Intentionally Designed

For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. – (Ephesians 2:10, HCSB)

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do. – (Ephesians 2:10, ERV)

We have become His poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny He has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it. – (Ephesians 2:10, TPT)

Just as a poet carefully selects words, lines and stanzas, so too did God intentionally design each of us with a plan and a purpose. Our charge is to live out our days being who He intended us to become. God created all of us with specific strengths, traits and talents that we can use to bless and love well the people whom He places in our lives. Yet, even so, the Creator of all has given us a free will. It is up to us to choose to do the good that we were designed to do. We are not robots nor minions; we are His creation that gets to choose to live out our purpose or do our own thing. I don’t know about you, but knowing that I am free to choose implores me to discover more of who He is and what He desires for me to do to be all that He has created me to become. May we ever seek the Lord and pursue His will for our lives so that we may become all that He has intended as we do the good He intended for us all.

We are His poem,

Photo by Ravi Kant on Pexels.com

Each stanza and line;

Designed with purpose,

With goodness in mind.

The gifts we’re given,

Were granted to bless;

To use for His good,

So love is expressed.

Help us to seek You,

So that we may know;

The plan and purpose,

That makes Your love known.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have designed and created each of us with a plan and a purpose that is for good. Thank You that we have all been given strengths and talents that are unique to us, individually, that help show the goodness and depth of Your love for all. Forgive us for not seeking or for neglecting to do the good that we know we ought to do. Teach us to trust and depend on You more to rise up and thrive as the people You designed us to be. Show us how to love and do good to bless those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us and grow us more and more into the poetry You have created us to be. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me. – Psalm 57:2

Trust the Transformation

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – (Philippians 1:6, NIV)

I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until He completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again. – (Philippians 1:6, ERV)

I am confident that the Creator, who has begun such a great work among you, will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you until the day Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, returns to redeem the world. – (Philippians 1:6, VOICE)

We are all a work in progress. The more we seek the Lord, the more we give Him room to work in and through us. He is ever refining and transforming us to be more of who we were created to become. There is always room for us to learn, grow and become better versions of ourselves. The more we learn, the more we recognize there is more to learn. This transformation process is continuous until the day we meet our Maker face-to-face. May we ever seek the Lord to continue the work He has begun in us, so that we might more clearly reflect His heart of love to the world.

O Lord, have Your way,

Transform, bring Your change;

Let all fall away,

Through Love’s great exchange.

You take our ugly,

And use it for good;

You expand our hearts,

To love as we should.

You bring forgiveness,

And grant us Your grace;

Model how to love,

As we live each day.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that the work You have begun in us is an ongoing transformative work that will not end until we see Your face-to-face. Thank You that Your love for us is ongoing. Forgive us for placing limits on love or rejecting change that transforms us to be more like You. Show us how to listen, learn and grow into more of who You have created us to become. Lead us to love one another with pure and generous hearts. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust the transformation that is ever taking place within. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

Familial Ties

Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God. – (John 1:12, NIV) 

But some people did accept Him. They believed in Him, and He gave them the right to become children of God. – (John 1:12, ERV) 

But those who embraced Him and took hold of His Name were given authority to become the children of God! – (John 1:12, TPT) 

What a crazy, wonderful truth for us to hold onto! If we receive what God offers us through Jesus, and believe He is who He says He is, we are given the right to become His children. As God’s children, we are heirs to His Kingdom. All power, authority, and promised hope are ours in Him, so that we may walk in His way and do His will. We do not earn our way into His good grace, but rather we need believe and receive what He freely gives. This is such a wonderful encouragement. He takes us as we are and transforms us into who we are created to become. It is a lifelong process, yet we are His, the moment we receive Him. May our hearts be open to all that He offers, as we embrace the grace that He gives to His children. 

To each is a choice, 

Believe and receive; 

All that God offers, 

Our hope and reprieve. 

His grace is granted, 

Freely He does give; 

To all who seek Him, 

Help and strength to live. 

Live in His goodness, 

Aware of His grace; 

Annointed His kids, 

As we seek His face. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we choose to believe and receive all that You freely offer, You call us Your sons and daughters. Thank You that our inheritance in You is everlasting life in Your presence. Forgive us for losing sight of what is promised in You. Help us to fix our eyes on You and the promises that You have for us in You. Teach us how to love those around us in a way that honors and represents well, You, our Heavenly Father. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we believe and receive all that You offer, and gratefully embrace our inheritance through our familial ties to You. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Corinthians 6:18