Created to create art that honors and exalts the presence and love of God. Come, let's spread God's truth and love, and point all eyes toward Christ, together.
When belief and doubt collide
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Hi Reader! Welcome back to Behind the Canvas with Porschia Danielle. I want to begin today's letter to you by sharing a recent personal moment that I think you can relate to. Don't Worry About Anything...Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then, you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." I just love this passage. The New King James Version starts by saying, "Be anxious for nothing..." This is especially relevant for me personally now more than it's ever been. I'll explain why. A Moment of TransparencyIn a recent conversation with my husband, I shared how I go through these cycles of belief and doubt with my art and offering it to the marketplace. At times, my belief and resolve is high. "I can do this," I say to myself, envisioning what I believe to be the full potential of my art, and its ability to touch the hearts of God's children while also supporting my family in a financially robust way. Yet, almost as soon as I catch momentum, I'm hit with an uncomfortably crippling doubt and, you guessed it, anxiety. I wrestle and tussle with this often, and I don't bring it to God in prayer nearly as often as I experience it. Why? I'm not quite sure... Maybe I feel silly asking God for more when He's already blessed me with so much. Maybe I still have doubts about whether He wants me to do this because it's been so hard just getting to this point. Maybe it's spiritual warfare. Can you relate? (If so, please hit reply and let me know.) A Word of EncouragementWell, look... Philippians 4:6-7 is clear. When we make our requests know to the Father through prayer, with an earnest and thankful heart, His supernatural peace will guard our hearts and minds. Seems to me that prayer is the antidote. So Here's My Prayer for Us: I pray that when anxiety and worry try to cloud our minds, and try distract us from our God-given assignments on this earth, that we would remember Philippians 4:6-7, and take those thoughts and feelings to the Father, lay them at His feet, and experience His supernatural peace instead. I pray that we would remember that fear and faith are both unseen, and that we get to choose which voice to believe in each and every moment. I pray that we choose faith. And, I pray that we would remember, in our hearts and minds, that when we are weak within ourselves, we are strongest in Christ - the only One who holds all power. May we seek comfort in His refuge and find it. In Jesus' name. In Closing...That's all for today. I originally thought I'd share my core values, but it seems God had other plans. I pray this blessed you. More to come in my next letter. P.S. - Here's one more verse to minister to your spirit: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) With love, grace, and gratitude, |
Porschia Danielle art studio
Created to create art that honors and exalts the presence and love of God. Come, let's spread God's truth and love, and point all eyes toward Christ, together.
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