Enjoying Creation

When was the last time you went outside and really looked around?

As people in the twenty-first century who spend most of our time looking at screens, we can easily forget God’s handiwork all around us. Just outside the window lies a world full of the Creator’s glory and majesty! Savoring his creation is a way we can quiet our hearts and renew our perspective. By gazing skyward, exploring the intricacies of tree leaves, and breathing in the fresh air, we experience the peace that comes with remembering our place in God’s creation. Psalm 65:5-8 says, “You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy” (NIV).

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. He is the designer of every blade of grass, every speck of dust, every roaring wave, and every blazing star. Each part of nature is a reflection of his creativity, beauty, and love. When we look closely at how God orders and directs creation, our faith in his provision over our own lives is strengthened. When we immerse ourselves in nature, we remember where we came from and who is behind it all.

The next time your mind fills with chaos and life seems to be going one hundred miles an hour, drop what you’re doing and go for a walk outside. If you don’t have a neighborhood to walk in, try to go to a place where you can stand or sit beneath the sky. Lift up your gaze and take in the sights around you—the color of the clouds, the birds soaring above, the trees and bushes that sink their roots deep into the earth. Look down at the dirt, grass, insects, and rocks. Now, look at your own hands. Examine your fingerprints and skin, along with the movement of your fingers.

There’s no need to say, pray, or sing anything unless you want to. Just look. Soak in the wonders around you, and remember that you, too, are a masterpiece, intricately created by the grand Designer.

Let the work of God’s hands give you peace today.

Prayer Prompt: Go outside and look up at the sky. Take some time to be still and notice the beauty of God’s creation all around you. Whether you live in the city or in the country, there is always something to marvel at: the blade of grass pushing up through the crack in the sidewalk, the bird soaring high overhead, the trees bending in the wind. Look carefully. Talk with God about what you see, and ask him to refresh your spirit through this time of being outdoors.

Journal Prompt: Write down ten things that you love about creation. Describe why you love them and how these wonders point you to God.

We hope you were encouraged by this plan. For more from Naomi, please visit https://bit.ly/3tFCUm6