“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee as a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“I can sell it to you for two thousand, but I can’t go any lower than that. It took me months to hand carve the detail.” The stranger caressed the top of the delicate wooden nightstand.
This beautiful furnishing was way beyond my budget, but that didn’t mean that I appreciated it’s craftsmanship any less. Touching the fine teak wood only gave me a greater respect for it. It also made it that much harder for me to pull away.
I was struggling to keep my mind focused on the practical reality of my wallet. Unfortunately, my taste has never been keen on the restraints of reality.
“I should have looked for you here first.” John hands me a piece of hot corn while he rolls his eyes.
“And, I knew where I could find you.” I tilt mine at the makeshift food court in the middle of North Avenue.
We are at the annual art fest, enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of summer in Chicago. We both have our unspoken agenda: Mine is to shop for art. John’s is to eat his way to the other end of the block.
I have been looking for the perfect nightstand for our little home for some time now. Walking away from that beautiful work of art was like leaving a forbidden lover.
Just the weekend before, we had stopped at Target to pick up some cleaning products. I strolled down the furniture isle to just see what they had in terms of bedroom furnishings. My expectations weren’t high, but I was getting weary in my quest for the perfect nightstand.
Of course, John was a happy camper when he checked out the price tags. Although we found a piece that fit and matched our bedroom set to a ‘t’, there was something about it that did not settle with my esthetic appreciation.
The nightstand was ‘too perfect’. It looked perfectly massed produced. There was no love or time spent in the construction or detailing of it; it was lacking in personality.
Before my common sense almost got it’s grasp on me, I spun on my heel and headed for the cleaning isle. It was better for me to make due with nothing than to settle for less than the best.
In Jeremiah 1:5, we are reminded that God carefully designed each human being in our mother’s wombs. We may not be as perfect as our high standards, but we are unique, hand crafted and made with love.
When you look in the mirror, I challenge you to see yourself from a new angle. See yourself as a creation of God and try not to appreciate THAT.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Jeremiah 1:5 is a just what I needed to hear today. The world does a great job of making me feel like I will never be perfect enough.
In my mind, I know this as a fact. But in my heart, I am a frustrated perfectionist. Perhaps that is because in each of us, you have created a desire to better ourselves and strive for more.
Lord, I give my perfectionist tendencies to you. I want you to cleanse them and focus them in the right areas. Help me to accept the things that you don’t want to change, and to change the things that you do. You must give me discernment so I am not frustrated.
I understand that there will always be a part of me that will never be satisfied, and I believe that is because this place is not my home.
In Jesus’ precious name, give me the acceptance I need to embrace where I am at today and the courage to reach for better when you tell me to. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: Jeremiah 1:5
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan