Beyond the fringe...

I was listening to a Francis Chan devotional today which was based off of his "Crazy Love" book (which I have yet to read...but I am adding it to my "Need to Read" list!).  It was a short 8 minute video, but he shared something that really struck me and got me thinking.  

He shared about a time when he went to visit a college to speak.  There was a young lady on the worship team that stood out to him because every week he visited she became more passionate in her worship. This really intrigued him, because it wasn't what he would normally witness watching people worship.  Finally one week he went up to her and asked her about it and she shared that she never asks God to give her an experience like one she has already had.  Her prayer before she goes up to worship each week is always, "God you are the Creator of all things.  Will you create something new in my time with you during worship?  I want to experience you in a new and fresh way."  

Chan said he had never thought to ask the Creator to create new experiences of Himself in his times of worship, prayer, quiet times, etc.  To be honest I really haven't either.  I think I get so comfortable in my routine that I run this risk of just making an activity like prayer something I check off, rather than coming into that time expecting to learn something new or have a deeper grasp of Him.

Hearing this made me think of the verse in Job 26:14 that reads, "And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him!  Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"  There is so much depth to God...and I can only see the outer fringe of all that He is!  When I read this verse it makes me picture a big, colorful, detailed quilt.  I imagine it laid out, but I am small in comparison to it and only able to stand on the edge of it. And standing there on the edge all I can see is the details of the edge right in front of me.  I can't see it in its entirety and miss out on viewing all the details, designs, and colors that are seen on the inside, or seen if you look at it from above.  There is so much depth to God that really no day should ever be boring with Him!

I am challenged to start coming before God at the beginning of each day and asking Him to show me a new "thread of his quilt".  To give me a new and deeper perspective and glimpse of who He is.  Isn't that what relationship is all about...growing in knowledge and intimacy with the person who we are in relationship with?