A Prayer for Finding God’s Presence in Nature
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading
“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day” - Genesis 1:31
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All we have to do is look around at creation and be amazed. If this is the fallen version of God’s creation, what must the pre-Adam fall have looked like? And not just how it looked visually but the aromas, fragrances, and freshness of every living plant and tree. It’s hard for us to imagine, but in looking at what is still here, even in its fallen condition, God’s creation is spectacular and reveals His presence. Romans 1:20 explains, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
We can also look up and see all that He has created, as Psalm 19:1 describes: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” God is a hands-on Creator who knows exactly how many stars there are in the sky and has named each one, too. Psalm 147:4 explains, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”
What Nature Teaches Us about God
There is much we can learn about God’s presence in nature; as Job 12:7-10 explains, it has much to teach us: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
Nature’s Range of Emotions
Scripture describes nature as full of emotions, things we don’t often associate with the earth, trees, and plants. Psalm 96:12 says, “Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” Likewise, even rocks are able to express emotions, as Jesus says in Luke 19:40. “'I tell you,’ He replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’”
Furthermore, Isaiah 55:12 describes how the earth and trees are able to put on what seems like a musical. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Needless to say, there is much to learn about God’s presence in nature.
Keeping Nature in Godly Perspective
Nature points us to God, but many on earth through the centuries have been led astray and instead of glorifying Him through it, turned to worshipping it. Romans 1:25 warns of the danger in doing this. “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”
Nature Suffers With Us
Sadly, as Romans 8:20-22 describes, nature, too, was affected and suffered from the fall of humans. “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”
Nature’s Glorious Future
But like God has freed us from sin’s hold on us and made us new (Ephesians 4:24), He has a plan for the earth, too. As 2 Peter 3:13 explains, “But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” As the Apostle John describes, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea” (Revelation 21:1).
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Words cannot express the awe and wonder we experience in seeing Your glorious creation here on earth. Even with the fall of humans, and its affect on nature, the splendor of Your creativity is evident. Through the earth’s nature You designed, we have a glimpse of Your eternal power and divine nature, of Your amazing workmanship as Creator of the world. Help our hearts, Lord, to see Your presence in nature and to turn to You in worship with grateful hearts for the magnificence and gift of Your creation.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Anastasiia Shavshyna
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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