Praying the Psalms: Fri, 10 Aug – Psalm 36 ~ the unfailing love of God

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.

Morning Reading: Psalm 36 (NLT)

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good. They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil.

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts. Don’t let the proud trample me or the wicked push me around. Look! Those who do evil have fallen! They are thrown down, never to rise again.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you are compassionate and rich in mercy. Save us from the deceitfulness of sin –

+ Give us pure hearts that give you the honor you deserve
+ Give us open hearts that recognize your goodness surrounding us
+ Give us willing hearts that seek to further your Kingdom purposes

O Lord our God: your faithfulness is limitless; it exceeds all of our expectations –

+ For your righteousness is displayed in all your judgments
+ For your loving-kindness is extended to every living thing
+ For your protection is given to all who take refuge in you
+ For your graciousness is extended to all who come to your table
+ For your life infuses our days us with a glimpse of eternity
+ For your light guides us and turns our darkness into dawning

O Lord our God: pour out your loving-kindness on your people –

+ That all who are honest might receive justice
+ That all who are upright might be vindicated
+ That your name might be glorifies throughout the earth

Through faith and trust in Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Your Love Oh Lord” (Psalm 36)” – Third Day

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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: Thu, 09 Aug – Psalm 35 ~ Fight for me, O Lord.

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.

Morning Reading: Psalm 35 (NLT)

O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say,

“I will give you victory!”

Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me. Blow them away like chaff in the wind—a wind sent by the angel of the Lord. Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me. So let sudden ruin come upon them!

Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!
Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.

Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me. With every bone in my body I will praise him:

“Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”

Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair. Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered. I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother. But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly. They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.

How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions! Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.

Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat.
Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.

They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business. They shout,

“Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!”

O Lord, you know all about this.

Do not stay silent.
Do not abandon me now, O Lord.

Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord. Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles. Don’t let them say,

“Look, we got what we wanted! Now we will eat him alive!”

May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor. But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say,

“Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!”

Then I will proclaim your justice, and I will praise you all day long.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord of heaven’s armies: hear the cries of your beleaguered people and fight for them. In your mercy –

+ Right the wrongs committed against us…
+ Expose and put to shame the evil-doers…
+ Listen to your people’s frustration…
+ Exceed all our expectations in your response…
+ Vindicate us according to your perfect will…
+ Move in righteousness and justice against our enemies…

O Lord our God: may your Kingdom come and your will be done, through Jesus Christ, your Son our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Contend” (Psalm 35) – Sons of Korah

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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, 08 Aug – Psalm 34 ~ praise the Lord at all times

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.

Morning Reading: Psalm 34 (NLT)

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you alone are worthy of our worship and praise. We pledge you our allegiance and trust in your loving-kindness and greatness to satisfy the desires of our hearts according to your good purpose for our lives.

+ Thank you, Lord, for answered prayer and freedom from fear…

+ Thank you, Lord, for your deliverance and help in times of trouble…

+ Thank you, Lord, for your protection and defense in times of danger…

+ Thank you, Lord, for your goodness and provision in times of uncertainty…

O Lord our God: give us courage and boldness to declare your mercy and kindness to all who will listen –

+ That they, too, may experience your mercy and goodness…

+ That they, too, may experience your beauty and joy…

+ That they, too, may experience your protection and provision…

+ That they, too, may experience your security and peace…

O Lord our God: you watch over the godly and hear us when we cry for help. Fill us with your Spirit –

+ That we might live honestly and uprightly…

+ That we might be live securely under your protection…

Through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Psalm 34” – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

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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, 07 Aug – Psalm 33 ~ sing for joy to the Lord

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.

Morning Reading: Psalm 33 (NLT)

Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.

The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.

The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.

What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you.

But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.

We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.
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Morning Prayer

Almighty God, Protector of your chosen people: we worship and praise your holy name –

+ For you are the Lord our God; you satisfy the desire of our hearts

+ For you are the living and true God; there is none like you

+ For you rule with righteousness; you shape us to become more like you

+ For you watch over us; we are your own inheritance our future is in your hands

Almighty God, Creator and Ruler of the world: our hope is in you; surround us with the loving-kindness of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Rejoice In The LORD O You Righteous” (Psalm 33) – Karl Kohlhase

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Praying the Psalms: Mon, 06 Aug – Psalm 32 ~ rejoice in sins forgiven

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.

Morning Reading: Psalm 32 (NLT)

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: you are merciful, gracious, and kind – you forgive the sins of all who come to you through your Son, Jesus Christ –

+ Without your forgiveness we are hopelessly lost –

for we have broken your commandments and sinned against you
for we have tried unsuccessfully to hide our sin, to repress our guilt
for we have been consumed by the dread of being exposed

+ With your forgiveness we are eternally blessed –

for when we confess our sins, our burden of guilt is lifted
for you forgive our sins and take them far away from us

O Lord our God: you forgive the sins all who turn to you in faith and repentance through your Son, Jesus Christ –

you cancel all accusations against us and free us from getting what we deserve
you put our sin out of sight and see instead the blood sacrifice of your Son
you acquit us completely and declare us righteous in your sight

O Lord our God: we rejoice in the wonder of your mercy and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ –

fill us with songs of deliverance, instead of consuming remorse
fill us with a new understanding of your protection and friendship
fill us with joyous praise and the freedom of belonging in your family

O Lord our God: break down the walls of resistance of guilty people who attempt to hide their sin; turn their hearts to you in repentance, faith and trust; and fill them with the joy of sins forgiven through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Happy The Man Whose Transgressions Are Forgiven (Psalm 32)” – Karl Kohlhase