ISSUE #041
We hear the phrase renew your mind all the time in church, but most artists I know have never been shown how practical—and powerful—it actually is. This week, I want to slow things down and show you that renewing your mind isn’t a vague spiritual idea or positive thinking exercise. It’s a God-designed process that literally reshapes how you see yourself, your art, and what’s possible in your creative life.
As artists, we live from the inside out. Our creativity doesn’t start in our hands—it starts in how we think, how we interpret resistance, and how we imagine what could be. That’s why two artists with the same skill level can have completely different outcomes. The difference isn’t talent. It’s the inner operating system they’re running on.
Romans 12:2 tells us transformation happens through renewing the mind—and that word transformed means a deep, internal change. This week, I want to help you understand how this works spiritually, emotionally, and creatively, and introduce you to a simple rhythm the Holy Spirit uses to rewire your creative brain from the inside out.
In His love and creativity,
Matt Tommey
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When Art Becomes a Microphone for Heaven
What happens when studio time turns into worship and creativity becomes a conversation with God? In this week’s Featured Artist, Deneena Hughes shares how painting wildlife, writing poetry on her canvas, and partnering with the Holy Spirit have transformed her art into a powerful bridge between heaven and earth—opening hearts, sparking tears, and creating sacred moments far beyond the studio. READ MORE
CONNECT
Renewing your mind is not about trying harder or fixing yourself. It’s about partnering with the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t renew your mind for you; He renews your mind with you, thought by thought and agreement by agreement. As you learn to recognize what doesn’t sound like Him and align with His truth, transformation begins from the inside out.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2, NKJV)
This transformation isn’t surface-level behavior change. It’s a deep internal shift in how you perceive yourself, your calling, and your creative journey.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for inviting me into real transformation, not performance. Teach me to recognize what doesn’t sound like You and to agree with Your truth instead. I welcome Your presence into my thoughts, my creativity, and my identity. Renew my mind as I walk with You. Amen.
Action Step:
Pause once today and ask, “Does this thought sound like Jesus? Does it agree with God’s Word?”
Experience Creative Breakthrough & Spiritual Freedom in Christ
“I have never in my life felt this kind of freedom—not in my spirit and not in my artwork.” – Cheryl
CLARIFY
Your art doesn’t begin in your studio; it begins in how you see yourself. Two artists can have the same skill level and completely different experiences because they’re telling themselves different inner stories. Renewing your mind is like changing the lens you see your life and calling through.
When Scripture talks about renewing the mind, it’s describing a new way of seeing—one shaped by truth instead of fear, inadequacy, or past experiences. Clarity comes when you stop automatically believing every thought and instead choose which ones deserve your agreement.
Action Step:
Write down one recurring thought about your art or yourself that tends to drain your confidence. Simply name it without judging it.
CREATE
Over the years, the Holy Spirit showed me a simple rhythm for renewing the mind that I call the 5Rs. This isn’t a formula—it’s a daily partnership.
First is Recognize. Become aware of the thought instead of automatically believing it. Scripture tells us to take every thought captive, and awareness is where that process begins.
Second is Repent, which simply means to change your mind and come out of agreement with what doesn’t align with God’s Word.
Third is Replace, where you intentionally install truth in place of the lie. This is where Scripture becomes the new operating system.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV)
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5, NKJV)
Fourth is Reinforce, because repetition is what creates freedom. This process doesn’t happen once; it becomes a daily rhythm.
Finally, Rejoice, because joy seals transformation and creates the internal safety where creativity can flourish.
Action Step:
Choose one Scripture that directly replaces the lie you identified earlier and speak it out loud in your studio today.
CULTIVATE
Creativity always involves risk, and your brain is wired by God to avoid risk when it feels unsafe. When fear goes down, curiosity goes up. When striving stops, creative flow begins.
As you renew your mind, you’re not just becoming more confident—you’re calming your nervous system and creating the internal safety required for imagination, experimentation, and freedom. This is how you begin to price your work without panic, share your art without needing approval, and see resistance as part of growth instead of proof of failure.
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2, NKJV)
Action Step:
Notice one moment this week where you respond differently to resistance than you used to and thank God for the shift.
The Core4 Focus Planner™
A 90-Day Undated Planner to Help You Stay Focused, Grow Spiritually, and Make Measurable Progress in Your Art
“This planner is my “tool of intentionality” and sits next to my Bible and journal. It’s also the perfect size to hang on to as a way to go back and celebrate the work that I’ve done. Thanks so much!” – Debby
WATCH & LISTEN
Episode: 5 Powerful Ways to Rewire Your Brain for Creativity
In this episode, I unpack how renewing your mind is both a spiritual and neurological process and why it’s essential for artists who want to create without pressure. You’ll learn how partnering with the Holy Spirit reshapes how you think, perceive resistance, and step into creative freedom.
Key Takeaway:
Same hands. Same skill. Completely different experience when your mind is renewed.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
Create a simple “Truth List” using your Notes app or Google Docs. Write three to five Scriptures that speak directly to identity, creativity, and calling. When resistance shows up, don’t spiral—reset.
Tip: Title the document My New Operating System and revisit it daily.
Link: https://docs.google.com
WORSHIP
A powerful invitation to surrender old patterns and create space for God’s transforming work—perfectly aligned with renewing the mind.
FEATURED ARTIST: Deneena Hughes
Deneena describes her journey through the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program with a vivid metaphor: “If my art is the vehicle and my passion to create is the fuel, the Created to Thrive program has been the GPS system—getting me to all the right places with turn-by-turn guidance.” That clarity and alignment have helped her step confidently into both her creative calling and her Kingdom purpose.
Her work centers on the dynamic energy of wildlife in the North American West, a fascination rooted deep in childhood. But what makes Deneena’s process uniquely powerful is what happens before the paint ever takes shape. She begins each piece by writing original poetry directly onto the canvas, allowing words, prayer, and meditation to shape the composition, marks, and movement of the final artwork. This deeply vulnerable practice opens the door to remarkable conversations with collectors—often about faith, meaning, and spiritual connection.
What Deneena loves most is the freedom to be unapologetically passionate about her subject matter and process. She regularly hears people say her work “feels spiritual,” a comment that brings her great joy. Those moments create natural opportunities to share the love of Jesus, often with people who may never have expected to encounter God in an art booth or gallery.
A profound shift happened when Deneena realized her creativity wasn’t about production or performance—but connection. As she learned to see studio time as worship rather than output, vulnerability began to flow freely into her work. Fear of rejection disappeared. Competition lost its grip. She began creating for an audience of One, trusting that obedience mattered more than outcomes.
That intimacy with God carries into the marketplace. Deneena often prays for the people who will eventually encounter her art, and sometimes even tells viewers she prayed for them while painting—that God would use the image to communicate a simple but powerful truth: He sees you. He loves you. The response is often tears, awe, and holy moments she never could have orchestrated herself.
Her studio is a sacred space, entered with gratitude and dedication. Each session begins with prayer—for inspiration, guidance, provision, and for the lives her work will touch. Through this posture of faithfulness, Deneena has watched God open doors both spiritually and practically.
She encourages fellow artists not to feel pressure to create overtly “Christian” art. Instead, she urges them to steward the passions God has planted in their hearts—because those sparks were given on purpose. “God will ask what you did with it,” she says. Faithfulness with small things leads to harvest.
On the business side, Deneena has seen real growth by making her work more accessible. While her large-scale originals draw people in, offering high-quality reproductions at varied price points has significantly increased sales—enough to allow her to step away from commission work and focus fully on the work she loves most.
Today, Deneena’s art acts like a microphone for the gospel—one brushstroke at a time. Through faith, obedience, and a willingness to show up raw and real, she’s watching God echo His love through her work in powerful, unexpected ways.
✨ Creativity, when surrendered, becomes ministry.
Apply to Be a Featured Artist
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Resources for Christian Artists
If you’re ready to grow as an artist in your faith, art and even business, then check out these affordable resources for artists just like you.
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