I love all the fall things: pumpkins, crisp air, apple orchards, cozy blankets, bonfires and of course the “Minnesota uniform” — plaid.
Today while I was driving my son to school, I found myself awe struck at the beautiful countryside. I couldn’t help but notice the amazing variation of colors.
As I turned my worship music up just a little louder, I felt a sense of wonder. The beauty of fall overwhelmed me. I started to allow my mind to wander, thinking about how God designed the changing seasons to be so miraculous and amazing. In that stillness, Abba father spoke ever so clearly:
“Daughter, you are my wonder. I fearfully, exceptionally, and wonderfully made you. All of this is for you. I am the God who turns the leaves and welcomes the beauty of the seasons, the author of the silent communication between plants and animals. Every single snowflake is one of a kind and different. Imagine how much more care I put in when I made you. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I know your every thought. I know your days behind and your days ahead.”
Daughter, you are my wonder.
To be honest, this moment took my breath away. An overwhelming captivation of God‘s presence flowed over me. It was a true refreshment to my soul, and I realized in that moment just how beautiful Psalm 139 is:
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! (Psalm 139:13-18 NLT)
You are fearfully, exceptionally and wonderfully made. When God sees you, he sees delight. You are never out of sight from him–he knows your coming and going, he knows every thought you have, and all the days of your life, not to mention the hairs on your head.
He loved you first, before any human could. He knows your character and your struggles. He knows your failures, emotions and he designated you beautiful before you could ever even talk. You are the spark in his eye.
Today maybe you are feeling anything but his love for you, or maybe the current season has stripped you bare of all of your perceived beauty. I want to gently remind you of who your Daddy is and how he truly sees you. Take a moment to sit and just be with him, ruminating in the fact that he loved you first and that when you have the spirit of God within you, he exudes a radiance throughout you, a wonder which we cannot deny. The wonder of You.
Journal / Reflection Questions
1. Spend some time reading Psalm 139 out loud and declaring its truth over you. Highlight anything that sticks out to you and meditate on it.
Esther “Annie” Rhoades is a mom to three, wild and free kids and has been happily married to her best friend, Jon, for over 10 years. Annie values experience over things and loves yoga with worship music, diving into the word, hosting, thrifting, making healthy goodies, and traveling.