The Most Beautiful of All – Advent
LIO Advent Edition: Day 5 of 15
Today’s wow-inspiring truth about God: He is glorious—he is infinitely
beautiful and great.
Christmastime. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” right?
Well, if I’m being honest, Christmas is not my favorite time of the year. (Maybe
you can relate. If not, please stay with me for a moment.)
Don’t misunderstand me—I’m no Grinch or Scrooge. I like Christmas. This
season just comes with a lot of challenges. As a perfectionist who’s attached to
her to-do list, the extra tasks can feel overwhelming. As an introvert, all the plans
and gatherings can be exhausting. As someone who works at a church, this is
when the pressure really ramps up for my job. I could go on.
And on top of all that, I tend to struggle spiritually during the winter. I connect
best with God through the beauty of nature—getting away from the work, the
expectations, the stress—going to a park and just letting God speak through
his creation. And while I certainly can go for walks during the cold of winter,
most of the time, I really don’t want to.
However, sometimes, for the sake of my mental, spiritual, and emotional health,
I do it anyway. On a freezing, snowy day, I’ll put on my gloves, my scarf, my parka
(bought specifically for January in Russia, so it’s plenty warm) and drag myself
to one of Toledo’s many parks.
And standing out there in the stillness—everything coated in ice and snow, the
whole world glimmering around me—I’m reminded that, honestly, I do kind of
love winter.
Our God is beautiful, glorious. And while it’s important to remember the creator
is separate from the creation, his creation does reflect this. When I get out of
the house to appreciate the world God created, especially in the winter, I’m
struck by the beauty and glory of it—and I’m reminded of the beauty and glory
of our creator.
Reflecting on this, I’m reminded of the song “You’re Beautiful”—I encourage
you to give it a listen.
“You’re Beautiful” by Phil Wickham
I see your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful
God created us with an appreciation of beauty for beauty’s sake—when we
experience something beautiful, it awakens a sense of awe and wonder in us.
That’s because it’s a reflection of our God, who is infinitely beautiful and
glorious—in every season, no matter what’s going on in our personal lives.
It’s my hope that, whether it’s today, this weekend, or later in the month, you
get a chance to pause and experience God’s glory and beauty this season.
Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.
Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his
eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Questions:
Where do you best experience the beauty and glory of God? It’s different for all
of us—maybe it’s through nature, or through manmade art at the museum, or
through music. Maybe it’s in your child or grandchild’s smile.
When was the last time you were caught off guard by God’s beauty or glory?
Next Steps:
However you most clearly see God’s beauty, make some time for it this season.
Set down the to-do list, stress, and expectations to spend time somewhere or
with something that reminds you of God’s glory and beauty. Reflect on and
praise God for his infinite beauty and glory.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I praise you for your beauty and glory. Thank you for creating
a world where we’re surrounded by reflections of your beauty. Thank you for
giving us sense to see, hear, taste, and touch the wonder you’ve placed around
us. Help us to have open minds and hearts to experience your glory. Amen.
Family Advent Activity:
Throughout this Christmas season, CedarCreek’s Family Ministries will be
providing us with some fun ways to connect with the Christmas story through
Scripture readings and engaging activities. This will help prepare our hearts
for Christmas and create great Christmas memories for you and your family.
These Family Advent Activities will be located at the end of each LivingItOut
devotional.
Today’s Activity:
Read Luke 2:1-4 together as a family. Parents, share about a particularly special
or unique Christmas that you experienced as a child.
This post was written by Payton Lechner, a regular contributor and editor of the LivingItOut.
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