Do you know that God does not make mistakes? Do you believe that everything that comes our way did so because there was a plan and purpose behind it? I greatly believe that God is the shaper and molder of our lives so that we can become our best selves and stand in who God created us to be. The Bible declares in Psalm 139:14-16 “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In Your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.” If we fully realized how special we are to the Lord, we would start each new day with a smile on our face and a song in our heart because the love that is offered to us comes without motive or pretense. God wishes that we believe His Word, put it into action and then stand in victory giving Praise, Glory and Honor to the Lord who gave us the strength, wisdom and ability to stand atop the mountain. (Jeremiah 29:11) (Jeremiah 31:3)

King David loved God from his youth and tried his best to be pleasing to the Lord in all of his works, acts and deeds, but David fell short when he sinned against God with Bathsheba. God did not hold David guiltless, but was punished when God took the child that David and Bathsheba had gotten pregnant with. But that wasn’t the end of David’s life. God did not disappear from David’s presence, God did not take away David’s throne, but He had mercy on David and because of this King David continued to praise the Lord and give Him glory and honor. King David writes in Psalm 18:30-33 “As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him. For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds feet, and setteth me upon my high places.” (1 Samuel 13:14) (1 Kings 15:5)

May we like David continue to trust the Lord no matter where He leads us and no matter how harsh His correction may seem. Just as our earthly father corrects us when we make mistakes, so our Heavenly Father does the same not to hurt us, but to make us better for our today’s and our tomorrow’s to come so that we may live a life of significance that will never be forgotten or erased from the hearts and minds of those in whom we had a positive influence on. (Proverbs 22:1-2)

I hope this message inspires and encourages your heart to see that you are special to the Lord no matter what you may think or believe for yourself. God loves you and wishes to show Himself strong on your behalf.


SIGNIFICANCE

Deep in our hearts, we long to be significant. We want our life to matter. We want our presence here to mean something. This is not some self-seeking maneuver to be in the spotlight, but to ensure that our time on earth was used effectively to bless others and bring glory to God. However, in a world of over six billion people, it's hard to feel very significant or to think you've made much of an impact with your life! 

As our understanding of the enormity of the universe expands, we find it even harder to believe that our presence means much in the scheme of things -- after all, we're just one person, from a small blue planet, in the middle of such an enormous and unfathomable universe. Stack on top of this the culturally entrenched assumption that human beings are only a chance distillation of random genetic mutations scattered over billions of years, and it's easy to become convinced that we struggle with significance and sanctity of human life. 

The Bible, of course, is full of affirmations that God knows us personally. If God knows about falling sparrows and the number of the hairs on our head, then surely he knows us individually (Matthew 10:29-31). But how do we existentially experience this truth? How do we move our knowledge down from our head to the core of our souls? How do we silence the voice of insignificance that screams in our heart when life is tough and doubt colors each breath? 

That's where the Psalms can come to the rescue. While we may intellectually accept the proclamations of Scripture that we are important to God, we often need to experience this truth. The Psalms are a collection of Spirit-inspired prayers, praises, complaints, and cries for help. They cover the gamut of human emotions. Most importantly of all, they give us words to let our current emotional and physical conditions find articulation before God and with others. We can be honest with God in the presence of others while being connected to the great line of faithful witnesses who have said these words before. In addition, we get to say many of these Psalms from a first person perspective, driving home the point that these are not just community truths; they are personal realities as well. 

“The Lord is MY shepherd... he leads ME... even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. ...your rod and your staff comfort ME.” “Your hand will guide ME, your right hand will hold Me fast... you created MY inmost being; you knit Me together in MY mother's womb... Search ME, O God, and know MY heart...”

These incredibly honest and personal words from Psalms 23 and 139 are just a small taste of what the Psalms offer us. This God-approved songbook allows us to personally worship. The Psalms remind us that God wants our relationship with him to be personal, genuine, and honest as we reverently approach him in faith. 

We are not just part of a herd or a flock, but we are known to God personally by name (John 10:3, 14). He has chosen to come live inside us by his Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-19) and to give us specific gifts to bless his people (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4). Even in those moments when we can't articulate what is on our hearts, he uses this powerful Presence in us to intercede with “sighs too deep for words” conveying our needs "according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27). 

So if you catch yourself wondering about your significance, I encourage you to open up God's songbook, the Psalms. Begin to read looking for the words that give your heart a voice. As you read, let God remind you that He knows your heart and longs to remind you that you have significance as His child -- a child He knows, loves, and in whom He lives. 

Oh yeah, one final thing. If you are personally significant to God, then He's got a plan and purpose for you. So don't just sit there. Significant people do significant things to bless others and glorify God. When they do, they experience God's presence and their own significance by being used for His glory. 

By Phil Ware


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Proverbs 3:11-12 “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

Psalm 40:1-4 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”

Psalm 37:3-5 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”

Psalm 37:23-25 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. 


Today's Selected Poem: DON'T LOOK BACK
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem152.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: FROM PRISON TO PRAISE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony8.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry