Stories

Many years ago I was going through a very difficult time in my life. My oldest sister gave me a women's devotional bible that our grandmother had given to her. That little pink book became my lifeline. The book was designed in a way that included stories written by different women about the ways scripture impacted their lives. I was drawn to the hearts of these women in their suffering, questions, grief, encouragement and hope. I probably read through this devotional 2-3 times over the course of a few years.

When I'm facing a conflict or a difficult situation, I often try to escape or narcotize with fictional novels. Avoid the thing by getting lost in another person's imagination. Initially this brings me comfort, but unfortunately I have to face my reality and move forward. My point here is, I'm drawn to people's stories-the real ones and the imaginative ones. It was the personal stories in the pink devotional that soothed my own emotional chaos and invited me into a closer relationship with Jesus.

As much appreciation I have for other's imaginations, I've often had a negative belief around my own. It wasn't until I was introduced to imaginative prayer that I became fully aware that God created my imagination and He can use it to transform my heart + mind into following Jesus more closely. The power of words on a page when we align our hearts to the ultimate author of life.

Imagery is very common in guided meditation. It can be very soothing and calming for our minds and energy. It helps bring feeling into the experience. In today's meditation we are engaging our imagination to help us enter into the story of Jesus where He tells Martha (and us) He's our resurrection and life.

READ

As Jesus was approaching Bethany (which is about two miles east of Jerusalem), He heard that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Now many people had come to comfort Mary and Martha as they mourned the loss of their brother. Martha went to meet Jesus when word arrived that He was approaching Bethany, but Mary stayed behind at the house.

Martha: Lord, if You had been with us, my brother would not have died. Even so I still believe that anything You ask of God will be done.

Jesus: Your brother will rise to life.

Martha: I know. He will rise again when everyone is resurrected on the last day.

Jesus: I am the resurrection and the source of all life; those who believe in Me will live even in death. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never truly die. Do you believe this?

Martha: Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Anointed, the Liberating King, God’s own Son who we have heardis coming into the world.

(John 11 v17-27, the voice translation)

*I recommend you read the entire story John 11:1-45 to know take in the power of Jesus' words (v43) speaking life into death's darkness.

Imaginative Prayer

I'm an embodied person. My faith is strengthened by practices that involve my entire being. Imaginative prayer is part of the christian contemplative tradition. As part of our self-reflection this Lent, I want to invite you to use imaginative prayer as a way to reflect on this scripture. This way of entering into scripture brings it to life here and now in your story and helps you internalize the spiritual truth and ways in which you are a part of God's story He is telling the world.

If this makes you feel itchy or skeptical, it's important to remember God creates our imagination. When we enter into this type of prayer we must align our hearts with the heart of God. This type of prayer is infused with God's spirit and direction. I love the way spiritual formation teacher and writer, John Mark Comer describes this:

"Rather than fearing our imagination, the contemplative tradition would ignite us to leverage it as a pathway to God. Of course, we must do this in a discerning spirit, testing all our thoughts against Scripture and in community. But the imagination can open deep parts of our emotional worlds to God's presence and glory....Because images evoke feeling in a way that mere ideas and linear thought cannot. Feelings that unlock trapped parts of ourselves and open them to God's emancipation".

This way of interacting with Scripture moves us from distant observation to transformational participation. It opens our hearts and minds to make Jesus more personal to where we are in life.

The Practice

Read the Scripture story.

Read it again, as many times you desire to get a good picture of what is going on. Ask yourself questions. Who is Jesus speaking to? Who else is there? What is the setting? The situation?

Take a few quiet moments to close your eyes, relax your body, connect with your breath and meditate on the story with God.

Imagine yourself in the story as Martha or as someone watching from afar. Invite in all your senses. As you are there in the story, what do you see? Feel? Taste? Smell? Hear? What are you feeling as you observe the story unfolding? How do you answer when Jesus asks you, "Do you believe this?"

Let this flow into a time of talking with Jesus or sitting with Him in silence. After your time, gently bring your awareness back to sensing yourself in the space you're in. Simply let this meditation practice inform the rest of your day.

Listen To Meditation