The more we recognise the vanity and emptiness of the world
1. See much of God in every creature—his wisdom and power in its creation and placement, and his goodness in its service to us. Look around you and observe the vast variety of wonders and abundance of comforts that surround you. Let all these things lead you to him, who is the fountain of being and the giver of every good thing; all our springs are in him, and from him flow all our streams. Recognising this will engage you to wait on him, for every creature is only what he makes it to be for us.
Thus, the very things that draw a worldly heart away from God will lead a gracious soul closer to him. Since all his works praise him, his saints will continually find occasion to bless him.
It is said that the pious Jews of old had the custom of giving glory to God whenever they took delight in any creature. When they smelled a flower, they would say, "Blessed be he who made this flower sweet." When they ate a morsel of bread, they would say, "Blessed be he who appointed bread to strengthen man's heart." If we likewise taste and see that the Lord is gracious in all things, and draw all satisfaction from the abundance of his bounty, we will be engaged to depend on him continually, just as a child is said to cling to its mother's breast.
2. See that every creature is nothing without God. The more we recognise the vanity and emptiness of the world and all our enjoyments in it—their utter inability to make us truly happy—the closer we will cling to God. We will seek intimate communion with him to find in the Father of spirits the satisfaction we have sought in vain from the things of sense.
What folly it is to seek favour from creatures, waiting upon them as though they can truly help us, only to be sent away empty! Meanwhile, the Creator himself is rich in mercy to all who call upon him, full of goodness, free in his grace, and faithful to his promises.