WOODLAND SONG
The birds are returning to the woods. Their songs lift my spirits like poetry and their calls remind me to call on God through prayer. Isn't it true that what God created praises Him? Animals, to trees, to stones, to humans—the Bible tells us what they do.

Praise the LORD from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and maidens,

old men and children.

Psalm 148:7-12

 Psalm 148 details an overview of creation praising God.

Animals: I think of the passage in Revelation of an eagle flying above, crying out "Woe!". It's one of the animals in the Bible that can talk....like Balaam's donkey. They seem to know the majesty of the Lord. And that special donkey and her colt which no one had ever ridden tied at Bethany for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem. They seemed to know they were reserved for a special purpose. The living creatures in Revelation are from the word "zoon", meaning animals. 

Trees: Oh, aren't there many wonderful verses about the trees? Psalm 96:12 and 1 Chronicles 16:33 write about all the trees of the forest will sing for joy. "The trees of the field will clap their hands" is found in Isaiah 55:12. Can you think of others?

Stones: Luke 19:40 tells us they will cry out if the disciples had not. Jesus tells the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 3:9 that God can raise up children for Abraham out of stones. Is that incredible? Of course it is, because our God is incredible! 

Humans: Oh, aren't there verses here of people gone on before us that have given praise to our maker? Where do I start? I think of Abraham, Hannah, Mary, David, Jabez, Elizabeth, Esther, Deborah, John, Paul, Peter, Lydia, the woman at the well. Songs have been recorded. Prayers have been remembered. Lives have portrayed praise. It's all there.

For by him all things were created:

things in heaven and on earth,

visible and invisible,

whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;

all things were created by him and for him.

Colossians 1:16

What a privilege prayer is. Cast your cares on him who cares for you and happens to be the Creator. 

Sing a song of praise. 

And pray with hope.