Psalm 148:1 …Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him from the heights above.
For me, there is something very holy about watching the sun rise over the ocean. My first sunrise this year was on Easter Sunday, and it is hard to articulate the mix of emotions I felt as I watched the sun ascend seemingly from the ocean itself. The dolphins, the birds, the lapping of the waves, everything felt like hope, renewal, and praise. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.
I wonder if my affinity for sunrise has anything to do with the stretches of “long, dark nights” of life? When I am sick, nights are usually the hardest. When my babies were little and not feeling well or were teething, nights were the toughest to endure. When I am struggling with grief or sorrow, worry or fear, nights are the longest, bleakest, toughest times. But even before the sunrise makes an appearance, the gentle lightening of the sky gives me hope. Sunrise is coming. This darkness won’t last forever. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the hope and praise that is the sunrise every morning. Thank You that the “long, dark nights” of the soul aren’t the end, no matter how they test us. Thank You that we can praise You in the darkness just as fervently as we can in the daylight, maybe even more so. Thank You for the hope of sunrise. Draw us closer. Help us praise You always. Amen.
Psalm 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.