Calling On Creation To Praise God

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!

Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise

before the Lord, for he is coming!

He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice,

and the nations with his truth.

Psalm 96:11-13

Sometimes our hearts are slow to comprehend what a privilege it is to approach the infinite God in prayer. Too often, we rush into God’s presence with a hasty word of thanks or a list of requests. In contrast, the author of Psalm 96 took the time to contemplate to whom he was praying. The psalmist was so overwhelmed with God’s greatness that he called upon the heavens and the earth to extol him. The entire earth was a magnificent instrument designed to sing the Lord’s praises. The wheat and barley were bursting with joy before the Lord, while the wind was playing a beautiful melody of praise on the leaves and branches of the forest.

In prayer today, take a moment to appreciate the world God has created and rejoice in it.

• Lord, I join all creation in praising you . . .