O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. – Psalm 104:24
My wife and I have a toddler, and we also have a cat and a new puppy. It is amazing to me how intrigued our daughter is by these pets. She had never seen animals up close before, and when they play together she is in total awe of them. Actually, she likes to lick the cat, although we are teaching her not to do that, and the puppy she kisses on the mouth. She just loves them and is captivated by them, and it shows.
Although my interest in cats and dogs is not as strong as my toddler’s, there are other parts of nature that I find myself impressed by all the time. I can remember once in the fall when I was driving across a bridge, the sun was hitting the trees just right and the leaves seemed to glow. All along the river it looked like that, and I could hardly believe how beautiful it was. Seeing such things in nature puts a sense of wonder in our hearts at how God created us and this beautiful world, all from nothing.
As beautiful as Creation is, the Lord’s spiritual handiwork is something that can inspire an even deeper amazement. Do you remember how exciting the Gospel was when you were first saved? Everything was new and fresh, and it was thrilling. There was a sense of wonder that God could do anything. As time passes, however, we can start to take for granted how truly amazing God’s plan of salvation is. Our initial feeling of awe can fade away, and then going to church becomes routine, and reading the Bible a chore.
Having experienced God’s grace for some time does not make it any less miraculous. In fact, as we continue to seek Him, He will reveal Himself to us more and our appreciation for what He has done can become even greater. His Word comes alive to us, and we are excited to be in church, always expecting that He can and will do anything. This is the perspective God would have us maintain.
Are we filled with awe for what God has done in our lives? We can keep that fresh perspective, like a child who marvels even at everyday things, by simply seeking God and asking Him to help us see the wonder in all of His works.