There have been several generations now (maybe more) who have forgotten how to raise a child up in the way that they should go. God promised that if we would bring them up in the way they should go, when they grow old they will not depart from it. We forgot… and we bought the lie of the DEVIL that we should put the children’s rights first and let them decide. What a joke that is! Children must be taught to love and respect GOD! Their natural fallen instinct is to REBEL… We forgot, but the evil elite who rule the world did not. They got us to give up our children to them to be taught… taught their ways, their beliefs, their evil practices. WE allowed the “education system” to fill our children’s minds with all kinds of lies and evil thinking.
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Romans 8:7
So, they grew up to be self-centered REBELS HELL BENT on pursuing the ways of the DEVIL. AND HERE WE ARE TODAY…WHAT A MESS THE WORLD HAS BECOME.
We forgot the very simplest truth. WHAT YOU FOCUS ON BECOMES YOUR GOD, and WHAT YOU PRACTICE YOU BECOME!
YOU BEGIN TO MOLD YOURSELF INTO THE LIKENESS AND IMAGE OF THAT WHICH YOU WORSHIP.
What is worship? Definition of worship
worship – noun
1: reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power also : an act of expressing such reverence
2: a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual
3: extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem i.e. worship of the dollar
4: chiefly British : a person of importance —used as a title for various officials (such as magistrates and some mayors)
Who or what you worship will manifest itself in morality—in the way you live and behave. You will focus your time, energy and attention to that which you worship. Take a look at your bank statement. It will tell you a lot about who/what you worship. MONEY is a form of worship. But, money represents time. You give your time for a paycheck. SO the money you receive for your time, when you give it to God’s kingdom, is a form of worship. That is one way we show our worship. Even if you don’t have any money, TIME is the biggest form of worship. Where do you spend the largest part of your day? How and where you spend your time, tells the world who you worship. DO you spend time communicating with your Heavenly Father? Do you read the WORD OF GOD? Do you study to show yourself approved? Do you learn about spiritual things? Do you watch carefully what things you bring into your home, what thoughts you allow to enter your mind?
That which you FOCUS on becomes largest in your heart. It will become the thing you worship. Did you ever hear this children’s song? It teaches that where you place your eyes, determines the size of what you are looking at. That’s About The Size, Where You Put Your Eyes. Where YOU PUT your EYES.
There are some children’s songs used in this article. This is not meant as an insult. I am not being condescending. There is value in recalling and revisiting these particular songs. I hope that you will not just slide past them. Listen to them and read the lyrics! There is a purpose to my madness. Humor me.
| Lyric
That’s About The Size That’s about the size |
Oh, the big becomes the little That’s about the size |
The point of the song is, things are not as big and overwhelming as you think. It is all relative to where YOU put YOUR EYES. Where is your focus?? If you become to intensely focused on something, it becomes HUGE! That is especially true of anything that you IDOLIZE! Whether that is money, beauty, education, sex, a particular place, a career, a house, a car, a philosophy, an animal, a force of nature, an ancient deity, or another human… Do you worship Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Beyonce, Drake, Kim Kardashian, Cindy Crawford, GAGA… gag me…
What is your focus? What is most important to you? Who do YOU emulate?
We are transformed into the image of that which we worship.
imitate – [ im-i-teyt ] Dictionary.com
verb (used with object), im·i·tat·ed, im·i·tat·ing.
imitate – verb Definition from Oxford Languages
| imitate – im·i·tate – /ˈiməˌtāt
mid 16th century: from Latin imitat- ‘copied’, from the verb imitari ; related to imago ‘image’. |
God, want us to be like HIM. He created us in HIS IMAGE. No he does not want carbon copies of himself. He wants to be surrounded by people who are of like mind. Who have the same values, morals and nature as his. Satan/the Enemy/The Destroyer/The Devil comes to destroy all that is God’s. In the Garden, he tricked Adam and Eve into rejecting God’s word and breaking His commandment. They lost their standing with GOD more importantly their nature became conformed to the image of Satan. The human genome/seed became permanently corrupted. BUT GOD made a way to gain that back for all mankind in one amazing act of love. GOD still gives humans the right to CHOOSE… You can choose to remain under the rulership of Satan, or you can choose to accept God’s precious gift and be restored to full fellowship with HIM.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2
Therefore be followers of God, as beloved children. Ephesians 5:1
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, Ephesians 4:22
It is totally up to you. But remember that temptation is ever present. You have an enemy who is constantly working against you. He uses your weaknesses against you. He knows you and he knows just what to put in front of you to tempt you to come into agreement with his kingdom, and be molded into his image.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 23:7
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:27 -28
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Imagery is his greatest tool. He knows that if he can get you to imagine something in your heart, you are his! He is constantly planting seeds in your mind and heart through the images he puts in front of you. That is why pornography is so powerful. He puts images in movies, television, commercials, advertisements, books, songs yes even in the lyrics of songs, and certainly we now have music videos which are thousands of times more powerful.
“Hollywood is a global programming operation and has been used since its inception to mass download perceptions of people, world events and history that suits the prevailing order. Part of this is the technique known as preemptive programming where you employ futuristic storylines and images to make the subconscious familiar with them. Nearly all the movies involve extreme violence and nearly all are shot in semi-darkness or with a dark tinge to the picture as with the occult programming. Source
The media – Television, News Broadcasts and Papers, Rado, Movies, Advertising, Magazines, Fashion Industry, Internet, Video Games, Music Festivals, Music Videos, Music in Song and Instrumentals, ALL of these forms of “Entertainment” or “Amusement” are tools that the Devil is using to perform his Satanic Rituals in Public Places and bring you in, and cause you to participate. Once you become an active participant in his rituals you have locked yourself into his kingdom and opened the doors for demonic activity, oppression, manipulation and finally possession.
amuse (v.)
If you have ever in your life known any kind of an artist or craftsmen, you assuredly have heard them say something like “I am searching for my muse” or “she is my muse” or “I’ve lost my muse”. Perhaps you wondered why they would say such a silly thing. Well there is good reason. The “demonic entities” or “spirits” connected with the “arts” and “sciences” are the muses. Progeny of the ancient Fallen ones. This is where they get their “inspriation” for their artistic creations, their literary works, their music, their discoveries, their inventions, their “theories”. To be inspire means to:
Middle English enspire, from Old French inspirer, from Latin inspirare ‘breathe or blow into’ from in- ‘into’ + spirare ‘breathe’. The word was originally used of a divine or supernatural being, in the sense ‘impart a truth or idea to someone’. Source
So, when they are calling on their “Muse”… this is who they are contacting:
Muse, Greek Mousa or Moisa, Latin Musa, in Greco-Roman religion and mythology, any of a group of sister goddesses of obscure but ancient origin, the chief centre of whose cult was Mount Helicon in Boeotia, Greece. They were born in Pieria, at the foot of Mount Olympus. Very little is known of their cult, but they had a festival every four years at Thespiae, near Helicon, and a contest (Museia), presumably—or at least at first—in singing and playing. They probably were originally the patron goddesses of poets (who in early times were also musicians, providing their own accompaniments), although later their range was extended to include all liberal arts and sciences—hence, their connection with such institutions as the Museum (Mouseion, seat of the Muses) at Alexandria, Egypt. There were nine Muses as early as Homer’s Odyssey, and Homer invokes either a Muse or the Muses collectively from time to time. Probably, to begin with, the Muses were one of those vague collections of deities, undifferentiated within the group, which are characteristic of certain, probably early, strata of Greek religion.
THAT IS MAGICK!
sorcery – noun sor·cery | \ ˈsȯr-sə-rē \
-
the use of magic, especially black magic.
: the use of magic : WITCHCRAFT
: the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining : NECROMANCY
Magic has traditionally been referred to as the use of supernatural powers. (implied that these powers come from some spirit or force.)
Crowley defined Magick as “the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will.”[4][5] He goes on to elaborate on this, in one postulate, and twenty eight theorems. His first clarification on the matter is that of a postulate, in which he states “ANY required change may be effected by the application of the proper kind and degree of Force in the proper manner, through the proper medium to the proper object.”[6][7] Wikipedia
Why on earth do you suppose that, through out history, there have been heroic attempts at eradicating practicers of Witchcraft/Magick ?
Why do you suppose that GOD, in the EXODUS 22:18, commanded “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”?
‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:31
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 18:10-14
But, God knows the nature of man in his fallen state man is hopeless. Man, of his own strength can do nothing to pull himself out of the clutches of Evil. So, God provided a way out. He also provided grace to help us as we struggle to find our way to Him. Make no mistake…anyone who does not come to him will not find grace after death.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
So, if you don’t know GOD, better get in the WORD and pray to be born again! If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, than walk in the ways of the LORD. The best way to assure that you can do that is to be CAREFUL what you expose yourself to, and be CAREFUL participate in, and be careful what you allow yourself to imagine. GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND!
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Because:
“…those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:18-20, KJV
We overcome evil by:
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:5, KJV
We must remember the battle is for our minds. So..
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8, KJV
It is a very simple lesson, but THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON WE COULD EVER LEARN! Some of us are old enough that we are familiar with this old children’s song from bible school. I don’t know if they still use it. It is the best song you could ever teach your kids. It is a song that will stay in the hearts and memory forever.
Cedarmont Kids – O Be Careful Little Eyes
www.youtube.com › watch
|
Lyrics
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little eyes what you see O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little ears what you hear O be careful little tongue what you say
O be careful little tongue what you say For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little tongue what you say O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do For the Father up above |
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little feet where you go O be careful little heart whom you trust
O be careful little heart whom you trust For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little heart whom you trust O be careful little mind what you think
O be careful little mind what you think For the Father up above Is looking down in love So, be careful little mind what you think So, be careful little mind what you think |
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Satan wants to keep you in his Kingdom. He does not want to lose his grip on you. He wants you to reject everything that God says and believe and follow what he says. HE IS A LIAR and the FATHER of LIES. He will use some small portion of truth and surround it with lies. The reason that he does this is so that you will believe him. Truth will ring true. So if you catch a small truth, you will over look the lies surrounding it. He will often use the Word of God as a weapon. He misquotes the Word, just like he did to Adam and Eve. He knew full well what GOD really said. But he planted the seed of doubt in Eve’s mind. He is still sing the same tactics today,
If he can get you to doubt God, or worse yet to reject God than he wins. All he has to do is plant the image in your mind and/or heart.
In our current society Lucifer/Satan/The Devil/The Adversary claims that he is the true god, and has convinced many. He claims that YaHovah/God/The Creator/Our Heavenly Father is the bad god. Lucifer/Satan/The Devil/The Adversary/The Father of Lies wants people to believe that he is the god who wants everyone to be free and happy, while YaHovah is a cruel and demanding god that wants everyone to obey his rules. He wants you to believe that if you stay with him, it will be a party forever. You will become as GOD. Same lie he told Adam and Eve in the garden.
Today everyone is exalting themselves and the most common term you will hear today is “I AM”. Not in reference to the GREAT I AM. But, in advertising, in self-help groups, in classrooms, in business offices, in counseling sessions, just about everywhere. People are proclaiming “I AM ____!” Fill in the blanks. Humans believe one of two things. 1) that they are no more than animals 2) they are GODS. Both are lies straight out of the Pit of HELL.
The Devil is trying to get you to denounce everything that GOD said and EVERYTHING that GOD provided and EVERYTHING that God COMMANDED.
GOD SAID THAT HE LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH AND STRETCHED OUT THE HEAVENS. GOD SAID THAT THE EARTH IS IMMOVABLE! But, the DEVIL tells you the earth is a round ball whirling through space, that came to be in an accidental explosion. It is not only whirling through space but it is spinning around at the same time.
GOD SAID THAT YOU ARE HIS CREATION, THAT HE MADE YOU IN HIS OWN IMAGE. THAT HE KNEW YOU BEFORE YOU WERE BORN. But the Devil tells you, you are nothing but a bunch of slime that accidently gathered itself together and developed traits of over millions of years. The Devil tells you that you are no more than an animal. OR, that you were created by ALIENS from another planet who seeded you here and are coming back for you.
GOD SAID HE HAS GIVEN YOU EVERY PLANT FOR YOUR HEALING. He said I AM THE GOD, that Heals you. IF any be sick among you, call for the elders of the church to lay hands on you and pray. THE PRAYER OF FAITH will HEAL YOU. The devil tells you that “science” is the answer to your healing, that you need the man made chemicals to repair your body.
AFTER THE FLOOD, THE EARTH HAD CHANGED AND GOD CHANGED THE DIETARY LAWS. HE TOLD NOAH “The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. (Before this, the animals did not have any reason to fear man, now that they would be food for man, God put that fear in them.) Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” So, God told Man that meat would be food for them. But the Devil tells you that meat is bad and that killing animals is like killing your own kind, because afterall you are just an animal. Animals have the same rights as you.
GOD SAID to Noah, ““But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” GOD COMMANDED US NEVER TO EAT BLOOD. NOT EVEN THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS. But, the DEVIL tells people that eating blood is a good thing. That is full of life giving nutrients and will make you strong and beautiful. Eat the Placenta, Drink Blood.
AT LEAST 19 TIMES in the BIBLE GOD promised us a LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY. Now, why would GOD promise that if those things were not something wonderful and good for you?? But, the Devil tells you MILK is bad, even butter or cheese made from milk is bad. Don’t eat it. Eat this substitute made by “scientists” it is so much better for you. Honey, that is bad for you. It is not even natural or native to this land. We don’t need honey bees. We have mechanical bees made by “scientists” that can do the job of pollinating the foliage. Honey is bad for you.
Now, God did not command us to assemble together except when he set up His appointed feasts, including the Sabbath. It was not necessary to command people to come together in the New Testament, because they were already doing it. Coming together for corporate worship is a major part of our faith. It helps us to encourage and lift up each other as well as giving us the joy of corporate worship. A heavenly noise unto the Lord. But, now with COVID 19 – the Devil wants to outlaw church meetings. That not being enough to satisfy him, he wants to outlaw singing!! Singing praises to GOD is uplifting to one’s spirit, it is also a powerful spiritual weapon. THE DEVIL HATES IT.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20
It seems that FEAR of possible exposure to a contrived disease is enough to get people to comply with these ridiculous demands.!
For the people imagine in their hearts an evil thing. FEAR does not come from GOD. God commands us to FEAR NOT. Do you trust HIM? He is watching over those who love HIM. He is not watching an waiting to punish the lost… he is watching loving over us and rejoicing in us when we make right choices. He is protecting us and singing songs of deliverance over us. He does not want anyone to perish. But, he will not force His will on anyone. It is our choices that will determine our fate. It is the thoughts that we entertain and the images that we give place that determine our choices.
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A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
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SO, I want to know… WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE?
If there ever was a rebellious generation, it is this current bunch. Convinced that GOD does not exist or at least has ceased to be bothered with mankind, they elevate themselves to godhood and everyone does what is right in their own eyes!!
Many world wide have resorted to Witchcraft, to Wicca, to Satanism, to Hinduism and Buddhism, to Shamans, to Voodou, to Santeria, to Astrology, to Numerology, to Kabbalah, to Islam, to Fortune Tellers, to Seers, to Ghost Whisperers… to anything and anyone but GOD!
“Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, ‘I am,and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’ Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells.
You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away. A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off with a ransom; a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you.“Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries, which you have labored at since childhood. Perhaps you will succeed, perhaps you will cause terror.All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you.Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. These are not coals for warmth; this is not a fire to sit by. Isaiah 47:8-14
…the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
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Whose report will you believe, and with whom will you stand?? There will be no one beside you when you stand before the GOD WHO JUDGES ALL THINGS… unless His Son KNOWS you!
The evil elite have been hidden, the things they have done to get us here have been done in secret. They believe that they have won, and they are closing in for the kill. BUT…
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
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THREE WAYS GOD WANTS YOU TO USE YOUR IMAGINATION
4/25/2018
Every now and then, I stumble upon a great writer or orator from the past who seems to share my passion for seeing glimpses of God’s presence in ordinary situations. Although he was controversial in his day, the mid-1800s Presbyterian minister Henry Ward Beecher frequently talked about God’s desire for us to employ our minds in pursuit of Him. Perhaps my favorite quote of his is, “the soul without imagination is what an observatory would be without a telescope.” In other words, we can only achieve our God-given purpose in life if we regularly engage our imagination.
Beecher, who was a tireless abolitionist, went so far as to say, “the imagination is the secret and marrow of civilization. It is the very eye of faith.” While I wasn’t able to find the context surrounding that statement, I suspect that he must have been inspired by the many stories in the Bible where God called people to take a step of faith off the ledge of life… to have the kind of courage that most of us can only imagine. Beecher spent most of his life risking everything to free slaves, so I am sure he found the strength to follow his calling through the stories of the Biblical greats who were called before him. Abraham had never been anywhere. Yet God called him to pack up his stuff and simply “go.” Where? “To a land I will show you.” Ok, translated into modern life, God basically said to him, “well, that’s for me to know and you to find out.” Romans 4 tells us that Abraham “in hope believed against hope.” And through him all humankind was blessed.
In our quest to know God better, depend on Him more deeply, and see His glory radiate through our lives, the cultivation of our imagination is absolutely critical. I like to think of Ephesians 3:14-21 as the great “imagination manifesto” of Paul the Apostle. Sure, there are tons of other often quoted verses, like placing our trust in the unseen and betting the farm on future hope, and they are all useful and encouraging. But I love the passage from Ephesians because it directly ties the unwavering strength we long for and the deep understanding we crave to the use of our imagination. We have to use our imagination to even begin to fathom the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s love for us. We have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and humble in order to envision, or dream about, the glorious riches of God and His kingdom. The Message version of that passage describes God as “the magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth.” And this same mighty Father accomplishes more than we can imagine, “not by pushing us around, but by working within us His Spirit.”
So how does God want us to use our imagination? I suppose the possibilities are as endless as God is, but here are three that came to my mind this week.
#1 — Imagine His promises being fulfilled in your life.
The Bible is packed with more than 3,500 specific promises. When God says something He means it, and He doesn’t discriminate based on your eligibility or desirability. He wants us to have wisdom, joy, peace and hope in every circumstance. There aren’t any exceptions. However, we often fail to see some of God’s promises come to fruition in our lives. And, I don’t know about you, but it’s when I am most desperate for His help that the promises seem to evade me. I’ve pondered this a lot through my years of faith, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I am the problem, not God. When I am feeling like I am at my wit’s end, those are usually the times where I don’t allow the Holy Spirit to come in and calm my crazy mind and fulfill the promise. When I flail about mentally, I am the equivalent of a drowning swimmer who doesn’t see the lifeguard reaching for her. Here’s the key: God is calling us to act on the promises we haven’t seen, felt or experienced yet. For example, if I am feeling anxious and pray for peace, God then wants me to call upon my imagination and envision receiving that promise of peace in full measure. It’s that first step of envisioning the peace coming, which then allows me to begin acting like I’ve received it. And when we take action, our minds eventually follow. But it takes courage to believe that the peace is there, and we just need to stop future-tripping, over-analyzing, and pondering all the “what-ifs.” Philippians 4:8-9 clearly instructs us to stop thinking about the what-ifs and focus only on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and worthy of praise. That pretty much rules out future-tripping, because what you think might happen is not actually true yet. Period. Proverbs 3:24, for example, is a promise about sleep (and there are several more!). “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Now certainly there are times where extenuating circumstances may prevent us from going to bed. There may also be situations where God might be urging you to stay up and pray, but generally speaking, He wants to bless us with good rest. You know those nights where you’re lying there worrying or your mind is just racing about your to-do list? Those aren’t His will. Next time, try imagining what it feels like for the promise of Proverbs 3:24 to wash over you. Take the leap of faith and believe that He wants that for you. Envision His canopy of stars displayed over your bed, and as you imagine yourself looking into the night sky, meditate on the verse. Your imagination can help you commit to your belief and lead you to the action of trust. And, with a little bit of practice, the Holy Spirit will teach you how to rest more peacefully.#2 — Imagine what He’s calling you to do.
When your imagination and a Godly purpose are combined, your motivation, courage, and understanding of God’s power are ignited. Set ablaze. Pumped up. Pick whatever phrase makes you excited about God’s adventure for your life. David had to imagine himself defeating Goliath. He envisioned putting the stone in the slingshot and felling the giant on the first try. (The story is found in 1 Samuel 17.) Queen Esther had to summon the courage to go before the king and beg for the life of her people. In that culture, people were put to death who dared go before the king without his request — especially a woman. With prayer and imagination, she envisioned doing what God told her do. Her imagination helped fuel her courage. Both David and Esther first had to see themselves trusting God and acting on what He asked them to do. So whether God is asking you to talk to the grocery store clerk, leave your job, or save your marriage, imagine yourself doing what He asks you to do, filled with His Spirit, and then walking onward boldly — all for His glory, and not your own.#3 — Imagine His splendor and majesty daily.
When we ponder the greatness of God in a new way on a daily basis, many amazing things happen. First, we are humbled and our perspective shifts from our immediate world and our own agendas, to His grandeur and higher plan for our lives. Pride lurking in our hearts and behind our motivations, will always taint our imagination and turn it away from envisioning the Truth of God’s Word and what He has planned for us. Second, we become thankful. When we meditate on the power, love, and wisdom of the King of the Universe, we can’t help but bow in worship and gratitude that He cares enough to commune with each of us on a personal level. Third, taking the time to meditate on the splendor of God and praising Him for His attributes and character, will help you to develop more self-control and mental discipline. Using your imagination to envision what it’s like sitting at His feet or worshipping before His throne takes practice, but we are commanded to do it. How else could we “enter His courts with praise” (Psalm 100) or be creative enough to find a new way to praise Him every day (Psalm 96:1)? As believers in Jesus, we are transformed into sons and daughters of the King — and that’s not just in eternity. God is calling us to act like the chosen ones we are, here on earth, so that we reflect His glory in heaven to others. And if we are not spending time letting our minds explore the vastness of who He is, then how will we ever become familiar enough with our King to resemble Him? Next time you pray, imagine yourself sitting with Jesus in your favorite place. Listen for His voice. Ask Him to show you something new about Him today. And then believe that He will. It may happen right then. It might happen on your drive to work. It could happen in the shower. But the more you train your mind to focus on Him, the more likely your ears will be working.
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