Visualizing

So I picked up a book while I was in Tampa a few weeks ago for a conference for work. It's a baseball book and rarely do I read books that aren't religious in content but it peaked my interest. The book is called "Mental Toughness, baseball's winning edge" and it looked interesting. Besides it was writting by some top notch baseball guys, actually the guys that put together the Oakland A's team of the early 90's that had Mark Maguire, Jose Canseco, Walt Weiss and Dave Stewart all together on one roster. That team was a powerhouse and they put it together based more on mental toughness and attitude than on actual ability. I've enjoyed the read, and I have read it here and there but not seriously like usual. The last several chapters I have read are about visualizing and playing a movie in your head before competing.
Here's an idea of what I am talking about. Before a hitter goes to the plate to hit he goes through a series of positions that are named for them. First when your team is at bat you are awaiting your turn in the batting order you are considered "in the hole" when you are second from the batter who is hitting. After that you stand outside the dugout with a bat in hand and you take practice swings, during this time you are called "on deck". Normally, when a player is in the hole he begins getting his batting gloves on, his helmet and bat and prepares to be "on deck:. Then while on deck he swings the bat timing the pitcher and getting practice swings in before going to the plate to hit. THey break down what great hitters do to make themselves better.
First, while they are in the hole they already have their helmet, bat and gloves ready and they start to visualize what they will do at the plate. This is normally a time to relax or goof off a little, but they have discovered that the truly good hitters play a little personal movie inside their heads to prepare themselves to face the pitcher. By visualizing they set themselves in a positive frame of mind and prepare mentally for the at-bat. Let's think about that on a daily basis, what can we do to visualize our days?
I can tell you that I start my day off praying over the things that I will be involved in. I pray for the kids at the lunch I will be going to, at the school I may be speaking at and at the practice or game I will be attending that evening. On Saturdays I pray for the day and for the races that evening and on Sundays I pray through the roster of people that I hope to have in attendance at worship that day. In effect this is spiritual visualizing and it is imperative that we have it in our lives. I can honestly say that when I print the bulletins and get things put together for worship I visualize a full house, not a half full sanctuary and not empty pews. I have done this since day one at Freedom(yes during the days of 20-25 in worship) and it has been a positive influence on my preaching and preparation.
IN life we need to prepare for our days with God at the center, and we do that by praying through our day long before we start it. Pray for co-workers, for jobs and things you will have to accomplish at work that day, pray for lunch meetings and afternoon phone calls and even your evening with your family. Pepper it all with prayer and visualize God right there with you every step of the way because He is.
Thanks for reading and have an awesome Hump Day!