A Prayer to Celebrate Earth Day - Your Daily Prayer - April 22 

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Tom DeRosa, founder of the Creation Studies Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a former evolutionist and atheist who came to Christ through the ministry of Dr. D. James Kennedy. He believes Christians can celebrate Earth Day by emphasizing the earth as a gift from God, specially designed to support life.

As De Rosa explains, “Celebrating Earth Day in a Biblical context can be a fantastic event to honor our Creator, not the Earth or any other idol. The secular origins of Earth Day celebrations, along with their apocalyptic evolutionary themes, imply that humanity's attempts to cause its demise are a futile effort to alter human behavior. A more optimistic perspective is that we should be good stewards of the planet God created for us; He granted us life because of His incredible love, and we will be blessed in return.”

History of Earth Day

Earth Day, celebrated on April 22 each year beginning in 1970, is an observance day organized by a Wisconsin United States Senator, Gaylord Nelson, nicknamed “The Father of Earth Day,” who planned a national demonstration to raise awareness concerning environmental issues. Beginning with rallies across our nation by 1990, observances spread to 140 countries around the globe. They served as a catalyst to motivate the United States government to create the Environmental Protection Agency.

Initially, Earth Day was introduced objectively, supporting scientific evidence and addressing toxins and pollutants in the air, which have been measured at levels proven dangerous to our health. However, over the last two decades, the primary focus of Earth Day has shifted to addressing carbon dioxide levels, which are controversial due to their speculative nature. Also, Earth Day is now heavily associated with the controversial topic of climate change, which is dividing individuals and countries, leaving many Christians unsure if it’s okay to celebrate it.

Humanity’s Mandate to Care for the Earth

Still, as Christians, who have more reason to celebrate God’s wonderful creation than we do? As Jeremiah 10:12 describes, “But God made the earth by His power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.”

Likewise, Genesis 1:26 explains, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”

“Mankind needs to be diligent in taking care of the planet environmentally,” believes DeRosa, “because God has given man a dominion mandate in Genesis 1:26, where man is responsible for managing living things on the earth.”

God’s Hand in Creation Draws Individuals to Christ

DeRosa knows well from his conversion to Christianity that seeing God’s hand in the Creation of the Earth draws individuals to faith in Jesus Christ. He recalls how, merely days after he professed faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1978, he visited Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, where “Sitting on a wooden pew in a packed sanctuary, I heard Dr. D. James Kennedy preach on creation. I was blown away to hear the biblical and scientific case for creation. And I wanted to learn more.” 

Dr. Kennedy’s message impacted DeRosa’s life and has influenced his ministry, explaining how “CSI’s ultimate mission is to win the lost to their Creator and help Christians grow stronger in their faith.” As Romans 1:20 describes, Creation draws individuals towards God. ”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.”

Let’s Pray:

Dear Father, Our hearts are deeply grateful to You for Your magnificent creation of the Earth. As You explained in Job 38:4-7: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Please tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Thank you for designing the Earth in countless ways that bless and benefit our lives, many of which are still to be discovered. Help us to celebrate Earth Day in ways that honor You and glorify Your name on the Earth. Lead us to share and tell others, especially those who may not believe yet in You, of the splendor of Your Creation in words that will bring them to faith in Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/pcess609

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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