Daily Devotion

The Faith of our Youth

Voice: Shivdas

Today is Monday, 7th of July. Take a moment to be still in His presence.

We pray:

Almighty and everlasting Father,
we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day.
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger;
order us in all our doings;
and guide us to do always what is right in your eyes:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalm 71:17-19

O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
¹⁸ So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.
¹⁹ Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?

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.

Scripture Reading is Job 27:1-6

¹ And Job again took up his discourse, and said:

² “As God lives, who has taken away my right,
        and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
³ as long as my breath is in me,
        and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
⁴ my lips will not speak falsehood,
        and my tongue will not utter deceit.
⁵ Far be it from me to say that you are right;
        till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
⁶ I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go;
        my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

Reflection

As we grow older, we sometimes assume that the experience and knowledge we’ve gained can replace what we learned in our more “naive” or younger years. Yet Psalm 71 invites us to think differently.

The psalmist reflects on his youth and acknowledges that “from my youth you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds” (v.17). What God taught him in those early years remains his anchor — truths to which he still clings.

Yes, with time, we can gain wisdom and a clearer perspective on life’s complexities. But the heart of the matter — the core of our faith — does not change.

Paul expressed a similar concern in 2 Corinthians 11:3:
“But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

And in Colossians 2:6-7:
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught…”

The main thing about being a Christian is ensuring that the main thing remains the main thing. What we learned of Christ in our younger days — His faithfulness, His grace, His truth — needs to remain the foundation of our faith as we journey on.

The psalmist’s concern is not only for his own faith but also for the next generation:
“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come” (v.18).

Job, too, amid suffering and loss, resolved to hold fast to righteousness, truth, and integrity.

So pause and reflect:
👉 What has the Lord taught you in your younger days?
👉 How has His faithfulness sustained you through life’s seasons?
👉 If you are at the height of your career, will you remain faithful in the midst of abundance and distractions?
👉 If you are now in your senior years, perhaps facing challenges to health, strength, or the pain of bereavement — will you cling to the truths God planted in your heart long ago?

May we, like the psalmist, be faithful to the end, proclaiming God’s goodness to all who come after us.

We pray the Collect for today:

Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
whereby we call you Father:
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, 
that we and all creation may be brought
to the glorious liberty of the children of God; 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.

Be blessed by this song, He’s always been Faithful

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