Say among the nations: “The Lord reigns. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. He judges the peoples fairly.” Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. Let the fields and everything in them exult. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for He is coming – for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His faithfulness. Psalm 96:10-13
A Prayer of Praise
How blessed is the day You suspended the earth in space. You threw open Your arms and filled the world with symbols of Your beauty and imagination. The oceans – dense and powerful, dangerous yet beautiful – crash against the shore, cymbals of praise. The fish that swim in graceful motion cry in anthems to their maker, “The Lord, He is coming!” Then the swaying grasses and hymns of birds join the anthem, singing, “The Great Judge is coming! The leaves of the oak rustle praise toward the heavens. “He is coming!” they shout. The elm and the cedar join in exultation. Even the seedlings know their creator and worship You. All nature proclaims Your majesty! You are the Judge of the world – the only righteous Judge.
Prayer for me
I sift through the words I know, the meager, deficient list. I find none worthy enough to send to You in praise. How can my limited mind adequately praise what is limitless? How can my bound thoughts comprehend what is boundless? I cannot praise you like the mighty seas or the regal oak. But I can do this: I lift my heart and mind to You and profess, “The Lord who reigns is coming!” And I know Your Spirit, the One who knows the thoughts and intents of my heart, will take my barren words and empower them. He will weave them through the crash of the waves, the cry of the fish, the hymns of the birds, and the shouts of the trees. Then my praise will be worthy enough to touch the hem of Your robe. And that is enough for me.
