visualization

About 10 years ago I was told that visualization was "unhealthy" and "unbiblical". Being simple in my logic that I am or was, well I could not find a single verse in the Bible that said 'thou shall not visualize'; so I started to ask around. I had asked some friends, and they shared with the Bible verse that warned against using 'enchantments'. It wasn't enough though. I also contacted the Christian Research Institute to ask them about visualization. There response was interesting, and frustrating-they sent me a lengthy paper that read more like a college thesis but did not really serve my purpose at all. C.R.I could not give me one clear-cut Bible verse that said that visualization was wrong. It seemed that the Christian Research Institute was more interested in impressing me with their rhetoric than answering my question. (Let this serve as a lesson to all that read this: It is better to answer questions directly rather than waste every one's time looking good.). For 10 years (yes that's right, 10 whole years) no one succeeded in showing me from the Bible that visualization was wrong. (Many Christians practice visualization that their number has only increased!). Well the good news is that God does answer such questions, even when men and women may fail. Sometimes it is just a matter of really, and I mean really studying the Bible.
Here is what the Bible says about visualization: "Little children, keep yourself from idols". IJohn 5:21 (The Greek word for Idols in this verse is were we get the word 'icon' or image. The Christian is absolutely prohibited from having any images preoccupy his life, and visualization is completely depended on images. ). There is more folks, don't go away!
Visualization also depends on the imagination, but imagination is subjected to wickedness all the time, (see Genesis 8:21). Check this out-"The heart is deceitful above all things, who can know it?". Jeremiah 17:9. (How can visualization be a good thing if our heart is constantly deceiving us?). Visualization is wrong in the fact that it is man trying to control an environment that can be beyond his control (at least in some aspects). Also shapes God in mans image, which is blasphemy of the most subtle kind. Also there is practical reasons why you should not visualize-people have lost control and have gone nuts! (I am in the process of getting documentation that shows the negative effects of yoga, visualization, meditation, and other occult practices. Trust me that practices start out pleasant, but end up being dangerous to your body and soul! This is no exaggeration!).
Folks don't paint pictures of God in your mind that limits the All-Mighty. Don't try to manipulate your world through visualization either, for that will only cause you stress and then you like many others will retreat from reality which many yoga people do.