Praying Beyond God's Ability by Roy Hicks

Author:Roy Hicks
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-01-03T16:45:25+00:00

Casting Down Imaginations

Imaginations are not always funny. Years ago there was a popular song that said, "Imagination is funny . . . it makes the cloudy day sunny." This may be true if you are not having a problem. But it can also turn the sunny day cloudy, by the mere flip of the imagination. II Corinthians 10:5 says, "Casting down imaginations (reasonings), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Here we have great, but overlooked, teaching that will help us in our prayer life.

The imagination—that part of the mind that can form a picture without ever seeing it, that part of the mind that can make a picture better or worse than the reality, that part of the mind that constantly brings before us all our past failures and clouds the hopes of the future. That part of the mind can be a very great asset to your faith and prayers . . . or a very great hindrance.

How many times have God's own dear children prayed with faith and confidence and then allowed the enemy to gain control of their imaginations. Instead of seeing a picture of victory, they see a picture of defeat. For instance, when you ask prayer for healing of your body, do you see yourself in the future healthy and happy or do you picture yourself suffering and even having surgery? The author has even heard people say they pictured in their imagination their own funeral. They even saw those who attended and heard their comments as they passed by the casket. Some people, after much prayer over their finances, have pictured new accounts coming their way, or unexpected money in the mail; while others, after praying, have gone their way planning in their imagination just how they will borrow the needed money; seeing their house and car repossessed if they do not obtain help. They are looking for all of the alternatives if God does not come through by answering their prayer.

Psalms 139:1 and 2 says, "O Lord, thou has searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off." Our thoughts are not hidden from God. He knows what you are thinking, even though your lips may be saying something else.

How do we use our imaginations to work with our prayers and not against them? How well do I remember when God answered one of the first prayers I ever prayed to receive a material blessing. I had not been in the ministry very long and I needed a car very badly. I recall making this a matter of prayer. I will have to admit that I didn't know then all that I know now about prayer and faith . . . but I was acting on all I did know. One day, as I was in prayer, suddenly I saw myself, in my imagination, driving down the highway in that very car I was asking the Father to give me.

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