A sense of something spiritual

Praise God with shouts of joy, all people!
Sing to the glory of his name;
offer him glorious praise!
Say to God, ‘How wonderful are the things you do!
Your power is so great
that you r enemies bow down in fear before you.’
(verses 1-3)

Read Psalm 66:1-9

There have probably been times when you were in total awe of God. I remember standing on a mountain top overlooking the beauty and majesty of the world below. I just wanted to shout for joy to God, praising the name of one who formed the mountains, dug out the lakes and planted each tree. But all that escaped my lips was a whisper, as if I didn’t want to disturb this place and time.

I don’t know how anyone can marvel at this amazing planet and not praise the one who created it. Even when I talk to people who don’t know God and who make fun of people who go to church regularly, I’ve heard them talk of his creation with wonder and a sense of something spiritual. They may not recognise the God that Jesus has revealed to us, but they will often acknowledge a power greater than their own.

Unfortunately mountain top experiences don’t last, and the concerns of everyday life can easily drown the sense of wonder at the world. That’s why we must remember how God revealed himself to us in the past and tell each other the stories of his faithfulness to us.

My heavenly Father, you amaze me with you r creation and you r care for me. May I never stop praising you. Amen.

by Jörg Ernst, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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