Being a published author had been a dream in my heart all my life. I remember considering a writing correspondence course in High School. How many teenagers sign up for extra homework? In college, I took every writing class that I could – journalism, creative writing etc. After seminary, I wrote several Bible studies that were never published. The dream to be a published author was a dormant seed in my heart covered up with the clutter of life.
In addition to being an author, I had other seeds of creativity which lay dormant and forgotten in my life. I mention all these dormant dreams because there was a turning point in my life after which there was an explosion of creativity. That turning point was a moment of quiet conversation with the Lord.
I realized that God had given us our imaginations to use for His glory, not our own. The enemy of our souls has hijacked our imaginations through dark music and movie, etc. But God’s desire is that we partner with Him in the imagination that He gave us to create beauty that brings Him honor and glory.
This realization caused me to confess and repent of ever partnering with enemy in my imagination. I thanked God for giving me imagination. I praised Him for the privilege of partnering with Him in my imaginings. And I consecrated my imagination for HIS use only! I declared over myself that God and I would create beautiful things together that would bring Him glory.
Shortly after that quiet prayer of consecration, there was an explosion of creativity in my life. I felt led by the Spirit to attend a creativity conference. At this time, those seeds of creativity still lay dormant and forgotten. In fact, my confession would have been, “There is not a creative bone in my body.” I only went to the conference because I felt that familiar nudge of the Holy Spirit.
The first day of the conference, the lies that I had believed – lies such as “you have no talent, you have nothing to offer, who needs one more Christian book – those lies fell off of me like a discarded garment.
The second day of the conference, God breathed on those forgotten seeds of creativity, and they sprang to life!
1-He downloaded an idea for a book – this book!
2-God encouraged me to start a blog and post weekly devotions – over 5 years now
3-God inspired me to take watercolor painting lessons. In all these endeavors and others, I gave Him my time, energy and effort, and He gave the increase in skill and ability.
4-And I have recently started piano lessons.
My encouragement to you is that God – the Creator of the Universe - created each of us with seeds of creativity that He plans to use for HIS glory. Even if you have forgotten about those dreams, God has not. In due season, His Spirit will blow on those dormant seeds, and they will spring to life! What are the creative dreams in your heart – a book, art, music, fashion design?
Whatever your dreams are, I encourage you to get alone with God. May sure He has your heart in the area of creativity.
Consecrate your imagination to HIM.
DECLARE – out loud – that you and God together are going to create beautiful things for HIS glory. Then watch what happens next. These are the types of prayers that God loves to answer with abundance!!!