.png)
*If you are a Christian Artist, love glorifying God and would like to be a featured Artist on my blog, go to the bottom of the page for more information.
I have always been a crafter and creative, however, a few years back, the Lord was leading me to start doing art and photography. I have never considered myself very proficient at either, but I wanted to be obedient. I’m not sure why He was leading me in this way, but God does not always tell us why. The scripture He has impressed upon me for the last few years has been Proverbs 3:5-6.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
I attended a Women’s Conference a few years ago and met a woman who told me God had led her to pick up a paintbrush and start painting. I remember thinking that a bit odd, because she had never painted and she just jumped in and did it. It had been a year since she had started and now she was one of the prophetic artists who painted while the speakers were talking on stage. Interestingly enough, by the end of the session, the art had a theme which matched the speaker’s topic. This was not pre-arranged, this was spontaneous and led by the spirit. Needless to say, I was fascinated by how God worked in tandem with the speaker and artist. I had never seen this type of ministry in church and I believe now, God was opening me up to what He would do in and through me.
Performance Prophetic Artists By Fenny Luwis By Marilyn Simandle
As I went to more and more conferences, I was amazed when there would be an artist on stage or on the side of the stage, painting away while the speaker presented the message. Sometimes the artwork would be related to the message and sometimes it would touch an individual person. It showed me God is very much about the details in our lives.
Once I had seen this type of art performed at a Hillsong Conference and another time, when we took a group of Middle Schoolers to CIY conference there was an artist who used sand to create beautiful images of Christ. These were all new experiences to me, and my faith walk.
Joe Castillo Sand Art Jennifer Fix Art
I think many of us want to feel qualified to do any job or task we are asked. I have heard it said, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” I don’t really feel comfortable doing something of which I don’t have mastery or experience. However, now that is exactly where I am. I have no idea what I am doing, but I AM doing it. It has taken me many years to get to this point of letting go. I think many of us want to grip what is familiar and the unknown is a bit intimidating.
What are you hanging onto?
I don’t know where God is going with this, I don’t know if I will ever perceive myself as being an Artist, but I do know I am focused on what God wants me to do and I want to be obedient to His direction. I know fear can have tremendous power to stop us in our tracks, but what about the fear of never seeing what God wanted to do in and through my life. I might fail, but wouldn’t it be better to see where he takes us than to miss out completely? I don’t want to get to heaven and see what I missed out on. I believe that scares me more!
I don’t know about you, but I have struggled with so much frustration and feeling inadequate. Nothing has come easy to me and I do mean NOTHING. Another preconceived notion many of use hold is, “If God calls me to something, it will be a breeze”. Sometimes I think that might be true, but I have not found many things in my life which have come easily. Including learning to draw, paint, take photos with a digital camera and then there is all the computer processing. Which is definitely not my strong suit. However, I am NOT one to easily give up, so I have persevered. I have wanted to give up more times than I can remember, but quitting doesn’t work out well in the end.
I see many advertisements and even other folks say," if you just do this or that, you will achieve." They make it sound SO easy and without much effort. I have never seen anything worth having that didn’t take work and some skin in it.
After about two years of poking at artistic endeavors, I started to get more serious with it. Then, BAM, I got sick and basically was out of commission for almost a year. I don’t think we can ever understand why these things happen, especially when you take health care seriously, take care of yourself and then you get hit with the unexpected out of the blue.
There are times I get frustrated, but after what I have been through, both physically and mentally from that year is “Life is very short and I need to finish well”. I was not living a normal life while I was sick and NOW, every day, is a gift! I need to keep my eye on the prize-Jesus.
I have always been a very sensitive and emotional person, so when something is bothering me, it runs deep. My husband has helped me learn to turn my attention elsewhere, also not easy, but I am improving. It is so easy to get upset with so much of what is going on in our culture. We can get into complaining about this problem or that issue but complaining doesn’t get us anywhere.
God is showing me He wants me to focus on creating art and promoting artists for His Glory. I have no earthly idea where this is going or what it will look like, but I am extremely challenged by the process. What I am learning is to let go of outcomes and allow Him to reign over it. My job is to be obedient and do the art, learn, grow and promote other artists.
Since embarking on this particular journey, I have become extremely aware of color, patterns, shapes, designs, and the beauty around me. God is the Master Artist and He has given us a beautiful world to enjoy. “Pictures speak a thousand words.” I believe Artist’s carry a very special calling to carry out while here on the earth. So much of our world is impacted by works of art and sharing beautiful images. Art can impact our very being.
This may sound unusual, but I have read stories and heard testimonies of people being healed through art, both emotionally and physically. I know an artist who has experienced seeing people healed through His art. How amazing is that?
What if art created was a ministry in and of itself? Not just a business where folks were focused on creating art to make a living? What if the art created was led by the Holy Spirt as a ministry to see what He would do with it and we left the outcome of income and promotion to Him? What if those things were given over to Him? We didn’t work ourselves to a frenzy to accomplish, just immersed ourselves in the process and allowed our father in heaven who has amazing plans for our lives to take the reins and do what He wanted and take our art where He wanted to take it? Sound exciting or scary? I believe letting go leads to freedom and it requires trusting Him. Where are you in letting go and trusting Him?
Most of us are afraid to let go of control in our lives. But He has so much more He wants to do than just have us make a living and exist. His plans are unfathomable. He wants to bless us beyond measure. He wants us to live an amazing life and witness first hand, miracles, just like in the days of the disciples.
1 Corinthians 2:9
“However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him—"
I share my journey with you to encourage you! If you are sensing you are to pursue art or any other endeavor, don’t dismiss it because you don’t feel adequate or any number of excuses or doubts we tell ourselves. Remember when Jesus chose His 12 disciples, what qualified them to minister with Jesus and spread the Gospel? Who among them were evangelists or pastors? As I recall, at least four of them were fishermen. Can you imagine in this day and time if influential people chose fishermen to be on their team, the world would have a field day. Doesn’t make much sense, does it? With God, it doesn’t need to make sense. We were not asked to reason out what God is doing. We are to love Him and obey. It doesn’t have to make sense to us. There is probably more we don’t understand then what we do in God’s economy.
There will come a day when we meet Him face to face and I know I want to be able to say, “Lord, I fulfilled you purpose for my life, served you to the best of my ability and loved you with all my heart, mind, strength and soul."
I would encourage you to seek Him for direction and how He would lead you to serve Him, impact the world for the Kingdom and love others. Silence the naysayers, doubts, feelings of inadequacy and other distractions that come against what He wants to do in and through you. I believe if we focus on God’s plan and leading, we will be partnered with the Master Creator and have massive influence in the world we live in now. Our needs will be met in ways we never dreamed possible.
Remember: He is walking with you every step of the way. He knows how He made you and how He has equipped you. He wants to bless you beyond measure. He just asks you to trust Him with the outcome and stay the course with Him.
I have a few questions for you to ask yourself and think about and then pray for God’s insights and direction.
1. What are your dreams? (God imparts dreams into our heart)
2. If you could do anything with your art, what would it be?
3. Who would you like to see impacted by your art and what outcomes would you like to see?
4. What is keeping you from wholeheartedly pursuing your dreams?
5. How would you like to be remembered?
6. How do you see God in your life? Is he distinct or intimate?
7. What is your biggest fear concerning your art?
I would love to have you share any of these you feel comfortable sharing. Please share them with God and allow Him to minister to you.
I would like to conclude with a Scripture.
Isaiah 60:1-3
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
By Melanie Perry
Prayer
May you walk in the calling for which He has destined you and not look back.
Create and walk with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Let His glorious light shine through you to impact the darkness and bring the lost and hurting into the light.
May He immensely bless your hands to create and give you His leading on the work He wants to do in and through you!
May He surround you with protection and provision to follow the calling you were born into and to Glorify Him in the process.
Be blessed in all things!
Amen
*If you would like prayer, please submit prayer requests to me. I would be honored to pray for you!
Submit through this website or e-mail me at melanie.perry@glorycreative.net.
Calling for Featured Artists
If you are a Christian Artist and would like to be featured on my blog, I would love to do that, too. Contact me through e-mail. I would ask you write the article about what you want to say and show some of your work. It is fine to point folks to your business but please keep God center in your focus in the article. We want to glorify Him in all we do. I want to leave this flexible and open ended to allow each person the freedom to express God's individual fingerprint of creativity within you to flow in unique expression of His presence within you. I will let you know once submitted if I can accept your submission. I will space submissions so they all don't post simultaneously. Basically, I will stagger postings. This will afford artists individual exposure without competition. Please don't be shy. He is pleased with the work you create with Him. He wants you to shine it to the world!
It is my heart's desire to promote and display God's Creatives to the world. Again, my e-mail address is melanie.perry@glorycreative.net. I would love to be a conduit of showing your creative expression to the world.
I especially welcome those seeking Kingdom Presence and moving in Prophetic Art!
Shine the light of God’s love in all you do!
Be Blessed!
Melanie
Comments