“Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!” (Psalm 148:7-8) ESV

The waves rippled over me, embracing me in their freedom and flow. The sun was perfectly placed behind the many cumulus clouds. My family was close by, enjoying the same scene as I was. “Momma, look what I found!” I heard my ten-year-old daughter exclaim nearby. I swam to her place in the shallows of the mighty ocean. In her hand was an exquisite creature. A sand dollar.

The freeze-frame-time-moment increased as we quickly studied the details of this sea urchin before dropping it back into its ocean home. The breathtaking beauty my boundless Creator chose to bring to life was awe-inspiring and left my soul praising His mighty name. My God is the detailed Creator. He is the great Designer of all the nature and creatures that our eyes take in. The sand dollar stirred my affections even that much more for my perfect and holy God.

I want to spend my days with a heart stance that reflects that of the Psalmist who penned Psalm 148.

 “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!

Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven,” (Psalm 148:1, 5-8,13 ESV)

Everything that has breath and is taking up space in this earth and beyond is fulfilling God’s Word. He orders, decrees, creates, and sustains, all.

This is something to marvel in. God’s creative order is purposeful, beautiful, and points to His sovereignty over His creation. All of this brings Him glory continuously.

Though we may not know the purpose of unique creatures like the sand dollar, we know that they do indeed serve a purpose to our Lord’s perfect design. Creation teaches us about our God. Creation teaches us that God is boundless in creativity, He is the divine Designer that delights in the details, that His voice commands things into existence, and by His hands are all things ordered.

The blameless, upright, and grieving Job knew this. Through his lame spirit, He still wrote about God’s supreme sovereignty over creation and human calamities.

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens; and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind,” (Job 12:7-10 ESV).

Jesus tells us how much care His Father renders to even the least of His creation and the most miniscule of events in life.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows,” (Matthew 10:29-31 ESV).

God sees His creation. God knows His creation.

God sees you. God knows you.

I find myself speaking, studying, and pondering on my own personal and spiritual growth in knowing God more, but I realize I don’t ponder enough on my God knowing me.

Maybe you can relate.

The scene in the ocean with my young daughter and the sand dollar sparked my soul. My God created this sand dollar. Not only did He create it, but He knows this sand dollar. This sand dollar has decreed days and is being sustained by my God.

This knowledge is nothing new but stirs boundless truths to my spirit. I am known by my Creator. The most intimate forms of knowing. My God has my hairs numbered, my tear drops bottled up, and my days ordered for His glory. My God doesn’t forget me like I tend to forget Him. My God doesn’t loosen His grip from sustaining my salvation even when my heart tends to wander. My God doesn’t leave me in my sinful ways but always makes a way out of temptations and strengthens me by His Holy Spirit.

My God is good.

My God is kind.

My God sees me. He sees you.

My God knows me. He knows you.

Because of Christ’s work at the cross, my God sees Christ’s perfect righteousness over me rather than my filthy rags of sin. What a gift that is. A gift that has no end and will carry on for eternity.

Maybe you’re in a season of feeling unseen, unknown, or faraway from our Lord. I want to encourage you to study His Word, take in His beautiful creation, and ask the Lord in prayer to reveal Himself more and more to you through His Word and creation.

All of creation shouts that God exists and is the Creator. To say something different would be to suppress Truth.

The Apostle Paul warns of this in Romans chapter 1.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse,” (Romans 1:18-20 ESV).

When we won’t praise God, the very rocks will cry out. (Luke 19:40).

I pray your heart is magnified to praise our Lord all the days of your life.

All of creation were made to worship the Lord and sing praises to His Name, forever and ever.

Even the sand dollar.

I Trust my God, I Trust my God, I Trust my God

Ardently His,

Jess Dennis

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