God Speaks Through Nature

“In His hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to Him.
The sea is His, for He made it,
    and His hands formed the dry land.”

Psalm 95: 4-5

I feel closest to God when I am in the great outdoors. There is just something about being in nature that helps to revitalize my spirit. For me, there is no better way to get in touch with my Creator than by spending time enjoying His creation. I love to hunt, fish, hike, bike, and anything else a person can do outside of the boundaries of four walls. If it involves a forest, and lake, or a dirt road, count me in! This is just the way I am wired, I suppose, and I wouldn’t change it if I could. Whether drawing back on a bow string or casting a line in a mountain stream, every day is a good day when you are surrounded by nature.

I often get my best inspiration when I am outside enjoying nature. It is here, in the quiet places, where I don’t have any worries or distractions. I can watch the trees swaying peacefully back and forth, hear the birds whistling in the distance, and feel the wind on my face. Times like these bring to mind the scripture from Isaiah 55:12

“You will go out in joy and be led by peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (NIV)

All stress and responsibility fade away as I soak it all in. Fresh air fills my lungs as fresh insight fills my soul.

God Speaks Through Nature

Psalm 19: 1-2 says

“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.” (NIV)

I hear creation pouring forth speech quite clearly when I am outside in solitude, listening for the Creator. I hear His voice in the rustling of corn stalks, dried from the sun, ready for harvesting. I hear His voice in the rain, slowly pattering on the tree canopy above my head. I hear His voice in the animals, singing, bleating, and gobbling as they communicate back and forth. All of the unbelievable wonders of nature point straight to the mind-blowing, perfect design of God Almighty.

A big reason why I feel so much closer to God when I am in the outdoors has a lot to do with the fact that I consider myself an outdoorsman. I would rather be hunting and fishing than about anywhere else! I find great satisfaction in both preserving and enjoying the natural resources given to us by God. I feel a deep sense of obligation to be respectful of the land and responsible with the use of its wildlife. However, I don’t think that enjoying those particular hobbies is the only reason I feel closer to Him. A lot of it has to do with just being away from distractions, interruptions, and diversions. Physically removing myself from the hustle-and-bustle, fast-paced, dog-eat-dog world is the best way for me to clear my mind and focus on my relationship with God.

This thought process is the reason I started Rugged Pursuit; to get away from distractions and meet with God. The way I do that is through nature and outdoor activities. The whole idea behind Rugged Pursuit is based on the verse from Luke 5:16 that says

“But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” (NLT)

*You can read about my inspiration for Rugged Pursuit devotionals in my introductory post called  Withdraw to a Quiet Place

Getting out into the woods and talking to God is just one more way I can strive to be like Jesus. And, honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way!

I’ve started a new category of posts that celebrates the natural resources that we are so fortunate to have been given. You can find these soul-refreshing writings by clicking the RP Outdoors tab on the main page. God has given us dominion over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all of the animals on Earth (Genesis 1:26)! So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy it!

3.9.18