DAY 4 – DEEPEN MY AWE
By: Kinsey Minter
[/nectar_highlighted_text][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-book” color=”Accent-Color”]SCRIPTURE:
DEUTERONOMY 10:21
“He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.”[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-user” color=”Accent-Color”]DEVOTIONAL:
When was the last time you were absolutely amazed by something? Was it during a sports game? Could it have been a new baby or a beautiful mountain range? At that moment, there was nothing else that mattered more than what was right in front of you. What you were amazed by was worthy of all your attention, focus, and the emotions stirring within you.
We pause and expect to be moved by awesome things. Are you doing that with the presence of God? Are you pausing and allowing yourself to be moved by God and His wondrous deeds? Let yourself be free to feel the emotions that come from remembering what He has done.
When we let our awe turn to praise, we are fulfilling what all creation was designed to do, we join the trees and oceans that dance for the Lord, we join the birds of the air and the angels in heaven that sing praises to God. Our awe turns to praise, and our praise turns to gratitude. This is where your personal ministry can operate from. Francis Chan said, “Once we lose our fascination in God, we lose our effectiveness.” We want our hearts to be so full of awe for God so that everything we say and do is for His Glory.
When are you in awe of something that is evil, difficult, or unexpected? Sometimes we are in awe of our to-do list and it can be overwhelming. Living a perfect life with no unexpected twists and turns will not happen to you or anyone. Even when we live a life desiring to please the Lord, we will still make mistakes.
At times we can be in awe of ourselves, this too can distract us from the calling God has placed on our lives. There are terrible events that happen to us, and there are times when we make the wrong decision, and if we sit in awe of these things, it can take our mind away from what God desires us to focus on; see Philippians 4:4-8. Paul Tripp wrote in his book Awe, “the more we focus on ourselves the more we will focus on our wants, needs, dreams, goals, expectations, and feelings. We get so obsessed with our own plans, schedules, and desires that we have little time for reflection of the awesome glory of God that is ours to see and remember. He is more than what he has done for us because He alone is worthy of our praise.”
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→ Listen to the song “Worthy of it All”, there are a few different versions out there, my personal favorite is the one by CeCe Winans. There is also a beautiful hymn, “I Stand in Awe.” Or “Names” by Elevation Worship.
→ Meditate on three characteristics of God that you find awesome. Then remember a time where He showed these characteristics in your life. Thank Him, for all that He has done.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”fa fa-hand-paper-o” color=”Accent-Color”]PRAYER: Heavenly father we come to you in Jesus name by the power of your Holy Spirit. We want to enter your throne room with praise, as I close my eyes I picture you seated on your throne, and I hear the voices singing, “You are beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words, too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard.” God, deepen my awe of you. I want my awe to increase my praise and gratitude, and my praise to renew my mind, and my mind to delight in your word. God you are my rock and my redeemer, may all that is within me praise the Lord. In Jesus name, amen.[/text-with-icon]
