Fantasies
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In the context of biblical teachings, fantasies can be understood as the imaginations and thoughts that occupy the human mind, often diverging from reality and potentially leading one away from God's truth. The Bible addresses the nature of human thoughts and the importance of aligning them with God's will.

Biblical Understanding of the Mind and Imagination

The Bible acknowledges the power and influence of the human mind and imagination. In Genesis 6:5, it is written, "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time." This verse highlights the potential for human thoughts to be corrupted and misaligned with God's righteousness.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently addresses the need to control one's thoughts and imaginations. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, he writes, "We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." This passage emphasizes the importance of disciplining the mind to ensure that one's thoughts are in obedience to Christ.

Fantasies and Moral Implications

Fantasies, when left unchecked, can lead to sinful behavior and moral decay. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, addresses the issue of lustful thoughts, equating them with the act of adultery. In Matthew 5:28, He states, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This teaching underscores the seriousness with which God views the thoughts and imaginations of the heart.

The Book of Proverbs also provides wisdom on the matter, warning against the dangers of indulging in fantasies that lead to sin. Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." This verse suggests that the heart, which encompasses one's thoughts and imaginations, must be carefully guarded to maintain a righteous life.

Renewal of the Mind

The Bible offers guidance on how to transform and renew the mind to align with God's will. Romans 12:2 instructs believers, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." This transformation involves a conscious effort to replace worldly fantasies with thoughts that are pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:8 provides further instruction on the types of thoughts that should occupy a believer's mind: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things." By focusing on virtuous and godly thoughts, believers can resist the temptation to indulge in harmful fantasies.

Practical Steps for Believers

Believers are encouraged to seek God's help in controlling their thoughts and imaginations. Prayer and meditation on Scripture are vital practices for maintaining a mind that is focused on God's truth. Psalm 19:14 serves as a prayerful reminder: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Additionally, fellowship with other believers and accountability can provide support and encouragement in the pursuit of a disciplined mind. Engaging in community and sharing struggles can help individuals resist the allure of fantasies that lead away from God's path.

In summary, the Bible provides clear guidance on the importance of controlling one's thoughts and imaginations, warning against the dangers of indulging in fantasies that lead to sin. Through the renewal of the mind and reliance on God's strength, believers can align their thoughts with His will and live lives that honor Him.
Topical Bible Verses
Psalm 73:7
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) Plural of Fantasy.
Strong's Hebrew
2031. harhor -- fancy, imagining
... 2030, 2031. harhor. 2032 . fancy, imagining. Transliteration: harhor
Phonetic Spelling: (har-hor') Short Definition: fantasies. ...
/hebrew/2031.htm - 6k
Library

Therefore I Fell among Men Proudly Doting, Exceeding Carnal and ...
... Thee Thyself, the Truth, in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning:
yet they still set before me in those dishes, glittering fantasies, than which ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter vi therefore i fell.htm

How Man's Activity Should be Purely in the Intellect and not in ...
... Happy therefore is the person who by continual removal of fantasies and images,
by turning within, and raising the mind to God, finally manages to dispense ...
/.../albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 4 how mans activity.htm

Book Three the Story of his Student Days in Carthage, his ...
... of thine, but after thyself the Truth, "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow
of turning." [66] Yet they still served me glowing fantasies in those ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book three the story of.htm

Dreams, an Incidental Effect of the Soul's Activity. Ecstasy.
... Whereas we should not be moved by any such emotions, by what would be the merest
fantasies of course, if when we dream we were masters of ourselves ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter xlv dreams an incidental effect.htm

Of Divers Unseemly Practices that Follow them that Lack the Work ...
... I say not that the devil hath so perfect a servant in this life, that is deceived
and infect with all these fantasies that I set here: and nevertheless yet it ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the three and 4.htm

Of the First Secondary Power, Imagination by Name; and of the ...
... the passion and the kindness of our Lord God, with many such other"they may in nowise
put away the wonderful and the diverse thoughts, fantasies, and images ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the five and 5.htm

Of Tribulation
... Now sharpness, now cherishing, he puts before him, and he brings to mind images
of bodily things; he gathers together fantasies of sin; he gaincalls old ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter v of tribulation.htm

That Perfect Love Binds to God Without Loosing and Makes Man ...
... Take therefore my mind into Thy power and make it stable that it come not to nought
with vain and unprofitable fantasies, nor be scorned by errors, nor be ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xi that perfect love.htm

The Sixth Chapter: the Proving of a True Lover
... Do not, therefore, let strange fantasies disturb you, no matter what they concern.
Hold strongly to your resolution and keep a right intention toward God. ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the sixth chapter the proving.htm

The Baptism of Jesus: Its Higher Meaning.
... And when the voice of prophecy had ceased, the sweetness of its melody still held
the people spell-bound, even when broken in the wild fantasies of Apocalyptic ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the baptism of.htm

Thesaurus
Fantasies (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fantasies (4 Occurrences). Psalms 73:20 As a dream when
one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies. ...
/f/fantasies.htm - 7k

Chases (5 Occurrences)
... Chases (5 Occurrences). Proverbs 12:11 He who tills his land shall have plenty of
bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding. (WEB NIV). ...
/c/chases.htm - 7k

Far (2526 Occurrences)

/f/far.htm - 11k

Wakes (3 Occurrences)
... Wakes (3 Occurrences). Psalms 73:20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when
you awake, you will despise their fantasies. (WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/w/wakes.htm - 7k

Fans (1 Occurrence)

/f/fans.htm - 6k

Tills (2 Occurrences)
... Tills (2 Occurrences). Proverbs 12:11 He who tills his land shall have plenty of
bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding. (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/t/tills.htm - 6k

Phantoms (1 Occurrence)
... Phantoms (1 Occurrence). Psalms 73:20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord,
when you awake, you will despise their fantasies. (See RSV). ...
/p/phantoms.htm - 6k

Plenty (43 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Proverbs 12:11 He who tills his land shall
have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding. ...
/p/plenty.htm - 18k

Despise (64 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 73:20 As a dream when one wakes
up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies. ...
/d/despise.htm - 25k

Resources
Is it wrong to have a fantasy, according to the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong for a Christian to have a sexual fantasy? | GotQuestions.org

Can a Christian woman consider getting breast implants / breast augmentation? | GotQuestions.org

Fantasies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Fantasies (4 Occurrences)

Psalms 73:20
As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
(WEB NIV)

Proverbs 12:11
He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.
(WEB NIV)

Proverbs 28:19
One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
(WEB NIV)

Daniel 4:5
I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Fantasies

Related Terms

Far-off (14 Occurrences)

Far-seeing (3 Occurrences)

Far-away (3 Occurrences)

Far-scattered (1 Occurrence)

Far-stretching (1 Occurrence)

Far-covering (1 Occurrence)

Far-distant (1 Occurrence)

Far-echoing (1 Occurrence)

Concerned (45 Occurrences)

Salim (1 Occurrence)

Kenosis

Abel-meholah (3 Occurrences)

Sea-lands (24 Occurrences)

Sinim (1 Occurrence)

Siddim (3 Occurrences)

Accountability

Beth-barah (1 Occurrence)

Chooses (36 Occurrences)

Coastlands (29 Occurrences)

A'bel-Meho'lah (3 Occurrences)

Archers (15 Occurrences)

Advanced (32 Occurrences)

Acquaintances (9 Occurrences)

Aloof (15 Occurrences)

Kenites (8 Occurrences)

Acquaintance (16 Occurrences)

Spent (76 Occurrences)

Angle (19 Occurrences)

Bethsaida (7 Occurrences)

Vale (20 Occurrences)

Swallow (38 Occurrences)

Corners (56 Occurrences)

Almost (27 Occurrences)

Apostolic (2 Occurrences)

Armenia (2 Occurrences)

Advance (33 Occurrences)

Below (52 Occurrences)

Country

Sounded (66 Occurrences)

Quickly (254 Occurrences)

Safety (72 Occurrences)

Cold (25 Occurrences)

Azazel (3 Occurrences)

Sojourner (81 Occurrences)

Companions (58 Occurrences)

Armenian

Beth (115 Occurrences)

Stephen (13 Occurrences)

Quietly (30 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Zer'erah (1 Occurrence)

Zedad (3 Occurrences)

Zererah (1 Occurrence)

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Zaretan (3 Occurrences)

Kanah (3 Occurrences)

Zoology

Bethpeor (4 Occurrences)

Barah (1 Occurrence)

Breast (71 Occurrences)

Beth-bar'ah (1 Occurrence)

Baalath-beer (2 Occurrences)

Bethmerhak

Beth-shit'tah (1 Occurrence)

Beth-shittah (1 Occurrence)

Covers (50 Occurrences)

Clusters (12 Occurrences)

Consuming (26 Occurrences)

Circle (32 Occurrences)

Appii (1 Occurrence)

Avvim (3 Occurrences)

Apharsachites (2 Occurrences)

Asmoneans

Avvites (3 Occurrences)

Alike (67 Occurrences)

Hormah (9 Occurrences)

Chased (21 Occurrences)

Fans
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