The Forest: a Reflection and Devotion
My feet find this familiar path almost daily now. I tread the leaf-littered ground and also look straight up at the tree canopies above me. “Forest bathing,’ as one culture calls it, but to me its just what I’ve always done. As I child I was also blessed to roam the woods and explore, and my love for that hasn’t changed much. Its here I pray and ask God to meet with me, speak to me God, I think. Each step forward meets twig or mushroom, and branch and serenity. Here there’s no interruptions, no technology, no distractions. It’s you and the woods and what might you leave with? I look around at the trees, some similar, some standing out different.
Down the hill I can see the dirt road below. It’s all untouched seemingly, or is it waiting? I feel like I’ve been waiting forever. Asking God for a miracle. No matter what has changed in the waiting, I am sure He hears me and meets with me still. At least I have his companionship, his faithful ear.
Forest Devotions in Narnia
Here in the trees, in his creation, I feel closer to Him than I do in four man-made walls. There’s also a magic about the woods that almost seems to hold all of the best fairy tales, and that sets your mind to wondering, what could happen. The Narnian woods saw the mighty Aslan, up to defeat the evil witch and her brood. The forests of middle earth saw men, elves and their kind triumph over Mordor in the Lord of the Rings. The fairy tales, the myths, the legends, sometimes feel more true than a disenchanting modern techs-hysterical world. Miracles happened in those delightful story pages, and of course, miracles happened in Jesus’ days as he healed and amazed people he walked among.
My God is sovereign, I know that foremost, and once that is settled, I believe, your faith is more of bedrock to meet whatever comes against. A sovereign God of tree and leaf, miracle and wonders, creation and delight in our heart. It’s this God I walk with, this God I seek, this God I bring my asking to. And whatever I know I leave with, I know He hears me.
Micah 7:7
The God who hears me
