I’m back from my time away so hopefully I will be more consistent here. I wrote this yesterday (Friday) morning but didn’t have a chance to post it.

My title for this devotion is Overwhelmed vs Underwhelmed.

I think one of the traps that is easy for a Christ-follower to fall into is familiarity. Familiarity with God. More specifically, the presence and power of God. Like the saying says, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Not hatred but a laissez-faire attitude. Kind of like “Aw shucks” or “Been there, done that, seen it.”

This hit me as I read I Kings 8. In verses 10-11 it says the priests came out of the Holy Place and “a cloud filled the house of the Lord.” A bit later in verse 27 Solomon prays and says, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house I have built.”

Now take a moment to read Psalm 86.  Pay particular attention to verses 8-13.

How can I/we read those passages and not take a “gut-check” to see how I/we respond to God’s presence? In worship? In my Quiet Time? In my daily walk? Am I overwhelmed as Solomon and David were? Or am I underwhelmed? Has my awareness of His presence become old hat and unexpectant?

“Father, please guard me against being underwhelmed. Help me to always be aware of your greatness and the power of Your Name. I would much rather be overwhelmed and speechless than underwhelmed and empty.”