While the components of repentance, reflection, and restoration remain the same for me each Lenten season, a theme often surfaces for my focus. Stillness encompassed my heart’s attention in 2022, while this year, my heart is resting in “beholding” the limitless beauty of Christ.
The Lord began inviting me into a deeper communion with Him through beholding in my daily quiet time. Which moved my scripture reading into a more contemplative space.
Choosing a restful posture before the Lord, while reading His Word, opens my heart to truly experience Him in whatever way He chooses to reveal Himself.
The best part? I removed the pressure of me doing, as in gaining something from the Word, and instead, rested in a space of being with God.
Welcome to Mindfulness Monday! Where we learn some easy ways to be more present “in the moment” at our jobs, in our homes, with our families and friends.
Learning to recognize God and what He has for us in each divine moment He offers. We acknowledge the belief that God is with us always.
We confess His presence is available to us, lifting our spirit and helping us with power and grace. Learning the art of “stillness” so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.
the limitless beauty of christ
In a world of turmoil, brokenness, and extreme self-focus, the grace of God seems distorted and distant. Yet even in the moral degradation of society, the limitless beauty of Christ is far from hidden.
“Beauty is the battlefield where God and Satan contend for the hearts of men.”
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Dostoyevsky spoke truer than he may have realized. Satan continues to blind the hearts of men to the beauty of Christ by deception and distortion. Parading false idols of money, sex, and success, the enemy contends for the hearts of men by seeking to diminish the image of God.
Yet God the Father continually reveals the limitless beauty of Christ to our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Where satan seeks to lull men into a sluggish, half-hearted commitment at best, (Hebrews 6:11-12) the Holy Spirit empowers us to pursue a fuller knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Ultimately exhilarating our spirits with the growth of love for God through whole-hearted commitment.
courage in the limitless beauty of christ
In the midst of the world’s growing unrest, turmoil, and uncertainty, connecting our hearts more deeply with Christ through beholding His limitless beauty is essential.
Deeper revelation of Christ through beholding His magnificence unleashes a love which no disaster, political, moral, or spiritual pressure can quench.
The more we behold the limitless beauty of Jesus, the more our hearts become galvanized against temptation and courageous in trial.
But beholding God’s beauty requires intention and a willingness to slow down. Most times I find I miss experiencing a deeper place of intimacy with God because I rush away after my reading and prayer agenda concludes.
The Apostle Paul speaks of his focused desire for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ in Philippians 3:8, counting all else as worthless in comparison.
3 ways of beholding the beauty of god
Beholding involves a deliberate resting or meditating in the scriptures. In our rushed and event filled days, we struggle to achieve more than a short devotional time of a brief reading and quick prayer.
Beholding the Personality of Jesus
A great way of beholding the limitless beauty of Christ is through His personality, or attributes.
Try looking for ways His attributes are displayed in your scripture reading, then spend time beholding Him through quiet reflection.
Compose or find a printed list of God’s attributes, and enjoy meditating on one or two each day during Lent.
Beholding the Power of Jesus
Beholding the power of Jesus in the gospels is truly awe inspiring. Choose one of your favorite stories and sit quietly allowing the full magnitude of His incredible power wash over you.
And remember, power is not only displayed in acts of power, but at times Jesus’ power was even more poignant in what He chose not to do.
Beholding the Purpose of Jesus
During Lent nothing quite overwhelms me like reflecting on Jesus’ purpose here on earth. From Advent through Lent, we see His unparalleled love in action in every encounter and conversation.
Revisit the Christmas story and move through the gospel of Matthew noting the all-encompassing purpose of Jesus revealed in His words and actions.
Pay particular attention to His conversations both with His disciples and those who sought Him for healing.
The beauty of God slowly unfolds as we intentionally linger in the Word of God. Far from a simple focus of the mind, understanding Jesus through His personality, power, and purpose flows from a posture of heart.
King David expressed it so magnificently in Psalm 27:
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.”
beholding the limitless beauty of christ
Extraordinary and exquisite in beauty, Jesus Christ exceeds any words we attempt using in describing Him!
The Father so delights in revealing Him (Galatians 1:15-16), when we seek Jesus in God’s Word, the Spirit rejoices to reveal Him in all His beauty.
Through Jesus, God reveals the fullness of His intrinsic beauty, inviting us into a beholding space where intimacy flows through every breath; from God, through us and back again.
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So beautiful, Donna. This is where my heart is. We just drove up to Tennessee to visit family. And along the way, there were many sleeping dormant trees. But amid these trees were purple and white blooms beginning their spring. I was astounded at their beauty. This made me so thankful for Jesus and that no matter what is going on in the world, He s coming back, and there will be no more evil, pain, or suffering. It gives me such hope and joy.
Deborah, what a lovely observation you made on your drive! I love looking at the buds coming through on the trees which look so barren all winter. The life within simply cannot be quelled. Indeed, Jesus is coming and nothing can stop Him from doing so!! Amen, Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Thank you for this beautiful encouragement to come to Him in stillness to behold His beauty.
Lisa, thank you for taking the time to stop by today an enjoy beholding the beauty of Christ!
Donna, this is a beautiful post. This >> “God the Father continually reveals the limitless beauty of Christ to our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” The more I see of His beauty – His peace, His grace, His love, His compassion – I find myself drawing closer to Him. Even in this broken world, His beauty is all around us.
Joanne, I love your comment that even in our broken world His beauty is still around us, so true, and that is the HOPE we have with us daily no matter how difficult things get, His beauty reminds us of His redemptive power.
Donna, this is such a beautiful post. I, too, had to re-read Dostoyevsky’s quote a few times. I’m so thankful we can seek Jesus and see His beauty as we spend time with Him. And this quote really spoke to me:
“Deeper revelation of Christ through beholding His magnificence unleashes a love which no disaster, political, moral, or spiritual pressure can quench.”
I’ve found that when I spend time in nature (especially with my camera), my heart worships God. It’s like He expands my capacity to see His glory through the beauty around me.
Jeanne, that Dostoyevsky quote is profound, I am still pondering it. I love his writings, so couldn’t resist including it here. Jeanne I so agree, spending time in the beauty of nature draws us into an intimacy with God that is nothing less than worship!
It always renders me speechless when I reflect on Jesus’s purpose on earth too. Great reflections. Visiting from Inspire Me Monday!
Kristen, that is so true! Speechless, what a great way to describe the feeling of awe when we take the time to truly ponder the fullness of Jesus!
I found the Dostoyevsky quote intriguing. Want to ponder that more. I agree I get more when I relax and enjoy my time with the Lord.
Debbie, I found the Dostoyevsky quote intriguing too, seems relatively simple but in fact it’s quite profound! I truly enjoy a leisure time with the Lord, though I cannot always pull that off!