Before beginning this post, I want to introduce myself. My name is Davia. My name is the feminine version of David, meaning ‘beloved of God’ (pronounced DAAViyAH). I consider myself as a pretty creative person when it comes to the arts. I went to the Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts as we call it) and we had the longest school days in America. Well, maybe I’m being a little dramatic. I don’t actually if that’s true, but we went to school from 8 AM to 5 PM every day. The beginning of our day started in academics like a normal school, but after lunch we sat in on art classes for three hours. In this high school, I majored in Visual Arts.

In the middle of my junior year, I started to wonder if there was a way I could use my gifts to glorify God and if so, how? I’m here today to tell you that you are creative as well. I don’t care if you are creative through profesional dancing or eating a sandwich in 30 seconds. You are creative, but the question is how can you use your skills to glorify God?

Invite God into your creative process.

The most important step is to always . . . I mean always invite God into your creative time. I said this in my last blog, but our God is so relational. The creator of the world wants to sit with you and create. This is such a HUGE honor. It shows that He made us in his image and that’s freakin mind blowing.

Inviting God into your creativity could look like going on a photoshoot with someone and seeing them through God’s eyes while capturing moments of them smiling. If you love drawing portraits, start drawing someone and while drawing pray into the person’s original design like the Urban and Arts DTS did last fall(shameless plug . . . go apply!!). As you create this portrait, seek out God’s original intentions with this person so they start seeing who they are in God’s eyes. I have seen people time and time again being touched by God because I was willing to invite Him into the giftings He’s given to me.

Let me tell you this: if God has given you a talent, then inviting him into it makes it 100% better. Never stop inviting God into your creative time. You won’t regret it. 

Create art in whatever way God speaks to you. Get outside the box.

Secondly, I hear all the time that Christian art is “cheesy”. Most of it is being completely honest. Some people stay away from Christian themed movies because they are cheesy and surface level — sidenote: no hate to the people who created it and people who enjoy those movies.

My challenge for you is to get rid of the divide of what “Christian” art is. Let God use you to create beyond what everyone thinks “Christian” art looks like. For example, throwing it way back to Narnia which was probably the best book/film that portrays excellence in bringing the love of God to the world through the arts. Just because God loves us does not mean we make art half heartedly. Do everything in excellence and be creative. You have the biggest creator by your side!

Be confident in your creativity.

Last but not least, be confident in your creativity. God has made us for more and not for us to conform to everyone else’s style. Don’t be afraid to show what God has gifted you with. Story time ahead! When I co-led an outreach team to France, there was a day we were having fun downtown. A student, Tiffany, and I started to create a dance on the spot. A lot of people were passing through and watching while some would just laugh at us. As we continued, a few girls came up to me and asked me if they could follow me on Instagram. On my profile, I post a lot about who I am and also encourage women to stand in who God has created us to be. These girls still follow me and I pray for them anytime I see their posts.

God has gifted me in encouraging people, and this takes me back to another story. Usually, I encourage people through words, but I also use my creativity to make it beautiful. Someone from my elementary school saw the amount of love I put into my encouraging words and said it really has shifted his mindset to being more kind towards others. These are just small testimonies of what God can do when we have the confidence to show him off. 

Take time to create with God today!

I hope this encourages you and motivates you to continue to be creative with the Lord. Today, I challenge you to dance with God. Eat that sandwich in 30 seconds with God. Just invite God in and let the journey begin. Because if not now, then when?