While reading a recent devotion by Miles Stanford, he shared the following: “One’s growth is gauged by one’s gaze.”1 This simple statement is not only profound, but if we are to grow in Christ it must become our new lifestyle. Not only should this be our new way of life, but Scripture tells us to make this our constant practice. For we read in (Colossians 3:1-3): “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
In this devotion by Miles Stanford, he quotes James Butler Stoney, who helps us understand our need to not just renounce our old way of thinking, but to become engrossed with Christ: “It is one thing to drop off or renounce certain things, and quite another to be engrossed with the right thing. Monks renounce much, but they are not engrossed with the Lord Jesus Christ. It must be not only forgetting those things which are behind, but also reaching out unto the things that are above. It is that which you give yourself to, not what you have abandoned, that colors you and which imparts character to you.”2
As Christians, I believe we are wired to gaze in awe of Jesus. I love how Pastor Paul David Tripp shared the following: “I came to see that I was wired for awe, that awe of something sits at the bottom of everything I say and do. But I wasn’t just wired for awe. I was wired for awe of God. No other awe satisfies the soul. No other awe can give my heart the peace, rest, and security that it seeks. I came to see that I needed to trace awe of God down to the most mundane of human decisions and activities.”3
My friends when was the last time you stood and gazed in awe of God? When was the last time you were genuinely “awe struck” with His majesty, power, might, and dominion? If you have ever visited the Grand Canyon the word awe probably comes to mind because this amazing canyon is simply spectacular in beauty and full of wonder. How much more should our Creator, who made this canyon, deserve our reverential awe for His amazing creative genius and omnipotent power!
Just listen to what David proclaims in (Psalm 145:3-7): “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works—and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”
You see the measure of our growth as a believer in Christ depends on where we fix our gaze. When we fix our gaze on how awesome, comforting, forgiving, and loving our Savior is everything in life will fall into a wonderful place of peace and joy. Even when we go through trials, pain, and suffering, if we fix our gaze on Jesus a deeper sense of intimacy will fill our hearts, knowing that our Lord will never let us go and will work all things for good (Romans 8:28). In these difficult moments, just let His presence carry you.
And the next time life seems mundane rather than mope or feel that life has lost its zest why not gaze at Jesus and set your mind on things above and realize how special you are to God, how you are fearfully and wonderfully made, that Jesus died so you can spend eternity with Him, and that God is plain crazy about you!
Gazing in awe of God is something I believe we have too often forgotten, because we are so busy dwelling on ourselves, and our problems instead of Jesus. So where does this leave us? Why not change the tape decks in your mind by getting rid of your old ways of thinking and put on the new armor of God, the mind of Christ, the knowledge that Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you, and always set your heart on things above!
1 Personal Attention – December 15, 2025 – Devotional by Miles Stanford – None but the Hungry Heart
2 Personal Attention – December 15, 2025 – Devotional by Miles Stanford – None but the Hungry Heart
3 Paul David Tripp – I came to see that I was wired for awe, that awe…