Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church

Scroll Down to
Read Content

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, Mar 29

Psalm 24

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

1 The earth is the Lord’s,(A) and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;(B)
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.(C)

3 Who may ascend the mountain(D) of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?(E)
4 The one who has clean hands(F) and a pure heart,(G)
who does not trust in an idol(H)
or swear by a false god.[a]

5 They will receive blessing(I) from the Lord
and vindication(J) from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face,(K) God of Jacob.[b][c]

7 Lift up your heads, you gates;(L)
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King(M) of glory(N) may come in.(O)
8 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,(P)
the Lord mighty in battle.(Q)
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty(R)—
he is the King of glory.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 24:4 Or swear falsely
  2. Psalm 24:6 Two Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts face, Jacob
  3. Psalm 24:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 10.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 24:1 : S Ex 9:29; Job 41:11
  2. Psalm 24:1 : 1Co 10:26*
  3. Psalm 24:2 : S Ge 1:6; Ps 104:3; 2Pe 3:5
  4. Psalm 24:3 : Ps 2:6
  5. Psalm 24:3 : Ps 15:1; 65:4
  6. Psalm 24:4 : S 2Sa 22:21
  7. Psalm 24:4 : Ps 51:10; 73:1; Mt 5:8
  8. Psalm 24:4 : Eze 18:15
  9. Psalm 24:5 : Dt 11:26
  10. Psalm 24:5 : Ps 17:2
  11. Psalm 24:6 : Ps 27:8; 105:4; 119:58; Hos 5:15
  12. Psalm 24:7 : Ps 118:19, 20; Isa 26:2; 60:11, 18; 62:10
  13. Psalm 24:7 : Ps 44:4; 74:12
  14. Psalm 24:7 : Ps 29:3; Ac 7:2; 1Co 2:8
  15. Psalm 24:7 : Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5
  16. Psalm 24:8 : S 1Ch 29:11; Ps 89:13; Jer 50:34; Eph 6:10
  17. Psalm 24:8 : Ex 15:3, 6; Dt 4:34
  18. Psalm 24:10 : S 1Sa 1:11
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.

Psalm 29

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the Lord,(A) you heavenly beings,(B)
ascribe to the Lord glory(C) and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness.(D)

3 The voice(E) of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory(F) thunders,(G)
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.(H)
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;(I)
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.(J)
6 He makes Lebanon leap(K) like a calf,
Sirion[b](L) like a young wild ox.(M)
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.(N)
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.(O)
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks[c](P)
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”(Q)

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;(R)
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.(S)
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;(T)
the Lord blesses his people with peace.(U)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 29:2 Or Lord with the splendor of
  2. Psalm 29:6 That is, Mount Hermon
  3. Psalm 29:9 Or Lord makes the deer give birth

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 29:1 : ver 2; 1Ch 16:28
  2. Psalm 29:1 : S 2Sa 1:19; Ps 103:20; Isa 10:13
  3. Psalm 29:1 : Ps 8:1
  4. Psalm 29:2 : S 1Ch 16:29; Ps 96:7-9
  5. Psalm 29:3 : Job 37:5
  6. Psalm 29:3 : S Ps 24:7; Ac 7:2
  7. Psalm 29:3 : S 1Sa 2:10; Ps 18:13; 46:6; 68:33; 77:17; Jer 10:13; 25:30; Joel 2:11; Am 1:2
  8. Psalm 29:3 : S Ex 15:10
  9. Psalm 29:4 : Ps 68:33
  10. Psalm 29:5 : S Jdg 9:15
  11. Psalm 29:6 : Ps 114:4
  12. Psalm 29:6 : Dt 3:9
  13. Psalm 29:6 : S Nu 23:22; Job 39:9; Ps 92:10
  14. Psalm 29:7 : Eze 1:14; Rev 8:5
  15. Psalm 29:8 : Nu 13:26; S 20:1
  16. Psalm 29:9 : Isa 2:13; Eze 27:6; Am 2:9
  17. Psalm 29:9 : Ps 26:8
  18. Psalm 29:10 : Ge 6:17
  19. Psalm 29:10 : S Ex 15:18
  20. Psalm 29:11 : S Ps 18:1; 28:8; 68:35
  21. Psalm 29:11 : S Lev 26:6; S Nu 6:26
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 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.

Zechariah 9:9-12

The Coming of Zion’s King

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!(A)
Shout,(B) Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,(C)
righteous and victorious,(D)
lowly and riding on a donkey,(E)
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.(F)
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.(G)
He will proclaim peace(H) to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River[a] to the ends of the earth.(I)
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant(J) with you,
I will free your prisoners(K) from the waterless pit.(L)
12 Return to your fortress,(M) you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice(N) as much to you.

Footnotes:

  1. Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 9:9 : S Isa 62:11
  2. Zechariah 9:9 : S 1Ki 1:39
  3. Zechariah 9:9 : S Ps 24:7; S 149:2; Mic 4:8
  4. Zechariah 9:9 : Isa 9:6-7; 43:3-11; Jer 23:5-6; Zep 3:14-15; Zec 2:10
  5. Zechariah 9:9 : S Ge 49:11; S 1Ki 1:33
  6. Zechariah 9:9 : Mt 21:5*; Jn 12:15*
  7. Zechariah 9:10 : Hos 1:7; 2:18; Mic 4:3; 5:10; Zec 10:4
  8. Zechariah 9:10 : S Isa 2:4
  9. Zechariah 9:10 : Ps 72:8
  10. Zechariah 9:11 : S Ex 24:8; S Mt 26:28; S Lk 22:20
  11. Zechariah 9:11 : S Isa 10:4; S 42:7
  12. Zechariah 9:11 : Jer 38:6
  13. Zechariah 9:12 : S Joel 3:16
  14. Zechariah 9:12 : S Dt 21:17; S Isa 40:2
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.

Zechariah 12:9-11

9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations(A) that attack Jerusalem.(B)

Mourning for the One They Pierced

10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit[a](C) of grace and supplication.(D) They will look on[b] me, the one they have pierced,(E) and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child,(F) and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.(G) 11 On that day the weeping(H) in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.(I)

Footnotes:

  1. Zechariah 12:10 Or the Spirit
  2. Zechariah 12:10 Or to

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 12:9 : S Isa 29:7
  2. Zechariah 12:9 : S Zec 1:21; 14:2-3
  3. Zechariah 12:10 : S Eze 37:9
  4. Zechariah 12:10 : Isa 44:3; S Eze 39:29; Joel 2:28-29
  5. Zechariah 12:10 : S Ps 22:16; Jn 19:34, 37*
  6. Zechariah 12:10 : Jdg 11:34
  7. Zechariah 12:10 : S Ge 21:16; Jer 31:19
  8. Zechariah 12:11 : Jer 50:4
  9. Zechariah 12:11 : 2Ki 23:29
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.

Zechariah 13:1

Cleansing From Sin

13 “On that day a fountain(A) will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse(B) them from sin and impurity.

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 13:1 : Jer 17:13
  2. Zechariah 13:1 : S Lev 16:30; S Ps 51:2; Heb 9:14
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.

Zechariah 13:7-9

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

7 “Awake, sword,(A) against my shepherd,(B)
against the man who is close to me!”
declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,(C)
and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
8 In the whole land,” declares the Lord,
“two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it.(D)
9 This third I will put into the fire;(E)
I will refine them like silver(F)
and test them like gold.(G)
They will call(H) on my name(I)
and I will answer(J) them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’(K)
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.(L)’”

Cross references:

  1. Zechariah 13:7 : S Isa 34:5; Jer 47:6
  2. Zechariah 13:7 : Isa 40:11; S 53:4; Eze 37:24
  3. Zechariah 13:7 : S 2Sa 17:2; Mt 26:31*; Mk 14:27*
  4. Zechariah 13:8 : S Eze 5:2-4, 12; Zec 14:2
  5. Zechariah 13:9 : S Isa 4:4; 33:14; Mal 3:2
  6. Zechariah 13:9 : S Ps 12:6; S Da 11:35; 1Pe 1:6-7
  7. Zechariah 13:9 : S Job 6:29; S Jer 6:27
  8. Zechariah 13:9 : S Ps 50:15
  9. Zechariah 13:9 : Ps 105:1
  10. Zechariah 13:9 : S Ps 86:7; S Isa 30:19; S Zec 10:6
  11. Zechariah 13:9 : S Lev 26:12; S Jer 30:22
  12. Zechariah 13:9 : S Isa 44:5; S Jer 29:12; S Eze 20:38
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 Timothy 6:12-16

12 Fight the good fight(A) of the faith. Take hold of(B) the eternal life(C) to which you were called when you made your good confession(D) in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate(E) made the good confession,(F) I charge you(G) 14 to keep this command without spot or blame(H) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,(I) 15 which God will bring about in his own time(J)—God, the blessed(K) and only Ruler,(L) the King of kings and Lord of lords,(M) 16 who alone is immortal(N) and who lives in unapproachable light,(O) whom no one has seen or can see.(P) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.(Q)

Cross references:

  1. 1 Timothy 6:12 : 1Co 9:25, 26; S 1Ti 1:18
  2. 1 Timothy 6:12 : ver 19; Php 3:12
  3. 1 Timothy 6:12 : S Mt 25:46
  4. 1 Timothy 6:12 : S Heb 3:1
  5. 1 Timothy 6:13 : Jn 18:33-37
  6. 1 Timothy 6:13 : ver 12
  7. 1 Timothy 6:13 : 1Ti 5:21; 2Ti 4:1
  8. 1 Timothy 6:14 : S 1Th 3:13
  9. 1 Timothy 6:14 : S 1Co 1:7; 2Ti 1:10; 4:1, 8
  10. 1 Timothy 6:15 : 1Ti 2:6; Tit 1:3
  11. 1 Timothy 6:15 : 1Ti 1:11
  12. 1 Timothy 6:15 : 1Ti 1:17
  13. 1 Timothy 6:15 : Dt 10:17; Ps 136:3; Da 2:47; Rev 1:5; 17:14; 19:16
  14. 1 Timothy 6:16 : 1Ti 1:17
  15. 1 Timothy 6:16 : Ps 104:2; 1Jn 1:7
  16. 1 Timothy 6:16 : S Jn 1:18
  17. 1 Timothy 6:16 : S Ro 11:36
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.

Luke 19:41-48

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it(A) 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.(B) 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.(C) They will not leave one stone on another,(D) because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming(E) to you.”

Jesus at the Temple(F)

45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’[a];(G) but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[b]”(H)

47 Every day he was teaching at the temple.(I) But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.(J) 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Footnotes:

  1. Luke 19:46 Isaiah 56:7
  2. Luke 19:46 Jer. 7:11

Cross references:

  1. Luke 19:41 : Isa 22:4; Lk 13:34, 35
  2. Luke 19:43 : Isa 29:3; Jer 6:6; Eze 4:2; 26:8; Lk 21:20
  3. Luke 19:44 : Ps 137:9
  4. Luke 19:44 : Lk 21:6
  5. Luke 19:44 : 1Pe 2:12
  6. Luke 19:45 : 19:45, 46pp — Mt 21:12-16; Mk 11:15-18; Jn 2:13-16
  7. Luke 19:46 : Isa 56:7
  8. Luke 19:46 : Jer 7:11
  9. Luke 19:47 : S Mt 26:55
  10. Luke 19:47 : S Mt 12:14; Mk 11:18
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.