I’m Amazed!

 

 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us – yes, the many good things He has done . . . .”  Isa. 63:7 (NIV)

 

Everywhere I turn the word “amazed” is turning up in some form or fashion! I think it goes hand and hand with what I have to say about the Lord . . . He is truly amazing!  I am in awe of God and what He is doing these days in so many lives, including my own. What other word is there but to say that God is astoundingly “amazing?”

 

I’m constantly amazed at the greatness of God and how He is aware of everything I’m going through, how He knows my every heartache, hears every prayer and sees every tear.  I’m in awe at how He rejoices over me with singing when I cross over hurdles that He has placed before me, for I realize that they were placed in my path to strengthen my character.  I know that He is working on me so that I will become a reflection of Him.  I also know that some hurdles have been placed in my path to test me; but nevertheless, He has held my hand through it all and has never let me go. I believe He has gone to great lengths to strengthen me along the way. 

 

I’m amazed day by day at the sustaining and abiding presence of God. The fact that He is a “real” God is beyond anything I can fathom.  I have to be honest with you, I have been rejoicing recently as I have watched my Father at work in my life. I have seen prayers answered and things unfolding right before me.  Some things that I have prayed for, God has answered so quickly that I have been almost in shock because it has been that immediate. I would have to be a fool not to notice that a real God is surely looking out for me. 

 

I sit here to write this devotional with tears filling my eyes once again and having unbelievable joy in my spirit. One ministry effort I prayed about, even though I faced it with great fear and trepidation, the Father lovingly reminded me of several Scriptures that encouraged my heart and let me know that I am not alone:

 

Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Deut. 31:6 KJV

 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27  NIV

 

On another note, God intervened supernaturally, showing me beyond all doubt that He would have me return to Peru on a mission trip this summer. I had almost changed my mind about going, but circumstances took place and it became evident that God had other plans for me.  The power of God was so strong upon me the day after all of this transpired that I wept off and on throughout the whole day. The only way I know to explain it is that tears and a special awareness of the Lord would come in waves.  Every time I would think of the goodness of the Lord and how He had gone out of his way to show me what I needed to see, melted my heart even more and I was amazed all over again.           

 

Another thing is that I am constantly amazed at the love God has for us and how He surrounds us with his love and mercy.  The love of Christ is beyond anything we can even imagine.  Is there any way to grasp how wide and long and high and deep that love is? (Eph. 3:18) Is there any way to fill up a measuring cup with God’s love?  Can we place it on a set of scales to see how much it weighs?  Can we place a pitcher under a faucet until it overflows and be able to comprehend the amount of love Christ has for us?  In other words, God’s love is “off the charts” my dear friends!  I’m amazed by His love and can’t imagine why He would love me.    

 

I’m amazed at the fact that even though my Father is Creator of the universe, moon and stars that He still says I am His friend.  In fact, Jesus thought so much of all of us that He laid down His own life for His friends. Jesus said in John 15:13:

 

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay

down one’s life for his friends.” (NKJV)

 

Have you ever been amazed at the wonder of God’s grace? Have you ever wondered why God gave us His grace (or favor) when it is so undeserved?  I have on many occasions knowing that I don’t deserve any of it.

 

John Newton was someone who was amazed at God, as well.  In fact, he wrote about it in his hymn “Amazing Grace” several centuries ago.  It seems that he found himself at the helm of a great ship during a violent storm. He later wrote in his journal that when the ship was about to sink he simply said, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” That short, simple prayer became a powerful weapon in the face of danger and God’s grace took over.  He later wrote: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.”

 

Hallelujah!  The amazing thing about God’s grace is that it’s just as fresh today as it was back then for John Newton.  It never gets old and never wears out and in need of a boost because it’s alive and fresh enough for us today.  We can rejoice knowing that the saving grace of God can be a reality in our own lives. 

 

Most of us can remember the very first time we experienced God’s amazing grace when we came to Him at an old time altar of prayer.  That altar may have been in a church or right by your bedside. Perhaps you felt like you had carried around the heavy burden of sin and shame one too many days.  But you decided to lay down your burdens before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Before you ever got up from your knees, you were released from your chains of reproach and you walked away in freedom for the first time in your life all because of God’s amazing grace. You were no longer bound and held captive by sin, but free and alive in Christ. 

 

I have to praise God because I am amazed by what God’s grace has done in and through me.  What about you?  I’m a living, breathing testimony of God’s grace, His goodness and His mercy.  Now, I can sit in God’s presence and say once again that I am amazed!   

 

Prayer:

Father, I appreciate your grace and mercy and I am amazed that you care for us the way you do.  I love the fact that You never left us with no hope. You never left us stranded and longing for a Redeemer because we have one in You.  Those of us who come to You have new life and all of our sins are washed away in the Blood of Jesus. Oh what a day!  Oh what redemption!  Thank you for the Blood and for that we can rejoice. We were made new and now we are alive in Christ.  We are cleansed of every spot and blemish.  I can’t say enough that I am amazed by You Dear Father.  You constantly do new things.  You constantly are doing something wonderful for us because You love us and for that we are amazed.  Amen.

 

A personal prayer: 

If you have never accepted Jesus as your personal Savior and would like to, then pray this prayer:

 

Father I come to you as a sinner.  I ask you to cleanse me from all my sins by the precious blood of Jesus.  I ask you to come into my heart.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross and arose from the dead on the third day.  By faith I believe I am born again. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.