Awe

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." Revelation 7.9

The prayer of adoration sweeps us up into the presence of God in a special way because it is the ultimate response of all creation: to glorify the Creator. Yet it requires a level of maturity because the focus is not on ourselves, nor on our neighbours, friends or family. It is on God, who is ineffable - ie beyond our understanding. So how is it possible to relate to One whose glory transcends our earthy status?

In Jesus, God presents himself as Immanuel: the God who is with us. Not only does the humanity of Jesus allow us to relate to him personally and coherently, it also offers us a bridge to his divinity. Jesus' divinity and humanity are integrated and so to know him as a person is to enjoy a relationship with Almighty God in all his majesty.

If this is too much we can start small. Cherishing our surroundings, whether a beautiful view or a favourite memory instils feelings of gratitude and wonder and these take us naturally to the source of such goodness - who is God. Now we are in the frame to express gratitude. Gratitude is good but it is undubitably linked to something we have received. So another step is necessary in order to enter the realm of "gratuitous praise" - that is to say praising God for his own sake, rather then what we get out of him. Herein lies the heart of worship!