The Spiritual Shift: Day #6 Creation

                                                    Day #6 Creation

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'
Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food.' And it was so." ~Genesis 1:27-30

How do you feel about nature? Some of us love being out in nature a good portion of each day, and some of us only venture out when we need to go somewhere. Today will hopefully help us see nature as a large part of God's Creative Works, and something that we take care of, but also something that helps us understand and grow closer to our Maker.

Our routine:

Assessment: What is the current condition of my relationship with Nature?

• What is the purpose of this relationship?

• What is the state of this relationship? What is going well? What isn’t?

• What changes need to be made to this relationship?

Adjustment: Read and reflect on Bible verses. We may think of nature as a place for toiling, a place for adventure, or merely the backdrop that surrounds our lives. Let's read this verses and possibly allow them to shift our relationship with nature as the Holy Spirit guides.

Psalm 19:1-2

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge."

Psalm 65:5-13

“You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.

You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.”

Psalm 66:5

"Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!"

Job 12:7-10

“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."

Psalm 1:1-3

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers."

Let's think back to a time when we presented to someone something we created--a painting, a wood-working project, a sewing project, a recipe that turned out amazingly.

We are beaming with pride at our accomplishment, and yet we may be feeling a little tentative at how our product will be received by others. Will they see the hours and the effort that went into the accomplishment? Will they only see imperfections? Will what we have accomplished be valued and appreciated?

God created our world. Do we value it? Do we appreciate it?

Are we thankful for it?

Righting this relationship takes us back to the first verses from Genesis; man was given the command to "rule" the earth, but what kind of a ruler do we want to be? This is a good time to research and reflect on how the Native Americans viewed God's creation.

Most research will bring out one key word: Harmony. We are to live in harmony with Creation.

Jesus also used nature to teach lessons.

Matthew 7:26

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 13:31-32

"He told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."

Matthew 13:24-30

"Jesus told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
'An enemy did this,' he replied.
The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

Let's spend some time in nature today and consider God's handiwork. Let's marvel at the miracles within Creation, and let us also allow nature to teach us.

Prayer: 

Almighty God, We thank You for all You have created! Give us eyes to see and the wisdom to appreciate all You have put on this earth. Forgive us for taking so much of this world for granted. Help us to live in harmony with Your Creation. In Jesus' Name. Amen. 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” ~Micah 6:8