Psalm 137

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 137:

God. Abba. Father.

There are seasons when we walk in great pain. When others have hurt us with both words and actions. And all we do is weep.

May we remember our sorrow as a time of your comforting presence, for you are always with us. When friends or family have passed away, may we recall that you mourn with us. When we have been attacked, or we carry the burden of a loved one who has faced challenging times, may we be assured that you have also suffered greatly. You urge us to recover our lives with you, to allow you to carry our burdens, to find rest in your loving arms of grace. Your perfect peace is as close as our next breath.

You are the great I Am. You are the One True God. You are the holy judge. Give us confidence to believe you will sort out the evil from the righteous. Your design is that we will all walk with you forever. Yet there are some who turn their backs on your mercy. May you deal with them as you see fit. We will trust your scales of justice.

We pray for peace to prevail in Jerusalem. We pray for our children and our children’s children. May your blessing be upon them all.

We thank you for your grace and forgiveness, for we deserve neither. We love you Lord.

We thank you for Jesus.

In His name,

Amen.

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 136

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 136:

God. Abba. Father.

Thank you, Lord, that your love never fails. Like a waterfall, your love goes on forever. Your love never quits. Your love never ceases. You don’t give up. You don’t resign. You don’t forget your promises to us. Our friends, our family, our co-workers, our neighbors might abandon us in a nanosecond. But you won’t ever drop us.

You are the One True God. You will always be on our side. You are always for us. Thank you.

As the psalmist remembers your faithfulness in the Ancient Days, we choose to recall your goodness to us. When we were young and needed someone to care for us, you gave us parents. They weren’t perfect, but you took care of us through them. When we yearned to be taught, you gave us teachers. They too were flawed, but your instruction is what is written on our hearts. When we needed work, you gave us jobs. Sometimes those assignments were at the bottom of the career ladder, but you provided more than enough. When we were perplexed, you gave us clarity. When we were hungry, you fed us. When our hearts longed for companionship, you gave us spouses and caring friends. When we were angry or depressed, you have given us your perfect peace.

When we examine closely our journey, we see that you have performed supernatural miracles on our behalf, just as you did for the family of Israel in Ancient Times. You have stretched out your loving arms of grace for us. You have brought us through seasons of great storms and choppy waters. You have led us through our deserts or times of confusion as we wandered through our own wilderness.

You were with us when we have had plenty and when we have had little. You have rescued us when we were bound up by our enemies or our own foolish choices. Yes, you have set us free!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Your love is generous. It is gracious. It is kind. You are so good to us.

We praise you today.

Through Jesus.

Amen.  

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 135

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 135:

God. Abba. Father.

We worship you and praise your name today. We invite all who serve you in homes, in markets, in schools, in hospitals, in governments, in businesses, in fields, in cities, in ministries, and in houses of worship to join the crowds who bow before you. You have chosen us, your children, to be your very own people.

You are the One True God. You are greater than any other. You move as you see fit. You control nature and the weather. You bring spring rains and autumn frosts. From the first act of creation, speaking to establish the heavens and the earth, to today, you are the all-powerful. You are mighty and answerable to no one. You moved governments and people in the Ancient Days so that your will would be done. Your amazing miracles, signs, and wonders delivered your children from evil.

Do it again, Lord. In your perfect timing, bring your Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. Your name is eternal. You were in the beginning, you are here today, you will always be. Thank you for your kind and gentle compassion towards us. You hold our hands. You guide us. Every single day. Thank you!

Forgive us when we worship things above you. Those idols have no life. They offer no hope. They are just stuff. You are spirit and you are life. You are love and you are light. You are bread from heaven and living water. You are all-powerful and you are holy. You are truth and you are justice. You are infinite and you are eternal. You are love and you are joy. We trust you. We worship you.

We sing hallelujah! We praise you!

Because of Jesus,

Amen.

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 134

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 134:

God. Abba. Father.

We worship you today.

Thank you for always being present. No matter where we are. No matter when we worship. No matter who is offering praise. You are always available. You love to converse with us. You are worthy to be praised.

We lift our hands in complete surrender. Teach us how to live fully trusting you, Abba. We give you our spouses, our children, our family and friends. We give you our work or our school. We give you our hopes and our dreams. We give you our judgments and our critiques. We give you our calendars and checkbooks. We give you our communities of faith and small groups. We give you our times of rest and times of play. Teach us how to care for our hearts and our souls.

Thank you for your wisdom and counsel. No matter our situation, you offer a path. We trust you to lead.

You are the Maker of heaven and earth! Thank you for blessing us.

Through Jesus our Messiah.

Amen.

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 133

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 133:

God. Abba. Father.

Today we thank you for our spiritual family. You can take people from all walks of life, with varied backgrounds, from all over the world, and bring them together as a family. Only you can do that.

It is special. It is an anointing.  You have set aside people in this world with whom we can have extraordinary relationships. Thank you for community. We cannot live without friends with whom we can share deeply. Thank you for encouraging words, unconditional love, and shoulders to cry upon.

It is life giving. Thank you for putting people in our lives who will challenge us, teach us, and hold us accountable for our actions. We cannot grow into maturity without people who will put their arm around us and guide us.

You have created us to be together with one another. Please give us unique friendships. Ones that are deeper than blood relatives. Ones where we flourish side by side. And please give us mentors that will pour their wisdom and experience into us. Allow us to do the same for others who may be less seasoned than we are.

It is good. It is pleasant. It is wonderful. It is beautiful. It is as you have planned. Thank you for friends.

Thank you for the greatest friend we have. The One who gave his life for us. Jesus.

In his name we pray.

Amen.

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 132

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 132:

God. Abba. Father.

We thank you for promises kept. King David made many promises. He was faithful to keep most of them. But like all of us, he stumbled, failed, schemed, and hid. Forgive us when we veer from your prescribed path. Forgive us when we sin.

Thank you for the wonderful gift of grace at the hand of Jesus!

Thank you for keeping your promises to all of us, God. Yes, Jesus is the living king of Israel. You have kept that promise made to David that one of his sons would remain on the worldly throne. You have blessed all of us. You have provided for our daily food, shelter, and clothing. We are all victorious! And for all who bow before you, a jeweled and glistening crown awaits us in glory.

Thank you for keeping your promises to us.

You never leave us. You are as close to us as a whispered prayer.

You are faithful. You guard us and guide us.

You are our protector. We will never be defeated.

You have given us life, and life to the full. Eternal life begins again with each new dawn.

You will always comfort us. Even when we are overwhelmed or feel oppressive grief or heartache.  

You have redeemed us with the outstretched arms of our Messiah, Jesus. You have healed the broken hearted. You have given us eyes to see your glory and your truth. You have set us free.

Thank you for these and many more promises kept. We can trust you. We do trust you. We sing for joy!

Because of Jesus.

Amen!

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 131

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 131:

God. Abba. Father.

Let us be content today. Keep our eyes fixed on you, your great love for us, and what you have done for us. You have given us more than we need. Even more than we can imagine. With your Holy Spirit in us, we get to breathe deeply in your well of life, and life to the fullest. We can be completely satisfied by just being in your presence. Thank you.

We long to be with you. It is where we find matchless joy and rest. Give us opportunities to step away from the noise and the busyness of our schedules and, like a child, sit in your lap, Abba. Your perfect peace, your Shalom, is such a precious gift. We open our hands and our hearts today to receive it.

We trust you. Our hope is in you alone. You are the One True God. We love you and we thank you for special moments just being with you. They are more valuable than any earthly treasure.

Thank you Jesus.

Amen.

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 130

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 130:

God. Abba. Father.

There are some days when we feel like we have hit the bottom. There’s nowhere to go but up, but we can’t seem to find a hold on anything. Life is slipping away. We stare up with hands on our hips in wonder. Are you there, God? Hear our cries for help.

We know you are right here in this pit with us. You hear our cries. You put your arms around us. There is no one who cares more about this dry cistern we are stuck in than you. If you kept score of our failures, of the number of times we have ended up at the bottom, we would never get out. Yet thankfully, you do not keep a tally. There is no jumbotron or scoreboard in heaven. Thanks to the work of Jesus on the cross, your specialty is grace and forgiveness. Our minds nor our hearts can comprehend the vastness of your love and compassion.

You are here. We trust in you. We hope in you. We know you have the means to lead us to the way that leads to our freedom. So, lead on, great King! We watch. We wait. The clock ticks. The sweat drips. The heart races. We are nervous. Yet we keep on trusting. We keep on hoping. We keep on watching. We will see the dawn of a new day! We will discover the beauty of your restoring and making all things new. Thank you.

We are humbled by your love for us. It takes us to our knees. Everything you create you have a plan to redeem. You will rescue us. You will heal our broken hearts. You will set us free. This pit will be a thing of the past! With mercy and power and grace and forgiveness and joy… you will do it!

We bow before you with great thanksgiving. For you have done it. It is finished. Our deliverance is here. Our perfect peace has come at the hand of the Prince of Peace and the King of kings.

Jesus.

In His name we pray.

Amen.

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 129

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 129:

God. Abba. Father.

Today we thank you for Israel and its special place in your heart. The people of The Land have suffered greatly throughout the years. Most of its neighboring nations would prefer that Israel not exist. Yet God. You have protected this special place. You have kept The Land safe.

Most who live there honor your name. Bless them. And to those who would welcome its demise, only you know their hearts. May you bring your holy judgment. In your time.

Our prayer is that there would be peace throughout The Land. From the lush plains of the Shephelah, to the desert around the Salt Sea. From the northern-most Mt. Hermon to the fertile crescent and the Galilee. From the metropolitan cities along the Mediterranean to the villages along the Jordan River. Bring your grace. Bring your truth.

Thank you for this special place. Yet, let us also be reminded that while our savior walked the dusty roads of Jerusalem he lives in our hearts, in the lives of those who have bowed their knee to the infant son born in Bethlehem, who is our risen King!

Jesus!

Amen.

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.

Psalm 128

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Here is today’s prayer from Psalm 128:

God. Abba. Father.

We walk in obedience to you and your word. You have promised to bless those who follow “the straight and narrow.” By your Holy Spirit we have endeavored to respect and honor and obey you. So, we humbly open our hands and our hearts to receive what you have for us: Grace. Goodness. Blessing. Happiness. Joy. Abundant harvest. Thank you, dear Father, for taking care of us, your children.

Thank you for family. For wives and husbands and children. For grandparents, aunts, and uncles. The family is a special place. Fill our homes with your grace and your peace. Give us patience and understanding. We thank you for the word picture that for those whose households serve you and honor your name, you have ordained a rich harvest of the choicest fruits and grains and new shoots of growth straight from the deepest roots.

This is a promise is for all who revere you, oh Yahweh.

Thank you.

We pray for your hand of blessing on Jerusalem and your people. And in our land as well. Thank you for calling us to your special place.

Thank you for a long life… one that lingers into grandparenthood. Yes, may we all enjoy the grace and life of many future generations. We thank you, again, for our family.

And for those who struggle with relationships, we ask for a special season of grace, peace, and understanding. May families find a place not just where they survive, but where they thrive under your loving hand.

Through Jesus.

Amen.

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.

(c) 2021. Rich Ronald.