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 Sat, May 23

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.

Exodus 19:3-8

3 Then Moses went up to God,(A) and the Lord called(B) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(C) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(D) and brought you to myself.(E) 5 Now if you obey me fully(F) and keep my covenant,(G) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(H) Although the whole earth(I) is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests(J) and a holy nation.’(K) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders(L) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(M) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(N) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You

Cross references:

  1. Exodus 19:3 : Ex 20:21
  2. Exodus 19:3 : S Ex 3:4; S 25:22; Ac 7:38
  3. Exodus 19:4 : Dt 29:2; Jos 24:7
  4. Exodus 19:4 : Dt 32:11; Ps 103:5; Isa 40:31; Jer 4:13; 48:40; Rev 12:14
  5. Exodus 19:4 : Dt 33:12; Isa 31:5; Eze 16:6
  6. Exodus 19:5 : Ex 15:26; Dt 6:3; Ps 78:10; Jer 7:23
  7. Exodus 19:5 : S Ge 17:9; S Ex 3:1
  8. Exodus 19:5 : S Ex 8:22; S 34:9; S Dt 8:1; S Tit 2:14
  9. Exodus 19:5 : S Ex 9:29; 1Co 10:26
  10. Exodus 19:6 : Isa 61:6; 66:21; S 1Pe 2:5
  11. Exodus 19:6 : Ge 18:19; Lev 11:44-45; Dt 4:37; 7:6; 26:19; 28:9; 29:13; 33:3; Isa 4:3; 62:12; Jer 2:3; Am 3:2
  12. Exodus 19:7 : Ex 18:12; Lev 4:15; 9:1; Nu 16:25
  13. Exodus 19:7 : Ex 4:30; 1Sa 8:10
  14. Exodus 19:8 : Ex 24:3, 7; Dt 5:27; 26:17
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.

Exodus 19:16-20

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(A) and lightning, with a thick cloud(B) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(C) Everyone in the camp trembled.(D) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(E) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(F) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(G) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(H) and the whole mountain[a] trembled(I) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(J) of God answered(K) him.[b]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(L) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up

Footnotes:

  1. Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
  2. Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder

Cross references:

  1. Exodus 19:16 : 1Sa 2:10; Isa 29:6
  2. Exodus 19:16 : S ver 9
  3. Exodus 19:16 : Heb 12:18-19; Rev 4:1
  4. Exodus 19:16 : S Ge 3:10; 1Sa 13:7; 14:15; 28:5; Ps 99:1; Heb 12:21
  5. Exodus 19:17 : S ver 2; Dt 4:11
  6. Exodus 19:18 : Ex 20:18; Ps 104:32; Isa 6:4; Rev 15:8
  7. Exodus 19:18 : S Ex 3:2; 24:17; Lev 9:24; Dt 4:11, 24, 33, 36; 5:4; 9:3; 1Ki 18:24, 38; 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 7:1; Ps 18:8; Heb 12:18
  8. Exodus 19:18 : S Ge 19:28; Rev 9:2
  9. Exodus 19:18 : Jdg 5:5; 2Sa 22:8; Ps 18:7; 68:8; Isa 2:19; 5:25; 41:15; 64:1; Jer 4:24; 10:10; Mic 1:4; Na 1:5; Hab 3:6, 10; Hag 2:6
  10. Exodus 19:19 : S ver 9; Dt 4:33; Ne 9:13
  11. Exodus 19:19 : Ps 81:7
  12. Exodus 19:20 : S ver 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.

1 Peter 2:4-10

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

4 As you come to him, the living Stone(A)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(B) and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built(C) into a spiritual house[a](D) to be a holy priesthood,(E) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(F) 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,(G)
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”[b](H)

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(I)

“The stone the builders rejected(J)
has become the cornerstone,”[c](K)

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](L)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(M)

9 But you are a chosen people,(N) a royal priesthood,(O) a holy nation,(P) God’s special possession,(Q) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(R) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(S) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Footnotes:

  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14

Cross references:

  1. 1 Peter 2:4 : ver 7
  2. 1 Peter 2:4 : Isa 42:1
  3. 1 Peter 2:5 : Pr 9:1; 1Co 3:9; Eph 2:20-22
  4. 1 Peter 2:5 : 1Ti 3:15
  5. 1 Peter 2:5 : ver 9; Ex 19:6; Isa 61:6; Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6
  6. 1 Peter 2:5 : Php 4:18; Heb 13:15
  7. 1 Peter 2:6 : Eph 2:20
  8. 1 Peter 2:6 : Isa 28:16; Ro 9:32, 33; 10:11
  9. 1 Peter 2:7 : 2Co 2:16
  10. 1 Peter 2:7 : ver 4
  11. 1 Peter 2:7 : Ps 118:22; S Ac 4:11
  12. 1 Peter 2:8 : Isa 8:14; S Lk 2:34
  13. 1 Peter 2:8 : Ro 9:22
  14. 1 Peter 2:9 : Dt 10:15; 1Sa 12:22
  15. 1 Peter 2:9 : ver 5
  16. 1 Peter 2:9 : Ex 19:6; Dt 7:6; Isa 62:12
  17. 1 Peter 2:9 : S Tit 2:14
  18. 1 Peter 2:9 : S Ac 26:18
  19. 1 Peter 2:10 : Hos 1:9, 10; 2:23; Ro 9:25, 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.