Psalm 109

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society:

_____

 I praise you, God! Don’t keep silent. Destructive and deceitful lies are told about me, and hateful things are said for no reason. I had pity and prayed for my enemies, but their words to me were harsh and cruel. For being friendly and kind, they paid me back with meanness and hatred.

My enemies said, “Find some worthless fools to accuse him of a crime. Try him and find him guilty! Consider his prayers a lie. Cut his life short and let someone else have his job. Make orphans of his children and a widow of his wife; make his children beg for food and live in the slums.

“Let the people he owes take everything he owns. Give it all to strangers. Don’t let anyone be kind to him or have pity on the children he leaves behind.  Bring an end to his family, and from now on let him be a forgotten man.

“Don’t let the Lord forgive the sins of his parents and his ancestors. Don’t let the Lord forget the sins of his family, or let anyone remember his family ever lived. He was so cruel to the poor, homeless, and discouraged
that they died young.

“He cursed others. Now place a curse on him! He never wished others well. Wish only trouble for him! He cursed others more often than he dressed himself. Let his curses strike him deep, just as water and olive oil soak through to our bones. Let his curses surround him, just like the clothes he wears each day.”

Those are the cruel things my enemies wish for me. Let it all happen to them! Be true to your name, Lord God!
Show your great kindness and rescue me.

I am poor and helpless, and I have lost all hope. I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am tossed aside
like a crawling insect.  I have gone without eating, until my knees are weak, and my body is bony. When my enemies see me, they say cruel things and shake their heads.

Please help me, Lord God! Come and save me because of your love. Let others know that you alone have saved me.  I don’t care if they curse me, as long as you bless me. You will make my enemies fail when they attack, and you will make me glad to be your servant. You will cover them with shame, just as their bodies are covered with clothes.

I will sing your praises and thank you, Lord, when your people meet. You help everyone in need, and you defend them when they are on trial.

We look to heaven and we ask you, Father, to check our hearts: “Are we good, you and I?” That is what is most important today.

a prayer from Psalm 109

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 109:

God. Abba. Father.

We praise you! Today we thank you that we can run to you when our enemies attack. Even when others spread lies and speak maliciously against us, we can trust in your unfailing love. You are the just judge. You know what is truth.

We look to heaven and we ask you, Father, to check our hearts: “Are we good, you and I?” That is what is most important today. Even when we find ourselves in times where other relationships are fraught with misunderstanding, we bow before you to be reminded that you are in control. Bring peace to hearts where there is angst.

When people speak ill of us, sometimes we begin to believe them. We might wallow in self-pity, wondering if what they have said is true, even when we know it to be false. Sometimes we let the words of others make us feel like we are like insects who crawl in the dust. Forgive us. Forgive those who speak things that are false against us.

Today we speak what we know to be the truth. We are children of the most high, God! You have great plans for us. You keep your promises. Nothing will ever be able to separate us from your love!

You alone have saved us through the cross of grace. Ultimately your blessing is all we care about. And we will rejoice! Yes, you will make us glad. We trust in the relationship we have with you, the One True God.

And we thank you for Jesus, who makes this relationship between you and us possible.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 108

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society:

_____

Our God, I am faithful to you with all my heart, and you can trust me. I will sing and play music for you with all that I am. I will start playing my harps before the sun rises. I will praise you, Lord, for everyone to hear; I will sing hymns to you in every nation. Your love reaches higher than the heavens, and your loyalty extends beyond the clouds.

Our God, may you be honored above the heavens; may your glory be seen everywhere on earth. Answer my prayers and use your powerful arm to give us victory. Then the people you love will be safe.

Our God, from your holy place you made this promise: “I will gladly divide up the city of Shechem and give away Succoth Valley piece by piece. The lands of Gilead and Manasseh are mine. Ephraim is my war helmet,
and Judah is my symbol of royal power. Moab is merely my washbasin, and Edom belongs to me. I shout with victory over the Philistines.”

Our God, who will bring me to the fortress or lead me to Edom?  Have you rejected us? You don’t lead our armies. Help us defeat our enemies! No one else can rescue us. You are the one who gives us victory and crushes our enemies.

You are the one who gives us victory.

Psalm 108:13

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 108:

God. Abba. Father.

We sing to you today! At dawn, at noon, at dusk. We look forward to another day, because it means you have given us another 24 hours to praise your name! We will praise you among every tribe and people group all over the world. Your love is displayed in beauty among the clouds. Your glory covers the earth like a blanket made of sapphires. It is on display in the smiling faces of those who love you from the depths of their hearts.

We thank you for sending Jesus to save us! Our Messiah is your powerful right hand, full of mercy and grace and truth and justice. Through his love we are delivered. Thank you for turning your ear towards us and hearing our pleas for help.

Thank you that you have a specific purpose for every person and every nation. You have plans for each one of us. You have hope and future blessings reserved just for us.

We thank you for leading us to your throne. We thank you for going before us and defeating those things that defeat us. We trust in your leadership that brings us into relationship with you. For knowing that you love us is greater than any other victory!

We praise you with music, song, instruments, breath, and every move we make today. May all we do today reflect your radiant glory.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 107

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society:

_____


Shout praises to the Lord! He is good to us, and his love never fails. Everyone the Lord has rescued from trouble should praise him, everyone he has brought from the east and the west, the north and the south.

Some of you were lost in the scorching desert, far from a town. You were hungry and thirsty and about to give up. You were in serious trouble, but you prayed to the Lord, and he rescued you. Right away he brought you to a town. You should praise the Lord for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us. To everyone who is thirsty, he gives something to drink; to everyone who is hungry, he gives good things to eat.

Some of you were prisoners suffering in deepest darkness and bound by chains, because you had rebelled and refused his advice.  You were worn out from working like slaves, and no one came to help. You were in serious trouble, but you prayed to the Lord, and he rescued you.  He brought you out of the deepest darkness
and broke your chains.

You should praise the Lord for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us.  He breaks down bronze gates and shatters iron locks.

Some of you had foolishly committed a lot of sins and were in terrible pain.  The very thought of food was disgusting to you, and you were almost dead. You were in serious trouble, but you prayed to the Lord, and he rescued you.  By the power of his own word, he healed you and saved you from destruction.

You should praise the Lord for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us. You should celebrate
by offering sacrifices and singing joyful songs to tell what he has done.

Some of you made a living by sailing the mighty sea, and you saw the miracles the Lord performed there. At his command a storm arose, and waves covered the sea.  You were tossed to the sky and to the ocean depths,
until things looked so bad that you lost your courage. You staggered like drunkards and gave up all hope. You were in serious trouble, but you prayed to the Lord, and he rescued you.  He made the storm stop and the sea be quiet. You were happy because of this, and he brought you to the port where you wanted to go.

You should praise the Lord for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us. Honor the Lord when you and your leaders meet to worship.

If you start doing wrong, the Lord will turn rivers into deserts, flowing streams into scorched land, and fruitful fields into beds of salt.

But the Lord can also turn deserts into lakes and scorched land into flowing streams. If you are hungry, you can settle there and build a town.  You can plant fields and vineyards that produce a good harvest. The Lord will bless you with many children and with herds of cattle.

Sometimes you may be crushed by troubles and sorrows, until only a few of you are left to survive. But the Lord will take revenge on those who conquer you, and he will make them wander across desert sands.
When you are suffering and in need, he will come to your rescue, and your families will grow as fast as a herd of sheep. You will see this because you obey the Lord, but everyone who is wicked will be silenced.

Be wise! Remember this and think about the kindness of the Lord.

 When we cry out to you, oh Lord, you save us!

Psalm 107

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 107:

God. Abba. Father.

We give you thanks today, for you are good and your love never runs out. Never! When we ponder just that single thought, we are in awe. You love us no matter where we live. You love us no matter our background. You love us, even no matter our poor choices. We can always run to you and you will have open arms for us. Thank you.

Thank you for meeting our daily needs… food, shelter, water. Thank you for coming to set the captives free. Thank you for coming to bring sight to the blind. Thank you for coming to heal the brokenhearted.  When we cry out to you, oh Lord, you save us! You continue to bring us salvation. Day after day. Lord, when we make decisions that are not honoring to you, nor to us, and when we finally come back to our senses and lift our heads to heaven, when we get ourselves in trouble, you save us from our distress. Thank you!

Yes, we thank you and proclaim your goodness to the whole earth. Your love never fails. We sing and rejoice!

We rejoice for you make a way for us when we are journeying through times of wilderness or desert life. We rejoice for you calm the waves when we are in the middle of a raging storm. Even storms of financial distress, illness, or broken relationships. When we look to you in our personal disasters, you bring calm, you bring peace. Yes, you are our peace. You always lead us to safe harbors. We rejoice and thank you!

When we were poor and suffering, you were our rescuer. You are kind and full of provision and grace. Oh, how we appreciate your great love for us.

We thank you, always, in the name of our Messiah, Jesus.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 106

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society:

We will celebrate and praise you, Lord! You are good to us, and your love never fails. No one can praise you enough for all of the mighty things you have done. You bless those people who are honest and fair in everything they do.

Remember me, Lord, when you show kindness by saving your people. Let me prosper with the rest of your chosen ones, as they celebrate with pride because they belong to you.

We and our ancestors have sinned terribly. When they were in Egypt, they paid no attention to your marvelous deeds or your wonderful love. And they turned against you at the Red Sea.

But you were true to your name, and you rescued them to prove how mighty you are. You said to the Red Sea, “Dry up!” Then you led your people across on land as dry as a desert. You saved all of them and drowned every one of their enemies. Then your people trusted you and sang your praises.

But they soon forgot what you had done and rejected your advice. They became greedy for food and tested you there in the desert.  So you gave them what they wanted, but later you destroyed them with a horrible disease.

Everyone in camp was jealous of Moses and of Aaron, your chosen priest.  Dathan and Abiram rebelled, and the earth opened up and swallowed them. Then fire broke out and destroyed all of their followers.

At Horeb your people made and worshiped the statue of a bull, instead of you, their glorious God.  You worked powerful miracles to save them from Egypt, but they forgot about you and the fearsome things you did at the Red Sea. You were angry and started to destroy them, but Moses, your chosen leader, begged you not to do it.

They would not trust you, Lord, and they did not like the promised land.  They would not obey you, and they grumbled in their tents. So you threatened them by saying, “I’ll kill you out here in the desert! I’ll scatter your children everywhere in the world.”

Your people became followers of a god named Baal Peor, and they ate sacrifices offered to the dead. They did such terrible things that you punished them with a deadly disease.  But Phinehas helped them, and the sickness stopped. Now he will always be highly honored.

At Meribah Spring they turned against you and made you furious. Then Moses got into trouble for speaking in anger.

Our Lord, they disobeyed you by refusing to destroy the nations. Instead they were friendly with those foreigners and followed their customs.  Then they fell into the trap of worshiping idols. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons and to the gods of Canaan. Then they poured out the blood of these innocent children and made the land filthy.  By doing such gruesome things, they also became filthy.

Finally, Lord, you were angry and terribly disgusted with your people. So you put them in the power of nations that hated them. They were mistreated and abused by their enemies, but you saved them time after time. They were determined to rebel, and their sins caused their downfall.

You answered their prayers when they were in trouble.  You kept your agreement and were so merciful that their enemies had pity on them.

Save us, Lord God! Bring us back from among the nations. Let us celebrate and shout in praise of your holy name.

Lord God of Israel, you deserve to be praised forever and ever. Let everyone say, “Amen! Shout praises to the Lord!”

You answered their prayers when they were in trouble. You kept your agreement and were so merciful that their enemies had pity on them.

Psalm 106:44

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 106.

God. Abba. Father.

We thank you for you are good, and your love endures forever. It never fails us. Ever. No one can praise you enough! You bless those who are honest and fair. Help us to be people where honesty and justice flow from our actions.

Thank you for showing us your kindness. We join the ranks of those who celebrate you, and those who follow you.

We confess our sin, and those of our ancestors, even those who turned their backs on you and your grace. We remember the true stories of the exodus of your chosen people. We see the circle of their actions: embracing your love, then complaining, then turning their verbal criticism into sin, before finally embracing your love once again. We confess that it is easy for us to repeat that same cycle. Help us to see your love and act accordingly every day. Help us to be strong and courageous, boldly believing who you are without a doubt. Let us be people of faith and people of action.

Save us! Thank you for answering our prayers, even when we are in trouble. Thank you for keeping your promises to us. We are undeserving of your great grace and love!

We sing praises to your name forever! You are our God. From everlasting to everlasting.

We sing Hallelujah!

In the name of Jesus.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 105

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society:

Praise the Lord and pray in his name! Tell everyone what he has done. Sing praises to the Lord! Tell about his miracles. Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart.

Trust the Lord and his mighty power. Remember his miracles and all his wonders and his fair decisions.
You belong to the family of Abraham, his servant; you are his chosen ones, the descendants of Jacob.

The Lord is our God, bringing justice everywhere on earth. He will never forget his agreement or his promises, not in thousands of years. God made an eternal promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, when he said, “I’ll give you the land of Canaan.”

At the time there were only a few of us, and we were homeless. We wandered from nation to nation, from one country to another. God did not let anyone mistreat our people. Instead he protected us by punishing rulers and telling them, “Don’t touch my chosen leaders or harm my prophets!”

God kept crops from growing until food was scarce everywhere in the land. But he had already sent Joseph, sold as a slave into Egypt, with chains of iron around his legs and neck.

 Joseph remained a slave until his own words had come true, and the Lord had finished testing him. Then the king of Egypt set Joseph free and put him in charge of everything he owned. Joseph was in command of the officials, and he taught the leaders how to use wisdom.

Jacob and his family came and settled in Egypt as foreigners. They were the Lord’s people, so he let them grow stronger than their enemies. They served the Lord, and he made the Egyptians plan hateful things against them.  God sent his servant Moses. He also chose and sent Aaron to his people in Egypt, and they worked miracles and wonders there.  Moses and Aaron obeyed God, and he sent darkness to cover Egypt. God turned their rivers into streams of blood, and the fish all died. Frogs were everywhere, even in the royal palace. When God gave the command, flies and gnats swarmed all around.

In place of rain, God sent hailstones and flashes of lightning. He destroyed their grapevines and their fig trees, and he made splinters of all the other trees. God gave the command, and more grasshoppers came than could be counted. They ate every green plant and all the crops that grew in the land of Egypt. Then God took the life of every first-born son.

When God led Israel from Egypt, they took silver and gold, and no one was left behind. The Egyptians were afraid and gladly let them go. God hid them under a cloud and guided them by fire during the night.

When they asked for food, he sent more birds than they could eat.  God even split open a rock, and streams of water gushed into the desert. God never forgot his sacred promise to his servant Abraham.

When the Lord rescued his chosen people from Egypt, they celebrated with songs. The Lord gave them the land and everything else the nations had worked for. He did this so that his people would obey all of his laws.
Shout praises to the Lord!

We turn our eyes to heaven. Lead us. One step at a time.

Psalm 105

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 105.

God. Abba. Father.

We praise you for a new day! We sing and celebrate all you have done. We shout “Hallelujah!” as we see your glory day after day. Help us to look for you in the small simple things as well as the major surprises in our lives today.

We trust you and love to remember the ancient stories of your faithfulness, assured of the hope we have that you will continue to be faithful to our generation as well. For you are the God who keeps His promises to His children.

As we page through history, we see your ever-present hand. You have always been in charge, bringing justice and hope. You guided Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses through dark and stormy times. Your favor rested on Esther and Ruth. You were faithful to David, Solomon, Nehemiah.

You also gave your Holy Spirit to those who met your son Jesus face to face. You inspired and encouraged generations as the Church began to multiply throughout the centuries and spread the Good News around the globe.

We trust you are with us today, even as the world collectively faces, perhaps, its greatest challenge. You specialize in rescuing your people. Please, do it again. Bring us out of this great plague with shouts of joy. Bring peace to our lands. We turn our eyes to heaven. Leads us through this desert season, one step at a time.

We sing Hallelujah! We sing Hallelujah!

In the name of our great King, Jesus.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 104

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society:

 I praise you, Lord God, with all my heart. You are glorious and majestic, dressed in royal robes and surrounded by light. You spread out the sky like a tent, and you built your home over the mighty ocean.
The clouds are your chariot with the wind as its wings. The winds are your messengers, and flames of fire are your servants.

You built foundations for the earth, and it will never be shaken. You covered the earth with the ocean that rose above the mountains. Then your voice thundered! And the water flowed down the mountains and through the valleys to the place you prepared. Now you have set boundaries so that the water will never flood the earth again.

You provide streams of water in the hills and valleys so that the donkeys and other wild animals can satisfy their thirst. Birds build their nests nearby and sing in the trees. From your home above you send rain on the hills and water the earth. You let the earth produce grass for cattle, plants for our food, wine to cheer us up, olive oil for our skin, and grain for our health.

Our Lord, your trees always have water, and so do the cedars you planted in Lebanon. Birds nest in those trees, and storks make their home in the fir trees. Wild goats find a home in the tall mountains, and small animals can hide between the rocks.

You created the moon to tell us the seasons. The sun knows when to set, and you made the darkness, so the animals in the forest could come out at night. Lions roar as they hunt for the food you provide. But when morning comes, they return to their dens, then we go out to work until the end of day.

Our Lord, by your wisdom you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures. But what about the ocean so big and wide? It is alive with creatures, large and small. And there are the ships, as well as Leviathan, the monster you created to splash in the sea.

All of these depend on you to provide them with food, and you feed each one with your own hand, until they are full. But when you turn away, they are terrified; when you end their life, they die and rot. You created all of them by your Spirit, and you give new life to the earth.

Our Lord, we pray that your glory will last forever and that you will be pleased with what you have done.
You look at the earth, and it trembles. You touch the mountains, and smoke goes up. As long as I live, I will sing and praise you, the Lord God. I hope my thoughts will please you, because you are the one who makes me glad.

Destroy all wicked sinners from the earth once and for all. With all my heart I praise you, Lord! I praise you!

The glory of God — let it last forever!

Psalm 104:31

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 104:

God. Abba. Father.

You are great and beautiful. We praise you with all that we are! You, God, are clothed in splendor and majesty, with robes that sparkle with the Light of heaven. You have built your home in all of heaven and all of earth. You live in the hearts of men and women, yet you sail over the globe on the winds of your Spirit. You are everywhere… from the highest mountain to the depths of the sea… from rural farmlands to urban skyscrapers. Thank you that all of nature responds to your commands. You have made a promise that the earth will never be destroyed by flood. Thank you!

You care deeply not only for us, men and women created in your image. But you also give life to the animals of the fields, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. You bring forth food from the earth… wine from fruit and bread from grain. The seasons mark the time of the year. The sun determines the start of each new day. All creation depends on you. We depend on you. Thank you for your faithful provision via your wonderful creation. Let all creation sing praises to God!

Lord, your glory lasts forever! As long as we live, we will offer praise and thanksgiving to you. Hear our prayers. Turn your ears to our singing. May even our thoughts be pleasing to you. Yes, you are the One True God. You make us glad!

We praise you for your creation. We praise you for this day. We praise you for your Son, who came to set the captive free, to heal the brokenhearted, to allow us to clearly see all that you have done for us.

And it is in Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 103

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society.

_____

With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am, I praise his holy name! With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been.

The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.

For all who are mistreated, the Lord brings justice.  He taught his Law to Moses and showed all Israel what he could do.

The Lord is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails. The Lord won’t always be angry and point out our sins; he doesn’t punish us as our sins deserve.

How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth! How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!

Just as parents are kind to their children, the Lord is kind to all who worship him, because he knows we are made of dust. We humans are like grass or wildflowers that quickly bloom. But a scorching wind blows, and they quickly wither to be forever forgotten. The Lord is always kind to those who worship him, and he keeps his promises to their descendants who faithfully obey him.

God has set up his kingdom in heaven, and he rules the whole creation. All of you mighty angels, who obey God’s commands, come and praise your Lord! All of you thousands who serve and obey God, come and praise your Lord! All of God’s creation and all that he rules, come and praise your Lord! With all my heart I praise the Lord!

You are kind and patient. Your love never fails.

Psalm 103:8

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 103:

God. Abba. Father.

With all our hearts, we praise you today. From deep within our souls, we offer only thanksgiving to you, the great I Am. For you have blessed us far beyond what we deserve or even expect. You have forgiven our every sin. You ultimately heal every disease. Yes, through the grace of Jesus you have redeemed our very lives from being separated from you, oh God. You surround us with goodness and love. You have renewed our very bodies to be as that of a young and vibrant soul – like an eagle that soars majestically high above the earth.

You make everything right. You work for justice for all. Yes, in your mysterious ways, all who are guilty or those who have been mistreated are declared “innocent.” You are kind and patient. Your love never fails.

You are compassionate to all. You are slow to anger. You are rich in love — which you give freely to all of us. Yet if we were to honestly look at our own actions, our own sin, we would say your love is unmerited. But you don’t see our sin. Thanks to the action of Jesus on the cross, you do not pay us back for our wrongs. No, you have great love for those who worship you. You have even removed our sins as far as the sunrise is from the sunset.

Oh, Lord. You have great compassion for us — such love as a father or mother has for their very own children. You know everything about us. You know our hearts, our desires, our thoughts, and motives. And you still love us! We know that, in the scope of all eternity, our time on earth is but a vapor, like that of a flower which blooms for just a few days. Even still, you are always kind to us. And you will keep your promises to us and to our children and our children’s children.

Your throne is firmly established! You rule both heaven and earth. You are our great King! So, we join with the angels and praise your holy name! With our hearts we praise you. With our lips we praise you. We lift our hands to honor you and the unconditional love you have for us. Yes, with all that we are we praise your name!

And we thank you for Jesus!

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 102

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society.

I pray to you, Lord! Please listen.  Don’t hide from me in my time of trouble. Pay attention to my prayer and quickly give an answer.

My days disappear like smoke, and my bones are burning as though in a furnace. I am wasting away like grass, and my appetite is gone. My groaning never stops, and my bones can be seen through my skin. I am like a lonely owl in the desert or a restless sparrow alone on a roof.

My enemies insult me all day, and they use my name for a curse word. Instead of food, I have ashes to eat and tears to drink, because you are furious and have thrown me aside. My life fades like a shadow at the end of the day and withers like grass.

Our Lord, you are King forever and will always be famous. You will show pity to Zion because the time has come. We, your servants, love each stone in the city, and we are sad to see them lying in the dirt.

Our Lord, the nations will honor you, and all kings on earth will praise your glory. You will rebuild the city of Zion. Your glory will be seen, and the prayers of the homeless will be answered.

Future generations must also praise the Lord, so write this for them: “From his holy temple, the Lord looked down at the earth.  He listened to the groans of prisoners, and he rescued everyone who was doomed to die.”

All Jerusalem should praise you, our Lord, when people from every nation meet to worship you. I should still be strong, but you, Lord, have made an old person of me. You will live forever! Years mean nothing to you. Don’t cut my life in half!

In the beginning, Lord, you laid the earth’s foundation and created the heavens. They will all disappear and wear out like clothes. You change them, as you would a coat, but you last forever. You are always the same. Years cannot change you. Every generation of those who serve you will live in your presence.

We worship you today knowing that you will continue to show us how much you love us.

Psalm 102

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 102:

God. Abba. Father.

We cry out to you today. We ask that you will turn your ear to our voices and hear our prayers. There are some days when we are weak beyond weak, when our bodies, spirits, and hearts are broken. We sometimes feel like we are on the verge of withering away. We hurt.

When those days occur, help us to remember that you are still sovereign. You are our great King! You always have been. You always will be. And we can trust in your perfect timing. Your word says you will arise and show us your great compassion. And indeed, at that moment when Jesus sat up from that cold slab in the tomb, you showed us your great and unending grace and mercy. We worship you today knowing that you will continue to show us how much you love us. You will show us your favor and your glory! Thank you.

Thank you for ordaining that future generations will continue to praise you as we praise you today. For you have rescued us! Yes, you have set each one of us free from those things that hold us back. You have given us sight to see your beauty and how you make all things new. You have healed our broken hearts. No matter our age nor our circumstances in life, you continue to bring us freedom, sight and healing. Thank you.

For you are the One True God. You set the cornerstone on earth. You are the same, you remain true through all generations. We thank you for keeping your promises. Our sons and daughters will be at home with you, as we are.

All because Jesus sat up from that cold slab in the tomb! Rise in our hearts today, Jesus. Rise again.

Thank you!

We love you. Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 101

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society.

I will sing to you, Lord! I will celebrate your kindness and your justice. Please help me learn to do the right thing, and I will be honest and fair in my own kingdom.

I refuse to be corrupt or to take part in anything crooked, and I won’t be dishonest or deceitful.

Anyone who spreads gossip will be silenced, and no one who is conceited will be my friend.

I will find trustworthy people to serve as my advisors, and only an honest person will serve as an official.

No one who cheats or lies will have a position in my royal court. Each morning I will silence any lawbreakers I find in the countryside or in the city of the Lord.

Let our home be a place of humility and unconditional love for one another.

Psalm 101

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 101:

God. Abba. Father.

We sing to you today! We celebrate that you are just, you are kind and you always make right and truthful decisions. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth. Please help us to follow in your ways, Lord, to be just, kind, and truthful — especially at home with our family. Yes, keep our hearts pure and blameless. Let us not join in the ways of wickedness. May all in our home lift up your name and your ways. Let our home be a place of humility and unconditional love for one another.

Give us the courage to join with those who are genuine and trustworthy. Let us not participate in gossip or slander. May all our conversations today be honest.

Thank you for grace and forgiveness. Thank you for making all things new.

We praise you today.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 100

Posted on by richlyspeaking

We’re reading through, and with intentionality, praying through the Psalms during this school year. There are 150 Psalms, divided into 180 different readings. See this post for more info.

Here is today’s prayer, preceded by the text from the Contemporary English Version, copyright 1995, by the America Bible Society.

 Shout praises to the Lord, everyone on this earth. Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the Lord!

You know the Lord is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture.

Be thankful and praise the Lord as you enter his temple. The Lord is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever

Sing with Joy! We belong to God.

Psalm 100

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 99:

God. Abba. Father.

We shout with joy this morning! Thank you for new days. Thank you for fresh starts. We bring our worship to you, great King! Thank you for putting a song of praise on our lips.

You are God. You are not just a feeling. You are not just some ancient theology. You are alive. You are the One True God. You have always been. Even before time began, you were and you are. You formed us. We belong to you. You made us. You have watched over us every day of our lives. You are the only One that can make sense of our world today. We open our hands and ask you to lead us. Guide us. Give us wisdom. Protect us. Take care of us, like a shepherd takes care of his lambs.

Wherever and whenever we worship you, we lift up our heads with great gratitude. Yes, we are thankful! You are everything that is right and beautiful. You are generous and gracious. You are love and faithfulness. You are peace and grace. You are forgiveness and comfort. You are joy and patience. You always have been. And you always will be.

We humbly thank you and proclaim our love to you today.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.