Do you remember using your imagination as a child? Perhaps you imagined you were a princess, a pirate, or a superhero. When we grow into adults, we may be discouraged from using this ability, because it’s not viewed as a grown-up, “realistic” use of our minds. But God gave us creative, healthy minds to use, and we can gain a good perspective on imagination when we study the Bible.

Our imaginations are as real as a hammer, chisel, saw, or anything else we can pick up and observe. Our thoughts are building blocks to bring about the manifestation of what we want. The first step in turning a thought into something we can see is visualizing it. In the Old Testament, when the people visualized building a huge tower that reached all the way to heaven, it caught God’s attention. “And the Lord said, ‘Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do’” (Genesis 11:6).

The mind is incredibly powerful, and sometimes we forget just how much our thoughts control our actions. If we’re not careful, we can let our thoughts enslave us. God warns us not to trust in the world’s philosophies, especially when they contradict His Word. “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” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

We have a choice as to how we think, and there’s no limit on how we can use our God-given imaginations. God blocks the bad things that evil people imagine. “Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform” (Psalm 21:10, 11). He uses His own imagination to bless us “’For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ says the Lord, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV).

Perhaps we imagine ourselves with a new car, a bigger house, or a better job. Whatever we want out of life starts with a vision in our mind’s eye, but if we don’t share the spiritual vision God has for us, we run into trouble. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). By studying and meditating on His Word, we can catch glimpses of what He has planned for us. God wants us to be prosperous, blessed, and happy, and when we align our thoughts with His, we have a 100 percent chance of success. “Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed” (Proverbs 16:3, AMP).

We’re now in the age of spiritual warfare, and the battle between good and evil is for control of our minds. However, we have the upper hand when we let the Spirit of God direct our thoughts. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). Our imagination is our mighty weapon of warfare!