Is Your Imagination of God Starved?

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things." — Isaiah 40:26

The people of Isaiah’s day had narrowed their vision, placing their confidence in idols instead of the Living God. Their imagination, meant to be a window into His vastness, had been reduced to the size of their own self-made realities. Isaiah’s rebuke was simple yet piercing: Look up. Behold the heavens and recognize the One who spoke them into existence.

Spiritual stagnation often arises when our imagination of God is too small—when we frame Him according to our own limitations, past experiences, or human expectations. Our thoughts, if left unchecked, can build lifeless idols, whether in the form of self-sufficiency, ministry roles, or rigid ideas about how God should work. Yet, the call remains: Lift your gaze. Step beyond yourself. Let the greatness of God expand your vision.

A telescope does not create the stars; it only magnifies what is already there. In the same way, the imagination surrendered to Christ does not invent God’s greatness but enables us to grasp more of its reality. When trials come, those who have starved their vision of God stumble in darkness, unable to rest in the assurance of His sovereignty. But those who have cultivated an awareness of Him—who have consistently turned their thoughts heavenward—walk in unshaken trust, knowing that His ways extend far beyond human comprehension.

We are not meant to endure difficulty with gritted teeth but to stand in awe of the One who upholds all things. A heart filled with the grandeur of God is never at the mercy of its circumstances. So let your imagination be captivated by Him—not by lesser things, not by fleeting worries, but by the infinite, unchanging reality of who He is.

Prayer of Confidence

Father, You have filled the heavens with Your majesty, and nothing in this world can diminish Your greatness. You have given us minds to meditate on Your glory, hearts to delight in Your presence, and spirits that are alive in You. Today, we choose to lift our gaze—to see beyond ourselves, beyond our circumstances, and to behold You as You truly are. Thank You for revealing Yourself in creation, in Your Word, and most fully in Christ. We rest in the certainty of Your power, wisdom, and love, knowing that You are always more than enough. Amen.

Credit: This devotional is inspired by My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.
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