I don’t know about you but I’ve been feeling rather hemmed in by four walls recently.
Despite Covid restrictions easing.
Coming back to bigger gatherings has been a bit of a shock to the system…
While it’s wonderful to be together worshipping and singing our hearts out to the Lord, to hug, to laugh, to cry, to chat, to pray and just be with people, I’m really struggling with doing it inside.
So praise God for His creation! Our ready-made worship tool we can access any time, wherever we are.
If nothing else, lockdown taught us you don’t need a church building to worship our Lord. And why constrain ourselves to the indoors when Jesus was often outside, on mountains (Matt 5-7), in boats (Matt 13), walking between towns and villages (e.g. Luke 13:22) teaching, praying, ministering to the crowds? He regularly referred to the natural world to help people get to know Him and to understand the Kingdom better (e.g. Matt 13: 31-32).
What a wonderful thing to be out in creation, learning about Him, praising and worshipping the Lord.
Only last week as I wandered to the post box I came across a gathering of people on the green singing to God and giving thanks for the harvest. I practically did cartwheels down the street! My heart soared: “Yes. This is so right.”
It was relaxed with people lounging in chairs, kids actually cartwheeling and music playing. The sun threw it’s evening rays across the bench where I sat and birds wheeled in the sky, dancing to God’s glory.
Is it even possible to miss God’s presence in such situations? Could you have walked by without His Spirit spilling out of you?
If I hadn’t praised Him the rocks would have (Luke 19:40).
But it’s not always about bouncing, leaping, excitement and exuberance. While this is good, what if you can’t give your all physically?
Quiet, contemplative reflection, prayer, meditation and soaking in God’s radiant life while surrounded by nature certainly does it for me. Places like Launde Abbey and the Isle of Iona have been instrumental in my own faith journey.
I believe God wants us to worship him in a multitude of ways. Sometimes arm waving, joyful dancing and shouting his praises are right (the times I’ve been on a mountain doing just this – eat your heart out Judy Garland!). Other times it’s all about quiet prayer and meditating on Him.
Creation can inspire both.
And if you can’t get outside you can always bring the outdoors in. Think books and videos about nature, houseplants and natural objects like cones, conkers, shells and rocks. I particularly enjoyed a video of a shepherd bringing his Herdwicks off the Lake district fells… No commentary, no story, just watching it in real time.
There’s so much science showing nature boosts your wellbeing, why wouldn’t you embrace God’s creation? For more inspiration here’s a little something about spacious places. You don’t have to feel hemmed in during worship even if you’re surrounded by four walls. Jesus died to set us free so you can be free indeed.
I’d love to hear how creation inspires you so please do comment below 😁. Go on, you know you want to…
God bless xx