Moving God’s Word from Your Head to Your Heart
After a few years of many bible studies, formal and informal, I longed so much to see Jesus. I began to not only read the gospel scenes but I’d close my eyes and imagine them—I’d even see myself in them. I’d interact with Jesus in my mind’s eye.
One day, after I had imagined being with the Lord in a gospel event, I wondered what He thought about it. Was I like a child who hadn’t learned to stop imagining and pretending? Was it fantasizing? The dictionary describes fantasizing as “indulging in daydreaming about something desired.” And the word “imagine” used with “fantasy” is described as “wanting something to happen and imagining it.” I had to admit, that described my situation. I reasoned further that God would want what is real for me and Him, and not what isn’t true.
I asked the Lord to forgive me if I’d done something wrong. I asked Him to show me how else I could “see” Him because I longed for Him. Later in the day, the same yearning for more of Jesus drove me to go to a Christian book store. I felt if I read an inspired book about Him then my desire would be somewhat quenched.
After perusing books for more than an hour, with my arms full of the ones I had chosen, I headed to the store’s cash register until I sensed God’s thoughts within me say: “You don’t have the right book.” I was surprised. I realized these were God’s thoughts that had come to me.
I returned to the bookshelves and put all the books I had selected back in the right places. I prayed, “What book?” No answer. However, I looked at a few more titles on the spines of the books. Then I caught sight of a title that piqued my interest: The Joy of Listening to God by Joyce Huggett.
I opened the book to its middle section and read:
Imagine that you have been allowed the privilege of walking with the eleven, out of Jerusalem to the Mount of Ascension.
Stay behind them as you leave the noise and clutter and the stifling heat of Jerusalem behind. Feel the heat warming your body as you start the steep climb.
Feel the warm dust creeping into your sandals. What can you see?
What can you hear? . . .
What can you smell? . . .
Become an integral part of it. How do you feel?
Look at your companions, the eleven disciples. What sort of people are they?
. . . Now you are nearing the place where Jesus promised to meet you.
. . . And now—there He is—standing in front of you! Take a good look at Jesus.[1]
The author’s visual instruction was more than I quoted here. Can you imagine how I felt holding that book in my hands? I think the shock of reading such a perfect answer to my prayer about imagining myself with Jesus in the gospels was definitely one of those times I knew that I knew God was showing me something important. He obviously liked that I used my imagination the way I did.
I learned from Huggett’s book that this kind of imaginative meditation has been documented as useful since the third century. The idea is to let the Scriptures touch and speak to us using our senses. My desire for Jesus had led me into a true and real experience with Him. This kind of prayer helps a person to “be” with Jesus spiritually. Especially when one’s desire is to see Him, the Holy Spirit is part of the experience.
I later read about this type of prayer and meditation on the Scriptures in other well-respected authors’ books. By using our God-given imagination, especially with Scripture, we can see the things God wants us to see and experience Him up close.
Jesus came so that we would know God and relate to Him. Our imaginations were created by God for God. Why should self, Satan, or the world be the only ones to show their scenes? God certainly wants to use our imaginations—He expresses Himself through visual displays, through story, images, pictures, visions, words, and dreams. They all pass through our imaginations.
If we pray to the Holy Spirit and enter into the Scriptures prayerfully, humbly, with a desire for God Himself, we will encounter Him.
The most significant part of meditating on the gospels with my imagination was that I saw Jesus’s humanity for myself. I prayed with my imagination for many years. I don’t that much anymore. But that’s okay; we are always changing. What worked for me then doesn’t now.
God is our companion and guide. The key is to live from our hearts and that means paying attention to what makes our heart beat faster for God, or what gives us the greatest joy in how we experience Him.
[1]The Joy of Listening to God by Joyce Huggett, copyright ©1986 InterVarsity Press. Used with Permission.
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This blog is an excerpt of THE ART OF LOVING GOD: How to Live From Your Heart in God’s Epic Love Story.
Read MoreWords from Heaven for These Times
Never before has this Scripture meant more to me: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
About twenty years ago God gave me the title for a book and I was given prophetic words by others that I’d write a book for the Last Days. Well, here we are. This is, I believe, that certain book. Coincidentally, it just happens to be ready to be published at this time. I feel this is Heaven’s gift. I am His word-artist, just doing my thing, for such a time as this. “Do not be afraid, I am with you,” says the Lord.
GOD IS ON THE THRONE. HE IS IN OUR HEARTS. HE IS EVERYWHERE. HE LOVES YOU PARTICULARLY. WE’RE IN A CRISIS IN THE STORY RIGHT NOW. ALL STORIES HAVE THEM. EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY — HE’S WITH US!
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=margaret+montreuil&ref=nb_sb_noss
Read MoreThe King’s Anointing
I often reflect on the story of when Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed Jesus with her costly spikenard.
Did she realize her act of love was the King of King’s prophetic anointing that day?
Jesus knew.
He said simply, “She did what she could.”
Powerful words.
Words I would like to hear Him say.
Here’s a bit of a poem I wrote in memory of what Mary did.
Do What You Can
Mary’s love in that hour, symbolically shown,
Was much more than she could have known.
Anoint the Anointed—What a heavenly thought!
He was everything she had ever sought.
She began at the top of His head
And, pouring all, bent down at His feet.
Do it, dear Mary, please do it
Pour it all out on Him
Lavish your best, spare not a drop
Your love is the fragrance that gladdens His heart.
It’s love for love, so do what you can
Give the King the love He is due
And, Mary, you can fill the world with the scent of it too
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A Memorial Day Tribute to Calvin Miller
Writers have mentors they look up to and one of mine is author Calvin Miller. I met him once. He sat across from me at a table for six at a writers conference. He was one of many presenters and guests that day. I was delightfully surprised to see an open place at his table during our lunch break. Conference attendees were encouraged to choose and join a featured guest, agent, editor, or speaker at their assigned table with the promise of engaging with him or her one-on-one. It was a chance to get advice, pitch your book idea, or make a connection with someone in the Christian publishing industry. I didn’t care to sit with an agent or an acquisitions editor, nor anyone else, not when Calvin Miller was in the room! Holy Moly!
He was such a humble soul, Calvin Miller. A deep thinker. A man who understood God’s “Story” and was a gifted artist at revealing God, especially the heart and mind of God, to others.
I wish I could tell you what we talked about. Our eyes locked while we discussed whatever it was and that was enough for me. I knew God had given me the favor.
Here’s a sample of the beauty and depth of man who really knew God. This is an excerpt from A Requiem for Love, from The Singer Trilogy. (Here’s a link to this book from our book store.)
The setting is just outside the gates of the Garden of Eden. We’re in the middle of a scene with the Creator, whose name is Father-Spirit, and Slithe, the serpent.
“Welcome to your your Garden, Eminence,”
The rising reptile hissed.
Earthmaker turned,
“Slithe, once-loved, once crowned
Can this be you,
Self-damned, condemned to sand?”
Slithe laughed.
“Lock me from the green, it is only for a while.
Full well you know I will be in.”
“Once the entire universe was yours.
You chose these desert chains.”
“I chose a throne and got the chains,”
The serpent spewed his bitter grudge.
The Father-Spirit turned toward the gates
As they swung slowly open.
His old accuser blinked into the distant splendor.
“Will You succeed this time
In fashioning a lover?
Who will remain a lover?
Or, is Your new creation
Destined to betray You?
Why are You forever
Planting hope in high-walled gardens?”
The Father-Spirit looked away.
“Terra holds this Sanctuary as a dream
Where love abused by treachery
May mold a masterpiece of hope.
Today I crown all I have ever made
And honor Terra’s clay by stamping it Imago Mei,
A man, a prince–Regis, friend of spirit.
He shall wear the crown of love you cast aside.
But you will never see his coronation,
For only perfect love shall pass these gates.”
This, and the rest of their conversation, unveils more truth and depth of God’s Word, God’s heart, God’s purposes, in a short poetic story than if you were to study theology and philosophy all your life. Do your heart a favor, follow the link below and read the letter Calvin Miller wrote to you, as a member of the Church, before he passed on to heaven. This is an important reminder to all of us to focus on what is vital in life.
Calvin Miller’s Letter to the Church
I invite you to visit and subscribe to Burning Hearts for God where you can visit the book store for more information about Calvin Miller’s book!
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