Go Outdoors and Learn about God
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
7 If you want to learn, then go and ask the wild animals and the birds, 8 the flowers and the fish. 9 Any of them can tell you what the Lord has done. 10 Every living creature is in the hands of God. 11 We hear with our ears, taste with our tongues, 12 and gain some wisdom from those who have lived a long time. 13 But God is the real source of wisdom and strength.
Job 12:7-13
Memory Verse
Job 12:7-10
7 If you want to learn, then go and ask the wild animals and the birds, 8 the flowers and the fish. 9 Any of them can tell you what the Lord has done. 10 Every living creature is in the hands of God.
There’s a Bible story about a man named Job who went through a really rough time. His friends argued with him about God, but Job told them they didn’t understand how wise and powerful God is. He said they would learn more about God by looking at the animals, birds, flowers, and fish. Job reminded them that God’s creation can teach us a lot about who he is.
Here’s a fun challenge: go outside and learn something new about God. Try to stay outside for a good chunk of the day.
Grab a friend, a family member, or a parent. Get your bike, hiking boots, gardening tools, or snorkeling gear. Spend the day outside in God’s wonderful creation. Take some yummy snacks and a good lunch with you. Have an adventure!
At the end of the day, maybe you can have a family picnic outside for supper. While you eat, talk about your day. Share your praises, say what you are thankful for, and talk about what you learned about God today.
Maybe in the evening, take your sleeping bag and a flashlight, grab a pillow and a book, and walk into your backyard to sleep outside. You might set up a tent or lie in a cool hammock with pillows. Ask your friend, family member, or parent to come too!
You might hear birds singing or an owl hooting. (It could be louder than you think!) A soft wind might shake the leaves in the tree above you. Look up at the stars and try to count how many you can see. If it starts to rain, you can hurry inside to your warm bed.
In the morning, you might feel happy and peaceful. Before you get up, take a moment to enjoy the outdoor sights and sounds around you. Thank God for the sunshine in the backyard. Then pack up your things and go inside for breakfast.
Prayer
Creator God, thank you for using nature to show us who you are—the whispering trees, the singing birds, the rocks that never fade. Each one tells us about a part of you: your deep love, your faithfulness, and your patience. Help us see that this world is your gift to us. Amen.Related Resources
Ron VandenBurg
Senior Producer of Children’s Ministry at ReFrame Ministries
Ron VandenBurg joined the ReFrame Ministries team in 2014. He plans and develops projects specifically for the spiritual formation of children. Before coming to ReFrame, Ron taught middle school for 27 years. Ron completed a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Teaching, Learning, and Development at Brock University. Ron and Rachel have five fantastic adult children and two grandchildren and reside in Ontario.