Friday Fight 236: Stillness in the Sanctuary of Creation

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF236.

How many times have we felt like we have not heard from God and wondered if we were doing something wrong? We all go through different spiritual seasons, but taking time to reflect on creation helps us better understand God’s character and heart. There is nothing more powerful than enjoying the sunset over the water or watching a seed grow into a tree, reminding us of His creativity and purposeful design. How can we use the rhythm of nature to help build a heart that hears? In quiet seasons, creation reminds us of God’s unchanging presence. What could God be teaching us about ourselves and Him through what He has created around us?

Stillness in the Sanctuary of Creation:

Last weekend I sat outside with a friend in front of the river. No phone, no music, just tall oak trees and the wind gently moving as the waves crashed against the rocks. We talked, laughed, and prayed. In that stillness, the noise of our lives faded. We both felt at peace as we recognized the Holy Spirit's presence. That river reminded me of another stream, the stream of life that supplies the waters of renewal to the dying, the broken, and the poor. This Stream is the endless supply of life and healing which the Lord Jesus Christ promised to His people in the gift of the Holy Spirit. In all of creation, God’s glory can be seen in the intricate complexities and delicate balance He has placed in it, in a million different ways. The Holy Spirit is always with us as a Teacher, Counselor, and Guide speaking truth to our souls.

Creation itself is one of the ways God speaks to each of us. It does not mean the Holy Spirit is more talkative, but it could be that we are finally quiet enough to hear Him when we step away from the noise and busyness of our lives. Sitting beside the flowing water reminds me that His creation draws us into a quiet that our souls were made for. This is my holy ground. What is yours? Perhaps it’s a walk on a trail, sitting in your backyard, or even a park bench close to your house. Take in all the majesty of what God has created and breathe in the life that He offers to each of us.

Why must we take time to step away from the noise? Well, the Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not compete with our loud schedules or hectic lifestyles. Instead, He waits patiently for us to be still and listen. Even Jesus withdrew from everyone to spend time in creation, communing with His Heavenly Father. If Christ himself sought sacred silence, shouldn’t we?

I love my pastor and enjoy his sermons, but there is another type of sermon that happens for me by the water. Regardless of where I am, God’s creation is a huge reminder of who God is and who I am not. Psalm 8:3-4 says, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” David’s words in this Psalm are both humbling and encouraging as he recognizes God’s creative power. The same God who painted the galaxies also bends to listen when we pray. The same God who shaped the heavens shapes these moments for each of us, reminding us that we are seen, known, and truly loved.

Take time this week to reflect on how to become a better listener. Where in nature do you most sense the Holy Spirit’s gentle presence? How could sitting by the water or hiking a trail change the way you pray? Let’s see what God reveals to us this week as we seek His presence and find our holy ground in His first sanctuary, creation itself.

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In His Grace,

Pastor Shannon

River Church