The Meticulous, Deliberate, Careful and Purposeful Attention of God
Friday, December 26
Luke 12:7 (NIV)
“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Devotion
Have you ever been stargazing on a clear, dark night? How many stars did you see?
Astronaut Mark Vande Hei, when asked what the stars look like from the windows of the International Space Station, said this:
“I was blown away by how many stars there were. There were stars everywhere. I didn’t see any black, just various degrees of grey and white due to how many stars were in view.”
Imagine being in his shoes for a moment, slowly floating to a large window on the ISS, seeing nighttime on Earth below you, then looking up and seeing stars everywhere. The heavens really do declare the glory of God, and the skies the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1).
Astronomers estimate there are approximately 100 billion stars just in the galaxy we live in—the Milky Way. Which means if you could count one star in our galaxy every second, it would take 76,000 years to count them all. Wow!
But our galaxy isn’t the only one God created. Current estimates are that between six and 20 trillion galaxies exist in the universe, each with its own set of stars. Based on those estimates, that means there are around 10^24 stars in existence—a number that will likely increase as technology advances and allows us to see further into space.
We have to estimate because we can’t see everywhere in the universe, so the best we can do is use what we can see and make assumptions from that. But God doesn’t have to guess. He knows exactly how many stars there are. He’s even given each of them a name. Psalm 147:4 states, “He counts the number of the stars; he gives names to all of them.”
The meticulous, deliberate, careful, and purposeful counting God does doesn’t stop at the stars. Jesus says even the hairs on your head are numbered. God cares about you enough to number every hair that will ever grow on your head. That might seem peculiar, but how much more valuable are you, who God made in his image and breathed the breath of life into, than the stars?
You’re valuable enough that God put careful thought into forming your innermost being in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He made you fearfully and wonderfully (Psalm 139:14), with reverence, setting you apart from everyone else. Even though you were formed from the dust of the earth, God crowned you with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5). On top of all of this, it gave him pleasure to do so (Revelation 4:11).
The creator of the universe—who knows how many stars there are and calls them by name, and who numbered the hairs on your head—loves you and was pleased when creating you. And he showed you that love in that, while you were still a sinner, Christ died on the cross for you (Romans 5:8).
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I stand amazed at Your glory! For You are a great God, a great King above all gods. In Your hands are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are Yours also; the seas, for You made them; and Your hands formed the dry land. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise, for You alone are worthy of it all! In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Selah (means to “pause,” to have a “moment of reflection”). If we learn to take short “pauses” throughout our day just to reflect on His goodness, the nearness of His presence, and to acknowledge the answers to prayer—no matter how big or small—our relationship with Him will deepen, and a grateful heart will emerge, a seed of faith.
Resources
- Nothing in your life is random, not even the tiny details. God is intentional, present, and deeply involved in every part of your story. Watch “God’s Tiny Details” and be reminded that what seems small to you is never small to Him.
- Take a quiet moment today to read Jeremiah 31:3. Let this powerful reminder settle in your heart: God’s love for you is everlasting. Even in the smallest, most precise details of your life.