In Awe…

I happened to come across a captivating book written by an expert clinical psychologist devoted to studying happiness.  In his book Awestruck, Jonah Paquette introduces the life changing power of experiencing awe moments in our lives.  

Awe moments are best understood as the feelings we experience when we are amazed or blown away by something.  It’s moments that make us go “wowww!!!”.  

In his book he describes how we can have awe moments when observing the natural world for instance. A visit to the grand canyon perhaps, or gazing at the milky way.

Jonah also writes of the long history behind awe moments being linked with feelings of connection with God. In other words, when we experience awe, we often come to realize there is something so much grander than us. 

Jonah mentions a group of astronauts that were blown away by what they saw in space.  Upon their return, one made this statement “ The world is too beautiful to happen by accident”.  Awe and wonder made the astronaut more aware of God.

As I study the life and ministry of Jesus, he too brought people into a state of awe.  He spoke things that just blew them away and performed miracles that left them utterly amazed. 

Awe brought them into a greater awareness of God’s presence. 

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “.... “God has come to help his people.”  (Lu 7:16 NIV)

In the same way God presently wants us to be well aware of his presence. But not just when we gaze at the works of his hands.  

He wants to blow us away with his truth when we spend time reading the scriptures.  He wants to amaze us when he miraculously shows up in our hopeless situations and answers our heart felt prayers .  

This sense of awe and wonder cause us to develop a deeper spiritual connection with him. 

I stand in Awe 

You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty, enthroned above!

Chorus
And I stand, I stand in awe of You!
I stand, I stand in awe of You!
Holy God, to Whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe of You!

Verse 2
You are beautiful beyond description,
Yet God crushed You for my sin,
In agony and deep affliction,
Cut off that I might enter in.
Who can grasp such tender compassion?
Who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Lamb of God who died for me!

Author: Mark Altrogge 

Supporting Text

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. (Ps. 4:4)

I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. (Has 3:2)

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. (Ps. 65:8)

People were overwhelmed with amazement. (Ma. 7:37)

When they heard it, they marveled.(Matt. 22:22 ETV)

This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”...(Mark 2:12 NIV)

…he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed..(Matt. 13:54 NIV)

The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.(Matt. 15:31 NIV)

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”(Mark 4:41)