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, Jul 26

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 8

Psalm 8[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] A psalm of David.

1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name(A) in all the earth!

You have set your glory(B)
in the heavens.(C)
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold(D) against your enemies,
to silence the foe(E) and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,(F)
the work of your fingers,(G)
the moon and the stars,(H)
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[c](I)

5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e](J)
and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.(K)
6 You made them rulers(L) over the works of your hands;(M)
you put everything under their[g] feet:(N)
7 all flocks and herds,(O)
and the animals of the wild,(P)
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,(Q)
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!(R)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 8:1 In Hebrew texts 8:1-9 is numbered 8:2-10.
  2. Psalm 8:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?
  4. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  5. Psalm 8:5 Or than God
  6. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  7. Psalm 8:6 Or made him ruler . . . ; / . . . his

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 8:1 : S 1Ch 16:10
  2. Psalm 8:1 : S Ex 15:11; Lk 2:9
  3. Psalm 8:1 : Ps 57:5; 108:5; 113:4; 148:13; Hab 3:3
  4. Psalm 8:2 : Mt 21:16*
  5. Psalm 8:2 : Ps 143:12
  6. Psalm 8:3 : S Ge 15:5; S Dt 10:14
  7. Psalm 8:3 : S Ex 8:19; S 1Ch 16:26; S 2Ch 2:12; Ps 102:25
  8. Psalm 8:3 : S Ge 1:16; 1Co 15:41
  9. Psalm 8:4 : S 1Ch 29:14
  10. Psalm 8:5 : S Ge 1:26
  11. Psalm 8:5 : Ps 21:5; 103:4
  12. Psalm 8:6 : S Ge 1:28
  13. Psalm 8:6 : S Job 10:3; Ps 19:1; 102:25; 145:10; Isa 26:12; 29:23; 45:11; Heb 1:10
  14. Psalm 8:6 : S 1Ki 5:3; 1Co 15:25, 27*; Eph 1:22; Heb 2:6-8*
  15. Psalm 8:7 : Ge 13:5; 26:14
  16. Psalm 8:7 : S Ge 2:19
  17. Psalm 8:8 : Ge 1:26
  18. Psalm 8:9 : ver 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.

Psalm 84

Psalm 84[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.(C)
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(D)
Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[c]

5 Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;(J)
the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,(L)
till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)

8 Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)

10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  2. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  4. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  5. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 84:1 : S Dt 33:27; Ps 27:4; 43:3; 90:1; 132:5
  2. Psalm 84:2 : S Job 19:27
  3. Psalm 84:2 : S Jos 3:10
  4. Psalm 84:3 : S Ps 43:4
  5. Psalm 84:3 : Jer 44:11
  6. Psalm 84:3 : Ps 2:6
  7. Psalm 84:3 : Ps 5:2
  8. Psalm 84:5 : Ps 81:1
  9. Psalm 84:5 : Jer 31:6
  10. Psalm 84:6 : S Job 38:26
  11. Psalm 84:6 : Joel 2:23
  12. Psalm 84:7 : S Job 17:9
  13. Psalm 84:7 : S Dt 16:16
  14. Psalm 84:7 : 1Ki 8:1
  15. Psalm 84:8 : Ps 4:1
  16. Psalm 84:9 : S Ps 59:11
  17. Psalm 84:9 : 1Sa 16:6; Ps 2:2; 18:50; 132:17
  18. Psalm 84:10 : 1Ch 23:5
  19. Psalm 84:11 : Isa 60:19; Jer 43:13; Rev 21:23
  20. Psalm 84:11 : S Ge 15:1
  21. Psalm 84:11 : Ps 34:10
  22. Psalm 84:12 : Ps 2:12
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.

Joshua 24:1-15

The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

24 Then Joshua assembled(A) all the tribes of Israel at Shechem.(B) He summoned(C) the elders,(D) leaders, judges and officials of Israel,(E) and they presented themselves before God.

2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor,(F) lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.(G) 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan(H) and gave him many descendants.(I) I gave him Isaac,(J) 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.(K) I assigned the hill country of Seir(L) to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.(M)

5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron,(N) and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.(O) 6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea,(P) and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen[a](Q) as far as the Red Sea.[b](R) 7 But they cried(S) to the Lord for help, and he put darkness(T) between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them.(U) You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians.(V) Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.(W)

8 “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites(X) who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.(Y) 9 When Balak son of Zippor,(Z) the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor(AA) to put a curse on you.(AB) 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you(AC) again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.

11 “‘Then you crossed the Jordan(AD) and came to Jericho.(AE) The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites,(AF) Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites,(AG) but I gave them into your hands.(AH) 12 I sent the hornet(AI) ahead of you, which drove them out(AJ) before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.(AK) 13 So I gave you a land(AL) on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’(AM)

14 “Now fear the Lord(AN) and serve him with all faithfulness.(AO) Throw away the gods(AP) your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt,(AQ) and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,(AR) in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,(AS) we will serve the Lord.”(AT)

Footnotes:

  1. Joshua 24:6 Or charioteers
  2. Joshua 24:6 Or the Sea of Reeds

Cross references:

  1. Joshua 24:1 : Ge 49:2
  2. Joshua 24:1 : S Ge 12:6
  3. Joshua 24:1 : 1Sa 12:7; 1Ki 8:14
  4. Joshua 24:1 : Jos 7:6
  5. Joshua 24:1 : Jos 23:2
  6. Joshua 24:2 : Ge 11:26
  7. Joshua 24:2 : Ge 11:32
  8. Joshua 24:3 : S Ge 12:1
  9. Joshua 24:3 : S Ge 1:28; S 12:2
  10. Joshua 24:3 : S Ge 21:3
  11. Joshua 24:4 : S Ge 25:26
  12. Joshua 24:4 : S Ge 14:6; S Nu 24:18
  13. Joshua 24:4 : Ge 46:5-6
  14. Joshua 24:5 : S Ex 3:10
  15. Joshua 24:5 : Ex 12:51
  16. Joshua 24:6 : S Ex 14:22
  17. Joshua 24:6 : S Ex 14:9
  18. Joshua 24:6 : Ex 14:23
  19. Joshua 24:7 : S Ex 14:10
  20. Joshua 24:7 : Ex 14:20
  21. Joshua 24:7 : S Ex 14:28
  22. Joshua 24:7 : S Ex 19:4
  23. Joshua 24:7 : Dt 1:46
  24. Joshua 24:8 : S Ex 23:23
  25. Joshua 24:8 : S Nu 21:31
  26. Joshua 24:9 : Nu 22:2
  27. Joshua 24:9 : S Nu 23:7
  28. Joshua 24:9 : S Nu 22:6
  29. Joshua 24:10 : S Nu 23:11; S Dt 23:5
  30. Joshua 24:11 : S Ex 14:29
  31. Joshua 24:11 : Jos 6:1
  32. Joshua 24:11 : S Jos 3:10
  33. Joshua 24:11 : S Ge 15:18-21
  34. Joshua 24:11 : Ex 23:23; Dt 7:1
  35. Joshua 24:12 : S Ex 23:28; Ps 44:3, 6-7
  36. Joshua 24:12 : S Ex 23:31
  37. Joshua 24:12 : Ps 135:11
  38. Joshua 24:13 : Ex 6:8
  39. Joshua 24:13 : Dt 6:10-11
  40. Joshua 24:14 : 1Sa 12:14; Job 23:15; Ps 19:9; 119:120
  41. Joshua 24:14 : Dt 10:12; 18:13; 1Sa 12:24; 2Co 1:12
  42. Joshua 24:14 : ver 23; S Ge 31:19; Ex 12:12; 18:11; 20:3; Nu 25:2; Dt 11:28; Jdg 10:16; Ru 1:15; Isa 55:7
  43. Joshua 24:14 : Eze 23:3
  44. Joshua 24:15 : Jdg 6:10; Ru 1:15
  45. Joshua 24:15 : S Ge 35:2
  46. Joshua 24:15 : Ru 1:16; 2:12; 1Ki 18:21; Da 3:18
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.

Acts 28:23-31

23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,(A) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets(B) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.(C) 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.(D) 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said(E) through Isaiah the prophet:

26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;(F)
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a](G)

28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation(H) has been sent to the Gentiles,(I) and they will listen!” [29] [b]

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God(J) and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness(K) and without hindrance!

Footnotes:

  1. Acts 28:27 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
  2. Acts 28:29 Some manuscripts include here After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.

Cross references:

  1. Acts 28:23 : S Mt 3:2; Ac 19:8
  2. Acts 28:23 : S Ac 8:35
  3. Acts 28:23 : Ac 17:3
  4. Acts 28:24 : Ac 14:4; 17:4, 5
  5. Acts 28:25 : S Heb 3:7
  6. Acts 28:27 : Ps 119:70
  7. Acts 28:27 : Isa 6:9, 10; S Mt 13:15
  8. Acts 28:28 : Lk 2:30
  9. Acts 28:28 : S Ac 13:46
  10. Acts 28:31 : ver 23; S Mt 4:23
  11. Acts 28:31 : S Ac 4:29
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.

Mark 2:23-28

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(A)(B)

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.(C) 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”(D)

25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest,(E) he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat.(F) And he also gave some to his companions.”(G)

27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man,(H) not man for the Sabbath.(I) 28 So the Son of Man(J) is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Cross references:

  1. Mark 2:23 : 2:23-28pp — Mt 12:1-8; Lk 6:1-5
  2. Mark 2:23 : 3:1-6pp — Mt 12:9-14; Lk 6:6-11
  3. Mark 2:23 : Dt 23:25
  4. Mark 2:24 : S Mt 12:2
  5. Mark 2:26 : 1Ch 24:6; 2Sa 8:17
  6. Mark 2:26 : Lev 24:5-9
  7. Mark 2:26 : 1Sa 21:1-6
  8. Mark 2:27 : Ex 23:12; Dt 5:14
  9. Mark 2:27 : Col 2:16
  10. Mark 2:28 : S Mt 8:20
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.