FAMILY DEVOTION: All Creation Praises God

The world is waking up from its winter sleep. Daffodils are in bloom. Forsythia is glowing in vibrant yellow. Azaleas are budding and leaves have started to pop out. This week I heard the call of the white throated sparrow, visiting our area on its way to Maine and Canada for the summer. In my yard the birds are starting to build their nests. Take a walk in your yard or neighborhood and talk about all the things you can see, hear or smell that tell you that Spring has arrived.

Psalm 148 talks about creation praising God. It names parts of creation and tells them to praise God. Go outside ( or look outside) read the Psalm and make a list of all the things in nature that you are thankful for…then make that a prayer to God.

Psalm 148 (The Message)

¹Hallelujah!

Praise God from heaven,

praise him from the mountaintops;

²Praise him, all you his angels,

praise him, all you his warriors,

³Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, you morning stars;

⁴Praise him, high heaven,

praise him, heavenly rain clouds;

⁵Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—

he spoke the word, and there they were!

⁶He set them in place

from all time to eternity;

He gave his orders,

and that’s it!

⁷Praise God from earth,

you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps;

⁸Fire and hail, snow and ice,

hurricanes obeying his orders;

⁹Mountains and all hills,

apple orchards and cedar forests;

¹⁰Wild beasts and herds of cattle,

snakes, and birds in flight;

¹¹Earth’s kings and all races,

leaders and important people,

¹²Robust men and women in their prime,

and yes, graybeards and little children.

¹³Let them praise the name of God—

it’s the only Name worth praising.

His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;

¹⁴he’s built a monument—his very own people!

Praise from all who love God!

Israel’s children, intimate friends of God.

Hallelujah!