What Does God Say About Meditation and Imagination?

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8 (KJV)

What we meditate on, we imagine. Meditation means to roll a thought over and over in one’s mind. What we meditate upon creates pictures, or mental images, in our minds. The picture you have of yourself is who you become.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

If you consistently think of yourself as being successful (or meditate on it), you will create a mental image of yourself as successful. No one can stop your success but you. We need to get the right self-image, or mental picture of ourselves. We have to think, see, say, and act in line with the way God sees us (see Numbers 13). When we see ourselves as loved, we will act as if we are loved. When we see ourselves free, we will act free. When we see ourselves healed, prosperous, etc., we will act that way.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

We must change the mental pictures in our minds by renewing our minds to God’s Word. This is a process, but one worth pursuing. Meditation leads to imagination, creating images in us about who we are and what we can do. If we don’t like the current mental picture, how do we see a different image? Change the channel, like you would change the channel on a television. Turn off the world’s influence and get in the Word of God to get the right things on which to meditate and imagine. See yourself as a new creation in Christ and that is how you will act.

Some people would tell you that meditation and imagination are tied to new age religions and are of the devil. Indeed it is wrong to meditate on mantras and other such things, but meditation and imagination were created by God. The devil just took them and perverted them. When we meditate on the scriptures and use that to fuel our imagination, the Holy Spirit is involved in the process.

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 (KJV)

Meditate on, imagine, and identify with the Word, and ditch your old way of thinking, and you will be changed from the inside out. You will become on the outside what you have pictured on the inside- and the world will see the Lord’s transforming power in your life.