GIDDY GLORY
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Opening Prayer
Great Creator and King of All the Ages, you deserve all honor and praise. Thank you for sustaining the world with love and power, for reigning with grace and mercy.
Read PSALM 148
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b]
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
Footnotes
- Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
- Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘Come near to God and he will come near to you.’1 Imagine yourself walking into God’s presence, then kneeling before him in quiet expectation. Breathe deeply and wait.
Flying in a plane gives you a different perspective on things. High in the open air, you look down on mountain ranges, vast forests, a plethora of vegetation, deserts, seas, white clouds, a hazy infinitude. As night falls, the extravagance called sunset performs the Maker’s final fling, effortlessly casting ever-changing yellows, reds, and oranges across the horizon, soon replaced by darkness, moon, and stars. Descending, you may survey palaces, slums teeming with tiny shacks, ancient ruins, glistening skyscrapers, busy streets, and empty plots, displaying a range of human experience, all within a few airborne minutes. Around you on the airplane, strong and frail, male and female, old and young, showcase a life cycle of mutual dependence. Your eyes feast on what the psalmist could only imagine. Magnificence is everywhere. Yet God is more magnificent.
Staggering, beautiful, diverse, grand: how can you begin to describe even a slice of life on this planet God has made? With a word, he brought it all into existence and continues to sustain it with the utmost care and attention. Physical terrains and living beings, in all their color and character, beauty and bounty, delight and diversity, exhibit the Lord’s greatness. In their very being, all wriggling, flying, jumping, swimming, and breathing creatures celebrate their divine craftsman. Wonder is everywhere. Yet God is more wonderful.
Today, whether your vision is clouded or clear, lift your eyes to your Maker, whose name is higher than the furthest galaxy. Poignantly, he invites you to come close to his tender heart. Join the awe-filled symphony of worship, which is both immense and intimate. Glory is everywhere. Yet God is more glorious.
Apply
Spend time today simply enjoying God’s world, whether through art or photography, a view from your window, or in your imagination.
Closing prayer
Father, whatever the senses and sensitivities you have given me, thank you that I can use them to enjoy with wonder who you are and what you offer me to enjoy each day.
1 James 4:8
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