ISSUE #009
Hey my friend! Have you ever noticed how much better you feel after worshiping, praying out loud, or just letting your creativity flow without judgment? There’s a reason for that—and it’s not just spiritual.
It turns out, God wired your body with a built-in system of healing called the vagus nerve, and activating it is one of the simplest ways to calm your mind and body. Singing, praying aloud, creating—these aren’t just nice things to do. They’re transformational tools, both spiritually and physically.
This week, I want to help you connect the dots between your creative calling and your God-designed nervous system. Psalm 59:16 reminds us to “sing of Your power… and shout for joy in the morning”—because joy, peace, and healing are released when we open our mouths and engage with God’s presence. Whether you’re in a high moment or fighting through heaviness, your voice is a weapon and a healing balm. Don’t let the enemy keep you silent—lift your voice and watch peace flood your studio.
I’m cheering you on always!
In His love and creativity,
Matt Tommey
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CONNECT
Activate Peace by Using Your Voice
“But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.” — Psalm 59:16 NLT
God didn’t design you to suffer in silence. He designed your body to respond to worship. Speaking God’s Word aloud, singing in the Spirit, and declaring truth over your creative process actually stimulates the vagus nerve—bringing peace to your nervous system. It’s how faith and science beautifully collide.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the gift of my voice. Help me use it to declare Your truth, sing Your praises, and partner with You in my creative process. Fill my space with Your presence and bring healing to my spirit, soul, and body as I lift up Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Action Step:
Start and end each studio session this week by declaring Psalm 59:16 aloud. Let your voice set the spiritual tone in your space.
CLARIFY
Focus Your Heart and Hands for the Week
With everything pulling at your attention, clarity is a gift you have to cultivate intentionally. Instead of letting your day run you, take a moment to pause and ask the Lord, “What’s my focus this week in the studio?” Is it starting something new, finishing a long-standing piece, reaching out to a collector, or simply creating in peace?
Clarity doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from alignment. When you start your week with God, He’ll help you focus on the right thing, not just the next thing.
Focus Prompt:
What’s one specific action God is leading me to focus on creatively this week?
Action Step:
Write your focus at the top of your planner or post it in your studio. Example: “This week, I will complete the background layers for my newest painting while staying in a posture of worship and trust.”
Let that clarity guide your decisions, your schedule, and your energy.
CREATE
Making Art is Medicine
Did you know just 45 minutes of creative activity lowers cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone? And that’s true even if you don’t consider yourself “an artist.” Creating taps into your God-given design and brings healing from the inside out.
Creative Insight:
Your time in the studio isn’t a luxury—it’s part of God’s prescription for your well-being.
Studio Action Step:
Set a timer for 45 minutes this week and let yourself create freely without overthinking. Let your art be a response to God’s presence—not a performance.
CULTIVATE
Use Your Voice to Connect Authentically
When you share your art publicly, your voice is just as important as the visual. What you say about your work, your process, and your journey can invite others into deeper connection—not just with you, but with the Lord.
Marketing Tip:
Record a short voice memo or video explaining the heart behind a piece you’re sharing this week. Post it alongside the art to increase engagement and connection.
Weekly Outreach Idea:
Message 2–3 followers or collectors with a personal voice note thanking them for their encouragement. Watch how your authenticity opens doors.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
Tool: Voice Memos App (iPhone) or similar audio recorder
Tip: Use your smartphone’s voice recording app to capture spontaneous prayers, declarations, or worship songs during your creative time. These moments of Spirit-led expression can later bring encouragement, clarity, and healing.
Action Step:
This week, take 5–10 minutes at the start or end of your creative time to record yourself speaking God’s Word over your journey. Play it back later to reinforce truth and remember what God is doing.
👉 Learn how to use Voice Memos on iPhone
LISTEN
This Week’s Episode: How Worship & Creativity Heal Your Nervous System
Have you ever wondered why you feel physically better after worshiping or creating? In this episode, I explore the vagus nerve—the biological pathway that connects worship and creativity to peace in your body. From Acts 16 to scientific studies, we’re seeing that God’s design for your voice and creativity is more than spiritual—it’s therapeutic.
Key Takeaway: Worship, declaration, and creativity all activate your body’s healing mechanisms. Your voice is more powerful than you think.
Listen now on your favorite podcast app or at
matttommeymentoring.com/podcast
WATCH
This week’s worship recommendation is a powerful declaration song that aligns perfectly with our focus. “I Speak Jesus” by Charity Gayle is a bold anthem that reminds us of the authority and healing power in the name of Jesus. As you sing or listen, remember—your voice carries Heaven’s authority. Speak His name over your studio, your family, your creativity, and your mind.
🎶 “Your name is power, Your name is healing, Your name is life.”
FEATURED ARTIST: Mark Ford
A New Beginning on the Canvas and in Christ
📍 Website
For Mark Ford, the journey back to art wasn’t just a career pivot—it was a spiritual awakening. His rediscovery of painting coincided with a powerful move of God in his life, and since then, every brushstroke has become an act of worship.
Mark grew up along the coast, surrounded by the rhythms of tides, the beauty of seabirds, and the peaceful presence of marine life. Today, he brings those scenes to life through acrylic coastal paintings on canvas, capturing the essence of the shoreline he loves so much.
Art has always been close to Mark’s heart. “My mother was an artist with an impressive career,” he shares. “She introduced me to painting early on, and unlike my brothers, I was hooked.” His life has always been woven with creativity—from touring the country with his musically inclined family to working hands-on in the construction world. But when a construction-related health limitation forced him to stop working, Mark turned his attention back to art—and back to God.
That turning point was sparked by a gift from his daughter: Unlocking the Heart of the Artist by Matt Tommey. “The book was fantastic,” he recalls. “It gave me the inspiration and clarity I needed to start a real relationship with God.” And that relationship quickly became personal. “One night, God spoke to me in a dream. I saw a full-color sunrise over my favorite coastal spot, and He told me to paint it and name it A New Beginning.” Mark obeyed, and it marked the beginning of a Spirit-led creative journey.
Since then, Mark has experienced God’s grace and inspiration in his studio again and again. One special moment came when he felt led to paint a prophetic piece for his niece, who was struggling through law school. “God told me she needed something beautiful to remind her of her strength and support. I painted a group of ibis in the surf at Miami Beach and gave it to her.” She wept when she received it—and today, she’s a successful attorney. “Thank you, God!” Mark says with gratitude.
His spiritual rhythm is grounded in daily prayer and showing up in the studio consistently. His encouragement to others?
🙏 “Pray and worship God. Ask for His help, clean out the trash in your head, and LISTEN.”
Whether he’s painting waves, birds, or sunrise scenes, Mark Ford continues to create from a place of trust and obedience—sharing beauty, peace, and the presence of God with every piece.
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.
