Focus

To discover God’s character and heart in His Word by entering a biblical story, experiencing it personally, and responding by living in His truth in daily life. 

Ways to Use This Practice

• Personal devotion: Slow down and encounter Jesus deeply.

• Discipleship groups: Help others hear God personally through His Word.

• Small groups or retreats: Lead others into a prayerful engagement with Scripture.

The Purpose

Gospel Meditations helps you experience Scripture rather than just study it. Instead of analyzing the story from a distance, you step into it—seeing, hearing, and feeling what’s happening through the eyes of a character. In doing so, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s heart, deepens your love for Jesus, and shapes your response to His truth. 

Why It Matters

Ignatius of Loyola, believed that God can speak to us just as clearly through our imagination as through our thoughts or memories. In this form of biblical meditation, imagination becomes a holy instrument—a way the Holy Spirit makes the life of Jesus alive and personal for us today.

“Through the act of contemplation, the Holy Spirit makes present a mystery of Jesus’ life in a way that is meaningful for you now. Use your imagination to dig deeper into the story so that God may communicate with you in a personal, evocative way.” — Kevin O’Brien, The Ignatian Adventure

Picturing ourselves in the story is not escaping reality—it allows the Spirit to connect the truth of Scripture to our present life, moving understanding from the head to the heart.

A Bit About Ignatius and His Journey

Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, didn’t begin as a spiritual man. In his early years, he lived for admiration, pleasure, and prestige. He was a soldier, fiercely ambitious, and driven by a desire for recognition and glory. He loved fine clothes, courtly manners, and the approval of others. He dreamed of heroic deeds that would make his name great. Today, he would have been considered a narcissist, captivated by his own image and craving admiration.

In 1521, a cannonball shattered his leg in battle, ending his dreams of worldly fame. During his long, painful recovery, the only books he could read were The Life of Christ and The Lives of the Saints. As he read, he noticed a pattern: when imagining himself pursuing worldly honor, he felt empty and restless; when imagining following Christ and imitating the saints, he felt peace, joy, and purpose.

Through this experience, the Holy Spirit began a deep work in him—teaching him to discern between desires that drew him toward God and those that pulled him away. This marked the start of his lifelong transformation from self-centered ambition to Christ-centered devotion.

Out of this journey, Ignatius developed a way of praying that others could use to experience the same transformation. One of these practices—praying with the imagination—became known as Gospel Meditations. Through it, believers learn to enter biblical stories, see Jesus clearly, and encounter God personally—not just with the mind, but with the heart and imagination. The goal: that Scripture would help people know God intimately, love Him deeply, and be transformed to live more like Christ.

The Value of Using Your Imagination

Imagination in Gospel Meditations is not about inventing details; it’s about entering the story with your whole self—mind, body, emotion, and spirit.

• Listen with your ears and your heart.

• See the scene unfold and notice what God might be revealing.

• Feel what the people in the story felt, and notice what stirs in you.

This practice moves you from simply knowing about Jesus to experiencing Him personally.

“We might initially worry about going beyond the text of the Gospel. If you have offered your time of prayer to God, then begin by trusting that God is communicating with you. If you wonder if your imagination is going ‘too far,’ then do some discernment. Where did your imagining lead you—closer to God or farther away? Is it bringing you peace and consolation, or confusion and distance?” — Kevin O’Brien

How It Works

Gospel Meditations follows five simple steps: Listen → Visualize → Experience → Process → Respond

Each step invites you to go deeper—first listening with your ears, then seeing with your heart, then letting God’s truth transform your life. It can be done individually or in a group, with one person reading the passage slowly aloud several times.

Before starting, choose a passage—ideally from the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), though other biblical narratives also work well. Allow time for quiet reflection and journaling after each step, as needed.

Suggestions for Journaling

After your meditation, take a few moments to write down:

• What you saw, heard, or felt in the story.

• Which part of the story or which character drew you in.

• What you discovered about yourself and about God.

• How God is inviting you to respond or live differently today.

Write as if you are having a conversation with God—a dialogue of the heart.

Three Great Responses for this Practice: Journal, Pray, & Share!

• Journal – Record your chosen character, your experiences, insights, and what God has revealed to you. Note how it applies to your context today.

• Pray – Pray out of the insights you received. Ask God for help and strength to live in obedience to what He has spoken.

• Share – 1) Share in a group: Discuss your chosen character, experiences, and what God revealed to you. 2) Share with a friend, family member, or anyone interested in Scripture. Sharing helps move faith from private to transparent, normalizing conversations about God in daily life.

Final Thought

Gospel Meditations helps you not just read about Jesus but meet Him in His Word. Engaging your imagination opens the door for the Holy Spirit to make Scripture personal, relational, and transformative—awakening both your love for God and your desire to live His truth daily. 

Early Galilean Ministry

1. Luke 5:1–11 – The calling of the disciples

2. Luke 5:17–26 – Jesus heals a paralytic brought in by friends

3. Matthew 8:5–13 – A centurion’s servant is healed

4. Mark 4:35–41 – Jesus calming the storm

5. Mark 5:24–34 – The healing of a woman who touched Jesus’ cloak

6. John 4:1–26 – The woman at the well

Mid to Later Galilean Ministry

7. John 9:1–12 – The healing of the blind man

8. John 8:1–11 – A woman caught in adultery

9. Luke 15:11–32 – The parable of the prodigal son

10. Luke 17:11–19 – Ten lepers healed

11. Luke 18:9–17 – The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector

12. Luke 18:18–30 – The rich young ruler

Final Week / Jerusalem Ministry

13. John 12:1–8 – Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany

14. John 13:3–17 – Jesus washing the disciples’ feet

15. Luke 24:13–35 – The road to Emmaus