by Barbara Latta
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Voyages to the moon and back were someone's idea.
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Imagination. Some think the word only refers to child-like
fantasies but places like Disneyland, voyages to the moon and back, and Henry
Ford’s Model T were all products of someone’s imagination.
What is imagination?
Imagination is the power to see with our mind. The ability to perceive mental pictures from words has
created physical things. Building, toys, roads, bridges, art, and jewelry are a that started out as ideas.
Using imagination helps develop minds and keep
creative juices flowing. It is the power to achieve goals. Many athletes have
shared how their success has come from visualizing the steps to victory before
competing and they have been the ones to win the trophies. Jack Nicklaus said
that he never shot a hole of golf without first playing the course in his mind.
When on the ice, Wayne Gretsky visualized where he thought the puck would be going
next.
David had meditated on God while tending his sheep and when
confronted with a giant was able to bring him down with a stone because the
greatness of God overcame the smallness of the thinking of Israel’s army.
Results of Negative Imagination
In the same way, imagination can be used in a negative way.
Negative thoughts can create negative images which in turn bring about
catastrophic results. As he thinks in his heart so
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Take time to think about ideas.
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is he (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). When
encountering a challenge, if we let thoughts such as “I am going to fail,” or "I’m
going to mess up” stir in our minds, actions will follow and failure will be
the result.
The Israelites were forbidden from entering the promised
land because they used their imagination in a negative way. They saw the
inhabitants of the land and let fear form a mental picture of their defeat
instead of dwelling on all the miracles God had performed to bring them across
the wilderness. Caleb and Joshua were the
only two of the twelve spies to enter Canaan because of their ability to see
victory instead of defeat.
Jesus Saw Victory
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Yes, even
Jesus used the power of his imagination to defeat the
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Jesus saw the joy set before Him and endured the cross.
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challenge of the cross.
He saw the joy of resurrection, the victory of defeating the devil, and the
waiting arms of His Father in heaven.
God gave us an imagination and he wants us to use this
powerful gift in faith to accomplish the dreams he has put into our hearts.
How can we use this power effectively in our lives?
- Realize our imagination is a gift we should use. Pray and
ask God for the desires to match His will.
- Make a list of dreams and goals we wish to have. Take 10-20
minutes out of the day and just sit and think. Picture accomplishing each goal
and see yourself winning.
- Think big. We can limit God by thinking too small. God who
gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.(Romans
4:17b AMP). Remember Abraham. God put a dream and a promise in his mind, but
Abraham had to act on it when in the natural realm it looked impossible.
With God all things are possible. Share your imagination.
