Voice: Mylene
Today is Monday, 7th of September. Be still in the Lord’s presence.
We start by praying the Collect for Purity:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
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.
Two Ways to Live
Today we meditate on the first song in the Psalter. It begins with a beatitude: “Blessed is the man.” When Jesus taught the Beatitudes, He used the Greek equivalent of the word translated here as “blessed.” Psalm 1 therefore begins by showing us the way to a truly blessed life.
The psalm presents two ways to live. One is shaped by ungodly influences and eventually leads to emptiness. The other delights in God’s Word and leads to stability, growth, and lasting fruit.
A person is blessed when he does not follow the counsel of the wicked. The verbs “walk,” “stand,” and “sit” describe a gradual progression—from listening to ungodly counsel, to participating in sinful ways, and finally to becoming settled among those who mock God.
Consider how persistently the world speaks to and influences us. Its messages come through the people we meet, the internet, social media, entertainment, and workplace conversations. We are immersed in these influences every day, often without realizing how deeply they are shaping us.
In contrast, the blessed person chooses to delight in the Lord’s instruction and meditate on it day and night. For God’s Word to occupy our thoughts; we must intentionally make room for it. We can meditate on God by reading Scripture, listening to worship songs, reading spiritually nourishing books, praying, singing, or simply paying attention to the ways creation points us toward its Creator. Some also pray or speak in tongues as they go about their daily activities. The particular practice may vary, but the invitation is the same: continually turn our minds and hearts toward God.
When we do this, we become like a tree planted beside streams of water. Such a tree does not depend entirely on favorable weather because its roots continually draw from a reliable source. In the same way, a life rooted in Scripture can remain steady through changing circumstances.
This does not mean that we will avoid suffering or seasons of dryness. It means that God will nourish and sustain us through them. Our surroundings may change, but our source remains constant.
The tree will bear fruit “in its season.” Growth is often gradual, and fruit does not appear every day. Some seasons bring visible results; others are for quietly deepening our roots. We should not mistake an unseen season for an unfruitful one. God may be strengthening something beneath the surface that will bear fruit in its appointed time.
The wicked, however, are compared to chaff. Unlike a deeply rooted tree, chaff has no weight, stability, or life within it. It is easily carried away by the wind. A life disconnected from God may appear successful for a time, but it lacks the spiritual roots needed to endure.
The psalm concludes by showing the final outcome of these two paths. The wicked will not be able to stand in the judgment or remain in the congregation of the righteous. But the Lord watches over the way of the righteous. He knows His people—not merely knowing about them, but caring for, guiding, and guarding them along their way.
Our direction is shaped by what receives our attention. The voices we repeatedly hear will eventually influence our thoughts, choices, and character. Psalm 1 therefore invites us not merely to read God’s Word occasionally, but to delight in it—to remain with it until it shapes the way we live.
Ask yourself: What voices have been shaping my thoughts recently? What can I do today to become more deeply rooted in God’s Word?
We pray:
Lord, teach me to delight in Your Word. Guard my heart from influences that draw me away from You, and help me to meditate on Your truth throughout the day. Plant me beside Your life-giving streams. Deepen my roots during difficult seasons and produce fruit through my life in Your appointed time. Amen.
Be blessed by this version of Thy Word (Where Else Could I Go) , sung by Shane & Shane.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path
When I feel afraid I think I’ve lost my way
Still You’re there right beside me
Nothing will I fear as long as You are near
Please be near me ’til the end
I will not forget Your love for me and yet
My heart forever is wandering
Jesus be my guide and hold me to Your side
I will love You ’til the end
BRIDGE
You have the words of life
Where else would I go who else would I follow
In You I’m satisfied
So open my eyes I want to see (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
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