Stand in Awe: How Reverence Transforms Our Worship and Our Lives

by Laura Story

Singer Laura Story Explains Why Humble Reverence Is Essential for Honoring God in Our Songs and with Our Lives

We were made for God, not the other way around. Living for God's glory—revering him above all else—gives us purpose and lasting joy but we often get distracted and become too self-focused, believing that we are the center of our lives. From singing at church on Sundays to our work and leisure throughout the week, we are in daily need of refocusing our attention on God.

Laura Story seeks to lead Christians in scriptural, reverential worship all 7 days of the week. Sharing her 20 years of experience as a worship leader and award-winning recording artist, she clarifies what worship is, what it isn't, and what's at stake without it. She then explains 4 everyday ways our reverence is often diverted away from God. Finally, Story demonstrates how to apply biblical principles, seeking God in humility and reverence through singing and daily life. With a heart for music ministry, this accessible book also speaks to everyday Christians who long to engage in proper devotion, leading listeners in rich worship that reflects who God is rather than who we are.

Accessible, Holistic Guide for Thoughtfully explores Scripture and church history, creating a Bible-focused theology of worship Helps Christians cultivate a reverential posture all 7 days of the week by honoring God's word, relating to others, and properly stewarding our lives Written by Christian Recording Artist and Author Laura Inspires modern Christian songwriters to create scriptural songs focused on the attributes of God A Great Study for the Entire Addresses both individual and corporate worship Useful in Schools and Practical insights for worship team leaders and volunteers as well as students earning worship degrees, with advice for worship and prayers, order of service, and more Ends with a Liturgy Written by the Author

Genres: Christian, Christianity

176 pages, Paperback

Published May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Lianna Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ // This was a fine and thoughtful book. It included some good theological points about reverence. Perhaps it didn’t strike me very much because I’m in a phase of not letting reverence block my intimacy with the Lord.

The book affirms that reverence and friendship with the Lord go together, which I do agree with. At the same time, I think holy awe can sometimes keep us from drawing near—at least, that has been my experience. That possibility wasn’t really addressed here.

Still, it was faithful and solid.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was, for me, almost a 3-star read.

It is unquestionably biblical and raises an important concern that many churches today need to hear: God is holy, and reverence matters. I appreciated many individual insights throughout the book, particularly its emphasis on singing theologically rich songs, recovering lament in corporate worship, praying Scripture, and the beautiful illustration that reverence is "not just a nod; it's a bow."

That said, I struggled with the overall tone. I found it much more preachy than pastoral. Rather than drawing me to stand in awe of Christ, it often left me feeling as though I was being examined. The repeated self-assessment questions, while well-intentioned, may be helpful for some readers, but for those with naturally sensitive consciences or introspective personalities they can become burdensome rather than life-giving.

Perhaps my perspective is also shaped by my background. I grew up in a church—and in a culture—where reverence for God was already deeply ingrained. Because of that, many of the contrasts the author draws between casual Christianity and reverent worship simply didn't resonate with my experience. Some examples even felt surprising, as though they were addressing problems I have rarely encountered.

The greatest weakness, in my opinion, is one of proportion. The book certainly speaks of grace, intimacy with God through Christ, and God's delight in his children, but these sections felt relatively brief compared with the sustained emphasis on reverence, submission, and self-examination. I found myself longing for Christ himself to occupy more of the foreground, with reverence flowing naturally from beholding him rather than being presented chiefly as something to cultivate.
If you naturally minimise God's holiness or have grown up with an overly casual view of worship, this book may be a timely corrective. If, however, you already have a well-developed sense of reverence and tend toward introspection or a tender conscience, you may not connect with it as deeply as others will.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a needed word for the Church today. My one concern- Story quotes John Mark Comer twice. His theology has gone astray in recent years so I would not point anyone to him at this point.

[Levi Moberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stand in Awe: How Reverence Transforms Our Worship and Our Lives by Laura Story is a well-timed book that seeks to explore how a growing “casualness” in the church has led to an eroded sense of who God is. The book begins with a clear call to deeper reverence for the person and lordship of God. This deeper reverence is what for many Christians, according to Story, is what prevents them from growing deeper in their faith. The first two chapters begin by defining the problem and then providing a biblical overview of how reverence impacts our understanding of who God is. Primarily this draws from the burning bush narrative of the Exodus and the worship of the Psalms. In part two of the book Story examines what she calls four “ditches” in life that often can disrupt our understanding of reverence. They are our casualness, our self-focus, our shallow theological education, and our ability to be distracted. Each of these chapters balances a pastoral approach with biblical inquiry as to how to overcome them. The final part of the book briefly examines what the life of a Christian may look like if they were to take the reverence of God seriously. Stand in Awe was for myself deeply convicting in many ways as I examined my own relationship with God and how I approach the Lord of the universe, but ultimately nothing in the book felt particularly fresh or original. I am glad that this book exists as an option amongst many that seeks to build the devotional life of Christians, but I also felt that all I had read had been expressed numerous times from other authors in more original and/or beautiful ways. Ultimately, this will be one I am glad I read for a season, but I am sure I won’t be thinking about it at the end of the year.
I received a free copy of this books from the publisher via NetGalley, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Shelby Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If someone who knew nothing about Christianity or God visited the average North American church, what would that person conclude based on the topic of the sermon and the content of the songs? Would that individual conclude that God exists for man or that man exists for God?”
Coming out of long season of discouragement by the decline of corporate worship in our previous church, I appreciated this so very much. Laura discussed so many relevant topics.
- What is a biblical worship song and how does this differ from what we hear on Christian radio?
- Why are liturgies, hymns and lamentation important in corporate worship?
- How are we to engage in church worship? Scripture reading? The pastoral prayer? The sacraments?
- Great worship is not simply what brings a emotional experience or response- so what is it?
- What hinders reverence?
- What does it look like to be reverent in our daily lives?
I think this is a very relevant book for this time in the evangelical church. While not every church has reduced worship to emotional highs, fog machines, and spotlights, many have. And this is a wonderful, humble resource to challenge that definition of worship and to offer up a vision of God-centered, humble, biblical worship in response to his who He is and what He has done.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I oversee a ministry for College/Career age. My wife is also the worship minister for the church we attend. I say that to let you know this book is hitting at the perfect time. This is a constant conversation among those in their 20s and early 30s. There has also been a resurgence of that age group leaning towards more liturgical services.

Laura Story has written, to me, the perfect book about the subject of the reverence of God. To me, this isn’t just about song selection or style of service. It is about the attitude of the heart. Story makes the case by picking apart the different things that are fighting for the hearts of those that are followers of Christ.

I highly encourage churches to go through this book. Worship directors, please, not only read this, but do a deep dive with your worship team and musicians.

This book is much needed for the Body of Christ. Thank you, Laura Story, for listening to the Lord and writing this. This is not a book. This is a challenge.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stand in Awe, by Laura Story, is a must read for anyone who leads musical worship or is involved in leading a worship service. This book was an excellent examination of the reverence of God in the church as a whole and in our own lives as individuals. Including lots of scripture, a look at church history, and practical advice for showing reverence in corporate worship and our daily lives, I was both convicted and encouraged as a worship leader.
The liturgy of confession at the end was a powerful way to end Stand in Awe.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an age of casualness, this is an excellent reminder that the Creator of the universe is majestic and holy. Once we truly grasp who He is and how we are to relate to Him, we understand who we are and allow that to change our lives.

An excellent resource for personal devotion or in a group setting.

Highly recommended.

Family friendly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crossway. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Regan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. For me, it had too many personal anecdotes & random contemporary book citations and not enough original content. There was about one sentence for every 3 to 4 paragraphs that felt worth reading. The book could have been much more concise.

The author feels authentic & earnest. Her message seems heart felt & the message is good. Unfortunately for me, the ratio of content to fluff was off.

[Hannah Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! “Reverence ought to characterize the Christian life as a whole. It is both the entry point to relating to God rightly and the sustaining fuel of our faith.”

[Lily Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to purchase it for myself. I'll also be keeping it in mind for future gifts! It contained the perfect balance of grace and truth. Through the use of Scripture, quotations from saints in Heaven and on Earth, and her own wise words, I was convicted, encouraged, and drawn into deeper love for and awe of God! What a good book!