Adulting gives you a whole new appreciation for your parents. Or a teacher. Or a coach. Or someone who discipled you. Or someone you admire from your growing up days.

I know that when I was a kid, I thought my parents had it pretty easy. Actually, I thought all adults had it pretty easy. After all, they could do what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it without anyone telling them what to do. Or so I thought.

I didn’t realize that all the freedom that came with being an adult was partnered with responsibilities that exerted some conditions on you.

As I grew into adulthood and realized what it took to get a job, keep a job, pay bills, find a place to live, find a vehicle, maintain the vehicle, be a good friend, make a budget, plan for the future, etc., etc., I began to realize that my parents did not have all the freedom I had assigned to them.

More importantly, I began to admire them a great deal more. I understood some of their pressure points, stresses, and potentials for anxiety. They did all that and cared for my welfare as well.

My admiration for my parents grew as I came to see them in a different light. I can see how my relationship with God has had some parallels. My worship of God has grown in direct proportion to how well I have gotten to know Him over the years.

He is the all-knowing, all-loving, sovereign God of the universe. Creator and Sustainer. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I knew Him as my God even as a child.

My admiration for God has grown over the years in much the same way that my admiration for my parents and all adults has grown. The more I have gotten to know Him, His motivations, and His actions, the more I have come to adore Him.

Thankfully, God has revealed Himself in multiple ways. He has made Himself known to us. Psalm 19 resonates with me in terms of knowing and understanding God. The first section (19:1-6) informs us of God’s revelation of Himself through creation.

“The heavens declare the glory of God…” (19:1) Yes! Sunsets are especially glorious around here. I can see God’s creativity, power, intelligence, love of beauty, and joy in what He has created. I adore Him for how He has expressed Himself in creation.

The second section of Psalm 19 informs us of God’s revelation through His Word. At least five different terms for the Bible are used in verses seven through eleven. Through understanding God’s actions and attributes in His Word, my soul is restored, I gain His wisdom, my heart is filled with joy, and my mind is given clear focus. I understand His grace and His truth, His protection and provision for me.

My admiration for God grows because His revelation is so simple and available. I don’t completely understand His freedom or His responsibilities because of His revelation, but I gain enough insight to respond to Him in love, to honor Him, to carry out His demands and desires.

I can understand why David would close that precious Psalm with these words:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Getting to know God gave David a desire to be accountable to bring Him glory in thought, word, and deed. He acknowledged that God sees everything. He knew that he could count on God’s protection and provision as his Rock and Redeemer. David had come to know God and His adoration for God grew.

May your admiration for God grow as you read His Word and study His creation. May you gain a fresh appreciation of His grace as you experience His pleasure in all you do.

Love and blessings,
Dave