DEVOTION:
Psalm 19:1 (NIV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
VACATION THOUGHTS
Over the next week, I will have the opportunity to spend some time along the beautiful coast of Maine. There is something about standing near the ocean that has always caused me to stop. Maybe it is the vastness of the water stretching farther than my eyes can see. Maybe it is the sound of the waves meeting the rocky shore, or the salty air, the seabirds overhead, and the way the sunlight dances across the water. Whatever it is, I find myself looking out at all of it and thinking, How can anyone look upon such beauty and not stand in awe?
Yet, as magnificent as creation is, I have to remind myself that creation is not God. It points us toward God. The ocean is powerful, but God is greater. The horizon seems endless, but God is eternal. The rocks along the shore have stood against countless storms, yet God was there before the first stone was formed. Every wave that rolls toward the shore, every sunrise that breaks across the water, every gull that rides upon the wind is part of a creation that quietly declares, Look beyond us. Look to the One who made us.
Sometimes I wonder if we have become so busy that we have forgotten how to be amazed. We rush from one thing to another, our minds filled with schedules, worries, responsibilities, politics, problems, and all the noise of life. Yet creation continues its sermon. The tide still comes in. The tide still goes out. The sun still rises. The stars still appear. And through it all, God seems to whisper, I am still here.
Perhaps that is what I need to remember as I look out across the coast this week. The God who created all of this is the same God who knows me. The One who holds the oceans in their place also holds my life. The God who paints the evening sky knows every worry I carry, every prayer I have whispered, every question I have asked, and every road that still lies ahead of me.
So maybe today we should simply allow ourselves to be amazed again. Look around. Notice what God has placed before you. You do not have to stand beside the ocean to see His handiwork. It may be found in a sunrise through your kitchen window, a flower growing beside the road, the laughter of a child, the face of someone you love, or even the simple gift of another morning.
Creation reminds us that we are part of something far greater than ourselves. And perhaps the greatest wonder of all is this: the God who created something as vast as the ocean still desires to be known by you and me.
Today, wherever you are, take a moment and look around. Be still long enough to notice. Let yourself stand in awe. And then whisper a simple prayer:
“Lord, open my eyes. Help me to see Your glory in the world around me, and never let me become so busy with life that I forget to be amazed by You.”
PRAYER: Almighty and Holy God, as we look upon the beauty of Your creation, open our eyes to see beyond what is before us and recognize Your presence in it all. In the rolling waves, the endless sky, the rocky shore, and the quiet moments, remind us of Your greatness and Your faithfulness. Slow our hearts enough to be amazed again. Help us remember that the God who holds the oceans also holds us. May we walk through this day with grateful hearts, open eyes, and a deeper awareness of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DEVOTION:
Psalm 19:1 (NIV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
VACATION THOUGHTS
Over the next week, I will have the opportunity to spend some time along the beautiful coast of Maine. There is something about standing near the ocean that has always caused me to stop. Maybe it is the vastness of the water stretching farther than my eyes can see. Maybe it is the sound of the waves meeting the rocky shore, or the salty air, the seabirds overhead, and the way the sunlight dances across the water. Whatever it is, I find myself looking out at all of it and thinking, How can anyone look upon such beauty and not stand in awe?
Yet, as magnificent as creation is, I have to remind myself that creation is not God. It points us toward God. The ocean is powerful, but God is greater. The horizon seems endless, but God is eternal. The rocks along the shore have stood against countless storms, yet God was there before the first stone was formed. Every wave that rolls toward the shore, every sunrise that breaks across the water, every gull that rides upon the wind is part of a creation that quietly declares, Look beyond us. Look to the One who made us.
Sometimes I wonder if we have become so busy that we have forgotten how to be amazed. We rush from one thing to another, our minds filled with schedules, worries, responsibilities, politics, problems, and all the noise of life. Yet creation continues its sermon. The tide still comes in. The tide still goes out. The sun still rises. The stars still appear. And through it all, God seems to whisper, I am still here.
Perhaps that is what I need to remember as I look out across the coast this week. The God who created all of this is the same God who knows me. The One who holds the oceans in their place also holds my life. The God who paints the evening sky knows every worry I carry, every prayer I have whispered, every question I have asked, and every road that still lies ahead of me.
So maybe today we should simply allow ourselves to be amazed again. Look around. Notice what God has placed before you. You do not have to stand beside the ocean to see His handiwork. It may be found in a sunrise through your kitchen window, a flower growing beside the road, the laughter of a child, the face of someone you love, or even the simple gift of another morning.
Creation reminds us that we are part of something far greater than ourselves. And perhaps the greatest wonder of all is this: the God who created something as vast as the ocean still desires to be known by you and me.
Today, wherever you are, take a moment and look around. Be still long enough to notice. Let yourself stand in awe. And then whisper a simple prayer:
“Lord, open my eyes. Help me to see Your glory in the world around me, and never let me become so busy with life that I forget to be amazed by You.”