When I read through the Psalms, I get perception into the minds of the various psalmists. Not only that, but these are the Psalmists that God chose to record in scripture. That in and of itself is a very humbling realization. One particular principle that stands out to me, is the psalmists’ utilization of nature to further ignite their praise. Psalm 8 is a great place to start.

Here, David opens up with an exaltation of God’s name over all creation (8:1). He then proceeds to narrow the magnifying glass to find God’s hand in capacities such as infants and the strivings of man (8:2). All throughout Psalm 8, David praises God for the way He has revealed Himself in the physical entities of life. However, my focus is constantly drawn to verse 3.

David makes the statement, “when I consider.” I regret to say that my prayers are sometimes filled with a degree of inconsideration. However, learning from the Psalms is one of the greatest meals to feed your spiritual life. Next time you pray, incorporate a specific beauty of life, and give God the due praise for it. I have tried this a few times already, and it has really helped me become more cognizant of my own communion with the Father. For me, the mountains are a go-to for finding the glory of God. Other things that come to mind are sunsets, sunrises, animals, snowflakes, beautiful people, the stars, etc.

After David’s consideration, he began reflecting on where he stood in the grand scheme of things. David asks the question, “what is man that you are mindful of him?” This eventually led him to close the Psalm by giving God praise over all the earth (8:1; 8:9). Consider for a moment that God gave us the ability, through five senses, to appreciate beauty. It is most obvious that our Father loves us dearly. The experience of reflecting on God’s handiwork is mutually great, both for you and for your Father.

Tyler King