DEVOTION – DAY 298

Psalm 139:13-14 “God Looks Within”

 

Psalm 139:13-14 “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 was written by David. David acknowledged that it was the Almighty Creator God who ordained the length of his life before he was even born. And because God is Almighty, God is able to test, examine and search David’s innermost emotions, thoughts and values. God can look right into David’s heart. Nothing escapes God. David was able to conclude that it did not matter what the rest of world thought about Him. What mattered was what God thought of him. David also realized that his body may age and decay. But what mattered was what was inside of him, his values, attitudes and thoughts. And he could praise God because he knew he was wonderfully made. It did not matter if he was short or ugly. Outward appearances did not matter. What mattered was his character, his inner self.

 

How many of us can look at ourselves and think like that? Many people look at the mirror at themselves. The world conditions us to want to look attractive, young, and slim. Psalm 139:13-14 challenges us to look deeper within and not settle for physical perfection or beauty. For example, Nick Vujicic was born without any limbs. He was born so severely disabled that his parents initially thought of abandoning him. But Psalm 139:13-14 reminded them that he too was created by God.  He too possessed inner qualities that God values. So, Nick Vujicic’s parents changed their minds and raised and loved Nick despite his severe deformities. Today, Nick Vujicic has a family of his own. He has a family and he is an author of many books and he is a popular speaker. He also speaks in churches offering hope and encouragement to people, pointing them to God. By the grace of God, he recognizes that God had given him his physical disabilities to shape and mold his character, values and attitudes to be someone that God can use for His glory. He is able to live a full life that is far richer than if he had been born as a perfectly formed baby.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we praise You for You are our Mighty Creator and nothing escapes you. Forgive us for being dissatisfied with the way we look and focusing on physical appearances when we should be developing ourselves to be more like Your Son. Please help us to want to be more and more like Him. We pray this in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. Are you dissatisfied with the way you look? Do you wish you are somebody else? Are you fearful about growing old? Will you learn from these verses that God has preordained your lifespan, and He knows you intimately because He has made you?
  2. How should you respond to God for He has created you? Share.
  3. What should be your focus in life since God looks right into our hearts?
  4. How do you develop a Christ-like character that pleases God? Discuss.