Lent - Keep it simple

Simply natural

Psalm 19:1-6 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.”

Rob Bell writes, “How you feel about the creator is reflected in how you treat creation.” His simple and articulate summary of gospel truth reminds us of the vitality of nature and its role in our own spirituality. When we fall in love with nature and simply take time to soak in the beauty, awe, and wonder of the natural environment, we are encountering the creative works of our transcendent God, something of his very character. When we learn to fully appreciate the simple beauty of a blade of grass or a flying bird, and the creator God who formed them, we will also become more concerned with the careless destruction of our world and live differently to avoid this.

Consider

Find a place in the midst of nature, the forest, a large park or a beach - and schedule some time for a retreat. Take nothing but the simplest tools - maybe a notepad and your Bible, and ask God to speak to you through the beauty of the natural environment around you. You’ll be amazed how the simplest aspects of nature can speak volumes to your heart, mind and soul about God and his plan and desire for our lives.

Prayer

We ask for Your help, Holy Spirit, to see God in nature. Let Your hand direct our eyes to see and respect Your creative ability. Grant us an attention span that will focus on the beauty right in front of us. Empower us to boldly walk away from the distractions. Cause a hush to fall on our minds so that we can hear You describe the intricacies of what we see. As our eyes feast on your physical creations, our hearts will be more sure of You. Multiply our faith in You as Creator. Help us to experience the reality of your power and beauty. We want to know You more.

Amen