1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, 2 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: where we help you find the words you need to 3 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: connect to your Father in Heaven. No matter what's happening 4 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: in your life today, you can trust that God wants 5 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: to hear from you. Right after this short word from 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray through today's prayer to rekindle your 7 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: sense of awe. A Prayer to Rekindle your sense of awe, 8 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: written and read by Lea Gerard. The whole earth is 9 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: filled with awe at your wonders, Where morning dawns, where 10 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: evening fades you call forth songs of Joy Psalms sixty 11 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: five eight. Whether it's reading the Psalms, writing my own musings, 12 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: or perusing a variety of published collections cover to cover, 13 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: I just love poetry. I'm drawn to its vulnerability and imagery. 14 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: To me, it's a medium where humankind is free to 15 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 1: reveal unique stories and open windows of wonder and connect 16 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: with other souls. Mary Oliver is a favorite poet of mine, 17 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: as well as of millions around the world. She often 18 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: speaks with tenderness and conviction about the astounding beauty of nature. 19 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: Her heart beats openly in awe of the tiny and 20 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: the towering blessings that grace our daily lives. As a 21 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: lyrical poet, King David was also in a deep state 22 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: of appreciation for God's provisions from sunrise to sunset. While 23 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: creating Psalm sixty five, he stood in awe of the 24 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: nourishment that nature freely gives. It's a song of gratitude, 25 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: and several biblical commentaries say it was intended to be 26 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: sung at a public observance. It's likely that a large 27 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: gathering sang this psalm of praise to God in celebration 28 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: of deliverance, abundance, and the beauty of nature. Whether we 29 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: sing about it, write it down, or just soak it in, 30 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 1: we are all blessed by nature with a symphony of 31 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: colors and sustenance. From seed to harvest. We can hear 32 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: the voice of God in the wind and rain, in 33 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 1: a bevy of birds, song, and so much more. The 34 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: apostle Paul reminds us in Romans one twenty that God's 35 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: eternal power is seen in creation. In this verse, he 36 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: encourages re to know God by seeking proof of Him 37 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: in the creatures, landscapes, and skies. There are many examples 38 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: of God's spectacular creativity in the Bible, and we continue 39 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: to see it reflected in the works of famous photographers, musicians, 40 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: and artists of all kinds. And although I try to 41 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: write poetry, sometimes I'm often distracted by mustdews, social media, 42 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: must have and deadlines. Just like you. However, scripture reminds 43 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: me of the value of seeking God in the smallest 44 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: feather or faintest whisper. Simply taking a walk out doors 45 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: can rekindle your sense of awe. It can give you 46 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: a first hand taste of God's love. When you spend 47 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: time in nature, you can collect a colidoscope of natural 48 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: wonders with your senses, or just study a single clover. 49 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: The opportunities to be inspired and amazed are endless. Every 50 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: single day. Nature is always painting a living tapestry of 51 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: God's handiwork. So today, if you're feeling a bit stuck, underwhelmed, 52 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: or overworked, I urge you to plan a pause in nature. 53 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: Let yourself slowly consider the intricacy of a blossom, the 54 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: sturdiness of a stone, the architecture of a shell, or 55 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: the dance of a butterfly. Find a moment to savor 56 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: the impeccable detail and devotion of our Lord in a leaf, 57 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: a creek, or even a picturesque view. Then allow a 58 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: sense of awe to cleanse your spirit. Making space to 59 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: be awe struck. Will remind you that God weaves the 60 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: most fragile of miracles and a masterpiece of infinite stars 61 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: that can take your breath away. As the poet Mary 62 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: Oliver so rightly says, when it's over, I want to say, 63 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: all my life, I was a bride married to amazement. 64 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 1: Let's pray, Dear God. I love that you give us 65 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: all of creation to share. Please bless us with the 66 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: kindness to care for it and the patience to seek 67 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: you in every detail. So often I feel that life 68 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 1: demands so much of my time, and I forget to 69 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: surrender to your presence. Help me find time to seek 70 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: you in nature, whether it's just a walk at sunrise 71 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: or a weekend getaway. Show me, even during my day 72 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: the responsibilities that you are Lord of all. Send me 73 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: a beautiful sight or sound that radiates your glory. I'm 74 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: ready to rekindle my sense of awe. I want to 75 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: restore my faith that even when life feels heavy, you 76 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,559 Speaker 1: are right there reminding me that you are doing more 77 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: than I could ever imagine. Thank you for the sun, water, air, 78 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: and nutrients we need, but also for the gracious gifts 79 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: of nature that showcase your gentleness and majesty. I praise 80 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: you and thank you for all creation. Amen. Your Daily 81 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: Prayer is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. 82 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 1: If you haven't already, be sure to follow the show 83 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: in your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. 84 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: For more faith filled inspirational podcasts, visit us at lifeaudio 85 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: dot com.