Soaking up sunlight is a powerful way to discover wonder. The sun symbolizes the life, hope, and wisdom that come from God. Here's a prayer and meditation exercise you can use to experience wonder by enjoying the sun at sunrise, mid-day, or sunset.
Go outside anytime you can spend a few minutes connecting with God in the sunshine. Don't look directly at the sun (since that can damage your eyes) but gaze at the sky and notice its beauty -- from the bright white of daytime sunlight to the awesome colors of sunrise or sunset. Feel the warmth of the sun's rays on your skin. As you bask in the sun, ponder what sunlight, which sustains all life on Earth physically, reveals about God, who sustains all life spiritually.
Here are some Bible verses to meditate on, which describe God in language that evokes the sun:
"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays..." - Malachi 4:2
"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." - John 1:9
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" - John 8:12
"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire..." - Deuteronomy 4:24
"But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire..." - Malachi 3:2
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." - Revelation 22:16
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ." - 2 Corinthians 4:6
Then spend some time in prayer, thanking God for how he shines hope into the darkness of our fallen world, and asking for the help you need. Just as light is always stronger than darkness physically, the same principle applies spiritually. Light photons dispel darkness, but darkness has no power to dispel light. You can see that by simply lighting a candle or turning on a flashlight in a dark room. God's light of hope shines brighter than any spiritual darkness, and is always victorious in spiritual battles. No matter how dark your circumstances may be at any moment, God is always able to shed light on them and bring you hope.
Feel God's love as you're bathed in sunlight. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you so you'll experience the sense of hope that Ephesians 1:18-19 describes: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you."
You can learn more about how nature reveals God's qualities in Wake Up to Wonder, which includes a chapter on nature. Whenever you need a fresh dose of wonder, you can find it easily outside in the natural world that displays evidence of God's work!