Step 1: Speak to God
Creator of us all, we marvel at the exuberance of what You have designed. When there is blue sky, little win and wholesome sunshine we are reminded that You are the Light of our Lives. We have often sullied your creation by extracting what we should leave alone, by exploiting people who are the pinnacle of your creation, by employing a short-term approach that hampers the future.
Show us what we can do as a People to respect what you have created, preserve it for future generations and equitably share it with our sisters and brothers.
Step 2: Listen to God in Scripture.
| Hebrew Scriptures | New Testament |
| Psalm 24:1-6
The earth is the LORD’s and all it holds, the world and those who dwell in it. 2For he founded it on the seas, established it over the rivers. II 3Who may go up the mountain of the LORD? Who can stand in his holy place? 4 “The clean of hand and pure of heart, who has not given his soul to useless things, what is vain. 5He will receive blessings from the LORD, and justice from his saving God. 6Such is the generation that seeks him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.”
Psalm 148:1-14 Hallelujah! I Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights. 2Praise him, all you his angels; give praise, all you his hosts. 3Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all shining stars. 4Praise him, highest heavens, you waters above the heavens. 5Let them all praise the LORD’s name; for he commanded and they were created, 6Assigned them their station forever, set an order that will never change. II 7Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all the deeps of the sea; 8Lightning and hail, snow and thick clouds, storm wind that fulfills his command; 9Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; 10Animals wild and tame, creatures that crawl and birds that fly; 11Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all who govern on earth; 12Young men and women too, old and young alike. 13Let them all praise the LORD’s name, for his name alone is exalted, His majesty above earth and heaven. 14*He has lifted high the horn of his people; to the praise of all his faithful, the Israelites, the people near to him. Hallelujah!
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Romans 8:18-31
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. 19For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; 20for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; 23and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. 26In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. 27And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. God’s Indomitable Love in Christ. 28* We know that all things work for good for those who love God,* who are called according to his purpose. 29* For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. 31* What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
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Put together what you told God and what God told you. Converse with God.