Daily Devotion

Scripture: Psalm 148

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
² Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his host!
³ Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars!
⁴ Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!
⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for he commanded and they were created.
⁶ He established them forever and ever;
    he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. 
Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you sea monsters and all deeps,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and frost,
    stormy wind fulfilling his command!
⁹ Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
¹⁰ Wild animals and all cattle,
    creeping things and flying birds!
¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
¹² Young men and women alike,
    old and young together!
¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his glory is above earth and heaven.
¹⁴ He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his faithful,
    for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

Key words to consider regarding creation care:
CREATION: God’s loving, wise, and powerful action to bring everything into being for the good of all and the glory of God
STEWARDSHIP: Taking care of something that doesn’t belong to you as though it were your very own.
PRAISE: To rejoice in the worth of something or someone, to lift up the name of God with love and gratitude by our every thought, word and action.
REFLECTION: Nature and the whole universe bear witness to their Creator.  Have you ever considered that the created world has a special relationship with God?  What does it mean that the earth praises God as is mentioned in the Psalm above?  As you hear the wind in the trees or see the birds fluttering around, consider that this may be their way of praising God.  Where else do you see creation praising God?