Holy Imagination

"You must daily hold before your mind and imagination

the beauty and possibility of life in the kingdom of God."

Just three pages from the end of John Mark Comer's extraordinary book, Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become like Him, Do as He Did, that sentence grabbed hold of me.

I think it could change your life and mine if we got up every morning and, just before or after reading God's word, we were to remind ourselves, "Hold before your mind and imagination the beauty and possibility of life in the kingdom of God."

A few key words that come off the page at me:

• Hold - it's not a passing thought, or even a lingering moment. We hold this "thing" by whatever handles God graces us to have, and we don't let go. At least not for a while.

• Mind and imagination - it's one thing to think; it's another to let your thinker frolic in an open field. One is more analytical; the other is more aspirational, more exploratory.

• Beauty - the garden of Eden was undoubtedly the most beautiful place on the planet, so stunning that when we see marvels of creation in our day, they are only shadows. Our world is often characterized by utility more than beauty. What if, just for a few moments before we jumped on the hamster wheel, we let our minds imagine beauty.

• Possibility - what would you attempt for God if you knew you couldn't fail? if you had no reason to fear? if you knew that it would result in a better world for you, those you love, and maybe even those you don't yet know?

• Life - existence is so inferior to life. Jesus said in John 10:10 (you can probably quote it) that we were made for, and He came to give us, a life filled to overflowing. Abundance. Meaning, purpose, and fulfillment can characterize the life of every Christ-follower.

• Kingdom of God - we have two options, really. The kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light. Oh sure, there may be some gray areas in the borderland betwixt the two. But just pause for a moment and think, imagine, what life in the Kingdom of God could be! Not someday. Not for eternity. But today. This moment.

And then hold it in your mind's eye. Don't let it go too quickly.

Okay. I'm gonna try it. Every morning for a month. Just a moment to "hold before your mind and imagination the beauty and possibility of life in the kingdom of God." What might your days start to look like in your marriage, your workplace, your church, your neighborhood, your friend group, your heart?

I'm up for the challenge. I invite you to jump in!