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 14

Psalm 63

Psalm 63[a]

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,(A)
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.(B)

I have seen you in the sanctuary(C)
and beheld your power and your glory.(D)
Because your love is better than life,(E)
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,(F)
and in your name I will lift up my hands.(G)
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;(H)
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.(I)
Because you are my help,(J)
I sing in the shadow of your wings.(K)
I cling to you;(L)
your right hand upholds me.(M)

Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;(N)
they will go down to the depths of the earth.(O)
10 They will be given over to the sword(P)
and become food for jackals.(Q)

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God will glory in him,(R)
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.(S)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 63:1 In Hebrew texts 63:1-11 is numbered 63:2-12.
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.

Psalm 98

Psalm 98

A psalm.

Sing to the Lord(A) a new song,(B)
for he has done marvelous things;(C)
his right hand(D) and his holy arm(E)
have worked salvation(F) for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known(G)
and revealed his righteousness(H) to the nations.(I)
He has remembered(J) his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth(K) have seen
the salvation of our God.(L)

Shout for joy(M) to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,(N)
with the harp and the sound of singing,(O)
with trumpets(P) and the blast of the ram’s horn(Q)
shout for joy(R) before the Lord, the King.(S)

Let the sea(T) resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.(U)
Let the rivers clap their hands,(V)
let the mountains(W) sing together for joy;
let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.(X)

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.

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul;(B)
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.(C)
Praise the Lord,(D) my soul,
and forget not(E) all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins(F)
and heals(G) all your diseases,
who redeems your life(H) from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,(I)
who satisfies(J) your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed(K) like the eagle’s.(L)

The Lord works righteousness(M)
and justice for all the oppressed.(N)

He made known(O) his ways(P) to Moses,
his deeds(Q) to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,(R)
slow to anger, abounding in love.
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.

Amos 9:11-15

Israel’s Restoration

11 “In that day

“I will restore David’s(A) fallen shelter(B)
I will repair its broken walls
and restore its ruins(C)
and will rebuild it as it used to be,(D)
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom(E)
and all the nations that bear my name,[a](F)
declares the Lord, who will do these things.(G)

13 “The days are coming,”(H) declares the Lord,

“when the reaper(I) will be overtaken by the plowman(J)
and the planter by the one treading(K) grapes.
New wine(L) will drip from the mountains
and flow from all the hills,(M)
14 and I will bring(N) my people Israel back from exile.[b](O)

“They will rebuild the ruined cities(P) and live in them.
They will plant vineyards(Q) and drink their wine;
they will make gardens and eat their fruit.(R)
15 I will plant(S) Israel in their own land,(T)
never again to be uprooted(U)
from the land I have given them,”(V)

says the Lord your God.(W)

Footnotes:

  1. Amos 9:12 Hebrew; Septuagint so that the remnant of people / and all the nations that bear my name may seek me
  2. Amos 9:14 Or will restore the fortunes of my people Israel
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 2:1-3

The Man of Lawlessness

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ(A) and our being gathered to him,(B) we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter(C)—asserting that the day of the Lord(D) has already come.(E) Don’t let anyone deceive you(F) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion(G) occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed,(H) the man doomed to destruction.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Some manuscripts sin
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 2:13-17

Stand Firm

13 But we ought always to thank God for you,(A) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits[a](B) to be saved(C) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit(D) and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you(E) to this through our gospel,(F) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm(G) and hold fast to the teachings[b] we passed on to you,(H) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,(I) who loved us(J) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage(K) your hearts and strengthen(L) you in every good deed and word.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Some manuscripts because from the beginning God chose you
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Or traditions
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.

John 5:30-47

30 By myself I can do nothing;(A) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,(B) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(C)

Testimonies About Jesus

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.(D) 32 There is another who testifies in my favor,(E) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified(F) to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony;(G) but I mention it that you may be saved.(H) 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light,(I) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.(J) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing(K)—testify that the Father has sent me.(L) 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.(M) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(N) 38 nor does his word dwell in you,(O) for you do not believe(P) the one he sent.(Q) 39 You study[a] the Scriptures(R) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.(S) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,(T) 40 yet you refuse to come to me(U) to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(V) 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[b]?(W)

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(X) on whom your hopes are set.(Y) 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.(Z) 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(AA)

Footnotes:

  1. John 5:39 Or 39 Study
  2. John 5:44 Some early manuscripts the Only One
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.