Day 16: The Work of His Hands
Bible passage: Psalm 104:24; Jeremiah 10:12–13; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7–11
Look Around
Today is Saturday 13th of April 2019. Welcome to Day 16 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Spring is arriving, and it is a good day to look at God as Creator.
The writer of Psalm 104 has been describing the world: springs and mountains, birds and wild goats, the moon and the sea. Then he can contain himself no longer. “O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!” Psalm 104:24 (NLT)
In wisdom, he says, God has made them all, and the earth is full of His creatures.
The God of Creation
Variety
God could have made one kind of tree and one kind of bird. He made thousands. Creation tells us that God is generous, that He has a great imagination and that He delights in what He makes.
Power and Wisdom
Jeremiah tells us how it was done. The Lord made the earth by His power and He preserves it by His wisdom. With His own understanding He stretched out the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12). He is also the One who keeps it going. The rain, the clouds, the lightning and the wind are His (Jeremiah 10:13).
We met this passage on Day 1, when we were thinking about His power. Today, notice His wisdom. Nothing in creation is thrown together. All of it was thought through.
His Workmanship
You Are Made as Well
The Creator did not stop with mountains and oceans. Paul says that we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:10).
You are made twice over. God formed you in the first place, and He has made you new in Christ. Both times He had a purpose in mind.
Gifts on Purpose
God has equipped us for that purpose. Paul says that a spiritual gift is given to each of us so that we can help each other (1 Corinthians 12:7). He lists some of them: wise advice, special knowledge, great faith, gifts of healing, the power to do miracles, prophecy, discernment, speaking in unknown languages and interpreting what is said (1 Corinthians 12:8–10).
It is the one and only Spirit who gives all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Three things follow from that. Everybody has something, so nobody is left out. The gifts are for other people, so they are not for showing off. And the Spirit chooses, so there is no place for envy or for pride.
Three Steps for Today
Praise Him. Go outside if you can, and thank God for the beauty of what He has made.
Take stock. What gifts, skills and creativity has God given you? Write them down, without false modesty.
Ask. Ask God how He wants you to use them for His purposes, in the church and beyond it.
Prayer for Today:
Creator God, what a variety of things You have made! The earth is full of Your wisdom. Thank You that I am the work of Your hands, made new in Christ for the good works You have prepared. Thank You for the gifts Your Spirit has given me. Show me how to use them to help others and to bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep going
See every day of this guide on our Prayer & Fasting page.
Let us pray with you: send a prayer request.
Join one of our prayer meetings.
