Words are Pictures...Understanding the Battle for the Dream

Words are Pictures

Understanding the Battle for the Dream

There are dreams, desires, and callings on each person's life - visions placed inside by a very purposeful Creator. Some never see the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams - not because the dream was just a fantasy, but because of this: somewhere along the way, the picture of the goal was lost and the dream let go... Something painted a new picture, the odds spoke, resistance, lack, one's inability, and others opinions changed the picture they had once seen. But God had spoken the end of the story from the beginning; He saw the middle pages and the obstacles when He spoke the conclusion. The dream walked out was always His intent. Then, why could the Israelites not go into the promised land? It was the picture they saw: "We are grasshoppers and they are giants - we cannot take that land." and they refused to obey the word of God to them.

So, I want to show you something I have been learning.

What are words?? They are pictures.

If I say to you, green - you don't think of letters g.r.e.... - you see a color in your mind. If I say to you, "a white, country house with purple flowers swinging gently in hanging baskets - those words generate a picture in your mind not English symbols. "A happy couple, tea in hand, on a porch swing, and sharing God's word together.", "Walking down the graduation procession.", "Making the final payment." "Ministering to unkind co-workers"

Words are pictures, and pictures are powerful in both the positive and negative perspectives. They move you to action; you respond and your life reflects what you saw. This is a spiritual law. (Romans 12:2, Proverbs 23:7)

Thus, the picture God plants in you must be 1) Guarded at all cost (guarded against offense, strife, fear, or the desire for other things) 2) The picture painted by God's word must be acted upon (for your future - or simply for that day, or that moment/in that conversation).

The Battle is for the Picture

I remember I was trying to hear the will of God for my life concerning some decisions. It seemed like I would spend time seeking Him, begin to see a picture of where He was taking me, and then... it would happen almost every time: someone would act hurtful, say something, or something negative would happen, or my flesh woke up wanting to focus on how I felt, etc... whatever... A new picture would tear my gaze, rouse my feelings, and it would take time to refocus. This cycle kept repeating. I became as a ship tossed from one wave of images to the next; not making progress, just treading water.

A passive position could not be afforded! I had to be adamant/ focused in the fight over the picture in my mind - especially at night. I cut away every distraction and made an undivided room in my mind for God's written and spoken (picture) regarding me, the direction He put on my life, loved ones, finances, health, dreams, etc...

The real fight isn't with people or circumstances around you... The battle is over the picture. Because the image you see determines where your steps are heading. It is what causes you to do what you do or not do. (Proverbs 23:7, Luke 11:24-36)

What picture did you see in your time with God? - a relationship restored, a ministry, a family, fears overcome, areas of your character built? Resistance will come against the picture. Believe me, storms have a voice that will paint another image.

You cannot be passive with the picture God gave you because it is worth fighting for; pressing past the pain for.

From Point A to Point B

Sometimes the in between chapters from point A to point B feel like everything inside you is crying out. Yes, even dying inside.

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (every picture) that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" - Matthew 4:4 (NKJ)

Do you see how important that word, that picture is! You're not going to make it without it:

Matthew 7:24-27

24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them (makes actions toward that picture), I will liken him to a wise man who built his house (his dream) on the rock:

25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 "Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (NKJ)

What do you do when the dream God planted in you seems further away than ever or appears to have died in your arms?

For the sake of this study, I will refer to the word as picture...

Psalms 119:105 Your (picture) is a (revealing) lamp to my feet and a (guiding) light to my path.

(NKJ)

What picture did He give you in your time with Him. It gave you joy. But the cares of this world... did it choke the dream with another picture? Did it stifle the steps so that you sat down or changed course - an easier more doable path. The other way, though easier, will not bring fulfillment but a sick heart. (Proverbs 13:12-13)

What do you do? Go back to the presence of God for His Word. Because: "The entrance of Your words (God) gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." - Psalms 119:130

The entrance of that picture gives clarity. So...

"Direct my steps by Your word, (Your picture) and let no iniquity have dominion over me" - Psalms 119:133 (NKJ)

That picture will give directions to your feet- direction that your natural mind would not know if you were looking at the world's picture for you.

How Pictures become Reality. The Connection between the Word & Holy Spirit.

Look at this process: In the beginning God created in Heavens and the earth, and the earth was without form, and darkness was on the face of the deep (the face of the deep of your heart) And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of those waters... but nothing happened until God spoke the word (the picture) "Let there be light." and the Holy Spirit moved in on that picture and manifested it. The Holy Spirit's function is to create, to manifest the word (the picture) so that it is tangibly seen. (And the word became flesh (the picture became flesh) and we beheld...) See Genesis 1:1-4, and John 1:14

Why do you look at your own inability. Darkness may be on the face of your deep. But if you belong to God, the same Holy Spirit that moved in on God's word in the beginning is living inside, closer than your clothes. And He is still moving on God's words, creating what was previously not there... Greater is He that is in you than the darkness on the face of the deep. (I John 4:4) It takes both the word (the picture) and the Spirit. You have both available. What is His word painting as a picture? Have you taken that time to find out regarding the things in your life?

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness (in the beginning), hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The same Holy Spirit who manifested the word (picture) Light over the face of the deep, is the Same one that manifests the word (picture) God has spoken over your heart. If you will look at that picture (word) and let the Holy Spirit do His function - nothing will be impossible. There is something greater in you than that which is against you (the Word & the Spirit).

To you who are not one with God... If you have not accepted Jesus' blood to give you life... this will not work for you. The Spirit of God is not in you, or hovering over the details of your life to create. Without Jesus, you are not one with Him. Can't be. Why, because sin separated you from God like a blade separating a hand from its owner. It's no longer attached - there is no blood flowing from the heart to that hand. That hand is dead. But Jesus came to reverse the sin that severed us from God. (What is impossible with man is possible with God.) Jesus' blood is the only way to become one with God again. The Holy Spirit is hovering over the deep and darkness of your heart. He is waiting for you to accept the word (the picture) that 1. Jesus died to save and thereby make you one with God, 2. The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead 3. The Holy Spirit will raise your heart to life, connecting you to God. You will be one with Him, His body. He can then speak pictures to you of the good plans and purposes, and dreams over your life that are bigger than you, and then create them...

Romans 10:9-11 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Colossians 1:18-20 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.