“I Can Only Imagine”
1 Chronicles 29:18
1 Chronicles 29 is King David’s prayer asking God to keep the people faithful and devoted. In that prayer David asks God to “keep this forever in the (imagination) intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people.” God is the Creator and He created us with imaginations. Albert Einstein said, “Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.” We use our imaginations every moment of every day. Webster Dictionary defines imagination as “the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality”. In other words, imagination is the ability to see something with our minds that we cannot see with our physical eyes.
Realize the power of your imagination. The Hebrew word for “imagination” is “yeser” and it can also be defined as “conception” (Strong’s Concordance). Through imagination things are conceived and created.
Meditate on the right things. Meditation is simply keeping your mind focused. Worry is thinking about and exploring negative possibilities. Likewise, you can meditate on the positive (Philippians 4:6-8). “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).
Protect your imagination. “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).
Discussion Questions
What do you believe are the most significant global inventions? Why?
We are forming images in our mind about ourselves, God, the church and others. How does imagination affect the way we view all these things?
Our imagination is our spiritual womb. Like the mother hen that sits on her chicks before they hatch, we conceive and incubate things within us before they manifest. How can we develop or discipline our imaginations to manifest positive and godly outcomes?
Since God gave us our imagination to help in our walk with Him, how can we use it to His glory and our spiritual growth and success?
Plan of action. Mediate on the scriptures. Imagine God’s greatness, His Holiness, His actions and He shall become magnified in our lives. Remember that whatever you focus on magnifies in your life.