God’s creation is full of wonder, and a vacation is a perfect time to enjoy it. Psalm 65:8 celebrates that wonder is everywhere when it says to God: “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.” 

When you’re on vacation, you’re free from your regular responsibilities and can take more time to devote your attention to searching for glimpses of God’s work around you. Explore the places you visit to discover and enjoy God’s wonder daily. Be alert to signs of God’s work that can inspire your family. Whenever you find those signs, celebrate them together! 

For example, you may spot a deer on a hike and thank God together for creating such a gentle and graceful animal. You may also hear a song your family loves on the radio and sing along with gratitude that God created music to enjoy. Talk about what inspires you every day of your vacation, and talk about it as a family. Ask each other what you’re learning about God from what you’re experiencing on vacation together. 

Deuteronomy 11:19 describes the importance of discussing faith concepts as a family– even while traveling: “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Discussing God’s wonders can be enjoyable, as can discussing faith as a family. 

You can even make a game out of discovering God’s wonder. Challenge your family members to see who can find the most interesting features in God’s creation, such as an especially majestic tree or a magnificent bird. Talk together about how creative and thoughtful God is in his design, and what nature shows you about God’s qualities. 

Please bring a small journal and your phones to take photos, and encourage each family member to capture something that amazed them each day. After your vacation, these can become like a spiritual scrapbook of your trip. You can also tie your family’s reflections back to Bible verses. For example, if you all watch ocean waves together, you can discuss Psalm 93:4: “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the LORD on high is mighty.”

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Szilvia Basso