Above: “The Waiting” by Morteza Katouzian, 1982
O.K. So, you’ve got this great idea for your art. Maybe you’re trying to start a praise dance ministry at your church. Perhaps you found the perfect space in a strip mall and want to turn it into a gallery. Possibly you are writing more songs now or auditioning for plays now. You bought yourself some new brushes and you are poised and ready.
Now what?
You pray, of course. The next day, no change. So, you pray more. Still no change. Pray, watch, wait.
You cry from your heart, “OK, God, I get it! I hear you! I know this is what you are calling me to do. So, when are you going to make your move? What’s the next step?”
Read the following verses (all verses from the Message version):
Psalm 75:7
God rules: he brings this one down to his knees, pulls that one up on her feet.
God rules: he brings this one down to his knees, pulls that one up on her feet.
1 Peter 5:6-7
So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.
So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.
Habakkuk 2:2-3
And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see.Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming.It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie.If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time.
And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see.Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming.It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie.If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time.
Isaiah 42:3
He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.
He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.
James 4:7-10
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.
Psalm 46:8-10
Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything."
Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything."
Romans 8:26-28
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Isaiah 40: 27-31
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying,"God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"?Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out.He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles,They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying,"God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"?Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out.He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles,They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
Questions:
1. Describe a time when you were frustrated because you had to wait. Why do you think patience is so difficult?
2. Sometimes God wants us to wait on Him, because His timing is perfect. But sometimes, the time is now, but God wants us to work for it by knocking on doors of opportunity and toiling, because there is spiritual value in the struggle. How would you know the difference between when to stop pushing and when to push harder?
3. Is “wait” an answered prayer? When was the last time you thanked and praised God because He said, “Wait?”
4. As artists, when the spark of creativity and productivity hits us, it becomes very difficult to pause and turn off our brains. We get an idea and run with it. It may not be any more difficult for an artist to be patient, but it sure feels like running head-first into a brick wall when we are told to wait in the midst of the flow of creativity. What, then, is the spiritual value in waiting?
5. There are a lot of verses with the theme and idea of waiting on God’s plan. How can you portray that theme or message in your art?
To read Fine Arts Bible Study #1 click here.
To read Fine Arts Bible Study #2 click here.
To read Fine Arts Bible Study #3 click here.
To read Fine Arts Bible Study #4 click here.
To read Fine Arts Bible Study #5, click here .
To read Fine Arts Bible Study 6, click here.
To read Fine Arts Bible Study 7, click here.
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