“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.” Psalm 139:13-15 (ESV)
My mama sewed most of my clothes when I was growing up. I was proud of the dresses that she made me. She even lovingly made my wedding dress. Her designs were intricate and beautiful. She knew my body and my thoughts—my likes and my dislikes.
She was a true artist who excelled at crocheting, knitting, and needle painting (like tiny counted cross stitch). In fact, Daddy made her a giant magnifying glass stand so she could see the threads in tightly woven linen and other cloth. I have a prized needle painting of the Pieta on black linen. She created it just for me.
Gifts from a loving artist.
Our Father is the Master Artist who designed us. We are like embroidered testimonies of His love for us.
Consider how God created our bodies and minds. Major systems like our nervous, digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and more are supported by many smaller systems with cells, tissues, organs, and bones. In addition, we can think and develop relationships with other people and with God.
God created our bodies and minds with the ability to grow stronger, heal, and learn.
God knows our thoughts, our bodies, and our futures, and He loves us dearly. His weighty or precious thoughts towards us are more than the sands on the earth (Psalm 139:18). How long do you think it would take you to count the sand particles in a cup filled with sand? Can you count His thoughts toward you?
Gifts from the loving Master Artist.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. The word for “workmanship” is poiēma. God thinks of you and me as His poem.
The verse also tells us why God created us, “for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
But how do we know the works that we should walk in? God’s love gift doesn’t stop with creating us. God’s hand will lead us (Psalm 139:10). Will you take His hand?
Psalm 139 begins with the Psalmist telling God that He has searched him and known him.
God has searched you, my friend. He knows you and loves you dearly.
What if you prayed Psalm 139 to our loving Father by personalizing the Psalm? Insert your name wherever the Psalmist writes, “me,” “my,” or “I.” Make it the cry of your heart.
By the time you get to verses 23 and 24, my prayer is that you will long for God to search you, know your heart, and lead you in His everlasting way.
“Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23b-24)
About the Author:
Karen is passionate about Jesus and her husband of 53 years. Karen teaches and writes Bible studies as well as Christian resources. Her latest Bible study is, “Reflecting God’s Love in Marriage: A Wife’s Call to Action.” She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands. Karen’s mission is to listen deeply, pray intensely, love passionately, and bless widely. Learn more about Karen at https://possesshispromises.com.
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