The Fingerprints of God

The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.

He assigned the sea its boundaries
and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.

Let the whole world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.

For when he spoke, the world began!
It appeared at his command.    Psalm 33:6-9 (NLT)

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song several years ago called Fingerprints of God, for one of his daughters .  He wrote it to remind her that she is indeed a masterpiece of the Creator, and to tell her that whenever he looks at her he can see the fingerprints of God.  Here are the words to the chorus:

I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know it’s true

You’re a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you’re covered with the fingerprints of God

What a beautiful message for her to hear.  What an important message for all of us.  We are all masterpieces, made in the image of the Creator.   In fact, all of creation is a masterpiece, and if we look at the world around us with eyes and hearts open, we can see God’s fingerprints everywhere.

I can see the fingerprints of God in nature.  When I walk along the beach with the sound of crashing waves in my ear, the salty air filling my lungs, and the warm sun shining on my skin; or when I stand and watch the shorebirds darting in and out of the approaching water, or diving for fish out beyond the waves, I see God’s amazing handiwork.  When I look up at the sky on a clear, dark night and see a multitude of stars, I can’t help but know that God has placed them there.  When the spring flowers arrive, or the trees put on their autumn wardrobe, it’s as if God has taken a paintbrush and dabbed bursts of color everywhere.  Yes, I can see the fingerprints of God in nature.

I see the fingerprints of God in people.  When I look at the family and friends I am blessed to share my life with, I see the personal touch of God on their lives.  When I see people reaching out to help one another—even making personal sacrifices for strangers in need, I see God at work in the world.  When volunteers step-up to do the hard work of growing a church, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, providing medical care to the poor, or sharing the Gospel message, I see the hands of God in their hands.  Yes, I can see the fingerprints of God in people.

I see the fingerprints of God in art, books, music, dance, and other forms of creative expression.  When someone taps in to their gift of creativity and makes beautiful art, writes words that become amazing books, brings musical notes to life, or dances from their heart; I can’t help but see signs of the Creator in what has been created.  Yes, I see the fingerprints of God when creativity is expressed.

God is the Creator of everything and I should be able see His fingerprints in all of His creation.  The evidence is all around me.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.    Psalm 19 (NLT)

 Where do you see the “fingerprints of God”?