The Pleasure of God's Majesty
- Jul 4
- 4 min read
THE BEAUTY OF THE OCEAN - For anyone that has been to the ocean, I’m sure you would agree it is a beautiful and often life-changing experience. Recalling my own childhood family vacations at the beach, I remember feeling a sense of awe and wonder of the sights, sounds and scents of the sea. However, during all my visits to the ocean, I have only observed gentle to mild waves, I’ve never seen a tidal wave in person.
Many years ago, I watched the movie “The Perfect Storm” for the first time on my TV screen at home. My heart swelled with so many sensations as the fishing boat was tossed about by these massive waves. It was captivating and heart-stopping! I’ve also watched video footage of professional surfers as they face gigantic waves head-on. I found myself swept away with awe and trembling in amazement at the grandeur and force of the wave along with the skill and life-threatening bravery of the surfers. It amazes me to consider that these profound feelings and reactions came from only seeing film footage of real tidal waves or computer-generated ones. So, I can only image what it would be like to experience one in real life!
THE TIDAL WAVE OF GOD – God uses various types of spiritual encounters to meet us with His Presence, reveal more of Himself, and also to draw us closer; an invitation to know Him more fully and become more fully known. For me, God often comes to encounter me through my holy (consecrated) imagination during prayer, scripture meditation and worship. A while ago, I enjoyed a marvelous encounter with God which had to do with tidal waves.
On this particular day, He came to me as a powerful, gigantic and majestic tidal wave that pounded on the shoreline of my soul over and over and over again! From my vantage point (as the shoreline), I could fully enjoy and experience these gloriously huge waves as they grew and grew and grew in height and force until they released their unrelenting torrent upon me as the shoreline. Over and over again, after God’s Tidal Waves reached their forceful heights, He would unleash His power upon me. It was thrilling and intoxicating! I felt so alive!
This intimate and powerful experience of His majesty had a profound impact on me. Through the display of His power and sovereignty, my faith and trust in Him increased. It also satisfied my great need to be loved by God and enjoy His closeness, yet it filled me with a holy hunger for more.
A PLATFORM FOR GOD'S GLORY -- I allowed myself the time to enjoy My Almighty God as I submitted to Him in this specific and creative way. During this encounter, I came to realize God was pleased with my submission to Him because it served as a platform for Him to display His majesty and glory. In turn, I felt deep gratitude, pleasure and honor that I could be the shoreline upon which His powerful majesty could be displayed as a tidal wave.
When I stop to think about the video footage of tidal waves I’ve seen, not once did I even notice the shoreline. In the presence of the majesty of a tidal wave you’ll never hear anyone say, “Wahoo, look at that amazing shoreline!” No, in those moments, the shoreline serves as a servant to the grandeur and power of the tidal wave.
So is it to be with us as followers and servants of the Most High God! Our lives are to serve as a platform for God to display His glory.
GOD'S PLEASURE IN PARTNERSHIP - During this glorious encounter, I also realized God wasn’t just pleased with my actions of submission, but He experienced pleasure from my partnership with Him. Wow, how thrilling!! Just as I experienced pleasure from relating to Him, He also experienced pleasure relating to me! In any healthy, vibrant relationship, both partners benefit. This includes our spiritual relationship to God.
Relating to the Triune God of the Bible is not about attempting to appease a distant god. Instead, Almighty God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) desires to experience joy and delight with his children through relational closeness and partnership.
As I continue on my spiritual journey, I am thankful I’ve come to understand and experience that my Amazing, Mighty and Powerful God is, at the core, relational. Since His intent towards me is based on developing a relational partnership, my response isn’t of duty, drudgery or distance; but of devotion, delight and nearness. What a privilege to know my Creator and Savior personally, as I seek to walk with, serve and obey Him while discovering what gives Him the most glory and the most pleasure.
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 NASB
“The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
The seas have lifted up, LORD,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the LORD on high is mighty.
Your statutes, LORD, stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days.” - Psalm 93 NIV
Comments