A wonderful and much needed prayer by Allen Arnold to help us to offer ourselves and our work to God, no matter what our creative calling is. There’s an entire blog post that goes with this, and it’s heart-and-soul-touching, uplifting, God-centred reading.
I love the sense of joy and play and co-creation in this! And I know the dryness and aridity of trying to create without God. I’ve lost myself in that desert more than once! When we are with God, all things are possible.
Creator God
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
You created me with this unique passion to create.
You invited me into this calling.
Breathe into me.
Your presence here.
You have broken my chains.
Rescued me from the desert.This is not about me.
This is not up to me.
Slay my striving.
Replace my productivity
with your presence.Help me not look to the world for inspiration –
but to your boundless imagination filled with
truth, goodness, nobility, grace, love.Help me not look to the world for validation –
for you have given me this calling.
Even deeper, you’ve given me my identity.
I am first your son (or daughter).So I consecrate my identity to you.
My creativity to you.
My heart to you.
My life to you.Reign over it all.
I hunger for you God.
Your mystery. Your wildness. Your holiness.We get to do this together.
To create with words, songs, art.
Images and stories of freedom.
Of healing. Of hope.I want to run with you. Ride with you.
Write with you. Sing with you.
Create with you.May our time be blazing with life and light.
I cast out the enemy and any spirits of
distraction, despair or disheartenment.
The enemy has no place in the life-giving
process of creation.
He is the author of lies.
You are the Author of life.Grant me your peace.
It casts out all fear.Grant me your presence.
I am never alone.If you’re not here, I call the whole process off.
I can’t do it without you.
I don’t want to do it without you.
May my face glow from your presence.Let me taste your goodness.
Give me a glimpse of the eternal songs, stories
and images only seen by those
in the kingdom of heaven.May my creation reflect you as Creator.
May my calling reflect you as the Caller.
May the work of my hands make you smile.
May we do this together, Father.
In the name of Jesus,
I give you…me.
Thank you Allen for the blessing of this prayer!
And thank You Lord that You call us all to be co-creators with You in this world, whether through creative work like writing and painting, or through parenting, or through baking love into our cupcakes, or tending our gardens, or doing whatever work You’ve called us to with a full heart and a willingness to serve. You are the reason for it all.