Psalm 8  O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:  all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Over the last few weeks, we have had some beautiful weather here in North Texas. I have taken advantage of it by working outside. I’ve been trimming trees, doing general clean up around our place, including working on a bridge over one of our creeks. I have long enjoyed working outside. One of my first jobs growing up was mowing yards, and I loved it! There is something about working outside that lifts my spirits.

As I work outside, God and I have long talks. Sometimes I simply look up at the beautiful blue sky and said, “Thanks, Lord, for this gorgeous day.” Even though I knew there would be aching muscles and joints the next day – and there were – I thoroughly enjoy the opportunities I have to work hard outside.

Thinking about this, I reflected on the words of the Psalm above. I have written other devotions on this Psalm, because I think of it often. It begins and ends with O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! I appreciate the beauty of His creation and love being outside working so that I can take it all in. And I share the feeling David expressed when he wrote: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

The one who created not only the earth and everything in it, but also the universe and everything that exists everywhere, cares about me. Little old insignificant me. That is why He was willing to come live among us as one of us, take our sins on Himself, pay the penalty we deserve, and defeat death’s grip on us by His resurrection.

I have long loved the way Henrietta Luise von Hayn expressed this marvel in a hymn that is over 200 years old:

I am Jesus’ little lamb, Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me, Knows my needs, and well provides me,
Loves me every day the same, even calls me by my name.

Out of His tremendous love, my Lord is mindful of me and cares for me. Wow!