Take Time to Behold

by Michele Husfelt on November 25, 2024

Behold. It’s a word we don’t often hear these days. In the span of about a week, this word came to my attention several times, and I finally decided to sit with it to see if there was something more to this obscure compound word. As a geeky writer and editor, I often find myself dissecting words to see if hidden treasures are waiting to be found amongst syllables and sequences of letters. Staring at behold, I separated it into two words – be and hold. Amazingly, I discovered both words offer an invitation to pause, to wait, and to reflect.

I was recently listening to a podcast of a conversation with John Mark Comer, founder of Practicing the Way, A Pathway for Apprenticeship to Jesus. Given the impossible task of determining the path to becoming like Jesus in one word, John Mark succumbed to using the word contemplate. A few definitions of contemplate are “to consider one particular thing for a long time in a serious and quiet way*” or “to view or consider with continued attention: meditate on*” or “to look at or view with continued attention; observe or study thoughtfully.*”

“We overestimate the ability of willpower and insight to change us,” John Mark observes. “The point is you become like whatever it is you look at on a regular basis.”

John Mark describes Paul’s writing in 2 Corinthians 3:18 as his “one sentence view of spiritual formation.” And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory … The Greek word for contemplate is kato teso and it translates to gaze or look deeply at.

“One of the words used for contemplation by previous generations,” John Mark explained, “was this word, beholding, which was another English translation of Paul's language in 2 Corinthians. Earlier generations would talk of beholding prayer, looking at God, and the wonder of who He is. The pathway to becoming like God has to do with looking at God,” John Mark concludes.

As we enter the season of Advent, my prayer is to behold the wonder of it all. I want to slow down and meditate on the story of Jesus’ birth; I want to gaze upon the brightness of the lights, the beauty of the decorations, and the people God places in my path. I want to sit and savor the silence as I listen to God’s gentle whispers throughout the day. I long to be. And I long to hold on to all He has to show me.

Join us for the next several weeks as we offer our Advent Devotions, “Behold the Wonder”, written by NorthStar women.

*Dictionary.com; Merriam-Webster Dictionary; Cambridge Dictionary