As a former airline pilot based in Phoenix, Arizona, I have flown over the Grand Canyon many times at high altitudes—30,000 feet or higher. Being that high up, you can see the great expanse and grandeur of the canyon. The depth and large distinctions of that magnificent wonder can be experienced, even from six miles up.

The Grand Experience of Worship

As I considered my experience with the Grand Canyon, I found a strong personal correlation to my worship of our great God and King. At the highest, most encompassing view, I worship God for His awesome greatness, His unlimited expanse, His all-knowing ability, and His sovereign character, which is in control of all things at all times. Worshiping at All Levels. This worship is right and true, and this is where many folks spend the majority of their time worshiping God…and that’s good.

At the highest, most encompassing view, I worship God for His awesome greatness, His unlimited expanse, His all-knowing ability, and His sovereign character, which is in control of all things at all times.

Worship Close Up

One day as I was flying from Columbus, Ohio to Los Angeles, California, I asked the air traffic controller if we could descend and give our passengers a tour of the Grand Canyon. Air Traffic Control gave me more than I expected and allowed us to descend to a mere 7,000-8,000 feet above the rim of the canyon. Further, they cleared our aircraft to make left and right turns so that the 150 or so people on board had a great view of the magnificent scene below. At that lower altitude, the colors, contours, and details began to explode. Everyone was thrilled and excited as they exited the Airbus in LA.

Worshiping God with a closer view inspires our worship to be more detailed. Now we find ourselves worshiping God not only in a broad, general way, but identifying His character as we learn of Him from the Bible. I love to worship Him as my Father, my Shepherd, my Savior, my Friend, and so much more.

Worshiping God with a closer view inspires our worship to be more detailed. Now we find ourselves worshiping God not only in a broad, general way, but identifying His character as we learn of Him from the Bible.

Captivated by His Character

Living in Flagstaff, Arizona, just a 90-minute drive from the Grand Canyon, has allowed my wife and me to hike the south rim of the canyon many times, not only for our enjoyment, but to the great exhilaration of many vacationing and visiting friends. While the expanse of this wonder is no longer in view at rim level, the detail, complexity, character, and beauty are revealed, and sighs of wonderment are often heard from both new and regular rim travelers.

At “rim level” worship, I drill down more deeply into how God is my perfect Father, who will never leave me nor forsake me. He alone knows exactly what I need and administers it to me perfectly. He directs my path, corrects my missteps, forgives my sin, protects me from “the wolf,” and puts a calling on my life. At rim level, I worship God not simply for all the various character traits He possesses, but more so, for the intricate detail of each of His character traits that make up His perfect Person.

Deeper Still

Finally, it is in hiking to the bottom of the canyon that you see the greatest detail and have the most complete sense, being surrounded by great walls some 4,000-5,000 feet tall. It is the depth and nearness to the canyon that allows you to get to know it more intimately.

This level of worship submerges us into the deep waters of growing intimacy with God. It is the fact that God is near and all around that causes our knowledge of, experience with, and longing for our Triune God to explode. Surrounded by God, we learn to know and worship Him with the greatest of detail. As we know Him more deeply, we experience His holiness more regularly, confess more quickly, submit more fully, and believe with greater faith.

Our Worship Journey

God calls us to worship Him at all levels so that we will know Him more fully. The journey of growing in the knowledge of the deep places of God is not simply in this time or era, it is a journey that spans eternity. Clearly, it is the single most important expedition of our eternal lives. Would you join me? I pray you will.

God calls us to worship Him at all levels so that we will know Him more fully. The journey of growing in the knowledge of the deep places of God is not simply in this time or era, it is a journey that spans eternity.

Copyright © 2024 Paul Meldrum. All rights reserved.

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Paul Meldrum has been in pastoral ministry since 2006 and is currently an elder and leader of Prayer and Missions at Flagstaff Bible Church. He also serves as pastoral oversight/input for the Flagstaff Christian School Board and leads a coaches’ Bible study at Northern Arizona University. He and his wife Ronna have been married since 1975 and have 3 married children, who are serving the Lord in various capacities. They also have 14 grandchildren. Paul has been involved with The 6:4 Fellowship since 2015, and currently serves as Regional Director for the Mountain West Region, as well as a Renewal Coach for The 6:3 Discipleship. Paul finds great joy in serving Christ with his amazing wife, and encouraging pastors to develop a culture of prayer in their lives and in their churches.