by Walt Brock

When God created us in His image, He gave us the ability to think and to use our imagination.

This ability to be creative is a God-given ability that can be developed and improved or ignored and squandered. In Matthew 25, the parable of the talents teaches us that we ought to use all of our God-given talents to the fullest extent, then we can even expect to see those opportunities expanded by God when we have fulfilled those we currently have.

Thinking is work. Creative thinking is hard work. Very few people ever have a creative thought out of the blue without considerable time, effort, and thought invested long before that creative thought ever appeared . Creative thinking is a skill that can be learned and developed; it takes time, initiative, and adaptability. Coming up with original ideas is actually a misnomer, because God is the Originator of all, and Scripture says that there is nothing new under the sun. Therefore, to set out on a quest for a creative idea without prayer is like going hunting without any ammunition.

Proverbs 3:5-6—Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 16:3,9—Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Proverbs 4:26—Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Proverbs 15:22—Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 20:18—Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

Creative Thinking Takes Real Effort and Quality Time
Do you believe thinking is real work? What is meditation?
1. Start with a goal in mind. What do you want to do, accomplish, or solve?
2. Research, research, and more research. Get all the facts—past history, who is involved, ask questions . . . do your homework. This is called due diligence.
3. Establish a box of creativity by listing your limitations, such as time deadlines, resources (money, space, equipment, property, etc.), people, and convictions.
4. Make a list of the standard or normal solutions. We’ll call these inside-the-box solutions, the way it has usually been done before.
5. Brainstorm beyond those limitations. This is sometimes called outside-the-box thinking; one is looking for ideas way beyond the norm, possibilities, or even beyond the probabilities.
6. Use your box of creativity by looking for ways you can blend the standard inside-the-box solutions with some of the outside-the-box ideas. Remember to make every effort to stay within your stated limitations.
7. When it becomes impossible (not just difficult) to stay within the limitations (truly impossible), then do an honest reappraisal of your real limitations. Then, reappraise your goals. Carefully consider whether limitations or goals might be able to be adjusted.
8. Make a list of the various possible solutions, and then give your ideas some time to incubate.
9. Re-gather and re-examine any additional information you have come to realize is needed before a decision can be made. Mix in this new information and re-incubate.
10. Put the ideas all together, make a decision, and put the solution into action.

Two Important Qualifiers for This Type of “Imagination” to Work in a Ministry Setting

1. Everything must be done within the context of being scripturally permissible (Genesis 11:1-9).
2. All brainstorm sessions and discussion groups should include all the stakeholders. (Indications are that being part of the process generates more cooperation, regardless of the final results.)
a. Start with a wide group and narrow it down as you go, but don’t exclude anyone who really wants to be there. Make sure all discussions follow the rules of good brainstorming.
b. Share the final list of incubation ideas with everyone and listen to their responses. Address their goals, not their specifics, where possible. Creative thinking is eggshell thin; it can either be crushed or incubated!