By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

In 2010, Paul Mason of Britain was named the most obese man on earth. He weighed 360kg. To him, it felt impossible to lose weight. However, after stomach reduction surgery, he lost 295kg. When his girlfriend broke up with him recently, he went back to his old habits – eating day and night. He quickly gained weight again and was even recently arrested for stealing food from a store.

What would it take for Paul to lose the excess weight again? Bravery? Discipline? Perhaps also to visualize himself as being thin again! A recent research study found that when you visualize yourself as being fatter than what you are, you gain weight. On the other hand, when you start visualizing yourself as being the size you desire, it speeds up the process of weight loss. What you think therefor has a physical effect on your body.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations similar to Paul Mason. We might not be struggling with our weight, but we struggle to see a current hopeless situation in our lives that needs to change. For instance, you might find it impossible to imagine your marriage changing, your addicted child to become sober, your business to grow or yourself meeting a spouse. When we pray about the situation, are we stuck looking at the "overweight body" or can we imagine the "slimmer body" in the form of the breakthrough we desire?

In Hebrews 11:1 we read: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Also in Ezekiel 37, we read about Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. Although it seems to be a  hopeless situation. God commands him to speak life over the situation. In faith, he does it. In Ezekiel 37: 7 we read what followed: “So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.” God blew his Spirit over the bones and it became alive.

In faith, we need to visualize the breakthrough in our mind when praying about a situation. In this way, we are demonstrating our faith in God.

What area seems impossible in your life? Can you visualize your broken marriage to be a healthy one bringing hope to others? Can you visualize your lost child, standing with his hands in the air praising God? Can you visualize your business doubling its profits? Can you imagine yourself being 10kg lighter? And can you imagine you holding the baby that you have been praying for, for years now? Do you believe that God can turn your “valley of dry bones” around? Faith is to be sure of the things we hope for and certain of the things we do not see. God bless.

Father God, thank you for Your ability to restore. Please help me to visualize the breakthrough in the areas of my life that seems impossible. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

• See photos of Paul Mason at www.benescke.co.za or on the Stories van Hoop Facebook page.

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