When I create, it’s an act of worship or intimate communion with God. Often, my paintings come from things God is showing me, as I’m drawing or writing in my journal during my devotional times. I recently completed a painting about visual artists each capturing different perspectives of a beautiful creation scene. Originally, the work just showed me painting what God was creating, but I felt compelled to expand my vision to include multiple artists of different colors/ethnicities as they painted their unique perspectives of the scene. I think this Kingdom work of artists is so important and grand, that it takes many artists working together to be able to bring even a tiny slice of God’s invisible work among us into our visible reality through our work.

This newly finished work is called “Weapons of Praise,” and it’s also in line with what God has been teaching me about artists and our role in the Kingdom of God. There are multiple artists, represented in various ethnicities and genders, and this time they are working in different disciplines. There’s a painter (me), a singer, a violinist and a dancer. As they do their work, heaven breaks open, and evil spiritual forces in the darkness are thwarted.

This work illustrates how praising God through the arts combats the spiritual forces of evil at work in the world. After all, it was the musicians who went first in the march around the Jericho walls (Joshua 6:1-21), and it was while Paul and Silas were singing hymns that the prison doors in Philippi flew open (Acts 16:25-40). And this weapon of praise isn’t limited to song. After all, it was Miriam and David who danced in response to God’s deliverance and it was Bezalel and his artists who were the first (who weren’t priests, prophets, or kings) to be filled with the Spirit of God to complete the work on the Tabernacle.

It’s as if the armor of God from Ephesians 6 were interpreted in the creative language of artists, and illustrated in the context of our day. The art of praise is a powerful weapon:

The singer declares truth as the sword of the spirit.
The dancer moves in the shoes of the readiness of the gospel.
The painter enables us to see the invisible by the shield of faith.
The violinist moves our hearts (the breastplate) as her instrument rings out the sounds of purity and righteousness - all to the glory of the King!

As all this action happens, the heavens are stirred. God himself responds to our worship in faith. Look closer at the painting. Can you see heaven breaking open?

Now look at the top of the painting. Can you see the enemies fleeing? I can’t pretend to understand the devices and patterns of spiritual warfare, but I think that as these artists fill the air with praises, there’s literally no room for the enemy to be there.

When we as artists engage heaven through our art, our communion, praise, or delight, the enemy has no authority. He has to flee.

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High quality prints on paper of this and other works by Danica Thurber are available at https://www.danicatheartist.com/shop-gallery

The original work, “Weapons of Praise,” is painted in acrylic on canvas and measures 22” x 28” x 0.75”. It is currently available for purchase. The cost is $616.00 USD not including tax or shipping.

I am available to do unique art commissions for your home, church, or for you to give as a gift. You can learn more about commissions here: https://www.danicatheartist.com/commission-art

Prints on paper or canvas are available here https://www.danicatheartist.com/shop-gallery .

I also teach anyone (even absolute beginners) how to use art as a tool in their grief recovery following the loss of a loved one. Online courses for individuals can be found here: https://projectgrief.org

I love to share and teach about grief, loss, and art. You may book me for speaking engagements or live workshops that take place either in-person or online. Contact me at support@projectgrief.org if interested.