Let All Things Their Creator Bless
O God,
You have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
(Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019)
Psalm 67 NRSV
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.
Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.
God’s gracious bestowal of blessings, and his merciful actions toward His children, are meant to first to give demonstration to the watching world of His holy will and His saving power. God is generous to His children not first for their consumption, but rather that they might give witness of His glory to the world around them. That said, the goodness and kindness of God leads us to give Him our praise and worship. Even those who only know God through His “common grace” in the natural world and the general blessings of human life have ample reason to “be glad and sing for joy,” because even these call attention to the greatness and majesty of the One who made all things.
Therefore, “Let the peoples praise you, O God” for Your bounteous provision and creature-care. May praise and adoration resound to You from all over the earth.
O God,
Your blessed Son became poor for our sake, and chose the Cross over the kingdoms of this world: Deliver us from an inordinate love of worldly things, that we may seek you with singleness of heart, behold your glory by faith, and attain to the riches of your everlasting kingdom, where we shall be united with our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
(Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019)
All Creatures of Our God and King
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
