Within creation we find the characteristics of the creator. The majestic mountains tell of his majesty. The mystery of the universe reveal he is in fact the master of mystery. Oceans deep prove the depth of his reach, while the sweetness in the eyes of my yellow Labrador, Tank, reflect the goodness of the One who created him.

I’m a huge fan of His work. I’m not a museum kinda gal, but I spend every day of my life wandering in awe through the galleries of his art.

It’s one of the reasons I love to travel; I just love seeing his creation. With each destination, I learn more about him. I see new attributes revealed in the crashing waves of turquoise waters, hot pink painted skies, and trees growing mangoes as big as my face. His power, his creativity, and his personal love for me are on full display, because ya’ll the beach is my happy place, hot pink is my favorite color, and I personally believe mangoes to be one of God’s finest creations.

And to think, he did that for me.

I’m not being self absorbed here. I’m understanding God’s great design. David understood this when he wrote Psalm 23:5 saying “Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.”

My sweet sister, every day of your life, the almighty creator of your soul has been chasing after you with his love and beauty, trying to capture your attention so he could once again hold your soul. Has he caught you? His goodness and unfailing love pursue you.

Could this be why the birds sing their song? Their creator has pursued and caught them, so they sing. They sing their praise while they fully trust their needs will be met today.

Where is your praise precious one? Don’t you know if the Father provides for the birds with such care, he will that much more care for you? The birds sing in gratitude for what they have received without concern of what they may need next. They have found their song of faith.

And Jesus tells us, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6: 26-27)

Girl, don’t you know your value?

You’re even better than a mango, and again, I really really really love mangoes.

You are more precious than rubies. (Proverbs 3:15) And God says something about you he never says about the rest of his creation. In Isaiah 43:4 he says “you are precious and honored in my sight, and … I love you …”

Won’t you receive that today my sister? You are precious and honored in the sight of the only One who really matters. In the sight of the One who makes those turquoise waters crash into powerful waves… In the sight of the one who paints the evening sky hot pink… In the sight of the one who made the delicious juicy mango to grow … The one who knows true beauty because he created it. The one who knows true value because he designed it. He says YOU are precious. You are honored. HE LOVES YOU.

If we ever get that right, we will begin getting everything else right.

We will no longer operate from a hurt in our past. We will no longer be a victim of a single insult thrown our way. We will no longer be judged by our mistakes and failures. We will no longer be held captive by insecurities, doubts, shame, guilt or fear. Like the snap of a finger, all these things fall away when we really understand how God sees us.

How God sees you.

Precious. Honored. Loved.

The evil one works overtime to cast his crappy darkness over this truth. Satan, you are gross. Your works are gross. Your attempts to cover my truth have been revealed, now get on out of here and take your crap with you.

I am not a failure. I am not hopeless. I am not too much of this or too little of that. I am the amazing creation of a loving God who’s overflowing love and joy formed me in planned perfection. I am the reflection of my creator, ever evolving to become more and more like who he created me to be. I’m not stuck, I’m getting in sync. I’m not flawed, I’m flawless in his hands.

If we can stand on the shores of the ocean and marvel over his creation, if we can watch the sun set over the mountains knowing his hands created it all, then why in the world can’t we take a good look at ourselves today and be in awe of his finest work? The one work the creator says is most precious. The one work he says he honors. The one work he not only says he loves, but he SHOWS he loves.

That work is me.
That work is you.
That work is us.

We are his precious.
We are honored by him and through him.
And we are loved so wildly.

He delights in us. May we delight in the creator when we see one another.