Art & Soul post #42 by guest author Amy Rylander
In 1993, I married the love of my life and within one month had also encountered the One who is Love. I had a supernatural encounter with God right on the couch in the living room of our small apartment in Vista, CA. I first began the journey of painting prophetically in 2004, although I had no idea what that was, or that I was even doing it for that matter. I was the average mother and housewife whose full calling and purpose was to raise my children to be lovers of God. I was always creative and artistic, and I enjoyed all things artsy. I was hoping to find an outlet for myself, so for Mother’s Day, I asked my husband for some canvas, paints, and some brushes. I was so excited to try to paint something. The first thing I painted with my new materials was a landscape that I copied from a calendar. As I was painting, the Lord spoke to me and said, “I have gifted you to use it for Me.” I was excited to know that the Lord had given me a “gift” to paint. I also had no idea what He meant by “use it for Me”. I figured He meant I should bless people with my paintings. So that is what I did. I would paint still-life paintings and give them away to friends and family.
One night in 2005, just after we moved to Mississippi, I was lying in my bed and the Lord spoke to me to get up and paint. It was about midnight and the whole household was asleep. So I got up and set up my supplies. I asked the Lord what He wanted me to paint, and He said, “Paint the Holy Spirit.” I was shocked. I was thinking, “What? How am I going to paint the Holy Spirit? What does He look like?” Then, the Lord showed me a very simple two-dimensional picture of water pouring out of a vase-like vessel. After I painted it, the Lord said, “From now on, you will only paint what I show you.” That is how I began my journey of creating prophetic art.
Over the years the Lord has taught me by His Spirit. Acts 2:17-21 quotes Joel 2:28 and says, “In the last days, God said, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. In those days I will pour out My Spirit upon ALL my servants, men and women alike and they will prophesy.’” What makes prophetic art different from other types of art is that it is Spirit breathed and Holy Spirit inspired. It is a result of intimacy with the Lord and is birthed out of worship.
In 2009, I had a spiritual father who encouraged me to paint in corporate worship gatherings. One Sunday, I decided I would try painting in the evening worship service. As I sat in the morning service seeking the Lord as to what He wanted me to paint, I felt a heaviness in the people and felt that He wanted to comfort His people. I sketched an image of a woman’s face and the Lord wiping away her tears. I heard the Lord say, “Amy, I don’t wipe away tears, I catch them.” That evening I painted my first live painting. It’s so beautiful how the Lord can use something so simple and childlike to touch and speak to the world.
1 Corinthians 1:25-26 says, “This ‘foolish’ plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you.” (TPT)
Prophetic Art is visual prophesy. It is similar to a parable. While Jesus was here on earth, He taught in parables. When his disciples asked Him why, He told them:
“You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. To those who are open to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. That is why I tell these stories because people see what I do, but they don’t really see. They hear what I say, but they don’t really hear, and they don’t understand.” —Matthew 13:11-13 (NLT)
Parables are stories that help make the invisible Kingdom more understandable and relatable for the people. These stories illustrate truth by using analogies or comparisons. The Lord is looking for a people that will seek out His secrets. As believers, we are blessed to be able to see and understand the revelation of the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells us that many prophets and righteous men of the past desired to see and hear what we are privileged to see and hear today. The Lord wants us to dig deep and discover the many treasures He has for us.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be OPENED.” Matthew 7:7-8
I have painted all over the world at all kinds of events. I train and teach others how to hear the voice of God and paint prophetically. My passion is to see people use their gifts for the Kingdom of God. Prophetic art is such a universal language that it can touch many for the Lord. The Holy Spirit speaks through the paintings and brings life, hope, and healing to people. I love that it can be done by anyone of any age, and it is a ministry of love from the Holy Spirit.
After I had been painting for several years in public, the same spiritual father who encouraged me to paint in corporate worship gatherings, also suggested I include the prophetic words I had received from the Lord. At first, I was very hesitant. I felt the paintings spoke for themselves, and I also wanted the viewer to receive their own interpretation from the Lord. After some time, I decided to try and add the meanings that I had received since I felt the viewer could still receive their own message from the Lord in addition to the message I had received.
I would like to share a few examples of my paintings and the messages that I received for each. “I Am With You” and “The Dance” are two of my most popular paintings. Both of these were personal prophetic paintings that people had requested from me. I believe these pieces speak to people because many have testified that they have received similar visions from the Lord. Both paintings speak of our intimate love walk with Jesus.
I Am With You
Acrylic on canvas prophetic painting by Amy Rylander
A mother to many. You have a deep love for people and a tender heart towards children. You have a heart of a servant. You give of yourself and what you have without any hesitation. You trust Me and know Me as your Abba Father.
Your heart is to go. You love to travel and see and experience the world. You love to meet and love new people. You desire for everyone to know Me and My love. We have history, you and I. You know and have experienced My mighty right arm. I Am your Deliverer and Redeemer. I Am always with you and I always have your back. I Am very protective of you and call you as My own. You are Mine.
You love and trust My voice. You are not afraid to go out on a limb because you know I Am with you. You are not afraid to walk into the fire because you know that I Am with you. You are not afraid to walk on the water, for you know I Am with you.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God.”
Isaiah 43:1-3
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
James 1:27
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19
The Dance
Acrylic on canvas prophetic painting by Amy Rylander
You are full of grace. He is with you, helping you and empowering you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He has taught you how to rest and abide in Him. There is no more striving.
The Lord has gifted you with eyes of compassion. He has given you eyes to see, and ears to hear through His heart. The Lord is teaching you to move to the rhythm of His heartbeat. He’s teaching you His dance. He says, “Go ahead Darling, My Love, stand upon My toes and I will lead you. Do not worry about running ahead or running behind Me, for upon My feet you will remain. From that place you can hear My heartbeat, you can feel My breath; slow and steady is our dance. We will dance to the song of My heart. I will show you those that need My touch, those that need My voice. I have put My words in your mouth. Do not be afraid My Darling, to speak what I show you. For I will back up every word that I say. I Am your Defender, I Am your Protector, I Am your Provider. I Am your Husband. I am your Friend.”
“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
Zephaniah 3:17
“And in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28
This third painting is an example of one I recently created before a live audience at a conference in Tennessee. It is an example of a now prophetic word for the Body of Christ.
Worship Army Arising
Acrylic on canvas prophetic painting by Amy Rylander
Just as Jehoshaphat turned his attention to seek the Lord and proclaimed a time of prayer and fasting throughout Judah, I Am calling My kingdom army to gather and pray. I Am calling My worship intercessors to arise. I Am raising up an army of My worshipers. I Am releasing the sound and songs of heaven to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. There’s a new rhythm and a new cadence that I Am calling My army to march to. Listen to the sound. Release the sound. Humility is a must. It is key to victory. Do not fear, nor be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but Mine. My worship warriors are on the frontline of the battle giving Me thanksgiving and praise, for My faithfulness is from everlasting to everlasting. I will set my ambushes against the enemy. Victory is Mine!
“Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Aram; and behold, they are in Hazazon-Tamar (that is Engedi).” Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord; and he proclaimed a period of fasting throughout Judah.” 2 Chronicles 20:2-3
“They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Put your trust in the Lord your God and you will endure. Put your trust in His prophets, and succeed.” When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithfulness is everlasting.” When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down. For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, completely destroying them; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.”
2 Chronicles 20:20-23
You may feel that the gifts and talents God gave you aren’t important enough to make an impact in His Kingdom. You may feel like you are nobody special and the dreams He placed in your heart are just ordinary. However, His Word says otherwise…
“But God chose those whom the world considers foolish to shame those who think they are wise, and God chose the puny and powerless to shame the high and mighty. He chose the lowly, the laughable in the world’s eyes—nobodies—so that he would shame the somebodies. For he chose what is regarded as insignificant in order to supersede what is regarded as prominent so that there would be no place for prideful boasting in God’s presence. For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now he is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption. And this fulfills what is written: If anyone boasts, let him only boast in all that the Lord has done!” 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 (TPT)
There is no one else like you and the world needs your gift. You are His hands, feet, and voice to a lost and hurting world. Arise and SHINE Beloved—for your KING!
Kingdom Blessings,
Amy Rylander
Support Amy by purchasing her book, Unlocked, original paintings, prints, or gift cards on her website at: amyrylander.com
Attend the Deborahs Arising 2024 Women’s Conference hosted by Amy
1 thought on “Your Kingdom Calling Awaits”
Thanks so much for sharing your inspiring testimony Amy! Love, love, love, how you are walking out your Kingdom destiny! Be blessed my friend!❤️