STXWM Blog

(27)So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  (31)Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

Genesis 1:27 & 31

Looking around at creation, both nature and people, it cannot be doubted that God has a grand imagination.  It astounds me that anyone could see it all and still deny an intelligent Creator in all of this diversity and intricate design.  This uniqueness stretches far beyond the very looks of God’s creation.  It extends to the fabric of who we are.  We are all so different with regard to personality, strengths, weaknesses, temperament, and expression.  Beyond the tapestry of our very unique physical features, there is a whole new array of diversity and creativity to experience in getting to know each of God’s children.  Even more astounding than the careful detail of His design, is the fact that he looked over all he had made and saw that it was very good!

Have you ever wondered how God could look at you and say that you were very good?  I certainly have.  As women, I am convinced that a great number of us are constantly teetering on the ledge between too much and not enough.  A constant dialog is provided by the enemy of our souls, either through the words of others or through our own inner monologue.  He tells us that we are too emotional, too complicated, too busy, too lazy, too afraid, too bold, not brave enough, not meek enough, not holy enough, not talented enough, not good enough, too much of all the wrong things, and yet still not enough of all the right things.  The father of lies has a never ending playlist of what he says we lack.  I got this particular list from the playlist he made for me.  I would wager that many of my greatest hits are on your playlist as well.

God did not look at all you are not.  He looked at all that He had fashioned you to be and said that it was very good.  He fashioned each of us with all the basic traits and ingredients necessary to become what He dreamed for us.  As we spend time with Him in His word and in prayer, He shapes those base ingredients to form us into the women that He called us to be.  He shapes what He made to become more like Jesus but He doesn’t throw out any of the original ingredients.  

Allow me to elaborate.  We all have personality traits and talents that make us who we are.  Each of those traits and talents has potential that will be determined by whose hands we place them into.  When we use them for selfish purposes, we will produce selfish fruit.  But if we place those ingredients into the hands of God, He will produce gifts for us as well as for others.  Alone we can produce only a mirror that reflects straight back to ourselves but with God we can produce love, joy, patience, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control to be shared (Galatians 5:22-23).  If we hoard our gifts selfishly, we will eat alone but if we allow God to use all the unique parts of us that He created then we can feed the world.  What the enemy would convince you is lacking in you, the Father can transform into such an abundance that you have no choice but to give some away.

Do you have a temper?  He has given you the potential for a passion for justice.

Are you dramatic?  He has given you the gift of storytelling.

Do you have a complex story?  He has given you the keys to the prisons of sisters who are in bondage to despair.

Can’t sing or preach?  Then, design websites.  Create art.  Write.  Care for children.  Weep with those who weep.  Engineer solutions.  Fight for those who cannot defend themselves.  Organize.  Plan.  Love.    Do what you were fashioned to do.

The original ingredients are all very good!  Give them to God and allow Him to fashion you into what He has dreamed for you and I promise you will love it!  Psalm 37:4 says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts.  He designed our hearts with those desires already installed but the enemy begins immediately to tell us that those dreams are impossible because of what we lack.  God says what He made was very good and that all things are possible in Him!  Believe it!

Many of us get caught in the trap of comparison and try to tell God what we need to be in order to serve.  You already are all that you need to be.  He created you (unique and wonderful you) with all that you need and it was very good!  

Father, help me to see how you provided for all that you had planned for me when you formed me in my mother’s womb.  Show me how you can transform me and make me more like your Son.  I wholeheartedly place myself and my talents into your hands and trust you to do what only you can do.  I commit to view myself through your eyes and to walk faithfully through the doors that you open before me.  I confidently say that I am yours and I am fashioned very well!  I love you, Father, and I love how you love me.  The works of your hands are marvelous-how well I know it!  In your most holy Name, Amen.