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, Mar 19

Psalm 132

Psalm 132(A)

A song of ascents.

Lord, remember David
and all his self-denial.(B)

He swore an oath to the Lord,
he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:(C)
“I will not enter my house(D)
or go to my bed,
I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place(E) for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

We heard it in Ephrathah,(F)
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:[a](G)
“Let us go to his dwelling place,(H)
let us worship at his footstool,(I) saying,
‘Arise, Lord,(J) and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;(K)
may your faithful people(L) sing for joy.’”

10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.

11 The Lord swore an oath to David,(M)
a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants(N)
I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant(O)
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your throne(P) for ever and ever.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,(Q)
he has desired it for his dwelling,(R) saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;(S)
here I will sit enthroned,(T) for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor I will satisfy with food.(U)
16 I will clothe her priests(V) with salvation,
and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.(W)

17 “Here I will make a horn[b] grow(X) for David
and set up a lamp(Y) for my anointed one.(Z)
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,(AA)
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”(AB)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 132:6 Or heard of it in Ephrathah, / we found it in the fields of Jearim. (See 1 Chron. 13:5,6) (And no quotation marks around verses 7-9)
  2. Psalm 132:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one, that is, king.
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.

Isaiah 63:7-16

Praise and Prayer

I will tell of the kindnesses(A) of the Lord,
the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things(B)
he has done for Israel,
according to his compassion(C) and many kindnesses.
He said, “Surely they are my people,(D)
children who will be true to me”;
and so he became their Savior.(E)
In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel(F) of his presence(G) saved them.[a]
In his love and mercy he redeemed(H) them;
he lifted them up and carried(I) them
all the days of old.(J)
10 Yet they rebelled(K)
and grieved his Holy Spirit.(L)
So he turned and became their enemy(M)
and he himself fought(N) against them.

11 Then his people recalled[b] the days of old,
the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,(O)
with the shepherd of his flock?(P)
Where is he who set
his Holy Spirit(Q) among them,
12 who sent his glorious arm(R) of power
to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters(S) before them,
to gain for himself everlasting renown,(T)
13 who led(U) them through the depths?(V)
Like a horse in open country,
they did not stumble;(W)
14 like cattle that go down to the plain,
they were given rest(X) by the Spirit of the Lord.
This is how you guided your people
to make for yourself a glorious name.

15 Look down from heaven(Y) and see,
from your lofty throne,(Z) holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal(AA) and your might?
Your tenderness and compassion(AB) are withheld(AC) from us.
16 But you are our Father,(AD)
though Abraham does not know us
or Israel acknowledge(AE) us;
you, Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer(AF) from of old is your name.

Footnotes:

  1. Isaiah 63:9 Or Savior in their distress. / It was no envoy or angel / but his own presence that saved them
  2. Isaiah 63:11 Or But may he recall
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.

Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.(A) 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce(B) her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel(C) of the Lord appeared to him in a dream(D) and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c](E) because he will save his people from their sins.”(F)

22 All this took place to fulfill(G) what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d](H) (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel(I) of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.(J)

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
  2. Matthew 1:19 Or was a righteous man and
  3. Matthew 1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.
  4. Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14
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 34

Psalm 34[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane(A) before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

I will extol the Lord at all times;(B)
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory(C) in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.(D)
Glorify the Lord(E) with me;
let us exalt(F) his name together.

I sought the Lord,(G) and he answered me;
he delivered(H) me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;(I)
their faces are never covered with shame.(J)
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.(K)
The angel of the Lord(L) encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers(M) them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;(N)
blessed is the one who takes refuge(O) in him.
Fear the Lord,(P) you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.(Q)
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.(R)
11 Come, my children, listen(S) to me;
I will teach you(T) the fear of the Lord.(U)
12 Whoever of you loves life(V)
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue(W) from evil
and your lips from telling lies.(X)
14 Turn from evil and do good;(Y)
seek peace(Z) and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord(AA) are on the righteous,(AB)
and his ears are attentive(AC) to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against(AD) those who do evil,(AE)
to blot out their name(AF) from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears(AG) them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close(AH) to the brokenhearted(AI)
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,(AJ)
but the Lord delivers him from them all;(AK)
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.(AL)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;(AM)
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue(AN) his servants;
no one who takes refuge(AO) in him will be condemned.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 34:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 34:1 In Hebrew texts 34:1-22 is numbered 34:2-23.
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.

Ephesians 3:14-21

A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel(A) before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches(B) he may strengthen you with power(C) through his Spirit in your inner being,(D) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts(E) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted(F) and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,(G) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep(H) is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge(I)—that you may be filled(J) to the measure of all the fullness of God.(K)

20 Now to him who is able(L) to do immeasurably more than all we ask(M) or imagine, according to his power(N) that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.(O)

Footnotes:

  1. Ephesians 3:15 The Greek for family (patria) is derived from the Greek for father (pater).
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.