A Prayer for Honoring God through Creation Care
By Sophia Bricker
Bible Reading:
“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil … The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” - Genesis 2:8-9, 15, NIV
Listen or Read Below:
Artificial light often causes confusion for migrating birds. Since most birds migrate during the night, they face a greater risk of being drawn by light, struggling to find rest stops, and colliding with buildings. As the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service notes, light pollution caused by humans contributes to birds experiencing “tragic collisions, entrapment, and exhaustion.” We might not think anything about the lamps we turn on in the evening, or the string lights we hang to decorate our yard, but our actions have direct consequences for the creatures and environment around us.
We see this truth played out on a larger scale if we pause to consider the ongoing problems of land and ocean pollution, deforestation, habitat loss, and the use of pesticides, which interfere with pollinators such as the monarch butterfly and the honeybee. From a biblical perspective, these effects are a result of sin in the world since creation was subjected to futility after the fall of humankind. Nature groans in this present age as it awaits the renewal of all things (see Romans 8:20-23).
God gave humans the weighty task of stewarding creation. Adam and Eve were placed in a garden to tend and care for it, not as harsh dictators but as loving gardeners. Somehow, though, we have twisted the command from the Lord to be fruitful, multiply, and subdue the earth to mean we can do whatever we please with the plants, trees, oceans, rivers, and animals (Genesis 1:28). Instead of acting as caretakers, we too often act as destroyers.
But the command to exercise dominion, or control, from a position of leadership is balanced by the reminder that we were made in the image of God (see Genesis 1:27). Our Lord is Sovereign over all creation, and everything belongs to Him. As Psalm 24:1 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (NIV). Although He is the Ruler of the world, He exercises His authority with justice and mercy. He even watches the tiny sparrow. And God does not treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10-11).
Since we are meant to follow the Lord, then we will imitate His loving care, grace, justice, and mercy when stewarding what has been entrusted to us. Each one of us can choose to honor God through the way we interact with the environment. We might not be able to control whether large buildings in our city leave their lights on at night, or the way governments around the world are cutting down trees, but we can control how we live. Like making our windows bird-friendly and reducing nighttime light exposure. Planting a sapling. Starting a pesticide-free pollinator garden. Properly treating the animals under our care. Or cleaning up litter in parks. As we act as stewards, we can praise the Lord for breaking the curse of sin and giving us the promise of creation’s renewal.
Let’s Pray:
Maker of heaven and earth, I confess that I often overlook the proper care of Your creation, thinking it is not as spiritual as other matters. But Your Word tells me that You entrusted the care of creation to humans, and that the future of nature is intricately tied to the resurrection of our bodies and the renewal of all things. Since I also have the responsibility to properly steward the resources You have entrusted me, help me to do so in a way that glorifies You.
May I not only love the birds for their songs, the trees for their shade, or the rivers for their calming beauty, but also care for them as an extension of my love for You. I want to be a good steward of the world’s resources and imitate Your compassion and justice as I interact with the creatures and environment around me. Guide me, Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, honoring You with the decisions I make.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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Photo Credit: © Getty Images/pcess609
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