Should Christians Use Imagination In Prayer And Worship?

Prayer is part of the daily sanctification process by the Holy Spirit to prepare us to meet Jesus face-to-face when we leave this world and enter eternity (John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:16-21).

Many 'techniques' have risen to help people along the path of daily sanctification by learning how to pray and worship which has resulted in something called contemplative spirituality, also known as centering or listening prayer, using imagination and visualization.

THE DIVINE IMAGINATION

It is said that imagination involves creating mental images or concepts that are not necessarily based on real-world experiences. In contrast, visualization involves creating mental images of specific objects, people, or scenarios based on real-world experiences or memories.

In the Old Testament, the word translated as "imagination" comes from the Hebrew word 'chashab' which is a verb and means to think, devise, purpose, esteem, count, imagine, and impute. It appears 123 times in the Old Testament and implies any mental process involved in devising a plan, idea, or design, either good or bad (Exodus 35:35; Esther 8:3; Psalm 35:4; Proverbs 16:30; Jeremiah 18:11,18; Ezekiel 11:2).

The word 'chashab' is used 11 times in Exodus alone as an adjective and is translated as think, or consider a plan. It indicates how the Holy Spirit imparts wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (Exodus 36:8, 38:23, 39:3). God 'esteemed' Abraham because he believed His word:

"And he believed in the Lord; and he counted (Heb: chashab) it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6 ESV)

When the word 'chashab' is translated as "imagine," it bares an evil connotation (Job 6:26; Psalm 21:11; Naham 1:11).

Jesus, the promised Messiah, "was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not" (Isaiah 53:3 ESV). The word "esteemed" is 'chashab' and implies that the people did not think about Jesus.

Three words are translated as "imagination(s)" in the New Testament. The Greek word 'logismos' means reasoning or thought and is used to suggest evil intent (Romans 2:15), as well as the contemplation of actions as a result of the verdict of conscience (2 Corinthians 10:5). The Greek word 'dialogismos' is translated as "thoughts" and "imaginations" and carries the idea of evil purposes (Romans 1:21). The Greek word 'dianoia" is translated as thought to think things over, understanding, and the ability for moral reflection (Luke 1:51).

"But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV)

The word "imagined" is transliterated from the Greek word 'anabainó' which means to go up, ascend. It is more accurately translated as "has not entered into the heart of man" rather than imagination.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." (John 1:1-3 NIV)

Some people believe that God created the Heavens and Earth using His infinite imagination and visualized them into existence. Therefore, we must use our imagination to comprehend the glory of the infinite God because imagination is how we can understand, worship, and interact with Him and His visible and invisible creation. Imagination does give humans the capacity to visualize, conceptualize, and dream. However, the Bible tells us that it can't be trusted.

"The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21 ESV)

"They walked in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backwards and not forward" (Jeremiah 7:24 ESV)

"He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts" (Luke 1:51 ESV)

Imagination is not needed to read or study the Bible. If God wanted us to know the intricate details of things written in the Bible, He would have clearly told us.

VISUALIZATION

Some believe that human beings have the power to visualize and shape their reality and then manifest it. When people do not accept the divine guidance that the Bible provides, they will run wild with speculation and doctrines of man rather than God.

Visualization, also known as imaging, is a form of mental activity that draws upon human imagination to vividly picture in the conscious mind a desired goal or objective, as well as attempting to experience something that has never actually been experienced, then holding that image until it permeates the unconscious mind. It is gaining acceptance in the church as a method to help people see the answer to their prayers, bring emotional healing, and initiate entering the supernatural realm.

Vision and visualization are not the same things. Visualization requires the use of the imagination. A true supernatural "vision" is a revelation, or communication, from God that cannot be found in the natural world or through human intellect and does not contradict or add to Scripture.