The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come! // Song of Songs 2:12-13
As I step outside into my backyard, the early morning sun is just rising. In the quiet stillness of nature’s beauty, the Lord’s presence is palpable. God’s artistry surrounds me as I observe the brightness of the sun, the coolness of the dewy grass, and the lush green of the trees.
As I settle into my lawn chair, I smile as I soak in this summer oasis.
And it is then that the Lord greets me: Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come!
Encountering God in Creation, in Scripture
During this season, I often take my prayer time outdoors. For summer is rife with opportunity to encounter God in His beautiful creation—whether sitting in the backyard, hiking in a park, or wading in shallow ocean water along a beachy shore.
Encountering God in creation invites me to meditate more deeply on His glory, goodness, and genuine love for me. And I cannot help but wonder:
Lord, if your beautiful creation is this glorious, how much more glorious are You? If your ocean is this magnificent, how much more magnificent are You? If Your sun shines this radiantly, how much more radiant are You?
Because all of the natural beauty that surrounds us—the sea, mountains, desert, waterfalls, wildflowers, and more—was created to point our attention back to the Creator. So that we fall in love with Him more deeply. So that our desire to know Him increases exponentially. And so that we grow more grateful for His lavish generosity, of which His flourishing creation is but a sampling.
Saint Peter Chrysologus said it best in his homily, Son of God, Son of a Carpenter:
Christ was the Son of a craftsman, but of The One Who formed the structure of the universe, not with a hammer, but with His command [ . . . ] Who set the sun ablaze, not with an earthly fire, but with heat from Heaven; who adjusted the moon, the darkness, and the periods of night; Who made the stars distinct with varying degrees of light; Who made all from nothing; and He made it, O man, for you, so that by pondering the work you would think of the One who made it.
Inevitably, during my outdoor prayer time, the Lord leads me to His Word and the many passages that describe creation as a reflection of the very splendor of God.
And so, as we enter this last month of summer, here are some Bible verses for prayer and meditation. Through His Word, let us ponder the gift of summer and how our natural surroundings within God’s creation invite us to contemplate the lavish generosity of our Creator and all that He has in store for those who love Him (see 1 Corinthians 2:8-10).
HIS WORD CHANGES LIVES
God is speaking to you through His Word. In this personal study, you will learn to hear God's voice by reading slowly and praying deeply.
Bible Verses to Pray in the Summer
Summery Season //
All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, Summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. // Genesis 8:22
The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord. By the Lord’s word the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathered the waters of the sea as a mound; he sets the deep into storage vaults. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all who dwell in the world show him reverence. // Psalm 33:5-8
Yours the day and yours the night too; you set the moon and sun in place. You fixed all the limits of the earth; summer and winter you made. // Psalm 74:16-17
Wavy Water //
More powerful than the roar of many waters, more powerful than the breakers of the sea, powerful in the heavens is the Lord. // Psalm 93:4
Should you not fear me—oracle of the Lord—should you not tremble before me? I made the sandy shore the sea’s limit, which by eternal decree it may not overstep. Toss though it may, it is to no avail; though its billows roar, they cannot overstep. // Jeremiah 5:22
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” // Matthew 8:27
Shining Sun //
From the rising of the sun to its setting let the name of the Lord be praised. // Psalm 113:3
Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you. // Isaiah 60:1
Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun to light the day, moon and stars to light the night; Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar, whose name is Lord of hosts. // Jeremiah 31:35
“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” // Matthew 13:43
Flourishing Flowers //
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust. They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It does not fear heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still produces fruit. // Jeremiah 17:7-8
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” // Matthew 13:31-32
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, know that he is near, at the gates.” // Matthew 24:32-33
Do you have a favorite Bible verse that encourages you to savor the summer season?
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Sarah Damm is a regular contributor to the BIS blog. She is a Catholic wife and mother of six children, living in Minnesota. She spends her days running errands, helping with homework, and keeping up with laundry and the family schedule. Sarah loves her faith, coffee, and good books. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Sarah's posts here.
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