You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You. – (Nehemiah 9:6, NIV)
You are God. Lord, only You are God. You made the sky and the highest heavens and everything in them. You made the earth and everything on it. You made the seas and everything in them. You give life to everything. All the heavenly angels bow down and worship You. – (Nehemiah 9:6, ERV)
You are the Eternal, the only One. The skies are Your work alone – You made the heavens above those skies and the stars that fill them. You made the earth and everything upon it, the seas and all that lives within their depths. Your creation lives and is sustained by You, and those who dwell in the heavens fall down before You and worship. – (Nehemiah 9:6, VOICE)
Sadly, in today’s fast-paced, busy world, it is easy to lose sight of the greatness of God and all that He has done. Heaven and earth are the work of His hands, and all that has life and breath are part of His creation. His glory knows no end and those who dwell in His presence bow down and worship Him. The challenge for us is that we must be intentional to dwell in His presence or we lose sight of His greatness and glory. This month, I am participating in twenty-one days of prayer and fasting with my church. Fasting is setting aside a desire of the flesh to focus more clearly on God. Some people fast food, others fast certain types of food, others still fast technology or social media, and there are those who pause and listen to discover what might be a distracter from God that can be set aside, so that anytime it is reached for, it would be denied and replaced with focus on God through prayer. Living in the Pacific Northwest does help me recognize the glory of God often. I am repeatedly in awe of the beauty of creation, and cannot help but thank Him for all that His hands have made. Perhaps that is one of the many reasons that I love to travel, for in each new place I can witness the creativity and handiwork of God. Upon returning home, there is always the moment of awe and wonder as we witness the mountains, water, and woods that provide a glorious array of blues, greens, grays and white. Each morning as I wake, I am reminded of His kindness as I am flanked by our dogs. who love unconditionally. God’s word is alive and active, and it tells of His goodness and glory. May we ever seek the Lord to show us more and more of Himself, and may our response be one of awe and wonder as we choose to be intentional to spend time in His presence.
God of creation,
all glory is Yours;
from heaven to earth,
mountains to the shores.
Your hands have crafted,
all that is alive;
Your goodness surrounds,
for in You, we thrive.
The blessings poured out,
as Your face we seek;
Your peace and presence,
Your strength when we’re weak.
All glory we give,
to You, God alone;
for all that is good,
has come from Your throne.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for all that Your hands have made. Thank You that Your goodness and glory is evident everywhere. Thank You for Your peace and presence that provide all that we need to navigate our days. Forgive us for losing sight of Your glory, for You alone deserve all of our worship and praise. Teach us to recognize Your hand in all things, and to ever praise You as we seek Your face. Lead us to love those around us in ways that make Your goodness known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we set aside time to intentionally seek and praise You, for You alone are our reason to give thanks and praise. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. – Psalm 19:1