Summer is here, and that means it’s time to break out the flip-flops, sunscreen, and charcoal. As people make their way to the beaches, as they gather for summer BBQ’s, and sit out by the pool it can be easy to allow the relaxed atmosphere of summertime to carry over into your walk with the Lord.
Packed calendars, summer weddings, family reunions, and squeezing in some sort of vacation can leave you needing a vacation from your vacation. So here are a few ways to help you keep God on your mind while you are on your way here and there to your summertime destinations.
If you’re heading to the zoo, think about Noah and the ark and the diversity of Gods creation (Genesis 7:1-5).
The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of every kind of cleananimal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate,3 and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alivethroughout the earth. 4 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.”
Heading to the beach, talk about the difference between building your house on shifting sand verses solid rock (Matthew 7:24-27).
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Spending some time near a lake or on a boat, consider how Jesus calmed the storm (Luke 8:22-25).
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Cooking out at a BBQ, as you enjoy the sweet smell coming from the grill consider how we are the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15).
15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
There are many opportunities to bring God into your daily summer activities, so be creative and enjoy your summer more as you consider how God can be seen everywhere you go.