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Come and See!
In Psalms 65 and 66, the psalmist recounts all that God has done and all that he has created. In jubilant psalms of praise, the psalmist describes God's "awesome deeds of righteousness," God's power displayed in his creation, God's abundance in caring for the land and watering it, God's bounty in providing for humankind and animals alike. "Come and see what God has done," he says in Psalm 66. "How awesome his works in man's behalf" (v. 5). Physician and author J. Matthew Sleeth invites us to share the healing that comes from bearing witness to the miracle of God's creation:
When psalmists advise us how to heal spiritually, they do not tell us to purchase a television, car, house, self-help book, or exercise equipment. God, they say, is to be found in the natural world that he created, a world filled with the grandeur, beauty, and peace that are so often lacking in our material world.
What remedy does God prescribe for our souls? Still waters and green pastures (see Ps 23:2). Find a place where there is nothing man-made in sight. Sit or lie down. Be still, and know who God is (see Ps 46:10). Do not pray. Do not worry. Do not think. Your house, your cell phone, and your new kitchen do not give glory to God. The Bible states that if it is God-made (streams, mountains, birds, trees), it praises God...When only God-made things surround you, you are in fellowship of praise.
If you live in a city, try to find one small area that consists of only God-made things. If you must, lie on your stomach and stare at a one square foot area. If there is noise or a highway sound, put your hands over your ears. You will hear the sound of your own pulse and breath. That's okay. And that's the point. You are God-made. We have forgotten that we have far more in common with a honeybee than we do with our SUV or DVD...
Perhaps many of our problems, including those of depression and anxiety, are warning signals that we are living a lifestyle that God does not sanction or want us to lead. The response to mental pain and discomfort should be to seek restoring connection with God. In seeking quite moments, green pastures, and still waters, we may find just what our souls need.
Do you know in which direction the Milky Way traverses the sky? As the phases of the moon progress, does the light go from right to left, or left to right? Can you identify a greater number of trees or cars? If the Bible says God knows every flower and bird, why do we spend so much effort knowing the names of man-made items? Maybe we're paying attention to the wrong things. Maybe this is why life seems so hard. If this is our Father's world, maybe we should pay more attention to it.
As you read today's Scripture reflect upon the following questions: in what ways does your culture and lifestyle distract you from God's created world, in what ways does God's creation reflect his glory, and what within you needs healing?
In Psalms 65 and 66, the psalmist recounts all that God has done and all that he has created. In jubilant psalms of praise, the psalmist describes God's "awesome deeds of righteousness," God's power displayed in his creation, God's abundance in caring for the land and watering it, God's bounty in providing for humankind and animals alike. "Come and see what God has done," he says in Psalm 66. "How awesome his works in man's behalf" (v. 5). Physician and author J. Matthew Sleeth invites us to share the healing that comes from bearing witness to the miracle of God's creation:
When psalmists advise us how to heal spiritually, they do not tell us to purchase a television, car, house, self-help book, or exercise equipment. God, they say, is to be found in the natural world that he created, a world filled with the grandeur, beauty, and peace that are so often lacking in our material world.
What remedy does God prescribe for our souls? Still waters and green pastures (see Ps 23:2). Find a place where there is nothing man-made in sight. Sit or lie down. Be still, and know who God is (see Ps 46:10). Do not pray. Do not worry. Do not think. Your house, your cell phone, and your new kitchen do not give glory to God. The Bible states that if it is God-made (streams, mountains, birds, trees), it praises God...When only God-made things surround you, you are in fellowship of praise.
If you live in a city, try to find one small area that consists of only God-made things. If you must, lie on your stomach and stare at a one square foot area. If there is noise or a highway sound, put your hands over your ears. You will hear the sound of your own pulse and breath. That's okay. And that's the point. You are God-made. We have forgotten that we have far more in common with a honeybee than we do with our SUV or DVD...
Perhaps many of our problems, including those of depression and anxiety, are warning signals that we are living a lifestyle that God does not sanction or want us to lead. The response to mental pain and discomfort should be to seek restoring connection with God. In seeking quite moments, green pastures, and still waters, we may find just what our souls need.
Do you know in which direction the Milky Way traverses the sky? As the phases of the moon progress, does the light go from right to left, or left to right? Can you identify a greater number of trees or cars? If the Bible says God knows every flower and bird, why do we spend so much effort knowing the names of man-made items? Maybe we're paying attention to the wrong things. Maybe this is why life seems so hard. If this is our Father's world, maybe we should pay more attention to it.
As you read today's Scripture reflect upon the following questions: in what ways does your culture and lifestyle distract you from God's created world, in what ways does God's creation reflect his glory, and what within you needs healing?
Scripture
About this Plan
The words celebration and stewardship are rarely connected. Perhaps that’s because we tend to think about stewardship as giving away rather than caring for—or even enjoying. Through this plan’s daily Bible passage and devotional content, you’ll begin to understand how intentional stewardship springs from—and even leads to—celebration.
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We'd like to thank The Stewardship Council, creators of the NIV Stewardship Study Bible, for the structure of Celebration through Stewardship: A 14 Day Journey. For more information about this plan, the NIV Stewardship Study Bible, or hundreds of stewardship resources, please visit their site at http://www.stewardshipcouncil.net/
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