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 Wed, Nov 26

Psalm 147

Psalm 147

1 Praise the Lord.[a]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant(A) and fitting to praise him!(B)

2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(C)
he gathers the exiles(D) of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted(E)
and binds up their wounds.(F)
4 He determines the number of the stars(G)
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord(H) and mighty in power;(I)
his understanding has no limit.(J)
6 The Lord sustains the humble(K)
but casts the wicked(L) to the ground.

7 Sing to the Lord(M) with grateful praise;(N)
make music(O) to our God on the harp.(P)

8 He covers the sky with clouds;(Q)
he supplies the earth with rain(R)
and makes grass grow(S) on the hills.
9 He provides food(T) for the cattle
and for the young ravens(U) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(V) of the horse,(W)
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(X) in those who fear him,(Y)
who put their hope(Z) in his unfailing love.(AA)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(AB)
praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(AC)
and blesses your people(AD) within you.
14 He grants peace(AE) to your borders
and satisfies you(AF) with the finest of wheat.(AG)

15 He sends his command(AH) to the earth;
his word runs(AI) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(AJ) like wool
and scatters the frost(AK) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(AL) like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(AM) and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes,(AN) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(AO) to Jacob,(AP)
his laws and decrees(AQ) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(AR)
they do not know(AS) his laws.[b]

Praise the Lord.(AT)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  2. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 147:1 : S Ps 135:3
  2. Psalm 147:1 : Ps 33:1
  3. Psalm 147:2 : S Ps 51:18
  4. Psalm 147:2 : S Ps 106:47
  5. Psalm 147:3 : S Ps 34:18
  6. Psalm 147:3 : S Nu 12:13; S Job 5:18; Isa 1:6; Eze 34:16
  7. Psalm 147:4 : S Ge 15:5
  8. Psalm 147:5 : S Ps 48:1
  9. Psalm 147:5 : S Ex 14:31
  10. Psalm 147:5 : Ps 145:3; Isa 40:28
  11. Psalm 147:6 : S 2Ch 33:23; Ps 146:8-9
  12. Psalm 147:6 : Ps 37:9-10; 145:20
  13. Psalm 147:7 : Ps 30:4; 33:3
  14. Psalm 147:7 : S Ps 42:4
  15. Psalm 147:7 : S Ps 27:6
  16. Psalm 147:7 : S Ps 98:5
  17. Psalm 147:8 : S Job 26:8
  18. Psalm 147:8 : S Dt 11:14; S 32:2; S 2Sa 1:21; S Job 5:10
  19. Psalm 147:8 : S Job 28:26; S Ps 104:14
  20. Psalm 147:9 : S Ge 1:30; Ps 104:27-28; S Mt 6:26
  21. Psalm 147:9 : S Ge 8:7
  22. Psalm 147:10 : S 1Sa 16:7
  23. Psalm 147:10 : S Job 39:11; Ps 33:16-17
  24. Psalm 147:11 : S Ps 35:27
  25. Psalm 147:11 : Ps 33:18; 103:11
  26. Psalm 147:11 : Ps 119:43
  27. Psalm 147:11 : Ps 6:4
  28. Psalm 147:12 : Ps 48:1
  29. Psalm 147:13 : S Dt 33:25
  30. Psalm 147:13 : S Lev 25:21; Ps 128:5; 134:3
  31. Psalm 147:14 : S Lev 26:6; S 2Sa 7:10; S Isa 48:18
  32. Psalm 147:14 : S Ps 132:15
  33. Psalm 147:14 : S Dt 32:14
  34. Psalm 147:15 : Job 37:12; Ps 33:9; 148:5
  35. Psalm 147:15 : Isa 55:11
  36. Psalm 147:16 : Ps 148:8
  37. Psalm 147:16 : S Job 37:12; 38:29
  38. Psalm 147:17 : Ex 9:22-23; S Job 38:22; S Ps 78:47
  39. Psalm 147:18 : ver 15; Ps 33:9; 107:20
  40. Psalm 147:18 : S Ps 50:3
  41. Psalm 147:19 : S Ex 20:1; Ro 3:2
  42. Psalm 147:19 : Ps 78:5
  43. Psalm 147:19 : S Dt 33:4; Jos 1:8; 2Ki 22:8; Mal 4:4; Ro 9:4
  44. Psalm 147:20 : Dt 4:7-8, 32-34
  45. Psalm 147:20 : S Ps 79:6
  46. Psalm 147:20 : Ps 33:2; 103:1
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.

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Firstfruits and Tithes

26 When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits(A) of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name(B) 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering(C) Aramean,(D) and he went down into Egypt with a few people(E) and lived there and became a great nation,(F) powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer,(G) subjecting us to harsh labor.(H) 7 Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice(I) and saw(J) our misery,(K) toil and oppression.(L) 8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt(M) with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,(N) with great terror and with signs and wonders.(O) 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;(P) 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.(Q)” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites(R) and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice(S) in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.

Cross references:

  1. Deuteronomy 26:2 : S Ex 22:29
  2. Deuteronomy 26:2 : S Ex 20:24; S Dt 12:5
  3. Deuteronomy 26:5 : S Ge 20:13
  4. Deuteronomy 26:5 : S Ge 25:20
  5. Deuteronomy 26:5 : S Ge 34:30; 43:14
  6. Deuteronomy 26:5 : S Ge 12:2
  7. Deuteronomy 26:6 : S Nu 20:15
  8. Deuteronomy 26:6 : S Ex 1:13
  9. Deuteronomy 26:7 : S Ge 21:17
  10. Deuteronomy 26:7 : Ex 3:9; 2Ki 13:4; 14:26
  11. Deuteronomy 26:7 : S Ge 16:11
  12. Deuteronomy 26:7 : Ps 42:9; 44:24; 72:14
  13. Deuteronomy 26:8 : S Nu 20:16
  14. Deuteronomy 26:8 : S Ex 3:20
  15. Deuteronomy 26:8 : S Dt 4:34; 34:11-12
  16. Deuteronomy 26:9 : S Ex 3:8
  17. Deuteronomy 26:10 : S Dt 8:18
  18. Deuteronomy 26:11 : Dt 12:12
  19. Deuteronomy 26:11 : S Dt 16:11
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.

John 6:26-35

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,(A) not because you saw the signs(B) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures(C) to eternal life,(D) which the Son of Man(E) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal(F) of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe(G) in the one he has sent.”(H)

30 So they asked him, “What sign(I) then will you give that we may see it and believe you?(J) What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna(K) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a]”(L)

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven(M) and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”(N)

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am(O) the bread of life.(P) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes(Q) in me will never be thirsty.(R)

Footnotes:

  1. John 6:31 Exodus 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25

Cross references:

  1. John 6:26 : ver 24
  2. John 6:26 : ver 30; S Jn 2:11
  3. John 6:27 : Isa 55:2
  4. John 6:27 : ver 54; S Mt 25:46
  5. John 6:27 : S Mt 8:20
  6. John 6:27 : Ro 4:11; 1Co 9:2; 2Co 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30; 2Ti 2:19; Rev 7:3
  7. John 6:29 : 1Jn 3:23
  8. John 6:29 : S Jn 3:17
  9. John 6:30 : S Jn 2:11
  10. John 6:30 : S Mt 12:38
  11. John 6:31 : Nu 11:7-9
  12. John 6:31 : Ex 16:4, 15; Ne 9:15; Ps 78:24; 105:40
  13. John 6:33 : ver 50; Jn 3:13, 31
  14. John 6:34 : Jn 4:15
  15. John 6:35 : Ex 3:14; Jn 8:12; 10:7, 11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1
  16. John 6:35 : ver 48, 51
  17. John 6:35 : S Jn 3:15
  18. John 6:35 : Jn 4:14
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 145

Psalm 145[a]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

1 I will exalt you,(A) my God the King;(B)
I will praise your name(C) for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise(D) you
and extol your name(E) for ever and ever.

3 Great(F) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(G)
his greatness no one can fathom.(H)
4 One generation(I) commends your works to another;
they tell(J) of your mighty acts.(K)
5 They speak of the glorious splendor(L) of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b](M)
6 They tell(N) of the power of your awesome works—(O)
and I will proclaim(P) your great deeds.(Q)
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness(R)
and joyfully sing(S) of your righteousness.(T)

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(U)
slow to anger and rich in love.(V)

9 The Lord is good(W) to all;
he has compassion(X) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(Y) Lord;
your faithful people extol(Z) you.(AA)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(AB)
and speak of your might,(AC)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(AD)
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(AE)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(AF)
and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(AG) in all he promises(AH)
and faithful in all he does.[c]
14 The Lord upholds(AI) all who fall
and lifts up all(AJ) who are bowed down.(AK)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food(AL) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires(AM) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(AN) in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.(AO)
18 The Lord is near(AP) to all who call on him,(AQ)
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(AR) of those who fear him;(AS)
he hears their cry(AT) and saves them.(AU)
20 The Lord watches over(AV) all who love him,(AW)
but all the wicked he will destroy.(AX)

21 My mouth will speak(AY) in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature(AZ) praise his holy name(BA)
for ever and ever.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
  3. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 145:1 : Ps 30:1; 34:1
  2. Psalm 145:1 : Ps 2:6; 5:2
  3. Psalm 145:1 : S Ps 54:6
  4. Psalm 145:2 : S Ps 71:6
  5. Psalm 145:2 : Ps 34:1; Isa 25:1; 26:8
  6. Psalm 145:3 : S Ps 95:3
  7. Psalm 145:3 : S 2Sa 22:4; Ps 96:4
  8. Psalm 145:3 : S Job 5:9
  9. Psalm 145:4 : Ps 22:30
  10. Psalm 145:4 : S Dt 11:19
  11. Psalm 145:4 : S Ps 71:16
  12. Psalm 145:5 : Ps 96:6; 148:13
  13. Psalm 145:5 : S Ps 75:1
  14. Psalm 145:6 : Ps 78:4
  15. Psalm 145:6 : S Ps 66:3
  16. Psalm 145:6 : S Dt 32:3
  17. Psalm 145:6 : Ps 75:1; 106:22
  18. Psalm 145:7 : S Ex 18:9; S Ps 27:13
  19. Psalm 145:7 : S Ps 5:11; S 101:1
  20. Psalm 145:7 : S Ps 138:5
  21. Psalm 145:8 : S Ps 86:15; 103:8
  22. Psalm 145:8 : S Ps 86:5
  23. Psalm 145:9 : S 1Ch 16:34; S Ps 136:1; Mt 19:17; Mk 10:18
  24. Psalm 145:9 : Ps 103:13-14
  25. Psalm 145:10 : S Ps 8:6; S 103:22; S 139:14
  26. Psalm 145:10 : Ps 30:4; 148:14; 149:9
  27. Psalm 145:10 : Ps 115:17-18
  28. Psalm 145:11 : ver 12-13; S Ex 15:2; Mt 6:33
  29. Psalm 145:11 : Ps 21:13
  30. Psalm 145:12 : S Ps 75:1; 105:1
  31. Psalm 145:12 : ver 11; Ps 103:19; Isa 2:10, 19, 21
  32. Psalm 145:13 : S Ex 15:18; 1Ti 1:17; 2Pe 1:11; Rev 11:15
  33. Psalm 145:13 : S Dt 7:9; S 1Co 1:9
  34. Psalm 145:13 : S Jos 23:14
  35. Psalm 145:14 : S Ps 37:17
  36. Psalm 145:14 : S 1Sa 2:8; Ps 146:8
  37. Psalm 145:14 : S Ps 38:6
  38. Psalm 145:15 : S Ge 1:30; S Job 28:5; S Ps 37:25; S Mt 6:26
  39. Psalm 145:16 : S Ps 90:14; S 104:28
  40. Psalm 145:17 : S Ex 9:27; S Ezr 9:15
  41. Psalm 145:17 : ver 13
  42. Psalm 145:18 : S Nu 23:21; S Ps 46:1; Php 4:5
  43. Psalm 145:18 : Ps 18:6; 80:18
  44. Psalm 145:19 : S Ps 20:4
  45. Psalm 145:19 : S Job 22:28
  46. Psalm 145:19 : S Ps 31:22; S 40:1
  47. Psalm 145:19 : S 1Sa 10:19; Ps 7:10; 34:18
  48. Psalm 145:20 : S Ps 1:6
  49. Psalm 145:20 : Ps 31:23; 91:14; 97:10
  50. Psalm 145:20 : S Ps 94:23
  51. Psalm 145:21 : Ps 71:8
  52. Psalm 145:21 : Ps 65:2; 150:6
  53. Psalm 145:21 : S Ex 3:15; S Ps 30:4; S 99:3
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.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard(A) among you, who care for you in the Lord(B) and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.(C) 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle(D) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,(E) be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,(F) but always strive to do what is good for each other(G) and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always,(H) 17 pray continually,(I) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(J) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.(K) 20 Do not treat prophecies(L) with contempt 21 but test them all;(M) hold on to what is good,(N) 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace,(O) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul(P) and body be kept blameless(Q) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(R) 24 The one who calls(S) you is faithful,(T) and he will do it.(U)

Cross references:

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 : Ro 16:6, 12; 1Co 15:10
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 : 1Ti 5:17; Heb 13:17
  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:13 : S Mk 9:50
  4. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 : 2Th 3:6, 7, 11
  5. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 : Ro 14:1; 1Co 8:7-12
  6. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 : Ro 12:17; 1Pe 3:9
  7. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 : Eph 4:32
  8. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 : Php 4:4
  9. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 : S Lk 18:1
  10. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 : S Eph 5:20
  11. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 : Eph 4:30
  12. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 : 1Co 14:1-40
  13. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 : 1Co 14:29; 1Jn 4:1
  14. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 : Ro 12:9
  15. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 : S Ro 15:33
  16. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 : Heb 4:12
  17. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 : S 1Th 3:13
  18. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 : S 1Th 2:19
  19. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 : S Ro 8:28
  20. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 : S 1Co 1:9
  21. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 : Nu 23:19; Php 1:6
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.