You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
Maybe you don’t think you are creative, but you are.
I am pausing to consider this verse in Isaiah because the Hebrew word translated as “mind” is unusual. It means “creative imagination.”
Here in the middle of this Song of Salvation, God encourages us to use our creative imaginations. The grammatical structure of the verse tells us that partnering with God in our imaginations will build our trust in Him. As our trust in Him increases, He will keep us in perfect peace (Shalom).
This Hebrew word, “shalom,” is not just the absence of war. Shalom is total well-being in all areas of life (health, happiness, etc.).
I love to think about having total well-being as I partner with God in my imagination. What does that look like to you? For me, I find great peace and joy in worship and prayer services. I search out and jealously guard those times in His presence because God gives me ideas and visions.
All good things come to us when we keep our thoughts - creative imaginations - fixed on God. Every good idea, every grand plan, every inventive strategy comes to us when we keep our minds on God.
God wants to ignite our imaginations. He longs to give us creative solutions to everyday problems, such as relational issues. He desires to impart powerful strategies to free the oppressed and grand plans for reaching the lost. He will overwhelm us with His blueprint to advance the Kingdom of God.
Where is our creative imagination spent? Do we allow our imagination to wander down dark corridors? Or do we keep it single-focused on Him? What are we feeding our imaginations?
I feed my imagination with beauty, art, and words. I limit my intake of darkness and negativity; yes, even the news. Instead, I look for the beauty that is all around me. I love to walk in the woods listening to the birds singing and gazing at His wonders. The current season is fall, and I marvel at the glorious display of God colorful creation. I imagine the colors of heaven will be more vibrant and tantalizing than here. There will probably be colors we can’t even perceive now.
I also feed my creative imagination with art. I began watercolor painting lessons in order to translate the images that God gives me onto paper. When I can do that, I feel like I am giving “voice” to God’s creative ideas. Art is like playing in the sandbox with Jesus. What might we create together?
Another way I feed my creative imagination is by meditating on His Word. I look for patterns in scripture. For example, in every instance where Jesus is transfigured on the mountain, His call to “take up your cross and follow Me” is mentioned immediately beforehand. I also ask the Holy Spirit questions, “Why is that so important that You mentioned it 7 times?” Another way to activate my imagination as I read is to put myself into the story. What was Jeremiah smelling, feeling, thinking when his leaders threw him into a pit? I note all these ideas in my spiritual journal.
Then I partner with God, using the insights He has given me, to write encouraging words for others. Again, writing words feels like having fun in the playground with Jesus. He is pushing me in the swing; with His help, I can go higher and higher . . .
If you have denied that you are creative or spent years giving your creative imagination over to the dark side, like I did, repent with me. Father God, I repent for allowing dark movies and music to take my creative imaginings away from You. I consecrate the imagination that You gave me for Your use alone. Help me focus on You and Your ideas. I pray You give me plans and strategies to advance Your Kingdom. Amen.