Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church

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Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church


The congregation of Countryside is encouraged to not only read ahead in the texts we will be sharing and studying together during our services, but also to personally read the Scriptures together as a congregation. Here you will find Scripture for the day (a Psalm for each morning (always at least the first Psalm) and night, and selections from the Old Testament, New Testament and Gospels), as well as weekly and daily prayers. Together we read through the New Testament once a year, and the Old Testament every two years. The Scripture selections, and the prayers, are from common sources used by most Christians throughout the world.

The historic church found expression in the same rhythms of worship and devotion that were evident in the early church, and among the Hebrews, God's people, before that.  Our hope is that the regular reminder will be of encouragement to us all to join the people of God in reading the Scriptures and praying. Both are meant to go together with our daily prayer and communion service.

Reading for Sun, Jul 12

Psalm 148-150

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[a](A)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(B)
praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(C)
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(D)
Praise him, sun(E) and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(F)
and you waters above the skies.(G)

Let them praise the name(H) of the Lord,
for at his command(I) they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree(J) that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord(K) from the earth,
you great sea creatures(L) and all ocean depths,(M)
lightning and hail,(N) snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,(O)
you mountains and all hills,(P)
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(Q) and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(R) of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(S)
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor(T) is above the earth and the heavens.(U)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b](V)
the praise(W) of all his faithful servants,(X)
of Israel, the people close to his heart.(Y)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 149

Praise the Lord.[c](Z)

Sing to the Lord a new song,(AA)
his praise in the assembly(AB) of his faithful people.

Let Israel rejoice(AC) in their Maker;(AD)
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.(AE)
Let them praise his name with dancing(AF)
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.(AG)
For the Lord takes delight(AH) in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.(AI)
Let his faithful people rejoice(AJ) in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.(AK)

May the praise of God be in their mouths(AL)
and a double-edged(AM) sword in their hands,(AN)
to inflict vengeance(AO) on the nations
and punishment(AP) on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters,(AQ)
their nobles with shackles of iron,(AR)
to carry out the sentence written against them—(AS)
this is the glory of all his faithful people.(AT)

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.[d](AU)

Praise God in his sanctuary;(AV)
praise him in his mighty heavens.(AW)
Praise him for his acts of power;(AX)
praise him for his surpassing greatness.(AY)
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,(AZ)
praise him with the harp and lyre,(BA)
praise him with timbrel and dancing,(BB)
praise him with the strings(BC) and pipe,(BD)
praise him with the clash of cymbals,(BE)
praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything(BF) that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  2. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  3. Psalm 149:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 9
  4. Psalm 150:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 6

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 148:1 : Ps 33:2; 103:1
  2. Psalm 148:1 : Ps 19:1; 69:34; 150:1
  3. Psalm 148:2 : Ps 103:20
  4. Psalm 148:2 : S 1Ki 22:19
  5. Psalm 148:3 : S Ps 19:1
  6. Psalm 148:4 : S Dt 10:14
  7. Psalm 148:4 : S Ge 1:7
  8. Psalm 148:5 : Ps 145:21
  9. Psalm 148:5 : S Ps 147:15
  10. Psalm 148:6 : Jer 31:35-36; 33:25
  11. Psalm 148:7 : Ps 33:2
  12. Psalm 148:7 : S Ge 1:21; Ps 74:13-14
  13. Psalm 148:7 : S Dt 33:13
  14. Psalm 148:8 : S Ex 9:18; S Jos 10:11
  15. Psalm 148:8 : Job 37:11-12; S Ps 103:20; 147:15-18
  16. Psalm 148:9 : Isa 44:23; 49:13; 55:12
  17. Psalm 148:10 : Isa 43:20; Hos 2:18
  18. Psalm 148:11 : S Ps 102:15
  19. Psalm 148:13 : S Ps 113:2; 138:4
  20. Psalm 148:13 : S Ps 145:5
  21. Psalm 148:13 : S Ps 8:1
  22. Psalm 148:14 : S 1Sa 2:1
  23. Psalm 148:14 : S Ex 15:2; Ps 22:3
  24. Psalm 148:14 : S Ps 145:10
  25. Psalm 148:14 : S Dt 26:19
  26. Psalm 149:1 : Ps 33:2; 103:1
  27. Psalm 149:1 : S Ps 28:7; S 96:1; Rev 5:9
  28. Psalm 149:1 : S Ps 1:5
  29. Psalm 149:2 : Isa 13:3; Jer 51:48
  30. Psalm 149:2 : S Job 10:3; Ps 95:6; Isa 44:2; 45:11; 54:5
  31. Psalm 149:2 : Ps 10:16; 47:6; Isa 32:1; Zec 9:9
  32. Psalm 149:3 : S Ex 15:20
  33. Psalm 149:3 : S Ps 57:8
  34. Psalm 149:4 : Ps 35:27; 147:11
  35. Psalm 149:4 : Ps 132:16
  36. Psalm 149:5 : S Ps 132:16
  37. Psalm 149:5 : Job 35:10; Ps 42:8
  38. Psalm 149:6 : Ps 66:17
  39. Psalm 149:6 : Heb 4:12; Rev 1:16
  40. Psalm 149:6 : Ne 4:17
  41. Psalm 149:7 : S Nu 31:3; S Dt 32:41
  42. Psalm 149:7 : Ps 81:15
  43. Psalm 149:8 : S 2Sa 3:34; S Isa 14:1-2
  44. Psalm 149:8 : 2Ch 33:11
  45. Psalm 149:9 : Dt 7:1; Eze 28:26
  46. Psalm 149:9 : S Ps 145:10
  47. Psalm 150:1 : S Ps 112:1
  48. Psalm 150:1 : Ps 68:24-26; 73:17; 102:19
  49. Psalm 150:1 : S Ps 148:1
  50. Psalm 150:2 : S Dt 3:24
  51. Psalm 150:2 : S Ex 15:7
  52. Psalm 150:3 : S Nu 10:2
  53. Psalm 150:3 : S Ps 57:8
  54. Psalm 150:4 : S Ex 15:20
  55. Psalm 150:4 : S Ps 45:8
  56. Psalm 150:4 : S Ge 4:21
  57. Psalm 150:5 : S 2Sa 6:5
  58. Psalm 150:6 : S Ps 103:22
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 114-115

Psalm 114

When Israel came out of Egypt,(A)
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
Judah(B) became God’s sanctuary,(C)
Israel his dominion.

The sea looked and fled,(D)
the Jordan turned back;(E)
the mountains leaped(F) like rams,
the hills like lambs.

Why was it, sea, that you fled?(G)
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs?

Tremble, earth,(H) at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water.(I)

Psalm 115(J)

Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,(K)
because of your love and faithfulness.(L)

Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”(M)
Our God is in heaven;(N)
he does whatever pleases him.(O)
But their idols are silver and gold,(P)
made by human hands.(Q)
They have mouths, but cannot speak,(R)
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.

All you Israelites, trust(S) in the Lord
he is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron,(T) trust in the Lord
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him,(U) trust in the Lord
he is their help and shield.

12 The Lord remembers(V) us and will bless us:(W)
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear(X) the Lord
small and great alike.

14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,(Y)
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven(Z) and earth.

16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,(AA)
but the earth he has given(AB) to mankind.
17 It is not the dead(AC) who praise the Lord,
those who go down to the place of silence;
18 it is we who extol the Lord,(AD)
both now and forevermore.(AE)

Praise the Lord.[a](AF)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 115:18 Hebrew Hallelu Yah
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joshua 1

Joshua Installed as Leader

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord,(A) the Lord said to Joshua(B) son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River(C) into the land(D) I am about to give to them(E)—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot,(F) as I promised Moses.(G) Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon,(H) and from the great river, the Euphrates(I)—all the Hittite(J) country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.(K) No one will be able to stand against you(L) all the days of your life. As I was with(M) Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake(N) you. Be strong(O) and courageous,(P) because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors(Q) to give them.

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey(R) all the law(S) my servant Moses(T) gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,(U) that you may be successful wherever you go.(V) Keep this Book of the Law(W) always on your lips;(X) meditate(Y) on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.(Z) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;(AA) do not be discouraged,(AB) for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”(AC)

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:(AD) 11 “Go through the camp(AE) and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions(AF) ready. Three days(AG) from now you will cross the Jordan(AH) here to go in and take possession(AI) of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,(AJ) Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest(AK) by giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives,(AL) your children and your livestock may stay in the land(AM) that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle,(AN) must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.(AO) You are to help them 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”(AP)

16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.(AQ) 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.(AR) Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey(AS) it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!(AT)

Cross references:

  1. Joshua 1:1 : Ex 14:31; Dt 34:5; Rev 15:3
  2. Joshua 1:1 : S Ex 17:9
  3. Joshua 1:2 : S Nu 13:29; S Nu 35:10
  4. Joshua 1:2 : S Ge 15:14
  5. Joshua 1:2 : Ge 12:7; Dt 1:25
  6. Joshua 1:3 : S Dt 11:24
  7. Joshua 1:3 : Ge 50:24; Nu 13:2; Dt 1:8
  8. Joshua 1:4 : S Dt 3:25
  9. Joshua 1:4 : S Ge 2:14
  10. Joshua 1:4 : S Ge 10:15; 23:10; Ex 3:8
  11. Joshua 1:4 : Nu 34:2-12; Ezr 4:20
  12. Joshua 1:5 : S Dt 7:24
  13. Joshua 1:5 : ver 17; S Ge 26:3; S 39:2; Jdg 6:12; 1Sa 10:7; Jer 1:8; 30:11
  14. Joshua 1:5 : S Ge 28:15; S Dt 4:31
  15. Joshua 1:6 : 2Sa 2:7; 1Ki 2:2; Isa 41:6; Joel 3:9-10
  16. Joshua 1:6 : S Dt 1:21; S 31:6; S Jdg 5:21
  17. Joshua 1:6 : Jer 3:18; 7:7
  18. Joshua 1:7 : Dt 29:9; 1Ki 2:3; 3:3
  19. Joshua 1:7 : Ezr 7:26; Ps 78:10; 119:136; Isa 42:24; Jer 26:4-6; 32:23; 44:10
  20. Joshua 1:7 : ver 2, 15; S Nu 12:7; Job 1:8; 42:7
  21. Joshua 1:7 : S Dt 5:32; Jos 23:6
  22. Joshua 1:7 : ver 9; S Dt 4:2; 5:33; S 11:8; Jos 11:15
  23. Joshua 1:8 : S Dt 28:61; S Ps 147:19
  24. Joshua 1:8 : S Ex 4:15; Isa 59:21
  25. Joshua 1:8 : S Ge 24:63
  26. Joshua 1:8 : Dt 29:9; 1Sa 18:14; Ps 1:1-3; Isa 52:13; 53:10; Jer 23:5
  27. Joshua 1:9 : S Dt 31:6; Jos 10:8; 2Ki 19:6; Isa 35:4; 37:6
  28. Joshua 1:9 : S Dt 1:21; Job 4:5
  29. Joshua 1:9 : S ver 7; Dt 31:7-8; Jer 1:8
  30. Joshua 1:10 : S Dt 1:15
  31. Joshua 1:11 : Jos 3:2
  32. Joshua 1:11 : 1Sa 17:22; Isa 10:28
  33. Joshua 1:11 : S Ge 40:13
  34. Joshua 1:11 : S Nu 35:10
  35. Joshua 1:11 : S Nu 33:53
  36. Joshua 1:12 : Nu 32:33
  37. Joshua 1:13 : S Ex 33:14; Ps 55:6; Isa 11:10; 28:12; 30:15; 32:18; 40:31; Jer 6:16; 45:3; La 5:5
  38. Joshua 1:14 : Dt 3:19
  39. Joshua 1:14 : S Nu 32:26
  40. Joshua 1:14 : S Ex 13:18
  41. Joshua 1:14 : Jos 4:12
  42. Joshua 1:15 : Nu 32:20-22; Jos 22:1-4
  43. Joshua 1:16 : S Nu 27:20; S 32:25
  44. Joshua 1:17 : S Nu 27:20
  45. Joshua 1:18 : S Nu 32:25
  46. Joshua 1:18 : S Dt 1:21; S 31:6
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Acts 21:3-15

After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.(A) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples(B) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit(C) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.(D) After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

We continued our voyage from Tyre(E) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters(F) and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea(G) and stayed at the house of Philip(H) the evangelist,(I) one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.(J)

10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus(K) came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,(L) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind(M) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”(N)

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die(O) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(P) 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up(Q) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”(R)

15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.(S)

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Mark 1:21-27

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit(A)

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.(B) 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.(C) 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us,(D) Jesus of Nazareth?(E) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”(F)

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”(G) 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.(H)

27 The people were all so amazed(I) that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.