On this day in 1919 the Grand Canyon in Arizona was established as a National Park by an act of the U.S. Congress.

Covering 1,217,403 acres (or 277 miles), the Grand Canyon is immense, averaging 4,000 feet deep, 6,000 feet at its deepest point, and 15 miles wide at its widest point. This awe-inspiring natural formation is home to many rare and specially protected plants and animals. Over 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species live in the park. This place is amazing, and a person will be blown away by the view.

More impressive than the Grand Canyon, however, is our Creator who made it. The Bible explains that God created the heavens and the earth. That’s why we can see his touch in the natural beauty that surrounds us—a sparkling waterfall, a bright sunrise and glowing sunset, the lush green forests, the majestic mountains and mysterious deserts, the wide variety of plants and animals of every imaginable shape and color. Many who stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon break into song, proclaiming, “How Great Thou Art.”

Sometimes we get so caught up in the daily routine, looking down at our problems, or inside at our struggles, that we forget to look up and around at the surrounding wonder. Check it out—God’s fingerprints are everywhere.

Each butterfly, earthworm, spider web, grass blade, drop of rain, petunia, wispy cloud, sparrow, squirrel, snowflake, and breeze should remind us of our Creator. And, as he said, the highest and best of all his creation is people . . . like you.

Our God is truly grand!

So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed (Genesis 2:1).

Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! (Isaiah 65:18).

To Do

Look for evidence of God in his creation. Each time you see something, thank him for what he has made and for making you.

Also on this day . . .

This is National “For Pete’s Sake” Day as well as National Pistachio Day.

1846—William “Buffalo Bill” Cody was born.

1930—New York City installed traffic lights.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.