The Prophet Habakkuk said, “I will keep watch to see” (Hab. 2:1-2). We see how the prophet is intentional in receiving a vision from the Lord. He is not someone who hopes to “get lucky.” He purposefully waits for a vision from the Lord. The Bible is meant to be lived. What we read, we must apply. How can we live this verse? We must begin looking for a prophetic word with the eyes of our hearts, into the Spirit world to see what God wants us to see.
King David was a man after God’s own heart. How did he get this title? David said, “I saw the Lord always in my presence; for he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken” (Acts 2:25).
David was intentional in being in God’s presence. It was not about random supernatural visitations. David said, “I have set the Lord continually before me” (Psa. 16:8). It means he literally placed the Lord in front of him. David knew that the Lord was always with him. He made it a point to acknowledge and to experience the presence of God. He was committed in his spirit to see that truth with the eyes of his heart as he went through life, knowing that this would keep his faith in the Lord strong. He knew that it was about building a relationship and sustaining it with God’s presence.
Jesus used pictures constantly when he taught (Mt. 13:34). A picture is worth a thousand words, as we usually hear. During the times we ask for a prophetic word, Jesus can use pictures. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, we speak the language of the heart, and it moves us quickly into spirit and heart realities that goes beyond your conscious mind.
Another way to access this key is through the use of godly imagination or purified imagination. King David practiced this as well. Believers can develop godly imagination by picturing things that God says are so. If believers are picturing Jesus is NOT with us, then that would be picturing a lie, which is an unwise thing to do. There is no reason to imagine anything that goes against what Scripture declares to be true. It is empowering to picture what God says through the Bible. Do not just read the Bible like a textbook, wherein you are just getting information. Let the Bible define your reality. Picture God’s Word in your mind and make this picture detailed and vivid. The Holy Spirit will help do this.
As believers, we can ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of our heart (Eph. 1:17-18). As you do this, you can allow the flow of the Holy Spirit come. He can bring the scene alive in your mind. You can then step from these godly imaginations into receiving divine visions from the Lord.
Developing godly imagination is simple and childlike. Your faith is built up when you do this, a faith so pure that is like a child’s. The Bible tells us that if we want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we must have childlike faith. We must become like little children. In fact, you can find that your children can achieve these four keys easier than you can because of the purity of their imagination. From Genesis to Revelation, the Lord gave us dreams and visions. God specifically said that in the last days, He would pour out His Spirit and we would see dreams and visions (Acts 2:1-4).
How many times have you encountered people who say they can’t find something they are trying to find, when in reality, they aren’t really looking? Children can be like this if they don’t want to exert effort into looking for lost objects. We tell them “Look with your eyes, not with your mouths.” We must look, if we want to see. Daniel saw a vision in his mind, and said, “I was looking… I kept looking… I kept looking” (Dan. 7:2;8;13). There is really intention if you want to receive a vision.
If you have not been looking before, then you can repent. Begin by presenting the eyes of your heart to the Lord, and look. You’ll realize that if you only look, you’ll see flowing pictures, in the same way you receive flowing thoughts. Jesus is Emmanuel (God with us) (Mt. 1:23). You can see Christ present with you because he IS present with you. The vision may come so easily that you may be tempted to reject it, thinking it’s just you. However, if you persist recording these flowing pictures, your doubts will soon be overcome by faith, as you recognize that the content of these visions could only be birthed by God the Holy Spirit.
How else can you receive a vision from God? You must have a lifestyle for it. Jesus showed the ability to live out of constant communication with God. You can recognize God communicating with you when you practice doing it more often. Jesus declared that he did nothing on his own initiative, but only what he saw the Father doing and what he heard the Father saying (Jn. 5:19-20,
30). Jesus showed us an incredible way to live.
You may be wondering if it’s even possible for you to live in the divine initiative as Jesus did. Yes, it is. Because the same Spirit who was with him is with you today. Jesus said, as you abide in him (Jn. 15), you have the Holy Spirit. The veil has been torn when he died on the cross, and you have direct access into the immediate presence of the Lord. God is calling you to draw near and access Him (Lk. 23:45; Heb. 10:19-22). Pray that you truly receive visions from the Lord; it’s a gift that God gives to you freely (Acts 2:17).
Experience the Power of Prophecy as a gift to open your mind to receive the Mind of Christ.
Spend time being intentional about sitting before the Lord before you have your quiet time this week. What vision does God give you for this week of commitment to see the Lord with the eyes of your heart?