DESIGN= everything that God has made, including you, is designed to be used according to certain principles for his preordained purposes: if I use them in other ways, according to my own PLEASURE I do so at my own PERIL! If I co-operate with his design principles but resent having to do so, I am criticizing the designer. If I am bothered by the limits evident in the things about me that I can’t control, this is not being humble, rather I am ungrateful and question his wisdom. If I compare with other’s design and feel inferior, or superior, I question his right to make different pots for different uses.

It is my job to think through and ponder what is the proper use of each created thing.

Take a minute and ponder the proper use and misuse the following: Food, sleep, recreation, friends, housing, cars, jobs, clothing, exercise, learning, health, mind, time, family, money etc.

Ponder your own design: these are the unchangeable things about you and your support systems : your sex, age, family of origin, intellect, voice, height,illnesses,friends, foes, time in history, etc.

Some thoughts to get started. We are his masterworks created unto tasks that he prepared for us and prepared us for. (Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.)

Shall the pot say to the potter “what a bad job you did on me?” or shall a man say to his mother,”what kind of junk did you produce?”Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Romans 9:20-22 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, “Why hast thou made me thus?”²¹ Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

What is food for: for nutrition, fellowship, remembering God’s goodness, ministering to others; not for treating depression, not an end in itself, not to impress others

What is sleep for: for refreshing for the battle; not for running away from life, not to be neglected in order to do too much.Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Now ponder the DESIGN of the other things in your life.

Thank you Lord for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank you that I am the right one for the tasks you call me to. Help me to take my design and develop it by taking care of my body and sharpening my mind by meditating on your word. When I see other parts of your body who have designs that I would prefer, help me to rejoice in their abilities without the foolishness of comparing.2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.Isaiah 45:10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Is there something about my design that I especially dislike? Even if it is the result of post birth damage, of my own sin or the sin of others, it is now part of my design. In order to rest in the principle of design I will have to worship God by saying, “Lord you are greater than this design difference that I am troubled by, every time I am reminded of it I will say, that reminds me that I belong to God and he has the right to do with me as he wills, thank you God for your good intentions in allowing this.”