The Imagination in Meditation

Week 12 Day 6

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.
-Albert Einstein

Imagination probably isn’t a word you have heard much when talking about the Christian faith. Often we’ve been taught things are they way they are, and to use our logic, and that imagination is untrustworthy. All this is good reason for concern, imagination can lead your mind anywhere!
A first simply way imagination can play a huge role in our faith is thinking about the history of Christianity. As we get into some parts of the bible, especially Jesus’ life, when we can actually put ourselves there in that place, and imagine what things would be like, they tend to take on a much more powerful meaning. As we picture being part of the miracles, or being there seeing our savior on a cross, that’s incredibly powerful!

“But just as we can believe that God can take our reason (fallen as it is) and sanctify it and use it for his good purposes, so we believe he can sanctify the imagination and use it for his good purposes.” states Foster in Celebration of Discipline.
Now lets break that down for a second. ‘Sanctify’ is one of those big churchy words. It essentially means to make holy, or be purified. We often hear that once people become they are sanctified. So with that in mind, God created us with an imagination, who’s to say that he cannot “sanctify the imagination and use it for his good purposes.”
Now don’t take this and run with it for yourself. This is simply saying that we are seeking to be like our father, and the more we do, the more God can use every part of us for his purpose. To envision and imagine what we are to do, what we are praying for, and God’s own next step.

Reflection Questions

1. What are some positive ways you can/God can use your imagination?
2. What are some of the times in the Bible that become a whole lot more powerful when you actually start to put yourself in that situation? Miracles? Seeing Jesus teach? The Crucifixion?
3. What are some things you can imagine as the way God wants them?

Take the Next Step

Dig through your bible, especially the life of Jesus and start to truly put yourself in sandals standing right there with him. Feel his power and hear his words for yourself and make it your own. When you do, living for this savior, for this Lord, becomes so personal, powerful, and an absolutely undeniable basis for your life.
Amen