He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalm 23:2-3
Frazzled and over stimulated. Does that describe you a lot of the time?
Studies reveal that the average time a person can focus on one thing, has dropped from 2.5 minutes to 45 seconds.[1] And the way to improve that is right outside your door—in nature. It’s called Attention Restoration Theory but before neuroscientists articulated the theory, a shepherd boy sang long ago about the renewal he found in nature. Talking about God as the Good Shepherd, he wrote, “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength” (Psalm 23:2-3a).
Today, experts have reported that interaction with nature on a walk of only 15-20 minutes makes our minds work better. It didn’t matter whether the temperature was pleasant or nasty. The scientists say, “For these cognitive benefits, it’s not about liking the interaction. It’s something deeper. It’s how we process natural stimulation.”
The Bible explains what that something deeper is. Scripture tells that God made you. Then He left His fingerprints all over nature so that you would know Him and what He’s like. The Bible says, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, [people] can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature … .” (Romans 1:20).
Whether we realize it or not, interacting with God in nature changes us. He designed the natural world to renew and reset our minds. Even a renowned neuroscientist admits: “We can’t engineer anything as good as nature.”[2]
Can’t concentrate? Get outside today!
[1] David Pogue, “Are Attention Spans Getting Shorter (and Does It Matter)?,” CBS News, October 15, 2023, 9:14 AM EDT, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/are-attention-spans-getting-shorter-and-does-it-matter/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
[2] Jaclyn Cosgrove, “The Easiest Way to Restore Your Attention Span Could Be Just Outside Your Door,” Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2025, https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2025‑08‑21/going‑outside‑can‑improve‑your‑mental‑health.
