“You, my God, are supreme, utmost in goodness, mightiest and all-powerful, most merciful and most just. You are the most hidden from us and yet the most present amongst us, the most beautiful and yet the most strong, ever enduring and yet we cannot comprehend You. You are unchangeable and yet You change all things. You are never new, never old, and yet all things have new life from You.
You are the unseen power that brings decline upon the proud. You are ever active, yet always at rest. You gather all things to Yourself, though You suffer no need. You support, You fill, and You protect all things. You create them, nourish them, and bring them to perfection. You seek to make them Your own, though You lack for nothing. You love Your creatures, but with a gentle love.
You treasure them, but without apprehension. You grieve for wrong, but suffer no pain. You can be angry and yet serene. Your works are varied, but Your purpose is one and the same. You welcome all who come to You, though You never lost them. You are never in need yet are glad to gain, never covetous yet You exact a return for Your gifts. We give abundantly to You so that we may deserve a reward; yet which of us has anything that does not come from You?
You repay us what we deserve, and yet You owe nothing to any. You release us from our debts, but You lose nothing thereby. You are my God, my Life, my holy Delight, but is this enough to say of You? Can any man say enough when he speaks of You? Yet woe betide those who are silent about You! For even those who are most gifted with speech cannot find words to describe You.”
–Aurelius Augustine (of Hippo), Confessions, 1.4.4.
Reuben Urias says
April 1, 2011 at 11:50 amOh. wow. Those are some awesome thoughts. I don’t think I’ve ever sat down and pondered long enough about the LORD to describe Him like this. Inspiring. Thanks!
Al Knight says
April 1, 2011 at 4:56 pmIt’s true, no matter how glorious the words and thoughts we come up with, …. they never seem to release our true feelings for the Lord to our satisfaction.
He knows what our true love is (for Him) better than we do.
Jeremy Morris says
April 2, 2011 at 5:26 amWhat makes these words so wonderful is that they are clearly spoken from personal experience, and not mere head knowledge. What makes these words even more glorious is that these are the same words that can be our experience. We serve the same God who is willing to reveal Himself to those who would seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13
drhill says
April 3, 2011 at 5:14 amI think G Macdonald said something like God intentionally designed things so He could not ever be wholly contained in word…The Word, your word, mine or anyone elses, otherwise we (in our frail sinful and weak tendencies) are inclined to word worship, and that is not how God would have us know Him. Very good stuff though – very far reaching.
Constance says
April 12, 2011 at 12:33 amAmazing