... let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV
Though Scripture refers to awe repeatedly, it’s a much lesser-known concept to us, specifically awe of God. We are a society of accomplishment and ever-expanding advancements in technology and human exploits. We easily spend our wonder on those items and completely pass by the wonder and awe by which everything eventually will be measured.
Cultivating a proper sense of awe for God and genuinely orienting our lives around that relationship will change everything and change it for eternal good. Here are ways to help:
Study the attributes of God. The more you get to know Him, the more intimately you know Him, the more you are captured by awe. Don’t do it for knowledge; do it for intimacy.
Value people. You will never look into the eyes of a person who has not been specially created in the image of God. No matter how broken, every human still bears the image. The more you value people and invest in them, the more the wonder and awe of His love will increase. Slow down and look for evidence of God. You will find it everywhere. Dallas Willard said that the greatest enemy of awe is hurry.
Get outside and into nature. The smallest bug, the biggest mountain, the sunshine and the moonlight, a blade of grass and a flake of snow all are awe-inspiring when we take time to consider them.
Start praising what you do see. Praise ignites worship. Often, we expect to be inspired before we praise, but praise starts worship and ignites a spark in others.
Consistently and enthusiastically attend church – in person. Streaming is good when you must. But communal worship takes us to the heart of God and awe in a way our hearts and spirits crave. We serve an awesome God TOGETHER. We are the “people of God,” not individual persons of God. Christian community is His plan, and it’s the only way it works well. We will never be healthy without it.
- Create in me a heart consumed by You, my God – a heart that craves and offers acceptable worship with reverence and awe, personally and in community, with Your people.