WOODLAND SONG
The birds have returned to the woods. Their songs lift my spirit and their calls remind me to call on God through prayer. Isn't it true that what God created praises Him? From 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

Animals:

As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying

in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe!

Woe to the inhabitants of the earth,

Because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded

by the other three angels!”

Revelation 8: 13

God enables His creation to speak warnings. Can you imagine an eagle crying out “Woe!” as it flew over you? Remember Balaam's donkey? God opened the donkey’s mouth so that she could speak. (See Numbers 22: 26-35) Animals made by our Creator seem to know the majesty of the Lord and even impending danger.  
  
Trees: Psalm 96:12 and 1 Chronicles 16:33 write about all the trees of the forest will sing for joy.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;

they will sing before the LORD,

for he comes,

he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

and the peoples in his truth.

Psalm 96:12-13

 "The trees of the field will clap their hands" is found in Isaiah 55:12. Judgment on earth is coming. All of creation will respond.

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!

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus,

“Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied,

“if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Luke 19:39-40

Humans: Where do I start with the Bible verses of people gone on before us that have given praise to our maker? 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 recorded. Lives have portrayed praise. It's all there. And they’re written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

And Mary said:

“My soul praises the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

Luke 1:46-49

With the woodland birds, offer praise in prayer to our Creator. Desire to have your name also written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

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

Remember the privilege of prayer and sing for JOY!