Strength for My Path E-Book

Maureen E. Wise

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 160

Beschreibung

Step into the wonder of God's creation. Escaping from the stress of daily life to a rugged cliff or the depths of a forest offers time for peaceful thought. In Strength for My Path, Maureen E. Wise shares fifty-two devotions to ponder on your next hike. Featuring daily Scripture and prayer, these reflections from the trail will - provide hiking tips and nature facts, - encourage responsible creation care, - heighten your wonder in the world around you, and - deepen your love of creation and the Creator. Whether you're on a day hike or only have a few minutes to spare before work, Strength for My Path is the perfect companion for quality time with your heavenly Father in the wonderful world he has made.  

Leseprobe

BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC

Savage, Minnesota, USA

BroadStreetPublishing.com

Strength for My Path: 52 Devotions from the Hiking Trail

Copyright © 2024 Maureen E. Wise

9781424568154 (faux leather)

9781424568161 (ebook)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Unless otherwise marked, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org. Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.

Cover and interior by Garborg Design Works | garborgdesign.com

Printed in China

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FOR MY DAD

Contents

Introduction

1 Jesus Valued Time in Nature

2 The Washed-Out Path

3 Don’t Be a Ride-Along Seed

4 Creation Sings the Praises of God

5 The Grand Canyon Wasn’t Always Grand

6 Forgiving Sunburns

7 Give Notice When Passing

8 Chosen and Preserved

9 Footprints of Faith

10 Faith Found in Forest Fires

11 Seeing the Divine in Unexpected Places

12 Glaciers and God’s Everlasting Love

13 Exposing What’s under the Soil

14 Hiking with a Senior

15 The Riffles, Runs, and Pools of Life

16 Leave No Trace

17 God’s Love behind the Bird Blind

18 Invasive Plants Do Not Belong

19 Carry a Compass

20 Wetlands: Nature’s Filters

21 The Busy Trail Parking Lot

22 The Worshipful Forest

23 Embracing Our Role as Spiritual Pollinators

24 Rocks Singing for Jesus

25 Higher Than the Heavens

26 Holy Trail Markers

27 The Stillness of Snow

28 Hiking Together in Faith

29 Different Trail Textures

30 The Promise of a New Day

31 The Perseverance of a Long Day Hike

32 Trusting God during Life’s Stormy Times

33 All the Stars

34 An Unexpected Storm on the Trail

35 Hiking Shoes in the Trunk

36 Waterfall Meditations

37 New Places to See God’s Love

38 Lifted out of the Depths

39 Creation Wasn’t Made for Us

40 Exploring God’s Creation with Children

41 Appreciating the Stillness of Nature

42 What God Sees in Canal Paths

43 The Breath of Life

44 The Birds of the Air

45 Let Us Be Used as God’s Hiking Sticks

46 We Are Called to Care for Creation

47 Supportive, Living Soil

48 Jesus’ Earthly Perspective

49 Not Only the Destination but Also the Journey

50 Nature Centers and Churches

51 A Generous Heart

52 Set Out to Observe Wildlife

Author’s Note

Acknowledgments

Endnotes

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

I pray that this devotional both strengthens your relationship with God and enriches your time on the trail. This project has already blessed my life deeply, and I’m so excited to hear what other people think of these topics. It’s wonderful to imagine people around the world reading this little book and spending time in nature.

I’m constantly inspired by God’s beauty when I’m on the trail, no matter its location. I ruminated over and prayed for every single idea for this book on a Cleveland Metroparks trail near our home. Many readers of this devotional will be much more experienced hikers than I, but I know we have a common love for the outdoors and faith. May these words bless you.

1

Jesus Valued Time in Nature

He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

LUKE 5:16 NKJV

Outdoor enthusiasts just love to be outside. Take us to a beach, a picnic, a botanical garden, an outdoor theater, a farm or farmer’s market, or (surprise!) a hiking trail, and we’re in our happy place. Our favorite church services are the few weeks during the year when our congregation meets at a local park or holds an Easter sunrise service on the lawn outside the church building. We simply long to be in the open air.

Jesus also liked to be outside. In fact, he often took time out of his busy ministry schedule to pray in the wilderness. He valued time alone with God. Jesus knew that by being away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, away from the crowds of people who hung on every word he said, and even away from his disciples, he would be able to focus on connecting with his heavenly Father. He also chose places where he would enjoy the beautiful landscape around him, landscapes that he himself made.

Follow Jesus’ lead and pray in wild places too. We don’t have to meet God only in set-aside places such as churches, Bible study meetings, Sunday school, and prayer rooms. While these places and times are sacred and important, we can connect with God anywhere.

He is everywhere, after all. By intentionally choosing outdoor spaces to pray and be with God, we can also connect with creation and reflect on faith topics in a different way. Away from distractions and our human-made structures, immersed in the beauty of creation, we can find a deeper intimacy with the Creator.

Nature has distractions of its own—soaring mountains, interesting wildlife, babbling brooks—but these distractions point right back to the Creator. In nature, God’s handiwork is on full display. Admiring beautiful landscapes helps us contemplate his power and ability to make such grandeur. Visiting new places in nature to pray creates a sense of wonder.

It’s also beneficial to have a specific place that you visit regularly to witness the changing of the seasons, admiring how that space transforms throughout the year. No matter where you find yourself praying in the wild, be sure to thank God for sharing his creation with you and expect to hear his voice a bit differently than you do within human-made walls.

Dearest Lord, thank you for Jesus’ example of spending time in wild places to be with you. We pray that we can also set aside time to pray outdoors, seeking your presence and guidance in the wild places you have made. We pray that you can meet us there and thank you in advance for the love and peace we know we will feel. Amen.

NATURE CONNECTION

It’s believed that one of the places that Jesus used to frequent to pray alone is the Eremos Grotto in Galilee.1 This cave is near the current day Church of Peter’s Primacy and is tucked in the base of the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus performed his Sermon on the Mount.2 The Eremos Grotto boasts a sweeping view over the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding towns. Jesus used to hide away to pray in a cave with a magnificent view.

2

The Washed-Out Path

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

JOHN 16:33

Hiking trails are paths carved out of the wilderness as a means for us to enjoy nature. They don’t really belong there. We’ve seen how tornadoes can level entire cities, forest fires decimate ecosystems, and hurricanes wreak havoc on both the seaside-built environment as well as beaches. Wild weather can also damage hiking trails.

Coming across a washed-out path can be disheartening. Erosion probably chiseled out deep gullies where the path should be. Rocks that someone may have laid as a foundation for the trail but weren’t visible above ground before might be exposed, washed loose, and gathered together at the bottom of a hill. Tree roots might have held parts of the trail in place, but after a storm, deep grooves exist on the other side of their protection. Tree limbs and other debris might litter the ground. You might have to get off the path altogether to continue your journey. The once clear trail is no longer certain.

The trail seems trashed. Indeed, it’s in a worse state than while it was being constructed and certainly worse than before it was ever built. But it can be rebuilt. Heavy equipment may need to transport soil back to where it belongs. Perhaps new engineering plans are needed. It might take some time to repair what existed, but it can be remade.

Sometimes our life may feel like this. When life’s obstacles feel like too much, it can seem like our very foundations have been exposed and moved. But in our most difficult times, we are not alone. Jesus is with us. He told us we would have troubles, but he also told us that he had overcome the troubles of the world. He stands ready to help us overcome our own challenges, especially at our lowest points, when we feel like our life has been trashed and we can’t recover.

Jesus will join us in our brokenness and help us rebuild. He offers his never-ending love and peace. He reminds us that this isn’t the end of our journey. He’s with us always and ready to support the mending of our broken hearts, unfulfilled dreams, unmet expectations, or any other challenge we face. Just as a washed-out path will take time to repair, life’s challenges may also take time, but we are not alone in rebuilding.

Dearest God, thank you for always being with us. Thank you for being with us at our most joyful points of life and at the lowest, hardest points. Even if we haven’t experienced rock bottom, we thank you for the promise that you will be with us to pick us up and help us rebuild. Amen.

HIKING CONNECTION

When a new hiking trail is created, planners take a lot more into consideration than we may realize. They review its location: how far away it is from cities and other trails and the access it affords to the ecosystem and landscape.3 They decide on the intended users—the kind of hikers who might use the trail and their desired difficulty level and expected experience on the trail.4 These designations will determine the width of the trail as well as the type of texture it should have. Planners must also consider whether they should build bathrooms nearby and how big the parking lot should be.5 There’s a lot to decide when planning a hiking trail!

3

Don’t Be a Ride-Along Seed

The Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

ACTS 17:11

Lots of plants use sneaky methods to attach their seeds to feathers, fur, and clothing to spread those seeds across the region. As a frequent hiker, you’ve probably brought home some seeds unintentionally on your hiking shoes, pants, or pack. This is called epizoochory: the inadvertent carrying of seeds or seed pods by animals or people.6 What a fun vocabulary word!

To stick like Velcro to us, plants make use of hooks, barbs, spines, claws, and prickles on their seeds or the seed pods.7 These are the hitchhikers that just won’t let go no matter how much you brush them off. You have to pull them off your clothes individually, one by one. What a great way to spread seeds farther than just letting them drop to the ground or hoping the wind catches them. Our God is so creative in the many methods that he conceived for plants to broadcast their genetic material.

We can wonder at the uniqueness of this natural phenomenon, but let’s not mimic them. Don’t be a ride-along seed in your faith. That is, don’t let someone else carry your faith for you. Absolutely, listen to your pastor’s sermons, listen to uplifting music, and read devotionals like this one, but read your Bible on your own too. Do not merely accept input from outside sources but also allow God’s Word and his presence to percolate within you.

Make notes as you read Scripture and highlight the pages. Many Bible apps also allow you to mark or highlight passages to remember. Meditate in prayer and memorize passages that mean the most to you. Dig into topics that you find intriguing and learn for yourself. Read up on sermons from one hundred years ago and compare them to topics of today. Research the original Greek or Hebrew to better understand the original meanings of what the Bible’s authors meant. Examine the Scriptures by checking out other translations of the Bible, such as comparing the King James Version to The Passion Translation or The Message. Be like the people of Berea who examined the Scriptures to make sure that what Paul was saying was true. Make your faith your own. Don’t just ride along.

Dear God, thank you so much for the Bible, which was written so long ago and is still meaningful to us today. Thank you for continuing to speak to us through your living Word. We pray that we can keep learning from this holy Book, understanding it better every day. Guide our reading and reveal truths about yourself, our lives, and how you want us to live. Help us research topics that you want us to learn more about. Thank you for your presence and the love we feel as we read your Word. Amen.

NATURE CONNECTION

Catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine)8 is a very common weed found throughout North America, Central America, and South America, as well as in Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It’s one widespread plant. This catchweed bedstraw, also called cleavers or goose grass, grows about three feet tall, creeping and attaching itself to nearby plants or human-made structures. Its narrow and oblong leaves grow in groups of eight. The entire plant, from stem to leaves, is covered in hooked hairs that attach to everything. The seeds are burrs that are also covered in hooked hairs that get spread far away from their parent plant.

4

Creation Sings the Praises of God

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes.

PSALM 96:11–13

Nature is a testament to the creativity and workmanship of our loving God. Next time you’re on the trail, take note of all the different aspects of nature that you can see. The soil or sand under your feet, the clouds above, evidence of wildlife, the sound of water or the wind, the smell of the forest or the sea or the desert.

No two places on earth are the same, but Psalm 96 tells us that all of creation rejoices before the Lord and that the whole earth is glad. Creation itself sings the praises of the Lord, and the earth is full of wonderful sounds. The wind whistles about his goodness. Bees buzz in worship. Rivers gurgle about his faithfulness. Coyotes howl about his loving-kindness.

The psalmist tells us that the heavens declare God’s glory. The sky stretches as far as we can see and is adorned with beautiful, glittering points of light at night and the radiance and warmth of the sun in the daytime. The stages of the moon that change so frequently act as a testament to God’s creativity. The sky sings of God’s power and artistry.

The earth itself, with its deeply diverse landscapes, bursts forth in gladness, echoing the joyous melody of God’s handiwork. Earth is glad because God made it to be so wonderful. The seas roar with crashing waves, announcing his greatness, singing songs of praise with the life that lives in the depths of the ocean. The fields and everything that lives within them dance and sing in jubilation. And every tree of the forest raises its branches in adoration and praise. What a choir! All these different parts of creation are singing a greater song of joy and praise to our God.

As this symphony continues, we are called to take part, to offer our own voices to the song. And so, as you hike along your beloved trails, surrounded by the majesty of creation, open your heart and mind to the wonders that unfold before you. Each step can become a drum beat of gratitude, each breath a melody of awe. Let the beauty of nature ignite a sense of wonder within you, drawing you closer to the Creator himself.

Dear Lord, Creator of all things, we are in awe of the beauty and variety in the world you’ve made. Thank you for making the earth and all its intricacies and for placing us here to behold its majesty. We pray that we can join the chorus of praise and worship with your creation. Amen.

HIKING TIP

Next time you are on the trail, sing praises as you hike along or tap your walking stick to the tune of your favorite praise song. How does actively worshiping God as you trek along change your mood, your appreciation of nature, or how much you notice as you hike? Often, we’re told not to deliberately listen to really hear things. When you’re worshiping this way, you may hear God’s voice differently as well as the nature sounds around you.

5

The Grand Canyon Wasn’t Always Grand

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

MATTHEW 17:20

Have you been to the Grand Canyon? It’s such a famous and beautiful place in northwestern Arizona in the United States. Its breathtaking views and stunning rock formations are world renowned. There are nearly endless hikes to take into and around the Grand Canyon. Apparently, fewer people have hiked the entire length of the Grand Canyon than have walked on the moon: as of 2023, only a dozen men have trekked the seven hundred miles in one go.9