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 Fri, Nov 21

Psalm 107:33-108:13

33 He turned rivers into a desert,(A)
flowing springs(B) into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,(C)
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water(D)
and the parched ground into flowing springs;(E)
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards(F)
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,(G)
and he did not let their herds diminish.(H)

39 Then their numbers decreased,(I) and they were humbled(J)
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40 he who pours contempt on nobles(K)
made them wander in a trackless waste.(L)
41 But he lifted the needy(M) out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.(N)
42 The upright see and rejoice,(O)
but all the wicked shut their mouths.(P)

43 Let the one who is wise(Q) heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds(R) of the Lord.

Psalm 108[a](S)(T)

A song. A psalm of David.

1 My heart, O God, is steadfast;(U)
I will sing(V) and make music with all my soul.
2 Awake, harp and lyre!(W)
I will awaken the dawn.
3 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
4 For great is your love,(X) higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness(Y) reaches to the skies.(Z)
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(AA)
let your glory be over all the earth.(AB)

6 Save us and help us with your right hand,(AC)
that those you love may be delivered.
7 God has spoken(AD) from his sanctuary:(AE)
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem(AF)
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.(AG)
8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah(AH) is my scepter.
9 Moab(AI) is my washbasin,
on Edom(AJ) I toss my sandal;
over Philistia(AK) I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?(AL)
12 Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.(AM)
13 With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down(AN) our enemies.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 108:1 In Hebrew texts 108:1-13 is numbered 108:2-14.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 107:33 : 1Ki 17:1; Ps 74:15; Isa 41:15; 42:15; 50:2
  2. Psalm 107:33 : S Ps 104:10
  3. Psalm 107:34 : S Ge 13:10
  4. Psalm 107:35 : S 2Ki 3:17; Ps 105:41; 126:4; Isa 43:19; 51:3
  5. Psalm 107:35 : S Job 38:26; S Isa 35:7
  6. Psalm 107:37 : S 2Ki 19:29; S Isa 37:30
  7. Psalm 107:38 : S Ge 12:2; S Dt 7:13
  8. Psalm 107:38 : S Ge 49:25
  9. Psalm 107:39 : S 2Ki 10:32; Eze 5:12
  10. Psalm 107:39 : S Ps 44:9
  11. Psalm 107:40 : S Job 12:18
  12. Psalm 107:40 : S Dt 32:10
  13. Psalm 107:41 : S 1Sa 2:8; Ps 113:7-9
  14. Psalm 107:41 : S Job 21:11
  15. Psalm 107:42 : S Job 22:19; Ps 97:10-12
  16. Psalm 107:42 : S Job 5:16; Ro 3:19
  17. Psalm 107:43 : Jer 9:12; Hos 14:9
  18. Psalm 107:43 : Ps 103:11
  19. Psalm 108:1 : 108:1-5pp — Ps 57:7-11
  20. Psalm 108:1 : 108:6-13pp — Ps 60:5-12
  21. Psalm 108:1 : Ps 112:7; 119:30, 112
  22. Psalm 108:1 : S Ps 18:49
  23. Psalm 108:2 : S Job 21:12
  24. Psalm 108:4 : Nu 14:18; Ps 106:45
  25. Psalm 108:4 : S Ex 34:6
  26. Psalm 108:4 : S Ps 36:5
  27. Psalm 108:5 : S Ps 8:1
  28. Psalm 108:5 : S Ps 57:5
  29. Psalm 108:6 : S Job 40:14
  30. Psalm 108:7 : Ps 89:35
  31. Psalm 108:7 : Ps 68:35; 102:19
  32. Psalm 108:7 : S Ge 12:6
  33. Psalm 108:7 : S Ge 33:17
  34. Psalm 108:8 : S Ps 78:68
  35. Psalm 108:9 : S Ge 19:37
  36. Psalm 108:9 : S 2Sa 8:13-14
  37. Psalm 108:9 : S 2Sa 8:1
  38. Psalm 108:11 : S Ps 44:9
  39. Psalm 108:12 : Ps 118:8; 146:3; Isa 10:3; 30:5; 31:3; Jer 2:36; 17:5
  40. Psalm 108:13 : Ps 44:5; Isa 22:5; 63:3, 6
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 33

Psalm 33

1 Sing joyfully(A) to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting(B) for the upright(C) to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;(D)
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.(E)
3 Sing to him a new song;(F)
play skillfully, and shout for joy.(G)

4 For the word of the Lord is right(H) and true;(I)
he is faithful(J) in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;(K)
the earth is full of his unfailing love.(L)

6 By the word(M) of the Lord the heavens were made,(N)
their starry host(O) by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters(P) of the sea into jars[a];(Q)
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;(R)
let all the people of the world(S) revere him.(T)
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded,(U) and it stood firm.

10 The Lord foils(V) the plans(W) of the nations;(X)
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm(Y) forever,
the purposes(Z) of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,(AA)
the people he chose(AB) for his inheritance.(AC)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down(AD)
and sees all mankind;(AE)
14 from his dwelling place(AF) he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms(AG) the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.(AH)

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;(AI)
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse(AJ) is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes(AK) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(AL)
19 to deliver them from death(AM)
and keep them alive in famine.(AN)

20 We wait(AO) in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,(AP)
for we trust in his holy name.(AQ)
22 May your unfailing love(AR) be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 33:7 Or sea as into a heap

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 33:1 : S Ps 5:11; S 101:1
  2. Psalm 33:1 : Ps 147:1
  3. Psalm 33:1 : Ps 11:7
  4. Psalm 33:2 : S Ge 4:21; 1Co 14:7; Rev 5:8
  5. Psalm 33:2 : Ps 92:3; 144:9
  6. Psalm 33:3 : Ps 40:3; Isa 42:10; S Rev 5:9
  7. Psalm 33:3 : S Job 3:7; Ps 35:27; 47:1
  8. Psalm 33:4 : S Ps 19:8
  9. Psalm 33:4 : Ps 119:142; Rev 19:9; 22:6
  10. Psalm 33:4 : Ps 18:25; 25:10
  11. Psalm 33:5 : Ps 11:7
  12. Psalm 33:5 : Ps 6:4
  13. Psalm 33:6 : S Ge 1:3; Heb 11:3
  14. Psalm 33:6 : S Ex 8:19; S 2Ch 2:12
  15. Psalm 33:6 : S Ge 1:16
  16. Psalm 33:7 : S Ge 1:10
  17. Psalm 33:7 : S Jos 3:16
  18. Psalm 33:8 : S Dt 6:13; Ps 2:11
  19. Psalm 33:8 : Ps 49:1; Isa 18:3; Mic 1:2
  20. Psalm 33:8 : S Dt 14:23
  21. Psalm 33:9 : Ps 148:5
  22. Psalm 33:10 : Isa 44:25
  23. Psalm 33:10 : S Job 5:12
  24. Psalm 33:10 : Ps 2:1
  25. Psalm 33:11 : S Nu 23:19
  26. Psalm 33:11 : Jer 51:12, 29
  27. Psalm 33:12 : Ps 144:15
  28. Psalm 33:12 : S Ex 8:22; Dt 7:6; Ps 4:3; 65:4; 84:4
  29. Psalm 33:12 : S Ex 34:9
  30. Psalm 33:13 : Ps 53:2; 102:19
  31. Psalm 33:13 : Job 28:24; Ps 11:4; 14:2; S Heb 4:13
  32. Psalm 33:14 : S Lev 15:31; 1Ki 8:39
  33. Psalm 33:15 : Job 10:8; Ps 119:73
  34. Psalm 33:15 : S Job 10:4; Jer 32:19
  35. Psalm 33:16 : 1Sa 14:6
  36. Psalm 33:17 : S Ps 20:7
  37. Psalm 33:18 : S Ex 3:16; S Ps 11:4; 1Pe 3:12
  38. Psalm 33:18 : S Ps 6:4
  39. Psalm 33:19 : Ps 56:13; Ac 12:11
  40. Psalm 33:19 : S Job 5:20
  41. Psalm 33:20 : S Ps 27:14
  42. Psalm 33:21 : S 1Sa 2:1; S Joel 2:23
  43. Psalm 33:21 : S Ps 30:4; S 99:3
  44. Psalm 33:22 : Ps 6:4
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 65:17-25

New Heavens and a New Earth

17 “See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.(A)
The former things will not be remembered,(B)
nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice(C) forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem(D) to be a delight
and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice(E) over Jerusalem
and take delight(F) in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying(G)
will be heard in it no more.

20 “Never again will there be in it
an infant(H) who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not live out his years;(I)
the one who dies at a hundred
will be thought a mere child;
the one who fails to reach[a] a hundred
will be considered accursed.
21 They will build houses(J) and dwell in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.(K)
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,(L)
or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,(M)
so will be the days(N) of my people;
my chosen(O) ones will long enjoy
the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain,(P)
nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;(Q)
for they will be a people blessed(R) by the Lord,
they and their descendants(S) with them.
24 Before they call(T) I will answer;(U)
while they are still speaking(V) I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb(W) will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,(X)
and dust will be the serpent’s(Y) food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,”(Z)
says the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Isaiah 65:20 Or the sinner who reaches

Cross references:

  1. Isaiah 65:17 : S Isa 41:22; 66:22; 2Co 5:17; S 2Pe 3:13
  2. Isaiah 65:17 : Isa 43:18; Jer 3:16; S Rev 7:17
  3. Isaiah 65:18 : S Dt 32:43; Ps 98:1-9; S Isa 25:9
  4. Isaiah 65:18 : Rev 21:2
  5. Isaiah 65:19 : S Isa 35:10; S 62:5
  6. Isaiah 65:19 : S Dt 30:9
  7. Isaiah 65:19 : S Isa 25:8; Rev 7:17
  8. Isaiah 65:20 : Isa 11:8
  9. Isaiah 65:20 : Ge 5:1-32; S 15:15; S Ecc 8:13; Zec 8:4
  10. Isaiah 65:21 : S Isa 32:18; S 61:4
  11. Isaiah 65:21 : S 2Ki 19:29; S Isa 37:30; Eze 28:26; Am 9:14
  12. Isaiah 65:22 : S Dt 28:30
  13. Isaiah 65:22 : Ps 1:3; 92:12-14
  14. Isaiah 65:22 : Ps 21:4; 91:16
  15. Isaiah 65:22 : S Isa 14:1
  16. Isaiah 65:23 : S Isa 49:4; 1Co 15:58
  17. Isaiah 65:23 : Dt 28:32, 41; Jer 16:3-4
  18. Isaiah 65:23 : S Ge 12:2; S Dt 28:3-12
  19. Isaiah 65:23 : S Isa 44:3; Ac 2:39
  20. Isaiah 65:24 : S Isa 55:6; Mt 6:8
  21. Isaiah 65:24 : S Job 8:6; S Isa 30:19; S Zec 10:6
  22. Isaiah 65:24 : Da 9:20-23; 10:12
  23. Isaiah 65:25 : Isa 11:6
  24. Isaiah 65:25 : S Job 40:15
  25. Isaiah 65:25 : Ge 3:14; Mic 7:17
  26. Isaiah 65:25 : S Job 5:23; S Isa 2:4
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.

Revelation 22:14-21

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes,(A) that they may have the right to the tree of life(B) and may go through the gates(C) into the city.(D) 15 Outside(E) are the dogs,(F) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus,(G) have sent my angel(H) to give you[a] this testimony for the churches.(I) I am the Root(J) and the Offspring of David,(K) and the bright Morning Star.”(L)

17 The Spirit(M) and the bride(N) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.(O)

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:(P) If anyone adds anything to them,(Q) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.(R) 19 And if anyone takes words away(S) from this scroll of prophecy,(T) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life(U) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things(V) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”(W)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.(X)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.(Y) Amen.

Footnotes:

  1. Revelation 22:16 The Greek is plural.

Cross references:

  1. Revelation 22:14 : Rev 7:14
  2. Revelation 22:14 : S Rev 2:7
  3. Revelation 22:14 : S Rev 21:12
  4. Revelation 22:14 : S Rev 21:27
  5. Revelation 22:15 : Dt 23:18; 1Co 6:9, 10; Gal 5:19-21; Col 3:5, 6; Rev 21:8
  6. Revelation 22:15 : Php 3:2
  7. Revelation 22:16 : Rev 1:1
  8. Revelation 22:16 : ver 6
  9. Revelation 22:16 : Rev 1:4
  10. Revelation 22:16 : S Rev 5:5
  11. Revelation 22:16 : S Mt 1:1
  12. Revelation 22:16 : 2Pe 1:19; Rev 2:28
  13. Revelation 22:17 : Rev 2:7; 14:13
  14. Revelation 22:17 : S Rev 19:7
  15. Revelation 22:17 : S Jn 4:10
  16. Revelation 22:18 : ver 7, 10, 19
  17. Revelation 22:18 : Dt 4:2; 12:32; Pr 30:6
  18. Revelation 22:18 : Rev 15:6-16:21
  19. Revelation 22:19 : Dt 4:2; 12:32; Pr 30:6
  20. Revelation 22:19 : ver 7, 10, 18
  21. Revelation 22:19 : S Rev 2:7
  22. Revelation 22:20 : Rev 1:2
  23. Revelation 22:20 : ver 7, 12; S Mt 16:27
  24. Revelation 22:20 : 1Co 16:22
  25. Revelation 22:21 : S Ro 16:20
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.

Matthew 18:21-35

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?(A) Up to seven times?”(B)

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a](C)

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like(D) a king who wanted to settle accounts(E) with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[b] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay,(F) the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold(G) to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him.(H) ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”(I)

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 18:22 Or seventy times seven
  2. Matthew 18:24 Greek ten thousand talents; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wages.
  3. Matthew 18:28 Greek a hundred denarii; a denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see 20:2).

Cross references:

  1. Matthew 18:21 : S Mt 6:14
  2. Matthew 18:21 : Lk 17:4
  3. Matthew 18:22 : Ge 4:24
  4. Matthew 18:23 : S Mt 13:24
  5. Matthew 18:23 : Mt 25:19
  6. Matthew 18:25 : Lk 7:42
  7. Matthew 18:25 : Lev 25:39; 2Ki 4:1; Ne 5:5, 8
  8. Matthew 18:26 : S Mt 8:2
  9. Matthew 18:35 : S Mt 6:14; S Jas 2:13
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.