I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14
This post honors a profound identity word I received from Father God this date last year. I was talking with Him about disliking when people speak this verse over me because I dislike ‘fear’ and its connotation. Below is the reply that came up in my Spirit, based on something a friend said about statio. It can be read aloud, slowly, as a prayer. I invite you to consider some things Father God likes about you to personalize it. We’re to dwell on the truth (Philippians 4:8)—let’s dwell on the amazing truth that He likes us!
“Being present to my little daughter as I am dressing her changes it from a quotidian task to an act of reverent creation.”
Jared Patrick Boyd
I agree with Your truth, Father, that You are present to me, that I am carefully and deliberately and intentionally and reverently and wonderfully made. Reverently made. Made with reverence. Made with wonder. Made lovingly. Crafted. Fashioned. Artisan. The breathtaking wonder of new life comes to mind—how reverently you behold and cherish a precious newborn.
Father felt full of wonder as He breathed His life into me. I see a picture of Him breathing His Spirit into me—I’m snug in His palm and He thrums my heart beating, sets me into the womb for my earthly life. Fully of reverence, nothing of contempt: “Wowwww, look how she turned out! See how beautiful her heart and mind and soul and body are!” How deeply she feels and hears and sees, how sensitive and fiercely attentive! What a memory! What precision! See that mole behind her knee, the gold circling her pupils! The intimacy of sex comes to mind—how reverently you behold and hold your spouse.
Reverently made. Attentively made. Throughout my entire creation, Your careful attention was on me. At no point did You look away (Psalm 121:4). At no point in my existence have You looked away, or been busy, or gotten distracted (1 Kings 18:27) I have Your loving attention, Father, always. You freely give me Your attention. I receive and agree with Your faithful affection and tender care. I am eternally Your little girl, my forefinger hooked on Your pinkie, my face nestled in Your neck. Deep sigh. You attend to me, to my heart, to my need for You to stay close, Your strong and gentle presence a buffer against this dark world.
But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
Psalm 3:3
Purposefully made. Intentionally made. I am made with a good purpose (Ephesians 2:10), to anchor myself in You for others against the world’s current. Nothing about me is an accident or afterthought, especially not those aspects of myself I wrestle with; everything is a direct result of Your good intent. You know the same capacity for attention and memory means more to give over to You to carry. You know the same disposition to slowly linger at Your feet earns the contempt of a society addicted to producing and performing; You know the strange tension that comes with, as CS Lewis writes, “belonging to another world”. You know the same depth of feeling means the gift of greater identification with Your mercy and sorrow and love and ebullient joy. You know every corner and connection, every sinew and synapse. And You are still creating me, every day and decision. Reverently creating. Creating reverently. The fascination of art comes to mind—how reverently you behold and handle a masterwork.
Reverently made. Amen.
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 your book
before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:15-16
Fire and Whisper 