By Barbara Rainey
First posted on EverThineHome.com
As an artist I especially enjoy thinking of Jesus, who created the universe, “who holds all things together” (Colossians 1:17) as the Divine Artist. The maker of snowflakes! The intricate delicacy of each tiny crystalline form speaks of brilliant design. (If you want a reminder, look at these stunning photos.)
The Trinity of Beauty cannot create anything that is not spilling over with wonder. Even in our broken, imperfect state we who were made in His image still have the capacity to reflect some of His perfect, breath-stealing artistry.
What if I could take a weeklong workshop with one of the greats like Michelangelo or Rembrandt? Would I gladly hand one of these masters my brush for his touch of genius on my canvas?
Without question.
The Eternal Artist, my personal Creator, longs to add strokes of beauty to my life. Philippians 3:21 tells us that Christ will “transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
In his book, The Evidential Power of Beauty, Thomas Dubay wrote, “Divine beauty is so endless, so unspeakable, that Scripture has a special word for it, glory.” Too often I have wanted to paint life my way, but more and more I’m asking Him to complete what He began in me, which is glorious and more than breath-taking.
As we begin a new year we usually think of new beginnings, which is right and good because our God is a God of new beginnings. But rather than ambitiously make a list of all the things you want to change or do or become, start with asking the One who made you what He envisions for your life in 2022.
Let’s start this first week of the new year listening to Him not to everyone’s goals on social media.
List a few goals or character qualities or personal achievements you sense He is leading you to focus on for this year. Then pray and ask God to do the work in and through you which is His specialty.
And if you aren’t sure what to pray, start with these words to an old hymn which will be beautiful music to His ears: “Have Thy Own Way, Lord.”
Keep praying this throughout the year and watch for how the One who knows how to perfectly create beauty in you will do exactly that.
Happy New Year to all with hope for you in ’22!
If you enjoyed this post from Barbara, be sure to read some past New Year’s posts:
My Heart, Ever His: Prayers for Women (NEW from Barbara Rainey)
As we search for meaning in our world of shallow online relationships and glamorized selfies, many are returning to traditional and liturgical churches. The repeated words, benedictions, and historic hymns connect us to saints who have gone before, giving us a sense of belonging, richness, and transcendence. Written prayers, once cast off as archaic, are now welcomed as guides to tune our hearts to the heart of God.
In My Heart, Ever His Barbara Rainey shares 40 prayers for women. Readers can read and meditate on one prayer throughout the week or read a prayer a day for 40 days as a way to express the longing of our hearts to our Father who loves us even as he sees who we truly are. Like the psalms of David, these prayers are honest, sometimes raw. Barbara uses these transparent expressions of common female experiences to encourage us to surrender to Christ and help us see God as he is, not as we assume him to be. My Heart, Ever His provides a stepping-stone to help you become more transparent with God and discover his welcoming embrace.
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