Gratitude Challenge: Day 13

I have decided to spend the month of November focusing on thankfulness. To help me with this challenge, I signed up to receive a daily prompt from the Day One journal app, encouraging me to write about something I am thankful for. I will, of course, aim to pair the daily journal entry with a photo.

Here is today’s prompt:

What are three things I appreciate about nature?

First, I just love being out and about in nature.  I love the sights, the sounds, and the smells of the great outdoors… Okay, so maybe I don’t enjoy all of the smells. 
I don’t love being stuck inside in an office all day. One of the things that I love about running every day is that it forces me to get outside and to enjoy God’s good creation. 

Second, I love that I have no control over nature. One of the best things we could possibly do is come to the realization that we are not ultimately in control. God is in control. Nature is one of those things that reminds us that there is something (or some One) outside of us that is intelligent, incredible, and totally in control. 

Third, and I have already eluded to this, but the third thing that I appreciate about nature is that it reveals the nature of God to us in such clear ways. This is how the Apostle Paul puts it:

…what can be known about God is plain… because God has shown it… For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made…

Romans 1:19–20, ESV

Nature points so clearly to a Creator, to an intelligent Designer. 

Similar to how you can learn more about Leonardo da Vinci as you study his inventions and paintings and sculptures, we learn more about God as we study His creation and handiwork, as well.