Wide-Eyed Wonder

Stop and Consider God's miracles

It’s a game we play. A practice of sorts. Of dreaming big and loving wide. And today, of all days, showed me it wasn’t only for his benefit…

He sat cross-legged, across from me on the floor, as he leaned in to hear the first of my random questions.

“So, tell me, bud, if you could ask God anything in the whole wide world. Anything! What would you ask Him? Remember Who we’re talking about here–He knows everything! What would you want to know?”

My thoughts whirl with questions I would ask and I start organizing a list in my mind when I notice: Most of them begin with “why”. I was expecting the same of my four year-old. For it seems to be his favorite word these days.

But not today. Not with God. As he starts thinking out loud, I realize…he doesn’t want to know why. He wants to know Him.

“I’d ask God– how many stars are there?”
“How do You know so many snowflake patterns and are they different every winter?”
“What’s Your favorite animal? Color?”
“How do You remember everyone’s name?”

The lump in my throat rises, my mouth gapes wide. For my son’s questions revolve around God and what He is capable of. His craftsmanship. Creativity.

My questions revolved around me…

That night, I cracked my Bible open to verses I had read weeks earlier:

Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
Do you know how God controls the storm and causes the lightning to flash from His clouds?
Do you understand how He moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill?
When you are sweltering in your clothes and the south wind dies down and everything is still,
He makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.
Can you do that?
Job 37:14-18

And with my journal opened to a new page, I begin to create my own list of wonder.

Friends, this might be a new practice I take on. A new version of my One Thousand Gifts: listing what brings me to my knees in wonder at the very awe of Him.

For in witnessing the unimaginable, and pondering the indescribable, we see Him more clearly. By admiring His craftsmanship, we join the Heavens in praise.

What if we took Psalm 150 literally?

Praise the Lord.
Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
Praise Him…, praise Him…, praise Him…, praise Him…, praise Him…, praise Him….
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150

What if we sought Him out and praised Him in His sanctuary–in our homes and churches. What if we sought Him out and praised Him while under the mighty heavens. For His acts of power and protection. For His surpassing greatness and wonder.

What if in the seeking Him out intentionally, we naturally lived and breathed praise?

Can we do that? I don’t know about you, but I wanna try…

Father, You know me, help me know You. You see me, oh how I want to see You. Every day. Show me Your glory, Lord. Let me bask in Your wonder. Let me see You in new ways each day. Open my eyes that I may see. Soften my heart so I may feel. Uncover my ears so I may hear how the heavens praise You today. For here I am, kneeling at Your feet in holy reverence. Please. Let me linger long…

How about you, friend? How has God astounded you lately? I’d love to hear!

19 Responses to Wide-Eyed Wonder
  1. Rosann
    March 7, 2013 | 8:12 am

    I love this Nikki. What great questions your little man has! I would never have thought to ask about snowflakes. He’s a thinker! Sometimes I wish I could have the innocence of my children because they’re so much more pure in heart than I am. They don’t let self or worldly things cloud their views of God. They don’t need to understand how it all works like we seem to think we need to. They’re perfectly content with answers like …because God made you that way… instead of trying to dig deeper for Scientific fact. They live true faith…

    • Nikki
      March 7, 2013 | 12:00 pm

      So true, Rosann. We have much to learn from these “least of these” we are raising because God know…they are the “greatest of us”.
      Striving to see Him from their eyes today–grateful you are joining me! {HUGS}

  2. Mandy
    March 7, 2013 | 8:50 am

    Hi Nikki! Recently, I heard Him tell me clearly to “be thankful.” To me, that meant letting the words “thank you” be my first reaction to anything that happens, no matter what. No thinking about it, just thank you. That immediately closes the door to complaining and opens my eyes to wide-eyed wonder! So, thank you for this post! Xoxoxo.

    • Nikki
      March 7, 2013 | 12:01 pm

      Oh, thanks does open our eyes, doesn’t it, Mandy! I love how He reminded you of that…May we each follow suit and give thanks because let’s face it. We all have more than we deserve! {HUGS}

  3. Paula Barnett
    March 7, 2013 | 9:32 am

    Yet again, another glorious lesson taught through the eyes of a child. Thank you, Nikki, for sharing this today. I am in complete agreement with you. Instead of “asking” God what if allllll we did was “abide” in God? O’ what a different world this would be!

    • Nikki
      March 7, 2013 | 12:03 pm

      Abiding seems to be the answer to all our woes, don’t you think, Paula? And when we do, He blesses us ten fold. He is just that Good…

      Thank you for sharing with me here, Paula!
      All for Him with hugs to you, friend.

  4. Missy
    March 7, 2013 | 3:55 pm

    As I read each of your little man’s questions, a lump rose in my own throat! Like you, as soon as I read your opening question to him, I started wondering a list full of why’s. Oh, that I would desire to seek Him and know Him beyond the why’s only.

    • Nikki
      March 7, 2013 | 10:09 pm

      I’m with you, Missy. Desiring. seeking. aching to know….Him. beyond my whys. Thanks for reading my heart, friend!

  5. Alyssa Santos
    March 7, 2013 | 4:33 pm

    Ah, he doesn’t want to know why, he wants to know him!
    This made me grin inside. I love being a part of someone’s life as they make the transition into walking into the glory of God rather than staying at the fringes. What a gift! And, the commitment you have to seeking, thanking, pursuing God will touch others, your family and beyond, because when we pursue knowing God, we change and become the invitation they need to walk through toward knowing Him.

    • Nikki
      March 7, 2013 | 10:11 pm

      “we change and become the invitation they need to walk through toward knowing Him”…I love this picture in my mind and am going to hold on to it. thank you, Alyssa! Always blessed to share these moments with you, friend {HUGS}

  6. kelliwoodford
    March 7, 2013 | 4:45 pm

    what a timeless moment with your son. yes, children lead us, don’t they? they show us that the wonder, the simplicity, the aching to know the heart is the greatest quest of all.
    love your mama-heart, friend. and how you worship.

    • Nikki
      March 7, 2013 | 10:13 pm

      I tell you, Kelli. I’m going to have a hard time from not asking him to answer this question every day! I don’t want it to get old–this wonder of God.;) but I’m just aching to get as far as He has already gotten in his 4 year old frame!
      they soften our hearts, don’t they…these children of ours. what a gift.
      and you are too, Kelli…simply a gift. thank you.

  7. Vicki
    March 8, 2013 | 1:20 pm

    I love the idea of keeping a journal of wonder! I often pray these wonders when I’m driving, but writing them down…….

    To have the eyes and hearts of children….

    • Nikki
      March 8, 2013 | 11:28 pm

      Yes, Vicki, I’m striving to see the world more through their eyes, because their perspective takes my breath away! Thank you for joining me here, friend!

  8. Rosemary
    March 8, 2013 | 7:51 pm

    I have to admit to having a tear in my eye when I read your sons questions. Sometimes I think we as adults should wear the shoes of a child for a day as they really see the world from a different perspective to our own. That desire to learn and know seems to diminish as we get older.

    • Nikki
      March 19, 2013 | 11:22 pm

      Oh wouldn’t that be amazing, Rosemary…to walk in their shoes and experience the world the way they do–so uninhibited…with reckless abandon. Thankful for the chance to nurture one soul such as this to catch glimpses and spark the desire to keep learning.

      Thrilled you shared with me–so sorry I’m late in replying. Thank you for reading my heart!

  9. Michele-Lyn
    March 9, 2013 | 11:33 am

    Love this. Beautiful. I shared on Twitter 🙂 love you!

    • Nikki
      March 19, 2013 | 11:24 pm

      What a treasure you are, Michele…thank you, friend! (and I’m sorry I’m so late in thanking you–ack!) Love and hugs to you!

  10. Gary
    June 29, 2013 | 12:13 am

    I would just like to say how refreshing I find this post. With so many posts these days saying they are non believers and it saddens my heart. I see the love of God in so many ways. Today I watched a video of a father with his autistic child and how he did an iron man with him because that was his childs wish, this was a grueling race in so many ways and the father suffers from heart problems, my initial reaction to this was that God was with him every step of the way, it truly is a beautiful video to watch whether you believe or not I know that God was there with them both