Becoming Part 2: Our Heavenly Father’s Role

Last time, I encouraged you to read Psalm 139 and contemplate God’s love for you, so let’s start there! Personally, Psalm 139 is one of the most encouraging and comforting Psalms.  It is filled with promises about how God intricately and personally knows every single detail of our existence because He made us and planned for our entry into the world. How humbling and mind-blowing is it to come to the realization that the God of the universe – who created every tree and mountain and planet and galaxy and person who ever lived and ever will live – knows us each by name, knows how many hairs are on our head, knows every time we sit and rise, knows all of our faults and still loves us, and knows the details of our every hidden thought. Our great and powerful God loves us enough to be that personal with us. This Psalm adequately portrays the significance of the role God plays in shaping who we become. As I mentioned last time, He set our lives in motion and is involved in every step of the way – from conception, to birth, to salvation, and to sanctification.

In each of the next few posts, I want to give a few Biblical examples of how each different aspect (God, circumstances, ourselves) plays a role in who we become. Our heavenly Father – the Almighty God – is the author of history and holds everything together. He holds the universe in place, and He holds our bodies together. The first example I want to mention is our heavenly Father’s role in His choosing of Israel as a people for Himself.  Israel did NOTHING to deserve for God to choose them. God decided, in His sovereign wisdom, to take a people for Himself in Israel. He set them apart. He delivered them time and time again – despite their unfaithfulness (Psalm 104-106). He set up laws for them to follow in order to set them apart. And He promised and provided a way of salvation for them. God played a huge part in Israel’s identity; in fact, they were identified solely as following the Lord while other nations sought after a multitude of false gods. A New Testament example of God’s role in “becoming” is found in Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a humble teenage girl with no merit in herself to even dream of becoming the mother of the long-awaited Messiah. However, God had big plans for her life – plans that would ultimately bring Him the greatest glory. – plans for her to be the mother of the Savior of the world!

Whatever role God has called you in, HE is the one who has purposed it and will enable you to bring Him glory in obediently carrying out His plans for you. For example, I am going to become a mother in a few short days!  This excites me and terrifies me at the same time (the delivery part and everything after!). I know that there is no way in the world that this would be possible apart from God ordaining this for my life. The forming of a child is only through His sovereign design. The timing of this pregnancy was His sovereign plan – although my husband and I were surprised, God wasn’t! The ability for me to become a godly mother will only be through His guidance and strength.  God has planned for me to become a mother, and He will enable me to do it! 

APPLICATION

-              Read and pray over Psalm 33, thanking God for creating and loving you and asking Him to help you trust Him with the plans He has for you.

-              Read Luke 1:26-56. Try to imagine what Mary was experiencing! Notice her responses to the Lord through this process. How can you learn from Mary’s example?

-              Read Acts 17:24-28. Thank the Father for being wise and sovereign over every detail. Verse 26 even explains that He determines the times and places of where we will live! Then, verse 27 states that His purpose is for us to seek Him and find Him. What are some areas of your life that you need to have greater trust in the sovereignty of the loving God?