What Are You Asking and Imagining?

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21; the NIV has “imagine” instead of “think”)

The power of God is at work in you to bring about all you ask, think and imagine. So what are you asking, thinking and imagining when you pray?

• Ask according to the will of God and imagine it being fulfilled? The will of God is revealed in the Word of God. The apostle John wrote, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15). What does it look like, sound like, taste like, feel like when we you ask is fulfilled?
• Ask in the name of Jesus and imagine Jesus asking the Father. That is what it means to ask in Jesus' name: to ask the Father just as Jesus would ask. Now imagine that the Father grants your request just as He always grants what Jesus asks. For Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:23-24). Imagine the joy of receiving what you have asked of the Father.
• Ask, and imagine that you received what you asked as soon as you asked for it, for that is indeed what happens when you ask. Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted” (Mark 11:24 NASB).
• Ask, and instead of thinking about the problem, imagine the answer and what it is like having the problem solved and the need met.
• Ask, and think about what is going on in heaven — is there any sickness or disease there, any poverty or lack of any kind there? Of course not! Then imagine the will of God being done on earth just as it is being done in heaven, just as Jesus taught us to pray (Matthew 6:10).

When you ask, put your imagination to work. Take time to sit and think about what it is like to experience the answer you desire. Be specific. Luxuriate in the details. Let it fill you with joy. See yourself with the healing you need and the provision you require. Envision the mountain that has obstructed your path being remove, and imagine what life is like with it out of the way. Dwell no longer on the problem but dwell on the blessings, benefits, promises and provisions of God. Let Him teach you by His Word and Spirit, so that you will be able to ask as Jesus would ask and see the kind of results Jesus saw.

If you belong to God, His power is at work in you to bring about all you ask or imagine — and more! So ask more, imagine more, believe more, and give thanks for what He is doing in you, with you, through you and for you.