Meditation 4: The Prayer of Imagination
Some Christians worry about using the imagination to engage in reading scripture. Maybe they fear it puts God into the realm of make-believe, or that it’s a childish game of pretend. But engaging the imagination in the spiritual life I believe is how God intended for us to use this amazing brain function. After all “faith” is about believing what we cannot see. And “hope” plants a longing in something we have not yet received.
Eugene Peterson in his book Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination, describes the workings of the imagination “… as a means of grace…that an exercised imagination is essential to a full-bodies and full-souled life in Christ…The sensory imagination is sacramental; it makes connections between what is and what is believed…Scripture is read and heard — touched and smelled and tasted — in order to be practiced. It is not entertainment. It is not for diversion…It is not a riddle to intrigue the pious…The intent of scripture is always to enlist participation, body and soul.”
So reading scripture using the imagination allows us to pray with all the senses as we put ourselves into a scene to see where it takes us. This has been a powerful method of prayer for me especially in areas where I have felt wounded by the world. I specifically remember meditating with my imagination in the story of the women who came to anoint the feet of Jesus with an alabaster jar of perfume (Luke 6:35-50).
In my meditation I imagined sitting at the table to dine with Jesus. I imagined an intimate meal, enjoying each other’s company, when this woman with the perfume arrives. Jesus turns his compassionate attention to her and my first thought was: “Okay, she has to go. This is my time with Jesus.” I felt defensive and hurt by Jesus turning his attention to this woman. And then I remember Jesus turning to me and asking, “Would you give up your seat for this woman?” Seriously? Now I was growing angry with both Jesus and this “other woman” and my conversation with Jesus actually went on for several weeks. I was angry and confused, and obviously I had some soul searching to do. Issues of faithfulness and betrayal were heavy on my mind at the time, so there was much for me to unpack through this prayer of imagination. But ultimately, after many conversations with my spiritual director, I came to a place of healing and newness in how I experience faithfulness in my relationship with God.
How has imagination come into play in your prayer life? What has been your attitude toward imagination as prayer in the past? Can you “imagine” enjoying the word of God in this way? I’d love to journey with you on your spiritual path, imagining what God has in store for you. If you’re ready to explore the possibility of spiritual direction, set up a time with me by clicking here, or simply send me an email to find the right time.
