Voice: Mylene
Today is Thursday, 23rd of October. Whether you are in your room, driving or taking public transport, take a moment to be aware of His presence wherever you are.
We pray:
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Psalm 90
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
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.
Teach Us to Number Our Days
Psalm 90 is often read at funeral or wake services. It reminds us that life’s brevity is not cause for despair, but a call to wisdom and hope.
Verses 1–2 declare:
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
God is eternal — and that truth becomes the foundation of our hope and prayer as we live within the limits of our mortality.
In verses 3–11, the psalmist paints a sobering picture of our human condition:
We are dust — and to dust we shall return. Whether earth’s dust or stardust, our bodies eventually return to the elements from which they came.
We are fleeting — seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we have the strength.
And we live under judgment — for though we long to live sinlessly and wisely, we so often fall short.
Yet even within this realism, there is grace. The psalmist prays, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
This is not merely about counting our days chronologically, but discerning our seasons, learning to value the time entrusted to us, and living each moment with intention before God.
From this posture, the psalmist pleads:
- for God’s favour,
- for Him to satisfy us with His steadfast love,
- for Him to make our work lasting and meaningful,
- and for His glory to be seen in us and in the next generation.
What a rich and tender psalm this is — one that speaks honestly about life’s frailty, yet anchors us in God’s eternal faithfulness.
May you find time to linger with Psalm 90,
and let it become the quiet song of your life.
We pray this prayer of St Augustine:
Look upon us, O Lord, and let all the darkness of our souls vanish before the beams of your brightness. Fill us with holy love, and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom. All our desire is known unto you, therefore perfect what you have begun, and what your Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek your face, turn your face unto us and show us your glory. Then shall our longing be satisfied, and our peace shall be perfect. Amen.
In closing, be blessed by this version of Psalm 90
O God, before the mountains were brought forth
Or days of spring and summer filled the earth
From everlasting, You are God
We dwell beneath the stars in ancient skies
A thousand years are nothing in Your sight
From everlasting, You are God
And all our days are held within Your hands
Your perfect love and favor have no end
We rest within the wisdom of Your plan
Everlasting God
O God, when joy and tragedy collide
And loss reminds us life is but a sigh
From everlasting, You are God
And all our days are held within Your hands
Your perfect love and favor have no end
We rest within the wisdom of Your plan
Everlasting God
We rest within Your plan
O God of light, our ways are known to You
But by Your grace You’re making all things new
So satisfy us in our numbered days
Establish every effort while we wait
From everlasting, You are God
And all our days are held within Your hands
Your perfect love and favor have no end
We rest within the wisdom of Your plan
Everlasting
And all our days are held within Your hands
Your perfect love and favor have no end
We rest within the wisdom of Your plan
Everlasting God
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
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