Imaging Prayer Isn’t a Yes Man. Er, Prayer.
Imaging prayer (Christian contemplative prayer in the sanctified imagination) does great things in the pray-er’s life. Heh, forget “great things”, think “miracles”.
The problem with talking about it though, at least for me as a spiritual director, is that a lot of people who are interested in it want to know its benefits.
Of course they do! There’s nothing wrong with that. God’s Word is FULL of benefits, full of treasures and crowns: eternal life, poured-out blessings, answered prayer. These things are all true.
It’s also true that imaging prayer can change your life, just like it did mine. God led me to the little book that started my journey (Journey Inward by Morton Kelsey), and it was a complete surprise. I had no idea that I could speak to God, listen to God, see visions, and journal about them.
But imaging prayer might not fix your most important priority, like:
Your healing isn’t happening.
Your bank balance is hitting sea level.
You just bought a shiny new marketing system when you abandoned the last three.
You totally get Job when you read, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
So… why aren’t I talking about how great imaging prayer is? Why it’s a good thing that He doesn’t immediately respond to your most immediate need?
Because the Holy Spirit knows exactly what you really need to make the changes you really want to make. In imaging prayer, the Holy Spirit runs the imaging prayer. Not you, not me, not a recorded meditation.
GOD TALKS TO YOU DIRECTLY ABOUT WHAT HE KNOWS YOU MOST NEED.
And by fulfilling that need, the rest of your problems become solvable in the power of the Lord.
EXAMPLE: TOUGH BUSINESS DECISION
You need to decide which of two directions you’re going to take your business. It’s an important decision, and you’ve spent a lot of time and prayer and thought on it. Your indecision is a real problem, so when you hear that imaging prayer will show you God’s will, you can’t wait to try it.
You do. And you got a vision from God… but it’s the last thing you expected and it doesn’t seem super helpful. Instead of getting the divine download you expected, you see yourself standing on a hilltop with a sword in your hand and no idea what to do with it, while a passel of enemy soldiers runs towards you.
Um…
What does that surprising image say about making your business decision?!
In fact, it says everything. Where God gives the vision, He’ll interpret the vision. Here it is: You didn’t know that your indecision was actually a gut-level response to FEAR. Fear of making the wrong choice. Fear of disappointing God, yourself, and people watching you. Fear of being less-than. Fear of failing.
It’s fear you need to deal with, not indecision. God knows that, and now you do too thanks to the vision AND interpretation He gave you of an oncoming army. The next time you make silence for imaging prayer, you may see the army turn tail and run–because the Leader of the Lord’s Armies is standing right behind you!
NOW YOU DO IT
Think about your most pressing problem. You probably don’t have to think very hard. If you’ve been praying for God’s help for some time, and He isn’t showing up, then consider this: He loves you and will help you, the Bible tells you so.
But maybe you’re asking the wrong question. Instead of, “Lord, I need to make $3500 a month or we’re going to lose the house!” ask, “Lord, what is it that is standing in the way of my making the money my family needs?”
Then, listen to the answer in silence. Let Him speak. He will.
Learn more about the life-changing work of imaging prayer in my book: Open the Floodgates of Heaven: The Transforming Power of Christian Imaging Prayer. The link is in the comments. And reach out to me for a prayerful connection call about experiencing the transforming power of Biblical imaging prayer for your business and your life. https://calendly.com/dr-chris-discernment/coffee-connect-with-chris