Are you ready to innovate?

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:13

Does the Bible have anything to say about being innovative? I think there are several places, but I would like to share the above verse with you and make some connections for you to consider. In this verse Peter is challenging people to be holy. Holiness is a focus on Christ that results in acting Christ-like.

Innovation isn't so much about genius. It has more to do with perspective. Are you ready to see things differently? Are you ready to act on what you see? The more I work on new ideas, the more I am convinced that innovation in God's kingdom is a question of Christ-like obedience. God is the ultimate innovator. He will do the most creative mind-boggling things to bring people to Himself. If that is true, then He is always giving us opportunities to innovate - but are we listening?

So lets break down this verse:

prepare your minds for action: This speaks of the fertile ground that will produce innovation. If your mind is prepared to act on what God gives you, then you will be an innovator. But if you do not prepare your mind for action, then there will be a million reasons why you will not be obedient and turn down the opportunity to innovate.

be self-controlled: Living a life that is self-controlled puts you in a position to be obedient. If you are reading, proactively looking at your time, studying the Bible, engaged in your community, then you will have the lifestyle that allows you to be innovative. People who cannot manage their time and efforts, find very little opportunity to make a difference.

set your hope fully on the grace: Instead of looking back and wondering about what you could have done, this verse focuses you forward. It calls us to set our hope on what Jesus has done and is doing for us through his grace and love. As I have shared before, Hope Expects Good! That means that we are called to expect good from God and look forward to what He has done for us. Forward motion allows us to build speed around new ideas and key projects.

Are you ready to step out in obedience and innovate?