It’s easy to think of “creation care” as optional—important, maybe, but not especially spiritual. This devotional challenges that assumption by reminding us that God’s relationship with humanity has always included stewardship of the world He made. In Genesis, God plants a garden and places humankind there with a clear purpose: to work it and take care of it. That means creation care isn’t a modern trend—it’s part of our original calling.

The devotional begins with a striking, everyday example: artificial light can disorient migrating birds, drawing them off course and increasing the risk of collisions and exhaustion. Small choices we barely notice—turning on outdoor lights, decorating with strings of bulbs—can have real impact on the creatures around us. And on a broader scale, issues like pollution, deforestation, habitat loss, and harmful pesticides remind us that creation is groaning under the weight of sin and brokenness. Romans 8 describes nature’s longing for renewal, tied to God’s ultimate restoration of all things.

The key shift the devotional emphasizes is this: dominion is not permission to destroy. God’s authority is marked by justice, mercy, and faithful care, and because we are made in His image, our leadership over creation should reflect His character. Everything belongs to God—“the earth is the Lord’s”—so our stewardship becomes a form of worship. The way we treat the environment is connected to the way we honor the Creator.

While we may not control large systems or global decisions, we do have influence in our daily lives. The devotional offers practical examples of faithful stewardship: reducing nighttime light exposure, making windows safer for birds, planting trees, creating pesticide-free pollinator gardens, treating animals well, and picking up litter. These aren’t small, meaningless actions—they are tangible ways to imitate God’s compassion and justice. And they can become reminders of hope: God has broken sin’s curse through Christ and promises a future renewal for creation and for us.

Main Takeaways

• Creation care is a biblical calling rooted in God’s original design for humanity.

• Everyday choices can affect the environment and the creatures around us more than we realize.

• Dominion is meant to reflect God’s character—leadership marked by mercy, justice, and care.

• Stewardship is worship: the earth belongs to God, so how we treat it honors Him.

• Practical, local actions matter and point us toward hope in God’s future renewal.

Today’s Bible Verse

“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil … The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” - Genesis 2:8-9, 15, NIV

Your Daily Prayer

Here is a brief excerpt from today’s prayer:

“Help me to [steward] in a way that glorifies You… May I… care for [creation] as an extension of my love for You.”

You can listen to the full prayer here or read the devotional at the links below.

Looking for more daily encouragement and faith-filled content?

• LifeAudio – Find daily devotionals, Christian podcasts, and biblical encouragement at LifeAudio.com

• Crosswalk – Explore prayer, faith, and Christian living resources at Crosswalk.com

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