It Was Good

Can you believe it is May already? I can’t! The older I get, the faster time seems to pass. This reminds me that I need to slow down and sit with God. My favorite place to fellowship with the Lord is in nature. I love marveling at His creation, just as I believe our heavenly Father intended.

The world and everything in it exist for the Lord’s pleasure and purpose, as noted in Colossians 1:16. Because He loves us, we, too, can take pleasure in the beauty of the oceans, woodland animals, and all avian life. The sun, moon, and stars light our paths. We are truly blessed!

David speaks to the wonderfulness of God’s handiwork in Psalm 104:24-25. The verse reads, “O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your possessions. There is the sea, great and broad, in which are swarms without number, animals both small and great.” The Psalmist’s words of praise honor what the Lord delights in. After speaking life into existence, Yahweh proclaimed, “It was good.”

Have you ever wondered about the significance of those three words? According to the Matthew Henry commentary, when the sovereign Lord saw what He created, it pleased Him. What God commands, He will approve and graciously accept. [1]

Thus, the six variations of “it was good” are recounted in the Genesis creation story. What was once dark and void became light, seas, livestock, and even insects that eat pests to protect our harvest. When the earth was complete, the Lord approved a seventh time, declaring, “It is very good.”

Knowing God approves of His creation, we should cherish the world and everything in it. My phone’s photo library is full of earth’s splendor, like sunsets, a hornet’s nest, a gaggle of geese blocking my walking path, and rows of tulips and lilacs planted by an unknown gardener. My walks take longer than planned as I stop often to admire what’s before me. If you love nature as much as I do, maybe your camera roll is similar to mine.

Taking pictures of wildlife and plants is fun, but do you know that even they are expected to praise the Lord? Fourteen verses in Psalm 148 tell of how every living thing must give praise to its creator.

The praises of a babbling brook, crickets chirping, bees buzzing, geese honking, leaves rustling, or a waterfall rushing may go unnoticed if we are distracted by life. When was the last time you unplugged, sat outside, and quieted your mind to listen to and admire God’s creation?  

I enjoyed several speed walks this past winter. But nothing compares to sitting quietly or walking leisurely, observing nature. One can’t help but recognize the Lord’s sovereignty and truly comprehend that if He cares and provides for the smallest bee, imagine what He will do for you and me, who were made in His image.

Now that the days are getting longer, and God’s creation is teeming with life, I invite you to join me on a meditative, spiritual journey through nature.

But first, let’s review why it is a good practice to slow down and connect with nature by engaging all our senses: sight, smell, touch, and hearing. One possible reason is that it draws us closer to the Creator by allowing us to see the invisible God in the visual world.

Be intentional this month and in the days to come by implementing these steps to join me on a spiritual journey and recognize the power of the One who holds all power in His hands.

1. Read and meditate on Psalm 148.  
2. Quiet your mind while sitting or walking in nature. Focus on one form of life that stands out to you. A bird, insect, plant, body of water, land, or sea animal. Then, reflect on its divine purpose in our extraordinary ecosystem of life.
3. Thank God for filling the void with beauty and wonder for His pleasure as well as ours.
4. Bonus step: Meditate on Matthew 6:26, which reads, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

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[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible p.4

May God keep you and bless you,
Tika

What I am reading: The Conductors by Nicole Glover. It’s a fun fantasy fiction about a couple who use magic in post-slavery America to solve crimes.

Notable Quote: “People’s weariness comes from enduring their own burdens.” Pastor De’Andre Burgs

Just for fun: It’s biking season again! My first ride this year was a blast.