Holy Lord of gardens and trees — of Eden and Olivet, Gethsemane, New Jerusalem — I worship you in and through your green creation in its beauty and agony and promise. O Lord, work your work; fulfill your plan; redeem your world quickly, I pray, as I wait patiently for you, for Jesus fully to be revealed. Amen.
* * *
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! — Psalm 150:6
Discerning Spirit, in an age when politicians, pundits, and even many Christians split the world into right or left, liberal or conservative, good or evil, graciously give me the radical mind of King Jesus. Remind me that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in kingdom perspective, and that you use the weak, despised things of this world to shame the strong. Amen.
* * *
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! — Psalm 150:1-2
Lord God, thank you for the coming of Jesus—for the fear-shattering “good news of great joy for all the people” and the revelation of the life that was and is and shall be “the light of all people.” Amen.
* * *
The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” — Luke 2:10
All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. — John 1:3-4