If your art were posted in your front yard, would it reveal more about what you love…or what you’re against? 

You can do a lot. But you can’t do it all.

The world dangles endless choices before us. We’re encouraged to do more, say more, try more, and achieve more. Good grief, the posters at my gym proclaim: “You Can Do It All.” It plays to the illusion that we really can do it all and have it all if we just somehow learn to balance everything in our lives perfectly (or maybe join the right health club).

The life you have with God while creating determines the life your art or service will have.

In the midst of all you have to do today, what matters most can get fuzzy. Let this provide some clarity.

Before a new journey can truly begin anew, there must be an end to the status quo.

I have a big truck. And my most cherished memories in it involve my son Chase.

As a young boy, he loved riding shotgun with me. Whenever I headed for the truck, he’d jump up in, pull up the console that separated driver from passenger, and slide right next to me. Arm against arm. Leg against leg. Excited and expectant for wherever we’d go together.

I have a life verse. It isn’t tattooed on my body, but it is on my heart.

“Stay with God. Take Heart; Don’t Quit. I’ll say it again, Stay with God!” (Psalm 27:14 MSG)   

Imagine receiving a hand-crafted, leather journal with this note:

“This is your adventure journal for our times together. Have fun. Love, God.”

Here are five big lies the enemy will use to try and drain your creativity and numb your heart:

What limits do you place on your creativity? 

You may be certain there’s too little money to fund your dream. Or not enough time to start—or finish—the project at hand. Maybe you doubt anyone would care. Perhaps you’re stuck in neutral with no traction for moving forward. 

My high school senior and I were having a hard night at home. I’d gotten us tickets to a movie for a father / son night together. But things were quickly derailing. 

He had a few chores to do before we left but was stalling and complaining. I could feel my heart tanking. By the time the chores were finally done, so was I. Everything in me wanted to call the plans off. 

When you give anyone or anything other than God the power to validate your creativity, you set yourself up for striving and disappointment. And you put a burden on your art that it was never meant to carry.

Your art doesn't make you. You make your art.

Your point of pain and your search for answers makes a powerful canvas for your next creation. The best journey anyone’s art can invite us into into is the costly one the artist must walk first. 

In other words, the best art begins as a personal expression.  

Curiosity drives creativity.

Big questions spark the best quests. Wonder sparks the imagination. Asking “What if?” and “Why?” opens our eyes to see the world, and us, in new ways.

My journey of speaking, writing, and teaching on God and creativity began one decade ago in the towering redwoods of California.

As a boy , Superman was my favorite super hero. He was pretty much invincible…except for one weakness.

Kryptonite.

It's human nature to think the one thing we lack is what’s holding us back.

If only we had more ______, all would be well.

A creative's time is best spent on their creative gifting.

The trouble happens when we try to do everything ourselves.

That’s not how God created us…or this world.

Being called by God to create and feeling ready to create are two totally different things.

You will never feel—nor be—completely ready.

No human has ever entered into any arena of gifting or testing with 100% certainty of the outcome. Not unless they’re playing it way too safe on a playground they’ve long outgrown.

We are drawn to kindred spirits who have similar creative gifts. We understand the beauty, the talent, and the sacrifices required to excel in those specific arenas.

But what starts as appreciation or inspiration can turn to comparison if we begin to measure our progress by their success.