October 21, 2025 • 18 mins
What if your studio felt like worship instead of a grind? We explore five grounded, practical ways to honor God with your creativity—starting with gratitude, moving into faithful studio rhythms, inviting the Holy Spirit into your process, growing in artistic excellence, and learning to create from rest. Rather than chasing likes, sales, or approval, we shift the focus to peace, purpose, and partnership with God.
We begin by anchoring identity in the truth that creativity is God’s idea and a good gift. From there, we talk about showing up consistently and dedicating a simple, sacred space—whether it’s a full studio or a corner table—as an act of faithfulness. We unpack what it looks like to co-create with the Holy Spirit, recognizing those moments of flow as signs of relationship, not randomness. You’ll hear why “filled and skilled” is a powerful pairing for artists, how excellence expands your creative vocabulary, and why skill actually births freedom. Scripture threads through the conversation—Genesis 1:27, James 1:17, Luke 16:10, Exodus 31, Proverbs 24:3–4, Philippians 2:13, Psalm 46:10, and Colossians 3:23—offering a biblical framework for creative practice.
Finally, we challenge the hustle mindset with the unforced rhythms of grace. Creating from rest means trusting God with outcomes, releasing comparison, and working wholeheartedly as an offering rather than a performance. Expect practical steps, honest encouragement, and a clear path to align your art life with Kingdom peace and purpose.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Hey, have you ever wondered how to really start
honoring God with your art?
Not in some kind of striving ortrying to make it Christian
enough sort of way, but reallyin a way that you can create and
live in a way that really bringsGod genuine delight and joy.
Well, listen, if that's you,today I'm going to give you five
really powerful ways to starthonoring God with your
creativity so that you can startwalking in his peace, purpose,
(00:23):
and partnership with the HolySpirit today on the Thriving
Christian Artist.
Well, hey, my friend, I'm MattTommy.
Welcome to the ThrivingChristian Artist channel where
every week I'm creating greatcontent for artists just like
you to help you gain clarity andconfidence and creative freedom
in Christ.
Definitely want to encourage youto hit the subscribe button so
you never miss any of the greatcontent that I'm creating for
(00:46):
you that'll help encourage youand grow in everything that
God's got for you as an artistin his kingdom.
So listen, let's jump into thisbecause I know all of us, I know
I do, and I know you do too,because that's why you're here.
You want to, you want to honorthe Lord in everything that
you're doing.
And so the first way that Ithink is the foundation for us
really honoring the Lord andwhat we do is gratitude.
(01:07):
It's always starting with thisplace of thankfulness that the
Lord has created us as artists,that he's given us this gift.
In fact, you got to remember,creativity is not your idea and
it's not my idea.
Creativity was God's idea.
In fact, let me read you this.
In Genesis 127, it says, So Godcreated human beings in his own
(01:27):
image.
In the image of God, he createdthem, male and female, he
created them.
And I love it in James 1.17.
It also says this whatever isgood and perfect is a gift
coming down to us from our Godand Father, who created all the
lights in heaven.
He never changes or casts ashifting shadow.
(01:48):
So, in other words, every idea,every uh, you know, inspiration
that comes up in your heart,every moment of beauty that
you're able to go, that isawesome.
Every artistic skill that youhave, every dream that's in your
heart as an artist, all of that,it originates in God for you and
wants to move through you.
(02:09):
This is God's idea.
And so I think it's just superimportant that every day you
live from a place of gratitudebecause it starts being, you
know, otherwise, if you're notliving from a place of
gratitude, it starts being aboutyou proving yourself and you
trying to make it happen and youtrying to, you know, be better
than this person or that person,or, you know, it's all about
(02:30):
your skill or all about how yourInstagram page is growing or all
about your art sales.
But when you can back up and yousay, no, I'm gonna start today
from a place of gratitude andsaying, Jesus, thank you that
you created me as an artist onpurpose.
Thank you that this gift to beable to see and agree with
heaven, to create with you, tofeel inspiration and to love
(02:51):
beauty and to be able to do thethings that I do every day as an
artist.
God, thank you that this wasyour idea and thank you that
this gift that you've given meof creativity is from you and
it's for you.
Listen, when you do that, yourart becomes an act of worship
instead of sort of a burden or,you know, as opposed to this
(03:13):
just sort of self-absorbed kindof thing that we're doing.
No, when we come at it withgratitude, our art becomes
worship and our art becomes aplace where we can invite the
Lord to inhabit what we do andwho we are as people.
And I just love that.
It's definitely the foundationof everything that we do in
honoring the Lord with our art.
All right.
Number two, the second way toreally honor God with your art
(03:37):
is to show up faithful in thestudio with your gift.
Now, you now you may say, well,duh, Matt, that's kind of a
given.
Listen, I've been mentoringartists a long time.
I've been an artist my wholelife.
I know what a challenge it canbe for some people who feel
like, yeah, I'm an artist.
I love God.
I'm thankful for the gift.
I want to do this, but I'm notjust, I've not been making time
(03:59):
for this in my life.
Uh it's gotten pushed to theback, to the side, to the bottom
of the of the barrel in my life.
Listen, showing up faithful is aprimary way that you honor the
Lord.
You know why?
Jesus said in uh, and I'm gonnaread this to you in Luke 16, 10,
in the New Living.
I love this.
He said, if you're faithful withthe little things, you will be
(04:19):
faithful with the large ones.
I love it in in Matthew 25, inthe parable of the talents,
Jesus says, Well done, good andfaithful servant.
What?
You've been faithful withlittle, now I'm gonna make you
ruler over much.
And listen, here's what I reallybelieve.
If your creative gift that wethat you were just thanking God
for, right?
(04:39):
If your creative gift wasimportant enough for God to give
it to you, it's important enoughfor you to make time and give
energy and resource and focus toin your life.
That is a primary way that youhonor the Lord.
And that means for us asartists, I think not only
showing up in your studio spaceevery day, but maybe you say,
(05:02):
well, man, I don't even have astudio space.
And I would say, go create adedicated studio place.
You say, well, that's my diningroom table or or my back bedroom
or a place in the basement or orwhatever.
Listen, it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter what it is.
It doesn't matter where it is,it just matters that it is and
that it's a place that you'reshowing up uh even in times that
(05:24):
you don't feel like it.
Even in times when you're like,oh, I'm not feeling the juice
today.
I'm not feeling inspired.
Listen, show up in the studioanyway.
Go in, go and sit in your studiospace or wherever it is, and
just start with gratitude again.
And just say, well, Lord, thankyou that I got this space.
Lord, thank you that you'vegiven me this gift.
And Lord, I'm just inviting youinto this place right now.
(05:46):
And you, you know, every timeyou do that, every time you show
up in your studio space, you'resaying to the Lord, this is a
sacred space.
This is a place that I meet withyou.
God, I trust you and I believethat this matters.
And even though I can't see thefull picture of what I'm gonna
create today or how this is allgonna happen in my life being an
artist, I trust you that when Iuse what's in my hand and I
(06:11):
offer that to you in the studiospace, I trust that you're gonna
multiply it.
And you know what?
That's how the kingdom of Godworks.
You're gracious, you're you havegratitude in your heart.
Number two, you show up in thestudio and you say, God, I'm
showing up and I'm beingfaithful to the things that
you've called me to.
Now, number three, once you'rein that creative process, a
(06:32):
third way to honor the Lord withyour with your creativity and
with your art is to invite himinto your creative process.
And again, you may say, wow,I've loved Jesus for a long
time.
I've been saved a long time, andI've been doing art for a long
time.
And I've just never thoughtabout inviting the Holy Spirit
into my creative process.
(06:53):
And let me listen, if that'syou, let me just say, no shame,
none.
You're not alone.
You are absolutely not alone.
I created baskets and my art along time before I ever thought
about inviting the Holy Spiritinto my creative process because
I kind of thought, you know, Ilove Jesus over here and I do my
art over here.
And I'm like, well, does Godeven have a plan for my art?
(07:15):
But man, when I startedrealizing that God had a plan
for my art and he wanted me toinvite him into my process, wow.
See, you start to realize God isnot some distant observer.
God's not over there and you'reover here if you're a believer
in Jesus.
Listen, you've been redeemed andreconciled or restored to the
(07:36):
fullness of the kingdom.
You're his son, you're hisdaughter.
And so he's not just waiting onyou to finish the peace so he
can bless whatever it is thatyou do, you know.
He's right there with you.
In fact, the Bible says inPhilippians 2.13, I love this.
It says this in the New Living.
It says, for God is working inyou, inside, not on the outside,
(07:59):
not around you, in you.
For God is working in you,giving you the desire and the
power to do what pleases him.
So again, it goes back to thisplace of gratitude of like, oh
my gosh, Lord, that nudge ofinspiration that you're giving
me that I'm feeling right now.
I trust that that's from you.
(08:19):
Lord, you know, you ever got inthe studio and you kind of lose
track of time and you're justkind of like going for it and
you're like, oh my gosh, threehours have have gone by.
You're in that creative flow.
That's not random.
That's relationship with him.
That's you flowing with him inthis beautiful creative process
that God's given us theopportunity to flow in.
(08:41):
And so invite him into thatprocess.
In other words, raise yourawareness of the presence of
God.
Turn on, you know, when I comeinto the studio, man, I turn on
worship music.
I'm praying in the spirit, I'mtouching my materials, I'm just
thanking God in this place thatGod, I've showed up today.
I want to create with you.
Lord, I want to sense whatyou're doing.
(09:03):
I want to move with your spirit.
So, Lord, heighten my awarenessto who you are and what you're
doing.
See, you're not trying toimpress God with your skill and
with your creativity and allthat.
No, you're co-laboring with himas a son and as a daughter who's
already fully loved, alreadyfully accepted, already fully
provided for.
Listen, this again, this isGod's idea.
(09:26):
And so we honor God by creating,creating with him, not just for
him and not definitely not apartfrom him, but inviting him in to
that process.
All right.
Now, number four, the fourth wayto honor God and your creativity
is really leaning into thisprocess of being what I called
both filled and skilled.
(09:47):
You know, in Exodus uh 31, ittalks about that Bezalel was
filled uh with the Spirit of Godand skilled in every manner of
workmanship.
Now, for most of us Christianartists, you know, that love
Jesus, being filled with theSpirit, inspiration, loving
God's presence, all that, thatmay come natural to you.
All right.
But sometimes it takes work andit feels like work leaning into
(10:11):
the skill development.
But here's the thing I want toencourage you in Proverbs 24, 3
and 4 says this by wisdom, ahouse is built, and through
understanding it's established,and through knowledge, its rooms
are filled with rare andbeautiful treasures.
In other words, honoring Godwith your creativity and with
your art means that you'regrowing both in the spiritual
(10:34):
depth and spiritual relationshipwith the Lord, but also in your
artistic excellence.
In fact, here's the deal (10:39):
the more that you will grow in your
craft as an artist, whateverthat is, whether it's painting
or woodworking or metal or mixedmedia like I do, basket weaving,
fiber art, whatever that may be,the more that you develop your
craft, the more language thatyou are giving the Holy Spirit
(11:00):
to speak through and to movethrough every skill that you
develop, every hour that youspend in the studio, you're
expanding your creativelanguage, you're expanding your
creative skill base.
And so when you get an idea fromthe Lord, it's not limited by
the skills that you have, butno, you're always expanding
those.
And guess what?
I've just found as you'll expandyour creative toolbox, as you'll
(11:24):
lean into skill development asan artist, guess what?
God will increase theinspiration and the type of
movement that He's that He'sthat He's moving in you.
He'll He'll speak things in adifferent way.
And when God does speak, you'llbe able to interpret it in a
different way.
Why?
Because you've got more skillsand opportunities.
See, freedom births opportunity.
(11:48):
Freedom and skill are not uh atodds with each other.
In fact, skill births freedom.
The more skill you have, themore freedom you have to
operate.
And so excellence, when we'reoperating in excellence, when
we're leaning into being bothfilled and skilled and trusting
the Holy Spirit to lead us inthat process, it gives God
(12:10):
something to bless.
Skill gives God tools to use inand through us.
And so I think it's superimportant for all of us, no
matter where you are on yourjourney, stay teachable, keep
learning, and keep leaning intothis thing of being both filled
and skilled in order to enlargeyour capacity for the glory of
God to move in your life andthrough your life as an artist.
(12:33):
All right.
Now, number five, all right.
This is huge and probably justas important as gratitude.
These are all important, but butnumber five is really important.
Create from a place of rest.
You know, if you've been anartist for any time or you've
been alive for any time, yourealize that the the spirit of
this world is always abouthustle and make it happen and
(12:54):
control the outcomes and rah,rah, rah, more is better, faster
is better, comparing ourselvesto one another.
But listen, in the kingdom, it'sexactly the opposite.
God invites us to be faithful inthe process, to be faithful to
show up, to be faithful tocreate our work and invite him
into that process and then trusthim for the impact and for the
(13:16):
increase and for the influenceand for the fruit of our life,
right?
That's a very different ideathan what the world brings.
I love you know Psalm 46, 10.
It says this in the New Livingbe still and know that I am God.
There's a there's a place inyour life as you're seeking to
honor the Lord with your artthat you know, sometimes you
(13:38):
just got to take a breath and belike, you know what?
I got a show coming up, or I gota commission going on, or Lord,
I just I'm just feeling thepressure right now to do more,
be more, have more, say more,all the stuff.
And Lord, in this moment, I'mjust gonna take a deep breath
and I'm gonna be still and knowthat you are God.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna take onyour yoke, for your yoke is easy
(14:01):
and your burden is light.
In fact, I I love that verse inthe message translation in
Matthew 11, 28 and 30.
It says this, Jesus is sayingthis in the message, are you
tired and worn out, burned outon religion?
Come to me and get away with me,and you'll recover your life.
And I'll show you how to take areal rest.
(14:22):
Walk with me and work with meand watch how I do it and learn.
Listen, learn the unforcedrhythms of grace.
My friend, as you're learning tohonor the Lord and to walk with
him as an artist, that's whatGod wants our rhythm to be with
him, the unforced rhythms ofgrace.
You don't have to chase success,you don't have to manipulate the
(14:44):
outcomes, you don't have toprove yourself to God or to
anybody else.
Your job and my job is tofaithfully show up, rest in him,
trust God for the increase, andbe faithful to the things that
God's called us to, faithful tothe things that he's put in our
hands is artists.
Listen, when you do that, God isgonna be faithful.
When you choose to rest, itliterally makes room for his
(15:08):
favor to flow in your life andin your art.
And listen, I don't know aboutyou, but that's what I want to
see.
I want to see the favor of Godand the blessing of God and the
the presence of God moving in mylife and through my life.
But it only happens when we'rewhen we can take our hands off
the outcomes.
We can we can trust him, when wecan trust him with the outcomes
(15:31):
of our life and just be faithfulto rest in him.
Listen, I want to give you onefinal scripture, one of my
favorites in Colossians 3.23.
It says, Whatever you do, workwith all your heart as working
for the Lord, not for humanmasters.
And listen, that's really theheart of it, right?
Create with all your heart, notfrom approval, but as an
(15:51):
offering to the Lord, to the onewho gave us this creative gift
in the first place.
So listen, just to wrap it up,how do we honor the Lord with
our art?
We thank him for our gift.
We show up faithfully in thestudio, we invite him in to the
creative process.
We grow in both being filled andskilled.
And number five, we rest andtrust God for the outcomes.
(16:15):
Listen, my friend, if you dothat, I promise, not only is God
going to be glorified, you'regoing to be fulfilled and be
able to walk in all the abundantlife that Jesus has promised you
as an artist in his kingdom.
Now, listen, I've done my besttoday to inspire and equip and
encourage you today.
I want to ask you one thing.
Would you, number one, make surethat you hit subscribe and that
you never miss any of thecontent that's you on the
(16:38):
channel?
Number two, would you leave me acomment down below?
I would love to know which oneof these five principles means
the most to you.
Maybe there's one that you'rereally having a lot of
breakthrough in, or maybethere's one that you're kind of
struggling with.
And maybe the, you know, theHoly Spirit highlighted that to
you today and is something thatyou want to really work on with
Him.
Whatever it is, I'd be honoredif you would invite me into your
(16:59):
journey and uh maybe ask aquestion, leave a comment.
I read every one of thosemyself.
I love to answer your questionshere on the channel and love
just to continue to encourageyou and equip you in everything
that God's called you to.
All right.
I love you, my friend.
Thanks again for being with me.
And remember, till next time,you were created to thrive.
(17:20):
Bye.
Hey, my friend, before you go,make sure that you're signed up
for the Thriving ChristianArtist Weekly.
It's my free newsletter full ofspiritual encouragement,
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Every issue is absolutely free,and it includes the latest
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(17:42):
the week, and again, tons oftips and encouragement and
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You can click the link righthere in the show notes to join
us, and it's a great way to stayconnected.
All right, love you.
Bye.
Hey, have you ever wondered how to really start
honoring God with your art?
Not in some kind of striving ortrying to make it Christian
enough sort of way, but reallyin a way that you can create and
live in a way that really bringsGod genuine delight and joy.
Well, listen, if that's you,today I'm going to give you five
really powerful ways to starthonoring God with your
creativity so that you can startwalking in his peace, purpose,
(00:23):
and partnership with the HolySpirit today on the Thriving
Christian Artist.
Well, hey, my friend, I'm MattTommy.
Welcome to the ThrivingChristian Artist channel where
every week I'm creating greatcontent for artists just like
you to help you gain clarity andconfidence and creative freedom
in Christ.
Definitely want to encourage youto hit the subscribe button so
you never miss any of the greatcontent that I'm creating for
(00:46):
you that'll help encourage youand grow in everything that
God's got for you as an artistin his kingdom.
So listen, let's jump into thisbecause I know all of us, I know
I do, and I know you do too,because that's why you're here.
You want to, you want to honorthe Lord in everything that
you're doing.
And so the first way that Ithink is the foundation for us
really honoring the Lord andwhat we do is gratitude.
(01:07):
It's always starting with thisplace of thankfulness that the
Lord has created us as artists,that he's given us this gift.
In fact, you got to remember,creativity is not your idea and
it's not my idea.
Creativity was God's idea.
In fact, let me read you this.
In Genesis 127, it says, So Godcreated human beings in his own
(01:27):
image.
In the image of God, he createdthem, male and female, he
created them.
And I love it in James 1.17.
It also says this whatever isgood and perfect is a gift
coming down to us from our Godand Father, who created all the
lights in heaven.
He never changes or casts ashifting shadow.
(01:48):
So, in other words, every idea,every uh, you know, inspiration
that comes up in your heart,every moment of beauty that
you're able to go, that isawesome.
Every artistic skill that youhave, every dream that's in your
heart as an artist, all of that,it originates in God for you and
wants to move through you.
(02:09):
This is God's idea.
And so I think it's just superimportant that every day you
live from a place of gratitudebecause it starts being, you
know, otherwise, if you're notliving from a place of
gratitude, it starts being aboutyou proving yourself and you
trying to make it happen and youtrying to, you know, be better
than this person or that person,or, you know, it's all about
(02:30):
your skill or all about how yourInstagram page is growing or all
about your art sales.
But when you can back up and yousay, no, I'm gonna start today
from a place of gratitude andsaying, Jesus, thank you that
you created me as an artist onpurpose.
Thank you that this gift to beable to see and agree with
heaven, to create with you, tofeel inspiration and to love
(02:51):
beauty and to be able to do thethings that I do every day as an
artist.
God, thank you that this wasyour idea and thank you that
this gift that you've given meof creativity is from you and
it's for you.
Listen, when you do that, yourart becomes an act of worship
instead of sort of a burden or,you know, as opposed to this
(03:13):
just sort of self-absorbed kindof thing that we're doing.
No, when we come at it withgratitude, our art becomes
worship and our art becomes aplace where we can invite the
Lord to inhabit what we do andwho we are as people.
And I just love that.
It's definitely the foundationof everything that we do in
honoring the Lord with our art.
All right.
Number two, the second way toreally honor God with your art
(03:37):
is to show up faithful in thestudio with your gift.
Now, you now you may say, well,duh, Matt, that's kind of a
given.
Listen, I've been mentoringartists a long time.
I've been an artist my wholelife.
I know what a challenge it canbe for some people who feel
like, yeah, I'm an artist.
I love God.
I'm thankful for the gift.
I want to do this, but I'm notjust, I've not been making time
(03:59):
for this in my life.
Uh it's gotten pushed to theback, to the side, to the bottom
of the of the barrel in my life.
Listen, showing up faithful is aprimary way that you honor the
Lord.
You know why?
Jesus said in uh, and I'm gonnaread this to you in Luke 16, 10,
in the New Living.
I love this.
He said, if you're faithful withthe little things, you will be
(04:19):
faithful with the large ones.
I love it in in Matthew 25, inthe parable of the talents,
Jesus says, Well done, good andfaithful servant.
What?
You've been faithful withlittle, now I'm gonna make you
ruler over much.
And listen, here's what I reallybelieve.
If your creative gift that wethat you were just thanking God
for, right?
(04:39):
If your creative gift wasimportant enough for God to give
it to you, it's important enoughfor you to make time and give
energy and resource and focus toin your life.
That is a primary way that youhonor the Lord.
And that means for us asartists, I think not only
showing up in your studio spaceevery day, but maybe you say,
(05:02):
well, man, I don't even have astudio space.
And I would say, go create adedicated studio place.
You say, well, that's my diningroom table or or my back bedroom
or a place in the basement or orwhatever.
Listen, it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter what it is.
It doesn't matter where it is,it just matters that it is and
that it's a place that you'reshowing up uh even in times that
(05:24):
you don't feel like it.
Even in times when you're like,oh, I'm not feeling the juice
today.
I'm not feeling inspired.
Listen, show up in the studioanyway.
Go in, go and sit in your studiospace or wherever it is, and
just start with gratitude again.
And just say, well, Lord, thankyou that I got this space.
Lord, thank you that you'vegiven me this gift.
And Lord, I'm just inviting youinto this place right now.
(05:46):
And you, you know, every timeyou do that, every time you show
up in your studio space, you'resaying to the Lord, this is a
sacred space.
This is a place that I meet withyou.
God, I trust you and I believethat this matters.
And even though I can't see thefull picture of what I'm gonna
create today or how this is allgonna happen in my life being an
artist, I trust you that when Iuse what's in my hand and I
(06:11):
offer that to you in the studiospace, I trust that you're gonna
multiply it.
And you know what?
That's how the kingdom of Godworks.
You're gracious, you're you havegratitude in your heart.
Number two, you show up in thestudio and you say, God, I'm
showing up and I'm beingfaithful to the things that
you've called me to.
Now, number three, once you'rein that creative process, a
(06:32):
third way to honor the Lord withyour with your creativity and
with your art is to invite himinto your creative process.
And again, you may say, wow,I've loved Jesus for a long
time.
I've been saved a long time, andI've been doing art for a long
time.
And I've just never thoughtabout inviting the Holy Spirit
into my creative process.
(06:53):
And let me listen, if that'syou, let me just say, no shame,
none.
You're not alone.
You are absolutely not alone.
I created baskets and my art along time before I ever thought
about inviting the Holy Spiritinto my creative process because
I kind of thought, you know, Ilove Jesus over here and I do my
art over here.
And I'm like, well, does Godeven have a plan for my art?
(07:15):
But man, when I startedrealizing that God had a plan
for my art and he wanted me toinvite him into my process, wow.
See, you start to realize God isnot some distant observer.
God's not over there and you'reover here if you're a believer
in Jesus.
Listen, you've been redeemed andreconciled or restored to the
(07:36):
fullness of the kingdom.
You're his son, you're hisdaughter.
And so he's not just waiting onyou to finish the peace so he
can bless whatever it is thatyou do, you know.
He's right there with you.
In fact, the Bible says inPhilippians 2.13, I love this.
It says this in the New Living.
It says, for God is working inyou, inside, not on the outside,
(07:59):
not around you, in you.
For God is working in you,giving you the desire and the
power to do what pleases him.
So again, it goes back to thisplace of gratitude of like, oh
my gosh, Lord, that nudge ofinspiration that you're giving
me that I'm feeling right now.
I trust that that's from you.
(08:19):
Lord, you know, you ever got inthe studio and you kind of lose
track of time and you're justkind of like going for it and
you're like, oh my gosh, threehours have have gone by.
You're in that creative flow.
That's not random.
That's relationship with him.
That's you flowing with him inthis beautiful creative process
that God's given us theopportunity to flow in.
(08:41):
And so invite him into thatprocess.
In other words, raise yourawareness of the presence of
God.
Turn on, you know, when I comeinto the studio, man, I turn on
worship music.
I'm praying in the spirit, I'mtouching my materials, I'm just
thanking God in this place thatGod, I've showed up today.
I want to create with you.
Lord, I want to sense whatyou're doing.
(09:03):
I want to move with your spirit.
So, Lord, heighten my awarenessto who you are and what you're
doing.
See, you're not trying toimpress God with your skill and
with your creativity and allthat.
No, you're co-laboring with himas a son and as a daughter who's
already fully loved, alreadyfully accepted, already fully
provided for.
Listen, this again, this isGod's idea.
(09:26):
And so we honor God by creating,creating with him, not just for
him and not definitely not apartfrom him, but inviting him in to
that process.
All right.
Now, number four, the fourth wayto honor God and your creativity
is really leaning into thisprocess of being what I called
both filled and skilled.
(09:47):
You know, in Exodus uh 31, ittalks about that Bezalel was
filled uh with the Spirit of Godand skilled in every manner of
workmanship.
Now, for most of us Christianartists, you know, that love
Jesus, being filled with theSpirit, inspiration, loving
God's presence, all that, thatmay come natural to you.
All right.
But sometimes it takes work andit feels like work leaning into
(10:11):
the skill development.
But here's the thing I want toencourage you in Proverbs 24, 3
and 4 says this by wisdom, ahouse is built, and through
understanding it's established,and through knowledge, its rooms
are filled with rare andbeautiful treasures.
In other words, honoring Godwith your creativity and with
your art means that you'regrowing both in the spiritual
(10:34):
depth and spiritual relationshipwith the Lord, but also in your
artistic excellence.
In fact, here's the deal (10:39):
the more that you will grow in your
craft as an artist, whateverthat is, whether it's painting
or woodworking or metal or mixedmedia like I do, basket weaving,
fiber art, whatever that may be,the more that you develop your
craft, the more language thatyou are giving the Holy Spirit
(11:00):
to speak through and to movethrough every skill that you
develop, every hour that youspend in the studio, you're
expanding your creativelanguage, you're expanding your
creative skill base.
And so when you get an idea fromthe Lord, it's not limited by
the skills that you have, butno, you're always expanding
those.
And guess what?
I've just found as you'll expandyour creative toolbox, as you'll
(11:24):
lean into skill development asan artist, guess what?
God will increase theinspiration and the type of
movement that He's that He'sthat He's moving in you.
He'll He'll speak things in adifferent way.
And when God does speak, you'llbe able to interpret it in a
different way.
Why?
Because you've got more skillsand opportunities.
See, freedom births opportunity.
(11:48):
Freedom and skill are not uh atodds with each other.
In fact, skill births freedom.
The more skill you have, themore freedom you have to
operate.
And so excellence, when we'reoperating in excellence, when
we're leaning into being bothfilled and skilled and trusting
the Holy Spirit to lead us inthat process, it gives God
(12:10):
something to bless.
Skill gives God tools to use inand through us.
And so I think it's superimportant for all of us, no
matter where you are on yourjourney, stay teachable, keep
learning, and keep leaning intothis thing of being both filled
and skilled in order to enlargeyour capacity for the glory of
God to move in your life andthrough your life as an artist.
(12:33):
All right.
Now, number five, all right.
This is huge and probably justas important as gratitude.
These are all important, but butnumber five is really important.
Create from a place of rest.
You know, if you've been anartist for any time or you've
been alive for any time, yourealize that the the spirit of
this world is always abouthustle and make it happen and
(12:54):
control the outcomes and rah,rah, rah, more is better, faster
is better, comparing ourselvesto one another.
But listen, in the kingdom, it'sexactly the opposite.
God invites us to be faithful inthe process, to be faithful to
show up, to be faithful tocreate our work and invite him
into that process and then trusthim for the impact and for the
(13:16):
increase and for the influenceand for the fruit of our life,
right?
That's a very different ideathan what the world brings.
I love you know Psalm 46, 10.
It says this in the New Livingbe still and know that I am God.
There's a there's a place inyour life as you're seeking to
honor the Lord with your artthat you know, sometimes you
(13:38):
just got to take a breath and belike, you know what?
I got a show coming up, or I gota commission going on, or Lord,
I just I'm just feeling thepressure right now to do more,
be more, have more, say more,all the stuff.
And Lord, in this moment, I'mjust gonna take a deep breath
and I'm gonna be still and knowthat you are God.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna take onyour yoke, for your yoke is easy
(14:01):
and your burden is light.
In fact, I I love that verse inthe message translation in
Matthew 11, 28 and 30.
It says this, Jesus is sayingthis in the message, are you
tired and worn out, burned outon religion?
Come to me and get away with me,and you'll recover your life.
And I'll show you how to take areal rest.
(14:22):
Walk with me and work with meand watch how I do it and learn.
Listen, learn the unforcedrhythms of grace.
My friend, as you're learning tohonor the Lord and to walk with
him as an artist, that's whatGod wants our rhythm to be with
him, the unforced rhythms ofgrace.
You don't have to chase success,you don't have to manipulate the
(14:44):
outcomes, you don't have toprove yourself to God or to
anybody else.
Your job and my job is tofaithfully show up, rest in him,
trust God for the increase, andbe faithful to the things that
God's called us to, faithful tothe things that he's put in our
hands is artists.
Listen, when you do that, God isgonna be faithful.
When you choose to rest, itliterally makes room for his
(15:08):
favor to flow in your life andin your art.
And listen, I don't know aboutyou, but that's what I want to
see.
I want to see the favor of Godand the blessing of God and the
the presence of God moving in mylife and through my life.
But it only happens when we'rewhen we can take our hands off
the outcomes.
We can we can trust him, when wecan trust him with the outcomes
(15:31):
of our life and just be faithfulto rest in him.
Listen, I want to give you onefinal scripture, one of my
favorites in Colossians 3.23.
It says, Whatever you do, workwith all your heart as working
for the Lord, not for humanmasters.
And listen, that's really theheart of it, right?
Create with all your heart, notfrom approval, but as an
(15:51):
offering to the Lord, to the onewho gave us this creative gift
in the first place.
So listen, just to wrap it up,how do we honor the Lord with
our art?
We thank him for our gift.
We show up faithfully in thestudio, we invite him in to the
creative process.
We grow in both being filled andskilled.
And number five, we rest andtrust God for the outcomes.
(16:15):
Listen, my friend, if you dothat, I promise, not only is God
going to be glorified, you'regoing to be fulfilled and be
able to walk in all the abundantlife that Jesus has promised you
as an artist in his kingdom.
Now, listen, I've done my besttoday to inspire and equip and
encourage you today.
I want to ask you one thing.
Would you, number one, make surethat you hit subscribe and that
you never miss any of thecontent that's you on the
(16:38):
channel?
Number two, would you leave me acomment down below?
I would love to know which oneof these five principles means
the most to you.
Maybe there's one that you'rereally having a lot of
breakthrough in, or maybethere's one that you're kind of
struggling with.
And maybe the, you know, theHoly Spirit highlighted that to
you today and is something thatyou want to really work on with
Him.
Whatever it is, I'd be honoredif you would invite me into your
(16:59):
journey and uh maybe ask aquestion, leave a comment.
I read every one of thosemyself.
I love to answer your questionshere on the channel and love
just to continue to encourageyou and equip you in everything
that God's called you to.
All right.
I love you, my friend.
Thanks again for being with me.
And remember, till next time,you were created to thrive.
(17:20):
Bye.
Hey, my friend, before you go,make sure that you're signed up
for the Thriving ChristianArtist Weekly.
It's my free newsletter full ofspiritual encouragement,
creative inspiration, andpractical tips to help you
thrive in everything that God'scalled you to do as an artist in
his kingdom.
Every issue is absolutely free,and it includes the latest
podcast episode, featured artistspotlights, a worship song of
(17:42):
the week, and again, tons oftips and encouragement and
inspiration for you to keep youinspired and encouraged in
everything that God's got foryou as an artist in the kingdom.
You can click the link righthere in the show notes to join
us, and it's a great way to stayconnected.
All right, love you.
Bye.
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