Seek Ye First

I spent the morning painting when I should have been preparing for our trip out of town. It was time well spent. I watched more video tutorials on the Corel XC paint program, and then just had to practice what I had learned.  The brushes still do things that I don't understand, but I am inching closer to transferring what is in my head onto the computer "canvas." This picture above is a painting of my beloved first-born and precious last-born. (My middle guy will get a picture all his own next.)

We will be gone for a couple of days, and I doubt I will have time to write my blog or paint pictures. I will just be soaking up the joy of being with my son, Matthias, and his dear wife, Karissa. But I did learn something about God as I was painting the portrait above. This is "watercolor", and though it is digital, it behaves like real watercolor. I have to apply layers, work light to dark, and play with how wet and saturated the colors are. Just like real watercolor, it is not an easy medium to work with. It is a very slow process, and the picture only gradually begins to transform into something remotely realistic.

This is not at all in my personality comfort zone. I like instant results, immediate gratification, and quick, steady accomplishments. Watercolor painting will not allow that. I must be patient, plan ahead, keep my eye on the goal in every decision I make, work with mishaps to turn them to advantage since they are not easily erased, and enjoy the process rather than the result. If I wanted a perfect portrait, I should not be doing a watercolor painting. I should just take a photograph. The creative struggle in becoming all I can become as an artist doesn't fill me with happiness at times, but it does fill me with satisfaction when I reach moments of success.

Hmmmm. This is a good description of how we should live our life before God!

I thought of a discussion I had with someone recently about making decisions based on how "happy" certain choices make one feel. Happy? I don't think we should make decisions on how happy they might make us. Happy is a result (sometimes) of living a life righteously and fully devoted to God. It should not be the reason or the goal. In fact, the Bible never tells us to seek happiness. But it does tell us to seek holiness, purity, truth, righteousness, goodness, excellence....etc.  We all want happiness, just like I want my painting to instantly be the beautiful image I have in my head. But if happiness is what I am seeking, I wouldn't try anything in which I knew I might not excel, or succeed. Frankly, that describes just about everything God asks me to do.

God is continually asking us to step forth in faith not in assurance of our strength and skill, but of His. He doesn't promise us happiness, but He does promise us He will be with us. I think we all should be asking ourselves with every decision not 'will this make me happy', but 'will it make me more like the person God desires me to be?' I suspect the "brushes" that we would choose to paint our lives might be very different in those two choices.

Seek ye first His righteousness....then all these things may be added unto you.

However, I really am quite happy with my little painting. Happiness was not the goal, but it is often the by-product.
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Matthew 6:33 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 7:8 

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Psalm 27:8 

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

Jeremiah 29:13 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Ephesians 6:12-20 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.