Today I was thankful to venture out into a snow covered landscape up at Glencoe. The scenery was crisp and breathtaking, with snow that glinted with gold in the sunshine, swirling clouds and deep blue skies. There was an enormous sense of space and freedom in the landscape.

Sometimes we can rush past beautiful scenery, with it just forming a backdrop to our lives. However it is good to deliberately take time, to stop and stand and stare, as the poet W H Davies said. When we are attentive to the often gorgeous nature of our enviroment, it can make all the difference- whether noticing the bright stars in the inky night sky, or the violet and crimson colour of the dawn.

In the Bible, mountains often symbolise strength and inspiration. People were seen as closer to God on a mountaintop. Moses received the ten commandments on Mount Sinai. Jesus would retreat to a quiet place in the hills to pray and commune with His heavenly Father. Being in a place of space and beauty  helped people be aware of the presence of God.

In psalm 90 verse 2 it says, ” Before the mountains were born, before You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God’. There is something about the character of a mountainous landscape that inspires awe, and humility and worship.  There is a feeling of wonder and purity of worship, of being in the very throne room of God. Pausing, and allowing that sense to deepen and envelop us, enables our worship to soar, and for us to feel closer to God.

As we go further into this new year, may we be attentive to the landscape around us, to notice God’s hand at work, and to allow ourselves to be more thankful and inspired. May the Holy Spirit quieten our soul, so we can discern the hand of God and reverently praise our eternal God.

Eternal Father, You have created the wonders of this world to tell forth Your truth and glory. Lord Jesus, forgive us that we often hurry mindlessly from one activity to another, forgetting to pause and look up, to take time to reflect and pray. From everlasting to everlasting You are God- as we hear these words we bow down before You. Through your Holy Spirit, purify our souls, our very lives, and in our worship may we rededicate our lives to You with reverence and praise, now and for all eternity, Amen.