THE UPPER ROOM 7 APRIL 2024 DEVOTIONAL, SUNDAY MESSAGE
TOPIC: Picture Perfect
TODAY’S READING
Psalm 139:13-18
You [Lord] created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)
TODAY’S MESSAGE
I am in the process of publishing my first book. It’s about my experiences of being bullied as a child because I stutter. A picture of myself and my bio will be on the back cover. A handful of questions buzz around in my head. How should I style my hair? Should I smile or look slightly serious? What should I wear? What should I say about myself? All these questions will be answered in due time. But one thing is for sure: No matter how much I doll myself up, I will still be me — Rachel. Rachel the curious, Rachel the impulsive, and Rachel the child of God.
When God looks at me, God doesn’t see all my imperfections but sees someone created with intricate talents and abilities. Psalm 139:13-14 says, “You created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” God thinks we are beautiful no matter what others may think.
When we look in the mirror, we can remember that we are seeing God’s picture-perfect work of art.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, remind us that we are your works of art, and forgive us when we fail to see the unique beauty in ourselves and others. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
All that God creates is worthy of my praise.
PRAYER FOCUS
Those with a negative self-image
The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.