No matter how dark and perverse the spiritual atmosphere becomes, keep on imagining that which is righteous and holy. Let your mind dwell on the wonders of the new world of righteousness that is coming from Heaven.

To keep our minds on the things that are true, honorable, and right, to refrain from becoming angry and bitter against the actions of our society, will require enormous amounts of prayer. We will have to make up our mind to obey Paul in this matter and then we will have to pray continually, night and day, to keep from being drawn into wrath and bitterness because of what we see taking place.

Can you understand how important it is to use your imagination in the right way?

Notice how David survived in the midst of the envy and plotting that were directed toward him while he was governing Israel.

I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Psalms 16:8)

David could not actually see the Lord before him any more than you or I can. But by an act of will, by employing his imagination, David kept God in front of him at all times. Because of this vision of God David was able to keep steadfastly on his way in the peace of the Lord.

You and I can set the Lord before us if we so choose. This is a right use of our imagination.

David had many setbacks in his life. When Achish refused to let David and his men go out to battle with the Philistine army they returned to their base at Ziklag. There they found that the Amalekites had raided Ziklag, burned the city with fire, and had carried off all their wives and children.

And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. (I Samuel 30:3,4 NASB)

The men were very angry and talked of stoning David. But it was David's way to encourage himself in the Lord when things looked hopeless.

Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. (I Samuel 30:6 NASB)

Notice that David did not attempt to use imaging or positive thinking, or to speak the "word of faith," in order to change his circumstances. He strengthened himself in the Lord his God. His vision was of God's power and faithfulness, it was not an attempt to imagine things into existence or to "speak the creative word." What a total difference!

How about you and me? When the future is bleak do we give up in despair or do we strengthen ourselves in the Lord?

To be continued.