Three Ways to Draw Closer to God

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Gardenias are one of my favorite flowers. With an intense, unmistakable, and almost intoxicating scent, one deep inhale instantly transports me to a tropical paradise. When I was a young teenager, I remember buying a very cheap gardenia perfume, naively thinking that a manmade chemical would smell as lovely on me as the real deal. Of course, it didn’t take long for me to realize that only the genuine article could emanate the kind of sublime sweetness and allure I desired.
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So all of my life, I have wanted to have a gardenia bush in my yard, and until recently, that desire was impossible. But now that I have given up living among Northeastern pines for the temperate climate of Northern California, I finally have my wish. Just outside my office window sits not one, but two large, mature gardenias. I was elated when we first moved in, but was soon disappointed to find that the blooms would wilt and turn brown within hours of being picked and placed in a vase with water on my desk. Without a direct connection to their source of life, both their sweetness and beauty faltered quickly.

If you’ve been reading Glimmers in the Fog for a while, I’m sure it will come as no surprise to hear what happened next. For a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of God in the petals of that gardenia on my desk and thought of how similar it is to the human soul. Without a constant connection to its Source of life, the inevitable comes quickly. In seemingly no time, we wilt, fade, discolor, and lose our Christ-like fragrance. We may think we can survive with a bland substitute for nourishment, but the even the most attractive of settings and adornments are no match for the life-giving act of abiding close to God.

But what can we do when we don’t feel close? Well, if you’re already leaning into Him through the daily habits of reading the Word, prayer, active listening, and Holy Spirit-directed meditation, a sprinkling of a little imagination might be precisely what you need to reinvigorate your attachment or help you overcome obstacles, such as distractions, in your quiet time with God. If the idea of using your imagination seems silly, then consider this quote by Presbyterian minister Henry Ward Beecher from the mid-1800s. “The soul without imagination is what an observatory would be without a telescope.” In other words, we can only achieve our God-given purpose in life if we regularly engage our imagination.

Beecher, who was a tireless abolitionist, went so far as to say, “the imagination is the secret and marrow of civilization. It is the very eye of faith.” While I wasn’t able to find the context surrounding that statement, I suspect that he must have been inspired by the many stories in the Bible where God called people to take a step of faith off the ledge of life… to have the kind of courage that most of us can only imagine. Beecher spent most of his life risking everything to free slaves, so I am sure he found the strength to follow his calling through the stories of the Biblical greats who were called before him. Abraham had never been anywhere. Yet God called him to pack up his stuff and simply “go.” Where? “To a land I will show you.” Ok, translated into modern life, God basically said to him, “Well, that’s for me to know and you to find out.” Romans 4 tells us that Abraham “in hope believed against hope.” And through him all humankind was blessed.

In our quest to know God better, depend on Him more deeply, and see His glory radiate through our lives, the cultivation of our imagination is absolutely critical. I like to think of Ephesians 3:14-21 as the great “imagination manifesto” of Paul the Apostle. Sure, there are tons of other often quoted verses, like placing our trust in the unseen and betting the farm on future hope, and they are all useful and encouraging. But I love the passage from Ephesians because it directly ties the unwavering strength we long for and the deep understanding we crave to the use of our imagination. We have to use our imagination to even begin to fathom the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ's love for us. We have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and humble in order to envision, or dream about, the glorious riches of God and His kingdom. The Message version of that passage describes God as “the magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth.” And this same mighty Father accomplishes more than we can imagine, “Not by pushing us around, but by working within us His Spirit.”

So how can we use our imagination to help us draw closer to our Heavenly Father? I suppose the possibilities are as endless as God is, but here are three that came to my mind once more as I enjoyed the scent and sight of that fading gardenia sitting next to my keyboard.

#1 — Imagine His promises being fulfilled in your life.
The Bible is packed with more than 3,500 specific promises. When God says something, He means it, and He doesn’t discriminate based on your eligibility or desirability. He wants us to have wisdom, joy, peace, and hope in every circumstance. There aren’t any exceptions. However, we often fail to see some of God’s promises come to fruition in our lives. And, I don’t know about you, but it’s when I am most desperate for His help that the promises seem to evade me. I’ve pondered this a lot through my years of faith, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I am the problem, not God. When I feel like I am at my wit's end — or have drifted far away from the Source of life — those are usually the times where I don’t allow the Holy Spirit to come in and calm my crazy mind and fulfill His promises.

When I flail about mentally, I am the equivalent of a drowning swimmer who doesn’t see the lifeguard reaching for her. Here’s the key: God is calling us to act on the promises we haven’t seen, felt, or experienced yet. For example, if I am feeling anxious and pray for peace, God then wants me to call upon my imagination and envision receiving that promise of peace in full measure. It's that first step of envisioning the promised peace coming to fruition, which then allows me to begin acting like I’ve received it. And when we take action, our minds eventually follow. But it takes courage to believe that peace is there — we just need to stop future-tripping, over-analyzing, and pondering all the “what-ifs.”

Philippians 4:8-9 clearly instructs us to stop thinking about the what-ifs and focus only on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and worthy of praise. That pretty much rules out future-tripping, because what you think might happen is not actually true yet. Period.  Proverbs 3:24, for example, is a promise about sleep. ”When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Now certainly there are times where extenuating circumstances may prevent us from going to bed. There may also be situations where God might be urging you to stay up and pray, but generally speaking, He wants to bless us with good rest. You know those nights where you’re lying there worrying or your mind is just racing about your to-do list? Those aren’t His will. Next time, try imagining what it feels like for the promise of Proverbs 3:24 to wash over you. Take the leap of faith and believe that He wants that for you. Envision His canopy of stars displayed over your bed, and as you imagine yourself looking into the night sky, meditate on the verse. Your imagination can help you commit to your belief and lead you to the action of trust. And, with a little bit of practice, the Holy Spirit will teach you how to rest more peacefully.

#2 — Imagine what He’s calling you to do.
When your imagination and a divinely-directed purpose are combined, your motivation, courage, and understanding of God’s power are ignited. Set ablaze. Pumped up. Pick whatever phrase makes you excited about God’s adventure for your life. David had to imagine himself defeating Goliath. He envisioned putting the stone in the slingshot and felling the giant on the first try. (The story is found in 1 Samuel 17.) Queen Esther had to summon the courage to go before the king and beg for the life of her people. In that culture, people were put to death who dared go before the king without his request — especially a woman. With prayer and imagination, she envisioned doing what God told her to do. Her imagination helped fuel her courage. Both David and Esther first had to see themselves trusting God and acting on what He asked them to do. So whether God is asking you to talk to the grocery store clerk, leave your job, or save your marriage, imagine yourself doing what He asks you to do, filled with His Spirit, and then walk onward boldly — all for His glory, and not your own. Colossians 3:2 reminds us to “set our minds on things above” as we live out our daily lives. That command can only happen if we integrate our imaginations into our pursuit of God.

#3 — Imagine His splendor and majesty daily.
When we ponder the greatness of God in a new way on a daily basis, many amazing things happen. First, we are humbled and our perspective shifts from our immediate world and our own agendas, to His grandeur and higher plan for our lives. Pride lurking in our hearts and behind our motivations, will always taint our imagination and turn it away from envisioning the truth of God’s Word and what He has planned for us. Second, we become thankful. When we meditate on the power, love, and wisdom of the King of the Universe, we can’t help but bow in worship and gratitude that He cares enough to commune with each of us on a personal level. Third, taking the time to meditate on the splendor of God and praising Him for His attributes and character, will help you to develop more self-control and mental discipline. Using your imagination to envision what it’s like sitting at His feet or worshipping before His throne takes practice, but we are commanded to do it. How else could we “enter His courts with praise” (Psalm 100) or be creative enough to find a new way to praise Him every day (Psalm 96:1)? As believers in Jesus, we are transformed into sons and daughters of the King — and that’s not just in eternity. God is calling us to act like the chosen ones we are, here on earth, so that we reflect His glory in heaven to others. And if we are not spending time letting our minds explore the vastness of who He is, then how will we ever become familiar enough with our King to resemble Him?

Using your imagination regularly as a part of your worship and quiet time with God will not only make the connection feel stronger, it will fortify your spirit to face all that life dishes out. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 gives us this encouragement: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Next time you pray, imagine yourself sitting with Jesus in your favorite place. And if you have the privilege of sitting in a beautiful spot, ask the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes to see evidence of Him in the sights around you. But whether you’re in a lush garden or in cramped closet, your imagination can take you to the feet of Christ. Spend time really listening for His voice in the stillness of your heart. Imagining a peaceful place free of distractions and to-do lists will do wonders for your concentration and listening power. Once you’re completely still in your heart and mind, ask Him to show you something new about Him today. And then believe that He will. It may happen right then. It might happen later on your drive to work. It could happen in while you’re making dinner or during your morning run. But the more you train your mind to focus on Him — through the help of your imagination — the more likely your ears will be working, and your heart will have eyes to see that which is unseen.

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Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Spend some time picturing what a grape vine looks like just before it is ready to harvest. Use your imagination to gaze upon its root system, abundant leaves, vines, and finally, the grapes. Think about the weather, too, as you look at the vine. Are the grapes glistening in the sun, or is it perhaps misty and rainy? Once you feel immersed in imagining the grapevine, read John 15:1-11 and then write down anything that comes to mind while you absorb the passage. Spend time in prayer.
Day 2 - God frequently appeared to people in the Old Testament through visions and unusual transformations of nature. When He first reached out to Moses, He spoke from a burning bush. Read Exodus 3:1-6 and envision yourself in the story in place of Moses. What thoughts cross your mind when you get close enough to feel the heat of the flames? What about when you hear His voice for the first time? As you imagine yourself taking off your shoes and kneeling before God, be encouraged. Like Moses, you may feel ill-equipped to know God, follow Him, or be used for His glory. But also like Moses, God will bring about great things through you if you’re yielded to His hand in your life.
Day 3 - Psalm 1:3 gives us a beautiful picture of a believer devoted to God. Read it in a few different versions. Pray your favorite one back to God and then write down anything you sense Him whispering to your heart.
Day 4 - Jesus often used word pictures to help us “see” an invisible spiritual truth. Read Matthew 7:24-27 and contemplate what Jesus wants you to see in this passage? Write down how you think it applies to your life right now. Then spend time in prayer asking God to reassure of His promise to set your feet on the solid rock.
Day 5 - Psalm 23 is paints one of the riches pictures of God’s tender care and provision for those He loves. Spend time reading the psalm in several different versions of the Bible, including The Message for a fresh perspective. Then spend time visualizing yourself as God’s child resting in the pasture. Meditate on the promises He’s made to you. ​

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