As you wander the trails and woodland paths with me, I hope you will come to see the paramount beauty unveiled around you and the Spirit of faith who reveals Himself to you.
I’ve been reading the Valley of Vision, one of my favorites for meditation. The words are simple but profound:
“I thank thee for showing me the vast difference between knowing things by reason, and knowing them by the spirit of faith. By reason I see a thing as so: by faith I know it as it is.” (1)
Walking or hiking in the mountains or across fields of wildflowers, we see absolute evidence of a creator. We see that by reason. But if we connect its beauty and amazing creativity to the One who designed it, we look at the landscape before us entirely differently – by the spirit of faith.
The writer continues:
“I have seen thee by reason and have not been amazed, I have seen thee as thou art in the Son and have been ravished to behold thee.”
If you meditate and look deeply and longingly to our Creator, His love will profoundly affect you. The beauty you see reveals part of Him we can barely touch here on earth.
The Bible can teach us intellectually who Jesus is. But until we know Him in our hearts and confess Him as Lord and Savior, we only know Him rationally and do not have the Spirit of faith within us. The scripture says that even the demons know who Jesus is. (2) But because they rebelled against the Lord and are unwilling to take Him as Lord and Savior, they gave up their place in heaven where they once knew Him in all His splendor. They chose a path that forever bars them from His beauty and majesty.
There is a difference between loving “Mother Earth” and stewarding the earth under Christ’s leadership. You cannot understand the difference without the Spirit living within you.
There is “an adherence to Christ, a resting on him, love clinging to him as a branch to the tree, to see life and vigour from him.”
We know Jesus taught: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (3)
The Puritan prayer journal continues:
“Thou hast taught me that faith is nothing else than receiving thy kindness;” (4)
His loving kindness is everlasting and ever-present. The scripture says it is better than life. (5) It washes over you continuously all day. I like to think of His kindness as if you are sitting on an ocean beach letting the tide wash over you again and again and again without end.
Take a moment in your day, find a quiet place, and meditate on His loving kindness to you. Let it wash over you. Dwell in it, and let it remind you of His deep love for you.
“For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”
Psalm 117:2 KJV
- Valley of Vision pg. 103
- James 2:19
- John 15:5 ESV
- Valley of Vision pg. 103
- Psalm 63:3
