Live Above the Line

Description

Open Edition Reproduction

An imaginary line in the mountains marks the altitude where snakes won’t go any higher. We often talk about living above the line, out of the enemy’s reach, and in a higher place with God. But how do we get there? What do we need to move to higher ground?

Think of the line as an imaginary division between the positive and negative of individual thoughts – like the two sides of a coin. Then you can choose the opposite of your negative thought. You can choose values, beliefs, and behaviour that operates in the positive spirit. If something comes against you, move in the opposite spirit.

The opposite of fear is love. “Perfect love casts out fear”. The opposite of unbelief is faith. Faith strengthens love, and love strengthens faith.

This painting represents love above fear on the left. As I painted I wrote “love, perfect love” in pink in the sky. Pink means ‘joy’. The right-hand side represents moving from unbelief into faith. We do this within the love of community. (Oh yes, surround yourself with warrior champions. Go to a church that preaches faith!) We build faith as we build our history with God. Every time we experience the promises of God, we have another ‘building’ in our ‘faith city’.

The colour orange represents intimacy with the Holy Spirit. The orange square is Jesus, our cornerstone. It is in relationship that we practice life “above the line”

Title: Live Above the Line || Artist: Wendy Manzo || Painted: ‘Faith Strong’ World Changers Church conference, Gold Coast, 7 August 2022