How often do you consider the fact that you have a creative imagination? Well, probably not very often. But, maybe we should consider it and the role God intends for it to play in our lives. Much of what you will see online only gives the negative aspects of imagination, and, yes, our imagination can be used for evil. Our lives in general can be used for good or evil. A few verses, do not negate the fact of God’s Gift of Creative Imagination in our lives.
God’s creative Imagination
In the beginning, God created everything. All you have to do is look around you and see His creative artistry and imagination at work. Who else could have come up with all the variety, beauty, and mystery of this world? God is creative and has a creative imagination.
Imagination Definition
What does the word mean? Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary says, “ the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality.” It also means resourcefulness and inventiveness. There’s nothing evil about the word imagination.
Yes, there is scripture saying that man’s imagination (thoughts) were evil. Genesis 6:5 HCSB, “When the Lord saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time,” In fact, people were so evil that God regretted creating them!
However, that is not a condemnation of all thought and imaginings! In 1 Chronicles 29:18, David is praying and asks God to “keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You.” The word for thoughts means – thought, device 1a) thought 1b) device, plan, purpose 1c) invention – according to Strong’s Concordance.
Notice the word “invention.” Imagination is invention. One part of your mind is inventing, creating a reality. That reality might be seen or unseen. We create unseen realities all the time. Sometimes, they’re negative. We create ‘worst-case scenarios” for our lives. These are things that have never happened but we spend lots of time mulling them over and allowing them to have negative power over us. They create and feed fear yet seldom actually happen.
We can also invent or imagine things that become a reality. I’m working on my second book. I have created people, creatures, towns, and situations that are not part of real life. They exist only in my mind and my computer. However, the book will be real when it’s finished – a tangible item that is the evidence of my creative imagination!
If you have a hobby of any kind, you are a creator. I knit socks, make artisan sourdough bread, grow and dry herbs, grow flowers, play instruments, and write. Hobbies are all about creative imagination. They are not evil! Through our creative imagination, we bring the unseen into reality.
What Does the Bible Say About Imagination?
We’ve already seen that the Bible addresses evil imagination. I want to look at 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 in several translations and see the Strong’s definition of the words from the original language.
KJV, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
NASB, “or the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
NLT, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.
TPT, “For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.
Only the King James Version uses the word “imaginations.” And, Strong’s Concordance gives this definition for the Hebrew word used there which is logismous, which means, “Reasoning, thinking; a conception, device. From logizomai; computation, i.e. reasoning.”
If all reasoning, thinking, and logic were evil, we would barely be able to think at all! Nothing in this passage is specifically about our imagination. However, it could easily be included.
I want you to see that the Bible does NOT say all imagination is evil. It says that mankind comes up with evil imaginations.
God’s Gift of Creative Imagination
God’s gift of creative imagination was given at creation. He is a creator. He has a marvelous, unending imagination. He made us in His image – just like the Godhead. We too are born with creative imagination.
For some of us, that imagination has been mocked or crushed and we abandoned it long ago with our toys. Sadly, that’s not what God intended! Imagination is wonderful and beautiful. It is meant to be used to glorify our Creator and to imitate Him
He has filled them with skill to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs. Exodus 35:35 HCSB
The word used for “designer” in this passage means creative. The people who did the work in the Temple were to use their creative abilities. What do designers do? They create a picture in their mind and then make it a reality. That’s imagination at work! It’s not evil.
Creativity and imagination go hand in hand. How do you create something you can’t see in front of you? You use your imagination to create it in your mind and then put it on paper, carve it, sew it, or use whatever method you have to make it real. Painters see a finished picture in their minds. Writers see their characters in their minds and then make them accessible to others on paper!
Imagination is Important in Our Daily Lives
Why? Creativity is a powerful outlet, and imagination helps us deal with situations and make them positive. Imagination is important when we read the Bible. The people we read about are real! If we picture them and their surroundings in our minds, it helps us to identify with them and give their words far greater impact. They become real.
Imagination is fun! I have fun imagining the characters and creatures for my next book. There is nothing evil or bad about them or my creative imagination. Instead, young people will find a fictional character dealing with issues of being different, being mocked, trying to understand right and wrong, trying to live their faith in the midst of opposition, and much more.
Imagination should always be used for good, for fun, for creative endeavors, and to keep us in that childlike faith that Jesus said we needed! I hope you see why imagination is one of my four keywords for this blog.
But, I just Can’t do crafts or other things like that
What if you really aren’t good at crafts or can’t think of ways to be creative? Here’s an idea. Lots of women love coloring pages. Yes, adult women and some men love to color. There are even Bibles with pages for coloring in them. Why do they love it? First, when they get together as a group to color, they get to be creative and have fun in an atmosphere of laughter and friendship. Even if you’re doing it by yourself, it’s fun! It’s an outlet for emotions and for your imagination.
When my first husband died, I discovered the beauty of coloring. I spent a great deal of time coloring. It was a creative outlet that allowed me to take my mind off the negative and create things that were beautiful to me. My imagination could go to work using any color I wanted to and any combinations that made me happy! In addition, I didn’t have to figure out how to draw the pictures I was coloring and that made it easy and enjoyable. Creative imagination was a gift to me and is a gift to all.
I’m including some Scripture coloring pages you can download for free just to see if you would enjoy it or not. 20 Pages of Free Scripture Coloring.
When we talk about creative imagination we will talk about it in relation to hobbies, the Word, ourselves, our faith, and our families. Creative imagination impacts every area of our lives in a positive and wonderful way. Hopefully, you will find a way to have a creative outlet and allow your imagination to grow and embrace the vision God wants you to have for your life.
You might also enjoy reading – Inspiration For Life Today
Inspiration For Life Today uses verses from different Bible translations. To see more information about the copyright for each one, please visit this page – Scripture Citations.