Sometimes prayer and Bible reading are not our first choice. This is so common, and God understands where we are in our walk. The expectation is to mature, of course. As a creative, I wanted to spend time with God in more creative ways. These are some of the ways I love to spend my time. One of my favorite things at the moment is enjoying everyday creative activities WITH God. Sitting with Him and painting or journaling brings so much peace and joy to my soul.
4 creative ways I spend time with God.
1. PRAYER JOURNAL
I love journaling because there is no specific way to do it. I have a really cool prayer journal from Coffee & Bible Time. It is large and offers so much space for me to creatively connect with prayer. It's a great resource if you need guided prompts for structure. An empty plain notebook can be intimidating for me. I use both and find that they help organize my thoughts and prayers in one place. Documenting what the Lord has done is never a bad idea.
2. JOURNALING (visual or written)
This type of journaling really engages the creative side of the brain. Through painting, sketching, and coloring, we can use our talents and gifts to connect with God. A simple multi-media sketchbook where you can paint or draw offers a variety of different art mediums. I enjoy watercolor and acrylic, so whatever I am feeling, I do that. I have used this Visual Journaling series by Cageless Birds to help me get started. You can use these prompts over and over again, or your time with the Lord can inspire something new. When it comes to writing in a journal, that could be as simple as writing what you may be sensing in prayer or scribing what God is saying to you. This one takes listening and a level of stillness to really get the most out of your time.
3. FLAG DANCING / MOVEMENT
Any type of dance or movement will always have a special place in my heart. Dancing before the Lord (even if you are not good at it) not only gets you moving, but movement opens up parts of you that feel tight and closed off. I think of a child being free before their father, dancing with no shame or judgment, just connection. I'd like to think that sometimes we should see ourselves as sons and daughters of God, and He is our father. Taking on the playful countenance of a child full of faith and wonder reveals a side of God that we miss most of the time. I love flags; they are gorgeous, but simply dancing to music does it for me.
4. BIBLE JOURNALING
Life can get so serious sometimes, and I love adding the element of play to anything I can. Being creative helps me to stay connected to the child-like side of me. Some may feel uncomfortable marking up their Bibles, and that's okay! Some have the most beautiful artwork in their Bibles; it's amazing. I usually just write notes in my Bible or highlight the scriptures. When I feel fancy, I draw a picture or two. Very simple illustrations that bring out the scripture even more. Bibles that have larger margins offer space to reflect, write notes, or get creative. I have a Bible from She Reads Truth that I love to use during my quiet time at home.
No matter how we decide to spend our quiet time, the main thing is prioritizing QUALITY time with God. How consistent we are is important; however, we shouldn't forget that the time we spend should also be of good quality. I encourage you to choose one to try out and let me know how it goes!
Psalm 37:4-7a
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him...
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