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, Dec 7

Psalm 148-150

Psalm 148

1 Praise the Lord.[a](A)

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

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

7 Praise the Lord(K) from the earth,
you great sea creatures(L) and all ocean depths,(M)
8 lightning and hail,(N) snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,(O)
9 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

1 Praise the Lord.[c](Z)

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

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

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

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150

1 Praise the Lord.[d](AU)

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

6 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

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

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

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

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

Psalm 115(J)

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

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

9 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

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 114:1 : S Ex 13:3; S 29:46
  2. Psalm 114:2 : Ps 76:1
  3. Psalm 114:2 : S Ex 15:17; Ps 78:68-69
  4. Psalm 114:3 : Ex 14:21; Ps 77:16
  5. Psalm 114:3 : S Ex 15:8; S Jos 3:16
  6. Psalm 114:4 : S Jdg 5:5
  7. Psalm 114:5 : S Ex 14:21
  8. Psalm 114:7 : S Ex 15:14; S 1Ch 16:30
  9. Psalm 114:8 : S Ex 17:6; S Nu 20:11
  10. Psalm 115:1 : 115:4-11pp — Ps 135:15-20
  11. Psalm 115:1 : Ps 29:2; 66:2; 96:8
  12. Psalm 115:1 : S Ex 34:6
  13. Psalm 115:2 : S Ps 42:3
  14. Psalm 115:3 : Ezr 5:11; Ne 1:4; Ps 103:19; 136:26; Mt 6:9
  15. Psalm 115:3 : Ps 135:6
  16. Psalm 115:4 : Rev 9:20
  17. Psalm 115:4 : S 2Ki 19:18; S 2Ch 32:19; Jer 10:3-5; Ac 19:26
  18. Psalm 115:5 : Jer 10:5
  19. Psalm 115:9 : Ps 37:3; 62:8
  20. Psalm 115:10 : Ex 30:30; Ps 118:3
  21. Psalm 115:11 : Ps 22:23; 103:11; 118:4
  22. Psalm 115:12 : S 1Ch 16:15
  23. Psalm 115:12 : S Ge 12:2
  24. Psalm 115:13 : S Ps 112:1
  25. Psalm 115:14 : Dt 1:11
  26. Psalm 115:15 : S Ge 1:1; Ac 14:15; S Rev 10:6
  27. Psalm 115:16 : S Ps 89:11
  28. Psalm 115:16 : S Ge 1:28; Ps 8:6-8
  29. Psalm 115:17 : Ps 88:10-12
  30. Psalm 115:18 : S Ps 111:1
  31. Psalm 115:18 : S Ps 113:2
  32. Psalm 115:18 : Ps 28:6; 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.

Amos 6

Woe to the Complacent

6 Woe to you(A) who are complacent(B) in Zion,
and to you who feel secure(C) on Mount Samaria,(D)
you notable men of the foremost nation,
to whom the people of Israel come!(E)
2 Go to Kalneh(F) and look at it;
go from there to great Hamath,(G)
and then go down to Gath(H) in Philistia.
Are they better off than(I) your two kingdoms?
Is their land larger than yours?
3 You put off the day of disaster
and bring near a reign of terror.(J)
4 You lie on beds adorned with ivory
and lounge on your couches.(K)
You dine on choice lambs
and fattened calves.(L)
5 You strum away on your harps(M) like David
and improvise on musical instruments.(N)
6 You drink wine(O) by the bowlful
and use the finest lotions,
but you do not grieve(P) over the ruin of Joseph.(Q)
7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;(R)
your feasting and lounging will end.(S)

The Lord Abhors the Pride of Israel

8 The Sovereign Lord has sworn by himself(T)—the Lord God Almighty declares:

“I abhor(U) the pride of Jacob(V)
and detest his fortresses;(W)
I will deliver up(X) the city
and everything in it.(Y)”

9 If ten(Z) people are left in one house, they too will die. 10 And if the relative who comes to carry the bodies out of the house to burn them[a](AA) asks anyone who might be hiding there, “Is anyone else with you?” and he says, “No,” then he will go on to say, “Hush!(AB) We must not mention the name of the Lord.”

11 For the Lord has given the command,
and he will smash(AC) the great house(AD) into pieces
and the small house into bits.(AE)

12 Do horses run on the rocky crags?
Does one plow the sea[b] with oxen?
But you have turned justice into poison(AF)
and the fruit of righteousness(AG) into bitterness(AH)—
13 you who rejoice in the conquest of Lo Debar[c]
and say, “Did we not take Karnaim[d] by our own strength?(AI)”

14 For the Lord God Almighty declares,
“I will stir up a nation(AJ) against you, Israel,
that will oppress you all the way
from Lebo Hamath(AK) to the valley of the Arabah.(AL)”

Footnotes:

  1. Amos 6:10 Or to make a funeral fire in honor of the dead
  2. Amos 6:12 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text plow there
  3. Amos 6:13 Lo Debar means nothing.
  4. Amos 6:13 Karnaim means horns; horn here symbolizes strength.

Cross references:

  1. Amos 6:1 : Lk 6:24
  2. Amos 6:1 : Zep 1:12
  3. Amos 6:1 : S Job 24:23
  4. Amos 6:1 : S Am 3:9
  5. Amos 6:1 : Isa 32:9-11
  6. Amos 6:2 : S Ge 10:10
  7. Amos 6:2 : S 2Ki 17:24; S Jer 49:23
  8. Amos 6:2 : S Jos 11:22; 2Ch 26:6
  9. Amos 6:2 : Na 3:8
  10. Amos 6:3 : S Isa 56:12; S Eze 12:22; Am 9:10
  11. Amos 6:4 : S Est 1:6; S Pr 7:17
  12. Amos 6:4 : S Isa 1:11; S Eze 34:2-3; S Am 3:12
  13. Amos 6:5 : S Ps 137:2; S Isa 14:11; Am 5:23
  14. Amos 6:5 : S 1Ch 15:16
  15. Amos 6:6 : S Isa 28:1; S Am 2:8
  16. Amos 6:6 : S Eze 9:4
  17. Amos 6:6 : S Eze 16:49
  18. Amos 6:7 : S Am 5:27
  19. Amos 6:7 : S Jer 16:9; S La 4:5
  20. Amos 6:8 : S Ge 22:16; Heb 6:13
  21. Amos 6:8 : S Lev 26:30
  22. Amos 6:8 : S Ps 47:4
  23. Amos 6:8 : S Jer 12:8
  24. Amos 6:8 : Am 4:2
  25. Amos 6:8 : S Lev 26:19; Dt 32:19
  26. Amos 6:9 : S Am 5:3
  27. Amos 6:10 : S 1Sa 31:12
  28. Amos 6:10 : Am 8:3
  29. Amos 6:11 : S Isa 34:5
  30. Amos 6:11 : S Am 3:15
  31. Amos 6:11 : Isa 55:11
  32. Amos 6:12 : Hos 10:4
  33. Amos 6:12 : S Am 3:10
  34. Amos 6:12 : S Isa 1:21; S Am 5:7
  35. Amos 6:13 : S Job 8:15; Isa 28:14-15
  36. Amos 6:14 : Jer 5:15
  37. Amos 6:14 : S Nu 13:21
  38. Amos 6:14 : S Am 3:11
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.

2 Thessalonians 1:5-12

5 All this is evidence(A) that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy(B) of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just:(C) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you(D) 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven(E) in blazing fire(F) with his powerful angels.(G) 8 He will punish(H) those who do not know God(I) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.(J) 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction(K) and shut out from the presence of the Lord(L) and from the glory of his might(M) 10 on the day(N) he comes to be glorified(O) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.(P)

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you,(Q) that our God may make you worthy(R) of his calling,(S) and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness(T) and your every deed prompted by faith.(U) 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,(V) and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.[a]

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Thessalonians 1:12 Or God and Lord, Jesus Christ

Cross references:

  1. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 : Php 1:28
  2. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 : Lk 20:35
  3. 2 Thessalonians 1:6 : Lk 18:7, 8
  4. 2 Thessalonians 1:6 : Ro 12:19; Col 3:25; S Rev 6:10
  5. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 : S Lk 17:30
  6. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 : Heb 10:27; S 12:29; 2Pe 3:7; S Rev 1:14
  7. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 : Jude 14
  8. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 : Ps 79:6; Isa 66:15; Jer 10:25
  9. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 : S Gal 4:8
  10. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 : Ro 2:8; S 2Co 2:12
  11. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 : Php 3:19; 1Th 5:3; 2Pe 3:7
  12. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 : 2Ki 17:18
  13. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 : Isa 2:10, 19; 2Th 2:8
  14. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 : 1Co 3:13
  15. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 : Jn 17:10
  16. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 : 1Co 1:6
  17. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 : S Ro 1:10
  18. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 : ver 5
  19. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 : S Ro 8:28
  20. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 : Ro 15:14
  21. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 : 1Th 1:3
  22. 2 Thessalonians 1:12 : Isa 24:15; Php 2:9-11
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.

Luke 1:57-68

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise(A) the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”(B)

61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

62 Then they made signs(C) to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”(D) 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak,(E) praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea(F) people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.(G)

Zechariah’s Song

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit(H) and prophesied:(I)

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(J)
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.(K)

Cross references:

  1. Luke 1:59 : Ge 17:12; Lev 12:3; Lk 2:21; Php 3:5
  2. Luke 1:60 : ver 13, 63; S Mt 3:1
  3. Luke 1:62 : ver 22
  4. Luke 1:63 : ver 13, 60; S Mt 3:1
  5. Luke 1:64 : ver 20; Eze 24:27
  6. Luke 1:65 : ver 39
  7. Luke 1:66 : Ge 39:2; Ac 11:21
  8. Luke 1:67 : S ver 15
  9. Luke 1:67 : Joel 2:28
  10. Luke 1:68 : Ge 24:27; 1Ki 8:15; Ps 72:18
  11. Luke 1:68 : Ps 111:9; Lk 7:16
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.