The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night-to-night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Ps. 19:1-4 NIV
Heavenly Father, all it took was an hour walk yesterday in the hills of Asheville NC to bring this Scripture to mind. Slow… me… down… Lord. I’ve been too busy lately, to notice, hear, and savor creation singing your praise, revealing your beauty, and declaring your glory.
The pouring forth of nature-speak is endless, wondrous, and sumptuous—a visual kaleidoscope, an auditory megaphone, an aromatic smorgasbord of delights. How can anyone with any degree of sensual awareness ponder creation and not worship you—the Creator of all things?
Father, thank you for the sonic-symphony of waves, crashing on the shorelines of the world; and the Swiss, Austrian, French, Italian, and German Alps—with their knee-buckling wonder and heavens-reaching majesty. You hand paint every Brookie, Brown, and Rainbow Trout in the world, and you decorate our fowl friends with breath-taking feather-artistry.
You’re responsible for the permanent smile on the face of dolphin, the juice running down my chin from the explosive sweetness of a Georgia peach, and the early morning aromatic splendor of fresh coffee. You gave the magic of melody to The Beatles, and the wonder of symphony to Beethoven. All of us, who linger at sunrises and sunsets, owe you a debt of love.
Topping it all, not content just to be a magnificent Creator, you choose to be a merciful Redeemer. You gave Jesus to us, and for us. O, how we praise you, O, how we praise you for the immeasurable riches of the gospel. Indeed, slow us way down, Father; slow us way down. May we hear you speaking louder than ever to us, in the things you have made and in the One you have sent. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ mighty and merciful name.