How will You Live as an Artist in God’s Presence?

This is the last of 7 blogs on releasing your creative potential.

If our chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever, then the purpose of our art, and our life as an artist, is to enjoy God.

Glorifying God and enjoying him. One leads to the other. This doesn’t mean that every moment of our artistic life is a sugar high. Enjoying God is the slow, steady build-up of knowing that being in his arms is the right place to be.

Creating art knits our heart to God. This reality is certainly one of the reasons that creativity is a spiritual battle. This battle, this struggle, manifests itself in a variety of ways, many of which creatives are quite familiar with.

The struggle is part of the process, and there’s value in it.

Part of its value for the christian creative is the knowledge of how profoundly God’s promises apply…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)

On the other side of struggle is joy. Sometimes it’s only a small but brightly lit moment. Ultimately, it’s the joy of being in God’s presence at the end of days, knowing that all that had brought him glory was for our good.

And when the noise of this world dies down, and the first paragraph of God’s love letter is complete, we will be bid to enter into the joy of our master.

Here are a few questions you can use for self-coaching. Share your thoughts in the comments section or contact me directly.

• How will your art glorify God and knit your heart closer to his?
• What steps will you take to journey to this future? When will you take your next step?