10 Bible Verses About the Beauty of Nature
The hills are lavender today. I drove to the lake to sit on the shore where the water laps against sand-colored stones, and the time outside renewed my soul. Spending time in nature is restorative. Let’s take just a few moments to turn to God’s Word as we study 10 Bible verses about the beauty of nature today.
10 Bible Verses About the Beauty of Nature
Nature calls us away from the fast-paced lives most of us have learned to accept. Wild places create space for slowing down, making memories with the ones we love, and much more.
Let’s look at what the Bible says about God’s created world.
10 Bible Verses About the Beauty of Nature
1. Psalm 33:6 (ESV)
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
2. Romans 1:20
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. So they are without excuse.
3. Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
4. Psalm 96:11-12
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
5. Nehemiah 9:6
You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
6. Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
7. Matthew 6:28-30
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
8. Psalm 104:24-25
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.
9. Genesis 1:10
God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
10. Psalm 95:4-5
In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
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Let’s apply these Bible verses about the beauty of nature to our lives.
What might it look like to take just 30 minutes and spend time in nature this week?
Here are a few ideas:
Applying These Bible Verses About the Beauty of Nature to Our Lives
1. Take a walk in the nearest community park.
This might not feel like a journey into the wilderness. However, studies show that spending even a few minutes each day beneath open skies can reduce stress and even improve immune function.
2. Find a local State Park.
If you have a couple of hours, do a quick online search to find the nearest State Park. These parks are larger than most community parks and offer everything from hiking to boating.
3. Build a campfire in the backyard.
If you live in a place where campfires are permitted, enjoy a campfire in the backyard with friends of family instead of sitting in front of the TV.
4. Eat a meal outside.
If the weather permits, enjoy a meal on the patio or at a local park instead of eating inside.
5. Stroll through a nature preserve, State Game Lands, or National Forest.
Head off the beaten path to explore the deep woods and search for wildlife for an afternoon.
6. Try Geocaching.
Visit Geocaching.com to learn about this fun activity. Locate caches in your area and spend an hour trying to find these treasures with friends or family. This is a great activity for kids.
7. Try a new recreational activity.
Rent a canoe, go camping for a night, go fishing, rent a paddleboard, or try an outdoor experience you have never undertaken. You might discover a new hobby.
Join me right here for a glimpse into our family’s backpacking, off-grid lifestyle.
Now that we’ve discussed some ideas, let’s explore the benefits of spending time in nature.
5 Benefits of Spending Time in God’s Created World
1. Space to Assess Your Priorities and Rhythms
It’s hard to see the bigger picture of your life when you’re living in the middle of the big picture.
Rain or shine, blizzard or heat wave, I aim to take at least a short walk outside every day of the year. Stepping back from my routines allows me to ask hard questions about my life in an unrushed space.
It allows me to take a long look at what’s working and what’s not working. It allows me to assess whether I’m living my priorities and making intentional decisions, or whether I’m just blundering from one activity to the next in an effort to keep up with the current around me.
2. Scientific Research Supports Numerous Health Benefits
A physiological anthropologist from Japan named Miyazaki has taken over 600 research subjects into the woods since 2004.
Along with colleague Juyoung Lee, he has discovered that compared with a walk in the city, a walk in the woods leads to a 12.4 percent decrease in the stress hormone cortisol, a seven percent decrease in sympathetic nerve activity, a 1.4 percent decrease in blood pressure, and a 5.8 percent decrease in heart rate.2
On subjective tests, study participants also report better moods and lower anxiety.
3. Space to Hear from God
It’s hard to connect with the Creator when the noise of the world drowns the quiet whisper of his voice.
We can create space to hear from God anywhere, and I’ve been known to lock myself in the bathroom for even a few minutes to collect my thoughts and connect with the Lord.
However, the backdrop of his created world creates an unrushed environment with fewer distractions than our homes.
When we step away from our never-ending to-do lists and the dozens of tasks we need to complete each day at the house, we create space to hear the still small voice of God.
4. The Natural World Is a Healthy Option for Recreation
In a world saturated with unhealthy ways to relieve stress, the benefits of nature abound.
Time outside often includes physical exercise. In addition, if we include family members, we make memories that will last forever.
Some of my best childhood memories are picnics on the hillside with my mom, fishing trips with the whole family, hiking on autumn afternoons, and sitting in the treestand with Dad watching for whitetails.
5. Stepping out of the Digital World Benefits Everyone in the Family
Stepping away from digital screens is healthy for children as well as adults.
Most of us spend hours in front of screens throughout our days.
Time in nature reconnects us to earth, sky, and even uncomfortable temperatures.
When we allow ourselves to feel the bite of cold winter air on our skin or the weighty heat of an August afternoon, we activate a part of our senses that often remains untouched.
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Resources:
“It’s Official – Spending Time Outside Is Good for You.” University of East Anglia, June 7, 2018. https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/-/it-s-official-spending-time-outside-is-good-for-you
Williams, Florence. “Take two hours of pine forest and call me in the morning.” Outsideonline.com, December 2012. https://www.outsideonline.com/1870381/take-two-hours-pine-forest-and-call-me-morning?page=all
