Wonderful Peace

"Peace"
12X28"
Mixed media, acrylic and calligraphy on masonite

I haven't had much opportunity to do art projects lately, let alone post anything about the few that I have managed to work on here and there. But it was so amazing how the Lord used this piece, I just felt I had to take time to share.

This piece is actually a paint-over. I liked the frame, but didn't care for the picture--funny, because the picture was one that I had painted. I wasn't sure at first what to paint, but at the time I was battling a lot of anxiety and seeking the Lord's peace to reign over my spirit, soul, and body.  The Lord spoke to me then about seeing all my anxious moments as individual opportunities to trust Him:

Philippians 4:6 (New King James Version) "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thansgiving, let your requests be made known to God;"

So we (the Lord and I) started to work on this anxiety thing.  And for a few months this painting I had started sat unfinished in my kitchen.

Then one day the ministry I work with had a visitor.  This person was expressing a lot of anxiety and unrest in their life.  As he continued to share, I heard the Lord very clearly direct me to finish the painting and give it to him.  I hadn't touched the painting for awhile, and I wasn't sure what else to do with it.  But the Lord directed me to put several verses about peace and guided me through the rest of the painting process.

I did not share with this person what the Lord spoke at that time, but I worked to finish the painting before this person's next visit.  When he returned, I waited for an opportunity to present the painting.  As the conversation went on, this person begin to share how the Lord told him to look up all the Bible verses that have to do with peace.  I could hardly believe it and asked him to repeat what he said!  It was the perfect segue to give him the painting and explain what the Lord spoke and what the Lord directed me to paint.  The painting blessed him, and I was blessed knowing that only the Lord could arrange such a thing through His Spirit.  Talk about an opportunity to trust Him!