WEEK 8 – I AM GOD’S MASTERPIECE
(Ephesians 2:10)
He was the youngest of eight boys. Handsome. Musical. Spirited. Passionate. As a young boy, David was not the obvious choice as warrior. His brothers saw him as their irritating little brother: prideful, insolent, and whose primary responsibility was to care for the sheep. (I Samuel 17:28)
Saul, a mighty warrior himself, instantly dismissed David because of his youth. Saul condescendingly responded to David’s indignation by saying, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight. You are a child and he is a warrior from his youth.” (I Samuel 17:33)
Goliath also underestimated David. Goliath saw David’s size, his good looks, his youth, and was offended that his enemy would send such an unworthy opponent to face him. Goliath mocked David’s presence, “Am I a dog, that you come after me with sticks?”
David was underestimated. Those around him defined him by his birth order, his good looks, his youth, his job, his past. They could not see the warrior inside of David, the king he was destined to be the man after God’s own heart, God’s masterpiece created for good works.
Fortunately, David refused to be defined by others, by his job title, by his good looks. David knew the warrior inside of him and refused to allow other’s opinions of him from walking in the fulfillment of God’s purpose for him. David knew his age, his handsome looks, his past experiences did not define him, yet could all be used by God. So David refused to take no for an answer. He would not be satisfied until God’s purposes were accomplished.
Are you allowing other’s descriptions of you to define you? Are others disqualifying you because of your gender, your ethnicity, your denominational or political affiliations, your age, your past? Ignore the voice of your distractors and ask, “God, how do you define me?” I’m sure he will tell you, “You are my beautiful masterpiece, my handiwork, an expression of Me. I fashioned you with purpose, with intention, with the greatest of care. Go and be the you I knitted together in your mother’s womb and walk in the purposes I ordained before your conception. Do not allow anyone to say ‘no’ to the passions I have put inside of you.” And then, if you listen carefully, he will reveal what you were called to do. Now, when he speaks that to you, run with it and never allow anyone or anything to disqualify you. You are his workmanship crafted specifically for what He has called you to do!
Daily Prayer for Week 8:
Lord, I thank you for the journey I have begun of knowing who I am in you. I thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am your masterpiece created for good works. I am grateful that your love for me does not ebb and flow with my behavior. There is nothing I can do to make you love me more and there is nothing I can do nothing to make me you love me less. I thank you, Father, that you have placed a hedge of protection around me, and I will withstand the wiles of the devil. I ask you Father, give me the right words so that I can boldly explain your mysterious plan, the Good News. Let me speak boldly for you as I should. (Based on Psalm 139:14, Ephesians 2:10, 6:19 & 20)
MEMORIZE – ACTUALIZE – PERSONALIZE
Memorize it – meditate on the scripture, quietly repeating it over and over again throughout your day until you can declare it without reading it.
Actualize it – make the scripture real to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh revelation of its meaning; how can you apply this to your daily life? Then journal what you feel the Holy Spirit is speaking.
Personalize it – Rewrite the scripture using personal pronouns such as “me” or “I”. For instance: “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” Remind yourself that the scripture applies to you personally.
Week 8 Memory Verses
Focus: I Am God’s Masterpiece
(Unless otherwise noted, all scripture are NIV)
Day 1 Memorize: “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 139:13 – 14)
Week 8 Day 2 Memorize: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Week 8 Day 3 Memorize: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT )
Week 8 Day 4 Memorize: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power love and self-discipline.” (II Timothy 1:6-7)
Week 8 Day 5 Memorize: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)