Breathing in the Greatness of God

UV 1292/10,000 Breathing in The Greatness of God
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with all who love Him and obey His commands,”
Daniel 9 v 4

Daniel served many great emperors of the ancient world but he acknowledged that God is far greater and awesome than all of them put together. God alone deserves to be called our Lord. He is faithful to every word of His covenant. It is a covenant of love more sacred, precious and endearing than the bonds of marriage. We enter this covenant of love when we commit our hearts and our lives to Him. We manifest our love for Him by obeying His commands. We do not regard His commands as restrictive of our freedom or our growth. Rather, we regard these commands as a safeguard like the protective embrace of a lover. His commands are meant to protect us from evil, to enable us to reflect the image of God in our lives. His commands are meant to pre-empt the enemy of our souls from keeping us in bondage to sin. His commands are meant to make us righteous. His commands are meant to bless us. When we obey His commands and precepts and when we are mindful of the models and examples He has raised right through human history, we are affirming that we belong to God, that we want to return to Him. When we sin or disobey God we are struggling with God. We are like Jacob trying to run away from God and we are struggling like Israel with God. We are confused about life and its purpose. When we obey His will and His commands, we are surrendering and submitting to God. We will have greater clarity of meaning and purpose.

Daniel had a scripture-based God concept or idea of who God is. It was also an experience-based knowledge. Faith is followed by experience and seldom, it is the other way round. We need to understand the personality and character of God from scripture. We need to believe it. Faith is therefore not blind but it is inspired by what is written in scripture. For what is written in scripture is based on the experience as well as the revelation to many people chosen by God.
Daniel’s confession of sin of Israel and repentance was preceded by his confession of his personal faith. Our understanding of who God is and the extent of His love, mercy and grace will lead us to a recognition of our sinfulness, shortcomings and failings and then to a true repentance, seeking the help of God to overcome our weaknesses and limitations. This repentance further leads us to experiencing the blessings and grace of God in our lives. The lordship or kingdom of God is established in our lives and hearts by every single thought, word and act of obedience to His commands. Prayer is tantamount to breathing in or appropriating the greatness and awesomeness of God. God is always ready and willing to share His greatness and awesomeness with His children as He did with Daniel. There are no frills in faith but there are always many thrills.

Prateep V Philip