From Design to Destiny

 


From Design to Destiny

Psalms 139:13-18
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
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.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!

Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Galatians 6:7-10
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Philippians 4:19
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

​The Foundation: Identity and Provision

​The season of Lent is often viewed through the lens of what we "give up," but its true heart is what we take up: a deeper reliance on our Creator. Today’s scriptures weave a powerful narrative for the Lenten traveler.

​We begin with identity. In a world that often tells us we are not enough, Psalm 139 declares that you are "wonderfully made." You do not need to strive for worth this Lent; you already possess it by divine design. When we know whose we are, the command in Isaiah 41:10—"Fear not"—becomes a promise rather than a burden. We can face the "desert" of Lent without dismay because God is holding our hand.

​As we fast or simplify our lives, we may feel a sense of lack. Philippians 4:19 assures us that as we pour ourselves out, God's "glorious riches" will supply every genuine need. This isn't just about material things; it’s about the spiritual stamina to keep going.

​The Perspective: Eternal Weight

​Based on 2 Corinthians 4:17, we learn that our perseverance during trials is never in vain. It produces an "eternal weight of glory" that far outweighs temporary suffering. This reframes our current hardships as meaningful and purposeful.

  • ​Purposeful Suffering: Every moment of trial in the path of obedience produces a "peculiar glory."
  • ​Temporary vs. Eternal: Our present afflictions are "light and momentary" compared to the heavy, lasting value of what is to come.
  • ​Focus on the Unseen: Strength comes from fixing our eyes not on seen circumstances, but on eternal promises.
  • ​God’s Transformation: He uses hardships to refine us, turning experiences meant for destruction into opportunities for our good.

​The Long Haul: Don’t Grow Weary

​Lent is a 40-day journey. It’s easy to start strong but grow tired. Galatians 6:9 encourages us: "Let us not be weary." The "due season" is coming. Just as the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16) contrasts temporary comfort with eternal peace, we are reminded that our perseverance has eternal weight.

​Lenten Reflection:

The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus is a stark reminder to open our eyes to the "Lazarus" at our own gates while we still have time. Lent is our opportunity to bridge that gap through prayer, fasting, and reaching out to those in need.

​Prayer for Today

​Heavenly Father,

We thank You for making us with purpose. When we feel weary or afraid, remind us that You are holding us. Supply our needs today so that we might have enough to share with others. May our hearts stay open to those in need this Lenten season. We ask this in Jesus' precious name,  Amen.

​The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

​BELIEVE, OBEY, BE BLESSED, AMEN.

BOBBA

Love, Penny


A quick side note the name Penny is derived from Penelope which in Greek it means thread and face it translates to weaver.

May God weave my heart in the image he wants me to be! Amen!

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