Daily Devotion

Reflection: Terry
Voice: Li Huan

Blessed is the Man

Audio

Today is Monday, 16th of June. Let’s have a moment of stillness in His presence.

We pray:

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
Amen.

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We read Psalm 1:

Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.

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Reflection

Psalm 1 opens with a beatitude: “Blessed is the man…” — a timeless declaration about the kind of life God calls blessed.

This blessed life depends not on what we possess, but on how we walk, stand, and sit.

We are first warned against walking in the counsel of the wicked — that is, adopting the mindset and lifestyle of those who do not follow God. In a world shaped by cultural currents, media voices, and shifting values, it is all too easy to walk down the wrong paths without even realizing it.

Next comes the danger of standing in the way of sinners — getting comfortable with compromise. To stand implies lingering, settling into patterns and attitudes shaped by sin, even if unintentionally. If you stand in the way of these strong wind drafts, you will be carried along.

Finally, we are cautioned against sitting in the seat of scoffers. This speaks of becoming rooted in cynicism, mockery, or disdain for God and others. Cynicism is contagious — spend enough time in the company of scoffers, and you will start scoffing too.

But Psalm 1 offers a beautiful contrast: the blessed person delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates on it day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of water — rooted, nourished, fruitful.

If you are reading this devotional or faithfully observing the Daily Office, you are already choosing that better path — immersing yourself in God’s Word. This daily rhythm will not only protect your heart, but shape it.

So let the Word of God saturate your spirit. Go further. Stay rooted in fellowship with God’s people. Worship regularly in church. Listen to sermons. Let your walk, your stand, and your seat all be found in Him — and you will know the life that is truly blessed.

We end with this collect from Trinity Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God,
you have given us your servants grace, 
by the confession of a true faith,
to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity
and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: 
keep us steadfast in this faith,
that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; 
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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The Te Deum is a Trinitarian canticle or hymn which dates back to the earlier centuries of the Latin Church. It is still in used today in our Morning Office. Be blessed by this version:

¹ You are God and we praise you: you are the Lord and we acclaim you;
² You are the eternal Father: all creation worships you.
³ To you all angels * all the powers of heaven: cherubim and seraphim sing in endless praise,
⁴ Holy holy holy Lord * God of power and might: heaven and earth are full of your glory.
⁵ The glorious company of apostles praise you: the noble fellowship of prophets praise you
the white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
⁶ Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you: Father of majesty unbounded;
⁷ Your true and only Son worthy of all worship: and the Holy Spirit advocate and guide.
⁸ You Christ are the King of glory: the eternal Son of the Father.
⁹ When you became man to set us free: you did not abhor the Virgin’s womb.
¹⁰ You overcame the sting of death: and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
¹¹ You are seated at God’s right hand in glory: we believe that you will come and be our judge.
¹² Come then Lord and help your people: bought with the price of your own blood;
¹³ and bring us with your saints: to glory everlasting.

Amen.

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Link to today’s Morning Office