Is my prayer life too restrained, perhaps self-centered?  I’m afraid that may be so.  Oh yes,  I pray words of thanksgiving for my blessings.  I pray many words of supplication, seeking help for myself and others.  But how often do I approach God with simple adoration?  How often do I look up in pure awe?   

The Psalmist reminds us,  “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”  Psalm 150:6   Yes, praise!  OK, not just beg, appeal, ask, plead and even thank, but praise!

Sometimes the hymn writers have best captured this awe and adoration.  I’m thinking of the Hymn, “How Great Thou Art.”  The text was written by Carl Boberg (1859-1940) and set to a Swedish Folk tune.  In this Easter season I am particularly moved by the words of the third verse.

“But when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
sent him to die, I scarce can take it in.
that on the cross my burdens gladly bearing
he bled and died to take away my sin;
Then sings my soul, my Savior god, to thee,
how great thou art!  How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
how great thou art!   How great thou art!”

I share this rendition from the Winchester Cathedral.  I hope you too can lift up your hearts and voices in “awesome wonder”  to the God who loves us unconditionally.

Judy