“Lord, grant me this one thing—more than anything else, this is what I crave and seek: It’s your beauty. I want to live in the sanctuary of your Word and worship and the cathedral of creation and gaze upon your beauty.” Paraphrase of Psalm 27:4
“Fairest Lord Jesus,” I’ve asked you for many things in life, and will continue to do so. For you are a most generous Savior, joyful King, and loving Bridegroom. You know our needs before we ask, and you give us gifts beyond our imagining and measuring. You are the original “cheerful giver”—finding delight in the act of giving, and joy we who receive from your bounty.
As I get older, however, one “ask” of mine gets bigger and bigger, and I make with increasing regularity. Jesus, I want to see more of your beauty Ever since you first revealed yourself to me, I’ve known you to be singularly true, and without-parallel good. But now—perhaps because of all the “ugly” in the world, I intensely crave a greater revelation and experience of your beauty, Jesus. You are the source, meaning, and fountain of all beauty.
So, open the eyes of my heart, Jesus. I want to see more of you, and I don’t fear over-asking. Captivate and dazzle my heart with your beauty. Cause me to gasp with wonder, and second-look with thrill. Reveal yourself to me in your Word and your worship, of course; but also, everywhere I look. Creation isn’t just the megaphone of your voice; it’s also the cathedral of your glory and beauty.
Jesus, I’m weary of focusing on decay and brokenness in life; help me see your beauty in the flowers and ferns pushing up through the “ugly” in our world. Reveal yourself in bird’s songs, trout dots, the gurgle of a stream, the dance of Aspens—in the faces of flowers and friends. So Very Amen.