Releasing Art

Since I can remember, I have been an artist in some form.  I've written poetry and songs.  I've drawn countless pages of different subjects ranging from cartoons to landscapes.  I've painted.  I've sang.  I've taken photos.  I've created jewelry.  I've tried most forms of art and have a great interest in all of them.  However, like most artists, I am quite sensitive to the opinions of others.  

This sensitivity has inhibited me from following dreams and pursuing passions.  It has swallowed me up in the camp of not good enough.  I've dreamed of being a great photographer, but then I think I could never take the kinds of pictures other people would be happy with.  The pressure of pleasing people overwhelms and my dream dies.

I've had dreams of writing a great novel and children's books with lots of different ideas for starting one, and the dream dies because I wonder if anyone would really like my words.  I dream of writing words on this blog that will speak to my readers, and then the dream dies because I see I have 10 followers and I'll never get a true following.  

What if for once, I gave those dreams to God and let Him just work through me without the fear of what others might think?  What if I chose to go all in for once?  What if God actually used my words to show someone how much He loves them?  What if I allow the breath of God to bring me to life and to work through my hands, my art?  It's not really my art anyway, it's all Him.  It's all for His glory.

I want to let go and let God do what He does best and lead.  Instead of me leading the way, I want to freely open myself up to His leading and see where He takes me.  My word for the year was "live".  While reading Ezekiel 37, the Lord spoke to my heart and said "speak to your dry bones, the word of the Lord, and tell them to live."  I knew what He was pointing me to, but I still resisted to truly live and go for it.  

Do you struggle with people pleasing while wanting to follow God?  Let's link arms and work encourage each other to pursue those passions He's placed in us today.

Lord, we lay it all at Your feet today.  We lay down our burdens to take on Your joy.  We lay down our dreams to take on Your plan.  We lay down our abilities to take on Your ability to work through us.  We ask you to give us strength in following You, to be what You've called us to be, and to do what You've called us to do - unashamed.  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Be Still and Rest

I tend to be impatient.  An all or nothing kind of girl, I give up if something doesn't work right after a few tries.  If I exercise and don't see any results in the first week, I give up.  We live in a fast world where everything is get it now.  I mean, I signed up for Amazon Prime so I could get my packages in two days!  Gotta have it now.

But God.  God has a different timeline than we do.  It's not always an instant success or breakthrough.  Sometimes, it takes patience on our part and trust to know that He will bring promises to pass when the time is right.  Sometimes, it's hard to be still and rest in Him.  It's hard to lean into Him and trust that He knows the past, present and future better than we do.  

Oh, friend, that you and I both would put our hope in Him.  That we would both trust that He knows our comings and our goings.  May we both find stillness and rest in Him today, so that as we go about our day, we see Him working all around us.  

What is keeping you from resting in Him today?  Would you join me in leaning into Him today?

Father, we rest in You today.  We put our trust in You and know that You are our beginning and end.  We lean hard into You and ask You to lead us into Your promises, to the yes for our lives and to walk away from the no.  Let us be sensitive to Your leading today.  In Jesus Name, Amen!