A Special Note from Ron Roper:
I want to briefly share a subject with you. I believe it’s one of the greatest gifts God has given you and me. That is our ability to Imagine, or our Imagination. One might be “thinking” to themselves “what does imagination have to do with the Christian lifestyle?” My answer to that is “a great deal.” I’m talking about more than just “day dreaming.”
Your Imagination is the Canvas on which You Paint Your Dreams, Goals and Visions.
Our imagination is so important that the word of God tells us to cast down evil imaginations and bring every thought into the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). * . We have been given the ability and responsibility to control our own imagination.
It has been said that words paint pictures. I believe this is true, and that any words whether good or bad paint a picture on the canvas of our imagination. This is so powerful that it can affect and change our whole belief system. If someone says, “You will fail and never amount to anything,” it will happen if you don’t cast those word out of your imagination. Remember, what is said is seen. That is why it is important to envision what God’s word says about us.
When Satan tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, he started off by asking her the question, “Didn’t God say?” She began to reason and imagine herself as never dying and being as a god. It was then that she acted on the deception of her own imagination. In Psalm 19:14, David said, “Let the Words of my mouth, and the Mediation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer.”
First Words, Then Meditation.
Can you see the order? First words, then meditation. Psalm 49:3: “My mouth shall speak of wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.” I find it interesting that in Genesis 11:6-8, God saw that when the people were of one mind, and one language, that nothing would be restrained from them that they imagined to do. So, God confounded their language.
Our Imagination Will Result in Manifestation.
Words produce pictures in our Imagination, and our Imagination will eventually result in Manifestation. Look at Romans 12:2: “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.”
Our Mind Must Be Transformed by Being Renewed, and Not Conformed to This World.
It is very important that we hear the “rightly divided” Words of God. In Hab. 2:1 *, Habakkuk said, “I will watch to see what He will say unto me.” Some of the meanings for the word see are to consider, perceive, discern and think. In the next verse God said, “Write the vision so they can see it and then be able to run with it.” Your imagination is a powerful tool that God can use. So I ask you,” What Can You Imagine?”
What is the desire of your heart? Is it God’s desire? Meditate on His word and your desire will be His desire. Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” This verse means superior in quality, super abundant in quantity. You can do what God says you can do (Phil 4:13). You can be what God says you can be (Mark 9:23). You are Blessed and have Favor with God and Man (Proverbs 3:4). You are In Him and Complete in Him (Acts 17:28; Col. 2:10). Let me ask you, “Can you see it?”
Believe the Best, and Forget the Rest. Can You See It?
Begin to imagine what God can do in and through you this year. If you can think it, God can do exceedingly above it. I say this a lot, “Believe the best, and forget the rest.” I really mean that. Get your mind on what you want, and not on what you don’t want. What things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of a good report, think on these things (Phil 4:8). When we do something, we usually say it, imagine it and then do it. Take off the limits and imagine the greatness of God’s love and power to you. This is your year of Blessing. Can you see it? Imagine as much as you can, and remember, God will always take you farther.
Until next time remain in the Father’s finest.
Love in Christ,
Ron Roper