Is viewing safe for Christians?

Any form of visualization of the word seems to cause a lot of controversy in the Christian world. I’m not talking about conjuring up your spirit guide or anything like that. What I’m talking about is the realm of goal setting. Seeing what you want to achieve. We all do it but without attaching the word “mysterious”: visualization.

When you were a child listening to Bible stories, did you see Jonah in the belly of the whale? Did you have a picture in your mind of the Exodus when all of God’s people crossed the Red Sea? When we are told about the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us, can we see him on the cross suffering for us?

That is visualization. We think of words and images that also excite us. If you watched the movie “The Passion”, did it tear your stomach to think about the terrible things that Jesus endured, but did he willingly to save you? You visualized his terrible pain and his great love for you.

We don’t know the exact detail of what Jesus went through. Someone had to visualize the scenes from that movie to bring it to life.

I agree that there are different types of visualization. I absolutely do not agree with calling the spirit world, singing or something like that. The only spirit I will invoke is the Holy Spirit.

I think we would all agree that Dr. Charles Stanley is one of the most knowledgeable theologians of our time. He is not a preacher who wants to make you believe that nothing bad ever happens in the life of a Christian. Understand God’s discipline as well as God’s blessings.

I know that Dr. Stanley believes in goal setting. I looked at your website this morning and you have a CD series called “Set Your Goals and Live By Faith.” I found it interesting that he used the word “visualize” in his promotion of the series. It said the following:

“Dr. Stanley helps you visualize and focus on the specific things God wants to do in your life, no matter how big or small.”

We all know that Dr. Charles Stanley is not talking about conjuring up his spirit guide, chanting, or anything remotely close to that of the hidden world. Me neither.

God encourages us to approach him in prayer for everything. We must bring him our joys, our sorrows, our thanks and our praise. Yes, even our requests.

Philippians 4: 6 (New International Version)

Do not worry about anything, but in everything, with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

When we have faith that God will answer our prayer, we see him as our loving father who wants to help us. If you have faith in God, if you have faith, he will supply your needs, if you have faith that he will rescue you from a dangerous situation, you can “visualize” him by answering your prayer.

Matthew 7: 9 (New International Version)

9 “Which of you, if your child asks you for bread, will give him a stone?

When I speak of visualizing, I mean visualizing your goals; seeing your success in those goals. Why wouldn’t God want to see you successful and help you achieve your goals? Of course, we must thank him and give him the glory for our success. It’s not from us, it’s from Him.

Let me give you a few more examples:

When you named your husband or wife, did you ever say to yourself, “I’m going to marry her or him”? Did you see yourself as that spouse?

Women, when you set a date for your wedding, did you start planning and visualizing every detail?

When your children were born, did you see them go to college? Did you visualize them walking across the stage accepting their diploma?

I have read many articles on the visualization of an athlete. I’m sure when Tiger Woods is on the green and faces a long putt; he is visualizing the ball sinking into the hole.

When Michael Jordan reached the free throw line, he was visualizing releasing the basketball and the ball falling cleanly through the net.

Olympic athletes see themselves with a first-place medal on the podium.

The bodybuilder preparing for a competition has “seen” his definition months and months before going on stage.

Everyone has envisioned being successful in any sport long before reaching the crucial point of taking action and seeing their success. You have practiced this in your mind over and over again.

You have to be able to see it before you can believe it. If you can’t believe that you can be successful, you never will. If you can visualize your goals, you will begin to take the steps to get there. Once you become clear and can imagine yourself succeeding, God will give you an ability that you may not have right now. It could open doors that weren’t open to you before.

I cover visualization in my training, articles, and books. It’s a very powerful tool to help you be clear about your fitness goals. If you can “see” it, you can believe it and you are more likely to follow through with what it takes to get there.

I don’t think God has a problem with us visualizing what we would look like at a healthy 30-pound weight or visualizing ourselves quitting smoking and how good it will feel to have achieved those goals, right?

I hope I was able to share some ideas about visualization with you. It is not going into an empty mind meditation. Align your visualization with God’s will, go to God with your visualization in prayer and thanksgiving, give him honor and glory for his success.