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 Mon, Jan 20

Psalm 25

Psalm 25^[a]

Of David.

¹In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.^(A)

²I trust in you;^(B)
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,^(C)
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous^(D) without cause.

⁴Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.^(E)
⁵Guide me in your truth^(F) and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,^(G)
and my hope is in you^(H) all day long.
⁶Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,^(I)
for they are from of old.
⁷Do not remember the sins of my youth^(J)
and my rebellious ways;^(K)
according to your love^(L) remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.^(M)

⁸Good and upright^(N) is the Lord;
therefore he instructs^(O) sinners in his ways.
⁹He guides^(P) the humble in what is right
and teaches them^(Q) his way.
¹⁰All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful^(R)
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.^(S)
¹¹For the sake of your name,^(T) Lord,
forgive^(U) my iniquity,^(V) though it is great.

¹²Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?^(W)
He will instruct them in the ways^(X) they should choose.^[b]
¹³They will spend their days in prosperity,^(Y)
and their descendants will inherit the land.^(Z)
¹⁴The Lord confides^(AA) in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known^(AB) to them.
¹⁵My eyes are ever on the Lord,^(AC)
for only he will release my feet from the snare.^(AD)

¹⁶Turn to me^(AE) and be gracious to me,^(AF)
for I am lonely^(AG) and afflicted.
¹⁷Relieve the troubles^(AH) of my heart
and free me from my anguish.^(AI)
¹⁸Look on my affliction^(AJ) and my distress^(AK)
and take away all my sins.^(AL)
¹⁹See how numerous are my enemies^(AM)
and how fiercely they hate me!^(AN)

²⁰Guard my life^(AO) and rescue me;^(AP)
do not let me be put to shame,^(AQ)
for I take refuge^(AR) in you.
²¹May integrity^(AS) and uprightness^(AT) protect me,
because my hope, Lord,^[c] is in you.^(AU)

²²Deliver Israel,^(AV) O God,
from all their troubles!

Footnotes:

Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 9

Psalm 9^[a]^[b]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.

¹I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;^(A)
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.^(B)
²I will be glad and rejoice^(C) in you;
I will sing the praises^(D) of your name,^(E) O Most High.

³My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.
⁴For you have upheld my right^(F) and my cause,^(G)
sitting enthroned^(H) as the righteous judge.^(I)
⁵You have rebuked the nations^(J) and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name^(K) for ever and ever.
⁶Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
you have uprooted their cities;^(L)
even the memory of them^(M) has perished.

⁷The Lord reigns forever;^(N)
he has established his throne^(O) for judgment.
⁸He rules the world in righteousness^(P)
and judges the peoples with equity.^(Q)
⁹The Lord is a refuge^(R) for the oppressed,^(S)
a stronghold in times of trouble.^(T)
¹⁰Those who know your name^(U) trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken^(V) those who seek you.^(W)

¹¹Sing the praises^(X) of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;^(Y)
proclaim among the nations^(Z) what he has done.^(AA)
¹²For he who avenges blood^(AB) remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.^(AC)

¹³Lord, see how my enemies^(AD) persecute me!
Have mercy^(AE) and lift me up from the gates of death,^(AF)
¹⁴that I may declare your praises^(AG)
in the gates of Daughter Zion,^(AH)
and there rejoice in your salvation.^(AI)

¹⁵The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;^(AJ)
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.^(AK)
¹⁶The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.^[c]^(AL)
¹⁷The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,^(AM)
all the nations that forget God.^(AN)
¹⁸But God will never forget the needy;
the hope^(AO) of the afflicted^(AP) will never perish.

¹⁹Arise,^(AQ) Lord, do not let mortals triumph;^(AR)
let the nations be judged^(AS) in your presence.
²⁰Strike them with terror,^(AT) Lord;
let the nations know they are only mortal.^(AU)

Footnotes:

Psalm 9:1 Psalms 9 and 10 may originally have been a single acrostic poem in which alternating lines began with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Septuagint they constitute one psalm.
Psalm 9:1 In Hebrew texts 9:1-20 is numbered 9:2-21.
Psalm 9:16 The Hebrew has Higgaion and Selah (words of uncertain meaning) here; Selah occurs also at the end of verse 20.

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

¹Lord, who may dwell^(A) in your sacred tent?^(B)
Who may live on your holy mountain?^(C)

²The one whose walk is blameless,^(D)
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth^(E) from their heart;
³whose tongue utters no slander,^(F)
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
⁴who despises a vile person
but honors^(G) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath^(H) even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
⁵who lends money to the poor without interest;^(I)
who does not accept a bribe^(J) against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.^(K)

New International Version (NIV)

Isaiah 44:6-8

The Lord, Not Idols

⁶“This is what the Lord says—
Israel’s King^(A) and Redeemer,^(B) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;^(C)
apart from me there is no God.^(D)
⁷Who then is like me?^(E) Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
and what is yet to come—
yes, let them foretell^(F) what will come.
⁸Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim^(G) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God^(H) besides me?
No, there is no other Rock;^(I) I know not one.”

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Isaiah 44:21-23

²¹“Remember^(A) these things, Jacob,
for you, Israel, are my servant.^(B)
I have made you, you are my servant;^(C)
Israel, I will not forget you.^(D)
²²I have swept away^(E) your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return^(F) to me,
for I have redeemed^(G) you.”

²³Sing for joy,^(H) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
shout aloud, you earth^(I) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,^(J)
you forests and all your trees,^(K)
for the Lord has redeemed^(L) Jacob,
he displays his glory^(M) in Israel.

New International Version (NIV)

Ephesians 4:1-16

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner^(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^(B) of the calling^(C) you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another^(D) in love.^(E) ³Make every effort to keep the unity^(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^(G) ⁴There is one body^(H) and one Spirit,^(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called^(J); ⁵one Lord,^(K) one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all,^(L) who is over all and through all and in all.^(M)

⁷But to each one of us^(N) grace^(O) has been given^(P) as Christ apportioned it. ⁸This is why it^[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives^(Q)
and gave gifts to his people.”^[b]^(R)

⁹(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰He who descended is the very one who ascended^(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^(T) ¹¹So Christ himself gave^(U) the apostles,^(V) the prophets,^(W) the evangelists,^(X) the pastors and teachers,^(Y) ¹²to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(Z) may be built up^(AA) ¹³until we all reach unity^(AB) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(AC) and become mature,^(AD) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(AE)

¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants,^(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^(AH) ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(AI) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(AJ) that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(AK) and builds itself up^(AL) in love,^(AM) as each part does its work.

Footnotes:

Ephesians 4:8 Or God
Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth

Cross references:

New International Version (NIV)

Mark 3:7-19

Crowds Follow Jesus^(A)

⁷Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.^(B) ⁸When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.^(C) ⁹Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰For he had healed many,^(D) so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.^(E) ¹¹Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”^(F) ¹²But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.^(G)

Jesus Appoints the Twelve^(H)

¹³Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.^(I) ¹⁴He appointed twelve^[a]^(J) that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵and to have authority to drive out demons.^(K) ¹⁶These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),^(L) ¹⁷James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), ¹⁸Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Footnotes:

Mark 3:14 Some manuscripts twelve—designating them apostles—

New International Version (NIV)

For Today's Prayers click here

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Greatest Commandment

"‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” [Mark 12:29-31]

Daily Scriptures 1/19/2025

DAILY READINGS, January 19 - 26

SUNDAY: Morning: Psalm 114, 115; Evening: Psalm Genesis 7:1-10,17-23; Ephesians 4:1-16; Mark 3:7-19; John 11:17-27,38-44

MONDAY: Morning: Psalm 9, 15; Evening: Psalm Genesis 8:6-22; Hebrews 4:14-5:6; John 2:23-3:15; Matthew 12:14-21

TUESDAY: Morning: Psalm 36, 39; Evening: Psalm Genesis 9:1-17; Hebrews 5:7-14; John 3:16-21; John 6:30-33,48-51

WEDNESDAY: Morning: Psalm 119:25-48; Evening: Psalm Genesis 9:18-29; Hebrews 6:1-12; John 3:22-36; John 7:37-52

THURSDAY: Morning: Psalm 37:19-42; Evening: Psalm Genesis 11:1-9; Hebrews 6:13-20; John 4:1-15; John 8:12-19

FRIDAY: Morning: Psalm 35; Evening: Psalm Genesis 11:27-12:8; Hebrews 7:1-17; John 4:16-26; John 10:7-17

SATURDAY: Morning: Psalm 42, 43; Evening: Psalm Genesis 12:9-13:1; Hebrews 7:18-28; John 4:27-42; John 14:6-14

SUNDAY: Morning: Psalm 103; Evening: Psalm Genesis 13:2-18; Galatians 2:1-10; Mark 7:31-37;

FOR THE WEEK: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11; Luke 18

Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church

Today's Scripture & Prayer

Daily Bible Reading & Praying with the Church

Reading for Mon, Jan 20

Psalm 25

Psalm 25[a]

Of David.

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 9

Psalm 9[a][b]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 15

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

Cross references:

Isaiah 44:6-8

The Lord, Not Idols

Cross references:

Isaiah 44:21-23

Cross references:

Ephesians 4:1-16

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Mark 3:7-19

Crowds Follow Jesus(A)

Jesus Appoints the Twelve(H)

Footnotes:

Cross references:

Psalm 25^[a]

Psalm 9^[a]^[b]

Crowds Follow Jesus^(A)

Jesus Appoints the Twelve^(H)