One early morning, I was walking up a steep hill in my neighborhood. Although I was alone, I heard the heavy sound of air coming from…somewhere. I continued with a little bit of nervousness, unsure what I would find at the top of the hill. The sound grew louder with each step until I rounded the curve and finally reached the clearing at the top. I stopped dead in my tracks as the sound of air gave way to a sight I will never forget. A hot air balloon was making its slow voyage across the morning sky. It followed the rising sun as if to draw the curtains open, revealing a new day for all to see. I stood awestruck on the sidewalk. The beautiful scene drew me out of my thoughts and into the world waking up around me.
In her book None Like Him, Jen Wilkin suggests that “our primary problem as Christian women is not that we lack self-worth, not that we lack a sense of significance. It’s that we lack awe.” She says that when we experience awe, “we become less individualistic, less self-focused, less materialistic, and more connected to those around us. In marveling at something greater than ourselves, we become more able to reach out to others.”
Our world lures us to keep looking down at our phones or onto the next event in our calendars. This tempts us to spend more time concerned about ourselves instead of engaging with those around us, which is not the model of life to the full that Jesus set before us.
There is a whole creation story playing out before us. Flowers are blooming, trees are maturing, birds are chirping, and that’s just outside our homes. Inside, toddlers are growing (way too fast!) into children and then teenagers. But unless we choose to look up, we will miss the opportunities inviting us into something so much greater than ourselves. And when they pass us by, I’m not sure we can get them back.
So, what do we do? Prayer is essential. Start by asking God to develop a spirit of awe within you. Meditate on Scripture that reinforces your prayer. Take inventory of your day and reflect on the things you’re thankful for. Find an activity or a place that reminds you to look up. I love walks, especially in the evening when things are winding down. I don’t listen to music or make calls. I’m simply present in my surroundings.
While these steps aren’t complex, they have changed how I see things. My prayers have become more intentional and others-centered. My gratitude list is now filled with things I didn’t think to be thankful for on my own. My slow walks around the neighborhood have helped me be more observant of creation springing up around me, prompting me to pray for what I observe along the way. And that’s where I’ve found that awe frequently happens and where God mostly speaks…along the way.
Describe a time you were awestruck. What did it teach you about God and His character? Journal your thoughts.
Father God, You created me with unique and intricate details; nothing about me is by mistake. I pray today that You would bring to life a spirit of awe within me, for You and all You have created. I pray for eyes that will look up to see the beauty in a sunrise and in the smile on another’s face. I pray for ears to hear You as You draw my gaze towards opportunities to serve outside my comfort zone and the courage to stay until the task is complete. Thank You for loving me and leading me. Amen.
Authors John Mark Comer and Jefferson Bethke joined together for a podcast series about confronting the hustle and hurry our world invites us into each day. Over ten episodes, they shed light on how these mindsets are detrimental to our spiritual lives and what we can do to resist them.
Listen to the first episode here.
Amid the mess and the mundane, how do you find space, open your heart to those who matter most, and receive the soulful way of living calling your name? In this journal, Shauna Niequist takes you on a guided journey to embracing peace in a chaotic world. With thought-provoking questions and short stories to reflect upon, this is a great resource to help train your mind to look outside the walls that technology and busyness try to trap us within.
Mentor Tip: These would make great gifts for your mentees as you conclude your mentoring season.
Check out the journal here.
“I couldn’t help but wonder, God, are You here with me? Have You forgotten about us? Maybe you’re asking the same questions. In your marriage, family, work or health, you struggle to see evidence of God’s activity…you may wonder if He’s with you – and if He truly has your best interests in mind.”
In this article, Meredith Houston Carr writes about experiencing God’s creation on the heels of receiving a devastating health diagnosis concerning one of her children. Her article offers an excellent explanation of why looking outward and upward can help us in the difficult journeys.
Read the article here.
