Yeah, this title was partly inspired by the 1999 Heath Ledger/Julia Stiles teen romantic comedy, “Ten Things I Hate About You.” However, it’s also inspired by a spiritual exercise I did several years ago that amazingly renewed my worship of God. But first let me give a little context.

We left our discussion on “viewing the mercies of God” on the topic of 3D perspective. If we can grasp God’s love and character in three dimensions (breadth, height, depth), the natural response of worship flows freely and powerfully. This morning I want to share specifically about how we can expand the “breadth” of seeing God and His mercies.

Several years ago, I led the worship team in a “praise” exercise. I shared the very simple definition (you probably have run across this) that praise is “glorifying God for who He is.” So we did some “popcorn” praise prayers: one sentence prayers that go, “God, I praise You because You are _______ (fill in the blank).” The first five prayers were easy:  “You are loving,” “You are powerful,” “You are holy,” “You are gracious,” “You are forgiving.”

Then, dead silence … for a very long time.

It was a little embarrassing for me, not only because the praise exercise was disintegrating rapidly, but also because I could not come up with more characteristics of God! It was painful to realize that this Pastor of Worship’s “breadth” of viewing God was severely limited.

So over the next few weeks, with Bible in hand, I expanded my list of the five aforementioned qualities of God to 100. Hence the title, “One Hundred Things I Love About You.”

But more important than coming up with a list of attributes, my heart was opened up – wide. My God is not just powerful, loving, holy, gracious and forgiving; he is also Creator, Redeemer, the Provider, my Righteousness, the Alpha and Omega, the good Shepherd, the great I AM, and so on. My God became “bigger” before my very eyes. I think that’s a part of what “magnifying the Lord” means.

I am reminded of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s famous poem, “How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways.” If we really love someone, we should be able to come up with dozens of reasons why. And there are hundreds, if not thousands and millions of reasons why we should love God. But to just say that means nothing. We have to name them, recite them, remember them, meditate on them, expand on them. That’s what “breadth” means: knowing the many, many ways God is great and merciful.

So, how is your “breadth perspective” of God? Try listing out as many qualities of God and then read them over and reflect upon them. Then worship Him … with your whole life!

By the way, if you would like an electronic copy of my “One Hundred Things I Love About You,” email me at wholelifeworship@gmail.com . I’d be happy to send it to you. (Maybe we can compile a list – together – of a thousand things we love about God! J )