Breathtaking

So here's the story...
For the past few weeks, I have been doing an incredible Beth Moore bible study on the book of Daniel. This week's session has been particularly awe-inspiring and I want so desperately to share it with you. I am praying even as I write this that the Spirit touches your heart with this scripture as much as He has mine! The passage is found in Daniel chapter 10 and focuses on verses 5 through 9. To briefly orient you, Daniel experiences a powerful vision in which he encounters the pre-incarnate Jesus (according to most scholars). Really try to visualize what Daniel saw and pay close attention to his reaction. And prepare to be amazed!

"I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground."

My notes...
What an incredible picture of God's infinite strength and indescribable beauty juxtaposed with the humility of man! Daniel, regarded as one of the greatest men in biblical history, was left literally breathless, stunned, weak, helpless, and face-down at the very sight of His Savior. That's right, we serve a God who can bring even the strongest of men to their faces with just His presence! There is so much that can be gleaned from this scripture and I encourage you to take some time to meditate on it yourself, but I want to briefly share with you something the Lord revealed to me this week.
Because we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we can learn something about how to best worship Him through the way we ourselves like to be shown love. As women, I think we can all closely identify with the deep desire to feel, and be told, that we are beautiful. And if we are just a mere reflection of God's nature (2 Cor. 3:18), how much more must He desire to be worshipped for His beauty. And beautiful He is indeed! Just take a look at Daniel's encounter: Jesus is stunning, glorious, and magnificent beyond words. He breathed the breath of life into us (Genesis 2:7), and He takes our breath away simply by unveiling Himself before our eyes! His splendor surrounds us and is especially manifested in His creation, so we are left with no excuse (Romans 1:20). So go ahead, tell Him, "Jesus, You take my breath away! Your beauty is unearthly, your splendor too wonderful for words!" That, beloved, is an act of worship that He deeply desires!

The Word...
Psalm 19:1-4 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

Your turn...
This is one of my all time favorite songs; it is worshipping God for His beauty. So go ahead, sing this love song to Him!

"You're Beautiful" by Phil Wickham