Listen to today’s devo!

Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. (Ps. 117:1)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 117:1-2

Mario was seventeen years old when he contracted polio. He lived in a poor barrio in Honduras, requiring him to maneuver his wheelchair through dirt roads full of ruts and debris. Undeterred, he would press on, singing as he made his way through the city. There were times when he would pay a visit to the mission house, his deep baritone letting us know of his arrival. It was as if the strength no longer occupying his shriveled legs had taken residence in vocal cords that could do nothing but praise the Lord in his native tongue.

It is estimated that there are 7,000 languages spoken around the globe. According to the Guinness people, Ziad Fazah, a Liberian-born Lebanese polyglot holds the world record for being fluent in fifty-eight of them. That’s impressive, but compared to the number of languages and dialects spoken in the 195 countries that make up our world, it’s just a start.

God calls every nation and every tongue to praise him, not because he’s selfish or simply demands it. On the contrary, it is out of his great love and faithfulness, desiring that all would know him intimately, no matter the country they live in or the language they speak.

Praise and thank the Lord for his love and faithfulness.

Marcy Burke enjoys living in Alabama, being a retired pastor’s wife, former missionary, and worship leader. She enjoys playing the piano and taking long walks with her husband, Larry.

© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.