2013 30cm x 35cm acrylic
Inspiration came for this painting as I prayed one day. I saw a strong pillar of rock rising out of a turbulent sea. The large waves were crashing against the rock. At first the rock was small and the waves seemed to wash it easily. The waves were the predominant feature in the picture. Then the rock began to rise out of the ocean getting taller and taller. Rising far above the height of the waves. The rock dominated the picture. Then the words of a psalms came to me.
Psalm 27:4-8 NIV
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek’.”
The thoughts that came to me out of all this were that as we seek the Lord, desire him to be the centre of who we are and all we do, we will be standing on that rock. More and more the “Rock” will be our focus, our strength, our stronghold. The swirling waves of distraction, popular opinion, the voices of this world crash upon us on a daily basis. They tell tell us who we should be, what we should acquire or be doing, how to have fulfilment in our lives and the lives of our children, etc. When we are viewing them from on top of the Rock they will look ever smaller and less important.