INTRODUCTION 5

CHAPTER 1 8

AWESOME BEYOND WORDS 11

What Precisely Does It Mean To Praise God? 13

CHAPTER 2 17

DIVINE MAJESTY: WHAT IS IT? 17

His is the Greatness. 17

His is the Power 19

His is the Glory 20

CHAPTER 3 23

REFLECT ABOUT HIS MAJESTY 23

Observing the splendor of God in creation 25

CHAPTER 4 28

THE IMPORTANCE OF WONDER AND AWE IN

CHRISTIAN FAITH 28

CHAPTER 5 32
THE ROLE OF WONDER AND AWE IN
CHRISTIAN WORSHIP 32
 Music 32
 The use of symbols and rituals 33

CHAPTER 6 35

WAYS TO DEEPEN OUR FAITH TO HAVE AN

EFFECT 35

Improve Your Understanding. 37

PAUSE AND REFLECT 39

Develop Deep Convictions 40

PAUSE AND REFLECT 42

Uncover Deep Emotions 43

PAUSE AND REFLECT 49

Cultivate Deep Relationships 50

PAUSE AND REFLECT 54

Experience Deep Love 54

PAUSE AND REFLECT 59

Remain The Light 59

In conclusion 62

1|Page
AWE-INSPIRING WONDER:
EXPLORING THE MAJESTY
OF GOD

Deepening Your Christian Faith Through

Reverence and Admiration for the
Almighty

Shelley J. Rainey
2|Page
PUBLIC NOTICE

All right reserved, No part of this book therefore may be

reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the
express written permission.

Thank you for purchasing this book as we need more awes in

our life and ways to deepen our faith in God

Scripture text are taken from KJV, ( public domain)

Copyright©2023 Shelley J. Rainey

3|Page
 Intentionally Left Blank
4|Page
INTRODUCTION

As Christians, we rely in an all-sufficient, all-

loving, all-just, infinite, and eternal God. When
we ponder the majesty of our Creator and the
infinite expanse of His splendor, the very
notion of God arouses awe and wonder within
us. In its most fundamental form, awe is a mix
of great veneration, amazement, and wonder.
It is a sensation that occurs when we come
into touch with something that is larger than
ourselves, something that we are unable to
totally explain or express. A fundamental
component of our spiritual growth and
development, awe is inextricably related to our
relationship with God in the context of the
Christian faith.

The Bible is rich with instances of God's

astounding manifestations, from the Red Sea's
parting to the burning bush that spoke to
Moses. We may read about the disciples'
profound emotion of wonder at the
resurrection as well as their awe when they
observed Jesus' miracles in the New
Testament. Christians have sought to nurture
this sensation of awe throughout history by

5|Page
participating in devotional activities such as
hymn-singing and silent time.

Both mentally and spiritually, there has been a

rise in interest in the notion of awe in recent
years. According to study, being in awe may
boost our wellness in a number of ways, such
as by decreasing stress levels, promoting
generosity, and fostering creativity. Many
Christians are also rediscovering the
significance of awe in their own spiritual
journeys and searching for novel ways to
experience God's magnificence.

This book discusses the relevance of wonder

and awe to the Christian faith. In this session,
we'll look at what awe is, why it matters in the
Bible, and how we could create it in ourselves.
We'll study the grandeur of God as it is
displayed in both creation and the Bible, and
we'll think about how to respond to this
majesty by participating in acts of worship and
service. We will also look at how awe may
affect our lives as Christians and how it might
do so.

This book's ultimate purpose is to deepen our

faith, knowledge and appreciation for
God's wonderful creation. We wish to
cultivate a sense of wonder and build a
stronger relationship with our Creator by

6|Page
investigating the numerous facets of awe in
Christian faith. We are positive that the
concepts in this book will help you achieve new
heights of astonishment and amazement in
God's presence, whether you have been a
Christian your entire life or are just beginning
to examine the faith.

7|Page
 FIRST AND FOREMOST Let Me
Tell You the Story of a Young
Woman

There was a young woman by the name of

Emily. She had always been an inquisitive
person who sought explanations for life's
puzzles. One query, nevertheless, had escaped
her whole life: the query of faith.

While Emily had grown up hearing about God

and religion, she had never had any personal
ties to either. To her, it all appeared like a
meaningless set of customs and procedures.
Nevertheless, as she approached adolescence,
Emily started to experience a pull on her heart
and a need for more.

She started reading spirituality-related

materials and going to various religious
services to discover what resonated with her.
Yet things didn't change till she had a certain
event.

Emily was wandering aimlessly around the

park one day when she caught sight of a lovely
butterfly flying in the underbrush. As it

8|Page
delicately soared from bloom to flower,
savoring their nectar, she stared in awe.

Emily gazed in surprise as she experienced a

sensation of awe. She had the impression that
she was looking at a heavenly creation,
something that was both beautiful and beyond
her comprehension. She had a closeness to
God at that time that she had never
experienced before.

After that, Emily started delving further into

her spirituality. She thought, studied the Bible,
and prayed in an effort to strengthen her
relationship with God. She also started to see
the world in a new way, noting the wonder and
beauty all around her and feeling appreciative
for the little marvels of daily life.

Emily received a feeling of meaning and

purpose via her religion that she had never
known before. She discovered how to have
faith in God's purpose even when
circumstances were challenging or unclear.
Most significantly, she experienced a feeling of
contentment and pleasure that overflowed into
her heart.

Emily came to the conclusion that her

encounter with the butterfly was a pivotal
moment in her life as she looked back on her
path. It served as a reminder that beauty and

9|Page
wonder may be discovered even in the midst of
disorder and turmoil. And everything is
possible if you have confidence in God.

10 | P a g e
 CHAPTER 1

Awesome beyond Words

According to the definition, the word

"awesome" suggests "exalted; wonderful;
extraordinary; exceedingly; magnificent."

This describes a stirring or deeply touching

person or event. "A sensation of frightened or
profound veneration or wonder caused by the
superiority or grandeur of a person" is the
definition of awe.

How awesome is Jesus right now in your life?

Do you regard Him to be wonderful,
outstanding, amazing, or magnificent? The
psalmist lay forth this test for us. : “Be in awe
before his majesty. Be in awe before such
power and might! Come worship wonderful
Yahweh, arrayed in all his splendor, bowing in
worship as he appears in the beauty of
holiness” (Psalm 29:2). Elsewhere the psalmist
declared: “The Lord God Most High is
astonishing, awesome beyond words!” (Psalm
47:2 TPT). The objective of the pages that
follow is to let you see Jesus in all His
magnificent splendor. Wonder by definition, as

11 | P a g e
simply said in my before, is “a person, object,
or event that provokes amazement and
admiration.” 3 How amazing is Jesus in your
life? Do you yearn to experience a life-altering
encounter with the magnificence of Christ?

12 | P a g e
What Precisely Does It Mean
To Praise God?

Respect and regard that are both truly felt and

openly displayed are known as reverence. The
Almighty God is deserving of the highest
degree of esteem because of His immense
strength and majesty (Leviticus 19:30). The
Bible declares that everyone experiencing the
magnificent splendor of the Lord God Almighty
instinctively reacts with reverence (Numbers
20:6; Judges 13:20; 1 Chronicles 21:16).

God is where the notion of reverence for him

started. In the Old Testament, God entrusted
the Jews with hundreds of commandments
related to hygiene, purity, and worship in order
to teach them how to regard one another
(Deuteronomy 5). He supplied guidelines for us
because sinful humanity does not know how to
properly and awesomely worship a holy God.
Israel was barred from touching the Ark of the
Covenant out of reverence for the fact that He
resided there with them. The tabernacle's Holy
of Holies also deserved the maximum degree
of reverence (Leviticus 16:2). Everyone who
defied God's injunction to not enter the Holy of
Holies died instantly (Leviticus 22:9; Numbers

13 | P a g e
4:20; 1 Chronicles 13:9–10). Such rigorous
prohibitions helped to define purity and
hammer home to mankind the requirement of
reverence in the presence of the Lord. God
should not be taken lightly.

In New Testament Christianity, our desire to

willingly die to myself and embrace His rules
acts as a demonstration of our esteem for God
(Galatians 2:20; 5:13; James 2:12). Jesus
highlighted the necessity for appropriate
reverence to God. Jesus commanded his
disciples to commence each prayer with the
line "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed
be your name" (Matthew 6:9–13). Sacred is
defined as "set aside as sacred." The name of
God is to be cherished by us. Even professing
Christians regularly use God's name as an
exclamation point. OMG is used carelessly, as
if it were no more significant than the word
amazement. Even though we don't wish to be
disrespectful, when we mention His name in
idle speech, we are.

In the way we live, we may also express our

regard for God. People who have a good
knowledge of God's nature are also aware of
His fury. By taking seriously His hatred of sin
and the approaching retribution on those who
do not repent, we display our awe (Colossians
3:6; Romans 1:18). Because He is holy, we try

14 | P a g e
to be as well (1 Peter 1:15–16). Reverent
persons aspire "to live self-controlled, upright
and godly lives in this contemporary period,
and to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly
cravings" (Titus 2:12).

By understanding how to worship God

correctly, we display our reverence for Him.
The Father, according to Jesus, desires people
who will learn to worship Him "in spirit and in
truth" (John 4:24). Our favorite song is not
what sincere worship is about. It is not
restricted to an emotional contact and is not
the same as feeling tingling sensations. True
worship is a way of life. When our hearts are
devoted to the Lord and we are ready to obey
whatever He instructs, we worship in spirit.
When our minds are engaged and filled with
the biblical truth of God's character, we
worship in reality. Knowing and serving God
are two components of worship. We must unite
our hearts with His and endeavor to follow Him
if we are to adore Him as He deserves to be
loved (see Luke 6:46).

Much of what passes for Christianity today

lacks regard for God. Contemporary
Christianity has accepted a "Jesus is my
buddy" mindset that dramatically reduces the
purity, strength, and righteous anger of the
Sovereign Creator in favor of the type of

15 | P a g e
esteem we see demonstrated throughout the
Bible. God is not referred to in respect as "The
Guy Upstairs" or "The Big Gentleman in
the Sky." We glorify God in our hearts once we
sincerely comprehend who He is. Even the
thief on the cross rebuked the other thief for
his disdain after recognizing who Jesus was:
"Don't you fear God?" He then went to Jesus
and hailed Him as the King (Luke 23:40–42).

Reverence is the natural emotion of a heart

that has been changed by the Holy Spirit
because humans were intended to revere God.
Our regard for Him rises as we acquire
knowledge and understanding of Him. Polite
conduct is not the same as rigorous religion.
The gift of Jesus to us was a call to intimacy
from God (James 4:8; John 14:9). But
familiarity with God shouldn't lead to disdain,
but rather to greater awe.

16 | P a g e
 CHAPTER 2

Divine Majesty: What Is It?

Majesty is not simply a proper name for

mountain majesties, but also a particularly apt
description of God, who is, above all, "the
Majestic One," in that it unites vastness and
kindness, power and beauty (Psalm 96:6).
(Isaiah 10:34).

The monarch prays with great wisdom, "Yours,

O Lord, is the grandeur and the might and the
glory and the triumph and the majesty," at a
pivotal point in the history of God's first-
covenant people as they gather to dedicate the
temple. Think of the first three—greatness,
power, and glory—which are often connected
with majesty in other contexts, as providing
illuminating perspectives on the quality of
divine majesty.

His is the Greatness.

Greatness comes first and foremost.

17 | P a g e
Praise the Lord, O my soul!, exclaims the first
line of Psalm 104. You are so wonderful, Lord
my God! You wear magnificence and majesty
as clothing. Similarly, God's people sing, "In
the splendor of your majesty you vanquish
your opponents," after their spectacular, God-
enabled departure from Egypt (Exodus 15:7).
Nebuchadnezzar mentions his "majesty"
returning to him later in Babylon as he
recounts his tremendous humbling and
restoration, saying that "even more grandeur
was added to me" (Daniel 4:36; see also
5:18). The well-known Bethlehem prophesy of
Micah describes a grandeur that is majesty in
one who will "stand and shepherd his sheep in
the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the
name of the Lord his God. And they will live
securely, because now he shall be mighty to
the ends of the world" (Micah 5:4).

"God has the power to reign, but

He also has the right to do so."

When it comes to mountains and houses,

grandeur is typically implied by the word
"majesty": Ezekiel describes "majestic
countries," which were once many and strong

18 | P a g e
but have now been humbled by God (Ezekiel
32:18). Yet that magnificence may also include
God's inherent sovereignty and authority to
govern and act whenever he pleases.
Everything that is in the sky and on earth is
yours, Solomon prayed, therefore "Yours, O
Lord, is the grandeur and the might and the
glory and the triumph and the majesty" (1
Chronicles 29:11). God has both the power
and the authority to reign.

His is the Power

Majesty is related to the might and might of

God. "The power is Yours, O Lord."

Micah 5:4 links God's grandeur and

supernatural power in caring for his people,
while Psalm 68:34 forges an even deeper
connection:

Give God credit for his authority over Israel

and control over the sky.

David declares, "God from his shelter is

awesome." "He is the one who provides power
and strength to his people," the Bible says of
him. "He is magnificent not only in the power
he has, but also in the power he freely offers"

19 | P a g e
(Psalm 68:35). A similar statement may be
found in Psalm 29:4: "The voice of the Lord is
mighty; the voice of the Lord is full of
grandeur."

Although the apostle Peter attests to the

auditory aspect of God's mighty, majestic voice
becoming apparent in God's incarnate Son:
When we told you about the strength and
arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ, we didn't
follow cunningly crafted tales; instead, we
were eyewitnesses to his grandeur (2 Peter
1:16).

His is the Glory

Lastly, Solomon said, "Yours, O Lord, is the

honor," in his prayer.

The third has the closest links in terms of

grandeur, strength, and glory. Scripture's most
famous hymn of praise to God's grandeur,
Psalm 8, expressly sings of glory, both the
glory of God, who is shown as being above the
sky (verse 1), and the splendor of man, whom
God has "crowned with glory and honor" (verse
5). O Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your
name in all the world! Is the last note of that

20 | P a g e
catchy opening phrase, which praises the
grandeur of God's name? (Psalm 8:1, 9)

Divine majesty and divine glory are so closely

related that we may even see the term
majesty as giving God's people more words for
expressing, praising, and awe-inspiring his
splendor and beauty, as we've seen in Psalm
76:4 ("Glorious are you, more majestic... ").
The word broadens our understanding of glory
along with brilliance, which is commonly used
in conjunction with majesty.

The Hebrew kavod, Greek doxa, and

English glory are insufficient to describe our
God because he is so magnificent, so
admirable, so lovely, so amazing in the eyes of
his people, and so terrifying to his adversaries.
Not for his followers, that is. We need
additional words. We continue to use words.
We scramble for words like dominance,
authority, grandeur, and majesty as we strive
to continue speaking of him in all of his beauty,
strength, greatness, and glory. In Psalm
145:5, "the splendid brilliance of your
majesty," we even stack phrases on top of one
another.

Particularly expressive or affective is majesty.

It denotes magnificent brilliance in both sight
and sound. Largeness with beauty. It is

21 | P a g e
enjoyable to see imposing size, and imposing
strength is appealing. Majesty does more even
if it significantly overlaps with divine rule or
lordship. Majesty resounds more poetically and
with the reverence of worship than dominion
and lordship, which are more formal and
practical.

22 | P a g e
 CHAPTER 3

Reflect About His Majesty

Majesty's poetic connotations may ultimately

be what make it such a precious word and one
worthy of veneration. Jack Hayford tried to find
the perfect words to communicate the awe for
the living God that was building in his heart far
beyond the inheritance of England history and
the generosity of its palaces.

 Majesty was not incorporated as a

denotative, technical term. It felt genuine.
It imparted awe that broadened the soul. It
was a worshipful mouthing.

God is good in his splendor and

spectacular in his benevolence. He
is not only great.
Hence, the phrase "majesty" that the speaker
picked tells something about him or her.
Majesty expresses shock and amazement in
the person employing the phrase in addition to
grandeur, power, and magnificence to
something. God's magnificence is proclaimed
by his friends, not by his foes. In the Red Sea,
23 | P a g e
God was perceived by the Egyptians as
fearsome rather than majestic. His enormous
size and strength worked against them rather
than for them. Yet, in the perspective of Israel,
his people, their God was undoubtedly majestic
in his grandeur and strength, and he was
worthy of praise for frightening and era dicing
their opponents (Exodus 15:7, 11).

Maybe you are in need of fresh words to

explain the enormity, power, and grandeur of
the God you worship in Jesus Christ. In
addition to being great, he is also good;
magnificent in his benevolence. In addition to
being gigantic, strong, terrifying,
indestructible, and omnipotent, he is also
handsome, enticing, dazzling, interesting, and
wonderful. He is the Majestic One who rescued
his church at the cross and Israel at the Sea.
Consequently, like the psalmist, we say, "I will
meditate on the magnificent grandeur of your
majesty, and on your astounding marvels"
(Psalm 145:5). And we respect his splendor.

24 | P a g e
Observing the splendor of God in creation

One experience that may enhance our

connection with God and open our hearts and
minds to the beauty and wonder of His
creation is learning about God's glory in the
natural world. Every feature of the natural
world is evidence of God's strength, creativity,
and love, from the size of the seas to the
complexity of a butterfly's wings.

 Spending time in outdoors is one method to

uncover God's beauty in the natural world.
Spending time in nature may enable us to
have a special and profound connection with
God, whether we take a climb in the
mountains, stroll through a park, or just sit
outdoors and watch the clouds. We are
reminded of God's love and kindness and
are overwhelmed with awe and amazement
when we take the time to enjoy the majesty
and beauty of the natural world.

 Studying the intricate details of creation is

another method to see God's beauty in the
natural world. As we take the time to study
the natural world, we get a greater
understanding of the complexity and
intricate detail of God's creation. For

25 | P a g e
 instance, studying biology and physics may
help us grasp the principles that control the
cosmos and the intricacy of the human
body, respectively. We learn more about the
grandeur and might of God through
exploring the natural world.

 The arts are one of the most effective

means of revealing God's beauty in
creation. The beauty and wonder of the
natural world have long been expressed via
the arts, from poetry and music to painting
and sculpture. We are overwhelmed with
amazement and wonder when we engage
with the arts because they serve as a
constant reminder of God's creation and
love.

 We may learn vital insights about God's

nature from the natural world. For instance,
the seasonal cycles may teach us about
God's faithfulness since He has promised to
take care of us during every stage of life.
Plant and animal life's diversity may
educate us about God's creativity and
variety, who has made each of us
individually and magnificently. We may
learn more about God and how He operates
in our lives by examining the natural world.

26 | P a g e
 Lastly, seeing God's beauty in creation may
aid us in developing a spirit of thanks and
thankfulness. We are reminded of the
countless benefits that God has bestowed
upon us when we take the time to enjoy the
natural world. We are moved to express
gratitude to God for His kindness and love
as we are overcome with wonder and awe.

In conclusion, seeing God's beauty in the

natural world may enhance our connection with
God and open our hearts and minds to the
wonder and beauty of His creation. Every
feature of the natural world provides a window
into God's grandeur, strength, and love,
whether we spend time in nature, explore the
intricate workings of creation, engage in the
arts, or acquire significant truths about God's
nature. As Christians, we should foster awe
and amazement for the natural world and
utilize it to strengthen our faith and grow
closer to God.

27 | P a g e
 CHAPTER 4

The Importance of Wonder and Awe in

Christian Faith

Christian religion places an emphasis on awe

and wonder because they allow us to
experience God's majesty and splendor. When
we encounter something that is beyond our
knowledge or capacity to control, we feel awe,
which is a sensation of ultimate respect and
adoration that is typically associated with
surprise and wonder. On the other side, when
we come across something new or unexpected,
we feel amazement, which is a sensation of
admiration and attention. When we realize our
place in the wider scheme of things and are in
awe of the beauty and complexity of the world
around us, these sentiments may work
together to help us develop a sense of humility
and thanks.

From the thunder and lightning that

accompanied God's appearance on Mount Sinai
to the quiet, small voice that spoke to Elijah in
the wilderness, the Bible regularly correlates
instances of connection with God with
emotions of awe. Many examples of praise and
28 | P a g e
worship prompted by awe may be found in the
book of Psalms, where the singer exclaims, "O
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in
all the universe!" (Psalm 8:1). A fuller sense of
God's majesty and strength is obtained by the
title character of the book of Job through his
suffering and doubts, which is another key
theme in the book of Job.

The notion of God's sovereignty is one of the

most remarkable components of Christian
theology. Christians believe that God is in total
control and that His ultimate intents and
purposes are good and helpful. Considering
that we regularly face sorrow and hardship in
our own lives as well as in the world around
us, it may be tough to adequately appreciate
this notion. Yet, by cultivating wonder and
surprise, we could start to perceive things
differently and place our confidence in God's
understanding and provision.

 Picture a small youngster looking up at the

night sky to help convey the relevance of
awe and wonder in the Christian faith. A kid
is filled with amazement and surprise as
they stare up at the sky. They may not
quite know the underlying science of what
they are viewing, but the beauty and
majesty of the stars have them fascinated.
We are required to approach God with a

29 | P a g e
 similar attitude of awe and wonder as
Christians. Even though we may not totally
know the mysteries of God's plan, we may
be in awe of His majesty and strength and
trust that He is looking out for our best
interests.

The power of awe and wonder in the Christian

faith to generate a spirit of humility and
respect is another key component of these
feelings. We are immediately conscious of our
own insignificance and smallness in the
scheme of things when we encounter
something absolutely awe-inspiring. This may
be a very humbling experience, but it may also
be extremely soothing and comforting.
Acknowledging our own limitations and
weaknesses helps us to seek to God for
assistance and guidance while also finding
peace in the idea that He is in control.

There is rising evidence that awe may have

favorable consequences on our mental and
physical health in addition to these spiritual
rewards. According to research, experiencing
awe may strengthen our immune system,
increase emotions of altruism and social
connection, as well as lessen stress and
concern. This stresses how vital it is to develop
awe and wonder in our daily lives, not only as

30 | P a g e
a tool to convey our faith but also as a strategy
to increase welfare generally.

31 | P a g e
 CHAPTER 5

The Role of Wonder and Awe in Christian

Worship

Awe and wonder are fundamental to Christian

worship in addition to being necessary to
Christian faith more broadly. Worship affords
us various chances to exhibit our respect and
awe for God as well as to improve our sense of
closeness with Him. Through worship, we could
develop in our awareness of God's
characteristics and nature as well as in our
connection to Him.

 Music is one of the key ways that awe and

wonder are transmitted in Christian
worship. Music has the potential to connect
with us on a deep emotional level and may
provoke feelings like surprise, sorrow,
amazement, and delight. When we sing
hymns or worship songs, we are not only
thanking and adoring God, but we are also
allowing the beauty and vitality of the music
to move us. Music may help us develop a
link with the transcendent and the divine,

32 | P a g e
 whether we are singing in a vast audience
or by ourselves during our quiet time with
God.

 The use of symbols and rituals is another

way that awe and wonder are transmitted in
Christian worship. From the crucifixion and
the crown of thorns to the sacraments of
baptism and communion, the Christian faith
is replete of symbolism. As we focus on the
significance of these symbols, we may
sense awe and reverence as we connect
with the most fundamental components of
our faith. Similar to this, rituals like taking
communion, bent heads in prayer, or
lighting candles could benefit us in creating
a more introspective and worshipful
mindset.

 Awe and amazement may also be shown

outside of these more formal components of
worship in our everyday lives. We display
our awe and thanks for the world around us
and for the God who created it when we
take the time to appreciate the beauty of
nature, examine the blessings in our lives,
or interact with others through actions of
compassion and service. These modest
gestures of devotion have the same

33 | P a g e
 potential for power and change as our more
formal rituals.

Yet, it's vital to bear in mind that shock and

awe are not objectives in and of themselves.
They may deepen our connection with God and
our faith, but their fundamental goal is to draw
our attention toward Him. In his letter to the
Romans, the apostle Paul wrote, "All things
come from, pass through, and return to him.
His splendor shall remain forever!" (Rom.
11:36) Awe and wonder are not just about
ourselves and our experiences, but also about
offering God, the wellspring of all goodness,
beauty, and truth, respect and honor.

34 | P a g e
 CHAPTER 6

Ways to Deepen Our Faith to Have an

Effect

God wants us to assess ourselves by how

deep and powerful our faith is. Jesus doesn’t
judge our spiritual status by looking at how we
seem on the surface. The depth of our faith
affects how much of a difference we can make
in the lives of others around us.

46 
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not
the things which I say?

47 
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my
sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to
whom he is like:

48 
He is like a man which built an house, and
digged deep, and laid the foundation on a
rock: and when the flood arose, the stream
beat vehemently upon that house, and could
not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a
man that without a foundation built an house

35 | P a g e
upon the earth; against which the stream did
beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and
the ruin of that house was great.”

Luke 6:46-49 KJV

“The two persons in the text above

differ only in their preparedness
and desire to "dig down deep."
The right religious terminology ("Lord, Lord")
won't help us establish a faith that is strong
enough to resist life's storms or aid individuals
around us weather the storms in their lives.
3 
For I say, through the grace given unto me,
to every man that is among you, not to think
of himself more highly than he ought to think;
but to think soberly, according as God hath
dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:3 KJV

God wants us to measure our own worth by

how powerful and profound our faith is. Jesus
doesn't assess our spiritual state by seeing our
outward appearance.

How much of a difference we can make in the

lives of others around us depends on the
strength of our faith. As it says in Luke 6, our
lack of depth prevents us from having the faith
to support our friends and family as they

36 | P a g e
endure the storms in their own life. It also
prevents us from being able to weather
whatever storms come our way.

These are ways we've discovered that, in order

to change things, we need to strengthen our
faith.

Improve Your Understanding.

We must be prepared to grow our knowledge

before we can expand our faith. This is tough
for me as I value academic knowledge more
than comprehending the deepest portions of
myself.

I'm what you may call a kook. I adore learning

a lot about a range of areas, from music to
movies to health. Reading the Bible is one of
my favorite methods to develop
comprehension of the Scriptures.

I've learned a lot of fascinating things thanks

of my curiosity, but it hasn't necessarily helped
me grow in my faith and Awe of God or
become more successful at improving the lives
of others. All this knowledge could sometimes
make me pompous and dependent on myself.
Because I know something, I frequently
believe I know everything.

37 | P a g e
So while we may feel more important when we
appear to be "know-it-alls," love is truly what
the church needs to develop. Someone who
claims they have all the solutions is just being
uninformed. And the one who is susceptible to
getting knowledge from God is the one who
sincerely loves him.

1 Corinthians 8:1b-3

I learn from 1 Corinthians 8 that no matter

how hard I try to understand anything, I
always end up missing the point.

Although while learning is important, there will

always be things we don't understand or
situations we are unsure how to manage.
Being a "know-it-all" won't help us fix a broken
marriage, console a buddy who has lost
someone, or even get rid of our physical
suffering. By acknowledging that God is more
knowledgeable than we are and trusting that
he is always acting in our best interests, we
need to be "open to God's wisdom" (Romans
8:28).

Deepening my understanding involves having

the humility to acknowledge that God is far
more knowledgeable than I am and that he has
much to teach me about myself, him, and how
to best serve others.

38 | P a g e
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep
water; but a man of understanding will
draw it out.
Proverbs 20:5 KJV
By bringing out the deepest corners of both
our own and other people's hearts, profound
understanding allows us to make a difference.
I recently got into a dispute with one of my
friends and we began to feel irritated with one
other. And as we chatted, I understood that
behind the surface of our wrath, we also had
underlying feelings like dread, despair, and
uncertainty. Our rage began to diminish as we
addressed these "deep rivers" of our emotions.

I took away from the discussion the

importance to have a better awareness of the
experiences of individuals around me if I desire
to positively affect their life. God can give me
the insight to allow me to dig out the deep
waters of my own heart and the hearts of
everyone around me if I am humble enough to
open my ears to his understanding.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

39 | P a g e
 How well can you bring out the "deep
waters" of your heart, or the hearts of your
spouse, friends, or roommates?

 How do you think gaining a better

knowledge can help you make a difference
in the lives of others?

Develop Deep Convictions

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the

evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1 KJV

To have profound faith implies to have a strong

conviction or believe that there are realities
beyond what we can see - beyond our
circumstances, our strengths and
shortcomings, tragedies, regrets, remorse,
shame from our past and our anxieties about
future. 6  But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that
he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that
diligently seek him. (Hebrew 11:6). We are able
to receive and achieve anything we pray for
according to his will (1 John 5:14-15). Strong
faith is the acceptance of the uncommon.

40 | P a g e
Sadly, I don't generally aim for this degree of
trust. My standards are modest, so I often just
enjoy moments of faith throughout the day.
When I don't have the confidence to attend a
work meeting totally focused about my
performance, I'm still delighted. I'm not quite
persuaded that counts as faith in the biblical
sense. It is not a strong and great faith that
makes a difference in my life as well as the
lives of others around me.

I depend on what I see much too much. I may

think on the last year and recollect the errors,
disappointments, guilt from strained and
broken relationships, and lies I told both
myself and others to avoid experiencing any of
the misery I was responsible for. In my
opinion, I've screwed up too much to make a
successful return on my own. I've had to learn
that depending on God's strength rather than
my own leads to creating strong conviction.

“Jesus answered and said unto them,

this is the work of God that ye believe
on him whom he hath sent.”

John 6:29KJV

Jesus informs us in this verse that all we truly

need to do is have confidence in him. What
I've discovered is that, in order to influence

41 | P a g e
lives, I must focus less on being more flawless,
more effective, or even more sociable. I simply
need to focus on developing a strong belief
about God and how he operates. I can tell
when I've stopped developing my faith when I
start concentrating on things other than my
belief in God and Jesus. As I am unable to
effect change on my own, changing lives has
nothing to do with me (John 15:5). All I have
to do is put my confidence in God to change
things since he is the one who does it.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

 What challenges or worries do you now

have that have prevented you from praying
or perhaps prevented you from advancing
spiritually?

 How has your religion influenced your

conviction that the lives of others around
you may be changed?

 What kind of conviction must you develop in

order to have a firm faith?

42 | P a g e
Uncover Deep Emotions

2 
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord:
my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my
soul refused to be comforted.
3 
I remembered God, and was troubled: I
complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.
Selah.
4 
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so
troubled that I cannot speak.

Psalms 77:2-4 (KJV)

I frequently feel as if I am unable to

explain my sentiments, way the psalmist
does. I lose touch with my emotions to
the extent where, when I try to explain
them, I have no clue what sentiments are
even there. I'm starting to recognize that
examining intense emotions is truly an
important component of growing my faith
and making a beneficial effect on other
people's lives.
I had to ask myself a lot of questions
when I began to explore the issue of

43 | P a g e
extreme emotions in order to probe my
heart with regard to this subject.
Continue reading Psalm 77 to explore the
psalmist's fears and doubts about
whether God has abandoned him, lost the
capacity to aid him, or still loves him.
Fear and uncertainty, I've noticed,
frequently drive me to give up on
regulating my emotions as well. This gets
me to the first self-reflection enquiry I
had to have: Why am I so frightened of
regulating my emotions?
Because I have such a hard time understanding
and articulating emotion, music frequently helps
me connect to what I’m experiencing. One of my
favorite songs is “feelings are fatal” by mxmtoon,
who describes many of the worries I have about
being emotionally honest.

Verse 1:

I don't know what to do with all these feelings

Building up inside of me, it's overwhelming

I try to keep them locked away, but they keep revealing

Themselves to me, and I can't keep concealing

Chorus:

44 | P a g e
Feelings are fatal, they can tear you apart

They can make you believe in things that aren't even real

But I can't help the way I feel, it's like a work of art

And even though it hurts, I can't deny what I feel

Verse 2:

I try to run away from all these emotions

But they always seem to find me, like an ocean

That keeps on crashing, I can't keep them frozen

It's like a never-ending battle, my heart's chosen

Chorus:

Feelings are fatal, they can tear you apart

They can make you believe in things that aren't even real

But I can't help the way I feel, it's like a work of art

And even though it hurts, I can't deny what I feel

Bridge:

Sometimes I wish that I could just turn them off

But then I think about how much I've grown

From all the times I've felt lost

45 | P a g e
And I know that I can't do this on my own

Chorus:

Feelings are fatal, they can tear you apart

They can make you believe in things that aren't even real

But I can't help the way I feel, it's like a work of art

And even though it hurts, I can't deny what I feel

Outro:

So I'll keep on feeling, even if it's painful

I'll embrace the love, the fear, and the shameful

Because without them, I wouldn't be me

And that's something that I can finally see.

Eventually, incapacity to cope with my

emotions arises from a lack of faith. As the
song says, opening up requires trusting
people, which includes God, and when I don’t
have faith it seems like too much.

I don’t think that God is powerful or caring

enough to manage my feelings, make me
strong enough to handle them alone, or enable
me express them freely with others. I don’t
think that feeling weak will truly lead to God
making me strong.

46 | P a g e
Once I witnessed all of these worries and
disbelief, I had to question myself: Why should
I even deal with my emotions in the first
place?

Psalms 6:7 (KJV)

7 
Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it
waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

Isaiah 57:18-19 (KJV)

18 
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I
will lead him also, and restore comforts unto
him and to his mourners.
19 
I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to
him that is far off, and to him that is near,
saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

Our "eyes of faith" will no longer concentrate

when we allow sadness to flood our hearts,
according to Psalm 6. This implies, in my
opinion, that my perspective is impacted by
the sadness in my heart.

I will find it challenging to see myself and my

life with faith if my heart is heavy with grief.
We must be ready to express to God our
anguish, sadness, guilt, and any other feelings
that are filling our hearts if we wish to have a
strong and profound confidence in him.

47 | P a g e
This does not imply that we shouldn't
experience these feelings; rather, we must
allow them to lead us toward God. God want to
heal our worst wounds, as he says in Isaiah
57. He wants to alleviate the fears that we
believe characterize us and mend the aspects
of ourselves that we are reluctant to expose.
But, if we allow uncontrollable emotions to
undermine our faith, we can lose out on the
relief that God provides.

If we want to see with eyes of trust, we must

bring what we feel to God. This brings us to
our last query: How can I utilize my
feelings to strengthen my faith and impact
others?

[1] I waited patiently for the LORD; and he

inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

[2] He brought me up also out of an horrible

pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon
a rock, and established my goings.

[10] I have not hid thy righteousness within

my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and
thy salvation: I have not concealed thy
lovingkindness and thy truth from the great
congregation.

48 | P a g e
[17] But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord
thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my
deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Psalms 40:[1,2,10,17] (KJV)

In this psalm, David exhibits severe

vulnerability. He knows that he is stuck in a
big, dark hole, but he has faith that God will be
able to rescue him. David's trust grows as he
watches God provide for him because he brings
his feelings to God and allows God assist him.
This gives him the confidence to speak to a
"large assembly" of people about his trust in
God.

We are unable to fathom the sort of influence

we may have on others when we are entirely
emotionally honest with God, put up the effort
to ask ourselves the appropriate questions to
disclose our hearts, and finally have faith in
God's care for us.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

 How has your religion been impacted by

your emotions? Have your feelings

49 | P a g e
 inspired you to grow in your relationship
with God and your capacity for empathy?

 Who in your life needs your faith to grow

so you can support them as they go
through their intense emotions?

Cultivate Deep Relationships

Growing up, the friendships I tended to form

were centered on practicality, enjoyment, and
pushing each other to do whatever we pleased
with no remorse. For a time, this was
enjoyable, but deep down, I was feeling alone,
uneasy, and embarrassed of my lifestyle. I was
aware that I had to change.

While at first I wasn't seeking for religion or

God, the relationships I began to have with
individuals who had a connection with God
helped me see something I wasn't seeing
elsewhere in my life—hope.

[15] And David saw that Saul was come out to

seek his life: and David was in the wilderness
of Ziph in a wood.

50 | P a g e
[16] And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went
to David into the wood, and strengthened his
hand in God.

[17] And he said unto him, Fear not: for the

hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and
thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be
next unto thee; and that also Saul my father
knoweth.

[18] And they two made a covenant before

the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and
Jonathan went to his house.
1 Samuel 23:15-18 KJV

The situation for David could not be worse

when Jonathan finds him in Horesh. The king
and his army are following David while he is
hiding out in caves and seeking to avoid death.
But, Jonathan wouldn't allow David to
surrender to his uncertainty or terror as he
was a spiritual friend. Jesus didn't merely show
compassion for David's suffering; he also
urged him to believe in God's intentions and
protections.

My friends helped me believe in the midst of

situations I'd been locked in for years—
addiction to drugs and alcohol, hatred toward
my parents, and living for myself and my

51 | P a g e
career at the expense of everyone else—and
they've done the same for me.

With God's guidance, none of them were too

tough, as my friends have helped me realize.
When I wanted to give up and stop, they would
consistently encourage me to pray and to
depend on God's promises provided in the
Bible.

In facing hard situations, I am confident that I

can depend on these folks to support my
values. The difficulty I have is that I frequently
forget that I need their aid on a daily basis, not
simply during emergency circumstances.

[12] Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any

of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing
from the living God.

[13] But exhort one another daily, while it is

called To day; lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:12, 13 (KJV)

The Bible tells us that we need daily support

from our companions in order to combat our
innate lack of faith.

Our religion depends on the daily support of

spiritual companions for three reasons:

52 | P a g e
 1. Disbelief has grave repercussions. That
will cause us to fully reject God. By
directing us to the Scriptures and praying
with us and for us when we're feeling
down, spiritual companions may uplift us
and aid in our struggle with disbelief.

2. Sin is dishonest. It's hidden, so you may

not always see it on your own. We may
see our faults and disbelief more plainly
in others than in ourselves. Knowing our
sins helps us confess them and turn from
them.
3. Sin becomes harder. Sin will harden us if
it dwells in our souls. For me, this occurs
because I numb my conscience to my
wrongdoing in order to stop feeling
terrible about it.

Yet these meaningful connections aren't just

for us. In my opinion, every one of us has
individuals in our lives who need us to be the
type of friend that strengthens their trust in
God, inspires them to keep going even when
everything seems lost, and challenges them to
grow into a better version of themselves. Our
close connection has a greater impact on
others' lives than our charm or persuasive
words.

53 | P a g e
PAUSE AND REFLECT

 With whom can you try to develop a

closer spiritual bond?

 In what areas of uncertainty, fear, or sin

do you need the support of your friends?

 Are there any close friends or relatives

who are now struggling with their faith?
What can you do as a friend to help
someone's faith in God grow?

Experience Deep Love

6 
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but
faith which worketh by love..

Galatians 5:6 (KJV)

According to the Bible, love is a manifestation

of our faith. I struggle to understand how
important religion is to having the type of love
I need to influence others. I put a lot of effort
into trying to seem to be kind by offering rides
to my friends, giving them advice, and taking

54 | P a g e
the time to listen when they're struggling.
Even my presents are intended to be
considerate.

How therefore can I be morally upright while

remaining unloving? In actuality, a lot of these
"good actions" are simple and convenient.
They provide me the opportunity to feel proud
of myself for being a good friend. I get
appreciation and recognition for my efforts,
and most of the time they are returned.

Real love forces you to make sacrifices, which

is challenging and sometimes unpleasant (John
15:12-13). As Jesus gave up his life on the
cross for each of us, he did it out of the
following sort of love

[13] Either way, Christ’s love controls us.

Since we believe that Christ died for all, we
also believe that we have all died to our old
life.

[14] He died for everyone so that those who

receive his new life will no longer live for
themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ,
who died and was raised for them.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Jesus was prepared to die for us because he
loved us so deeply. He believed that we were

55 | P a g e
worthy of dying for despite all of our failings,
crimes, errors, and deficiencies.

Jesus also loved us on a daily basis. He spent

his whole life working in education, care, and
healing. According to 2 Corinthians 5:14–15, if
I have confidence that Jesus loved me this
much, I will feel "compelled" to love other
people.

In other words, if I sincerely want to love

people, I must struggle to believe that God
feels the same way about me. This entails
looking for texts that expand my knowledge of
God's love, praying about my skepticism and
lack of faith about that love, and eventually
deciding to allow that love motivate me to
extend it to others.

Deep love is an acquired skill rather than a

natural one (1 Thessalonians 4:9). I will
naturally resort to my shallow, "being nice"
methods of loving if I am not actively seeking
out the Bible to learn from God and Jesus how
to love people sincerely.

How does this profound love manifest itself in

real life then? Jesus communicated his great
belief in God's love for him with others
throughout the Gospels (John 3:35; John
5:19–20). He had faith in people even when
they didn't deserve it, and this enabled him to

56 | P a g e
stand by them even when doing so meant
suffering consequences.

Jesus was prepared to die for us because he

loved us so passionately. Jesus thought that
we were worthy of dying for despite all of our
shortcomings, sins, blunders, and weaknesses.

Jesus also loved us on a daily basis. He

devoted his entire life working in education,
caring, and healing. According to 2 Corinthians
5:14–15, if I have conviction that Jesus loved
me this much, I will feel "compelled" to love
other people.

In other words, if I really want to love others, I

must strive to believe that God feels the same
way about me. This means seeking for
literature that deepen my understanding of
God's love, praying about my doubt and lack of
trust regarding that love, and then choosing to
let that love inspire me to spread it to others.

Deep love is a learned ability rather than a

natural one (1 Thessalonians 4:9). I will
automatically default to my superficial, "being
nice" techniques of loving if I am not actively
searching out the Bible to learn from God and
Jesus how to love others honestly.

How does this great love reveal itself in actual

life then? Jesus conveyed his deep belief in

57 | P a g e
God's love for him with others throughout the
Gospels (John 3:35; John 5:19–20). He had
trust in people even when they didn't deserve
it, and this allowed him to remain by them
even when doing so meant suffering
repercussions.

[31] “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift

each of you like wheat.

[32] But I have pleaded in prayer for you,

Simon that your faith should not fail. So when
you have repented and turned to me again,
strengthen your brothers.”

[33] Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to

prison with you, and even to die with you.”

[34] But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you

something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow
morning, you will deny three times that you
even know me.”

Luke 22:31-34
Jesus predicted Peter's treachery and rejection
of him. Jesus was unaffected, though, as he
had already been contending for Peter in
prayer.

Jesus enabled his faith to be expressed by

love, as indicated in the Galatians 5 passage
that was previously referenced. He remained

58 | P a g e
to love him despite Peter's treachery and
desertion because he had trust in Peter's
potential.

We may see people as God sees them when we

pray for faith and vision for them. Regardless
of what it "costs" us, we are capable of doing
whatever is required to love, serve, and
sacrifice for others. When we aren't
concentrating about how they have damaged
us or how we have wounded them, but rather
on who they can be, no defect or error disturbs
us.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

 What acts of "superficial love" offer you

comfort?

 Do you feel obligated to love others

because of your belief in God's love for
you? What questions involving God's love
for you do you need to pray about?

 What can you do today to show your

buddies how much you care?

59 | P a g e
Remain The Light

Shine bright, my dear friend; you are the light

of the world. We are to show each other love
and care. We must assist and strengthen one
another. We need to be joyful persons who
don't grumble all day long.

We should strive on being nice and thankful.

Remember that in Mark 11:25, Jesus declared
that in order for our Father to relieve us of our
sins, we must not retain any grudges against
someone and instead must forgive.

We need to offer our time, talents, and

resources. When people look at you, let them
see someone who not only proclaims
confidence in God but actually lives a life of
incredible faith. Let your actions inspire people
to put God first and let them regard you as an
example of how to live this way.

Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

 
Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.

Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

60 | P a g e
 9 
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in
due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

LASTLY

Philippians 2:14 (KJV)

14 
Do all things without murmurings and
disputing’s:

61 | P a g e
I n conclusion, the significance of awe and

wonder in Christian faith cannot be

emphasized. As we have discussed throughout
this topic, awe and amazement are vital
components of our connection with God and
Ways to deepen our Faith with God. They
enable us to acknowledge His grandeur,
majesty, and power, and to react to Him with
respect, humility, and devotion. Awe and
amazement assist us to view the world through
a new lens, helping us to appreciate the beauty
and wonder of God's creation and to live our
lives with a feeling of purpose and meaning.

Living in awe of God influences our lives in

fundamental ways, allowing us to develop a
greater feeling of thankfulness, humility, and
confidence in Him. It helps us to enjoy the
beauty and wonder of His creation, to
acknowledge His craftsmanship in all parts of
our life, and to conduct our lives with a sense
of purpose and meaning. Ultimately, the role of
awe and wonder in Christian faith is to pull us
closer to God and Deepen Our Faith,
enabling us to feel His presence in a
meaningful manner and to conduct our lives in
a way that respects and celebrates Him.

62 | P a g e
63 | P a g e
 GOD BLESS AND
ENRICH YOU

AMEN.

64 | P a g e