The word awesome is freely used these days to describe athletes, coaches, teachers, and even friends. I suppose it's not wrong to use the expression this way. But if you stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon, or take in the view from New Mexico's Sandia Peak, a point 10,378 feet above sea level, you'll really feel a sense of awe.

That's how I felt when I visited those places while on vacation. Although the scenery itself was breathtaking, my feeling of awe had more to do with God than with the spectacular beauty of nature. I had a sense of being in the presence of the One who created these wonders. I found myself saying, "This is only one wonder on one small planet in a universe that includes billions of stars, and distances measured in millions of light-years. What an awesome God!"

This sense of awe should fill us with reverence, gratitude, and love. Reverence, because God is not to be trifled with (Daniel 9:4-9). Gratitude, because He reached down in grace to save us (2 Corinthians 9:15). Love, because by loving us first He enables us to love Him in return (1 John 4:19).

Lord, fill us with a sense of wonder as we think of You. You are indeed our awesome God!  —HVL  — Herbert Vander Lugt