The Painter’s Palette: The Power of God’s Voice
Recently, I’ve gotten back into painting. It’s something I put down for a while because I was busy with work and school and moving and gardening—and I had just lost my love for it. I couldn’t sit still long enough to paint. When I moved into my new house, I knew I wanted to get back to painting so I could decorate my walls—because why buy it when you can create something yourself?
I’ve always loved painting the moon and different planets. And I was searching through NASA’s photos, looking for some reference point when I came across some amazing images. Have you ever stared at the rings of Saturn or gazed into the depths of Jupiter? There is an image processing section of NASA’s website where they upload pictures from the Juno mission and let the public edit the raw files. Needless to say, I’ve been here for a few hours.
(A close-up of clouds and storm systems on Jupiter, captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft. Edited by Kevin M. Gill. NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill)
(A close-up of Kelvin-Helmhotz instabilities on Jupiter. Edited by Gerald Eichstädt. NASA / JPL / SwRI / MSSS / Gerald Eichstädt)
(Capture of Jupiter with RGB, zoom, noise reduction, details, and upscale X2. Edited by Thomas Thomopoulos. NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Thomas Thomopoulos)
Pretty amazing right? You can’t tell me that God isn’t an artist.
I looked down at my own canvas and realized that I was only ever going to create imitations of what God had already created. Everything I will ever create is just a mirror reflection, just an imitation of what has already been created by God. He is the better artist. He is the better gardener. He is the better writer.
I’ve been thinking about the tools that God uses to create…it’s His Voice. How startling and amazing and powerful is that revelation?
The Breath of God Creates and Gives Life
God spoke and the world started. The shape of His Voice formed the depths of the Earth, spun the moon into motion, and created all the natural wonders around us. He breathed into humans, and they went from dust to spirit-filled. What could be more powerful?
God spoke and light abounded:
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
God breathed, and Adam was formed:
“Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
God gave a command, and it lasted:
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host…For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”
At God’s Word, we were all created:
“Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.”
God’s Holy Spirit is the breath inside our own lungs:
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
God’s Word Does Not Return Void
I share all of this because it’s so important that we understand the power of God’s Word. We have the words He has spoken. The power that created the universe is sitting in your Bible. They’re not just words printed on a page. They are the creating power of God Himself.
How we take that for granted!
Speak the Word of God over your life and watch what is born, what is created, what is restored. Every time you read God’s Word, it turns around and reads you. When you invite Holy Spirit into this, the revelations you will have are astounding. Just pray before you open the Bible and watch how it changes your experience with it.
His Words are life itself:
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
What God spoke at the beginning of creation still stands today. The sun, the moon, the heavens, the oceans—they’re all still here. They haven’t stopped with time. And God says even when they do, His Word will still stand:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
What God speaks does not return void.
“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
How much more will the things He says to you remain and stand firm? God cannot lie. And He doesn’t change over time like shifting sand. He is for you and not against you. With all of this in mind, how could you not yearn to hear what He has to say?
What Are You Speaking?
Because we were made in the image of God, our words have power, too. We are creative beings with passions, desires, and ambitions. We can create and destroy:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
What fruits are you eating lately? What are you creating with your thoughts and words? When we speak carelessly or with malice, we are tearing people down instead of building them up. If we have the power to give life and joy and peace with our words, why not choose that?
I’m learning to let the Word of God shape my voice, shape my mind, shape my art. I’m letting His thoughts wash over me. And I’m inviting Him into my conversations.
His Word is so powerful. Would you let it create something new in you? Just look at how He shaped the stars. How much more precious are you to Him?
ELISE LAKEY
Elise is a writer, artist, and photographer based out of Nashville, TN. She’s the founder of Garden Theology and seeks to help all gardeners-in-training come to their full purpose in God. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing in the dirt, snuggling her cats, or weaving tapestries.
