Burke County, NC

Last month, we looked at how we have the God-given ability to pull down strongholds. Look now at the power we have over destructive images that can dominate our lives and how we can cast them down and replace them with images that are rooted in God’s Word.

“Casting Down Imaginations”

Images never leave us. Whether they are positive or negative, whether they are produced by something we have seen or something we have heard, they are stored in this invisible computer inside our head called the subconscious mind. In fact, the word “imaginations” means “computation.” Other definitions of the word are “take an inventory, estimate, conclude, count, or reckon.” Interestingly, it can also mean “something said.” This computer never shuts down and causes us to take inventory of our lives that sometimes leads us to conclusions about ourselves that are foreign to the conclusion God, our Heavenly Father, has about us.

For example, how many times have images popped into our minds of something that happened to us when we were a child—maybe an abusive parent who used anger and criticism as their major form of discipline—that left us feeling rejected and unloved? Images that make us feel unworthy to accomplish anything in life, even when a great opportunity presents itself. Images that follow us even after we are saved and distort our image of a loving Heavenly Father who wants only the best for us.

You may be asking yourself, “How do I start winning when the flesh whispers and these imaginations assault my mind?”

We combat them with the Word of God, coupled with our imagination, remembering that our weapons are “mighty through Him.” Therefore, we have the God-given ability to cast them down when they arise—and indeed they will arise. Not only can we cast them down, but we can replace them with images that are based on the Word of God.

Let me share a few scriptures that have helped me. I hope they will benefit you as well.

In Romans 6:11, He encourages us to “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “Reckon” is one of the same Greek words that “imaginations” comes from. Forgive me for being redundant, but we are far more than “just poor old sinners, saved by grace.” In God’s estimation of us, He declares us saints.

Of course, we still have a problem with sin, but it does not change His perception of us or the way He feels about us. Listen to the compassion in His voice in 1 John 2:1:

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

One can almost hear Him pleading with us: “Don’t sin, it will harm you.” And in the same breath He says, “I am your advocate if you do sin.”

A far cry from the old adage, “You made your own bed, now you have to sleep in it.” In Jesus’ estimation it would be more like, “Sure you made your own bed, but I’m here to help you out of it.”

Another scripture I have found very helpful, especially when I have fallen to temptation and Satan whispers how unworthy I am, is Hebrews 10:14:

“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

From the moment I received Jesus as my Savior, I was perfected forever—past tense, a done deal.

Use your God-given imagination to see yourself crawling up into your Heavenly Daddy’s lap, realizing how much He loves and cares for you. Put yourself in the place of the prodigal son when he finally came to repentance and said, “I will arise and go to my Father.” Imagine seeing God the Father running to meet you, embracing you, even kissing you, all the while with the stench of hogs still emanating from your body. How he smelled didn’t matter to this father; the only thing that mattered was that his son was finally home with him.

Imagine, if you will, sitting at the feet of Jesus just as Mary did. No agenda, no requests—just sitting at His feet thanking Him for all He went through, every precious drop of blood He shed, and for taking our penalty so that we might go free.

Use your imagination to see yourself casting all your cares on Him:

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6–7).

Make a habit of getting in a quiet place to meditate on these scriptures, speaking them out loud over your life, realizing that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21), and that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Also remember this about His Word:

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

It is absolutely His will for us to be transformed into the glorious image of His Son (2 Corinthians 3:18). Therefore, when His Word goes forth from His mouth through our mouth, it will accomplish that transformation.

We must study God’s Word and allow what He says to transform us by renewing our minds and putting a stop to being conformed to this world and the ways of the flesh (Romans 12:1–2). In this scripture in Romans, He says to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.

A question we should all ask ourselves is this:

Will we use our fingers to flip the remote on the TV—or use them to flip the pages of God’s Word instead?

There is no transforming power and no healing outside of God’s Word.

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Steve Henry has been a lifelong resident of Burke County. God blessed him with an incredible lady that he has been married to for 43 years. He has also blessed Steve with two wonderful children and two beautiful granddaughters.

Read more by Steve Henry here.

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