Voice:
Today is Friday, 30th of January. 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,
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 61
Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8 So will I ever sing praises to your name,
as I perform my vows day after day.
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.
“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
— Psalms 61:2
This line from the Psalm spoke to me at a critical moment in my ministry, when I was in my forties.
I was younger then—full of energy, ideas, and optimism. The parish I was pastoring felt alive with possibility. I was also deeply involved in the early, exciting work of Alpha, which was beginning to make a real impact in Singapore and the surrounding region.
I felt, perhaps without realising it, that I was at the centre of things—at the prime of my life. In such seasons, it is easy to be carried by self-confidence and self-reliance. One begins to believe that progress happens because of one’s vision, effort, and drive. That if things are moving, it must be because we are pushing hard enough.
Then this line from the Psalm fell on me like a weight.
It brought me back to reality. A human being has severe limitations. Storms can rise suddenly, and even the strongest swimmer cannot stay afloat forever. We may think we are steady ground for others, but often we are no more than small pebbles—easily shifted, easily overwhelmed.
If we ourselves are so vulnerable, what kind of stability can we truly offer to others?
And so the Psalmist’s prayer became my own:
“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
I realised then that I needed to stand on something greater than my gifts, my energy, or my sense of calling. I needed an anchor that was not myself. I needed the Lord. It was a quiet but firm reminder of humility, brokenness, and complete reliance on God.
More than twenty years have passed since then.
This line still speaks to me—but now in a different way. I am no longer filled with youthful confidence. There are days when I feel my age. Self-doubt sometimes creeps in. Resources feel fewer. I wonder where the creative spark and energy will come from for the parish that still needs shepherding.
Once again, the prayer rises:
“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
This time, it is not pride that needs correcting, but weariness that needs sustaining. And yet the truth remains the same. Whether in the strength of youth or the limitations of age, a human being cannot live or serve without standing on the Rock that is higher than himself.
If we needed that Rock at the height of our confidence, how much more when our strength feels diminished.
It is, and will remain, a lifelong lesson: to find our strength, our security, and our hope not in ourselves, but in the One who is “higher than I.”
We pray the Collect for the Day
Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power;
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.
Be blessed by this acoustic version of this popular song, Cornerstone.
VERSE
Christ is my reward
And all of my devotion
Now there’s nothing in this world
That could ever satisfy
PRE-CHORUS
Through every trial
My soul will sing
No turning back
I’ve been set free
CHORUS
Christ is enough for me
Christ is enough for me
Everything I need is in You
Everything I need
VERSE
Christ my all in all
The joy of my salvation
And this hope will never fail
Heaven is our home
PRE-CHORUS
Through every storm
My soul will sing
Jesus is here
To God be the glory
BRIDGE
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back
The cross before me
The world behind me
No turning back
No turning back
@Hillsong Live for Glorious Ruins album. This Acoustic Cover For Dave Ware and Nigel Hendroff.
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
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