Get Your Fire Back With the Psalms!Egzanp

Did you grow up in a big city?

If so, you likely found it hard to see the stars at night because of all the light pollution. I grew up in Las Vegas—"Sin City," as many call it. My hometown is full of neon signs, with one hotel/casino shooting light into the sky from the top of a pyramid. As a kid, I didn't see many stars.

However, in college, I remember traveling internationally to study abroad and share my faith. One evening, after eating dinner with new friends, we walked out of a yurt in a remote part of Asia, and the brightness of the stars stopped me in my tracks. What I saw in the sky made it hard to breathe. I could not comprehend what my eyes were beholding.

In the book of Psalms, King David had many moments like the one I experienced. Specifically, in Psalms 8, he writes what many commentators believe is the first hymn included in the Psalms. Psalm 8 was sung by the people, not just read aloud.

The hymn begins with David declaring, "Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens."

David is overwhelmed with God's magnificence. The natural human response when encountering God is awe and wonder. Every time someone encounters God in the Old Testament, they are overwhelmed, in awe, and frankly afraid!

And yet, because of experience, distractions, and even sin, we struggle to sustain the wonder and passion that David expresses. If you're honest today, you might have more in common with the Ephesians in Revelation 2 than David in Psalms 8.

When our family moved to a new area eight years ago, it was a significant adjustment because our new home was in a much smaller town. One night, as I was dragging out the garbage can, I looked up, and the brightness of the stars took my breath away again. I realized they had been this bright in our old town, and they had been this bright every other night since we moved into our new home. In our previous city, excessive light pollution dimmed the stars' brilliance. At our new home, I hadn't stopped to look up.

So, here's the question for you. When was the last time you slowed down, looked up, and marveled at God's glory and majesty?

The character and power of God haven't changed as you lost your fire. What changed was your sense of wonder about God and the attention you're giving to God. Perhaps, like light pollution that dulls their brilliance, habits and actions in your life are clouding your ability to see God's beauty.

The second thing you need to know to get your fire back is this - you cannot appreciate the glory and majesty of God if you never give your full attention to God.

You don't have to look at the stars to regain your sense of wonder. You need to follow the equation I first heard from author and pastor Mark Batterson. He said, "Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective."

ACTION STEP: Today, I encourage you to slow down and pay attention. You may need to stand outside and look up at the stars tonight. You could take a drive or go for a hike without music or noise. It might help to find a river, lake, or ocean to sit next to for a while.

Re-read Psalm 8:1-2 and consider the glory and majesty of God in creation. Reflect on what you see and what that tells you about God.

Tomorrow, we will examine God's work in a place much closer to home. You'll be surprised by what you find!