- Wishful thinking and imagination is not the same thing. Wishful thinking is
random mental pictures of things you desire. Imagination requires constant and repeated
focus on the same mental image.
- Your imagination is more powerful than your willpower. Your imagination can
override your will and make the needed adjustments you are seeking. You will become
the person you envision in your imagination.
- Your imagination has the power to create what doesn’t yet exist. Everything
that exists today is the result of an idea in someone’s mind who pictured it then pursued it.
- You can speed up the imagination process. If you can keep the same mental image
of success before you and never let up, you will accelerate the imagination process. Many
leaders testify to this. Abraham saw stars in the sky and sand on the shores as a visual
picture given by God (Gen. 22:17). David visualized Goliath being defeated like a lion or a
bear and conquered him (1 Samuel 17:37). Jacob set spotted and speckled stalks near the
watering hole so his cows could visualize them and produce spotted and speckled cows
(See Gen 30). Abraham, David and Jacob acted on their authority.
How I Did It.
1. I set aside quiet time to be alone in the presence of God. I can remember saying to
him, “Lord I want what Dr. Lucile has.” Not in a covetous way, but I wanted to write curriculums
and teach on a higher level. I knew it would require a higher academic degree. So I disconnected
from the urgency of starting my day and would sit and imagine myself walking across the
platform to receive my doctorate. I not only used my imagination to see, but also to hear. I
could hear my name called as I walked across the platform. I patiently waited for the appointed
time to begin my studies which was a few years after I’d met Dr. Richardson. Wait upon the
Lord. (Isaiah 40:31)
2. I aligned my thoughts with God’s (Isaiah 55:9). Taking God at His word, I
prayerfully wrote out my petition (Phil. 4:6) for a grant founded on what Jesus said at John 16:
23, “And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me, you will need to ask Me no
questions. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you
ask in My Name as presenting all that I am.” I read my petition and the scripture references
every day, sometimes, many times during the day, to remind him of His word. (Isaiah 43:26).
With praise and thanksgiving I gave glory to God (Romans 4:20). By taking these actions I
removed myself from the realm of reasoning and logic and tapped into a vision from God,
inviting His presence to fill my mind and spirit. When you do this, the Holy Spirit has carte-
blanch to lead you in your time of visualization.
3. I remained focused (Phil. 3:13). This series will continue in my next column and I will
share specific and practical tools to use in your transformation process. God has already given
you everything you need to live by design. By knowing who you are and the authority given to
you by God, you can transform your personal interior and become the author of your life design
so you can lead the life God has planned for you.
If you have any questions or insights you’d like me to discuss in my next column, please email
me at dmurphy@eewmagazine.com.
From that day forward, I knew who I was and what I wanted. I submitted to the Lord my desires
and plans and sought his direction. Honoring my surrender, God literally became involved in my
dream. I would have to travel to Maryland from Pennsylvania each week. Where there was no
possible way, God manifested the opportunity, favor, and provision over and over. The insatiable
desire to attain my doctorate and teach women on their authority in life leadership was birthed and
would germinate until its appointed time. I knew teaching women would include renovating and
designing their personal interiors, which brings me to piggy-backing last week’s column.
I shared that, by previewing a visual plan of your dreams, goals and desires laid in sequence and
adding the biggest piece of furniture first—your faith, you can transform your personal interior.
You can become an active participant in your life, intentionally structuring and shaping your own
future. I will share how I did this and how you, with the guidance of the Lord, can do the same
thing. You will need to get out your Bibles for this.
The Power of Imagination. Your imagination is your God-given link to tap into the mind of
Christ. Because God’s ways and plans are beyond your understanding and everyday reality, God
has given you the ability to see what He sees through a mental image on the canvas of your
imagination. I must caution you. Your imagination is either a positive or negative force! Doubts,
fears, insecurities, worry and counter-thoughts blur your mental pictures of your targeted success
and give the negative things you fear entrance into your life.
and plans and sought his direction. Honoring my surrender, God literally became involved in my
dream. I would have to travel to Maryland from Pennsylvania each week. Where there was no
possible way, God manifested the opportunity, favor, and provision over and over. The insatiable
desire to attain my doctorate and teach women on their authority in life leadership was birthed and
would germinate until its appointed time. I knew teaching women would include renovating and
designing their personal interiors, which brings me to piggy-backing last week’s column.
I shared that, by previewing a visual plan of your dreams, goals and desires laid in sequence and
adding the biggest piece of furniture first—your faith, you can transform your personal interior.
You can become an active participant in your life, intentionally structuring and shaping your own
future. I will share how I did this and how you, with the guidance of the Lord, can do the same
thing. You will need to get out your Bibles for this.
The Power of Imagination. Your imagination is your God-given link to tap into the mind of
Christ. Because God’s ways and plans are beyond your understanding and everyday reality, God
has given you the ability to see what He sees through a mental image on the canvas of your
imagination. I must caution you. Your imagination is either a positive or negative force! Doubts,
fears, insecurities, worry and counter-thoughts blur your mental pictures of your targeted success
and give the negative things you fear entrance into your life.
Dr. Deana Murphy passionately supports the
success of women helping them to design
their best life. Creator and visionary of the
LivingDesigns™ brand, Deana is an absolute
expert on life design and your Go-to-Resource
for promoting empowering life makeovers,
whether you seek one-on-one consulting,
group trainings, virtual workshops or live
lifestyle makeover events.
Visit Dr. Deana at deanamurphyglobal.com
Email Deana:
dmurphy@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook
Facebook.com
success of women helping them to design
their best life. Creator and visionary of the
LivingDesigns™ brand, Deana is an absolute
expert on life design and your Go-to-Resource
for promoting empowering life makeovers,
whether you seek one-on-one consulting,
group trainings, virtual workshops or live
lifestyle makeover events.
Visit Dr. Deana at deanamurphyglobal.com
Email Deana:
dmurphy@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook
Facebook.com
EMAIL:
| BI-WEEKLY COLUMNS |
Remember what I said in an article early on that
FEAR is “Forgetting Everything About Results?”
And don’t forget that Job portrayed the force of
negative imagination when he said; “For the thing
which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that
which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:25).
God has given you authority over your
imagination to bring every thought in line with His
word, but you must know that authority and
exercise that right. (See 2 Cor. 10:5).
Before I share the specifics of how I walked in my
authority as an heir to God’s promises, I will give
you some lead-ins to the power of your
imagination.
FEAR is “Forgetting Everything About Results?”
And don’t forget that Job portrayed the force of
negative imagination when he said; “For the thing
which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that
which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:25).
God has given you authority over your
imagination to bring every thought in line with His
word, but you must know that authority and
exercise that right. (See 2 Cor. 10:5).
Before I share the specifics of how I walked in my
authority as an heir to God’s promises, I will give
you some lead-ins to the power of your
imagination.
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July 5-July 19
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Last Sunday I traveled to Baltimore
Maryland to complete a dream and vision
I’ve had in my heart for many years. I walked
across the platform at Chesapeake Bible
College and Seminary as a distinguished
honor graduate. Although I had fulfilled all of
the academic requirements many months
before to attain my doctorate in Theological
Studies, I hadn’t marched, as they call it. I
remember when the doctorate and teaching
seeds were planted into my spirit. Some
years ago, Dr. Lucile Richardson was a guest
speaker in a two day business seminar at my
church. In her topic on Authority, she shared
what she called “secret wisdom” — you must
first submit to the author of your salvation
and then to the dream in your heart. The
authority she referred to was having the
liberty to know who you are, to prepare
yourself from the inside and be true to
yourself. She was talking about living by
design.
Maryland to complete a dream and vision
I’ve had in my heart for many years. I walked
across the platform at Chesapeake Bible
College and Seminary as a distinguished
honor graduate. Although I had fulfilled all of
the academic requirements many months
before to attain my doctorate in Theological
Studies, I hadn’t marched, as they call it. I
remember when the doctorate and teaching
seeds were planted into my spirit. Some
years ago, Dr. Lucile Richardson was a guest
speaker in a two day business seminar at my
church. In her topic on Authority, she shared
what she called “secret wisdom” — you must
first submit to the author of your salvation
and then to the dream in your heart. The
authority she referred to was having the
liberty to know who you are, to prepare
yourself from the inside and be true to
yourself. She was talking about living by
design.
| ADVERTISEMENT |