Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and best-selling author, Dr. Paul David Tripp,

connects the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. In this episode, we'll listen to one of

Paul's old radio broadcasts. This broadcast is the first in a five-part series on Imagination,

which we will release over the next few months on this podcast.

Here's Paul Tripp on our ability to imagine and why it's so important in our daily relationship with God.

As you face the opportunities, responsibilities, pressures, and temptations of everyday life like me, you tell yourself,

if you just understood some things, life would be so much easier.

If you just understood your husband or your wife better.

If you could only understand why you woke up this morning and your child had a new personality. If you just figure out why in the

world your boss is always critical. If you could just figure out why your neighbor seems not to be

interested in relationship to you. You tell yourself that what you need is explanation. If someone could just explain to you

why your friend said that or why your husband did that or your daughter refused to do that,

then life would be a whole lot easier. But maybe it's not just explanation that you need.

Explanation is about why and how and when and where maybe you need

something else maybe there's something so fresh so practical so radical that if you had it it would

completely change the way you look at life. What is that something?

That something is called imagination. You say, what, Paul? Imagination? Are you kidding me?

Isn't imagination for children or for adults who love Star Trek, imagination is critical for all of us.

And I will tell you this, if you don't have a lively and active imagination, if you don't have a lively and active imagination,

you just won't live the way that God designed for you to live.

And I'm dreaming of a place where I could see your face.

And I think my brush would take me there.

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