ISSUE #039
Have you ever stopped to consider that when you step into your creative space, you’re not just making art—you’re actually bringing God joy? Not because your work is perfect. Not because it’s polished, marketable, or “spiritual enough.” But because you’re doing the very thing He designed you to do.
This week’s message flows straight out of a deep, personal revelation that changed everything for me as an artist. For years, I carried pressure, confusion, and even guilt around my creativity. But when I finally understood how God actually feels about my art, joy returned. Freedom returned. Confidence returned. And I believe the same thing is going to happen for you as you lean into this truth.
Friend, your art matters. You matter. And God is smiling every time you step into the creative life He designed for you.
I’m cheering you on always!
In His love and creativity,
Matt Tommey
PS – Don’t miss all the great artist mentoring resources we have available for you. Click here to find out more.
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From Guilt to Joy: When Art Becomes Worship
Painter Hoda Nicholas once believed art was frivolous—until God revealed it as worship. Discover how creating from freedom, joy, and partnership with the Holy Spirit transformed her art into a gateway for blessing and beauty.
CONNECT
Creating as a Child, Not a Performer
Scripture:
Genesis 1:27 (NLT) — “So God created human beings in his own image…”
God didn’t just create you to make art—He created you in His image, and He is a Creator. When you create, you’re reflecting His nature back into the world. Just like a loving father delights in seeing his child engaged in something they love, God delights in you when you show up and create with Him.
Prayer:
Father, thank You that Your delight in me is not based on my performance. I receive Your pleasure today as Your beloved child. Help me create with You from a place of rest, joy, and intimacy. Amen.
Action Step:
Before you create this week, pause and simply acknowledge God’s presence. Say out loud, “Father, I invite You into this process with me.”
CLARIFY
Process Over Product
Scripture:
James 1:17 (NLT) — “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father…”
God cares far more about you than what you produce. Your studio isn’t a production factory—it’s a sacred meeting place. When you release the pressure to perform and instead focus on presence, clarity returns and striving loses its grip.
Reflection:
Where have you been treating your creative life like a task instead of a relationship?
Action Step:
Clarify one intention for your creative time this week that has nothing to do with outcome—only connection.
CREATE
Where Joy and Flow Are Found
Scripture:
Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) — “He will take delight in you with gladness… He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
That sense of creative “flow” so many artists chase isn’t something you manufacture—it’s something you enter. When you align with how God designed you, grace flows freely. Time disappears. Joy returns. Creativity becomes fun again.
Flow isn’t striving harder—it’s agreeing with who God already made you to be.
Action Step:
Schedule one unhurried creative session this week. No expectations. No evaluation. Just joy.
CULTIVATE
Trust the Desires God Planted in You
Scripture:
Psalms 37:4 (NLT) — “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
In Christ, your heart has been made new. The passions and ideas stirring inside you aren’t random—they’re shaped by intimacy with Him. Constantly second-guessing yourself leads to paralysis, but trusting God’s work within you brings confidence and stability.
Your creativity is an overflow, not a test.
Action Step:
Choose one creative idea you’ve been doubting and take one small step of faith toward it this week.
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
In this episode, I unpack why your creativity brings joy to God—not because of what you produce, but because of who you are. We explore identity, presence, and trust, and I pray for healing and freedom for artists who’ve been weighed down by pressure and fear.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
Creating Sacred Space
Tool: Your calendar – printed or online (yes, really!)
Tip: Block your creative time on your calendar as a non-negotiable meeting. Treat it with the same honor you would give any important relationship.
Why it Matters:
Consistency builds trust—both with yourself and with God.
WORSHIP
This song centers on identity before performance—the exact heart of this week’s message. It reinforces the truth that we don’t create to earn God’s pleasure; we create from a place of already being loved, chosen, and delighted in as sons and daughters.
Lines like “I’m a child of God, yes I am” echo the revelation that God enjoys being with us in the process, not grading the outcome. It dismantles striving and invites artists to stand confidently in who they are in Christ—free, accepted, and empowered.
How to use it this week:
- Play it before you enter your studio as a reminder of who you are.
- Let it reset your heart when pressure or self-doubt creeps in.
- Use it as a worship moment inside your creative process, not separate from it.
This one carries both truth and tenderness—and it creates the perfect atmosphere for joyful, Spirit-led creativity.
FEATURED ARTIST: Hoda Nicholas
For painter Hoda Nicholas, creativity was once something she quietly loved—but didn’t yet understand as sacred.
Before joining the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program, she wrestled with guilt, believing art might be frivolous rather than a meaningful way to honor God. Yet the pull to create—and the peace she felt when painting—never went away.
Through Matt’s teaching, everything shifted.
Hoda came to understand that the desires placed in her heart were not random or self-serving, but God-given. She discovered a liberating truth that changed her creative life: to create is to worship. Art was no longer something she had to justify—it became a holy response to the One who made her.
“I found freedom from guilt and purpose in becoming an artist,” Hoda shares. “Creating art reflects Him and honors Him.”
Hoda primarily paints Canadian landscapes and florals in oil, working in a loose, impressionistic style filled with vibrant color. She loves painting wet-in-wet, allowing colors to mingle directly on the canvas and form unexpected beauty—much like life itself when surrendered to God. Her goal is simple but profound: to evoke joy. To pause people in the middle of busy lives and invite them to notice beauty, memory, and gratitude for God’s creation.
Art, for Hoda, is a universal language.
“Through art I can say what I feel about life and God,” she says. “I speak art to say how grateful I am to be on this earth, connected to the Creator of it all.”
One of the most transformational moments in her journey came when she realized her paintings could be more than decoration—they could be gateways. Windows that connect heaven and earth. A source of blessing in the spaces where they live.
That calling became tangible at a recent art show, where visitors repeatedly stepped into her booth and said the same thing: “I feel joy here. Your paintings make me happy.” Each time, Hoda quietly thanked God for using her work to lift hearts.
In the studio, prayer is woven into every step of her process. She invites the Holy Spirit to lead each session—especially when she feels stuck. She prays over color choices, composition, and next steps, often returning the next day to find clarity waiting for her.
“Sometimes the painting basically paints itself,” she laughs.
Worship music, faith-filled podcasts, and stories of God at work accompany her as she paints, reinforcing the truth that she is not creating alone.
Hoda believes mindset is foundational for any Christian artist.
“If your mindset is built on God’s truth, you will grow and succeed,” she says. “Love what you do. Don’t be hard on yourself or your art—embrace it.”
Practically, consistency has been a key to her growth—showing up regularly in the studio, staying active on social media, and investing wisely in her business. She’s currently streamlining her online presence through Shopify, improving SEO, and creating systems that support sustainable growth.
But at the heart of it all, Hoda’s journey is about alignment—living fully as the artist God designed her to be.
She no longer creates from guilt or striving. She creates from freedom, joy, and deep connection.
Apply to Be a Featured Artist
Would you like to be considered for one of our artist features? We love sharing the work from our friends around the world who create unique, beautiful and inspired art, regardless of creative medium. And just a reminder, your work does NOT have to be overtly faith-based to be considered. Interested? Just complete this application: https://forms.gle/vmtyk6wg3hSuUAhi9
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.
