Psalm 61.

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

Hear our prayer today. Some days we feel hopeless, our heart is weak, and we are down for the count. It can be an effort to get out bed. So, we cry out to you from a place of weariness.  Today we ask you to lead us to a safe place. A spot that is high and away from the noise of the day-to-day busyness. A spot where we can rest in a place of solitude and quiet, where we can be ourselves and just breathe, with no expectations or demands.

This is the place where we feel your love the most. This is the place in which we were born to dwell. This is the place where we come alive. It is here, Father, in your arms where we are blessed. This is our inheritance.

So, we worship you today great King! Please allow us to live long in this land so we might sing your praises, while we dwell here, and while we live with you forever. To you be the glory, oh God!

In Jesus name,

Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 66

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

Today we join with psalmist in praising you, our great King! We will say of you, oh God, “There is none like you! How awesome are your deeds!” And we think of our lives and wonder at how you have been with us through it all. You have encouraged us. You have challenged us. You have blessed us. You have taken care of us. Thank you.

You are the steady rock, the one thing that never moves or fails us, Lord. You have pushed us and tested us. You have walked along side us. You are the anchor in an ocean of the waves of life that toss us back and forth. As you have pushed and prodded, you have refined us like silver. You have polished and molded us so that we humbly reflect your image as the master silversmith. You have brought us to our own Promised Land. Thank you!

We will worship you! We will, with great joy, tell others of all that you have done for us. Thank you for hearing our prayers. You are such a great listener. And you didn’t turn away from us. Even when we confessed our most terrible thoughts and sins. You have chosen to love us, unconditionally. You offer grace in abundance.

We praise you and thank you!

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 60.

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

Again, today we thank you for rescuing us. Even when the whole world feels like it is splitting apart, you will stop the trembling. You will heal our wounds. You will give us strength.  We thank you that you will give us the victory.

Thank you for giving good gifts to your children. Yes, every good gift we receive comes at your hand. When we are feeling unloved, you have given us love. When we are feeling hopeless you have given us hope. When we are feeling anxious, you have given us peace.

Thank you for answering our prayers for safety and protection. We rejoice that you are the One True God. We’re reminded of Isaiah’s word that nothing formed against you will stand. We thank you for that promise! We will shout in triumph for in you we have received the victory!

In you, and through our Messiah, even Jesus. Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 59.

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

We thank you today that no matter the size of our foe, we can rest in your provision. Like the psalmist, we often feel chased by the enemies of unrealistic deadlines, projects that have more downs than ups, or people who expect way  more than we can give. Sometimes our dreams are crushed by the hard realities of balancing budgets, chronic illnesses, or broken relationships. The pain can be unbearable and even suffocating. Sometimes it seems like we get a glimmer of hope, and then we are buried under the weight of our problems once again.

God, deliver us. We know that you love us and you will give us strength for today. Yes, you are our fortress, strong and mighty, dependable. And your resolutions to our angst are always in your perfect timing. We trust you. We thank you that you have sent your Son, Jesus to carry our burdens. So, we give them to you today.

And then, Father, we open our hands to receive all that you have for us in return. Peace. Rest. Grace. Joy. Hope.

We sing of your strength! We celebrate your love. You are our refuge in times of trouble. We can rely on you. Always. Thank you. Thank you.

In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 58.

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

We are thankful for your justice which is faithful and true. And we are thankful that even the wicked have an opportunity for forgiveness. For if they didn’t have a chance at grace, neither would we. Yes, all have sinned and fall short of your glory.

Yet, today, we can rejoice because there is one hope for all of us. There is room at your Throne of Grace for everyone because of Jesus. And while the Psalmist says good people are rewarded, we confess before you today that the only way we are seen as good in your eyes is because of the work of Jesus on the cross.

So, even the lions, even the cobras, even the regular church-goer and nonattender alike, receive the word from the judge’s desk. We are innocent, our sins are removed, as we seek forgiveness we will receive the grace offered to us by Jesus.

We are humbled to be given such a favor, for we know that all sin is equal sin. Yet, for those who believe, we will receive an inheritance that we cannot fathom. So, we thank you, God,  for your kindness to those who believe.

We proclaim today that we believe, in Jesus and through Jesus, the hope of our salvation, the righter of wrongs, the Lord of lords and the King of kings.

Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 57.

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

You are the One we run to. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Today we proclaim that in You, we can find shelter from the storms we face in life. You will keep us safe. We rest in your arms as a chick finds protection under the outstretched wings of a hen. You are our protector because you love us so – it’s greater than anything we can imagine. You are faithful and true.

You defend us, even from what might be the lions in our lives, people who chew up people for sport, You are with us. When our bosses and rivals and even family members wear us down with demands or insults, You are with us. We pray you will cover the earth with Your glory!

We thank you for bringing us victories, especially the victory over death itself. We will praise you always! We worship you in the morning. We worship you at midday. We worship you at sunset.

Your love is great. If one could measure it, it would be higher than Mt. Everest. And your faithfulness? It would extend way beyond the clouds. We cannot fathom how much you love us.

Except we know that you sent your Son Jesus to us. Because you love us. And it blows our minds. We humbly respond by telling you that we love you too. And we thank you. Yes, we thank you.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 56.

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

Be merciful to us. It seems that each day someone has something bad to say about us. Or worse. They attack with words and actions. Yet, even in those times, when we’re afraid or paralyzed, we will trust in your unfailing love. No one will harm us when we rest in the shadow of your wings.

We hear of people who don’t even know us, but take our words and twist them to try to find fault with us. God, bring your righteous judgement. Yet, bring your grace as well.

Some nights we fall asleep in tears. We are comforted to be reminded that you count every single tear we shed. When our hearts are heavy, you are there. When we toss and turn during a sleepless night, you are there. We our mind wonders in self doubt, you are there.

So, we praise you today. Your promises are true. We are fearless because you are with us. We thank you with all our hearts. You have kept our feet from stumbling. Yes, now we walk with you, side by side, following your path that leads to an eternal life, with an eternal light, who is the Lamb of God. Even Jesus, our King.

In His name we pray. Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 55.

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

Sometimes the stuff of this world is just too much, Lord. Sometimes, our situations bring fear and confusion. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by tasks and troubles. Sometimes we just want to get away from all of it, to retreat to a cabin in the woods or a peaceful slice of the beach.

Yet, we know that often the best thing we can do in those times is to persevere and endure in our suffering. For, as Paul wrote in Romans 5, suffering leads to perseverance, perseverance leads to character, and character produces in us hope. And, indeed, we have an amazing, unshakable hope in you, oh God.

Even when we look around and see violence in the cities along with trouble and evil. Deliver us from evil, God. May your Kingdom come to our towns, to our country, to this earth. Father, forgive even our closest friends who have turned their backs on you and do not know what they are doing. Forgive us, too.

Thank you for hearing our prayer. We trust in you. We are confident that you will rescue us, and turn our times of trouble into rejoicing in your good, in your glory. We proclaim with the psalmist that we belong to you and you will not let us fall. We trust you always,

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 54

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

Thank for saving us, oh God. You have looked on us, and because of Jesus, we are vindicated, we are acquitted. Thank you for hearing our prayers.

There are seasons when we feel like nothing is going our way. We seem to fail at everything and are weighed down by the evil one. Everywhere we look, defeat is on the horizon. But you will keep us from falling. You are our faithful friend. More than that, you, the One True God, are on our side! You are right here, helping us, sustaining us.

We thank you and worship you, oh King. We praise your name for you are good. You have delivered us from all our troubles. You have rescued us every time. So, we ask you to save us now. Today.

For your glory. Through Jesus, our Messiah. In whose name we pray.

Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald

Psalm 53

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.

The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.

God. Abba. Father.

We proclaim today that you are the One True God. That’s been a recurring theme, but it is where we place our confidence today. Yes, the fools may say “there is no God.” But we proclaim that we have seen your hand day after day. You have fed us by your hand and led us by your Spirit.

We do confess, however, that we are not good. There is no one who is good. Just one. Your Son. And so we thank you that you looked down from heaven, seeing only evil, and decided to intervene. We thank you for loving us so much that you sent your one and only Son, to die for us, because we are inherently evil, so that we might live forever. We thank you for your Son who has come to save Israel and the whole earth!

We choose today to not be like those who are corrupt, like those who are useless, imposters. No, we are your children, filled with your Holy Spirit and saved by the grace of Jesus. We rejoice in your blessings. We pray for those in our land, and in Israel, and around the globe. Thank you for sending your salvation to the people of this earth. May the world see and know and hear the Good News that we have accepted. May they receive their redemption as we have. Even today. Through Jesus. Our Master and Messiah.

In His name we pray, Amen.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald