3 Benefits of Creativity with the Spirit of God
Why do we create?
We create because God is creative, and we are made in His image.
Creativity involves using the imagination or original ideas, especially in producing an artistic work, by the Oxford dictionary definition. God used His imagination to produce artistic work, you and me. When God created man, the inspiration is Him – the Trinity God, because we are made in His image.
In Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The word ‘formed’ in Genesis 2:7 is ‘yatser’ in Hebrew. It means “To mold into a form, as a potter, to determine.”
Has God’s creative process ceased?
God’s creative process has never stopped. Every day, we are made new! His creativity in us is manifested in renewing our hearts as in Ezekiel 36:26 “He takes away the heart of stone and replaces it with the heart of flesh.” We may not feel it, but even now, at this very moment, our heart is renewed to love fully, to walk fearlessly, to give selflessly, to see as He sees, to think as He thinks, to taste and see the goodness of God at it’s the fullest measure. We are to rule and reign, to partner with the Spirit of God co-creating to fulfill our purpose.
Is the creative process a spiritual experience or merely a physical one?
The creative process and artistry are not merely physical but spiritual experiences. Art is the manifestation of an artist’s identity and beliefs—the spirit through which an artist taps for creative work matters.
In the Bible, Bezalel was the first artist who was filled with the Spirit of God as in Exodus 35:30-33 “Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all craftsmanship; to create designs for working in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work.”
Artistic work does not merely involve skills and technics. And instead, it is a spiritual experience as God chooses the person and equips the person like Bezalel with the Spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skills.
How does the Spirit of God affect creativity?
There is a significant difference between the artists with the Spirit of God versus those without the Spirit of God.
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The Spirit of God is the source of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and creativity. Those without the Spirit of God tap into other spirits.
The psalmist in the Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding… (Psalm 111:10). King Solomon said ” “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6).”
For the construction of Israel’s tabernacle, the Lord chose Bezalel and filled him with the Spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skills. Bezalel possessed everything to be a great artist for God’s work.
One famous painter Mark Rothko tapped into mythology for his art and said, “Without monsters and gods, art cannot enact a drama.” And “Art to me is an anecdote of the spirit.” Unfortunately, Mark Rothko committed suicide at the age of 66. Rothko did not have the Spirit of God. The spirit that he tapped into for His art led to death.
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The fruit of artistic work.
Bezalel made everything that the Lord had commanded Moses regarding the construction of tabernacles (Exodus 38:22). Bezalel was known for making everything that Lord had commanded more than being a famous artist.
Jean-Michel Basquiat is another famous young artist. Heads and skulls are significant focal points of his most seminal works. The skulls allude to Haitian Vodou of his family background (Wikipedia). Art historian Olivier Berggruen said that Basquiat’s Anatomy (1982) “creates an aesthetic of the body as damaged, scarred, fragmented, incomplete, or torn apart, once the organic whole has disappeared.” Basquiat’s art reflects his fragmented identity. Unfortunately, the power of skulls (intellect) did not save him. He died of a drug overdose at the age of 27.
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Impact of artistic work
Bezalel was the chief artist in building the tabernacle of the Lord. The work of his hands became a place for the glory of the Lord (Exodus 40:34). Bezalel enjoyed the presence of the Lord with his creative work. Like Mark Rothko and Jean-Michel Basquiat, brokenness spiritually, physically, and financially accompanied their lives. Tragically, they did not enjoy the fruit of their labor in their lives.
Benefits of Engaging creative process
From my personal experience, I have received the benefit of engaging in a creative process: it brings clarity, and it has brought healing to my soul.
#1 It brings clarity
At the beginning of 2019, I sought clarity from the Lord for my business. I had a dream – in this dream, I signed up for a writing class, and something about the teacher showed me a knot with a thread knit together. I felt that it said – it was time for me to write. I have always wanted to write. Writing is a creative and expressive process. It is unnatural for me. At times, I wanted to quit. Thankfully, I did not. It is rewarding to hear feedback from people about how my book has helped them walk with God and others.
If you seek clarity and direction, you might want to get into a creative process through writing, painting, dancing, making crafts, or something you are not familiar with but excited to try. Let the spirit of God guide you in this adventure with Him. It might not be easy sometimes, but the outcome is rewarding.
#2 Creativity can bring emotional healing
I have not considered myself creative until I wrote and published my first book, The Lens of Love. The writing was unnatural and not easy, but it produced so much clarity and healing.
I see my husband and my daughters as creative – they dance, sing, paint, and do sculpture and photography. I disqualify myself from being ‘creative’ because I do not do these commonly creative things. As I examine the scripture, I learn that everyone is creative, and it is in our design. In genesis 1:1-5, God creates with His word and His Spirit. The product of His creation is ‘good,’ and it separates light from the darkness. Writing The Lens of Love certainly brought me out of the darkness of the past and unforgiveness. It has brought light to the lives of my readers.
Do you consider yourself creative? Is your creativity bringing light in the darkness?
#3 Creativity with the Spirit of God is part of Purposeful Living.
Bezalel set an example for a fulfilled life when he followed the commandment of God and built the tabernacle of the Lord with the Spirit of God. After being equipped by the Spirit of God through serving Him and ministering to people within the church for more than a decade, I also felt called to share the great love of God with people who are outside of the four walls of the church. Writing and publishing a book as a creative process to share God’s love with the Spirit of God had fulfilled my life purpose. Please check out my Purposeful Living if you want to live a purposeful life.
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