Practice Makes Peace: Cultivating A Sanctified Imagination

When we were newlyweds, we met another couple where the husband was a left brain and the wife, Megan, was a creative like me. But when Megan would talk about her wild imagination, it was usually good things. And it really struck me! That served as a mirror to show me that my imagination was often filled with worst case scenarios and [the wrong kind of what ifs]. This was a few years before I was [delivered from fear.]

So I started talking to the Lord about my thoughts and my imagination. It seemed mine was unruly and creating doomsday inside my head.

I found there are lots of Scriptures that teach us how to focus our minds, and most of those scriptures come with a promise too! They explain the reward of peace that comes if you put this into practice!

Favorite Scripture on Focusing Your Mind on Christ:

The [first verse I memorized] and took to heart was this promise of peace when we fix our minds on the Lord:

       You will keep in perfect peace
            all who trust in you,
            all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

       Isaiah 26:3

I also fell in love with this verse that tells us where to set our hearts and minds… on Christ Jesus. On things above. This verse is what caused me to start praying that God would give me eyes to see eternally. It also comes with a promise of peace if we put this into practice!

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory… Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:1-4, 15

And confirming the exact same thing, that when we set our hearts on things above that are good and pure and holy, peace will rule and reign within us:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

Practice makes Peace

If you noticed, each and everyone of these Scriptures promises peace when we fix our minds on things that are Godly. But these Scriptures have something else in common too… When read in context, they mention putting it into practice. The idea that this is a habit, a practice, a spiritual discipline. It’s not like we do this once and have peace.

Peace-walking is a lifestyle practice we develop over time. And as we take each worrisome thought captive, one by one, and pray and give thanks and rejoice instead… then we slowly bushwhack a path to peace. It may be hard at first, like hacking down huge shrubs and thicket in the way. But over time, the path to peace becomes worn and the trail is easy to find.

So don’t get discouraged if it’s hard or uncomfortable or if it feels foreign in the beginning. Know that you are actually forging a new neurological pathway toward peace. But once you’ve done this over and over, the road becomes quicker and easier and becomes the most comforting trail to take. Instead of worrying for days until you notice and start to hack your way to peace through praise and prayer and thanksgiving, it’ll one day only take a breath and you’ll notice and you’ll instantly take the trail and find peace.

This is how we grow our muscles and learn [how to take each thought captive.]

The Mind and Body’s Reality

In recent years as I’ve been studying trauma, I’ve learned that the body believes whatever is happening in your mind is happening in real time. So a flashback, for example, of a horrific situation will tell your body that the horrific situation isn’t just a memory, it’s actually happening right now all over again. That’s why an unchecked mind can do tremendous damage to your health. The good news is that a mind fixed on Christ can bring peace and healing to the body as well!

The quickest ways to bring our minds back to peace are to praise God in any situation, give thanks for everything you can think up, and pray about everything that crosses your mind. Each of these things actually changes the brain chemistry and map of your mind. It’s also how we can [“develop a sense of wonder“, as Graham Cooke puts it.]

I started learning [the power of thanksgiving in AP Psychology] and it actually saved my life!

I started discovering [the power of praising God] as a young mom when my husband was deployed and it healed my carpal tunnel syndrome!

And I’ve seen prayer bring me to peace on a daily minute-by-minute basis, too many times to count! The more we practice, the quicker we get ourselves to Peace.

Cultivating a Holy Imagination

So as we set our minds on things that are above, that are good and true and beautiful, we retrain our imagination. When we start praising and thanking God, we naturally stop feeding our minds fearful and anxious thoughts. It’s like pulling out the weeds in the garden and they can no longer choke out the beautiful fruit-bearing thoughts anymore.

Dr. Schrag once told me, “After intense cultivation comes abundant fruitfulness and harvest.” I believe this applies to the cultivation of our minds, thoughts, and imagination too.

You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11