Is viewing safe for Christians?
Website design By BotEap.comAny form of the word visualization seems to cause a lot of controversy in the Christian world. I’m not talking about invoking your spirit guide or anything like that. What I am referring to is in the area of setting goals. See what it is you want to achieve. We all do it but without attaching the word “mysterious” – visualization.
Website design By BotEap.comWhen you were a child listening to Bible stories, did you get to see Jonah in the belly of the whale? Did you have a picture in your mind of the Exodus when all of God’s people crossed the Red Sea? When we are told about the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us, can we see him on the cross suffering for us?
Website design By BotEap.comThat is visualization. We think of words and images that also cause emotion in us. If you saw the movie “The Passion”, did your stomach twist to think about the terrible things that Jesus had to endure, but he willingly did it to save you? You visualized his terrible pain and his great love for you.
Website design By BotEap.comWe do not know the exact details of what Jesus went through. Someone had to visualize the scenes from that movie to bring it to life.
Website design By BotEap.comI agree that there are different types of visualization. I absolutely do not agree with summoning the spirit world, chanting or anything like that. The only spirit I will ever invoke is the Holy Spirit.
Website design By BotEap.comI think we would all agree that Dr. Charles Stanley is one of the most knowledgeable theologians of our time. He is not a preacher who would have you believe that nothing bad ever happens in the life of a Christian. He understands God’s discipline as well as God’s blessings.
Website design By BotEap.comI know that Dr. Stanley believes in setting goals. I looked at his website this morning and he has a CD series called “Set Your Goals and Live by Faith.” I found it interesting that you used the word “visualize” in your promotion of the series. It said the following:
Website design By BotEap.com“Dr. Stanley helps you visualize and focus on the specific things God wants to do in your life, no matter how big or small.”
Website design By BotEap.comWe all know that Dr. Charles Stanley is not talking about invoking your spirit guide, chanting, or anything remotely like the occult world. neither do I
Website design By BotEap.comGod encourages us to go to him in prayer for everything. We must bring him our joys, our sorrows, our thanks and our praise. Yes, even our requests.
Website design By BotEap.comPhilippians 4:6 (New International Version)
Website design By BotEap.com6 Do not be anxious about anything; rather, in all prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your petitions to God.
Website design By BotEap.comWhen we have faith that God will answer our prayer, we are seeing him as our loving father who wants to help us. If you have faith in God, if you have faith he will meet your needs, if you have faith he will rescue you from a dangerous situation, you can “visualize” him answering your prayer.
Website design By BotEap.comMatthew 7:9 (New International Version)
Website design By BotEap.com9 “Which of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
Website design By BotEap.comWhen I talk about visualizing, I mean visualizing your goals; See your success in those goals. Why wouldn’t God want to see you successful and help you achieve your goals? Of course we should thank him and give him the glory for our success. It’s not from us, it’s from Him.
Website design By BotEap.comLet me give you some more examples:
Website design By BotEap.comWhen you met your husband or wife, did you ever say to yourself, “I’m going to marry her or him?” Did you see yourself as that spouse?
Website design By BotEap.comWomen, when you set a date for your wedding, did you start planning and visualizing every detail?
Website design By BotEap.comWhen your children were born, did you see them go to college? Did you envision them walking across the stage accepting their diploma?
Website design By BotEap.comI have read many articles about visualizing an athlete. I’m sure when Tiger Woods is on the green facing a long putt; he is visualizing the ball sinking into the hole.
Website design By BotEap.comAs Michael Jordan approached the free throw line, he was visualizing releasing the basketball and the ball falling cleanly through the net.
Website design By BotEap.comOlympic athletes see themselves with a first place medal on the podium.
Website design By BotEap.comThe bodybuilder preparing for a competition has “seen” his definition months and months before stepping on stage.
Website design By BotEap.comEveryone has envisioned being successful in any sport long before they reached the crucial point of taking action and seeing their success. They have practiced this in their minds over and over again.
Website design By BotEap.comYou have to be able to see it before you can believe it. If you can’t believe you can succeed, you never will. If you can visualize your goals, you will begin to take the steps to get there. Once you get clear and can imagine yourself succeeding, God will give you an ability that you may not have right now. He could open doors that were not open to you before.
Website design By BotEap.comI cover visualization in my training, articles, and books. It is a very powerful tool to be able to be clear about your fitness goals. If you can “see” it, you can believe it, and you’re more likely to do what it takes to get there.
Website design By BotEap.comI don’t think God has a problem with us visualizing what we would look like if we were 30 pounds lighter or visualizing quitting smoking and how great it would feel to achieve those goals, do you?
Website design By BotEap.comI hope I have been able to share some thoughts on visualization with you. It is not going into an empty-minded meditation. Align your visualization with the will of God, go to God with your visualization in prayer and thanksgiving, give him the honor and glory for your success.