Intentionally Made

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – (Psalm 139:13-14, NIV)

You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because You made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was! – (Psalm 139:13-14, ERV)

For You shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul. – (Psalm 139:13-14, VOICE)

It is a good reminder that we were created on purpose and with a purpose, and that God planned out each detail of who we are for a reason. In fact, the example set before us is to praise and thank the Lord for how He made us. There are no exceptions to this. The way that we each were made is wonderful, and for that, we ought to praise Him. What we consider our “flaws” may be the very thing that helps us connect with someone else so that they may be encouraged and built up, and shown the goodness of God. My mom did an amazing job of telling me and my sister that our red hair was a gift from God. In fact, when I was still quite young, a lady in a grocery store asked me where I got my pretty red hair. Apparently I looked at her as if it were the silliest question ever, and confidently told her, “from God.” She smiled and went on her way. As we age, our bodies change and it can be easy to become discouraged and frustrated. This passage is our reminder that He made us, and rather than being annoyed with the changes we dislike, we ought to care well for the temple so that we are as strong and healthy as possible. In the same way we need to nourish our soul, so too we ought to nourish our bodies. As we are fueled well, both body and soul, we discover the strength and goodness in all that His hands have made and we are better able to praise Him in all things. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love, and give Him praise for the way that He purposely made each of us.

With purpose we’re made,

each detail He planned;

the work of His hands,

so in Him we’d stand.

All of our being,

was designed by Him;

heart, mind and body,

and soul that’s within.

There’s only one you,

and only one me;

purposefully made,

to live, love and be.

So let us seek Him,

and give Him our praise;

and choose to love well,

throughout all our days.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we are each uniquely and wonderfully made. Thank You for the work of Your hands that formed us before we took our first breath. Thank You for life and for purpose, for You made each of us to live and love well. Forgive us for the times that we fixate on our flaws or shortcomings instead of praising You for what we have. Teach us to care well for what we have and to praise You as we live and love the way that You intended. Lead us in Your goodness and grace to be a light and love to those around us each day. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for the way that You designed us and for the purpose You placed on each of our lives. Amen.

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

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20