Daily Devotion

Voice: Emily

That one may truly repent

Today is Friday, 4th of July. Take a moment to be still in His presence.

We have come together as the family of God in our Father’s presence to offer him praise and thanksgiving, to hear and receive his holy word, to bring before him the needs of the world, to ask his forgiveness of our sins, and to seek his grace, that through his Son Jesus Christ we may give ourselves to his service.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let us confess our sins to almighty God

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, 
we have sinned against you and against our fellow men,
in thought and word and deed
through negligence, through weakness, 
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. 
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, 
who died for us, forgive us all that is past; 
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life;
to the glory of your name. Amen.

We pray in the words of Psalm 51:1-17

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

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.

Reflection

This psalm of David has helped countless believers through the ages to pray and bring their brokenness before God. As we hear in the absolution, “Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent”, this psalm gives us precious guidance on what true repentance looks like.

For many of us, the deeper struggle is not simply seeking God’s forgiveness — though that is vital — but learning how to overcome sin and grow in the likeness of Christ.

David begins with self-awareness — an honest reckoning with the truth about himself. He acknowledges his sin openly. Even though his grievous sins were in the past, he confesses that they still weigh on him (v.3). He recognizes that his sin is ultimately against God: “Against You, You only, have I sinned” (v.4).

David doesn’t mean that he did no wrong to Bathsheba, Uriah, or the people who trusted him. Rather, he has come to see that at the heart of every sin is an offense against God — a breaking of relationship with the One who loves us most.

David also reflects that while sin may be rooted in human nature — “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” — this does not excuse it. God desires truth in our innermost being, and that we cultivate wisdom and faithfulness.

David’s prayer moves beyond confession. He longs for lasting healing — “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” He asks for the Holy Spirit, the true giver of joy, to restore him, so that he may in turn help and encourage others.

What God delights in, David realizes, is not burnt offerings or outward acts of sacrifice, but “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.” This is the offering God will not despise.

Why not pause now, and slowly pray through this psalm? Let its gems guide you as you journey on in discipleship. Let it shape your own prayers of repentance and renewal.

We pray this Collect from Ash Wednesday:

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our brokenness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Be blessed by this song, Create in me a Clean Heart

Link to today’s Morning Office

About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.

Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.

For feedback, please write to us at info@mpcc.org.sg