Micah 7:19, Amplified Bible

“He shall again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power]. Yes, You will cast all our sinsInto the depths of the sea.”

Breakthrough Part One

From a time before I can even remember, I have always loved art. My mom told me that as soon as I was able to pick up a pen, I would draw. Through the years of growing up and having to decide what to do with my future, I knew I wanted to paint and draw. Was I a top-notch artist? Not even close! But that was my dream.

However, others did not understand and support my dream. I know I am not alone in the battle of discouragement. I heard things like, “What is your backup plan?” “You have to have a real job that makes money.” Or this… “Have you ever heard the term starving artist?”

These words stung. I was very sensitive when I was younger. So, instead of pursuing art after graduating high school, I pursued business. I managed to take some art classes in college though. My drawing teacher was a student teacher. When I went to her for help with perspective, she told me to “look at other artists’ work.” When I got my portfolio back, I was told that my people looked Frankenstein-like, and my perspective looked like claustrophobic van Gogh drawings.

Still being young and sensitive, it became more deeply ingrained that I wasn’t good enough. After that, I just created art for art’s sake. At one point in my life, I came close to taking all of my art supplies to Goodwill. After all, I wasn’t good enough to be an artist, and I didn’t have any inspiration. What was the point? But I hesitated. I hesitated to let the art go because it had been a part of me for so long. But was that really me that hesitated, or was God keeping me on track for my destiny?

A dear sister in Christ introduced me to this book, Unlocking the Heart of the Artist, by Matt Tommey. He was the only Christian I had heard of at the time who encouraged Christian artists. The book was encouraging and inspiring. It was exactly what I needed. I continued to make art for the sake of art because I enjoyed creating.

Then one day, I realized that God gave me this creative gift to paint and draw. He didn’t give it to me to let it lie dormant! Encouraged once again, I started watching Matt Tommey on YouTube. God knew what He was doing! He led me to a Matt Tommey conference video where he was leading the artists in a prayer. But before he prayed, he asked these questions. He asked the artists, “What lie has the enemy made you believe? Picture the lie as an object. When you have it pictured, reach up, grab it, and give it to God, and He will throw it in the sea of forgetfulness.”

“He shall again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power]. Yes, You will cast all our sinsInto the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19, AMP)

That night I followed Matt’s prompts and envisioned the lies. I saw “NOT GOOD ENOUGH” and “STARVING ARTIST” as glass balls. I literally reached my hand toward them, grabbed them, and then gave God these lies. I didn’t want to believe in them anymore! I wanted to believe in God! I wanted the hope and future He promised me! After prayer, I felt these lies and strongholds break away from me. I sat there crying and overjoyed at what God had done!

Please come back next week to read Breakthrough Part Two.