Praying the Psalms: Sat, 18 Aug – Psalm 43 ~ you, O God, are our only safe place

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 43 (NLT)

Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars. For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies? Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: our hope is in you alone –

+ For you have revealed yourself to us in nature, through the law and prophets, and in these last days through your Son, Jesus Christ…
+ For you have reconciled us to yourself, through the forgiveness of our sin; for while we we yet sinners, Christ died for us…
+ For you have sustained us by the power of your Word and Spirit, and your light and truth have guided us and set us on the path of life…
+ For you have placed eternity in our hearts through faith in Jesus Christ, and given us a hope of glory that will not disappoint us…

O Lord our God: our hope is in you alone; you are our safe place. In you we trust. Amen.
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“Send out Your Light (Psalm 43)” – Sandra McCracken

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Fri, 17 Aug – Psalm 42 ~ I long for you, O God

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 42 (NLT)

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you — even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

“O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: only you can satisfy the cravings of our souls –

+ For you alone are worthy of our worship and devotion…
+ For you alone are good and just in everything you do…
+ For you alone forgive our sins and restore our souls…
+ For you alone fill us with everlasting joy and contentment…
+ For you alone sustain us in times of affliction…

O Lord our God: help us to exercise the necessary spiritual discipline to satisfy our longings –

+ That we might diligently study your Word…
+ That we might ponder the meaning of your Word for our lives…
+ That we might pray your Word into our lives and glorify your name…
+ That we might fix our eyes on heaven and the certainty of eternal life…

O Lord our God: thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus Christ, the bread of life come down from heaven, that the hunger of our souls might be satisfied, and that we might be raised to eternal life on the last day. Amen.
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“Psalm 42” – Sojourner Music

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Thu, 16 Aug – Psalm 41 ~ Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 41 (NLT)

Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!

The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
The Lord protects them and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies.
The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.

“O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

But my enemies say nothing but evil about me. “How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask. They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere. All who hate me whisper about me, imagining the worst. “He has some fatal disease,” they say. “He will never get out of that bed!” Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.

Lord, have mercy on me. Make me well again, so I can pay them back! I know you are pleased with me, for you have not let my enemies triumph over me. You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you have always kept the poor and needy close to your heart; give us a generous spirit that we might do the same.

+ Give us eyes to see the truly needy among us…
+ Give us discernment to know how best to use our resources…
+ Give us gratitude to give as freely as we have received…
+ Give us purity of heart to give without expectation of reward…

O Lord our God: thank you for the blessings we have received –

+ For the strength of character derived from self-denial…
+ For the encouragement of those who have felt abandoned…
+ For your justice and relief in times of trouble…

O Lord our God: forgive our sins and shortcomings –

+ For we have failed in love and duty…
+ For we have given to others with strings attached…
+ For we expect to be treated better than your Son, Jesus Christ…

O Lord our God: have mercy on us and in your kindness restore us in body, mind, and spirit that we may perfectly serve you and worthily glorify your name – through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you,one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Psalm 41” – Choir of St. John’s, Elora

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Wed, 15 Aug – Psalm 40 ~ a hymn of praise

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 40 (NLT)

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”

I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles surround me—too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.

Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: we praise your holy name –

+ For you rescued us when we faced destruction
+ For you delivered us when we faced bondage
+ For you saved us when we faced condemnation

O Lord our God: shape us in the image of your Son, Jesus Christ –

+ That we might submit our wills to your will
+ That we might live as your faithful servants
+ That we might be thankful in every circumstance

O Lord our God: place a song in our hearts and fill us with joy that the whole world may know that your Son, Jesus Christ, is Lord to the glory and honor of your name. Amen.
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“A Song of Thanksgiving” (Psalm 40) – U2’s “40”

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: Tue, 14 Aug – Psalm 39 ~ our days are numbered

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 39 (NLT)

I said to myself,

“I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.”

But as I stood there in silence—not even speaking of good things—the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me. I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you. But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand. When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath.

Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest—a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me. Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you are good and just; even though your ways are beyond our understanding. We are perplexed – the wicked prosper and the righteous are afflicted; and yet, you are the sovereign God, the ruler of all. Help us understand –

+ When will our sufferings end? Will death be our only relief?
+ Our lives are so brief and fleeting; what’s it all about?
+ Why do we wok hard all our lives; only to see it vanish?

O Lord our God: you are good and just; even though your ways are beyond our understanding. Our hope is on you –

+ Unfold your good purpose for us as we wait for you.
+ Deliver us from our transgressions and renew our strength.
+ Teach us self-restraint as we appeal to your mercy.
+ Show us how to live as sojourners in this present life.

O Lord our God: you are good and just; and you have given us your Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins and to lead us to our eternal home. This is all too wonderful for us to understand,; and yet, by faith we hold on to him as our certain hope for now and for ever. Amen.
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“Psalm 39” – The Women of the East Tennessee State University Chorale