Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90:1-2
I’ve been thinking lately about why I keep painting. This season of my life has been a challenging one. There are so many competing priorities, that it’s like I’m constantly juggling glass balls, and eventually one of them will fall down (and, spoiler alert, some fall down occasionally). Wouldn’t it be easier to put away my brushes and paints and wait for a time when the kids are older, or when my job isn’t so demanding, or when I’m not going through health challenges?
Probably. But one of the main reasons why I paint is because it keeps me closer to Him. This little project of mine grounds my thoughts and it’s one of my tools to bring me back to my dwelling place. Even though I had to slow down this year, I will not stop. I know that this is what I’ve been called to do and He helps me to grow through each painting posted here. Planning, drawing, painting, scanning, editing, writing, posting… I keep being compelled to do all this and I’ll carry it on.
This painting is a reminder that God is eternal. Moses wrote that Psalm to tell us that before we existed, before the oldest mountains were brought into existence, he was and he’ll continue to do so, eternally. Our lives are so incredibly short compared to the infinity of God. His people have dwelt in him for generations and generations. My life is nothing but a blip in his timeline, yet, he tells me again and again that I’m loved, that I can rest in him, that in my weakness, through his word, he can be my strength. I love that. I love that our great God chooses to care about us, transforming us, helping us and impacting us.
In my short existence here, I’m always trying to learn new things to keep my priorities in check, no matter how busy my days are. So I’ll leave a few tips if you are looking for practical ways to intentionally have a closer relationship with the Lord:
. Make it a priority routine in your life. What works here is waking up before my kids and having some time to read the Bible and pray when the house is silent. Maybe for you a different time works best, but you just have to be consistent until it becomes a habit. You can even challenge yourself to do it for 30 or 40 days if you don’t have this habit yet.
. Intentionally insert more Bible and praise throughout your day. You can listen to the Bible as you shower with a Bible app, you can listen to sermons or worship as you cook or clean. I take the time when I’m alone in the car driving to either pray out loud or listen to sermons, my commute is more productive this way.
. Go for a walk with the Lord for 15 or 20 minutes and just talk to him. I assure you you’ll come back renewed.
. Rest. I know, it’s easier said than done. But think of what rest in him means to you. For me carving time to paint is just that, but for you it could be exploring your creativity in different ways, singing, journaling, exploring nature, or simply being still.
Now I’d love to hear from you, how do you make God a priority as you go through your day?