The Majesty of God's Mindfulness
Contemplating God's care for us in Psalm 8
Psalm 8:3–4
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”
Dwell:
Look closely at what the Psalmist says: "Look at your heavens." There is a clear acknowledgment that God is the creator and owner of the universe. Next, he points out the work of God’s fingers, referencing the moon and stars. This makes you think he was probably sitting outside at night writing this poem. After marveling at God’s creation, he is brought to great humility and simply asks God, ‘Why would You, who are so vast, care about me, who is so small?’ We can almost imagine ourselves sitting next to the person who wrote this Psalm, looking at God’s beautiful creation and bursting out with adoration!
How often do we pause to truly appreciate the beauty of God’s creation around us? Perhaps we’ve forgotten how to marvel. The Psalmist gazes at the heavens, contemplates the Creator, and is astonished that God would take an interest in humanity. It is almost unfathomable that a sovereign all-powerful God would grant humanity dominion over the earth. God not only notices us but He is ‘mindful’ of us, He cares deeply for His Children.
Thought:
God’s wisdom is fathomless, His decisions are unsearchable, His methods are mysterious and untraceable. No one has ever even understood His mind, let alone advised Him on the proper course of action. How futile and even arrogant for us to seek to determine what God is doing in a particular event or circumstance. We simply cannot search out the reasons behind His decisions or trace out the ways by which He brings those decisions to pass. - Jerry Bridges
Prayer:
God, I praise You for crafting and creating me. We praise You for fashioning each one of us in Your image. What an honor and privilege it is, though words cannot fully capture the depth of our gratitude. Who are we, that You are mindful of us and care for us amidst the vastness of creation?
Lord, I pray that You keep us from seeking our dignity in anything else in this world. Help us to resist looking to anyone or anything else to define our beauty. Deliver us from the constant need for others' approval, from being preoccupied with how others perceive us, and from allowing others to define our worth. Lord, You define us. Your perception of us is supreme.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Thank you, Norrie, for this wonderful daily devotional. So rich. Are you going to curate them into a book? Blessings.