Your Imagination Isn't Your Enemy (It's God's Favorite Communication Tool)

"Don't trust your imagination—that's not God, that's just you making things up." 

If I had a dollar for every time I heard that in church circles, I could probably fund my own theology degree. We've been taught to be suspicious of our imagination, as if God couldn't possibly use something so... human. 

But here's what shocked me when I started studying Scripture: dreams and visions—communication through our imagination—is God's number one way of speaking to people. About a third of the Bible contains stories of God giving people dreams or visions. It's not the exception; it's His preferred method. 

Take Five Seconds 

Let me prove something to you. Close your eyes and picture the bed where you slept last night. 

You just had a vision. 

Now, it wasn't a God-inspired vision—it was a Susan-inspired vision. But that's exactly what it looks like and feels like when God communicates through images in your mind. It's that simple, that natural, that ordinary. 

Biblical Foundation for the "Ordinary" Supernatural 

In Numbers, God says, "I will make myself known to him in a vision, I will speak to him in a dream." Jesus Himself said, "I speak the things that I have seen with my Father" (John 8:38). Even the Son of God operated through visions while He walked on earth as a human. 

The book of Revelation is John's record of visions. Almost every chapter starts with "I looked" or "I saw." He was actively participating in what God was showing him, not passively receiving some mystical download. 

Daniel "kept looking" during his visions. He was engaged, thinking, contemplating what he saw. These weren't unconscious experiences—they were interactive conversations between God and His people through the language of images and ideas. 

The Difference Between God's Voice and New Age Practices 

I need to address the elephant in the room: this isn't automatic writing or channeling. God never takes away your free will or controls you like a puppet. Control is the essence of witchcraft—that's the wrong kingdom entirely. 

God always partners; He never controls. What you receive will be a blend of you and Him, and that's exactly how He designed it. He speaks through your personality, your experiences, your unique way of processing information. That's why His voice sounds like you—because He's speaking through you. 

The key is learning to discern what's from Him versus what's just your own analytical thoughts or the enemy's lies. God's voice is loving, encouraging, and aligns with His character. It can be correcting, but never condemning. 

When Fear Blocks the Flow 

Many Christians are terrified of being deceived, so they shut down their imagination entirely. But here's the truth: if you're seeking God with a sincere heart, He's not going to let you be deceived. He's much bigger than your learning curve. 

Fear of missing it isn't faith—it's fear. And fear doesn't come from God. When you trust that He can communicate with you and keep you safe in the process, you're actually honoring Him. 

The spontaneous images, thoughts, and ideas that pop into your mind throughout the day—most of the time, you dismiss them without a second thought. But what if you started asking, "Is that You, Lord?" What if you honored those gentle impressions by paying attention? 

It's Not About Perfection 

You don't have to get it right every time. You don't have to have perfect discernment before you start. Like any relationship, intimacy with God develops over time. The more you recognize His voice, the clearer it becomes. 

Start where you are. Begin by simply asking Him to show you something, then pay attention to what comes to mind. Honor those impressions by writing them down or sharing them with someone you trust. Test everything, but don't let fear of imperfection keep you from engaging with the God who longs to communicate with you. 

Your imagination isn't your enemy—it's one of God's favorite ways to reach your heart. When you yield it to Him, beautiful things happen. 

Ready to stop being suspicious of how God actually wants to speak to you? There's so much more freedom waiting when you embrace how He designed you to hear Him. 

Blessings, 
Susan Dewbrew