As we look at the world around us and see the magnificent natural beauty of the world, we are reminded of God, the creator of heaven and earth. We see and experience God through what He has created: the green paddocks, the tall trees, the flowers in bloom, the clouds in the sky, the rain and the rainbow, the beaches – all of these things declare God’s power and love for us.

By reflecting on the glory of God as revealed in nature, our hearts will be opened to Him as we will want to know our creator.

“If God did not create you, He cannot redeem you.”
Dr Eric Walsh

Even when we are busy with our daily life, we can look up at the sky and be reminded of the God who created it and who created us. God wants us to enjoy the beauty of what He has created.

By searching the natural world, we learn lessons of trust and obedience. All the elements of nature obey what God set in place—the stars travel in their appointed paths; the sun rises and sets each day, just as God created it to do.

“By investigating God’s majestic and awesome creation, science can actually be a means of worship”
Francis Collins

God’s vast love encompasses the entire universe, and yet His heart is with each of His creations.

The same God who keeps each of the stars in the sky also cares about the smallest sparrow. God’s love extends to each human being — whatever we do, God is watching over us. When we are sad, He feels our pain; when we are happy, He feels our joy; when we are burdened, He carries our affliction.

When we realise that everything is in God’s control, we can feel a renewed sense of peace as we will be free from worries and anxiety.

God isn’t overwhelmed or over-burdened by our problems – He wants us to come to Him so that He can help us with whatever we are facing and give us His perfect peace. If we would fully believe this, all undue anxiety would fall away. Our lives would not be so filled with disappointment as now we can have confidence to leave everything – no matter how big or how small – in the hands of God.

“In His tender mercies,
God has an incredible capacity to love the unlovely. “
R.C. Sproul

In order to fully appreciate nature, we need to see its beauty as a symbol of God’s love. But, lovely as nature is, we can be assured that the new world that God has prepared for us, will be beyond our human comprehension:

“as it is written:
‘What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived’
the things God has prepared for those who love him”
1 Corinthians 2:9

The most beautiful things we see and experience here on earth will be just a pale reflection of the wonders that await us in heaven.

God speaks to us as He works in our lives and as the Holy Spirit works on our hearts. Each day, there is opportunity for us to find important lessons from God, provided our hearts are open to see and experience God’s leading.

“With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favoured of all creatures.”

A.W. Tozer

The Bible records God’s interaction with men and women throughout the ages. This was not just with the great prophets and kings, but with people like you and me who were simply seeking a closer walk with God. Although they lived in a very different time, they faced many similar challenges, doubts and temptations. The same grace that was extended to them is also available to us, enabling victory and second chances even after we’ve made mistakes.

God blessed His people with valuable experiences that shaped their characters. Through their experiences, we to can find encouragement, and be assured, that God cares for us just as much today.

The Old Testament (the first half of the Bible, which was written before the birth of Jesus), tells of a promised saviour.

The New Testament describes how Jesus is this long-awaited saviour, and tells of His ministry on earth, His death and resurrection, and of the work of His followers in sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone they could.

If you want to know Jesus, study the Bible. From the first story of creation in Genesis, to the closing promise in Revelation of His soon return, the Bible testifies to Jesus and we can read about His works and listen to His voice.

The story of how Jesus came down from heaven to earth, lived a humble life and ultimately died to save us, is the greatest story ever told. This salvation story is one that the entire universe is also participating in.

“Remember: the same God who forgave Moses the murderer, Rahab the prostitute, Davide the adulterer, Peter the denier and Paul the Christian persecutor, can also forgive you.
—Matt Fradd

As we consider and meditate on Jesus’ example, our lives will begin to reflect His character. As we see and understand His selfless character, we will no longer be absorbed with self.

”When I look at myself, I don’t see how I can be saved. But when

I look at Christ, I don’t see how I can be lost.”

— Martin Luther

“For me, the glory of God and the Word of God are inseparable. I have no sure sight of God’s glory except through his Word. The Word mediates the glory, and the glory confirms the Word.”

— John Piper

It’s not enough to just listen to what other people say about the Bible – we need to spend time reading and reflecting on it individually.

If we allow others to do our thinking for us, we are accepting their interpretations, and we haven’t let our own hearts and minds engage with God’s message to us on a personal level.

You can make the mistake of reading the Bible as just another book. You could read every word of the Bible and if your heart is closed to God, they will be simply words on a page.The beauty and wisdom of the Bible is fully revealed in the heart that has accepted Jesus and is open to His guidance.

Take your time to reflect on what you are reading. It’s better to read and fully engage with just one verse of the Bible and understand what God is telling you through that verse, than to read multiple chapters without seeking to understand.

Keep your Bible with you throughout the day. This may be a physical copy of the Bible or one you have downloaded onto your phone. Whenever you have the opportunity in a car, on a bus or even a boat, read a verse and commit it to memory.

Set aside time each day to spend reading the Bible and ask God to help you understand and bring the change to your life so that your heart and character are being renewed daily.

Some parts of the Bible are easy to understand, whereas other parts require more effort to comprehend. It is important to compare verses and stories in the Bible to reveal the true beauty of the Bible.

Just like the fossicker who painstakingly searches for any trace of gold beneath the surface of the earth, the person who earnestly searches God’s Word will be rewarded with truths of great value. The time and effort you put into your study of God’s word will be richly rewarded.

Whenever you study the Bible, always first pray for the Holy Spirit to open your mind and give you wisdom to understand what you are reading and learn what God’s will is for your life.

“Faith, prayer and the Word of God are the weapons God provides you with to fight spiritual battles.”
Jim George

As we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide. Both the Holy Spirit and Bible provide key teachings that will help us understand good and evil, right and wrong. C.S. Lewis brings further clarity to this point in Pilgrims Regress: God’s Word helps us discern the difference between those things that God designed to help us grow and those things that will destroy us. It is important we never confuse the two.

Knowledge of the Bible gives us a clearer understanding of Jesus salvation.

In God you will find hope – for today and for the future