"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 19:1-2 (NIV)

When I was a little girl, on lazy days my mother would spread an old, worn blanket in our small front yard. I’d lie there for what seemed like hours, daydreaming about all sorts of wonderful things.

Surrounded by a blended fragrance of honeysuckle and fresh-cut grass, I’d close my eyes as the gentle breeze blew through my strawberry blonde bangs. The summer heat would sizzle my forehead as I aimlessly swatted at the garden gnats that were stirred up because of my unannounced intrusion.

Gazing at the skies, I’d count the clouds and watch them slowly glide across the blue canopy stretched out above me. One by one, I’d imagine those enormous puffy shapes to be all the things I loved: birthday balloons, fluffy stuffed animals and heart-shaped boxes.

When I reminisce about those days on the front lawn, it brings back such sweet memories. Peaceful moments that felt simple and carefree. No place to go and no reason to rush. I was content to just rest and take in the beauty of God’s creation.

My days look quite different now. Maybe yours do, too. Let’s face the facts: there will always be errands to run, commitments to fill and good reasons to rush. If we’re not intentional, we will miss the opportunities to experience the beauty of God’s creation.

So let me ask you … when was the last time you paused for a moment and noticed the clouds above you? Or watched the sky explode with color as the sun gently sank into the horizon? When was the last time you noticed birds singing first thing in the morning or counted the stars at night?

I know. It sounds like a luxury, doesn’t it? After all, who has time for that sort of thing? Life is busy. There’s so much to do.

Sky gazing is for children who have all the time in the world, or for teenagers who zone out in English class as they stare out the window, right? Well, not exactly …

Today’s key verses tells a different story: "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 19:1-2).

When we look at the skies above, we can clearly see evidence of God’s glory as written in the Scriptures. God alone created the heavens and earth so that all living things would rejoice in His splendor.

But many of us rarely take time to notice. To pause and marvel at the vast beauty of His creation. What could be more important than experiencing the revelation of God’s glory?

The sun illuminates at His spoken command, and the stars are formed with magnificent perfection. The galaxies were created by His grand approval. Not a single cloud moves without His direction.

The Lord takes pleasure in all He has made, so let us marvel at the greatness of His creation. Let’s be sure to give God all the glory He deserves.

Let the earth rejoice and be glad! Let the heavens sing out His praises! Let the sea bow before Him as the waves reveal His wonder! Let every voice lift high the holy name of our Lord Almighty! For He is worthy!

Dear God, thank You for creating the heavens to declare Your glory and the skies to proclaim the work of Your almighty hands. Help me to have a greater awareness of Your creation and to pause throughout my day to celebrate the grandeur of it all. For You are worthy of all glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Psalm 8:1, "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens." (NIV)

Romans 11:36, "For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen." (NLT)

Psalm 72:19, "Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!" (NLT)

RELATED RESOURCES:

In her book, The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands, Lysa TerKeurst guides you in how to make the most of your moments so that you can discover your "best yes."

Stop by Leah DiPascal’s blog to continue the conversation and enter her drawing to win an exciting giveaway!

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

When was the last time you noticed something in creation that made you pause and give God thanks? Reflect on that memory for a moment. How would you describe it now?

Spend 15 minutes outside today and write down every thing in creation that you notice. How does it reveal God’s glory to you?

© 2015 by Leah DiPascal. All rights reserved.