Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Opening Scripture

“O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.” Psalm 8:1

Opening Prayer

Gracious Loving Father, I come before you with a humble and thankful heart. I give you praise for the wonder of your creation. The vastness of a star-filled sky. The majesty of a snowcapped mountain. The delicate beauty of a flowering field. The whisper of a gentle breeze. The intensity of a summer storm. The calming flow of a forest stream. All nature testifies to your splendor and power, your kindness and love, your goodness and grace. Help me to join with creation today to reflect your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Reflection  

Today’s passage revisits the magnificence of God’s self-revelation in creation and adds the wonder of God’s self-revelation in Scripture. The psalmist praises God for his general revelation in nature and his specific revelation in his Word.

Who hasn’t been enchanted as God’s glory is revealed by a sunset, seashore, night sky, or mountain range? And who hasn’t been captivated by the “living and active” richness of God speaking to us in the pages of our Bibles?

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul references God’s general revelation of Himself to all humanity in nature. “What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).

While everyone has an innate sense of the divine Creator through nature, Almighty God has revealed Himself much more fully in His Word. Creation declares the power of God. Scripture declares the character of God. We are compelled to worship God for His infinite power and creative capacity. We are even more compelled to orient our lives around His infinite holiness and constant compassion.

Flourishing Habit

Mental and Physical Health

Human beings are the crowning glory of God’s creation, and He wants each of us to thrive. Flourishing means living life as God intended. A key component of that flourishing involves stewarding our mental and physical health. To the degree that we’re able, we need to establish healthy rhythms for our bodies and brains.

Good nutrition, regular exercise, prayer and meditation, and sufficient sleep must all be part of that rhythm. None of these things are “hard.” They just require planning, effort, and discipline. And to make them a habit, you must establish consistency. In almost every area of life, a little every day is better than a lot every now and then.

What’s one thing you can do today to turn good intention into action? Pick an area to focus on – eating, moving, reading, praying, engaging others, sleeping – then do something to be healthier. Then do it again tomorrow.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!