A Prayer of Thanks for Warm, Sunny Days
Chelsey DeMatteis
Bible Reading:
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." - Psalm 19:1
Listen or Read Below:
Living in Ohio, you never know what you’ll wake up to. I recently heard the statistic that 57 percent of our days are sunny, and while I’m thankful for those days. It also came with the glaring truth that 43 percent of our days are not marked by sunshine. And with that, I realized what a gift of grace it is to wake up to the sun. While I wish we were a state that saw 95 perfect sunny days, I will rejoice with a little extra zeal for the bright days He does give us.
Truth be told, the older I get, the more I enjoy the little things, and those little things are actually quite significant. The sunshine is one of those things. We are so accustomed to seeing the sunrise in the morning and set at night that we forget how magnificent this is. Both the morning and evening reveal the beautiful work of God’s hands and the gifts that He gives us.
One of my favorite memories of my son from when he was starting to string together sentences as a toddler is when we walked outside and saw the sun. He’d say, “Thank you, Jesus, for this beautiful day.” Not only was it precious to hear, but I also didn’t realize I was instilling in him a foundational practice of thanking God for the beauty of His creation and pondering the new mercies God has for us each day.
I cannot help but think that the sunshine and the warmth it brings were not only made to illuminate the world and display God’s glory but also to evoke the feeling of mercy as it dances across our faces. You see, think about this with me: why are hard days worse when it’s gloomy but slightly better when it’s sunny? It’s hard to put your answer into words, right? But I assume your answer would be like mine, “the sunshine makes everything better. It brings joy and invites rest.”
When David penned the words in Psalm 19:1, it echoes the truth we know from the time God spoke the light into existence. He called the light good, and He separated it from the darkness. God made a point to make the light a marker of who He is and how much He loves us. It is no wonder that we’re drawn to it and drawn to delight when we sit in the physical presence of the warm light He created.
When you find yourself hoping for the warm sun to come or delighting in the beauty of it around you, remember to praise God. Reflect on these scriptures and pray them back to the Lord in gratitude:
- Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12
- The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5
- Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. - Psalm 119:105
- But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. - 1 Peter 2:9
- The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. - Psalm 19:1
- For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. - 2 Corinthians 4:6
Delight in the Lord, seek His face, rejoice in the beauty of His creation, and allow it to bring you to a place of rest.
Let’s Pray:
Father, thank you for the gift of warm sunny days. It is an incredible blessing to feel the warmth and restoration of your creation dance across my skin. I pray to be a believer who praises you for the things that seem small, though they are big. Each sunrise and sunset may be an invitation for my heart to say, “Thank you.” Give me opportunities to share the light of Jesus and be a vessel for your kingdom that pours out the good news you’ve given me to share. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Eva Blanco
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
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