Friday, October 9, 2026

Opening Scripture

Praise the LORD, my soul. LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. Psalm 104:1-6

Opening Prayer

Most Merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry, and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me, that I may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 40:21-26

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Reflection  

In today’s passage, the prophet expresses shock and disbelief that anyone could doubt the greatness and goodness of God when they see the wonder and glory of His creation. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?”

Can anyone observe the astounding beauty and miraculous design of creation and not understand that there is a good and glorious Creator behind it? How foolish or proud must a person be not to realize that there is Someone much greater than mankind who established it all. A random explosion from absolutely nothing?

Beyond the mystery of creation, how ignorant to imagine that earthly power is most important! The Eternal Creator brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. “No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. The God who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name controls everything that exists.”

How easy it is for us to be captivated by earthly power, possessions, and pleasure to the disregard of eternal majesty, glory, and blessing. C.S. Lewis summed it up like this. “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

The lyrics to Chris Tomlin’s song, How Great is Our God, come to mind.

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty, let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice. He wraps Himself in light and darkness tries to hide and trembles at His voice, trembles at His voice. How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God and all will see how great, how great is our God.

Age to age He stands, and time is in His hands, beginning and the end beginning and the end. The Godhead Three in One – Father, Spirit, Son – the Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb. How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God and all will see how great, how great is our God. Name above all names. Worthy of our praise. My heart will sing how great is our God.

Do the words of that song and the verses below express the sentiment of your heart? Do they convey your love, devotion, awe, and wonder toward Almighty God?

“Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name” (1 Chronicles 29:11-13).

“Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty – and I will meditate on your wonderful works” (Psalm 145:3-5).

This week’s collective prayer: God, may I be useful to You in Your harvest. Amen.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!