Psalm 65- NIV
Praise for God’s Bounty in Nature
651 [1]Praise awaits[2] you, our God, in Zion; to you, our vows will be fulfilled. 2 You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. 3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave[3] our transgressions. 4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. 5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.
8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. 9 You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.[4] 10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. 11 You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. 12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. 13 The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.
Takeaway:
Reading Psalm 65 makes you just want to get outside and enjoy God’s creation, doesn’t it? One of the most awe-inspiring moments of God’s creation was seeing my boys being born. The fact that something so small has everything working together just as He created it to be, is simply amazing. With each of my three boys, the joy and wonder if human life is just an amazing miracle. Our students are miracles as well. Our students are made in the image of God, and I will be honest, sometimes I forget that, and I need a reminder. The student that struggles with behaviors and is never absent, the child that does everything but classwork, are all made in God’s image. A daily reminder of this will no doubt impact how I treat others at school as well as at home in a positive way.
Prayer:
Creator of Heaven and Earth,
The beauty of Your creation is all around us. Sometimes I am seemingly too busy to notice how you have woven everything together for Your purpose. You had a plan and a purpose for everything You have created. You made us in Your image. Help me, Lord, to recognize this each day when I work with my students, colleagues, and my own family. Each of us has unique gifts and talents that You have given us. Help me to notice and nurture the gifts of my students. Let them know they everyone has strengths and challenges. Where I am weak, someone can come alongside me where they are strong. This is the body of Christ. We are all the body of Christ, and I thank you for creating everyone unique and with a purpose. In Your name, I pray.
-Amen
Weekly Discussion Questions for Students:
- What do you feel are your strengths? What are your interests and hobbies?
- What do you feel are some of your challenges? What areas might you need additional support?
- What would our world be like if we all had the same talents and abilities?
- Why is it beneficial to have people of all abilities in our community?
- How can we celebrate everyone’s strengths and abilities in our classroom community?
Praise
- Add in any praises that you have this week from your own personal life or that of your student’s or colleague’s lives
Requests
What do you need this week to thrive? Ask for those things to help you have the energy and capacity to do God’s will.
Want to Read More About Praying the Psalms Over Your Students?
If you missed the other posts on praying the Psalms over your students, you can find the links below or look on the right side of the page and click on this category to find them there as well. Please share with other teachers who might be interested as well! Note, that these Psalms are not in numerical order, rather I have picked them out in this order based on my own experiences and that of the students and staff that I am working with.