This morning during intercessory prayer the subject of the awe of God was laid on my heart. It is a subject that is not commonly spoken of, but I for one think it's of most importance. So I pose this question: What does it look like to be in awe of God?
What is awe of God? To be in awe is like a little boy on Christmas morning, taking in with wide-eyed wonders all that his parents have graciously bought for him. Is this what awe of God looks like?
What is awe of God? Is it like a young woman sitting on the banks of a river in the woods and marveling at the peace and beauty of the place? Is this awe?
What is awe of God? Is it like the man on a battlefield, who when seeing the opposing army is taken back by the size, power, and determinedness of them. He is shaken to his core with fear, yet in awe of them. Is this what awe of God looks like?
I say it's a bit of all three of these. There are certain qualities in God's character that should evoke these different emotions and they each demand a different response.
God is a good, good papa. He desires to give us above and beyond what we ask, or even want for. He desires to lavish His love on us. To be in awe of God here is to get a glimpse of His love or what He wants to give us and be so amazed that we cannot move from the spot where we first caught that glimpse. To see what He has for you and squeal like a child, and become so excited that you'll begin to laugh and do a little excited dance. This is being in awe of God.
God is the God of peace, and the God of mercy. He desires to take our pain, frustration, and heartache, and change these things into lightheartedness, joy, and peace. God is pursuing and romancing His bride, He is currently preparing her for something big and beautiful. To be in love with the Lord is a beautiful, restful, lovely thing! To be in awe in this area, I feel is to get up and dance with God. To be so in love with Him that the same moment He speaks, we respond instantly with "YES!" and "AMEN!". This is what awe of the Lord looks like.
Just as God is the God of peace, and mercy, He is also the God of justice. He is a jealous God. He is jealous for our hearts, and our love! God is not willing to share our affection with anyone or anything else. He will fight to prove that He is enough in every aspect of our lives. He will take down any job, hobby, television program, relationship, or person that stands between you and Him. He is the mighty warrior God. To be in awe of Him is to see Him as a warrior with fire in His eyes; and while there is a sense of fear, it is surpassed by a sense of "Wow! He really wants me. The God of the universe longs to know me... intimately, and personally. Holy Moley!" To be in awe is to lay things that are not pleasing to God down before He asks, or before He has to kill it Himself. To be in awe of God is to kill the sinful things in our lives before He has to.
Now I will pose a second question: Are you in awe of God?
It would be so easy to quickly answer "yes" to that, but take a moment. Think. Am I in awe of God? To I recognize His hand in my life? Do my actions and attitudes show others that I am in awe of who God is? I know that, I for one am not the best at displaying this. I am striving to live my life in such a way that others would see God through me. I challenge you to search your heart and see if you are truly in awe of who God is.
No comments:
Post a Comment