Psalm 8:3-4, Matthew 10:29-31, Genesis 15:5-6

Liz Dumain

"When I look up at the sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place - what are people that you should think about them - mere mortals that you should care about them?" Psalm 8:3-4

I love cold, crisp, starry nights. I'm fortunate to live in a place without too much light pollution, and very often the night sky takes my breath away. Only recently I was so captured by seeing Mars in the sky that my socks froze to the ground! I feel so small when I look up at the night sky on a crisp clear evening.

Beautiful night skies sing of their creator - the God who mapped out the galaxies, who is responsible for creating matter out of dust. As we gaze at the sky it is natural and right that our hearts are moved in awe - but how much more humbling is the knowledge that the God who created the heavens remembers us - we who feel so small by comparison - every minute of every day, we are always on his mind.

That's a lot to take in - that the God who mapped out the universe & placed each planet & star in its own individual orbit is mindful of little old me! It's almost too much to take in - what an amazing thought that the same God who did all this also says to me "What is the price of two sparrows-one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows" Matthew 10:29-31

Vincent Van Gough's painting 'Starry Night' captures that intangible feeling of closeness to God that a starry night brings - that feeling that we are not alone. It's fitting that God used the starry sky in Genesis 15:5 to remind Abraham that he - God - was in control, when all else seemed lost. When Abraham stared up into the heavens with the question that so many of us ask - "how will I know?" God replied by using the stars in the sky to make his point.

I can identify with Abraham in that moment. I often end up flat on my back - sometimes because I'm scared, or tired, or excited but a bit freaked out about where my life is going. When I'm feeling overwhelmed and I need to be reminded that God is in control.

As Abraham looked up at the stars, he was reminded not only of God's sovereignty over the starry night and the events of his life - but also of the unlimited resources available to him as he placed his faith in God. Often we need to hear that too; "And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith" Genesis 15:6. In that moment Abraham made a decision to shake off the despair and 'poor little me' focus of his life and put his faith in God. Sometimes we need these moments too.

But what should these moments bring? More than a fuzzy feeling or a warm glow! If the Creator of the universe has me constantly on his mind, offers his assurance that he is in charge, and offers me the resources to do 'immeasurably more than I could ask or think' - what should be on my mind? What am I too mindful of really?

Too often rather than my mind overflowing with praise and adoration of his amazing presence, God and I are actually mindful of the same thing - me! My wants, my desires, me, me, me!

We all need moments of feeling small before God because it re-centres us and reminds us who we are - and who we could be. Seeing the great carpet of the Milky Way unfolded is humbling, and makes me asks many questions:

What are you really most mindful of today?

What do you need to be reminded of?

What would you rather be most mindful of - and how would your life be different if you 'changed your mind'?