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Is Your Imagination Working Overtime?

Posted on February 20, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

Our son, Matt, has often said, “Our family can go into Grief Mode at the drop of a hat.” Unfortunately, he is right. If the phone rings at an unexpected hour, my first thought is “Someone died.” Before I answer the phone, I can be planning a funeral. If one of our children is not home by the expected hour, I immediately start imagining they are in trouble. If someone states that they need to talk to me, I immediately imagine I am in trouble. I spend the ensuing time thinking, “What did I do wrong?”

A verse that I often quote is Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in You.”
 Recently as I was reading My Utmost for His Highest, Chambers presents a different view of this verse for me: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose imagination is stayed on Thee” (Isaiah 26:3, R.V. margin). As I studied the commentaries and research books, I learned that many times, especially in the Old Testament, the words mind and imagination are considered to be interchangeable. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge by R. A. Torrey states that the usage of mind can be interchanged with thought or imagination. So now the Lord wants me to give Him my imagination as well as my mind? How do I do that? When the phone rings, I must give my imagination over to Jesus. No more planning quickly how I will deal with the bad news that is possibly waiting for me as I answer the phone. I am learning to thank God for whatever news might be waiting for me. I can count on Him to walk with me all of the way through the situation. My mother often said, “Remember, it came to pass; it didn’t come to stay!” Turn your imagination over to Him. Ask God to step into your imaginations with you. Don’t let your imagination control you.

 

Written by Marilyn Heavilin: Marilyn Heavilin is a woman with a love for the Word, and God has gifted her with an ability to express what she has learned from the Bible in a practical, entertaining, and common sense fashion.

Think About This: “The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God. What we try to keep for ourselves is just what we are sure to lose.” ― C.S. Lewis

The Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 28-32| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. –Psalm 9:10

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.

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