[Imaginative Prayer] Coming Back to God in Thanksgiving and Praise: The Grateful Leper - Love Does That | Christian Spiritual Director Kari Bartkus

Hey, my friends. Welcome to another bonus episode of Let’s Encourage One Another.

In this month’s episode, we are going to explore the practice of imaginative prayer. Imaginative prayer is allowing God to help you enter into a Bible story by visualizing it, using your five senses, imagining that you are there, watching it all unfold in front of you.

Or maybe God leads you to enter in as one of the main characters of the story. That happens, too.

I won’t go into full details about imaginative prayer here, but I was able to talk with Eva Kubasiak about this on episode 32 of her podcast, Bible Study Made Simple. So if you want to learn more about imaginative prayer and walk through another example, not just the one we’re doing today, then I encourage you to do that. You’ll find the link in the show notes below.

But imaginative prayer is actually one of my favorite ways to read Scripture. For me it comes naturally, like when I’m reading a fiction book and sort of “become” the main character of the story. I can’t help but try to imagine what it was actually like to be in the story.

And of course, we know these Bible stories are true, don’t we? That these are real men and women following God, making mistakes, but also showing us what it means to be truly submitted to Him.

Today, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I want to go through the story of the grateful leper with you. Because to me, it demonstrates how we all have different responses when God moves in our lives. And it raises the question of, do I take the time to thank God for what He has done? Do I even acknowledge it to myself?

And so, I’ll read through the story, which can be found in Luke chapter 17, verses 11 through 19, and then I’ll offer some reflection questions at the end for you to pray or journal through.

As we prepare to hear the story, I invite you to quiet your hearts and minds as best you can, and together, let’s ask God to guide us in this holy imagining.

God, we thank You for being here with us and for giving us the gift of our imaginations. We pray that You would guide the use of our imaginations even now as we enter into this story together. What would You have us see? What would You have us experience? In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

The Story of the Grateful Leper

As I read through the story, I encourage you to join Jesus as He enters a village. You’re standing nearby, near enough to see and hear what is going on. What stirs within you as you watch?

It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”

(Luke 17:11-19 MSG)

Reflection Questions

How do you feel as the lepers raise their voices and shout out to Jesus? Are you protective of Jesus’ time and focus? Are you eager for these men to receive the mercy they ask for? Do you feel sorry for them?

Jesus took a good look at them. You take a good look at them, too. Describe what you see. What thoughts and feelings go through you as you see—truly see—the condition of these leprous men?

Jesus tells these men to show themselves to the priests before they are even healed. What do you think about that? Why do you think they go, even while still having leprosy?

A bit later, you watch as one of these men return and shout his thanks. Not just any man. A Samaritan. An outsider. He worships at the feet of Jesus. What stirs within your heart in this moment? Do any thoughts come to mind about the other nine who don’t come back?

The Story of the Grateful Leper (Again)

Now, I’m going to read the story again, but this time, I invite you to enter into it as one of the men who have leprosy. Let God guide you as to which one you might be.

Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

(Luke 17:11-19 MSG)

Reflection Questions

Which man were you? Take a few moments to talk to God about what He revealed to you. I’m going to leave a couple minutes of silence here, then come back and end our time together.

[Pause]

One last question I leave you: What might it look like for you to run back to God and thank Him for what He has done for you? Picture that in your mind, running to Jesus and falling at His feet. If you were this man who was just healed, what would you say to Jesus when you returned to Him? How would you show your thankfulness, your gratitude? How would you show Him how much it means to you?

I pray that this was a blessing to you. You are welcome to revisit this episode later this month or anytime, really, as God leads. But if it was a helpful practice, I really encourage you to try to do it on your own in your own Bible reading.

Okay, that is all for today, my friends. May your Thanksgiving be blessed with loved ones around you, and may we take the time to thank God for the many blessings He has given us, as well. Until next time, let’s encourage one another.