Sunday, 20 September 2009
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Visions From The Creator or My Imagination?
I have worked with kids for a number of years. Anything from after school mentoring/tutoring to behavior management and teaching coping skills to work (currently) in a residential treatment center with boys ranging in age from 13-18. I keep getting these inner visions as I list below, but I want to know if these come from God or my own imagination.Why do I keep getting these visions of working with these kids at my job and like just now as I open up the Word, a vision, pulling a group together to travel to several places to point out slums, or life without light, and also places of historic interest in the south, (plantations, Washington D.C., New York, and Philadelphia).
Are these visions just my imagination or are these things from God?
Is this like with the prophets of old, when as it states in some of the passages,“the word of the Lord came to…” And then, as written in 1 Samuel 3:21; “ The Lord continued toappear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.” Is this “word” the OT scriptures or, was this “the living word” of God,Jesus, as in a vision or visitation to Samuel and Abraham for instance?
Matthew 7: 7; “ask and it will be given to you; seek and you willfind; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8. For everyone who asksreceives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
So, as I am reading the above part of Matthew 7, I have this inner vision of being at my job working with kids at a Chapel service and singing/playing my guitar(s) in my own style and asking kids to have fun, to do what it is their passion to do with their lives, singing, poetry, basketball, whatever it is!Then I get out of that mindset/vision and return to look at this verse(s). So, I have to follow this direction and ask you O God: Is this the vision I have had, and continue to see, what you desire for me? Should I walk out into this seeing if any door opens for me?
How do you know the difference between imagination and the Divine? Any advice?
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- From: jpomb1
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Comments (10)
If your thinking is ordered to the Gospel why would you not have visions of glory?
I find the topic of vision to be very interesting, particularly in what exactly constitutes as a vision. I too often question whether or not I'm seeing a vision or getting too funky with my imagination.
when you look at Jeremiah or Zachariah, it seems like sometimes even these prophets of old didn't know. In Jeremiah 1, when Jeremiah first starts seeing things, the Lord asked him many times 'what do you see,' almost as though Jeremiah wasn't sure himself.
Maybe what's going on with you is the same as what happened to Jeremiah.
What would even make you suppose that it was anything but your own imagination and desires?
The situation for me is based on what I have read and believe from the Bible, i.e., Moses encountering the burning bush; all of the events that God apparently did though him in gaining release of the Hebrews from Egypt; all the prophetic happenings via the prophets of the Old Testament; continuing on through the N.T. starting with the birth of John the baptist and then through the book of Acts of the Apostles, etc, etc.
28I have almost since salvation believed in the "gifts" of the spirit, which as it states in Joel 2:28; "
"And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
I also believe that God uses the innate abilities that we are born with, imagination being one of them, but in whatever way that God works through this part of us, dreams, visions, our inner leanings that are laid at the foot of the cross so that it is submitted to God, and not of (myself). I believe that God uses our inner strengths (gifts) and even weaknesses for his own purposes. 2 Thess. 1: 11;
11With this in mind, we
constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his
calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of
yours and every act prompted by your faith.
These are only parts of my still emerging beliefs/theology.
When you received the first VISION there must have been a moment where you said "what was that?" Not everything we 'see' is a VISION, but if it lines up with the Bible, it is God speaking to you. In our insecurity we want to have these kinds of things confirmed and confirmed, but God will do that for you if you ask. Not everything He shows you is for you to speak about as you grow.
I have had God give me many, many VISIONS over the years. Some if not most of them are so different from my imagination, it is obvious it is God. Sometimes it is a flash of a VISION; other times it is a strong VISION that stays with me until I speak it to others or someone. Some are for me to pray about.
God speaks to your heart first and your head once in a while. Those things that God put on your heart are not your imagination, but the things that will give you "fulfillment" in as you are doing them. You will never get tired or burned out when it is a God ordained task.
Some people call them "Word Pictures" instead of VISIONS. A still picture of something. You should always write down everything you 'sense' about it and be praying for God to give you a complete interpretation of it. He will.
What a wonderful blessing of God you have been given! One more thing..... remember it is God's gift, not yours. It is for His purpose, not yours.
and ignore the naysayers...
Blessings
I have learned to know His communications from years of trial and error. My instruction began in a small group when someone asked for prayer. We would all lay hands on the person and say whatever came to mind whether it be words, pictures, smells, tastes, whatever. After the prayer, or sometimes during it, the prayer receiver would let you know if what you spoke resonated with them. After doing this weekly or more often for several months you can begin to discern the qualities that go along with what you're hearing that is and is not from the Triune.
As time goes on in one's pusuit of intimacy with Him, He offers you new challenges, more costly things to trust Him with. My experience has been that He bolsters confidence in Him with all sorts of little things He does to show He cares for me. As we choose to risk more and more, finding Him coming through for us each and every time, we zero in better on His character, His heart, and His leading.
One way of verifying whether your visions are directions from Him is to pursue them with Him. Somewhere along the way it will become evident how He wants you to respond to the visions. Remember Paul's instruction to walk in constant conversation with Him. (Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence was a big help to me in this). All things come to light as we walk and talk with Him.
Weigh it according to the Scriptures: if it's from the Holy Spirit, then He won't contradict Himself. (Compare Isaiah 8:20, Acts 17:11.)
We are urged in scripture to "test the spirits..." and the only way we can test them is, as Pass_the_Aura has said, is by the Word of God. God will never ask us to do anything that is contrary to Scripture - maybe sometimes not according to the accepted church practices of the day but NEVER will we be asked to go against Scripture. I assume you are giving it much prayer and I pray God will make His path clear for you.
And don't forget, when God spoke to Samuel, even the godly Eli doubted it so don't let PEOPLE put you off but if GOD says "No" then really listen.
@AngelBeast777@xanga -
I have read not that long ago Practicing His Presence along with another book like it by Jerry Coulter, Beholding and Becoming. They have been a great help to me. There is much spiritual battle that goes on in pursuit of this fellowship with the father, but I do realize that being in the heart of God is the ultimate goal. I am 60 and Some years ago I read another instrumental book The pursuit of God which helped me in the search for that nearness to God.
Thanks for everyone's response to my post. There are many naysayers out there who don't believe. I was recently renewed by reading the book, The Shack. I just want to know if it is God giving me these visions or dreams and then the courage and blodness to act on them, amen.
Visions that agree with God's word are at the least in agreement with God's word, and therefore worthy of acceptance.
Visions that disagree are unworthy.
I often have (strange - feeling) inclinations to visit one or another person at a specific time. Such timing almost always is when they need help - a tool, some cash, someone to talk to, a reminder that someone cares for them.
Reality is not always cut and dried for Christians, but it is ALWAYS in line with the Word of God.
Keep in that line, and sooner or later, we'll get where we're supposed to be.