Psalm 139:13-14
“You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.”
This past week I received an incredible email of encouragement from a professional acquaintance. In the email she wrote:
I just came across a quote…maybe I’m supposed to share this with you:
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Consider this your “sign” Lynne. What makes you come alive? Do that…
My friend’s words resonated deep in my heart as I believe God takes great pleasure in us when we seek to live full lives by doing just that. I am convinced God does not want us to merely survive here on earth, but rather, He delights when we live lives that are fully alive!
God has uniquely created each and every one of us. Just look around you – no two of us are exactly alike! God has given us each different strengths, gifts, interests, and passions. He has distinctly designed us, making us each feel alive by doing different things!
Consider the following verses on how God created us:
Psalm 139:13-14 You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.
Isaiah 64:8 Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Jeremiah 1:4 The LORD gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.”
Jeremiah 29:11: “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.”
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Psalm 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
When we understand just how uniquely and special God designed us, we can understand that what makes us come alive – so long as it is God honoring – is by God’s design. It is part of His plan and purpose for us.
I feel alive when I encourage others to grow in their faith, to reach their God-given potential and to live out their God-given purpose.
So in the same way my friend did for me, let me encourage you today by sharing this specifically with you:
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Consider this your “sign” my friend. What makes you come alive? Do that…
Thanks for this post. The quote really resonated. You didn’t give the author so I’m guessing your friend did not either.
Since my second diagnosis of lung cancer I have been guided by Ps. 90:12-17. “Teach us to number our days..”. For me, today is 26,997. Part of “numbering our days” is using our time wisely. I want to finish well, doing things now that will count in eternity.
One thing that makes me come alive is working with fabrics, especially creating unique items by recycling old clothes. I want to make that count for eternity by teaching some kids at a local orphanage how to sew and letting them use the many donated clothes they already have on hand to create something for themselves.
Thanks for the inspiring post.
Linda, Thank you so much for your comments. I did not name the author of the quote as it has been attributed to a few different people; however, I researched it extensively before my post and it seems most accurate that Howard Thurman said it in a conversation with Gil Bailie.
I am so sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis, I cannot imagine all you are facing. I was just thinking of Psalm 90:12-17 today and how important it is to make the most of our days. It sounds like you are doing just that and truly making a difference through your work with fabrics. What an encouragement to hear of you doing so! I will be praying for you and that the Lord will richly bless all you are doing as your desire is to make each day count for eternity. Many blessings, Lynne