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 Thu, Jun 11

Psalm 15

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

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

2 The one whose walk is blameless,(D)
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth(E) from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,(F)
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who 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;
5 who 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)

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 15:1 : Ex 29:46; Ps 23:6; 27:4; 61:4
  2. Psalm 15:1 : Ex 25:8; 1Ch 22:19; Ps 20:2; 78:69; 150:1
  3. Psalm 15:1 : S Ex 15:17
  4. Psalm 15:2 : S Ge 6:9; S Ps 18:32; Eph 1:4; S 1Th 3:13; Tit 1:6
  5. Psalm 15:2 : Pr 16:13; Isa 45:19; Jer 7:28; 9:5; Zec 8:3, 16; Ro 9:1; S Eph 4:25
  6. Psalm 15:3 : S Lev 19:16
  7. Psalm 15:4 : S Job 19:9; Ac 28:10
  8. Psalm 15:4 : S Dt 23:21; S Jos 9:18; Mt 5:33
  9. Psalm 15:5 : S Ex 22:25
  10. Psalm 15:5 : S Ex 18:21; S 1Sa 8:3; Ac 24:26
  11. Psalm 15:5 : S Job 29:18; Ps 21:7; 112:6; Ac 2:25; Heb 12:28; 2Pe 1:10
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 67

Psalm 67[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—[b](A)
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation(B) among all nations.(C)

3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.(D)
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,(E)
for you rule the peoples with equity(F)
and guide the nations of the earth.(G)
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.

6 The land yields its harvest;(H)
God, our God, blesses us.(I)
7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth(J) will fear him.(K)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 67:1 In Hebrew texts 67:1-7 is numbered 67:2-8.
  2. Psalm 67:1 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 4.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 67:1 : Nu 6:24-26
  2. Psalm 67:2 : Isa 40:5; 52:10; 62:1
  3. Psalm 67:2 : Ps 98:2; Isa 62:2; Ac 10:35; Tit 2:11
  4. Psalm 67:3 : ver 5
  5. Psalm 67:4 : Ps 100:1-2
  6. Psalm 67:4 : S Ps 9:4; 96:10-13
  7. Psalm 67:4 : Ps 68:32
  8. Psalm 67:6 : S Ge 8:22; S Lev 26:4; Ps 85:12; Isa 55:10; Eze 34:27; Zec 8:12
  9. Psalm 67:6 : S Ge 12:2
  10. Psalm 67:7 : S Ps 2:8
  11. Psalm 67:7 : Ps 33:8
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.

Error: 'Sirach 31:3-11' not found for the version: New International Version.

Acts 4:32-37

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.(A) 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify(B) to the resurrection(C) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace(D) was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,(E) brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet,(F) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.(G)

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas(H) (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.(I)

Cross references:

  1. Acts 4:32 : Ac 2:44
  2. Acts 4:33 : S Lk 24:48
  3. Acts 4:33 : Ac 1:22
  4. Acts 4:33 : S Ro 3:24
  5. Acts 4:34 : Mt 19:21; Ac 2:45
  6. Acts 4:35 : ver 37; Ac 5:2
  7. Acts 4:35 : Ac 2:45; 6:1
  8. Acts 4:36 : Ac 9:27; 11:22, 30; 13:2; 1Co 9:6; Gal 2:1, 9, 13
  9. Acts 4:37 : ver 35; Ac 5:2
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 19

Psalm 19[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens(A) declare(B) the glory of God;(C)
the skies(D) proclaim the work of his hands.(E)
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.(F)
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.(G)
In the heavens God has pitched a tent(H) for the sun.(I)
5 It is like a bridegroom(J) coming out of his chamber,(K)
like a champion(L) rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens(M)
and makes its circuit to the other;(N)
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7 The law of the Lord(O) is perfect,(P)
refreshing the soul.(Q)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(R)
making wise the simple.(S)
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,(T)
giving joy(U) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.(V)
9 The fear of the Lord(W) is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.(X)

10 They are more precious than gold,(Y)
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,(Z)
than honey from the honeycomb.(AA)
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.(AB)
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;(AC)
may they not rule over me.(AD)
Then I will be blameless,(AE)
innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing(AF) in your sight,
Lord, my Rock(AG) and my Redeemer.(AH)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
  2. Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 19:1 : Ps 89:5; Isa 40:22
  2. Psalm 19:1 : Ps 50:6; 148:3; Ro 1:19
  3. Psalm 19:1 : Ps 4:2; 8:1; 97:6; Isa 6:3
  4. Psalm 19:1 : S Ge 1:8
  5. Psalm 19:1 : S Ps 8:6; S 103:22
  6. Psalm 19:2 : Ps 74:16
  7. Psalm 19:4 : Ro 10:18*
  8. Psalm 19:4 : S Job 36:29; Ps 104:2
  9. Psalm 19:4 : S Jdg 5:31
  10. Psalm 19:5 : Joel 2:16
  11. Psalm 19:5 : S Job 36:29
  12. Psalm 19:5 : 1Sa 17:4
  13. Psalm 19:6 : Dt 30:4
  14. Psalm 19:6 : Ps 113:3; Ecc 1:5
  15. Psalm 19:7 : S Ps 1:2
  16. Psalm 19:7 : Ps 119:142; Jas 1:25
  17. Psalm 19:7 : Ps 23:3
  18. Psalm 19:7 : Ps 93:5; 111:7; 119:138, 144
  19. Psalm 19:7 : S Dt 4:6; Ps 119:130
  20. Psalm 19:8 : Ps 33:4; 119:128
  21. Psalm 19:8 : Ps 119:14
  22. Psalm 19:8 : S Ezr 9:8; Ps 38:10
  23. Psalm 19:9 : Ps 34:11; 111:10; Pr 1:7; Ecc 12:13; Isa 33:6
  24. Psalm 19:9 : Ps 119:138, 142
  25. Psalm 19:10 : S Job 22:24; Ps 119:72; Pr 8:10
  26. Psalm 19:10 : Ps 119:103; SS 4:11; Eze 3:3
  27. Psalm 19:10 : S 1Sa 14:27
  28. Psalm 19:12 : Ps 51:2; 90:8; Ecc 12:14
  29. Psalm 19:13 : S Nu 15:30
  30. Psalm 19:13 : Ps 119:133
  31. Psalm 19:13 : S Ge 6:9; S Ps 18:32
  32. Psalm 19:14 : Ps 104:34
  33. Psalm 19:14 : Ps 18:31
  34. Psalm 19:14 : S Ex 6:6; S Job 19:25
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 146

Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul.

2 I will praise the Lord all my life;(B)
I will sing praise(C) to my God as long as I live.(D)
3 Do not put your trust in princes,(E)
in human beings,(F) who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(G)
on that very day their plans come to nothing.(H)
5 Blessed are those(I) whose help(J) is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He is the Maker of heaven(K) and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful(L) forever.
7 He upholds(M) the cause of the oppressed(N)
and gives food to the hungry.(O)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(P)
8 the Lord gives sight(Q) to the blind,(R)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(S)
the Lord loves the righteous.(T)
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner(U)
and sustains the fatherless(V) and the widow,(W)
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(X) forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 146:1 : Ps 103:1; 104:1
  2. Psalm 146:2 : Ps 104:33
  3. Psalm 146:2 : S Ps 105:2
  4. Psalm 146:2 : S Ps 63:4
  5. Psalm 146:3 : Ps 118:9
  6. Psalm 146:3 : Ps 60:11; S 108:12; Isa 2:22
  7. Psalm 146:4 : S Ge 3:19; S Job 7:21; Ps 103:14; Ecc 12:7
  8. Psalm 146:4 : Ps 33:10; 1Co 2:6
  9. Psalm 146:5 : Ps 33:18; 37:9; 119:43; 144:15; Jer 17:7
  10. Psalm 146:5 : Ps 70:5; 71:5; 121:2
  11. Psalm 146:6 : S 2Ch 2:12; Ps 115:15; Ac 14:15; S Rev 10:6
  12. Psalm 146:6 : S Dt 7:9; S Ps 18:25; 108:4; 117:2
  13. Psalm 146:7 : S Ps 37:17
  14. Psalm 146:7 : Ps 103:6
  15. Psalm 146:7 : Ps 107:9; 145:15
  16. Psalm 146:7 : S Ps 66:11; S 68:6
  17. Psalm 146:8 : Pr 20:12; Isa 29:18; 32:3; 35:5; 42:7, 18-19; 43:8; Mt 11:5
  18. Psalm 146:8 : S Ex 4:11
  19. Psalm 146:8 : S Ps 38:6
  20. Psalm 146:8 : S Dt 7:13; S Job 23:10
  21. Psalm 146:9 : S Lev 19:34
  22. Psalm 146:9 : S Ps 10:18
  23. Psalm 146:9 : S Ex 22:22; Jas 1:27
  24. Psalm 146:10 : S Ge 21:33; S 1Ch 16:31; Ps 93:1; 99:1; Rev 11:15
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 9:26-31

26 When he came to Jerusalem,(A) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas(B) took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,(C) and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.(D) 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a](E) but they tried to kill him.(F) 30 When the believers(G) learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea(H) and sent him off to Tarsus.(I)

31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria(J) enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.(K)

Footnotes:

  1. Acts 9:29 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

Cross references:

  1. Acts 9:26 : Ac 22:17; 26:20; Gal 1:17, 18
  2. Acts 9:27 : S Ac 4:36
  3. Acts 9:27 : ver 3-6
  4. Acts 9:27 : ver 20, 22
  5. Acts 9:29 : Ac 6:1
  6. Acts 9:29 : 2Co 11:26
  7. Acts 9:30 : S Ac 1:16
  8. Acts 9:30 : S Ac 8:40
  9. Acts 9:30 : S ver 11
  10. Acts 9:31 : Ac 8:1
  11. Acts 9:31 : S Ac 2:41
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.