“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1
Heavenly Father, I awoke this morning with this hymn filling my heart. I’d love to wake up every day to the freeing, focusing, faith-fueling words of “This Is My Father’s World.”
“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought…. Oh, let me never forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong God is the ruler yet.”
Before I knew you, this hymn wooed me. Later it became my heart-song. After mom died, I felt adrift, emotionally homeless, and vulnerable, most of the time. Thank you, Father, for revealing yourself to me as a senior in high school, in 1968. Thank you for making me your beloved son by the work of your eternal Son, Jesus.
Thank you for helping me understand the Gospel isn’t just about preparing to die, but coming alive and living as yours in your world. As King David wrote, the earth—along with everything and everyone in it belongs to you (Ps. 24:1). Though “the wrong seems oft so strong,” you remain unchallenged and undeterred as Ruler and Redeemer. Hallelujah… providence, not happenstance, gets the first, middle, and final word.
Father, grant us “listening ears” to hear all nature sing of your beauty, majesty and goodness. Turn up the volume! “Rest us” in multiple thoughts about who you are, what you’ve given us in Jesus, what you are presently doing throughout the world, and what life will be like when Jesus returns to finish making all things new. So Very Amen.
