O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
How Great Thou Art
By: Carl Gustaf Boberg (1859-1940)
Listen to this awesome electric guitar version as you read. And make sure to check out the video log below which will guide you through a worshipful reflection of this stanza.
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Enjoy this video and the transcript below!
So today we begin our five week journey through one of the greatest of all hymnody. So much has been said about this great hymn that even pondering adding to that body of work is daunting, but I was reminded today of the purpose of Resonant 7. It is not to be the last word on these wonderful songs of faith, but to use them to create an atmosphere to help you, our readers, cultivate and awareness of God’s presence. We pray that happens again today. Let’s tune our hearts.
When I Consider
Nature is a go-to for me when I want to commune with God. It is just natural for me to sense the supernatural in the beauty of the created world around me, so this hymn has always been a favorite of mine. For this reason, I want to take you on a little journey with me.
I had walked with Jesus a little over the year and had the opportunity to be visit the Rockies. While at a camp high in the mountains I recommended to my friends that we awake before dawn to catch the sunrise from one of the ridges surrounding us. We underestimated the magnitude of those ridges and so were not able to make it to the top before the sun began to peek over the peak we were climbing to west.
I remember stopping to take in the view as it slowly began to illuminate the opposite ridge to the east of us. The four of us just soaked in that moment, fully aware of the greatness of our God. It was a moment of awesome wonder to be sure.
I have had several others over the years, but that one certainly stands out in my mind as one of the most breathtaking. I want to invite you to take a few moments and remember a time when your encounter with your creation and the way it pointed to your Creator simply took your breath away.
Recall those moments of inspiration. Where were you? Was anyone with you? What did you see? How did you respond? Take a moment and express your gratitude to God for those moments of wonder. And then ask Him for more.
The Worlds
We a blessed to live in a very beautiful world. What is your favorite place on it? Maybe where you grew up, or where you are loving now, or hope to visit someday. Now consider for a moment that this is but one of countless other worlds across all of creation.
We simply lack the capacity to understand the magnitude of all that God has made. I could spout some numbers that would try to demonstrate our smallness in the vastness of the cosmos, but they would only begin to demonstrate it. Can you imagine the unique beauty of your favorite place replicated billions of times over and over again? I can not.
The sense of the insignificance of my tiny being set against the expanse of all the created worlds is humbling to say the least. My perspective of our world fills me with awesome wonder. When I consider all the worlds His hands have made, I am overwhelmed.
Big Daddy Weave wrote a song with that title a few years ago. Want to take a few moments and ponder another perspective of being overwhelmed by our God? Listen to it here.
Thy Hands
We will consider later in this hymns some of the other work His hands did, namely purchasing our redemption as they were nailed to a cross, but here we are reminded that those hands that made my re-creation possible where the same ones that created everything in the first place. He spoke it all into being, but I like image His fingers forming rivers and valleys, planets and stars.
He is the Creator God. He made it all, so He has the power to remake it. A friend once said, “If a man made it, a man can fix it.” This is true. How much more-so is that the case with our God?
We will spend time acknowledging His power to re-make things later, but for today, marvel at His creative force involved in everything He has made. On this little ball where we exist is your minute life. Give Him praise for all His handiwork!
Keep coming back and we will work to assist you in offering God praise with your entire life. We will help you tune your heart to live out your praise by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.
Awe-ful Tuning!
Jesus, thank You being Creator and my Lord. I acknowledge Your creative power at work in all thy worlds Your hands have made. I am filled with awe and pray You will help me stay so throughout this day, and every day. In Jesus name. Amen.
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Video 42.1 Transcript, 10. 1 REFRAMED
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
From the very first line one thing is clear, the writer esteems God with a great deal of reverence. It is marked by awe and wonder, but it is also personal. This mingling of friendship and fear is an unusual characteristic of Christianity. Praise God for that reality.
God, I praise You for combining reverence and relationship.
And what fills him with reverence, a careful consideration of all the worlds our Creator God has made with His hands. Remember the most beautiful vista you have ever seen. Are you recalling it? Give God glory for how He puts His work on display on the earth.
God, I give You glory for Your glory revealed on earth.
Not only on the earth, but in the heavens above as well. Whether the immediate skies above filled with thunder and lighting, or all the starry host beyond, the magnitude of His grandeur is truly awe-inspiring. Ask Him to open your eyes today to see it afresh.
Father, open my eyes to see Your grandeur.
Throughout our universe, and all the multi-universes beyond, the sheer size of space is mind-boggling, let alone the power on exhibit. All the while, we have access to speak directly to the One who has made it all. Hallelujah! Thank Him for revealing His greatness!
Lord, thank You for revealing Your greatness.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
The post When Was the Last Time You Were Filled with Wonder? REPOST appeared first on Resonant 7.
