Visualization in Prayer

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#21
I find that with all this hocus pocus about visualizing, there is no biblical definition of visualization...nor is there a directive to 'visualize when you pray.'
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-visualization.html
Nothing Hocus Pocus about meditating upon the Word. She is clearly meditating upon the Lord's Word, and I find it to be beautiful and inspiring. We should all seek to see and understand. Seek to behold as the Spirit gives spiritual sight.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#23
We learn the Lord's pray as a out line or template for our pray, not some mystical visualization practice. "Imagining a sin less world," who are ya, the love child of John Lennon and pope Francis?



Our Father who art in heaven.

The practical idea of prayer is that
God would urge us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him confidently with all assurance, as dear children ask their dear father.

Thy Kingdom come.

Return soon Jesus, but if you tarry long, grant us your Holy Spirit, so that you reign with on us.

Etc etc... Get the idea?
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#24
"Imagining a sin less world," who are ya, the love child of John Lennon and pope Francis?
I am a person who is eagerly anticipating and imagining that wonderful sinless Kingdom of God that is mentioned in Matthew 6. The same one that @Blik is imagining. Why do you senselessly are cruelly mock her for doing so? To visualize the Glorious Kingdom Come is a praiseworthy thing to do.

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#25
Jesus who was a Jewish messiah said to the Jews how to pray to their God in a Jewish way. We are not even remotely in the picture when this prayer was given .
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#26
Jesus who was a Jewish messiah said to the Jews how to pray to their God in a Jewish way. We are not even remotely in the picture when this prayer was given .
???????????????

Jesus is the Light of the World, my friend. His Written Word is for the benefit of all of us.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#27
???????????????

Jesus is the Light of the World, my friend. His Written Word is for the benefit of all of us.
Amen but we should not be offended that he programmatically came for the Jews.
Mat 10
24¶But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25¶Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26¶But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Yes he heals her daughter in the end , but these are exceptions . But look at Jesus s response ( Not so 'Meek and mild' )
Why do people have an issue with a prayer being given exclusively to Jews ? Whats wrong with Jesus giving things exclusively to his diciples ? Whats wrong with the disciples only preaching to Jews exclusively all the way up to Acts 10/ 11 ? Why are some robbing the Jews of their stuff . I'm as English as they come. I'm a gentile, but I see the deal In the scriptures and i believe in a Jewish messiah and the God of Israel .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#28
???????????????

Jesus is the Light of the World, my friend. His Written Word is for the benefit of all of us.
John 1 ( and remember when John is writing this)
11He came unto his own,( This all needs to occur first , as we read through the gospels) and his own received him not.
Then After the cross he draws ALL men to him . John 12.32
Then the Holy Spirit is given .
Then we Get an apostle to us gentiles . Then we are in the picture .
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
#30
Nothing Hocus Pocus about meditating upon the Word. She is clearly meditating upon the Lord's Word, and I find it to be beautiful and inspiring. We should all seek to see and understand. Seek to behold as the Spirit gives spiritual sight.
Thank you for your opinion as I gave mine. I find nothing wrong with pondering God's Word, but why call it 'visualization', which is troublesome on two fronts. It conjures up 'imaginative images' (which most likely are inaccurate) and easily sways newbies into the New Age practice of visualization, which is occultic.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,957
13,615
113
#31
You do not like to be exposed, I see that.
i've known @Blik for a few years here, and i hardly think she's a new-ager lol

she usually gets criticized as a 'judaizer' instead, but i don't even see her as that anymore -- she just loves His law, is all, which is righteous :)
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,803
631
113
#32
Thank you for your opinion as I gave mine. I find nothing wrong with pondering God's Word, but why call it 'visualization', which is troublesome on two fronts. It conjures up 'imaginative images' (which most likely are inaccurate) and easily sways newbies into the New Age practice of visualization, which is occultic.
First if its truth one is talking about then there would be no name calling. The definition of the word " a stupid person " .

So the word visualization its you that went to "new age practices" and "imaginative images". Can you not bring all those imaginative images into captivity? "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; "

To say "its not in the bible". Try a little harder will ya. You could post what words we use every day, things we believe that are not in the word of God. Yet we still use them. Then to know if everything Jesus said and did was written there would not be enough books.

Its not new age. So you said that .. so back that up with the word. Show how its new age. You will find for so many its not new age. Nothing wrong with it at all. You never let anything become exalted above Christ. Not written do not have any imaginations. When its against the knowledge of God.. above Him.

In my life only twice did I picture something and He took it over. Something I don't practice.. yet praise GOD glory to Jesus.. Satan never ever points to Christ :) So for you it seems wrong then you best not do it. lol its not new age. Search the word.. ask HIM to open your eyes.. you will be shocked at what... you never saw read before.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,957
13,615
113
#33
Oh, I forgot, could you give us a biblical definition of visualized prayer? Where does Jesus or the Apostles teach us to visualize while praying???
what about this --


What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also;
I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
(1 Corinthians 14:15)

and what if a person is a visual thinker?

i don't think OP is suggesting we try to change reality by 'visualizing' what we want to happen, in the way that many new-age spiritualists suggest.
 

Riveraname

Active member
Feb 16, 2021
118
88
28
#34
I am so confused by this thread, does it matter whether we visualize or not while praying? Some people can not visualize things and others rely on it to think.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,957
13,615
113
#35
Jesus who was a Jewish messiah said to the Jews how to pray to their God in a Jewish way. We are not even remotely in the picture when this prayer was given .
why should a 'Jewish prayer' be different from ours?

shall i rip the Psalms out of my Bible?
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
#36
First if its truth one is talking about then there would be no name calling. The definition of the word " a stupid person " .
Who is name calling? I guess you have the wrong person. I guess that's what happens when you butt into a conversation.
So the word visualization its you that went to "new age practices" and "imaginative images". Can you not bring all those imaginative images into captivity? "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; "
That's what I was doing...casting down vain imaginations.
Could you then show me where the practice was taught by Jesus and/or the Apostles?
Its not new age. So you said that .. so back that up with the word. Show how its new age. You will find for so many its not new age. Nothing wrong with it at all. You never let anything become exalted above Christ. Not written do not have any imaginations. When its against the knowledge of God.. above Him.
Yes, visualization is New Age, as in imagining a reality other than the one God created. Could you define 'visualization for us?
In my life only twice did I picture something and He took it over. Something I don't practice.. yet praise GOD glory to Jesus.. Satan never ever points to Christ :) So for you it seems wrong then you best not do it. lol its not new age. Search the word.. ask HIM to open your eyes.. you will be shocked at what... you never saw read before.
You said you did it twice? Why did you stop? Why are you defending you only did twice when you are trying to tell me it's a good thing?
I was into the occult and New Age (before it was called New Age), I know a rat when I smell one.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
#37
what about this --


What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also;
I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
(1 Corinthians 14:15)​
and what if a person is a visual thinker?

i don't think OP is suggesting we try to change reality by 'visualizing' what we want to happen, in the way that many new-age spiritualists suggest.
I don't see that as teaching or practicing visualization.
I'll concede, the OP may not have had the New Age practice in mind but it was still a poor choice of words as it stirs up a hornet nest.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,770
3,679
113
#38
I am so confused by this thread, does it matter whether we visualize or not while praying? Some people can not visualize things and others rely on it to think.
I'd rather call it 'pondering' or ruminate.
My wife thinks in pictures but the pics still have to be translated into words.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#39
You can't get the point, can ya. Blik the blockhead.
You have not read scripture, I take it telling of what the Lord thinks of others calling people "you fool", and you go so against the Lord you say "blockhead".

I have heard of a man who will not allow candles in his house because people who worship the devil use candles. You will not allow your mind to picture anything the Lord tells you because of occult people using pictures. Do you discipline yourself so you never picture a lemon if someone tells you of one? And YOU call ME a blockhead!!!!!
We learn the Lord's pray as a out line or template for our pray, not some mystical visualization practice. "Imagining a sin less world," who are ya, the love child of John Lennon and pope Francis?



Our Father who art in heaven.

The practical idea of prayer is that
God would urge us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him confidently with all assurance, as dear children ask their dear father.

Thy Kingdom come.

Return soon Jesus, but if you tarry long, grant us your Holy Spirit, so that you reign with on us.

Etc etc... Get the idea?
I find it very like throwing cold water on prayer to say that your way is so superior to any other way, when I shared a person thought of prayer. I did not throw cold water on your way, why do you think you can say my way is nothing, all must follow you? Prayer is personal. I am sorry I shared with you, wish you hadn't read my post. One person shared that he often prayed while driving. I hope you don't decide to throw cold water on that prayer of his.