Listen

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from heaven! Praise God on the heights! Praise God, all of you who are his messengers! Praise God, all of you who comprise his heavenly forces! Sun and moon, praise God! All of you bright stars, praise God! You highest heaven, praise God! Do the same, you waters that are above the sky! Let all of these praise the Lord’s name because God gave the command and they were created! God set them in place always and forever. God made a law that will not be broken.

Psalm 148:1-6

Think

I used to work at a summer camp in Kansas. The camp is located in a somewhat remote part of the state that has one of the lowest light pollution levels of anywhere on the planet. That means the stargazing at the camp property is absolutely breathtaking. On a clear night you can see brilliant stars from horizon to horizon. The Milky Way unfolds across the sky and meteorites can be easily spotted burning up as they fall through the atmosphere.

Looking up at the spectacle of the stars, it’s easy to understand the kind of praise the psalmist is extolling here. Beholding the beauty of the stars can easily transform us into a state of awe. The only sensible response is something like, WOW!

This is praise. To be overwhelmed with gratitude and wonder. To be stilled and give thanks to God for creating all things. How might you enter into praise today?

Chad Senuta

Pray

Blessed Creator, thank you that your glory is all around me. Help me to pause and notice. And then help me to fall into wonder at your love shining and beckoning all around me. Amen.

Go

Though I'm prone to leave Your side / You draw me like the tide

You are constant in my wandering / You are brighter than the dark in me / You are the love that sets me free

You are faithful / You are faithful / You are

from “You are” by David Crowder (2014)