Enjoy a Picnic with God - The Crosswalk Devotional - July 20

Audio By Carbonatix

Enjoy a Picnic with God
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate – bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.” – Psalm 104:14-15, NIV 

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of simple picnics with my mom in our backyard or at local parks. Mom could turn an ordinary afternoon into an extraordinary experience just by packing sandwiches, grapes, chips, and lemonade for us to eat and drink outside. I remember how I always got a fresh perspective while picnicking in the fresh air. My world seemed to open up in nature, and my senses seemed stronger, too. I noticed the way the sunlight filtered through the trees and how every different type of bird sang a different kind of song. The sandwiches somehow tasted better outside than indoors, as well. Most importantly, on those picnics, I felt connected to something bigger than myself. Later, I learned that something was a Someone – God – who always joined us on our picnics. 

In our fast-paced world, we often rush through eating and don’t spend enough time outside in nature. But God actually designed them to help us connect to him. Psalm 104:14-15 points out that God provides a creative variety of plants that people and animals alike enjoy. God could have made all food and drinks taste the same and provided them to us just to survive. But instead, God created a wonderful variety for us to truly enjoy. This passage says that God created “wine that gladdens,” “oil to make faces shine,” and “bread that sustains.” In other words, God cares about us actually enjoying our experiences. 

God wants us to do more than just eat a granola bar in a hurry while driving to work, rush through lunch at our desks, and pick up dinner in a fast-food drive-thru line. God wants us to eat mindfully, so we can really enjoy the experience of eating and reflect on God’s generosity and love for us. God also designed us to enjoy spending time in nature. We can learn a lot about God in nature, because creation reflects the Creator’s qualities. A picnic can help us connect with God by doing both of those activities that God intends for us. 

Experience that for yourself! Schedule a picnic into your schedule sometime soon. Sit on a blanket on the “grass for the cattle” mentioned in Psalm 104, or at a picnic table on top of the grass. Say a prayer of thanks to God for the food, the “bread that sustains,” and all the other food you brought with you, which God ultimately made possible for you to enjoy. Eat slowly, savoring every bite of your food so you can taste God’s goodness to you. 

During a picnic, you can let the fresh air inspire you to find a fresh perspective on your life. Let yourself pay full attention to all the wonder around you, and let that remind you of how God cares for you in every detail of your life. Look up at the vast sky and down at tiny wildflowers to see how God designed every part of creation – everything, of all sizes – with loving care. 

Enjoy a picnic with God whenever you can. Don’t wait for a special occasion. Pack a sandwich, find some grass nearby, and let the simple pleasures of God’s creation lead you back to him.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider enjoying a picnic can help you move closer to God, reflect on these questions: 

• What’s one of your favorite memories of being outdoors as a child? Did you notice God’s presence with you then? 
• How does spending time in nature now help you look beyond your stressful circumstances to God? 
• What’s one simple pleasure in the food you enjoy on picnics (like a certain flavor or texture) that you’re grateful to God for? 
• Psalm 104 mentions blessings that make our hearts glad. What’s one part of God’s creation that always lifts your mood? 
• How can you change your schedule to include picnics with God during good weather on a regular basis? 

Further Reading:
Psalm 34:8
Matthew 6:26
Acts 14:17
Genesis 1:31
Romans 1:20

Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Jennie Clavel 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Stop Overthinking Your Marriage: The C.A.R.E. Method that Builds Consistency

We're celebrating our 400th episode and tackling one of the most important topics in marriage—consistency. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling like your efforts to improve your marriage aren’t working or wondered if all those small daily actions really matter, this episode is for you.

Today, I’m sharing my personal journey and my not-so-secret struggle with staying consistent—not just in my marriage, but in life! I’ll walk you through a simple, actionable framework that I created called the CARE acronym (Check-in, Affection, Reassurance, Encouragement) to help you build trust, commitment, and affection in your relationship. I’ll also give practical tips for daily connection, show you how to stay motivated when you don’t see instant results, and explain why the little things you do will eventually transform your marriage.

If this episode helps your marriage, be sure to follow The Rebuilding Us Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!