“This is the crazy, transforming power of adoration. We use our words to praise God and in the process find ourselves getting healed of false perceptions of Him.”- Sara Hagerty
“He delivered me because He delighted in me.”- Psalm 18:19 (NKJV)
Today Sara Hagerty concludes her discussion of six thoughts to help us grow toward friendship with God (Chapter 8, Unseen).
5. Adore God. Through adoration, Sara notes, we “try on a language about God that described His love and His eye on the unnoticed.” We do this as we look up at God with wonder and awe. In addition, we need to give God the praise He deserves, even when we don’t feel like praising Him. Ms. Hagerty continues:
“In adoration, we take a phrase or sentence of God’s Word, we see what those words say about who God is, and we speak them back to Him and to our own souls. We pattern our words toward praise in the midst of whatever we are feeling.”
However, our emotions, left unfettered, easily become a barrier to adoration. On the other hand, practicing adoration in the midst of our feelings lifts us over that barrier. Thus, praise establishes a deeper connectedness with God. And it waters our friendship.
6. Recognize the truth about yourself in the light of who God is. Sara contends we’d all rather be workers, earners, than lovers of God. Because working feels easier, more within reach. Therefore, the author adds, we all struggle to believe God’s delight. To grow communion with God, we must dispel the belief that our Creator barely likes us or tolerates us.
In conclusion, Sara states:
“So much of the distance between God and us could be spanned if we’d let Him inform us about who He is and who we are in Him. When we see God more clearly, we see ourselves more clearly.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses, hymns, or Christian songs help you adore God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “On the receiving end of judgment or mistreatment”
