Visualize and Strategize

And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour (Joshua 6:2).

In our previous study, we emphasized the importance of seeing and creating the future you desire through the power of vision. Today, we take it a step further by understanding the necessity of having a strategy. Many of God’s children, though able to visualize, lack the vital element of strategy.

Joshua 6 provides a remarkable example of how vision and strategy work together to produce divine results. God said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into thine hand.” The battle had not yet begun, but God declared the victory. Joshua had to see it first—this is the power of vision, seeing what God has already given you and acting accordingly.

However, vision alone is not enough. God gave Joshua the vision, but Joshua needed a strategy to take the city. The divine strategy was for him and the children of Israel to march around Jericho for seven days. Joshua had to follow the strategy to bring the vision to pass. In the same way, when God gives you a vision, He also gives you the strategy to accomplish it. Be sure to employ that strategy.

Life is a construction, not an accident. If life were an accident, it would be chaotic. Many people live in chaos because they have not structured their lives with purpose and vision. They drift from one event to another, relying on luck or chance. But a successful life or any successful endeavour is built on a solid foundation through vision, strategy, principles, and means.

It makes no difference what your endeavour is; function from where God has positioned you and use the tools He has given you—vision, strategy, and faith—to build something extraordinary.

Before the physical manifestation of the glory, success, victory, prosperity, and progress that you desire in life, you must see it first within you. Once you can see it from within, then it’s yours. It’s called “seeing the unseen.” You can never have it on the outside if you didn’t first have it within.

That’s where some have missed it. They want to see it first with their physical eyes before calling it real; that’s not faith. Faith is calling real that which the physical senses can’t perceive.

For example, God said to Abraham, “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee…” (Genesis 17:5-6). Abraham first had to see himself as the father of many nations. At the time God spoke to him, he was ninety-nine years old, and Sarah, his wife, apart from reaching menopause, was barren.

Nevertheless, the Bible says, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God”(Romans 4:20). The Lord had said to him, “…Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and…So shall thy seed be” (Genesis 15:5). Abraham believed. He saw the picture of his countless descendants—numerous as the stars—from within.

When you study the Scriptures, learn to do so with pictures; see with the eyes of your spirit; believe and act accordingly. Don’t wait until you “see” the physical manifestation. For instance, if the Spirit says to you, “You have a new job,” don’t say, “When I receive the letter of employment, then I’ll say I have a job”; no! You have to take possession in the spirit, and with your spirit, first, because it’s more real in the spirit-realm.

Realize that it’s the blessings your spirit takes hold of, and which you affirm with your mouth, that’ll manifest in your life. Therefore, see your victory, prosperity, health, peace, progress, and success from within, and affirm accordingly.

What is seeing in the spirit? How do I begin to see heaven? How do I see the angels? How do I experience throne room encounters? These are some of the most common questions Miranda and I get asked while traveling to over 60 nations around the world. Here’s my response, divided into 4 major keys:

Key #1: Be aware that you have eyes in the spiritual realm.

Want to learn more about seeing in the spiritual realm? Listen to Jerame’s podcast on Activating your Spiritual Senses- Sight (Ep. 16)

First things first. Are you aware that you have eyes in the spirit? Paul prayed that the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation would open the eyes of your heart:

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,” Ephesians 1:17-19 NIV

These are the spiritual eyes that God wants to open so you will begin to see what is happening in the supernatural.

Ask God to see in the spirit.

“…You do not have because you do not ask God.” James 4:2 NIV

Once you know that you have spiritual eyes, you have to learn to come to the Father and intentionally ask Him to see. I do this almost every time I’m about to minister or when I’m praying for people. Like Habakkuk, the prophet writes: “… I will look to see what He will say to me.” (Habakkuk 2:1 NIV)

I stop, close my eyes, and ask, “Lord, is there something you want to show me when I minister to this person? Is there something you want to show me for Night of Glory tonight?”

As I listen, He will often move on the eyes of my imagination as He begins to show me things, give me a scripture or He begins to speak to me. I realize the more I ask what’s on His heart, the more it renews my mind to actually receive revelation from God. It’s from a place of intimacy that I start to see consistently.

When God’s presence shows up, He begins to heighten your senses, and your senses begin to reveal Jesus to you.

If you want to see, consecrate your eyes.

The devil is working overtime to put images, sights, and sounds in our minds that shouldn’t be there. We are slowly being desensitized to evil in movies, billboards, magazines, and TV shows, and movies. Miranda and I have walked out of movies many times to protect our eyes. If you want to see, you have to consecrate your eyes, your ears, and your heart.

Have no tolerance for anything that’s going to steal your gaze from Jesus.

The enemy knows what you behold, you become like. His biggest fear is that you will see God as He is and know who you are. I want to see a generation begin to step into a greater dimension of the supernatural, and it’s going to take burning ones who are willing to protect their eyes and ears so they may be consecrated before the Lord.

God wants to open your eyes to see Him.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” Isaiah 6:1 NIV

The first thing the prophet Isaiah saw was the Lord. I’m convinced if our heart’s goal is to gaze upon the One who sits on the throne, we would see more of Heaven invading Earth. We would see more signs, wonders and miracles pointing us to back to the Father to behold Him once again.

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 NIV

Keep it simple…

Ask God to see in the spirit, protect your eyes from evil, and gaze upon the Lamb upon the throne. Read Revelations 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Those five chapters are to be read out loud at least three times after spending some time praying in the Spirit.