Can You Know Your Destiny for Certain?

Have you ever reflected on what you could have done in life if only circumstances had been different? Getting bogged down in the old “if-only entrapment” that served as justification for your underachievement, you could have pursued a different pathway to contentment.

When I was attending college, I met a man in his late twenties who confessed he could not read and was unable to complete an application for employment he was pursuing. He was intelligent, as confirmed by his vocabulary and ability to communicate.

This person demonstrated accountability and creativity by enrolling in programs designed to help those with dyslexia learn to read and write by unconventional methods. In Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus, disease and poverty could not dissuade Lazarus from his faith in God’s care as he battled to survive each day. While some situations cannot be overcome, faith provides the will to endure. 

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 For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 

~Philippians 2:13 New International Version 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

~John 15:5 New International Version

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Does God Hold You Responsible for Your Skills and Talents?

Creativity is not just coming up with ideas but doing what it takes to be sure an idea is worthy of bringing to fruition. Creativity recognizes that while pursuing an idea, something totally different could be discovered that is more worthwhile than the original goal.

You do not have to be a scientist to be creative. Parenting demands creativity, for it’s a continuous learning process. Parents are accountable to God and the entire social order for teaching and enforcing boundaries so children know what’s acceptable.   

Creativity leads to opportunity and responsibility.

God hold us accountable, as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus demonstrates. Lazarus suffered from a disease that prevented him from working, yet each day he subjected himself to the generosity of others. Present and future rewards are in store for those whose faith and trust in God reflect their determination to be accountable.

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And let us consider how we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 

~Hebrews 10:24 New International Version 

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Do You Need to Regain Your Sense of Accountability?

God intended for each person to use and expand their capacity to be creative. According to Genesis, Adam and Eve were given the task of taking charge of God’s creation by reproducing, subduing, and prospering.

They had to use their intelligence and creativity to survive and prosper. Think about them with no modern conveniences, obtaining and preparing meals while caring for children. God gave human beings an imagination, initiative, and the will to explore, discover and create.

We are held accountable, first to God, for our beliefs, thoughts, talents, and actions. The stories Jesus told were about accountability. The parable of Lazarus and a rich man is about a life dedicated to self-gratification with little concern for others. God expects us to work and enjoy the fruits of our labor while remembering that he, the Lord God, made it possible.  

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So I tell you and call on you in the Lord not to live any more like the people of the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. Their understanding is darkened. Their closed minds have made them strangers to the life God gives. 

~Ephesians 4:17-18 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today 

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How Is Creativity Subdued by Negative Thinking?

Creativity can be kept in submission through repressive feelings of fear and anxiety. Negative thinking will strip away what it takes to risk failure while pursuing success. Matthew 25:25 points out how fear predetermined failure for someone who refused to use his knowledge and creativity to bring him success. "I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground..."

My dad commented on how negative thinking had prevented him from purchasing property that had quadrupled in value almost immediately. Negative thinking comprised of “what if,” permitted a good investment to slip away.

God never intended for us to act on every potential, but to use our intelligence and creative abilities to assess an opportunity. Courage and confidence linked to creative investigations are necessary core ingredients for grasping a future opportunity. Faith and trust anchored in the Lord Jesus Christ are foundational for creativity.  

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You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. Keep reminding yourself, and tell your children and grandchildren as well. 

~Deuteronomy 4:9 Contemporary English Version 

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Is It Possible to Be Too Cautious?

Do you think of yourself as being creative? Jesus’ thoughts on creativity and accountability are revealed in his Parable of the Talents. An employer entrusted $10,000 to an employee, $5,000 to another and $1,000 to someone else. The first two doubled their investments, but the third refused to trust his marketplace skills. He was promptly terminated.

The fired employee was accused of being too cautious, lazy, and wicked. Jesus’ parable defines accountability. What has been entrusted into your care intellectually, physically, and spiritually are gifts to be invested in God’s kingdom here on earth.

Creativity motivates you to seek the limits of your giftedness. God’s gift to each believer is faith and trust, which enable you to push out from what is known, to discover opportunities to serve Jesus Christ in new and exciting ways. 

So stay alert and be ready.

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Be careful, then, how your live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

~Ephesians 5:15-16 New International Version 

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How Are Creativity and Accountability Linked Together?

If someone were to ask, what does it means to be creative, how would you respond? Being creative summons a wide range of possible expressions. Children are judged to be creative who use their imagination to express ideas and those who duplicate other’s achievements.

Another question to ask is what role does accountability play in bringing creativity to fruition? Vincent Van Gough believed his art would become the wave of the future for generations of new artists.

If creativity is to come to fruition it must be bonded to accountability. Remember the man who approached Jesus with the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He was wealthy and religious, yet bored and lost. He needed a special challenge but was unwilling to be accountable to  Jesus’ recommendation. True creativity often requires sacrifice, but God’s abundant benefits more than compensate for what is given up.                                                                                         

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Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 

~Matthew 5:23-24 New International Version 

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What Makes Self-care Seem So Difficult?

Human nature dictates we care for others and especially that we care for ourselves as long as we can do so. Taking care of yourself during grief and sorrow or following a traumatic event is difficult because the tendency to be narrowly focused shapes your behavior.

During very stressful moments the impulse to make important life decisions should be avoided since a significant change adds to stress levels by creating more anxiety and fear. Some changes are unavoidable, so consulting with trusted friends and family can be reassuring.

Taking ownership for self-care is important. Being accountable may involve asking for help, especially when feeling overwhelmed by too many choices and decisions. Never hesitate to seek the comfort and fellowship of the Lord God even if you blame him for what you are experiencing. God loves you with an unfailing love that will not fade or be diminished by your grief and sorrow. 

                           

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How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth! How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west! ... With all my heart I praise the Lord. 

~Psalm 103:11-12, 22b Contemporary English Version 

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