SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Imaginative Prayer

Imaginative prayer is sometimes referred to as gospel meditation. It is a prayer connection that grows out of meditating on and visualizing gospel stories as we meet Jesus in them. We develop an authentic relationship with Jesus because we share in this experience with Him. These shared experiences help us develop a deeper level of trust and comfortableness, which enables us to live out of our authentic selves. The result is often a more intimate relationship with God as we move from head-knowledge, which is informational, to heart-knowledge, which is experiential.

This practice can be done alone or in a group. When alone, you will need to silently read the prompts to yourself before each reading. In a small or large group one person reads the Scripture passage while another person reads the prompts. I have found that doing this in a group setting can be especially powerful for two reasons: the listeners are free to close their eyes and let their imaginations lead them wherever God’s Spirit takes them, and participants can be invited to share their experiences. So much can be learned from this intimate sharing. However, this practice can also be effective when you are alone. Be patient with yourself as you learn to tap into your God-given imagination and enter into the Gospel story. This will become easier over time.

 You will be both an observer and a participant in the story. Enter in as fully as you can. If you are unable to enter in, simply focus on the storyline and rest in the truth of God’s Word as you read or as it is being read to you.

About the Practice

  • The primary goal of this practice is to meet, be with, and interact with Jesus in a gospel story so that your experiential understanding and knowing of God can deepen. 

  • You or someone else will read a chosen gospel story three or four times.

  • Before each reading, you or someone else will read a prompt describing what to look for or focus on.

  • After each reading, you will be given an opportunity to meditate on the story, as well as your personal response to it. 

  • After the third reading, you will be given an opportunity to journal about your experience or conversation with Jesus. It can be helpful to play soft wordless or unfamiliar instrumental music as you journal.

  • At the end of the practice, if done in a group, the facilitator may invite you to share your experience with your small group or within the larger group.

The goal is to be present with Jesus in the story. You will lean into your imagination rather than your intellect. Your focus will go from a head-knowing to a heart-knowing of Jesus. To help with this process it is important to imagine the story using all of your five senses: hearing, tasting, seeing, touching, and smelling.

The Process

Choose a gospel story where Jesus is involved as one of the characters. You can choose any gospel story, but it may be more effective if you choose a familiar story or one you’ve been drawn to in the past. It’s best to choose a relatively short story, since you will be reading it three or four times. If your story does seem longer, you might want to only read it three times. In a group setting the facilitator will choose the story for you.

  1. Reading #1: Read the passage for content, and to get familiar with what’s happening and who the characters are. You are an observer.
    Pause for about a minute to silently ponder the Scripture and notice what you see and hear in the story.

  2. Reading #2: Read the passage in order to get in touch with how you might experience the story using your five senses. What would you see/notice, hear, feel, smell or taste if you were right there experiencing the action and conversations in the story.
    Pause to silently ponder the Scripture and notice, using your five senses.

  3. Reading #3: Read the passage again, but this time enter in as one of the characters. Who do you see yourself as? Continue to use your five senses. Pay special attention to Jesus and how He sees or responds to you. How does your character feel? What does the story look like from the perspective of the character you have chosen to be?
    Pause, ponder, and give yourself 15 or 20 minutes to journal your noticings.

  4. Reading #4: Read the story again but without an agenda. 
    Set your journal aside and simply rest in God’s loving presence for  5-10 minutes when the reading is finished. Give yourself as much time as you desire.

    At the end of the practice, if doing this with a group, the facilitator may invite you to share your experience with your small group or within the larger group.

Now, Let’s try the Practice

Find a quiet space to allow yourself the privacy to focus on God’s presence with you. You may choose a passage, or use the one I suggest, the story of Jesus calming the sea found in Mark 4:35-41, RSV.

Begin by closing your eyes and centering your attention on God’s presence with you. Now, take a few slow deep breaths. Pray for guidance and inspiration.

Reading #1

Listen to (or read) the story to get a basic idea of what it is about and who the main characters are. Try to visualize what is happening in your mind’s eye as you observe the characters and the conversations.

On that day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took Him with them in the boat, just as He was. And other boats were with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” And He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!”

And then the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” And they were filled with great awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Pause, ponder, and notice.

Reading #2

Read or listen to the story a second time. Use your imagination along with your five senses. What tastes and smells are you aware of as you ride along in the boat with the waves beating against it? What sights and sounds do you see and hear? 

Read the same Scripture passage as above.

Pause, ponder, and notice.

Reading #3

As you read or hear the story for the third time, enter in as one of the characters. Who do you feel drawn to be? What do you do and who do you interact with? What do you say? How do you feel?

Pay special attention to Jesus. Does he look your way? If so, how would you describe the look on His face? Do you interact with each other in some way? 

Read the same Scripture passage as above.

Pause, ponder, and journal (15 minutes).

Reading #4

This time simply read or listen to the story with no prompt or agenda, other than leaning into God’s loving, protective presence. Set your journal aside.

Relax, rest, and lean in to God’s presence. 

Read the same Scripture as above.

Pause and be present with God. Lean into his tender, loving-kindness toward you.

After three to five minutes of silent reflection, if you’re doing this in a group, share among yourselves in small groups
or as a whole group.

Reflecting on the Practice

  • How was your experience with imaginative prayer? What was meaningful or helpful for you? What was not, and why? 

  • Did you experience any type of interaction with Jesus? If so, what was it like for you?

  • Was there anything specific that God revealed or spoke to you? 

As you continue practicing the imaginative prayer you may begin to hear a word, see a picture, or receive a prompting more easily than when you first began the practice. Other times you might hear nothing at all. During those silent moments as you wait in God’s presence, allow yourself to let go of expectations and trust that God is working in you to establish love and truth deep within your soul.