Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. (Psalm 104:1, NIV)
Lord, this week I have been awed by the splendor and majesty of the earth You created. I know You are much greater than the wonders of this world reveal, but my limited mind has a hard time imagining the fullness of Your splendor and majesty. Will it be as colorful as a sunset sky? Will it smell as wonderful as a field of wildflowers? Will it be a booming voice or a peaceful whisper? Will it blow as a gentle breeze or a powerful wind? Will it taste better than the richest delicacy? Will it be an expansion of what is familiar to us or something completely different? Will we notice the details or be immersed in the grandeur? I look forward to the day I will see Your glory fully. For now, I am content to praise You for the glimpse of your splendor and majesty I catch around me.
He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment … But at your rebuke the waters fled … You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth. (Psalm 104:5-9, NIV)
I have glimpsed the results of the watery garment You used to cover the earth and erase the wickedness of our ancestors. The lasting impact is sobering and beautiful. The results are easy to see but the enormity of the devastation is difficult to comprehend. So much life and death are represented in the colorful layers of sediment left behind. What we see today is so different from Your original creation, yet vital components remain the same. And even the post-disaster landscape brings You glory. Almighty God, You created the waters and rule over them. They serve Your dual purposes of giving life and carving out reminders of the damage caused by our sin. I praise You for the boundaries that only You can place and enforce on nature. Thank You for protecting us from its full power.
He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate — bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. (Psalm 104:14-15, NIV)
Although You are majestic and we are made from dust, You choose to provide all we need. You generously give more than food for our physical needs; You also supply beauty for our emotional needs. You made our bodies to be perfectly suited for the conditions on earth. Even though all of this will pass away and be remembered no more, You have made it a pleasant place for us to live temporarily. We catch a glimpse of what You will provide in heaven and praise You for the splendor and majesty of both our current and future homes!
How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all. (Psalm 104:24, NIV)
We are so proud of our inventions and accomplishments, but they do not compare to Your works, Lord! Anything we make is built with components You spoke into being from nothing. Our groundbreaking discoveries have been obvious to You for centuries. All that is beyond our scope of understanding is simple for You to understand. You are supremely wise. We praise You for giving us a glimpse of Your numerous and diverse works. May we praise You more with each new revelation of Your glory that enables us to your majesty and splendor!
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works — he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. (Psalm 104:31-32, NIV)
Your glory will endure forever, Lord, even after this world passes away. May Your works continue to bring You glory for all eternity. Thank You for allowing us to enjoy and experience parts of Your creation. We glimpse only a small portion of it in this life and look forward to seeing a fuller picture of Your majesty and splendor in heaven. Open our eyes to the aspects of Your character on display around us. May we always worship You rather than what You have created!
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. (Psalm 104:33-34, NIV)
Father God, the least I can do is give You glory with my mind and my mouth. I want to be quick to give You credit for what You have created. I want to proclaim Your glory, Your creativity, and Your power at every opportunity. But I want to look deeper and get a glimpse of Your character through my experiences. Help me see Your love in action, Your patience on display, Your joy, Your faithfulness, Your goodness, and more! I want my thoughts to be joyful praises that are pleasing to You. Make me aware of situations where I can glimpse Your majesty and splendor so I can offer You the praise You deserve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sisters,
What aspects of God’s splendor and majesty have you glimpsed?
What boundaries has God set to protect you? How do you respond to them?
What is your favorite way to praise God?
How can you make praise part of your daily life?
Celebrate far more life by turning glimpses of His splendor and majesty into praise!
-Shari
Copyright 2021, Shari Damaso
Far More Life 