"Meanwhile"

I’ve been the Stagnated Artist that missed opportunities and let time pass him by.

"Frustrated"

I’ve been the Frustrated Artist, too. Ever so busy, but accomplishing little.

I don’t ever want to be either one of those guys again.

I want to be the SUPERNATURAL Artist. Here’s what I mean:

The Supernatural Artist

It’s natural to procrastinate and to miss opportunity. To become complacent and stay within your comfort zone.

On the flip side, it’s also in your nature to take matters into your own hands and try to force success. Pausing to pray before taking action can naturally feel like you’re slowing down. And when frustrated, time out for prayer can naturally seem futile.

But what goes above and beyond the natural (a.k.a.”SUPER” natural) for an artist is to:

Spend daily time with the Spirit of God to be reminded that you are on assignment. Being reminded of that daily while seeking Him and His word keeps us from the natural state of complacency, but rather the Supernatural state of creativity with intentional progress!

• Spending quality time with the Spirit of God each day to receive instruction. A meeting with your practical guide (the Holy Spirit) who guides us in knowing where you need to spend our time…and where you do not. THIS is the supernatural way to be productive.

The Stagnated Artist and the Frustrated Artist only VISIT God. They never LIVE with God:

• Spending daily time in God’s presence is the way we “abide” in or “live with” God daily. And when we “abide” with or “live with” anyone, you get to know them better. When we abide in Him, and study His promises, He promises that will see a productive life (which of course includes your creativity!):

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7-8

Do you find spending daily quiet time with God easy to stick to or a challenge? I find it to be something I have to intentionally work at DAILY (just being honest!)

What about YOU? Share your thoughts by posting a comment:

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Most of us here are seeking God’s voice concerning what’s the next step in using our talent. Only a few of us will feel that we’ve been able to achieve that.

ALFG subscriber and fellow artist Devin Smith said in a recent interview that hearing from God is not difficult. The challenge is paying attention to realize when He’s speaking.

That’s where the Catch 22 sets in: We get passionate about our creative opportunities, but distractions and rushed “conversation” with God limits our ability to hear Him about our talent or just life in general.

SUGGESTION:

Rather than pushing you to go on a fast, or lock yourself in a room with just your bible, I want to challenge you to do something more relevant…go on a date with God.

WHY:

Just like a couple that’s dating or even married, if their communication is limited to mostly when they are in the car on the way to work or quick moments on the go, they can only get to know each other so well.
But if they carve out a segment of time with no distractions (no cell phone, Facebook,  people, etc.) and replace a part of the regular week with an hour “prayer walk” or  a lunch break for two, they can open up to each other and hear things that they did not hear spoken before. Deep things. Intimate insight.

HOW:

1. Find a place where you and God can get alone. A trail to walk on or even a parking lot to sit in are great places to use.

2. Next, I suggest, just like on any date, you first open up to God and talk to Him OUT LOUD (yes, out loud!). This is simply old-fashioned prayer. Pray about whatever comes to mind. The gesture alone of praying out loud and conversationally will create a level of intimacy with you and the Holy Spirit that sets the stage for what comes next…

3…LISTEN. Like on any date and in any relationship, you must open up and talk to the one you love, but you MUST also be a listener, too. Listening to God’s voice, you’ll “hear” ideas and concepts and other exciting things you WANT to hear. But be prepared to also hear loving correction and things you may NOT WANT to hear from God as he directs you.

CHALLENGE TO YOU NEXT WEEK:

I challenge you to steal away for a one hour break with God to get to know Him better and to eventaully hear what He’s been saying to you.
Share your experience here on the blog!

• Do you “date” God now? If so, what motivates you to keep it going?
• Don’t get to spend the time with God that you know you should?
• Share your insight, thoughts or questions below:

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SO, HOW DO WE FIX THIS?

1. I’d say first, acknowledge this fact: When you miss God, He misses you as well; the feeling is mutual. The moment you sense the feeling that you can’t go another day without seeking God, He’s feeling the same way about you! He longs to spend time with you and it disappoints Him when you don’t!

2.  Focus on continually being in His presence versus ONLY one designated location at a designated time for a scheduled length of time.

3.  Use something simple that can be used in your home, while at work or whenever you seek His presence.

What do YOU do to maintain spending time with God every day?

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Blackshear said that God revealed to him that his art could take on a life of it’s own after it leaves his hands. That art created under the leading of the Spirit of God can accomplish a great deal more than what we ever could alone.

Immediately I thought of how Blackshear said that there have been people even falling to their knees in tears while viewing his work “Forgiven”. Now that’s an example of God’s Spirit speaking through His artists.

I’ve personally been blessed to hear that some of my most unexpected works allowed someone to hear God’s word in a different way. I’ve even seen how God used one of my own paintings to speak back to me in a time of need.

And I don’t think it’s limited to “Christian Art” or only art that communicates a biblical message. I believe that even graphic designers, concept artists and others, when yielded unto God’s direction, can make a significant impact within the lives of others. Sometimes that impact may be a well-needed solution to a design issue, other times it could be something “deeper”.
So here are a few key steps that can lead to you creating your greatest work yet:

1. Acknowledge that God’s word promises that He will guide His communicators, including artists and designers that communicate though their work: An artist in relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, can become the mouthpiece of God. Not speaking in place of God, but God speaking through him or her.

“Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” Exodus 4:12

2. Acknowledge that God’s word will accomplish great things: When God speaks, what He says produces life changing results. What if your art is the vehicle that communicates that word from God? 

 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

3. If you wish to see this in action, try these practical steps before you start that next art project (steps that Thomas Blackshear has successfully used):

a. When seeking the next illustrated idea or vision, pray and ask God to reveal it to you.

b. Don’t jump at working with what may be your own limited idea, but start only after it’s revealed to you.

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As I’ve been spending my morning quiet time before God,

As you may recall, the significance of the “21 Days” is this: doing something for 21 days straight will allow it to become a habitual part of your lifestyle. The goal is to maintain a dedicated, uninterrupted one-on-one prayer time alone with God each day.

I bring my journal with me during this time to either write or draw what I sense God communicating to me. Last week, He spoke something simple to my spirit. Something I’ve read before. But something that I probably needed to hear in these challenging financial times. It blessed me and it may bless you:

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22

No matter if it’s things about your art career or even things that go beyond that, you must remember that God cares about you and takes interest in what concerns you. These things attempt to create stress and anxiety when you hold on to them. But God whispered to me last week “give ‘em to me. I’ll handle them because I care about what you care about.”

Anyone else taking the “21 Days” challenge? Share by posting your comments below:

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