Encountering the Father in Creation

How much time do you spend in creation? Recent studies show that  Americans spend 100% more time on their phones each month than taking a walk outside, a gap that widens to over a 134 % among Gen. Z. It has been proven how important it is for our bodies, minds, and our souls to spend time each day in creation.

Right now there is a group of middle school students from the US on the Oceans Retreat Center campus. On their final night before they head back home we will ask each of them their “take aways” from the Kingdom Encounter trip.  Many will share the life changing impact of serving in a township or time of worship and prayer in local churches, but without a doubt several will share how they encountered the Father in His amazing creation.

For some it is the hike up Elise’s Peak and the time spent journaling on the top. For others it is the quiet time spent gazing at the ocean. And many will testify to hearing the Father speak while walking in the vineyards-mediating on Jesus’ teaching on the Vine and the Branches from John 15.

The Scriptures shout out over and over again how our Father God speaks and reveals Himself in His Creation. As we open the first chapters of Genesis we read about a God who spoke our world into existence and He delighted in it. Everything we see, touch, smell, hear, taste comes from His masterful design and points us back to His glory.

One of the greatest song writers in history received his inspiration watching sheep at night and gazing at the canopy of stars above. David could hear God speak in the breath taking brilliance of it all:

“The heavens declare the glory the glory of God, and the sky above His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4

When you think about all the fears, worries, and stress this generation is encountering-could one reason be they are missing out on the glory of God in His creation? Endless scrolling on the phone has kept so many imprisoned in caves of false worlds of media bias, and influencers, a fake reality and in doing so miss the truth and light right outside our front door.

As I was writing the words above I began to hum a song I learned early on in school which sings out what we need to recapture in our anxious generation:

This is my Father’s World, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and tress, of skies and seas: His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world; He shines in all that’s fair; in the rustling grass I hear him pass; He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world; why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Today I challenge you to put down your phone, walk out your door and open up all your senses to encounter the Father’s voice speaking to you in His glorious creation.