God has given us the ability to choose what we wish to think about, to imagine, to hope, to determine in our mind. We can picture defeat or we can hope for victory. The choices we make in our mind have a great deal to do with our success in living the victorious Christian life.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1,2 NIV)

"Set your minds on things above."

The dictionary defines imagination as the formation of a mental image, an image of something not (as yet) perceived by the senses.

There are imaginations that are to be demolished by the believer.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (II Corinthians 10:4,5)

When we are imagining the great things we are going to accomplish or possess, and these desires are not of Christ, then we need to destroy those imaginations. They are dead works, not part of the rest of God. They often are idols. We can demolish them by asking God to remove them from us.

Sometimes people are under the impression that the Lord has spoken to them concerning some exalted ministry that will be theirs in the future. "You are called to be a prophet." "You will become the greatest apostle of all time," and so forth. This sort of deception is not uncommon.

Or our imagination may be in the area of immorality. "You married the wrong person. Now you have found the mate ordained for you from the foundation of the world."

How can we tell whether the imagination we are entertaining is from the Lord? Only by a patient, cross-carrying, obedient life. It is only by presenting our body a living sacrifice that we can prove the will of God.

There are some warning signs we can look for. If the vision tends to exalt us it is suspect. If the vision violates the commandments of the Scripture it is not from the Holy Spirit.

If a voice is warning us we must not tell anyone what we are being shown we must be very careful. Satan hates the light. He works in the darkness.

Another red flag is a feeling of haste or the necessity to force people and circumstances. The wisdom that comes from above is always pure, peaceable, courteous, open to reason and being questioned.

The Spirit of God does not lead us to hurt or destroy other people.

The Lord never rebukes us for testing the spirits because the Word commands us to do this. Evangelical people seem ready to follow anyone who says the name of Jesus and works miracles. They do not always test the apostles, so to speak.

To be continued.