Prevailing Strategies: See The Unseen

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17-18 NIV

The verse above shows us a vital principle of faith; you’ve got to see the unseen! You should be able to visualize what you desire; see it inside first. This is important because you can’t possess what you can’t see. Any change you desire that hasn’t first taken place in your spirit, or which you haven’t yet seen on the inside, will not manifest outwardly.

Abraham, the great patriarch of faith, had to first see the vision of God’s promise to him of becoming a father of many nations (Genesis 15:5-6). As Joshua planned to attack Jericho, the Lord said to him, “…See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor” (Joshua 6:2). Jacob, when he was being cheated by his uncle, Laban, used his imaginative power to get plain colored lambs to reproduce streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted (read the inspiring story in Genesis 30:25-43, Genesis 31:1-13).

He tells the spiritual side of what happened in Genesis 31:10 “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray spotted.”

These examples show how important it is for you to have the vision of your desire with a positive attitude, for the extent of your vision is the boundary of your blessing! Your imaginative power is your creative ability; you’ve got to “see the unseen”; you’ve got to see the way God sees. Picture yourself living in the reality of what the Word says about you. Contemplate the level of success and victory you want to attain and see yourself functioning at that level.

And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight (Numbers 13:33)

It matters what you see and how you see. Do you see with your physical eyes, or with the eyes of faith? Those who look and see with their physical eyes are easily overwhelmed by the challenges of life. This was exactly what happened with the ten spies who gave a faithless response when they returned from spying out the land that God promised to the children of Israel. Let’s read part of what they said in Numbers 13:31-32: “But the men…said, we be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we… the land…is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.”

What a picture of fear, unbelief, and defeat painted for the children of Israel by the faithless spies! However, Joshua and Caleb saw differently: that there were giants in the land made no difference. In their inspiring faith-response, they said, “…The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land…a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:6-9). Whilst theirs was a leap on the Word, the other ten spies gave a faithless report, being men of the senses.

Never allow what your physical senses perceive – what you see, hear or feel – determine the circumstances of your existence. Don’t judge after the sight of your eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of your ears (Isaiah 11:3). Don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are subject to change (2 Corinthians 4:18). Fix your gaze on God’s eternal and infallible Word only and maintain the faith-response all the time.

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

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 outside if you didn’t first have it within.  That’s where some have missed it. They want to see 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 uncountable 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 must take possession in the spirit, and with your spirit, first, because it’s more real in the spiritual 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.

Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).

Just as natural or earthly mirrors reflect the image of the object that’s before them, when you look into the mirror of God—His Word—you see yourself. Whilst natural mirrors could reflect a distorted image of an object, God’s mirror shows your perfect and exact image—precise—exactly the way God sees you. God’s Word reveals your perfection, beauty, excellence, and ability in Christ. Therefore, your response to God’s perception, and the image the Word (His mirror) projects of you should be, “Yes, and amen!” For example, the Word says, “All things are possible to a believing one”; respond by saying, “Yes, Lord, because of your ability that’s at work in me, there’s nothing I can’t do! My potentials are limitless, with an ever-increasing capacity to do more.”

The Word of God will work for you only when you give it the right response. Once you discover in the Word what you have, what you can do, and who you are in Christ, affirm it; your affirmation seals it. Read our opening verse again; the Word of God is settled in heaven, but you must settle it in your life by speaking the same thing in consent.

Hebrews 13:5-6 says, “…he hath said…that we may boldly say….” The Word says Christ is your wisdom; affirm the same thing; declare that you’re sound and could never talk or walk foolishly; the wisdom of God is seen in your actions and heard in your words. The Word says Christ is your strength; affirm it. The more you say it, the more you program yourself to function with the divine abilities He’s already deposited in your spirit.

Refuse to acknowledge or affirm that there’s something you can’t do. You’re up to any task, because the Word says so. The Bible says you’re sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5); that means you can excel in any task. There’re people who say, “I can’t do this thing. I know myself”; their words are full of “I can’t.” Never talk like that! You’re different. You can do what the Word says you can do: all things, through Christ who strengthens you. Glory to God!

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee (Isaiah 60:1-2).

When, as a Christian, it seems like you’re under pressure at work, or there’s an unpleasant doctor’s report regarding your health, or your bank account is in red, don’t cry; don’t complain. Don’t fret or become despondent. Rather, get into your closet, and contemplate the glory of God. If it’s a financial challenge, declare that you’re the seed of Abraham. Abraham’s seed can’t be broke or poor! You’re the possessor of all things, because you’re an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ.

Times of challenges aren’t times for you to run helter-skelter, seeking help from man, no; trust in the Lord! He’s your help. If you have a financial need for example, declare, “I have all the money I require in the Name of Jesus; it comes to me by free course.” Make the declaration with faith, boldness and confidence, and it’ll be according to your word! Let nothing make you fret.

You’re called to manifest the glory of God. Despite the darkness and hardship in today’s world, you’re more than a conqueror. You’re a victor in Christ Jesus. You can never be disadvantaged. Christ in you is the hope of glory. Visualize yourself in glory. Visualize yourself walking in the glory, carrying and manifesting the glory of God in your academics, in your job, health, family, finances, etc. Visualize the glory in your life.

–GSW–