the glory and wonder of Jesus Christ

artwork by Tamara Peterson

As I pondered Tamara Peterson’s beautiful artwork Glory and Wonder while listening to the anointed new hymn by Mosaic MSC Glory and Wonder, All the glory and wonder overcome my deepest fears, Oh God our Loving Father You have come to meet me here…I was drawn to two of my favorite Scriptures…

Psalm 37:4

Amplified Bible: Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.

Expanded Bible: Enjoy serving the Lord, and he will give you ·what you want [L the requests of your heart].

Good News Translation: Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire.

Living Bible: Be delighted with the Lord. Then he will give you all your heart’s desires.

and

Philippians 3:10a

Amplified Bible: For my determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly.

I discovered a great acrostic memory tool for the word, “delight,” which describes how I have come to apply this verse to my life...

Daily

Everything
Laid
Into
God’s
Hands
Totally

During my study of these Scriptures, I came to a place in my life where I wanted, more than anything else, to love God more. I began to pray, Lord, I want to delight in you! God is so inconceivably good. He’s not looking for perfection. He already saw it in Christ. He’s looking for affection. That’s why every lasting change will invariably be a change of heart. He’ll even supply the heart, if we’ll ask Him.

Lord Jesus, give me a heart which yearns for Your Presence, a yearning for You that draws me over and over into Your Presence, a yearning that makes only a few days without time in prayer and Your Word seem like an eternity. Give me a heart which is motivated first and foremost by a desire for You, not for what You can do for me, but a yearning for Your Presence. Give me a heart that wants You more than anything else You could give, to love You and know You more than anything in life. Give me a heart that takes what You have made known to me and makes You re-known to everyone else, a heart that makes Your name and renown the desire of my heart. Give me a heart to feel Your Holy Spirit woo me once again to the place where I meet You. In the simplicity of my prayer time, give me a heart to be suddenly confronted by the majesty of my Redeemer—the One Who is responsible for any good in me. Lord, each morning, give me a heart that seeks Your forgiveness for past sins, and welcomes Your fresh mercies which fall like manna from Heaven, and once again move my heart. I surrender all. Morning after morning.

Look up – Meditate on Psalm 37:4 and Philippians 3:10a. Pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.

Look in – Meditate on Psalm 37:4 and Philippians 3:10a. Pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: “Because God is ______________, I will ______________.”

Look out – Meditate on Psalm 37:4 and Philippians 3:10a. Pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.  

 * If you liked this post you’ll love this book – Name Above All Names Devotional: Focusing on 26 Alphabetical Names of Christ

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