans for you are amazing. They’re even greater than what you have planned for yourself.
How can I see my imaginations stop being just thoughts and make them a reality?
Fall in love with God all over again.
The Word of God says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37:4)
As you begin to fall in love with God again, He will give you the desires of your heart.
I will warn you though, the more you fall in love with God the more you will begin to find certain things you use to think you ‘had’ to have no longer mean as much to you.
This time fasting will begin to illustrate that. There are things you may watch on TV or songs you currently listen to that will begin to grieve your spirit as you draw closer to Him. There will also begin to be a longing to do things you aren’t use to as well. Such as spending more time in His presence or sharing your faith when before you were too intimidated. Your desires will begin to reflect His. That’s a good thing because the Bible also says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
So, let me encourage you to dream big.
Let your mind soar and dream big on the things of God and the promises contained in His Word. They are ALL for you if you will only reach out and claim them.
story of girl imagining herself winning.
There was a young lady once who desperately wanted to win the coveted first place prize at a state beauty pageant. She prepared for years and when she finally reached the right age, she was the first that year to sign up. She worked, prepared, prayed, and imagined herself winning the competition for almost a year before pageant ever took place. At long last the night came and all her hard worked paid off. She won first place. As was the custom, the winner always walked the length of the runway while everyone took her picture and applauded her accomplishment. As she walked, the flashes from the cameras were so bright she couldn’t see anything. There was only one thing to do. She closed her eyes and walked the length of the runway and back again without looking once. She didn’t make one misstep. Afterwards, when asked how she was able to walk, knowing exactly where to stop and where to go without looking she simply said, “Oh, it was easy. I had imagined myself wining and walking across that runway so many times, actually doing it wasn’t difficult at all. I must have done that in my mind a hundred times.”
She believed she could do it.
You can too. You can become all that God has for you. Only believe in God and believe in yourself through His strength.
Think on this statement today once spoken by D.L. Moody: “If God be your partner, make your plans large.”