Voice: Shivdas
Today is Friday, 14th of November. The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence is kept.
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.
We read Psalm 28
To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.
6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
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.
Matthew 6
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Shut the Door
We are social creatures. We naturally desire the approval of others. And few things draw admiration as much as visible religious devotion. This is certainly true in Singapore—where diligence and piety are often honoured. We also hope our devotion might inspire those around us. Surely, there is nothing wrong with others seeing us pray.
However, Jesus teaches that religious devotion is only healthy when it is not driven by a desire for public approval. When our piety exists primarily to be seen, it becomes hollow and hypocritical.
We may be praying, but our hearts are insincere.
We may go to church, but only to please others.
Corporate worship indeed has its place. Scripture calls us to declare together, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Faith is never solitary; it is lived among God’s people.
Yet Jesus also reminds us of an equally vital truth:
There must be moments when we seek God for His eyes alone.
“When you pray, go into your room and shut the door,
and pray to your Father who is in secret.”
(Matthew 6:6)
This is prayer without an audience.
No cc. No bcc.
Just you and your Father.
In these hidden moments, our motivations are purified and our desires re-shaped. Our relationship with God in secret becomes the foundation of a healthy relationship with others in public. We learn to serve, worship, and pray—not for applause—but for the love of God.
So, shut the door.
Guard these private, holy encounters with your Father. If you journal, keep it between you and Him. Let this inner room—this sacred space—remain secret.
For it is in the secret place that our Father sees, and in His time, He rewards.
We pray this Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen.
Be blessed by this song, Quiet
Here we go again, my mind racing
And I can′t seem to win
All these crazy thoughts and feelings
It’s like it never ends
Until Your voice breaks through my noise
And I know I′m not alone, I’m not alone
You will fight my battles if I will just be still
Why would I keep running when You’re right here?
I′ll just be quiet
Let You speak through the silence
Here I am, no more hiding
You are in this moment, I won′t fight it
I’ll be quiet
I don′t need to know what comes next
Tomorrow’s in Your hands
I can trust You with my future
′Cause You’re already there
I hear Your voice call me forward
I know I′m not alone, I’m
not alone
Away with the distractions, I wanna hear what’s true
The only words that matter, they come from You
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 terrywong@anglican.org.sg
Daily Devotion 
Leave a comment