Reclaiming Awe and Reverence in Our Walk with God
Majesty is not a word we use much anymore. It can sound old, formal, or far removed from everyday life. But when we speak of the majesty of God, we are speaking of His greatness, holiness, power, beauty, and glory. We are saying that God is not common. He is not small. He is not merely a helpful idea, a religious habit, or someone we turn to only when life becomes difficult. He is the living God, the King over all creation.
When we think about the great temple in the days of King David and Solomon, we can hardly imagine its beauty. Gold, silver, precious materials, and skilled work were given for the house of the Lord. Yet even that magnificent temple could not compare with the riches and glory found in Christ. David did not boast as though the people had made God richer. Instead, he gave thanks, knowing that everything they offered already belonged to the Lord. What they gave to God had first come from God.
That truth should humble us. Many Christians today believe in God, pray to God, sing about God, and read about God, yet sometimes we no longer stand in awe of God. We can become too comfortable with holy things. We can speak of God casually, rush through worship, and pray without really considering who we are speaking to. The problem is not that God has changed. The problem is that we may have lost sight of His majesty.
What Does Majesty Mean?
Majesty means greatness that deserves honor. It is the kind of greatness that makes you pause, become quiet, and realize you are standing before someone far greater than yourself. When we look at a mountain, the ocean, or a sky filled with stars, we may feel small in the best possible way. That feeling gives us a small glimpse of majesty.
God’s majesty is greater than anything in creation. The Bible says, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1). God made the heavens, the earth, the seas, and every living thing. Yet this same God knows us, cares for us, and invites us to walk with Him. That should fill our hearts with wonder.
How We Lose Our Sense of Awe
We usually do not lose awe all at once. We lose it slowly. We get busy. We get distracted. We grow used to hearing Bible verses, singing worship songs, and going to church. What once moved our hearts can become familiar. We may still do the right things, but our hearts may no longer be fully present.
Our culture also trains us to treat almost everything casually. We scroll quickly, laugh quickly, move quickly, and forget quickly. Then we bring that same hurried spirit into our walk with God. We want quick answers, quick encouragement, and quick feelings. But reverence often grows in quiet places. Awe often returns when we slow down long enough to remember who God is.
God Is Near, But He Is Still Holy
One beautiful truth of the Christian faith is that God is near to us. Through Jesus Christ, we can come boldly to the Father. We can call on Him in trouble, pour out our hearts before Him, and know that He loves us deeply.
But God’s nearness does not mean He is ordinary. His love does not make Him less holy. His kindness does not make Him less worthy of reverence. A child may sit close to a loving father, but that father still deserves honor. In the same way, we can draw near to God with confidence while still bowing our hearts before Him with respect.
Hebrews 12:28 says we should “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” Reverence does not mean being afraid that God will reject us. It means remembering that He is holy, mighty, and worthy of our deepest honor.
When Worship Becomes Routine
It is possible to go through religious motions and still miss the wonder of God. We can sing songs without truly worshiping. We can read Scripture without really listening. We can pray words without surrendering our hearts. This does not mean those practices are wrong. It means our hearts need to be awakened again.
Jesus warned against empty repetition in prayer. He was not saying we should never repeat ourselves. He was warning us not to speak to God with lifeless words. God is not impressed by spiritual formulas. He desires honest hearts. He wants worship that flows from love, faith, humility, and truth.
Seeing People Rightly Helps Us See God Rightly
The Bible teaches that people are made in the image of God. That means every person has value because God made them. When we treat people as worthless, we forget something important about the God who created them. When we look down on others, use people, ignore people, or speak harshly about them, our view of God can become smaller too.
Psalm 8 says that God crowned mankind with “glory and honor.” That does not mean people are equal to God. It means people matter because God made them. When we learn to honor the image of God in others, we also learn to honor the majesty of God more deeply.
The Role of Church Leaders
Church leaders have an important responsibility because they help shape how people think about God. If worship is treated mainly like a performance, people may begin to watch instead of worship. If church becomes only about entertainment, people may forget they are gathered before the Lord. If leaders avoid speaking about the holiness of God, believers may lose the weight and wonder of His presence.
This does not mean church should be cold, stiff, or joyless. Reverence and joy belong together. We can sing with gladness and still honor God. We can teach with clarity and still leave room for mystery. We can welcome people warmly and still remember that worship is first and foremost about God.
How to Reclaim Awe in Everyday Life
Reclaiming awe does not require a complicated plan. It begins with returning to God with a humble heart. It means slowing down and remembering that we are not coming before a small god, but before the Lord of heaven and earth.
- Pause before you pray and remember who God is.
- Read Scripture slowly, asking God to open your heart.
- Spend time in silence without rushing to the next thing.
- Look at creation and let it remind you of God’s greatness.
- Confess any casual or careless attitude toward holy things.
- Worship with both joy and reverence.
- Treat people with dignity because they are made in God’s image.
Be Still and Know
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Sometimes awe returns when we stop trying to control everything. We remember that God is God, and we are not. He is above us, yet He is with us. He is holy, yet He is merciful. He is mighty, yet He cares for the weak.
If your faith has felt dry, mechanical, or distracted, do not lose hope. God is not far away. He calls His people back to wonder. He invites us to see Him again as He truly is: glorious, holy, loving, powerful, and worthy of all praise.
Conclusion: Returning to the Majesty of God
The lost concept of majesty can be found again. We reclaim it when we stop treating God as common and begin to honor Him as King. We reclaim it when prayer becomes more than words, worship becomes more than songs, and faith becomes more than routine. We reclaim it when our hearts bow before the greatness of God.
God’s majesty does not push us away. It draws us near with holy wonder. The more we see His greatness, the more we are humbled. The more we see His holiness, the more we treasure His grace. The more we see His glory, the more we want to worship Him with our whole lives.
A Simple Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to Your majesty again. Forgive me for the times I have treated holy things lightly. Teach me to worship You with reverence and joy. Help me slow down, listen, and stand in awe of who You are. Let my life honor Your greatness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2026