• 

Releasing your creativity leaves you vulnerable…

It is a window into what’s inside you…

It reveals how you hear God…

It opens you up to the criticism of those who don’t take the risk of being transparent…

And, one of the most frustrating vulnerabilities is when people STEAL from your creativity.

Yes, people can be inspired in a way to spark their own creativity, but I’m not talking about them.

I’m talking about those, some of whom are your peers, that will..

…read, watch, observe, listen, feel, groove…

…have their imagination, passion, curiosity, love, and FAITH defibrillated by your…

…words, music, voice, art, innovativeness, culinary skills…your creativity…

…but rather than quote, credit, or acknowledge that God used YOU to release it…

…they will repurpose or blatantly ‘carbon copy’ it as their own. (Yep, that was a purposely long run-on sentence and overworked ellipsis).

Some preachers who quote the great theologians, or famous preachers, speakers or authors feel free to use your creativity as their own.

Some writers and bloggers who are careful to cite other sources will feel it’s okay to assume ownership of what they read from your pen or keyboard.

Some musicians will use just enough of bars to make it their own.

Some artists will hope your obscurity remains obscure.

Some chefs put their name on your culinary genius.

Some inventors will tweak and turn your innovation into theirs. (Think about Apple and Android).

The truth is that one of the greatest forms of flattery is when someone steals from your creativity.

If God uses you to release something, His concern is that it’s released. There were countless people in the bible and beyond who were responsible for the word of God we all rely on today.

Think of the countless tunes that stick in your head and you don’t know who composed them.

Now think about this. Without researching it, do you know the name of the person responsible for putting chapters and verses in the bible?

And, it’s true that we can think something is original to us and someone else we know released the same creativity. Personally, I rely on someone else’s creativity and free images for every blog post (not this one though.)

Remember that you’re an expert at being you. The fingerprint of your voice and personality will be consistent in everything you do.

And really, all of us who share our gifts with the world without giving God the credit and glory is guilty of spiritual plagiarism because anything GOOD will originate from Him.

When I’m honest with myself, my creativity isn’t mine, it’s God’s…and there’s nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NKJV)

⁹ That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.

BE BLESSTIFED!

• 

Do you remember in the first chapter of 1 Samuel when Hannah, Eli’s wife, prayed silently and he thought she was drunk because he only saw her lips moving?

God heard that prayer and granted her a son.

The more I learn about how things work in the spirit world and how they effect the physical world…

The more I learn about the spiritual battles that take place over our lives by angels and fallen angels…

The more I realize that some prayers need to remain silent. Some things, some plans, some goals, and especially some fears need to remain between you and God.

Notice what happened when Daniel prayed about one of his visions, the angel that God dispatched to give him revelation was detained 3 weeks by a high ranking fallen angel…

Daniel 10:10-14 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. ¹¹ And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

¹² Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

Notice how Yeshua reminds us that we all have angels who minister to us daily…

Matthew 18:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

You can’t believe in God without believing in angels and fallen angels (demons). These demons partner with the adversary (the devil) in being our aggressive antagonists.

Matthew 18:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

The devil is our spiritual adversary, but he does not have the ability to know our thoughts. But, just like any physical human adversary, he can react to what you say to antagonize and hinder you. He and his fallen angel cohorts can react to what you say.

That’s why people can’t throw around the common Christian catch phrase, SPEAK IT INTO EXISTENCE too loosely. 2 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL BEFORE WE SAY ‘SPEAK IT INTO EXISTENCE’ or ‘NAME IT & CLAIM IT’…

Just as a physical enemy will react to your words, so will the devil and demons. So, be very mindful that some things DON’T need to be said out loud.

Some prayers need to be spoken in your heart as you pray silently, just as Hannah did.

God has knowledge of what you need even before you ask.

His Holy Spirit steps in when words can’t be expressed or don’t need to be expressed…

When you pray silently it’s just like whispering in God’s ear.

Romans 8:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession ^[a]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Be careful how and with whom you share your plans…

Be careful how and with whom you share your hopes…

Be careful how and with whom you share your fears…

Pray for wisdom on what should be spoken out loud and when you should whisper in God’s ear.

BE BLESSTIFIED!