Psalm 99

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 Lord, you are King! You rule from your throne above the winged creatures, as people tremble and the earth shakes. You are praised in Zion, and you control all nations. Only you are God! And your power alone, so great and fearsome, is worthy of praise. You are our mighty King, a lover of fairness, who sees that justice is done everywhere in Israel. Our Lord and our God, we praise you and kneel down to worship you, the God of holiness!

Moses and Aaron were two of your priests. Samuel was also one of those who prayed in your name, and you, our Lord, answered their prayers. You spoke to them from a thick cloud, and they obeyed your laws.

Our Lord and our God, you answered their prayers and forgave their sins, but when they did wrong, you punished them. We praise you, Lord God, and we worship you at your sacred mountain. Only you are God!

Only You are God!

Psalm 99

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 99:

God. Abba. Father.

Only you are God!

We start today with these great proclamations of truth: You are holy. You are our great King! You are in control. You are worthy of our praise. Let all the earth worship you. Let all the earth see your beauty.

History is filled with leaders who declared these same truths… Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. We thank you for those, even today, who speak boldly of your love and faithfulness. Give us the courage to share with others these truths that you are writing on our hearts.

We ask you to meet our needs today…  our physical, emotional, spiritual and mental needs. We trust that you hear our prayers. Give us ears to hear as you speak your answers… sometimes directly in your word… sometimes in the gentleness of creation… sometimes in the melody of a song… sometimes from the encouragement of a friend.

Thank you, Lord. We praise and worship you today! Only you are God.

Though Jesus,

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 98

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.

Sing a new song to the Lord! He has worked miracles, and with his own powerful arm, he has won the victory. The Lord has shown the nations that he has the power to save and to bring justice. God has been faithful in his love for Israel, and his saving power is seen everywhere on earth.

Tell everyone on this earth to sing happy songs in praise of the Lord. Make music for him on harps. Play beautiful melodies! Sound the trumpets and horns and celebrate with joyful songs for our Lord and King!

Command the ocean to roar with all of its creatures, and the earth to shout with all of its people. Order the rivers to clap their hands, and all of the hills to sing together. Let them worship the Lord! He is coming to judge everyone on the earth, and he will be honest and fair.

Tell everyone on this earth to sing happy songs in praise of the Lord… The rivers will clap their hands… and sing for joy!

Psalm 98:4, 8

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 98:

God. Abba. Father.

We sing a new song to you today, for it is a new day! We can begin afresh once again. Thank you! Today’s dawn is a new miracle, just one of billions and trillions you will perform in the next few hours. We praise you for the many victories you will give to your children today. You set the world right. You will save us. You are faithful. You love all your people, with a special fondness for the people of Israel and those who worship you in spirit and in truth throughout the world.

So, we shout for joy! We sing songs! We hum hymns! We celebrate with music and instruments! Why? Because you are the One True God!

Even the ocean and its rhythmic waves crashing on the shoreline, proclaim your goodness. Even the rivers with rapids that sparkle like diamonds, display your brilliance in deafening roars. Even the mountains, tall and majestic, declare your eminence. The world, your creation, calls to the Creator in worship and adoration. You are the judge. You bring peace. You bring reconciliation. You are our King!

We bow before you only because of Jesus.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 97

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.

The Lord is King! Tell the earth to celebrate and all islands to shout. Dark clouds surround him, and his throne is supported by justice and fairness. Fire leaps from his throne, destroying his enemies, and his lightning is so bright that the earth sees it and trembles. Mountains melt away like wax in the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens announce, “The Lord brings justice!” Everyone sees God’s glory. Those who brag about the useless idols they worship are terribly ashamed, and all the false gods bow down to the Lord.

When the people of Zion and of the towns of Judah hear that God brings justice, they will celebrate. The Lord rules the whole earth, and he is more glorious than all the false gods.

Love the Lord and hate evil! God protects his loyal people and rescues them from violence.  If you obey and do right, a light will show you the way and fill you with happiness. You are the Lord’s people! So celebrate and praise the only God.

The heavens announce that he’ll set everything right, and everyone will see it happen – glorious!

Psalm 97:6 MSG

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 97:

God. Abba. Father.

We proclaim today that we are your people, your children. We shout praises to your holy name!

You are King! You are the LORD, Yahweh, the great I Am. You are more powerful than anything in all the earth. You rule from a throne of grace, a throne supported by absolute truth and justice.  Your word says the Lamb of God reigns sovereign and there is no need for light in heaven because the Lamb is the light. It is with that intensity that your presence lights up the whole earth. Even the mountains will melt like candles in the brilliant sunshine when you descend in glory.

The heavens speak boldly that you bring justice. You make everything right. We will see your glory. Yes, when the tomb could no longer contain your Son, it burst forth with abundant life, wide open, to expose your great glory! We rejoice today! We bow before you, Lord.

We pray for those who do not worship you. May your Holy Spirit bring all of us to a place of total surrender to the perfect peace you have intended for all. We celebrate, we sing, for you are good and your love endures forever. You are the Most High above all gods.

We love you God. Give us boldness and courage to proclaim your truths and denounce all that is wicked and destructive. Thank you for keeping us safe. Thank you for delivering us from the evil one. Let your light shine in us and through us. Let your joy fill us to overflowing. We praise you God!

And we thank you for Jesus, our Messiah.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 96

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.

Sing a new song to the Lord! Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the Lord, sing and praise his name.

Day after day announce, “The Lord has saved us!” Tell every nation on earth, “The Lord is wonderful and does marvelous things! The Lord is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship. Other nations worship idols, but the Lord created the heavens. Give honor and praise to the Lord, whose power and beauty fill his holy temple.”

Tell everyone of every nation, “Praise the glorious power of the Lord. He is wonderful! Praise him and bring an of fering into his temple. Everyone on earth, now tremble and worship the Lord, majestic and holy.”

Announce to the nations, “The Lord is King! The world stands firm, never to be shaken, and he will judge its people with fairness.”

Tell the heavens and the earth to be glad and celebrate! Command the ocean to roar with all of its creatures and the fields to rejoice with all of their crops. Then every tree in the forest will sing joyful songs  to the Lord. He is coming to judge all people on earth with fairness and truth.

Even today, when our world appears to be on shaky ground, when politicians, lawmakers, physicians, kings, business leaders, or even clergy believe they are the answer, we say, “No! God is our only hope. God is the One True God. God is the judge. He will set everything right.”

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 96:

God. Abba. Father.

We sing a new song to you today! With each new dawn there is an opportunity to praise you! We worship you from north to south and east to west. We declare your greatness because you have saved us! May every people group throughout the globe hear that God is wonderful. He is good. He is great! He is worthy of our praise! He is the Creator, not the created. So, we give Him honor today.

He made the heavens. He made the oceans. He made the mountains. He made the meadows. He made the forests. He made the plains. He made the deserts. And he made each person who walks this Land. So, we shout from the bottom of our hearts: “The LORD, Yahweh, reigns! He is King! He rules the world!”

Even today, when our world appears to be on shaky ground, when politicians, lawmakers, physicians, kings, business leaders, or even clergy believe they are the answer, we say, “No! God is our only hope. God is the One True God. God is the judge. He will set everything right.”

And we thank you, Father, for wiping the slate clean. Yes, because of the sacrifice of Jesus once and for all, our sins are forgiven, and everyone of us has been granted access to your throne of grace. Thank you! Yes, you are the only way to seeing justice and freedom delivered to the nations and given to each of us personally.

So, let the trees of the forest sing for joy! And we will join in the chorus as well. You are the great I Am, the great judge. You rule the world!

Because of Jesus,

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 95

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.

Sing joyful songs to the Lord! Praise the mighty rock where we are safe. Come to worship him with thankful hearts and songs of praise.

The Lord is the greatest God, king over all other gods. He holds the deepest part of the earth in his hands, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The ocean is the Lord’s because he made it, and with his own hands, he formed the dry land.

Bow down and worship the Lord our Creator! The Lord is our God, and we are his people, the sheep he takes care of in his own pasture.

Listen to God’s voice today! Don’t be stubborn and rebel as your ancestors did at Meribah and Massah out in the desert. For forty years they tested God and saw the things he did. Then God got tired of them and said, “You never show good sense, and you don’t understand what I want you to do.” In his anger, God told them,
“You people will never enter my place of rest.”

Why do we sing? Because you oh great King are the One True God. There is none like you.

Psalm 95

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 95:

God. Abba. Father.

We sing with great joy before you today! You are our rock. You are our salvation. Why do we sing? Because you oh great King, are the One True God. There is none like you. You are the Creator. Every single blade of grass gets its life from you. Every drop of saltwater in the oceans fell at your command. Every mountain goat that scampers to the highest peak does so because you gave it the ability to skip with firm footing.

Why do we sing? Why do we worship and, yes, even fall on our knees before you? Because you oh great King gave us breath. You formed us. You have guided us. You have been our shepherd to lead us to streams of living water for refreshment and meadows of green for rest. We are being cared for each and every day by you, God — the mighty and great LORD. And we are humbled by your love for us, your children.

We are encouraged today to listen to you. To bend our ears to heaven to hear your voice. We pause and silence the clutter of everything else… the dinging texts, the demanding coworker, even the chatter in the next room. We suppress all the noise. We focus on you. We wait patiently and concentrate. Speak to us.

Let us not be like the ancestors of old who hardened their hearts to your grace and provision. No, we open our hands and our souls to all that you have for us.

We worship your holy name because of the most wonderful sound ever heard… the rolling of a rock from the entrance of the tomb. And the footsteps of your Son walking out.

And it is in His name we pray.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 94

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.

Lord God, you punish the guilty. Show what you are like and punish them now. You judge the earth. Come and help us! Pay back those proud people for what they have done. How long will the wicked celebrate and be glad?

All of those cruel people strut and boast, and they crush and wound your chosen nation, Lord. They murder widows, foreigners, and orphans. Then they say, “The Lord God of Jacob doesn’t see or know.”

Can’t you fools see? Won’t you ever learn? God gave us ears and eyes! Can’t he hear and see? God instructs the nations and gives knowledge to us all. Won’t he also correct us? The Lord knows how useless our plans really are.

Our Lord, you bless everyone that you instruct and teach by using your Law. You give them rest from their troubles, until a pit can be dug for the wicked. You won’t turn your back on your chosen nation. Justice and fairness will go hand in hand, and all who do right will follow along.

Who will stand up for me against those cruel people? If you had not helped me, Lord, I would soon have gone to the land of silence. When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.  But you are opposed to dishonest lawmakers who gang up to murder innocent victims.

You, Lord God, are my fortress, that mighty rock where I am safe. You will pay back my enemies, and you will wipe them out for the evil they did.

If God hadn’t been there for me, I never would have made it.

Psalm 94:17

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 94:

God. Abba. Father.

Thank you for your righteous judgment. Thank you for your moral truths that lead us and guide us. To those who flaunt your holiness, who oppress the weak and bring destruction to the faithful, we would join with the psalmist and say, “punish the wicked.”

And yet, Jesus says “forgive them for they know not what they do.” Thank you for sending Jesus to offer every single one of us your great grace. For in our own ways, we also deserve your wrath. Yet, you offer forgiveness.

We look to you to teach us. We open our ears to hear your mercy in the sound of blood drops falling from the cross. We open our eyes to see your compassion in the brilliant light of the empty tomb. We bow before you. Thank you for not rejecting us. Thank you that you will never forsake us.

Yes, you bless everyone who turns to you for guidance. You bless each of us who find instruction in your word. You give us rest when we are weary. You reach out your hand to help us overcome great obstacles. If you, oh God, hadn’t been there for us, we would have never made it this far. When we are slipping, falling, hopelessly trying to make it on our own, you are quick to support us, to catch us, to lift us up! When we are anxious, you comfort us with your perfect peace and your great joy.

You are our steady rock, our fortress. We are always, always, always safe in your arms.

Thank you for sending us your tangible peace through Jesus.

It is in His name we offer this prayer today. Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 93

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 Lord, you are King! Majesty and power are your royal robes. You put the world in place, and it will never be moved. You have always ruled, and you are eternal.

The ocean is roaring, Lord! The sea is pounding hard. Its mighty waves are majestic, but you are more majestic, and you rule over all. Your decisions are firm, and your temple will always be beautiful and holy

We praise you because you are our perfect peace.

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 93

God. Abba. Father.

You are our great King. You are crowned with a crown that includes the world and all that is in. Your robes flow from north to south. You are the master, the creator. You are strength. You put the world in its place. It will never be shaken.

Because of your great love for us, for your children, we too will never be shaken. Even though the mighty oceans roar. Even though the tempest of the seas stirs. Even when we face our own storms, you speak the words “Peace. Be still.” and they listen. Yes, even our personal turmoil, when the waves of our circumstances crash down around us, your calm is at hand because the storms obey your words.

We praise you because you are our perfect peace. You are holy. Now into eternity, which has no end.

Thank you!

By the word of Jesus,

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 92

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.

It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises, Lord Most High! It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are.  I enjoy praising your name to the music of harps because everything you do makes me happy, and I sing joyful songs.

You do great things, Lord. Your thoughts are too deep for an ignorant fool to know or understand. Though the wicked sprout and spread like grass, they will be pulled up by their roots. But you will rule over all of us forever, and your hateful enemies will be scattered and then destroyed.

You have given me the strength of a wild ox, and you have chosen me to be your very own. My eyes have seen, and my ears have heard the doom and destruction of my terrible enemies.

Good people will prosper like palm trees, and they will grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. They will take root in your house, Lord God, and they will do well. They will be like trees that stay healthy and fruitful, even when they are old. And they will say about you, “The Lord always does right! God is our mighty rock.”

We will proclaim that you, mighty God, are our rock, our firm foundation. You always do right.

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 92:

God. Abba. Father.

You are magnificent and it is a joy to praise you this morning and this evening! Day after day we proclaim that you are love and you are faithful. So, we sing to you today! Indeed, everything you do makes us happy. We delight in the work of your hands. Thank you for using people around the globe to deliver your grace and your love.

Those who do not know you do not know of your great kindness. That is tragic, actually. For those who turn their backs on you will ultimately be destroyed, ruined, like dust in the wind.

Yet, we thank you that we can count on you to strengthen us, even when we feel weak or defeated. We can be courageous through our faith and by your strong hand. You, Lord, are exalted forever. Yes, we will flourish, we will prosper like tall and mighty trees that offer shade to the weary and fruit to the hungry. Yes, we will be healthy in our old age. As we stay connected to you, by your hand and through your grace, we will produce fruit that will last for all eternity. Let us be reminded that apart from you, we can do nothing.

We will proclaim that you, mighty God, are our rock, our firm foundation. You always do right.

We praise your name. Even the name of Jesus.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 90

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 Lord, in all generations
    you have been our home.
2 You have always been God—
    long before the birth
    of the mountains,
    even before you created
    the earth and the world.

3 At your command we die
    and turn back to dust,
4     but a thousand years
    mean nothing to you!
They are merely a day gone by
    or a few hours in the night.

5 You bring our lives to an end
    just like a dream.
We are merely tender grass
6     that sprouts and grows
in the morning,
    but dries up by evening.
7 Your furious anger frightens
    and destroys us,
8 and you know all of our sins,
    even those we do in secret.

9 Your anger is a burden
each day we live,
    then life ends like a sigh.
10 We can expect seventy years,
or maybe eighty,
    if we are healthy,
    but even our best years
    bring trouble and sorrow.
Suddenly our time is up,
    and we disappear.
11 No one knows the full power
    of your furious anger,
    but it is as great as the fear
    that we owe to you.
12 Teach us to use wisely
    all the time we have.

13 Help us, Lord! Don’t wait!
    Pity your servants.
14 When morning comes,
    let your love satisfy
    all our needs.
Then we can celebrate
    and be glad for what time
    we have left.
15 Make us happy for as long
    as you caused us trouble
    and sorrow.
16 Do wonderful things for us,
    your servants,
    and show your mighty power
    to our children.
17 Our Lord and our God,
    treat us with kindness
    and let all go well for us.
    Please let all go well!

Teach us to make every day count. Let us celebrate you each morning with great joy. Let us count our blessings today.

Here is today’s prayer:

Psalm 90

God. Abba. Father.

We rejoice for you have always been our shelter, our home. Before time began, you were and you are the One True God. We worship you today.

Time is so different for you, compared to our life’s journey. To you, a single day and a thousand years are the same. You have numbered our days. We are born. We die. In the days before you gave the world your son, those who walked the earth then feared your anger each day of their lives. Today, thanks to your favor, we know that our life is an eternal life… our time on earth is just the beginning of forever for each one of us.

Teach us to make every day count. Let us celebrate you each morning with great joy! Let us count our blessings today. Let us look with gratitude on the days we have lived. Like the ocean waves that never cease, let us remember your great love — extended to us through our life experiences, our family and friends, to our times of worship to you, our great King; your faithfulness will extend throughout all eternity. We confess that it’s difficult for us to get our head around that, but we trust you and we look forward to an endless season in your presence.

We ask that you give us happiness and true joy today, and for the rest of our days on earth, as we trust in you. We pray you will show us your power and your unfailing love. Treat us with kindness. May the work of our hands bring you glory. Give us your peace.

Through Jesus we pray.

Amen.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.