An Exercise in Wonder

As we have written so many times now, we are living in the most chaos, storm, and crisis filled decade we will experience in our lifetimes. God promises to work all things to our good. He will use the storms, chaos, and crises to transform His people… if we do not waste the opportunity. We must choose to participate with the Holy Spirit in His work as our Transformer. In other words, there is a threshold to cross.

On the other side of this potentially transformative season is a new form of church, one more spiritually mature than we currently enjoy (or suffer). This will most likely include some instances of correction, rediscovery, and renewal.

One of the many opportunities we have for maturing spiritually is the reawakening of our wonder at the realities of God’s kingdom. We are writing this article, complete with spiritual exercise, to encourage and enable Christian individuals and groups who desire to reawaken their spiritual wonder.

Wonder has become quite a captivating matter to me. Consequently, I have begun asking the Lord for direction and instruction in the disciplines, practices, and exercises that might help us become more wonder sensing people. In response, He showed me how our meditation on the Apostolic Prayers might lead to a reawakening of wonder in our lives. Here is our text:

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask?that you may be filled with?the knowledge of His will?in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord,?fully pleasing?Him,?being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the?knowledge of God;?strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power,?for all patience and longsuffering?with joy;?giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of?the inheritance of the saints in the light.?He has delivered us from?the power of darkness?and conveyed?us?into the kingdom of the Son of His love,?in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14

Now, go back and read the passage again, but slower and with intention. Pause with the punctuation. Notice the phrases that might bring wonder into your being. Give yourself the opportunity to recognize and consider the meaning of each one.

The challenge people generally have with these truths is believing them. So, as much as possible, make this a matter of your heart, not your head. As you slow down and consider each phrase, you may hear yourself say (as I did myself), “Oh my God!” If so, pause a little longer and let the wonder roll over you. Take your time. There is no need to finish the exercise in one sitting.

If wonder does not immediately come, do not be discouraged. Do not give up. Tell yourself – speak into your heart, the place where faith and desire are held – “This is true for me.” Hear your heart respond, “Yes, it is what I believe. God is doing this for me and those I love!” Let the wonder roll over you. Invite it. Drop down out of your head, and into your heart. Receive the gift of faith in what God has done, and is doing.

One final suggestion for this exercise: Be sure to write about your experience, and share it with others. God will use you in this way to bring wonder and transformation into the lives of those you love. The principles of transformation apply to groups as well as they do to individuals. The Bride making herself ready is a matter of wonder and transformation on the grandest scale.

God bless you with the wonder of it all:

·????????? You may be filled with?the knowledge of His will?in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;?

·????????? You may walk worthy of the Lord;

·????????? You may fully please?Him;

·????????? You may be fruitful in every good work;

·????????? You may increase in the?knowledge of God;

·????????? You may be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power,?for all patience and longsuffering?with joy;

·????????? The Father has qualified you to be a partaker of?the inheritance of the saints in the light; and,

·????????? You have been delivered from?the power of darkness?and conveyed?into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

Have a strong and wonderous day in the Lord,

Rob

#iamjustthepen