God's Workmanship
By Sharon Jaynes

"I am God’s workmanship." (Ephesians 2:10)

When my son was in elementary school, he created some works of art that had a striking resemblance to that of the world-renowned artist Picasso. However, Picasso’s paintings are worth millions of dollars and my son’s are only valuable to me. What makes a work of art valuable? Its value is based on the artist who created it. You, dear friend, are a piece of art created by God Himself. King David described it this way:

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. 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, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in you book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16).

Woman was and is one of God’s most magnificent creations. As a matter of fact, she was His grand finale. After God fashioned Eve, creation was complete and He took a rest! God has placed in our hearts a love for beauty and a desire to be beautiful. Let’s go back to the beginning of time and reflect on our magnificent beginnings.

After God created the sun, moon, stars, earth, waters, creeping and flying animals, he created man. But something was missing. For Adam there was no creature suitable for him. This is the only time God said an aspect of His creation was "not good." He said, "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18).

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh at that place. And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. And the man said, "This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Genesis 2:21-24NASB).

While God created the world and all it contains, He did something a little special when He made woman. The NASB translation says He fashioned Eve. He didn’t simply make you – He fashioned you with extra special care and meticulous detail. You are a thing of beauty, a sight to behold, and one of His most spectacular masterpieces - a work of art, a valuable original, a one of a kind, and created with the brushstrokes of love.

My prayer for today: Dear Lord, Thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Forgive me when I complain about your masterpiece – my nose, my hips, my ears, etc. I praise you for the intricacies of the human body. The fact that my heart beats without my telling it to, my lungs inhale and exhale without my instruction, and my reflexes react automatically. Thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Make a list today of how your body is wonderfully made by God. Example:

• My eye lids blink.
• My food is digests.
• My heart beats.

Reflection Points:

• How have you complained about your body lately?
• How does the above list of how you are wonderfully made compare to your complaints?
• When you see a newborn baby, what is one of your first thoughts?
• Considering that Genesis 1:26 says, "Let us make man in our own image," how should we view ourselves?

Power Verses:

"Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; but let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God"(I Peter 3:3-5 Amplified).

"My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely" (Song of Solomon 2:14).

"The king is enthralled by your beauty" (Psalm 45:13).

When my son was in elementary school, he created some works of art that had a striking resemblance to that of the world-renowned artist Picasso. However, Picasso’s paintings are worth millions of dollars and my son’s are only valuable to me. What makes a work of art valuable? Its value is based on the artist who created it. You, dear friend, are a piece of art created by God Himself. King David described it this way:

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. 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, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in you book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16).

Woman was and is one of God’s most magnificent creations. As a matter of fact, she was His grand finale. After God fashioned Eve, creation was complete and He took a rest! God has placed in our hearts a love for beauty and a desire to be beautiful. Let’s go back to the beginning of time and reflect on our magnificent beginnings.

After God created the sun, moon, stars, earth, waters, creeping and flying animals, he created man. But something was missing. For Adam there was no creature suitable for him. This is the only time God said an aspect of His creation was "not good." He said, "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18).

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh at that place. And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. And the man said, "This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Genesis 2:21-24NASB).

While God created the world and all it contains, He did something a little special when He made woman. The NASB translation says He fashioned Eve. He didn’t simply make you – He fashioned you with extra special care and meticulous detail. You are a thing of beauty, a sight to behold, and one of His most spectacular masterpieces - a work of art, a valuable original, a one of a kind, and created with the brushstrokes of love.

My prayer for today: Dear Lord, Thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Forgive me when I complain about your masterpiece – my nose, my hips, my ears, etc. I praise you for the intricacies of the human body. The fact that my heart beats without my telling it to, my lungs inhale and exhale without my instruction, and my reflexes react automatically. Thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

"My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely" (Song of Solomon 2:14).

"The king is enthralled by your beauty" (Psalm 45:13).