Subject Matter for Deeper Exploration
To God and about God as an act of worship.
It can include expressing in art form aspects of His nature and attributes -eg love, mercy, greatness, beauty, goodness, faithfulness, as well as our thanksgiving.
About the ways & truths of the Kingdom of God and the written Word.
We can create ‘pictures’ with the Arts about what the Kingdom of God is like. One of Jesus’ Art forms was story-telling. He spoke in word pictures. He told parables or everyday stories that people could visualize and relate to. They are earthly stories that connect to a heavenly or spiritual meaning.
About us and our relationship with God – prophetic revelation & response.
Art/s can reveal and bring to the surface what God wants to communicate. Through art, God can touch hearts in a way that calls for a response to believe, have faith and act.
About situations, regions, people groups, individuals – for intercession & proclamation.
Where we seek the wisdom of the Lord in prayer and stand in the gap and declare God’s intentions, promises and blessings for specific situations, regions, people groups, or individuals. We can use any combination of the Art/s to convey the message. This includes Art/s used in praise or in spiritual warfare, that is, in fighting the battles. Painted or dyed flags of intercession are a good example.
About the environment and His creation.
The things that we look at and see everyday can help us to know more about the nature and character of God. When we look at the beauty and majestic greatness of God’s creation and design whether it be a tiny fragrant flower or the stars in the galaxy, we can connect these qualities to the invisible God who made them. We are not separate from what we create. Part of ourselves is found within our artworks. God is the master artist putting His handiwork, and Himself, on display for us to know Him.
Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse”.
Mankind’s stewardship.
We can also look at our environment and see the disturbance caused by the lack of God’s presence and blessing through our own sinfulness and misgivings. Many times we have disregarded God and each other, and we wonder why the world is like it is. God wants to redeem and restore the land and bring forth a harvest of plenty.
Healing & Redemptive Art/s.
God can use the Art/s to release His anointing to save, heal, deliver and restore. We can create art pieces that are spontaneous, casual and free flowing or we can create more ‘finished’ pieces. Both forms help people to connect with God and His ways, to open up and be touched by the Father’s heart of love and be changed.
I love how the Art’s can work together.
My encouragement
Whatever your preferred Art/s or style, just do your thing. Be you! Enjoy your flavour of art/s expression with God and let Him shape it… and you. Being our honest self is half the battle. And although I make suggestions about God and the Art/s, it is easy to seize up with worrying about… is it prophetic… am I to paint, sing or dance prophetically… is it to be about the things of the KOG… or is my Art/s to be healing Art/s?
My encouragement to you is just keep your creativity flowing, stay connected to the Source, and let God lead you and anoint as He wills for the purposes He chooses. Paint… sketch… sing… dance… write… what is on your heart, bring to life what stirs you and you will be surprised at what emerges and how God uses it.
Remember Our Work as Artists begins at Home in Our Own Soul and Spirit.
If we are to properly steward the gifts and talents God has given us, our art needs to be nurtured and developed. My art inspiration flows on from my quite times of meditation and communing with God and His Word. I hope to capture an element of His Grace whether I’m at home or out enjoying nature. These are often ‘unfinished pieces’ or sketches on the pages of my art journals. These sketches can speak in and of themselves. Some are to remain private, just for me, some are still waiting to be developed into more ‘finished’ pieces. We are all on a journey and are a work in progress – and I am still working through some inhibitions as well as exploring different art techniques to fully produce or express the art pieces I would like to do.