YOU ARE EXCLUSIVELY MADE BY THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE!

BIBLE PASSAGE:
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
(Psalm 139:14)

MEDITATION:
We could (should) all learn from the Psalmist.
He was grateful for the way God made him.
If we were the only human being in the world, 
more than likely we would be more grateful for the way He made us too.

However, we live in a comparison world where our mind is conditioned 
to assess ourselves not as God made us, but how we match up to others 
and the standards the world has imposed on humanity. 

Rather than looking horizontally to see how he compared to others,
the Psalmist looked vertically and appreciated the handiworks of God.
He acknowledged the presence of God in all places.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. (Psalm 139:15)

It makes sense, doesn’t it?
Whenever he looked to God, he knew 
he was in a relationship with the One who loves him unconditionally.
I recently heard a pastor say, 
“God knows us and all of our faults, but He loves us anyway. 
He loves us too much to allow us to remain as we are.”

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us are guilty of 
“doing the things we don’t want to do” 
and “not doing the things we want to do”.
Paul, one of the great apostles of the Lord, 
admitted that he had the same problem.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, 
but what I hate I do. (Romans 7:15)

More than likely the Psalmist experienced the same issue, 
but he knew that God had plans for him before he was even born.
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me 
were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

He also was overwhelmed by knowing of God’s love and concern for him.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, 
I am still with you. (Psalm 139:17-18)
 
When Oliver Wendell Holmes was in his 80th year, 
a friend asked, “How are you?” 
“I’m fine,” said Holmes, “the house I live in is tottering and crumbling, 
but Oliver Wendell Holmes is fine, thank you.” 

ACTION:
In a materialistic world, 
you might forget that the real part of you is invisible.
You are what is inside, regardless of your outward appearance. 
When God created you, He made you 
distinctively different from the other animals.
He gave you intelligence, conscience and a will.

These three assets are beneficial in helping you “do the things you want to do” 
and “avoid doing the things you don’t want to do”.  
You are not going to achieve these goals by doing nothing.
If you expect to relate to God in the same way the Palmist did,
you have to make a conscious effort to set aside your selfish desires.

In addition, you need to look upward instead of horizontally.
Don’t allow your self-esteem to rise and fall based on the opinions of others,
but find your confidence and hope in your relationship with the God 
who made you, and knows you better than anyone else.
He knows what makes you tick, and He knows the things that are best for you.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for how You have made me unique. 
In the entire world there is only one of me. I am not who the world 
determines I am, but I am who You made me to be. Thank You for 
helping me to realize that the world may view me as ‘just one’, 
but I could be the world to ‘just one’. Forgive me for allowing the
people of the world to establish my identity. Help me to realize that
how they define me is not how You made me. Remind me that You
had goals for my life before I was even born. Help me to set aside
my selfishness in order to pursue the path You have created for me.”

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