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10 Ways to Rediscover Your Sense of Wonder

For me, one of the best ways to get to know what a word means is to look it up in the dictionary. Here are three of Webster’s definitions of wonder:

  1. Something or someone that is very surprising, beautiful, amazing, etc.
  2. A feeling caused by seeing something that is very surprising, beautiful, amazing, etc.
  3. Something that is surprising or hard to believe.

I love the first definition because that Someone is God. God is amazing and beautiful and He has surprises for us all the time if we take the time to look and appreciate them.

The psalmist says, “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order.
If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psalm 40:5).

God wants us in a state of wonder all the time. Why? Because when we are we recognize that there is Someone way bigger than us, the One who created the universe and is taking care of us.

Wonder also make us childlike, which is one the things God wants to develop in us. Jesus says in Matthew 18:3, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

So how can you Rediscover your Sense of Wonder and Increase your Belief in God?

1. Experience Nature

In Psalm 19:1 it says, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.” When we check out nature it reminds us that God is there. When we see what He has made and how complex and beautiful it is, it fills our hearts with wonder and thankfulness to God.

2. Explore the World

God has created this awesome world for us to explore and now with the invention of the internet you can do it from your own home. I also encourage you whenever possible to travel and actually see these places yourself. As you do that your sense of wonder and amazement with God will grow by leaps and bounds.

3. Spend Time with Children

For me this is always the best one. Children see the world through the eyes of innocence and wonder and as you spend time with them you begin to notice things you never have before, like trust and perseverance.

Children (unless in an abusive situation) don’t worry about where things like food and clothing are going to come from. They just trust that it will be there when it’s supposed to be. If they want something they will also keep asking you until they get it because they know that you are going to give it to them. We need to be that way with God.

4. Slow Down and Enjoy Your Food

It’s so easy to be rushed these days that you can forget to slow down and enjoy your food. It’s all too easy to wolf it down and move onto the next thing. Slowing down and taking time to eat is not only healthy for you, but savouring each bite gives you a sense of gratitude and thankfulness to God for providing for you. Living on Prince Edward Island makes it so easy for you to find fresh food that is full of taste.

It’s such a blessing to take time and eat meals with other Christians and enjoy their company. Something powerful and wonderful is created when Christians have fellowship together over food and talk about the Lord.

5. Pray and Worship

When we pray and seek after God it allows Him to come in and fill us with wonder. There is nothing more amazing than to be able to come to the Lord and give all your burdens to Him, knowing that He is more than capable of taking care of them all.

6. Become a Life Long Student

When you think that you have learned everything there is to know and that there is nothing more to learn, it hardens you and life becomes boring. Make it a goal to learn something new each day and you will be surprised at how wonderful things become, especially when you realize that you are not always right.

7. Notice the Little Things

It can be tempting to only look for the big things in life, when really we should be concentrating on the small things. If you are waiting for that one big thing to happen, you might miss the small miracles in life, and often the small things together are what make up the big thing. When we take time to notice the small little miracles that happen each day it makes us more aware of God and what He is doing in our lives which prepares us for the big things.

I know that this is a silly example, but when I am tired and need to get my shopping done quickly, I don’t want to walk far to get to the store. I love it when the front parking spot opens up right at the time when I am driving by, even though the rest of the spots are taken. When that happens I am so aware of how God loves me and wants to do things for me and it fills me with wonder and awe.

8. Expect Miracles

This is the next step to number 7. Not only should we notice the little miracles, but we should be expecting them. When we do that we open ourselves to see the world in a whole new light. When the small miracles do happen it just increases our belief and wonder in God, and the next thing you know you’re trusting God for bigger and bigger things.

9. Create Something

It doesn’t matter if what you create turns out beautiful or even if it works. Just the process of creating something is enough to remind us how wonderfully creative our God is. God made us to be creative and when we express that side of ourselves it brings us closer to Him.

10. Avoid Negative Things

There are so many negative things like the news, commercials and negative people who will bring you down if you let them. By focusing on positive things and on God you will create an environment where wonder becomes a part of your life.

Here is the amazing thing about having wonder in your life: it makes you so much more appreciative of all that you have in your life. You stop sweating the small things because you know that God has got you in the palm of His hand and there is nothing that can take that away from you.

So find something WONDER-FULL today and thank God for it.

~ By Kim Thompson-Pinder

 

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