The God Who Built It All

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Gentlemen, every day is a battle. A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose. The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives, they prepare before it begins. Welcome to the men's morning devotional. Let's get into God's word. It's time to man up.

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Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Chris Muinha, and it's time for another man up moment. This week I'm continuing through Proverbs chapter 8, with today's devotional being about the wisdom at creation. I encourage you to share this devotional with someone who you think would benefit from it. So the scripture for today is Proverbs 8, 23 through 31. And it says this I was formed long ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so that the waters would not overstep its command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. I want you to stop for a moment and think about creation. Proverbs 8 gives us a picture of God's wisdom being present as he brought creation into existence. It says wisdom was there when God established the heavens, when he set the boundaries of the seas, when he formed the mountains and the hills, when he established the clouds and laid the foundations of the earth. So think about the ocean. We can look at the horizon and see water stretching farther than our eyes can follow, yet God established a boundary for it. The waves can crash against the shore with incredible power, but they stop where God has told them to stop. Think about mountains, they're massive, immovable structures rising from the earth. They remind us that God's power is greater than anything we can build with our own hands. Think about the sky. Every morning the sun rises, every night the stars appear, clouds move across the heavens, seasons come and go, the earth continues its journey through space, and God holds it all together. The psalmist said, The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands. That's Psalm 19, verse 1. Creation is constantly preaching a sermon. The oceans say God is powerful, the mountains say God is established, the stars say God is beyond our understanding. The changing seasons say God is faithful. The sunrise says God gives us another day. And humanity itself says God creates with purpose. Then Proverbs 8 says something incredibly personal, and this is wisdom speaking. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world, and delighting in mankind. God didn't simply create a beautiful world and walk away from it. He delights in his creation. And that should change the way we see our lives. Sometimes as men, we measure our value by what we produce. How much money do I make? How successful am I? How much responsibility do I have? What have I accomplished? How do other people see me? But before you ever accomplished anything, God created you. Your value doesn't begin with your career, it doesn't begin with your bank account, it doesn't begin with your achievements, it begins with the creator, the God who carefully designed the heavens, the oceans, the mountains, the animals, the seasons, and every detail of creation intentionally made you. That means you don't have to spend your life trying to prove your worth. You can live from the confidence that you were created by God and for God. And if the creator is wise enough to establish the boundaries of the ocean and keep the planets moving from the heavens, he's wise enough to guide your life. He's wise enough to lead your family. He's wise enough to direct your future and to handle the things you cannot control. Men, sometimes we need to step outside, look up at the sky, and remember, we are not in control. God is. And that's not something to fear, that's something to rest in. The God who created the universe is the God who holds your life in his hands. So here's your man up challenge. Today, go outside for ten minutes without your phone. Look at creation, look at the sky, look at the trees, listen to the wind, notice the clouds, the birds, the sunlight, the water, or whatever part of God's creation is around you. Then thank God for three things you see. After that, pray. God, if you can create and sustain all of this, I can trust you with my life. Show me where I'm trying to control something that I need to surrender to you. Then surrender one specific thing to Him. Your finances, your marriage, your children, your career, your future, your fears, your plans, whatever it is, give it to the Creator. So man up. Look at creation, remember the Creator, trust in His wisdom. The God who set the boundaries of the seas, established the mountains, hung the stars, and formed the earth is more than capable of holding your life. So let's pray. Father, when I look at creation, I'm reminded of how great you are. You created me and gave my life purpose. Help me never forget who you are and who I am because of you. When I feel overwhelmed, remind me of your power. When I feel uncertain, remind me of your wisdom. When I try to control everything, remind me that you are the creator and I am not. Thank you for creating me, loving me, and allowing me to live in this incredible world you made. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word. Now go live it. Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do. Share this devotional with another brother. Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.