The beauty of the Lord’s creation never ceases to amaze me. From across the world at Victoria falls, to this last week when I was standing on the American soil of Yosemite National Park.
It seems as though everywhere I stop to look, He takes my breathe away.
I love it when I have moments of complete adoration. The ones where I close my eyes, inhale a deep inhalation, and just pause in the peace surrounding me. Those moments where I feel Him in His creation – those are what takes my breathe away the most.
This week I have experienced many of those moments again. Once when I watched the sun set over the mountains in Yosemite, and a second time while laying in my hammock gazing up at the stars – baffled by how many I could actually see.
I again experienced complete adoration when I walked through a forest of Red Wood trees, saw a beautiful orange butterfly land on a flower, and felt the breeze lightly brush my skin as I laid on my back gazing into the trees above me.
The moments that I could continue to list, cause me to stop and appreciate the creative side of my God. I appreciate His peace. I appreciate the abilities He has given me to take in the beauty of His creation. I open my eyes to take in the creation that surrounds me and I stand in awe of my King, yet again.
I pray that God amazes you today. I pray that you take time to stop, to listen, and to adore Him. I pray that you thank Him for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon you from your senses, to the very breathe you are breathing.
I pray that you realize what a miracle having this life even is. I pray that today, He opens your eyes like He has mine – and you stop to appreciate Him. I pray that you take time to pause your busy life, and communicate with your Creator.
I feel so blessed that I’ve had the space to do just that lately. Last week I spent a morning in Topanga State Park alone at a picnic table – just sitting in the woods with my God. I got lost in conversation with Him and ended up spending hours there without even realizing it. I was enjoying the blessing of time He has given me to process, to live, and to just “be still”.
A few days ago, I was in Yosemite National Park. I was with two friends who went on the Race with me, and I couldn’t stop seeing God. I was surrounded by so much of His beautiful creation it was breathe taking, literally.
Today I am still getting lost in Him. I’m currently in San Francisco, I just got back to my Airbnb from an 8mile bike ride around town. We rode to see a japenses garden, and ended up on the San Francisco Bay Trail, and then at a rose garden. I absolutely love how God takes the time to talk with me, how he has blessed me, and that I have the ability to appreciate what He has created years and years ago.
Psalm 139 “O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
I feel like I can truly understand David’s question to God in this psalm now – “Where shall I go from your Spirit?” I don’t feel like David is asking this question because he is desiring to flee from the Lord, I feel like he is asking because he knows God is always with him. He feels the love the Lord has for him. He sees God in creation, and he knows that he is safe. The psalm states “even the darkness is light to You” – it is comforting to know that God is always with you, for you, and that He will always love you.
Lord, you never cease to amaze me. From your playful comment last week, to yet another piece of captivating creation you show me day after day. I pray that I continue to be amazed by you every single day. I pray that I don’t stop looking for you in everything. I pray that you continue to open my eyes to your glory, beauty, and unconditional love for me. Amen.
