This month, write through some Psalms about Israel as they journeyed from the bondage of Egypt to the promised land (Psalm 90), of the security of those who are faithful (Psalm 91), of the flourishing of the righteous (Psalm 92), and the happiness of he who has God’s discipline and instruction. (Psalm 94). Join with the Psalmist in recounting how God heard Israel in Egypt and delivered them and think about how God has provided deliverance to us as well through His Son.
Consider what God hears:
- God heard Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 16:11, 21:17)
- God heard the outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20)
- God heard the groaning of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 2:24, 3:7, 6:5)
- God heard Israel’s complaints and gave them food (Exodus 16:7-9)
- God heard Israel complaining about their hardship (Numbers 11:1,10)
- God heard Israel/s request to give them victory over the Canaanites (Numbers 21:3)
- God heard Israel’s request for a king and gave them one.(1 Samuel 9:16)
- God hears every contemptuous word spoken against the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 35:12)
- The LORD hears our cries for mercy (Psalm 28:6, 31:22)
How often do you use your senses to really be aware of what is going on around you and connect with others and with your environment?
Notice Creation!
- Look at the clouds. Try to identify the type of cloud and what they might be telling you about the weather.
- Pay attention to the weather. Notice the temperature, the colour of the sky, the presence of wind, the smell of the air.
- Notice the colours of the sky. Is it different at various times in the day?
- What sounds can you hear from the sky? Thunder? Wind? Birds? Airplanes? Insects? Take a few moments outside to listen.
- Try to get to a place where you can see where the land or water meet the sky. Notice how big the sky is!
Taking the time to put ourselves in a place where we can hear the sounds of nature is also very good for our health. “Not only can sounds from water mask noise, but they also increase the pleasantness and positive perception of urban greenspace. Bird song is also a widespread component of nature experiences and can restore attention, enhance mood, decrease perceived stress, and increase the familiarity and pleasantness of a soundscape.” 1
R.T. Buxton, A.L. Pearson, C. Allou, K. Fristrup, G. Wittemyer, A synthesis of health benefits of natural sounds and their distribution in national parks, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118 (14) e2013097118, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2013097118 (2021).
