The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

~Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

Dad stood behind me, dabbing oil paint on the canvas. My hand rest beneath his, so although it felt like I was painting, I knew who directed the brush.

After some time, he let go of the brush. His hand was still above mine so I still felt confident. Before I knew it, his hand was on his chin while only my hand held the brush. At first I didn’t notice. Occasionally he’d hold the brush again, and I almost welcomed the difficulties that led to his hand again being poised above mine so we could paint together. I felt invincible as long as Dad was holding the brush, but he imparted the skills so I could do it. Tentatively, my unsteady hand touched the canvas alone. I could still hear his voice and sense his nearness, so I stepped into the unknown world of painting, and conquered it. I had mastered the art of oil painting! But, my first painting was as much my father’s creation as it was mine.

Creativity is a gift from the Lord. Ephesians 2:10 NKJV reads, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” God has projects waiting for us to accomplish, whether they are artistic creations, vocal renditions, poems or prose, crafts, or intellectual pursuits. All come from our Father in Heaven, the Master Creator.

Where is God when a person creates? Zephaniah 3:17a NKJV reads, “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save… He will rejoice over you with gladness.” He is pleased, and smack dab in the middle, involved in making His children successful. Father God rejoices over us; singing victory songs or lullabies as He determines our need, quieting our fears with love, staying in the middle of our messes, remaking the broken pieces until even these become a masterpiece we’ve partnered to create. He prepares these works ahead of time, and then He equips us to do these good works.

Father God is available just like my father was that day, assisting us to release the creative talents He has put within our soul. Without fail, God is in the midst of every creative endeavor He calls us to do. And there are many works He equips us to accomplish.

Friend, Father God is the Unseen Artist who holds your brush, honing your skills. And, just like my father approved of the painting I created, God smiles when we, His beloved children, paint on the canvas of life. When people see our talents, let them clearly notice the Unseen Artist we partner with.

Rest assured, and with complete confidence, that the Lord who called you will equip you with everything you need to accomplish the works He has ordained. He will stay with you as you create, and He will rejoice with you as each creation takes shape. He is pleased with the handiwork He reveals through you. You are a success story, and He is pleased when we give Him the credit. For truly, every good work we accomplish is a creation He ordains and directs. He calls us to creative endeavors to bring forth His glory.

What is Father God calling you to create? How does it feel to know He equips you?

Father God, I yield my creative skills to You, and I glorify You in all You call me to do.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2019: Unseen Artist Revealed: Diane Virginia: All Rights Reserved

Published: February 2020: Christian Devotions Ministries: Managing Editor Martin Wiles: Executive Editor Cindy Sproles