The Knitting Project

Today’s scripture: Psalm 139:13, 14 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)

As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.

My thoughts (David Zier):

When I was young, my mother used to knit. She enjoyed it, but we did not have much money, so sewing and knitting was something she did out of necessity as well. I remember she would have several knitting projects going on at the same time, and some projects like blankets would go on for a long time. I still have a gingerbread man she knitted when I was born.

As I read today’s passage, the image of my mother knitting came to me. Although verse 14 says “you knit me together in my mother’s womb,” the project is not yet done. We are born and we pass through stages: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adult. We are one of God’s knitting projects, just as is all creation. Though it began before birth, the process continues our entire lives. In a world where people try to conform, and be in the image we think others want us to be, it is freeing to read that God delights in our individuality. There’s no else like me!

As I prayed over this passage, I internalized two things. First, I am who I am, and that means I am wonderfully made. I can delight in God’s creation of me — whether it is all the physical things that make me who I am, my sexual orientation, the ways my mind works, or what the knitting of God’s word and Christ’s guidance over the years has done for me. Sometimes, I am pretty hard on myself, and I tend to only focus on my humanity (flaws). As I move closer to God, and spend more time seeking God, I find that I see myself differently, and I see others differently as well.

Second, God knows me well. I find that as I spend more time with God, I begin to get in touch with knowing myself better. As I do this, I understand that God formed me in a wonderful way, and I can rest in that delight. Sure, I need to grow and transform as a disciple of Christ, but I realize I am one of those knitting projects that sits in the basket by the chair in front of the TV. I’m being crafted by the Maker every day.

Prayer for the day: Praise God for all creation. Thank you, God, for how I am being knit together. Help me look in the mirror and at the mirror of my soul and see the wonderful creation I am and am becoming in your presence. Amen.

We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.