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 Tue, Jun 23

Psalm 103

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the Lord,(A) my soul;(B)
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.(C)
2 Praise the Lord,(D) my soul,
and forget not(E) all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins(F)
and heals(G) all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life(H) from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,(I)
5 who satisfies(J) your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed(K) like the eagle’s.(L)

6 The Lord works righteousness(M)
and justice for all the oppressed.(N)

7 He made known(O) his ways(P) to Moses,
his deeds(Q) to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,(R)
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;(S)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve(T)
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love(U) for those who fear him;(V)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions(W) from us.

13 As a father has compassion(X) on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,(Y)
he remembers that we are dust.(Z)
15 The life of mortals is like grass,(AA)
they flourish like a flower(AB) of the field;
16 the wind blows(AC) over it and it is gone,
and its place(AD) remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children(AE)—
18 with those who keep his covenant(AF)
and remember(AG) to obey his precepts.(AH)

19 The Lord has established his throne(AI) in heaven,
and his kingdom rules(AJ) over all.

20 Praise the Lord,(AK) you his angels,(AL)
you mighty ones(AM) who do his bidding,(AN)
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,(AO)
you his servants(AP) who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works(AQ)
everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.(AR)

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 103:1 : Ps 28:6
  2. Psalm 103:1 : Ps 104:1
  3. Psalm 103:1 : S Ps 30:4
  4. Psalm 103:2 : Ps 106:1; 117:1
  5. Psalm 103:2 : S Dt 6:12; Ps 77:11
  6. Psalm 103:3 : S Ex 34:7
  7. Psalm 103:3 : S Ex 15:26; Col 3:13; 1Pe 2:24; 1Jn 1:9
  8. Psalm 103:4 : Ps 34:22; 56:13; Isa 43:1
  9. Psalm 103:4 : S Ps 8:5; 23:6
  10. Psalm 103:5 : S Ps 90:14; S 104:28
  11. Psalm 103:5 : Job 33:25; Ps 119:25, 93; 2Co 4:16
  12. Psalm 103:5 : S Ex 19:4
  13. Psalm 103:6 : Ps 9:8; 65:5; Isa 9:7
  14. Psalm 103:6 : S Ps 74:21; S Lk 4:19
  15. Psalm 103:7 : Ps 99:7; 147:19
  16. Psalm 103:7 : S Ex 33:13
  17. Psalm 103:7 : Ps 106:22
  18. Psalm 103:8 : S Ex 22:27; S Ps 86:15; Mic 7:18-19; Jas 5:11
  19. Psalm 103:9 : Ps 30:5; 79:5; Isa 57:16; Jer 3:5, 12; Mic 7:18
  20. Psalm 103:10 : S Ezr 9:13; Ro 6:23
  21. Psalm 103:11 : Ps 13:5; 57:10; 100:5; 106:45; 117:2; La 3:22; Eph 3:18
  22. Psalm 103:11 : S 2Ch 6:31
  23. Psalm 103:12 : S 2Sa 12:13; Ro 4:7; Eph 2:5
  24. Psalm 103:13 : Mal 3:17; 1Jn 3:1
  25. Psalm 103:14 : Ps 119:73; 139:13-15; Isa 29:16
  26. Psalm 103:14 : S Ge 2:7; S Ps 146:4
  27. Psalm 103:15 : Ps 37:2; 90:5; 102:11; Isa 40:6
  28. Psalm 103:15 : S Job 14:2; Jas 1:10
  29. Psalm 103:16 : Isa 40:7; Hag 1:9
  30. Psalm 103:16 : S Job 7:8
  31. Psalm 103:17 : S Ge 48:11; S Ezr 9:12
  32. Psalm 103:18 : S Dt 29:9
  33. Psalm 103:18 : Ps 119:52
  34. Psalm 103:18 : S Nu 15:40; Jn 14:15
  35. Psalm 103:19 : Ps 47:8; 80:1; 113:5
  36. Psalm 103:19 : Ps 22:28; 66:7; Da 4:17
  37. Psalm 103:20 : Ps 28:6
  38. Psalm 103:20 : S Ne 9:6; Lk 2:13; Heb 1:14
  39. Psalm 103:20 : S Ps 29:1
  40. Psalm 103:20 : Ps 107:25; 135:7; 148:8
  41. Psalm 103:21 : S 1Ki 22:19
  42. Psalm 103:21 : S Ne 7:73
  43. Psalm 103:22 : Ps 19:1; 67:3; 145:10; 150:6
  44. Psalm 103:22 : ver 1; Ps 104:1
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.

Error: 'Sirach 48:1-11' not found for the version: New International Version.

Luke 1:5-23

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea(A) there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;(B) his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.(C) 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,(D) 9 he was chosen by lot,(E) according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.(F) 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.(G)

11 Then an angel(H) of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.(I) 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.(J) 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,(K) Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.(L) 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,(M) 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,(N) and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit(O) even before he is born.(P) 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord,(Q) in the spirit and power of Elijah,(R) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children(S) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(T)

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?(U) I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”(V)

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.(W) I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak(X) until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs(Y) to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

Cross references:

  1. Luke 1:5 : Mt 2:1
  2. Luke 1:5 : 1Ch 24:10
  3. Luke 1:6 : Ge 6:9; Dt 5:33; 1Ki 9:4; Lk 2:25
  4. Luke 1:8 : 1Ch 24:19; 2Ch 8:14
  5. Luke 1:9 : Ac 1:26
  6. Luke 1:9 : Ex 30:7, 8; 1Ch 23:13; 2Ch 29:11; Ps 141:2
  7. Luke 1:10 : Lev 16:17
  8. Luke 1:11 : S Ac 5:19
  9. Luke 1:11 : Ex 30:1-10
  10. Luke 1:12 : Jdg 6:22, 23; 13:22
  11. Luke 1:13 : ver 30; S Mt 14:27
  12. Luke 1:13 : ver 60, 63; S Mt 3:1
  13. Luke 1:14 : ver 58
  14. Luke 1:15 : Nu 6:3; Lev 10:9; Jdg 13:4; Lk 7:33
  15. Luke 1:15 : ver 41, 67; Ac 2:4; 4:8, 31; 6:3, 5; 9:17; 11:24; Eph 5:18; S Ac 10:44
  16. Luke 1:15 : Jer 1:5; Gal 1:15
  17. Luke 1:17 : ver 76
  18. Luke 1:17 : S Mt 11:14
  19. Luke 1:17 : Mal 4:5, 6
  20. Luke 1:17 : S Mt 3:3
  21. Luke 1:18 : Ge 15:8
  22. Luke 1:18 : ver 34; Ge 17:17
  23. Luke 1:19 : ver 26; Da 8:16; 9:21
  24. Luke 1:20 : Ex 4:11; Eze 3:26
  25. Luke 1:22 : ver 62
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.