Magnifying the Lord

Our garden overlooks a small lake and I love to watch the wildlife that is attracted to it. One day I had the joy of seeing a kingfisher flash past and alight on the branch of a weeping willow that overhangs the water. As I watched, I could just see a blurred shape and the brilliant turquoise and orange of its plumage. I quickly went indoors to fetch my binoculars and found then that I could not only see the colours but I could also make out the texture and shape of each individual feather; I could see the pointed beak which is so wonderfully designed for fishing, and I could even see its beady eye watching for movement in the water beneath. The kingfisher hadn’t changed, but my view of it had been totally transformed by the magnification of the binoculars.

In the same way, praise and worship transforms our view of God. When the psalmist encourages us to “magnify the Lord”, it is not that we can alter God in any way or make Him greater than He is, but it is our perception of Him that needs to change. Just as my view of the kingfisher was magnified by the binoculars, so praise and worship has the effect of magnifying God in our minds and our understanding. It enables us to know Him better and to see aspects of His splendour and majesty that we were not able to grasp before. It also has the effect of taking our minds off ourselves and focusing on His greatness. As we do this, our own problems pale into insignificance.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that the closer we get to you, the more we can appreciate the wonder of who you are and your love for each one of us. Help me to worship you in all things as I take in the wonders of your creation. In Jesus' name, Amen