Consider the Lilies

I am currently compiling photos, paintings, and meditation writings into book form for an Exhibit at Sierra Arts Gallery, downtown Reno for the month of December. It’s about battling anxiety with art and a change of perspective, so I thought I would post my most recent Meditation here. I just used this meditation to begin last weekend’s Paint and Sip, painting this Day Lily, which will be a piece included in the exhibit. Please let me know what you think, and if it is helping you battle anxiety.

Consider The Lilies Meditation

I want you to imagine the original Day plants were created, Day 3 of  Creation.  Newly formed land, seedy plants, fruit trees.  Imagine it was all created in bloom, flowers everywhere.  What is your favorite flower?  Picture it.  What color is it?  What is the texture of the petals?  My favorite flower is a Calla Lily.  Consider the lilies, how they grow.  There are many kinds of lilies:  Calla lilies, Day lilies, Easter lilies, Fortnight lilies, Stargazer lilies, Tiger lilies, Water lilies, did I forget some?  There are so many colors of lilies:  White, yellow, orange, red, pink & purple.  What type and what color are your favorite that you are picturing?  Feel free to speak out and say its name and color.

Consider the lilies, how beautiful they are in bloom.  Why did God create them?  What is their purpose?  Is it possible God created lilies for us to enjoy their beauty?  I often wonder the purpose of all the things God created.  It begins when I start to ponder the purpose for which I was created.  Knowing I was created for a purpose, helps me weed out all the things I am trying to do that are not my purpose.  I don’t have to be like everyone else, I am more unique than the lilies and can choose to live my purpose, as I remember I am more beautiful than the lilies to my Creator.  He clothes me with beauty as I live my purpose for Him.

Release your stress and anxiety knowing you don’t have to be beautiful all the time, 24/7, always striving for beauty that is fleeting in this world and looks different to everyone.  Focus on your Creator who makes you more beautiful than you can imagine in His way, in His time.  It’s ok to be dormant while your roots are growing, we all grow in different ways in different seasons. I don’t need to be anxious about my growth, who/what I want to be when I grow up.  What is it you are anxious about?  Are you more anxious about someone else’s growth (like your kids)?  You were not created to live anxious, you were created to Trust and live for your Creator.  Can you trust your Creator?  He created you for a purpose, and He has begun a good work in you.  Philippians 1:6 in the Bible says that He will complete the good work He began in you, that is a promise and I have to believe God will do what He promises. Do you believe God will do what He promises?  Do you believe He has begun a good work in you?  Pause and ponder that for a minute.

1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast our anxieties upon the Lord because He cares.  Did you know your Creator cares about you?  Have you ever pondered the ability to cast your cares to Him?  That’s not talking to God about your anxieties, that is throwing them at Him, like a softball player throwing the ball from the outfield to home plate.  Picture yourself doing that, your greatest area of anxiety, grab hold of it & throw it to your Creator, allow it to leave your grip, watch it leave your grip, He will catch it. Picture Him catching it.  What will He do with it? He will get that anxiety out, that anxiety that is running the bases of your life, needs to get out before it gets home in your heart. 

Phil. 4:6&7 says to be anxious for nothing, instead be thankful and make your request known to God.  Then God’s peace will guard your heart and your mind.  Could you use a little peace in your life?  Could you use a guard for your heart, a guard for your mind (so the anxiety stops)?  I recommend keeping a Thankful Journal of all God has given you.  Focus on what He has already given you, and your attitude will change, your anxiety will go away and you will learn to Trust God as you recognize all He has done for you.  You can walk away from your grateful prayer, after casting your worries to God, you can walk away with peace.  Stop telling God how big your problems are and start telling your problems how big your God is and how much your heavenly Father is a good father who loves you.  Do you believe He is a good God who loves you?  Why?  Why not?

I’ve been pondering how to Rest & Trust God with my anxieties.  I have found the secret; keep my eyes on my Creator & follow His lead.  It is so easy to focus on my anxieties.  It is so easy to think I control my life.  But all I am doing is allowing my insecurities to ruin my life with worry, doubt, and a false sense of control leading to unhealthy habits I get addicted to in my mind, body & spirit.  All I am really in control of is where I am looking & what I am focused on.  The secret is to focus on my Creator & realize I am His created artwork.  So, how do I change my focus?  It takes practice at being Thankful & Grateful for all my Creator has given me & what He has done for me.  Gratitude changes my mind, my attitude and my focus.  I start to see my abundance, I start to recognize how God has helped me through this life, then I can Trust Him with my current anxieties.  Rest & Trust.  I can’t rest until I trust, and I can’t Trust until I am focused on my Shepherd who takes good care of me.  Gratitude leads to Trust which helps me rest in my Shepherd and His lead, and peace will come as I focus on becoming who He created me to be.

Now go, be grateful, especially if you pictured a flower because that means God has blessed you with sight.  Consider the lilies, and draw one if you feel inspired.

For more Bible passages about these topics, look up: Matthew 6:28-34, Psalm 23, and Philippians 4:6-9.