God, the Color; Praise, the CanvasНамуна

Day 1: The Nature of God

Our God is truly unfathomable.  That isn’t a word we use often or lightly, but it certainly applies to our God.  If someone were to ask you, “how would you describe God?”  What would you say?  We could tell them about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and the Father and what they have done in the Bible.  We could say the things that God has done in our lives.  Does that even scratch the surface of God?  When we consider the depth of who God is and what He is capable of, we are left with a million questions.  How would you describe your conversation with God?

I want to challenge you with something: is your relationship with God built solely on reaching out to Him for your needs to be met?  God loves to answer our prayers and provide for us, but he also wants our hearts to genuinely love and seek to know Him.  The impossible, incomprehensible, incredible: Him.  As we explore and discover God, we find ourselves praising God in a very personal and natural way.  

What would it look like to fill your heart with praise?  Maybe it would change how you see God?  Maybe it would change how you see yourself?  In each day of this bible plan, let’s consider a new aspect of God and wander into the wonder of who He is.  Today, we pause for a moment and consider the expansive creation of God.  Consider the detail and magnitude of our world.  A world designed with you in mind.  Find a moment in prayer or reflection today to praise God for all that He has made by focusing on the sights and sounds that are all around you.

To God

What is beauty to you God?  Your creation surrounds me.  Towering.  Detailed.  Wild.  Infinitesimal.   Brilliant.  Is your hand too colossal to paint a tapestry on a single blade of grass?   Are mountains too large to be crafted and shaped by you?  Is a paintbrush of seed capable of a masterpiece of wildflowers?  When the sun peeks over the horizon, does it take you years to design the explosion of each ray of light?  On all accounts, no- though I struggle to imagine it.

Our world is painted with a symphony of light.  Orange canyons witness dusty sand twirl and dance over withered clay and calm blue streams.  Tropical fish are glowing kaleidoscopes of pink, yellow, purple, and teal zipping past bright coral like swishing fireworks.  Painted vine-wrapped forests showcase every shade of green.  Sculpted summer hills catch fire in crisp autumn dew.  Desert seas of golden sand and hidden meadows with lavender carpet.  It is not just art to you, O Lord.

As the rain clouds gather, You raise ashy wind-swept mountains over grey horizons and swaying tall grass.  Warrior clouds stand at attention in their shadowy sky fortress.  Raindrops parachute from their cloudy cliffs and storm into the rocks and dirt.  Cannons fire laser spider webs across the dark canvas and steam with rolling thunder.  All of creation cowers at the sound of Your thunderous whisper.  The dusk subdues the rising rainbow as misty calm fades into fiery red sunset.

What is time to you God?  When light was not yet separated from darkness- you witnessed the universe first open its eyes.  You have even glimpsed Your trumpeted return, yet future to us.  You have seen the coming day when mountains will move at Your command.  You speak of tomorrow as if it’s yesterday.  No day is hidden to you.  The days when I did not see you, you saw me.  In my darkest moments, you peeked at a coming victory of overcoming joy.

What is distance to you God?  Is the depth of the ocean too deep for you?  Are the distant galaxies beyond your reach?  Can a lost sheep be more than a moment from your grasp?  I know I am never far from you if I cry for help and you were already alongside me.

If all I know of the world around me is unfathomable, how can I comprehend it’s author?  My thoughts and worries must seem so simple to you.  My strengths must seem so weak.  My prolonged suffering must seem quicker than the blink of Your eye.  By faith, I know that you don’t discard me in my brief simplicity.  Even though I can’t comprehend You and Your perfect ways, I can know Your love.  Your love is majestic; unmistakable.