Daily Devotion for November 16, 2025
Prayers
Scripture
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
The more I think about the message of this wonderful chorus — the Heavens tell the glory of God! — the more thrilling Haydn’s masterwork becomes.
(from “The Creation”)
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonders of his work displays the firmament;
Today that is coming speaks it the day,
The night that is gone to following night.
In every land [In all the land] resounds the word,
never unperceived, ever understood.
Music by Josef Haydn
Lyrics translated by Robert Shaw, based on Psalm 19.
Sunday Prayer to Do God’s Will
Almighty God, today I celebrate the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, the supreme victory over death that belongs to you alone. I pray that I may, today and in the coming week, act in appreciation of the ultimate gift you have given to me and to all who confess the name of Christ.
As you have commanded us, let me be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work; let me speak evil of no one and avoid quarreling. Give me the strength to be gentle, to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Fill me with love and humility.
For I was once foolish, disobedient, led astray, a slave to all sorts of passions and pleasures, passing my days in malice and envy, sometimes hating others. But when the goodness and loving kindness of Christ called me to you, He saved me, not because of works done by me in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on me in rich abundance.
And now, through Jesus Christ my Savior, being justified by his grace, I have become heir to the hope of eternal life.
Make my heart clean within me, I pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that my every thought and deed will reflect the graciousness of the salvation given to me, not by my merit but by your love; and that I may continue to learn your word, and accept even what I do not want to hear, and always act in accordance with your will. In the name of Christ I pray,
Prayer of Repentance
Dear God, I come to you as a sinner who is undeserving of your grace and presence. I repent all my sins and ask you to forgive me so that my request may be heard by you. Lord, have mercy on me and fill me with your grace. Wash me with the blood of your son Jesus Christ that I may shine and walk unashamed. I ask for your favor from this moment to the end of the day. I thank you, for you are faithful.
Saint Francis’ Prayer of Praise
You are holy, Lord, the only God,
and your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong;
You are great.
You are the Most High,
You are almighty,
You, holy Father, are
King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One,
Lord God, all good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are love,
You are wisdom,
You are humility,
You are endurance.
You are rest,
You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches,
And you suffice for us.
You are beauty,
You are gentleness.
You are our protector,
You are our guardian and defender,
You are courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith,
Our great consolation.
You are our eternal life,
Great and wonderful Lord,
God Almighty,
Merciful savior.
Doxology
And now let me go forth praising you, O Lord, with all my heart, telling of all your wonders, with my words and in my actions. I will be glad and rejoice in you this day. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
Psalm 19:1-4 (ESV)
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV)
God’s Unceasing Revelation
ow faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Romans 1:18-20 (ESV)
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God is manifest in them.
Notes on the Scripture
At various points in the New Testament (e.g. Hebrews and Romans), we hear a rather basic point: People who live in the world and do not realize that God exists are blind. They have no excuse. The people of the most primitive culture understand that there is a creator; the most brilliant scientist as well, if he is not blinded by his pride. God declares His existence in every cloud, every star, every rock. The heavens tell his glory as clearly as if they were singing. A person has to refuse to listen not to understand God's hand in it.
Scientists are often atheists, but not because they have any less evidence of God than anyone else. Like a very wealthy man, or a person of wonderful physical beauty, they give in to pride of ownership. Those who share greatly in God’s natural gifts seem to have a harder time finding Him, for they believe that somehow they are responsible for their own gifts and glorify themselves. They are “born on third base and think they have hit a triple.” Pride is the cardinal sin, for the beautiful person does not ask “who made me so beautiful” but instead thinks “I am by my nature superior.” Everyone experiences this at some point: what it is like to feel better than others.
But while pride is a natural urge, that does not excuse it in God’s eye: “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God is manifest in them.” Gratitude must be learned, but there is enough in nature to learn it. We have the Bible, of course, but Paul says we do not need it to reach at least the minimum point of understanding that the essence of a gift is that someone gave it to us.
Beauty has no evolutionary function. There is no “natural selection” for people who see the beauty of a butterfly or a song. Loving the shape of a great canyon or the movement of a swimming fish or the color of a glorious sunset does not improve our chance of survival; so why do we have it? Because God implanted it in us to help teach us that He is. It is the artist’s signature on creation. So tell us, atheist fools, why do we love the beauty of the world?
Job, in the book written before Moses and the law taught us of God, said it: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:7-9)
Do we think we improve upon God? We will never make anything to compare to the majesty of a night sky filled with stars. “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29)
Semonkong Waterfall in Lesotho (Africa)
