Worship Without WallsSample

A Picture Worth Seeking After

What picture comes to your mind when thinking about God? Is it a picture of an elderly jolly man with a huge smile and a white beard? Is it an image of a God with loving eyes and arms open wide to catch you when you fall, or is it an image of an angry Father looking to hit you over the head at the slightest error you make? Let us try to engage our minds by thinking about God for a second.

If this activity is not a common practice, you will find the process somewhat challenging because of so many distractions, and you most likely would need help knowing where to begin. Sometimes it is tough to have a clear picture of God, especially when images of failure, bills, negativity, and fear fill our minds.

The good thing is that God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to help us to create the correct image of Himself and his character. God paints our future with His Words like a brush on a canvas. He reveals to us His plans for our future through the Holy Spirit.

How God frames, or from our analogy, paints our lives reveals God's essence and love character to us. As we yield to God's word, the Holy Spirit creates a clearer image of God in our minds. Trust me, a more precise picture and perception of God propels us to seek Him passionately and be close to Him. This clear insight into God's character aids our worship of God.

David said in Psalm 63:8-9, "When I remember you on my bed, I meditate on you on the night watches. Because you have been my help, therefore, in the shadow of your wings, I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind you; your right hand upholds me."

King David's desire to follow close, to rejoice in praise to God, began with thinking (meditation) and remembrance of God. According to Psalm 63:8-9, the essence of David's worship and pursuit is God, not on what God can do but on His presence. David goes as far as saying that God did not just send help but was his help Himself.

This strong desire and transformative power are also revealed in 2 Corinthians 3:18 by Apostle Paul, who writes about how God transforms those whose eyes desire to perceive and engage God's existence and character.

David again expresses so eloquently in Psalm 130:6 his longing for God, who never disappoints. David is waiting patiently for God's image and presence to solidify in the frame of his mind.

So as we engage our day, our perception of God will determine how connected we are to Him, and it will motivate or prevent us from pursuing. Our memory of God's image and character creates a closeness to His presence which fuels our followership and worship of God. This strong connection forms the basis for our worship of God, who created us in His image, with an in-depth longing for a relationship with God.

So what does God look like to you? Who are you seeing?

Take some time today, maybe 5mins, close your eyes, focus your mind, meditate, think purposefully about God, ask Him for a clear imprint of His love and character upon your mind, and let His image and character transform you.