Sacred CreativitySample

“Speaking Life”

When I started my Etsy shop, Spoonful of Faith, I was delighted in my small beginning. And I had the desire to extend my reach and do more. But I was feeling like everything was stacked against me to do it. Especially my time. I didn’t have hours and hours to create. I had to be a mom.

One day I was writing in my journal when I felt that I needed to let my words be a gift. I later realized it was Scripture: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Scripture also says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

My words were meant to not only build up others but also to encourage myself in that season with young kids. I couldn’t create or share from a negative place. I needed to speak life into my own life and work. So I spoke words of encouragement or recited scriptures to myself in my bathroom mirror. I bought a pack of sticky notes and started writing words of truth and scriptures on them, then stuck them any place where I might need a reminder.

My internal narrative began to slowly change for the better. By changing the words that flowed from my mouth, I gained hope to keep going on this new journey of creativity with God. My confidence in my gift increased because the more I spoke truth to it, the more life and energy I gave it.

Maybe you haven’t been an encouraging friend to yourself; you’re not a loving place for yourself to land. Like me, encouraging words for others might come easily, but you may wrestle with the words in your own head.

Find words or statements to replace those thoughts. As you write or speak these words, you will not only see your confidence grow, but it will overflow into everything you do and create.

What words are in your heart today? Do you breathe words of life and goodness into your creativity? Or do you speak words of defeat?