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ouple years ago I took a survey with the rest of the staff to help me understand how I connect with God. It’s based off of a book by Gary L. Thomas called “Sacred Pathways.’ You can take the survey for yourself here northpoint.org/care/pathways
This really helped me recognize how I best connect with God, and a couple of weeks ago I was at a retreat where I was reminded of these “sacred pathway.” The basic idea behind this is that God created us with certain spiritual temperaments so that we can connect and worship Him in unique ways. I have seen lists of 7 or up to 9 of these “pathways,” and I have noticed how true they are in my own life. So over the next few months I’m going to focus on them to help you better understand how you can connect with God in the unique way He has designed into you.
The first of these pathways is through nature. Naturalists, as they are often referred to, love to connect with God outdoors. These people connect deeply with God through nature, and tend to draw near to Him when they experience His creation. They can worship and be caught up by his majesty through nature, and often clearly hear His voice and grasp spiritual truths or messages through the outdoors. Jesus often taught in parables or used illustrations having to do with nature. The Psalms often point to truths that are all around us that point to God, and Paul reminds us that nature is one of the ways that God reveals himself to the world.
Maybe you can relate to this. The idea of sitting indoors, or debating theology really doesn’t appeal to you… but when you think about creation or get outside you feel a deep connection to God. My advise to those who connect with God this way is to follow through and go deeper. God often begins a conversation, reveals a truth, or reminds you of something through your surroundings, but He is doing it as a first step. Listen, trust, and obey. And if you don’t find this as one of your primary pathways, get outside anyway in the next month and look and listen for what God is saying through nature – you might be surprised at what you discover.
Psalm 19:1–4 (NLT)
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.