Carina Francke

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139:14

New life remains a work of God – He himself decided to create man in his own image, in his likeness. A birth therefore remains the greatest proof of the only God’s continued involvement with humankind. No wonder David praises him for this magnificent work of creation: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 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 139:13,15,16).  This makes David cry out:. " I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;…”

Enthralled by this beautiful creation that was even exalted above the heavens, the stars and the moon, David asked a rhetorical question: "You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet; all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,"  (Psalm 8:5-7). And then he exalts the Lord’s great name for this: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9)

The Lord again becomes actively involved with the spiritual birth of a person who chooses to believe in God and Jesus. Because we strayed so far from his original plan for us, he reconciles us to him through Christ, and so we are created as a new person. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

Ephesians 2:10 says we are his handiwork (poiema in Greek), created (poieo) in Christ Jesus. This word refers to workmanship or creation by a master craftsman. And that is exactly what our Creator God is – a Master Artist, incomparable in perfection. What's more, he is the poet of all times, because the English word “poem“ is derived from poiema. What a unique creation we are – people with the nature of God and poetically composed by the masterful hand of our Father!

We praise you Creator! We exalt you, Author of our lives full of rhythm, rhyme and symmetry! We are your human poetry – and want to live lives that honour you!

Prayer: Master Artist, your creation of people in your own image is incomprehensible to people with a tendency to run away from your presence. But we as people who acknowledge your might and wisdom, praise you because we are your people, who you have created in your own image. Hallelujah!  Amen