Proverbs 27:17
Friday, October 9, 2026
Want to try it again?
Want to try it again?
Here are some more passages that lend themselves well to imaginative prayer! Write them down for later.
Psalm 23
Psalm 90
The Burning Bush (Exodus 3)
The Lord Speaks to Job (Job 38)
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-23)
Jesus Calms the Storm (Luke 8:22-25)
Praying With Our Imaginations
Praying With Our Imaginations
I was one of those kids described as having an overactive imagination. It was easy to read a book, or watch a movie, and to imagine myself as one of the characters. I could transplant myself from my ordinary life into another setting in the blink of an eye.
While I knew my imagination was God-given, it wasn’t until I was much older that I began to explore its more spiritual implications, one of which being prayer.
While not the inventor of Imaginative Prayer, this practice was popularized by Ignatius of Loyola in his 16th-century book of Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius believed that, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our imaginations could be powerful tools in helping us connect with Scripture.
Exercises like imaginative prayer are just one way we can explore connecting with God in a personal way. God might try to speak to you through a message in this particular story, or use this experience as an aid in helping you to better understand or remember scripture.
When we practice praying with our imagination, we have the opportunity to live out small moments of scripture for ourselves. We might encounter Jesus in a different way than we would in our normal prayer lives.
Interested in giving it a try? First, read through these steps! At the end, we have a list of a few suggested Scriptures that can also help get you started.
1. Choose a passage from Scripture
Decide on a portion of Scripture with enough details to spark your imagination. While you can pick any scripture, the Gospels are particularly powerful stories to use for this exercise. These are the times in the Bible when we get to hear about Jesus physically at work in the world.
2. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide
While God is always with you, intentionally asking the Holy Spirit to walk with you during this time can help you remain aware of God’s presence and the truths he’s trying to draw to your attention. Think about what you’d like to receive from this experience. This can also help you check your motivations, asking that this exercise leads you closer to God.
3. Read the passage
Find a quiet place to sit with God. Slow down and take your time with the words. You might even want to read the passage more than once, or find an audio version of the passage. Try to relax your body and mind more and more with each reading.
4. Use your imagination to see the scene
Once you’ve read the story, notice what details from the setting stand out. Try to engage with the different senses: sight, smell, sound, touch, taste… What would the individuals in this scene be experiencing? How can you start to make the story come to life in your mind? Are there any particular details that keep standing out?
5. Place yourself in the scene
Where do you see yourself in the scene? Who are you in this passage? Are you watching from the sidelines? Who else is there? What do you notice about the body language or facial expressions of people, like Jesus? How do you feel? What else do you see or hear around you? What do you feel inside (i.e. conviction, compassion, empathy, etc.)?
6. Reflect on what you notice
What stuck out to you the most during this time of prayer? What was the most comforting or the most challenging? What made you feel the closest to God? Share your thoughts openly with God. To step outside of this time of prayer, it can be helpful to end with a more direct prayer, thanking God for this time spent together.
Let's read Matthew 3 and try it together!
Acknowledging the Wound
Acknowledging the Wound
I have another scar on the back of my hand. It came from a “sissy test” in elementary school, where you would let someone scratch at the same spot on the back of your hand until you finally couldn’t take it and said, “STOP!” I know it was immature foolishness, but the one thing that stood out about that scar is how long it took to heal.
I used to think healing meant moving on quickly, but I’ve learned that true healing begins with acknowledgment.
There are wounds in my life that I tried to ignore, hoping they would fade with time. Instead, they lingered beneath the surface, influencing my thoughts, my reactions, and my relationships.
Acknowledging the wound means I stop pretending it didn’t happen. It means I stop minimizing the impact of my choices and experiences. It means I am willing to voice both the immaturity and even the stupidity that led me to hurt myself.
When I acknowledge the wound, I am agreeing with God about my condition—not to stay there, but to begin the process of transformation.
David’s story reminds me that acknowledgment is not optional. His words, “I have sinned,” were not casual—they were the beginning of repentance. I’ve found that when I finally name the wound, I stop being ruled by it.
God never asked me to carry hidden pain forever. He invites me to bring it into His presence, where healing can begin. Listen to David again:
“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (Psalm 51:3, NIV)
This verse reflects a heart that is no longer avoiding reality. It’s honest, exposed, and ready for restoration. When I read it, I see that awareness is not condemnation—it’s clarity.
The most encouraging thing about honesty is that Jesus already knows all of it!
So, there is safety in saying, “I choose to acknowledge what I’ve been avoiding. I name the wounds, not to dwell in them, but to surrender them.”
Name the wound. Jesus knows, and He can and will heal it! Let’s pray together:
Lord, help me to clearly see and acknowledge the wounds in my life. Give me the humility to face what I have avoided and the courage to bring it before You. Heal what I cannot fix and restore what I cannot repair. Thank You for meeting me in honesty, grace and compassion. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Never forget my friend—
You are a miracle!
Grant Fishbook
Love Your Neighbor Plan
https://explorer.compassion.com/love-your-neighbor-minno-devotional/?utm_source=youversion&utm_medium=third-party-content-marketing&utm_campaign=youversion_reach_minno&utm_content=good-samaritan&utm_marketing_tactic=reach&referrer=745741
I'm reading the @YouVersion plan 'Love Your Neighbor Bible Study for Kids'.
I'm reading the @YouVersion plan 'Love Your Neighbor Bible Study for Kids'.
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