Guided Prayers by Grace CMA Church

As you look carefully at the third painting, Joy, ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with His joy–it is, afterall, a fruit of the Holy Spirit within you.

What is Guided Prayers by Grace CMA Church?

A companion podcast to guided art or prayer experiences & initiatives at Grace CMA Church.

Advent Painting #3: Joy
As you look carefully at the third painting, Joy, ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with His joy–it is, afterall, a fruit of the Holy Spirit within you.

The Artist, Brian Bailey, was intentional about colors, textures, and especially the way it all comes together to create an “inner glow” in this work.

“We have the shepherd figure with some very nice lighting effects that I used with gold and the shepherds robe with the blue… Its brightness is a representation of Christmas with the golds and reds but also some blues in there. I couldn’t imagine the joy from the shepherds that were there when the Lord Jesus was born that day. This piece to me has this inner glow that I hope when the viewer sees can be put in that position of that night when our Lord and Savior was born… We used acrylic and oil pigment stick for his robes. I like mixing the two mediums to get interesting textures. When you’re looking at this don’t be afraid to get up close to see the textures.”

Can you sense the deep joy that must have welled up within all those who understood what was happening that night?

John the Baptist was filled with joy about the coming Messiah even in the womb!

Luke 1:39-45
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

And when Jesus was born, the angels declared that it was cause for great joy.

Luke 2:8-11
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Scripture reminds us that true joy comes from trusting in God.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Spend a moment declaring your trust in God who entered the earth to provide a way for you to enter heaven.

May the deep joy of the Lord overwhelm you this Advent season.

When you’re ready, move to the next painting and push play on the next episode.