How to See with Your Heart

I have been meditating on the imagination. If you break the word down, the imagination is the image that creates the nation – or world that we are experiencing. The word, Imagination, has many connotations and is defined by the Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary as: 

1: the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality

2a: creative ability

b: ability to confront and deal with a problem: resourcefulness 

c: the thinking or active mind: interest 

3a: a creation of the mind especially: an idealized or poetic creation

b: fanciful or empty assumption 

The Power of the Imagination 

The imagination is so powerful; It is like a womb to conceive either positive or negative things and bring them into our experiential reality. This is brought out in Genesis 11:6 (AMPC) in a negative context: 

6 And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them. 

Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV) brings out the Lord’s attitude toward wicked imaginations. He hates them and considers them an abomination. Wow! Note, that the six things the Lord hates are not people, but things that harm people. God is wrathful (from the Greek word, orgē – violent passion) – passionate towards the things that harm and destroy His kids! He is violently passionate FOR you! Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV) says: 

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Apparently, the imagination – positive or negative – is extremely powerful!

The Hebrew word here for imagination is “machashabah” and is defined as 

1.           thought
2.           device, plan, purpose
3.           invention

You are in Charge of Your  Imagination  

The New Testament also has some very specific things to say about the imagination. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (KJV) says:

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)

5 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;

Interestingly, the word for imagination here in the Greek is the word, “logismos,” meaning:

I.a reckoning, computation

II.a reasoning: such as is hostile to the Christian faith

III.a judgment, decision: such as conscience passes

See, imagination can either be fruitful or destructive. This is why we are instructed to demolish every destructive imagination.  

God’s Helps us Imagine Good   

Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) says that the Lord is able to do immeasurably more than what we imagine. Isn’t that good to know? Ephesians 1:18 (NIV) refers to the imagination: 

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

The eyes of our heart are our imagination. What happens when Holy Spirit enlightens our imagination? Our imaginations align with God’s. We are then able to experience the hope of His calling, our inheritance, us as His inheritance and His phenomenal power. You will also be blessed by my video teaching, God of the Imagination.

I encourage you to yield your imagination to Holy Spirit. Push aside everything that looks like killing, stealing, and destroying, and yield to abundance and life (John 10:10). Then, imagine lovely things and lovely outcomes and speak them forth! As you see it shall be!

I hope this has encouraged you – by all means, let me know!

 

XO,

 

Catherine