What Fires Our Spiritual Imagination

Louisa Ikena reflects on the use of our spiritual imaginations as a prayer-filled practice to draw us closer to God. 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in us the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created. And You will renew the face of the earth. 

When I pause to reflect on what is beautiful and good and true in my life today, I cannot help but to stand in awe of God and what God has done and what God is doing in my life. Perhaps pausing and standing in awe of Him is exactly what I am meant to do in this moment. No words can ever be expressed, no number of pages of books can ever be authored, no amount of articles can ever be penned, that can adequately articulate the awesomeness of our Lord God Almighty. 

Yet somehow, we try, and we keep trying. to write a glimpse of the Beauty, Goodness, and Truth that transcends us all. What aids us in seeing this glimpse? I propose one tool: using our spiritual imagination. Perhaps I’ll go so far as to say that what fires my spiritual imagination brings me closer to God.  

Known by our Fruits 

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)  

The things that come from our imagination can be of God, or not of God. I believe the fruits of the Spirit are a good litmus test for discerning what things in my imagination are of God and what things are not. 

The good things in my spiritual imagination lead me to know, love, and serve God more. When I encounter God’s Word, in all its fullness and goodness, I am changed. His Word moves through me and in me. Stories like David and Goliath move me to courage and faith and boldness.  

David answered him: “You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have insulted.” (1 Samuel 17:45)  

No matter what comes against me, God is bigger, as the story of David and Goliath clearly illustrates.  

Prayer and the Spiritual Imagination 

What fires my spiritual imagination is also what leads me to prayer. Those things include the sound of laughter (especially when I’m good-naturedly laughing at myself), the sound of children playing, the melodious sound of a choir singing in harmony, and the sounds of nature. Perhaps my favorite of these sounds is the sound of waves crashing on a beach.

What are some of your favorite sounds? When we call these to mind, I hear a call to prayer. It stirs my spiritual imagination and leads me to lift my mind and heart to God in prayer. 

There are also sights that fire my spiritual imagination. Colorful sunrises and sunsets, the moon at any phase, and even man-made artwork that is objectively beautiful are examples that leap to mind.  

For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen. (Wisdom 13:5) 

Art in every form, whether painting or sculpture or architecture, can cause me to stand back in awe. All things beautiful find their original author in God. I like to be in the habit of exercising my spiritual imagination by taking the time to appreciate beauty.  

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8).  

I found this focus to be a refreshing and uplifting spiritual practice. 

Our imaginations are so powerful. When we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, great good can emerge. Together as God’s children, let's pause, reflect, and stand in awe, using the gift of our spiritual imagination today.  

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Louisa Ann Irene Ikena
Images: Canva