Are you gifted in the creative arts? Maybe you find that you are wired to write, sing, act, dance, draw, build, sew, sculpt, take photos, or other expression. If so, we thank God for you! You help convey the beauty and wonder of God. You help communicate a message.

If you have a creative gift, we pray you know the giver of your gift, the equipping and empowerment of your gift, the purpose for your gift, and the responsibility of your gift.  

Your creative gift is from God

God is the originator of all created things. As a creator, He excels.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

"O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." Is 64:8

God’s creative likeness can be seen in all His gifts, including artisans. If you are designed to be an engineer, God has given you creativity to find solutions in the engineering field. If you are gifted in accounting, God has given you creativity to work with numbers. Artists use creativity to communicate God’s messages and expressions through art. In sharing His likeness with His sons and daughters, the Father delights in our discovery and our accomplishments with the gifts He has given. These gifts differ from one another, but each are a reflection of Him. The creative arts gifts from God.[1] We take after our Daddy-God!

We don't gift ourselves. God is the one who graciously gifts us, calls us, prepares us, launches us, and establishes us. As we yield to the Father and take action in each season, God takes our steps of obedience and causes His plan to unfold with His favor and in His timing.

Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work. Exodus 36:2

There are many artisans in the Bible, including the artists that helped with design in the temple and tabernacle, as well as Jesus and Joseph and their carpentry, Lydia and her work with fabric, the Proverbs 31 woman and her handmade wares, and David and his music and song writing.

The artistic gift is unique in many ways. For one, some art often transcends language, communicating God’s message beyond articulation. There is an expression, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Artistic gifts can communicate, sometimes conveying something words cannot say. 

Also, God describes an artist having a wisdom or insight. Artists have a knowing that others do not have. They see differently than others. They notice things others miss. They have an ability to communicate things others may not have. We all have our part, and everyone is valuable.

God’s Word doesn’t change, but expressions of His Word will vary from person to person, generation to generation, and culture to culture.

Your creative gift has an anointing

It is the Spirit of God that stirs the heart of the artist to serve the Lord. Exodus 36:2

The creative gift is a tool. People can take those tools and use them as they choose. For the Christian who wants to serve God with their gifts, the Holy Spirit will take those gifts, inspire the heart of the artist, and anoint those gifts with His power.  

The Holy Spirit moves through the children of God with a flow of His anointing. The anointing has been compared to oil, water, and wind – things that have movement. Like other gifts from God, including preaching and teaching, the creative gift has a flow. Once you tap into it, it can rush like a river. You might experience a flow of lyrics to songs, words to poems, and strokes for painting. In the natural, once artists activate their creativity, they describe about getting into a zone of productivity. However, beyond the natural, Christian artists can experience an anointing where the Holy Spirit is breathing through them, inspiring them as they create for God.

Your creative gift is given to glorify God

King Solomon wanted to build a house for God, but not just any house. Solomon described the greatness of God and wanted a building that would send the message of how great He was. Solomon called for a skilled designer to build a house that would honor God among the people and the nations.[2] When we see some of the architecture of churches throughout the ages, we see that Christians worked together with effort, talent, and finances to make a place that was special for the persons who would come in to worship and a place that communicated the value they put in their worship and their God. They gave God their best.

In another instance, God used a potter to give a prophetic message to Israel.[3] Spiritual matters are not always visual, but God can use an artist to help communicate spiritual matters and prophetic messages through art. That message points people to hear and see what God wants us to hear and see.  

God also gave prophetic songs through David in the book of Psalms, many of them Messianic. In addition, many worship songs and music have been written throughout time to magnify God and experience His presence, giving Him the glory that is His. Others have danced before God, physically expressing a celebration of praise.  

Any gift we have, when placed in the hands of God, will show His work in us and through us.  

Your creative gift is a responsibility

1.  Submit your creative gift to God.

Creativity craves a unique expression. It often wants to communicate in a way that is different than other expressions or to explore the undiscovered.  

When creatives are submitted to God, they will not get pulled to explore something outside of God and His Word. In a love relationship with the Lord, as artists spend time in worship and in the Word, they won’t get off track in their desire to create something new, something that hasn’t been done before. When any of us have a heart to remain faithful to God, to please Him instead of doing something that will get a response from people, we will be more likely to stay aligned with the Father. Boundaries are not meant to stifle God’s people; they are meant to empower them.

 2.  Build yourself up spiritually.

We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body. Our soul includes our emotions and our intellect, incredible instruments for children of God. The soul and the body are meant to be in subjection to our spirit, our heart.

When we are born again, the heart (spirit) changes, recreated in the image of God. The soul and body do not get that immediate change and are referred to as the flesh. The soul has to be renewed and the body brought into subjection. If not, we wrestle with the worldly or even sinful influences. As we grow in spirit, the spirit begins to develop and we keep our soul and body in a healthy alignment.

“Carnal Christian” is a term that relates to the born again believer that is spiritually immature or weak, allowing the soul and body to be dominate. When the soul and body are not submitted, even a Christian can become involved in carnal thoughts or behaviors.

This truth applies to everyone. We need to grow spiritually so we won’t get out of alignment with God’s ways.

Art is often something we feel. Emotions are a tool from God for expression, but if we are not developed or strengthened in spirit, we can become ruled by our soul rather than by our spirit. If something we create is based more on emotion and contradicts the truth of God’s Word or the truth of a spiritual matter, we need to have discernment and make sure we are doing what is right.

3.     Keep your eyes on Jesus and off the opinions of people.

We all need to value the gifts God has given to others, respecting their perspective. We all need to learn to work together.

If someone does not value your gift, continue to obey God and serve Him. Just because someone doesn't value your gift doesn't mean your gift isn't valuable. Find who will receive from you, and give.

4.     4. Develop your gift.

When God gives us gifts, He also wants to equip, train, and resource us to use those gifts for the calling He has put on our lives. We have a part in pursuing the equipping God wants to supply.

Also, God will empower the artist to fulfill His plan and purpose by His Spirit, but we also must pursue His anointing and seek to grow in the anointing. There is a spiritual side to gifting and there is a natural side. We do our part, and God does His part.

5.     5. Be responsible to use the talent God has given you.

Artistic work is work. Hopefully we all enjoy what we are called to do, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t take effort, time, energy and resources. In fact, a product, such as a video project, may be presented and done in a few minutes, but it took all week to film, edit and produce.

“steward the gift God has given you.” I Peter 4:10

In Matthew 25:14-29, Jesus gives a parable of talents (money). While this Scripture is

referring to the millennium, the principle still applies to us today. When we are faithful with our gifts, God will increase us.   

In addition, we also should pay attention to the way the creative mind works. How an artist produces is often different than the way other gifts will produce. Creatives often need room to create. Distractions can be a hindrance and deadlines, while helpful, may add a pressure that stifles creativity.  

If you haven’t used your gift, know that God has not removed your gift. Pick up where you left off, and see what the Lord will do.

"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Romans 11:9

Expressing, presenting and communicating are vital in the church today, and the creative arts are a huge part of ministry. Know what God has called you to do and gifted you to do. Know your purpose and be responsible with the gift God gave you. God is the One who will reward you for the way you serve Him in His kingdom. Thank you for bringing beauty and light to the kingdom of God!