Incredible YOU!

We live in a culture that puts a premium on looks. Just take a look all around you and you will see how important our looks are to ourselves and others. We are subtly and not so subtly told what is beautiful. And for most of us, we just aren't quite measuring up. Even those we think fit the description of "beautiful" have something they don't like about themselves.

Today I wanted to remind you that the Word of God says in Psalm 139:13-14,

"For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well."

Now, I know some of you are thinking, "You got that right, Sis. Manley, I am 'fearfully' made". The word "fearful" here is not scary! The Net Bible translates it like this: "I will give you thanks, because your deeds are awesome and amazing." We are to view our bodies as something that fills us with awe and respect for God's amazing and wonderful creation.

The psalmist says "And that my soul knows very well" Do you really believe your body is "awesome and amazing" - "fearfully and wonderfully made"? Too often we are intimidated by our own perceptions of our physical beauty to really accomplish what God has planned for our lives. We stop short of accomplishing great things because of our own insecurities. I realize we have insecurities that are beyond our physical appearance but that is for another post. Today I'm talking about physical appearance. Is your non-Biblical view of yourself getting in the way of what God has planned for you?

The Net Bible translation goes on in verses 15 - 18 to say,

"My bones were not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret

And sewed together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw me when I was an unborn fetus.

All the days ordained for me

Were recorded in Your scroll

Before one of them came into existence.

How difficult it is for me to fathom Your thoughts about me, O God!

How vast are their sum total!

If I tried to count them,

They would outnumber the grains of sand.

Even if I finished counting them,

I would still have to contend with You."

God knew exactly who you would be and what you would look like when you were nothing more than a clump of cells in your mother's womb. He saw you before you were born and He already had your days planned and ordered. It is very hard to realize just how much God thinks of us. The psalmist likens it to trying to actually count individual grains of sand. God's opinion of you is greater than all the grains of sand combined. At the end of the day, God thinks you're great!

God thinking you are great may be easier for you to believe than thinking God did a great job on you physically. Remember these verses are in the context of your physical being. They are about your physical looks and physical abilities.

Today I want you to look at yourself in the mirror and find the things you like the most about yourself. After you have identified them, begin the thank God for making you so "awesome and amazing". Now go back to the mirror and look at the things you don't like about yourself. After you have identified them (and be careful here that you don't become overly critical), ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you. And end it all with thanksgiving for His great and glorious craftsmanship in the design of Incredible YOU!

Now put a smile on your face (because that's the oldest beauty secret) and go fulfill God's purpose in your life. Someone's depending on you.

Love,

Sis. D