Discovering God Through the ArtsSample

Religion is often concerned with structures, institutions, and dogmas, growing spiritually is about deepening our beliefs, becoming more aware of God’s presence, surrendering to His will, searching for a more profound understanding, finding inner peace, discovering greater freedom and contentment. And, ultimately, it is about transformation. To move forward in the spiritual life is, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, to be “transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” into a reflection of Christ’s likeness. God wants to do the necessary interior work in our hearts that will manifest itself in outward change. When the inner life is strengthened, the outer life changes for the better. Our relationship with God is not just about “getting saved,” but about “being remade” in the likeness of Jesus. Salvation is the event that begins the journey. True spirituality is not about just believing the right things about God, but about living out those truths in our daily lives.

Whether you are an artist trying to perfect your craft, or a believer seeking a more perfect life reflecting Christ (Matt. 5:48), you must show up every day and do what needs to be done. Even when you don’t feel like it. And you must do most of the work yourself. You can’t rely on your family, your pastor, or your counselor. No one else can do it for you. And spiritual growth takes time and patience. You can’t get good at playing the violin, for example, if you only put in half an hour a week. Can you really expect to find more intimacy with God if you just check-in with Him for a few minutes each week? Spiritual growth requires some discipline. Discipline doesn’t mean getting caught up in a long menu of shoulds. Discipline isn’t meant to lead to guilt, but to a life of more intense devotion. At the start it may feel like hard work, but the end result is worth the energy expended.