I began creating MADE NEW after the Lord gave me a picture of tulip stems covered in butterflies on March 27th. I’m truly amazed that He has been speaking to me through the blooming/growth process of flowers in this Spring season. I knew the butterflies represented transformation but asked Him about the missing blooms. I also heard in my spirit in a very uplifting voice, “You can sow the seeds”! Then on April 5th He gave me a picture of the tulip bloom with water rushing out of it! This painting represents the power of God’s Word to transform our lives and the lives of others as we sow the seeds of His Word.
The journey for me personally has been a long one because I spent many years reading about God’s word because I struggled to understand it. Instead of spending time prayerfully reading it and asking the Holy Spirit to speak to me, to teach me, I bought many books, skipped around with daily devotions and avoided simply reading His word alone.
As I considered my own transformational journey (still in progress!) while creating this painting with Him, I could see how greatly I’d hindered intimacy with Him by choosing my way which I thought would be easier. There’s nothing wrong with reading books that help us grow but they can never replace reading the Bible daily. I struggled greatly with fear, anxiety and insecurity in my teens and throughout so much of my adult life. I prayed and even had several encounters with Him, but was not reading and speaking His Word daily and did not have revelation knowledge of it.
Our minds are the actual battleground and our thoughts must be renewed to come into agreement with what His Word says. I had believed satan’s lies and viewed God through the lens of religion, ie. rules and performance…always trying to be good enough and losing the battle because I didn’t know how to engage in warfare with the authority of His Word, His promises. I could not see or hear Him clearly even though He was FAITHFULLY trying to get my attention. I’m so thankful!
True transformation in my life came about when major life events rocked me to the core and a series of wilderness journeys began. He finally had my full attention, I had nowhere else to turn and was so broken. If I had understood how desperately I needed His Word, revelation knowledge of it earlier in my life…much heartache could’ve been avoided. Don’t make my mistake. Trust Him to give you understanding because He absolutely will .
The Word of God along with our faith (just a tiny mustard seed of faith) comes alive within us as we read it with a sincere heart, seeking truth, knowledge and wisdom in Him alone. As we surrender our spirit to the Holy Spirit… inviting Him to teach us, His Word begins to transform our hearts and minds as we think on it, speak it and apply it in all areas of our lives. He may illuminate (divinely quicken) a particular Bible verse causing it to stand out as we read it or He may continually bring a particular area of scripture to us in various ways until we take a closer look to discover what He wants us to show us. We become more sensitive to His Spirit, His presence all around us. This is revelation knowledge working in our lives…His Word alive within us.
In closing, the butterflies caused me to take a closer look at my own transformational process and go deeper still in diligently seeking Him in His Word. When we are willing to do life His way, according to His Word, we experience hope, transformation and new life, we experience Him!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38
And put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Colossians 3:10
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24
Made New
2021
Mixed Media Collage on Canvas
12" X 16"
