On Sunday I went to V Fest in Weston Park. This was my first proper festival (although I didn't do any camping so I'm not sure how proper it was really) and I absolutely loved it. I got to see some excellent sets by some very talented people (George Ezra, Tom Odell, Bastille and Ed Sheeran to name a few), and sing and dance along to their songs in a big field with thousands of other people. It was really fun!
The highlight for me was, not surprisingly, the headline set by Justin Timberlake.
Yes, that's right, worldwide superstar and bringer back of sexy, JT came to a field in the middle of nowhere to sing me some songs. It was incredible! He had a massive band (the Tennessee Kids), his dance routines were ridiculous and the crowd, myself included, were loving every minute. On more than one occasion during the one and a half hours of pop perfection I actually found myself open-mouthed, just staring at Justin Timberlake. Like something out of a cartoon. My jaw had dropped, I couldn't speak, I was so starstruck.
This got me thinking: how come I can be so embarrassingly starstruck by being near a popstar (we were about ten rows from the front: #commitment) but not have the same reaction to the truth that the God of the whole universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords lives IN ME by his Holy Spirit 24/7? Because that's jaw-dropping stuff: the fact that the almighty God chooses to dwell in me. It's mind-blowing. God promises to be with me always by his Spirit and welcomes me into his wonderful presence as his beloved child, because of what Jesus did on the cross.
He has been SO good to me.
And I don't ever want to stop being starstruck by him.
So this post is really a way for me to make a promise to myself and to God that each day I will let myself be blown away by him, in some way or other. Perhaps by the beauty of his creation, reminding me he is good, in control and majestic. Or maybe by his faithfulness, as I see a prayer answered or a need provided for. Or maybe in a fresh realisation of his grace and mercy as I think about what Jesus actually achieved for me on that cross.
I won't just brush over the incredible truths I read in the Bible, I will let them shape my thinking.
I won't just spend time with him until I've reeled off my prayer list, I will wait on him, listening.
And I won't downplay the power and beauty and importance of the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, but will earnestly seek him and the fruit he promises.
I will be starstruck, and he will change me.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Romans 12:2
"...whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
He has been SO good to me.
And I don't ever want to stop being starstruck by him.
So this post is really a way for me to make a promise to myself and to God that each day I will let myself be blown away by him, in some way or other. Perhaps by the beauty of his creation, reminding me he is good, in control and majestic. Or maybe by his faithfulness, as I see a prayer answered or a need provided for. Or maybe in a fresh realisation of his grace and mercy as I think about what Jesus actually achieved for me on that cross.
I won't just brush over the incredible truths I read in the Bible, I will let them shape my thinking.
I won't just spend time with him until I've reeled off my prayer list, I will wait on him, listening.
And I won't downplay the power and beauty and importance of the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, but will earnestly seek him and the fruit he promises.
I will be starstruck, and he will change me.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Romans 12:2
"...whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
