By Judy Villanueva
So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. (Philippians 4:8)
It was completely silent, except for the sound of lake water sloshing against the sides of the metal fishing boat that held us. I was stretched out reading while my husband sat patiently, rotating the reel, waiting for the tug that would mean we were having fish for dinner! It was one of those extraordinary moments when one feels held within the beauty of God and, ushered into a great shalom! Between the blue skies that watched over us and the hundreds of pines that surrounded us, it would have been difficult to imagine that we would ever be unsettled by anything ever again! I remember stepping into that little boat with an anxious heart and returning to shore, at peace. What is it about gazing at beauty that quiets the soul and bears witness to the reality of God—on the throne, in charge, and magnificently reigning over heaven and earth?
God is beautiful! Massively, spectacularly, incomprehensibly beautiful! It would be impossible to tell the story of His infinite beauty and yet, He has graced us with foretastes scattered throughout the earth! We see hints on purple mountain peaks laced in snow, and in the array of colors splashed across the landscape on a spring morning. We marvel under the magic of a night sky and catch our breath in the presence of the sun rising in firey splendor. Beauty blesses our soul and speaks to us of God in ways that words cannot.
When all seems lost and despair has declared a victory, beauty always has the final word — and that word is hope!
Reflecting on the attributes of God is a worthwhile and faith-building practice. Awakening to His beauty in this world anchors us to the reality of God…a good and beautiful God!
There is something in the human spirit that intuitively understands that beauty doesn’t just happen. It reflects and points to its Maker!
To behold His beauty is to discover His heart, peek at His face, and hear His loving whispers. There is revelation of God on flower petals, ocean waves, and glaciers — ladybugs, redwoods, and the Milky Way! At the heart of beauty is a happy God and our soul is calmed in its presence. It bears witness that He is real, on the throne, in charge, and magnificently reigning over heaven and earth!
“Thank You, Father, for this world and every inch of beauty within it! Help me to hear your voice through all of it. I am so grateful for starlit skies and glassy lakes, for delicately colored flowers, rainbow trout and moose! I praise you, most beautiful God! Amen.”
What about you?
How does beauty impact you? Does it?
When was the last time you were astounded by God’s beauty in creation? How did it make you feel?
Is beholding beauty a familiar practice?
Do you know God as beautiful?
Worship
I saw Gods beauty all around me on the back of a motorcycle taking in ALL of God’s Glory. Being on the motorcycle with my beloved husband listening to worship music from my headphones and feeling so grateful that I was blessed. That is the closest I felt to God and it was glorious
Thank you, Judy. This is an echo of my heart!
I see God’s beauty in this post and in the life of the one who posted it!! People, especially, are his Best creation:) I thank God for you:)
I was reading your post about beauty as two of my granddaughters played on the floor beside me. When I played the song at the end, they climbed up into my lap to listen. As they sat contented, drinking in the melody and praises of God, I felt overwhelmed by the idea that I was passing beauty on to them! What if I didn’t? What if I hadn’t raised their mom to appreciate beauty and look for God through it? How enriched are lives that marvel at God through His creation! What a treasure we have and how sad it is when one is not taught to see God’s handiwork and praise Him! Thanks for the reminder! He’s everywhere if we have eyes to see Him!
“What is it about gazing at beauty that quiets the soul and bears witness to the reality of God—on the throne, in charge, and magnificently reigning over heaven and earth?”
Such a good reminder of why the Scriptures remind us over and over again to think about things intentionally, and meditate on that which is good! Thank you for reminding my heart today Judy!