EXPRESSION
Expression is feeling closest to God when you are creating.
Watch how others connect with God through Expression!
What is Expression?
Connecting with God through Expression means you feel close to God and commune with Him while creating. God loves creativity! Not only is He a creative God, but He made you in His image.
This means you have creativity in you, whether you know it or not. He has given everyone gifts and the ability to create within those gifts. Whether the expression is a hobby or an activity you use to pass time, you can encounter God through it.
Invite God into the process of using your gifts by welcoming His presence as you create.
Ask Him what gifts He has given you! Your gifts and passion come from the Lord. Seek God’s heart for the gifts He has given you by asking Him, “What would you like me to do for you?” He is never short of inspiration. When you ask Him for ideas, He is near to create and connect with you!
If it's been a long time since you've created, ask God to breathe fresh life into your creative expression. No matter the type of creativity—it belonged to God before it ever fell into your hands.
Give it back to the Lord and know you can always begin again. There is freedom, healing, and deliverance in His presence as you give your expression to Him!
As you grow in connecting with God through Expression, know that it doesn’t have to be perfect. Release the pressure of performing or doing something right the first time.
When a child brings their father a drawing they made, the father delights in that gift! In the same way, God loves when we create with and for Him.
Regardless of the outcome, He delights in your creative expression. Welcome the opportunity to create with your Dad in your daily encounter.
When we create, we are expressing ourselves, being vulnerable, and offering it to the Lord.
Get the Expression Ministry Plan
Practical Tips for Expression
Visualize the Bible as you read. God created your mind to be creative!
Communicate the dreams and visions God is giving you through your creative expression. The Holy Spirit empowers you to fulfill a vision with your unique gift.
Steward your gifts. Grow in your creative expression by learning new techniques with the Lord.
Have fun! The Lord is with you as you create! Ask Him for ideas and vision when you get stuck. God can speak to you through an idea, a daydream, a phrase, or a conversation with someone. Be aware of His presence and when He is speaking to you.
Avenues of Creative Expression:
• Painting • Drawing • Writing • Interior Design • Film • Dance • Music • Design • Innovation • Building • Cooking • Knitting • Fashion
Connect with AXL
What is AXL Creative Co?
AXL Creative Co. exists to equip and empower sons and daughters to advance the Kingdom of Heaven through their creative expressions.
Download the Creative's Prayer
Check out this prayer that AXL designed for creatives. Add it into your daily encounter as you connect with God through Expression.
More Resources
To continue growing in connecting with God through Expression, follow AXL on social media! They’ll be sharing resources about their podcast, devotionals, and more.
Grow in How You Connect with God.
Encouragement
As a creative, you can’t get away from being creative! Embrace your creative tendencies instead of trying to push them aside. To encounter God is to let Him see you fully. Don’t resist how you were created.
He has made you in His image to be creative. Those who connect with God through expression use their creativity to encounter God’s presence, but also have the unique opportunity to bring other people into an encounter with the Lord through their gift.
Remember you are ministering unto the Lord and not unto man.
The worst thing you could do is draw attention to yourself; the best thing you can do is draw attention onto God! God delights when you connect with Him the way He created you to! When you are intentionally pursuing intimacy with the Holy Spirit while creating, He is removing any guilt or shame. This is intimacy and not performance.
Suggested Activities
You are able to be His expression when you know what is on His heart. In your daily encounters, seek His heart and His mind by asking Him what He is saying and doing. Create from this space.
Create a space to connect with God. Create an altar in your home where you can remove distractions to hear His voice and create from a blank canvas. Create a space that appeals to your five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Light a candle, adjust the lighting, play music, etc.
Identify what creative outlet you need to be engaging in. This is how you respond to what you are hearing God say!
Enter into your divine imagination. Don’t discredit the imagination that God has given you.
Sometimes you need to express before you enter into His presence, so you can surrender and process with Him. Other times you create after your daily personal encounter. Discover when you should create instead of resisting what you are feeling and how He is leading you.
Scripture
Genesis 1, Exodus 31:1-11, Exodus 35-36, Deuteronomy 28, Psalm 51:10, Proverbs 22:29, Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3:23-24
Books
Called to Create by Jordan Raynor
Awake by Bosa Odiase
Mix It Up
Learning how we connect with God shows us how we can enter into His presence daily. While you may best connect with God through one or a few ways, remember that you can connect with God in all the ways! Use this guide below to help you grow in connecting with God through Adoration by pairing it with your favorite way.
-
While you are connecting with God through fasting, spend intentional time adoring God through worship. He rewards those who seek Him! While you are withholding from worldly satisfaction, lavishly supply God with worship and adoration. Posture your heart to receive from the Lord as you engage in your fast. God wants to give you an abundance as you deny your flesh!
Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
-
When you are reading the Bible, take time to sing and place melodies behind what you are reading. It doesn’t have to be for anyone because it is between you and the Lord. Turn on instrumental music and allow Holy Spirit to fill the space. Let Him give you the words to say and the melodies to release. He is the author of your faith, so let Him author your thoughts and meditate on who He is!
-
Sing songs about the wonders of creation to our Creator. When having your daily encounters outside, take time to meditate on the awe of God’s creation. Your awe will minister to His heart! Listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, the sounds of the creatures around you, the sounds of rushing water and ask yourself, “How are they singing to the Lord?” Join in with their chorus and worship Him!
-
Take time throughout your day to minister to God’s heart through your movement. In the midst of moving from place to place, keep your heart bent towards Him. Sing in the Spirit, sing a spontaneous song, or express to Him how you love Him. Ponder on the attributes of God that you love when you are moving.
-
As you connect with God through adoration, create a new song, a new painting, or a new writing for Him. Write a letter expressing your thankfulness and adoration to God. Turn on instrumental worship music and create your art based on the thoughts that flood your mind. In the midst of those melodies, let the Holy Spirit guide your hand. He is the Ultimate Creator, so let Him author creation through you!
-
Sing in the Holy Spirit. When you are singing in the Spirit, ask God what questions you should ask Him. In your daily encounters, ask God, “Father, what can I do to please you today?” When you hear Him, respond and ask Him to teach you. Leave space for the Lord to speak back to you in worship. He desires to speak to you as you engage in Adoration!
-
When you are alone with God, you can come to Him in full vulnerability and authenticity. In solitude, worship God from a completely exposed state. Then, sing to Him! It doesn’t matter what you sound like because it is just between you and the Lord. Your authentic worship moves His heart. Take time to let melodies and songs usher you into deeper intimacy with God. Write down what He says to you in those moments. That is His love song to you!
-
As you connect with God through learning, take extended time to connect with God through Adoration. Study the Levites. Worship will bring new perspective on the revelation God is showing you through His Word! Engage your mind as you sing to the Lord. What scriptures come to mind as you sing certain lyrics? What biblical stories are the songwriters pointing you back to? Remember, we worship in spirit and truth. It is not real worship to God if it isn’t done with His truth!
-
Connect with God through Adoration by worshiping God as the Perfect Judge. He is the author of heavenly justice. Ask God to reveal a new facet of His righteous character to you. Before interceding, spend time worshiping God for who He is. He is holy and righteous. Sing this to Him! Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and praise. This is how your requests are made known.
-
Adoration is a lifestyle. When you are serving the least of these, keep worship unto God in your heart. Before you can minister to others, you need to first receive from Him. We love because he first loved us! What is His love song to you? Ask Him. Take time to receive love from the Father, so you can pour that love back out to God by serving others.
-
Take time to look back on all that God has done in your life and thank Him for it. This is an act of worship! Let these memories put meaning behind the words you sing. When you sing of His worthiness, think back on how He has shown Himself worthy. When you sing of His goodness, think back on how He has been good to you. When you sing about freedom, think back on how He has set you and others around you free! Let cadence and melodies usher you into remembrance. As you worship, your thoughts will testify to the faithfulness of God!
Don’t know how you best Connect with God?
The Connect With God assessment will ask you simple questions to help you determine some of your top Connect With God Ways!