Lord, you are beautiful

— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —

Over the past week I have had a worship song stuck in my head, more specifically, one line: “O Lord, you’re beautiful. Your face is all I see.” (listen here) The text popped into my head and caused me to think through the idea of beauty. What does the beauty of the Lord look like? How can we see it? Any ideas?

The beauty of the Lord is mentioned in several different Bible verses. The prophet Isaiah claims,

Your eyes will see the king in his beauty.

Isaiah 33:17

Is he talking about me? Or you? Or who else? When will we see His beauty?

After journaling and praying, I have tried to look for His beauty throughout the week. Unfortunately, I did not have a God-sighting in the form of a hologram or as an actual being. That would have been creepy and spectacular at the same time. Instead, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to see God’s beauty in the things around me. Whether it was the vibrant colors in the leaves outside my window, the fluffy hair on the cow next to the bike path, in the smile and giggle of dear children, or the words of the Psalm I read, His beauty accompanied me, reminding me of His constant attention and love.

How have you experienced His beauty lately? Do you feel like it has been hidden by difficult life circumstances, challenges in your workplace or family, disappointments, etc.? If so, I encourage you to take comfort in Keith Greene’s song: “O Lord, you are beautiful.” He wrote it as a letter to God in a time when he felt God was distant. Here are the lyrics:

Oh Lord, you’re beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord, you’re beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me

I want to take your word
and shine it all around
But first help me just,
to live it Lord
And when I’m doing well,
help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to you

Oh Lord, please light the fire
That once burned bright and clean Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear

I want to take your word
and shine it all around
But first help me just,
to live it Lord
And when I’m doing well,
help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to you

Oh Lord, you’re beautiful
Your face is all I see
For when your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me

Oh Lord, you’re beautiful
Your face is all I see
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Keith Green / Jesus Culture

These lyrics give me goosebumps and are equally inspiring, comforting, and grounding. I long to have a concentrated view of His face and to sense the unmerited love (grace) that He lavishes on us as His children. I want to share the truth of His love to those around me and give them the chance to experience God’s grace and love. I can, however, only really do this, when I have experienced his grace and love and when I am focused on Him.The song grounds me in reminding me that I am called to bring glory to Him—reflecting His love to others—and, therefore, also mirroring His beauty?

I can imagine that we all have, however, had moments when we feel so distant from the Lord, that the Holy Spirit’s flame has died down. For those moments and representative for all who are feeling it know, I pray Keith’s text: May we all experience God fanning the flame of our love for Him that fills us completely and compels us to share His love with others.

Blessings to all of you! May you see His beauty today!

Tini