Amazed by God

 “And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5:20b)

When was the last time that you were amazed by God? As I read through the book of Mark this one little word kept jumping out at me. ‘Many who heard him were amazed’(Mark 6:2) and ‘People were overwhelmed with amazement’(Mark 7:11). ‘The disciples were even more amazed..(Mark 10:26) and ‘…the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.’(Mark 11:18).

We sing of God’s amazing grace but how often are we truly amazed by God in our everyday lives? As I stopped to consider this question, I had to admit that the answer was ‘not often enough’! Somewhere along the way I had grown complacent both in how I read the Scriptures and in how I viewed the world around me. I wasn’t looking to see God at work in my everyday life and consequently, I certainly wasn’t the least bit amazed by him.

Every year I like to pick one word and ask God to teach me more about what it means. So for 2019, my thinking had been challenged and I chose ‘amazed’.

I asked God to amaze me in new ways as I read through the Bible, to give me new eyes to see the old familiar passages. I wanted to be amazed by his work not just in my own life, but in the life of my family and friends. And he has done just that. He is doing a new thing and I can truly say that I have been amazed by him, not just in my Bible-reading but to see his hand at work as I look around me. I have been amazed at his work in creation.

How about you? How have you been amazed by God recently? If not, why not?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you that you do continually amaze me with your goodness and your love for me. Continue to give me eyes to see how amazing you truly are, and to see you at work all around me in everyday ways. Overwhelm me with amazement in the days ahead. Amen.