Tag: Psalm 31

Holy Week: Holy Saturday Prayer, 03 Apr 2021 – Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24; Psalm 31; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66 ~ My hope is in Jesus!

Holy Week: Holy Saturday Prayer, 03 Apr 2021

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

Opening:

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the
crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested
on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming
of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud
and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock.
And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.“
(Matthew 27:59-60)

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Great Is Thy Faithfulness | Maranatha!

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OT Reading: Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24 (ESV)

Great Is Your Faithfulness

3:1 I am the man who has seen affliction
under the rod of his wrath;
2 he has driven and brought me
into darkness without any light;
3 surely against me he turns his hand
again and again the whole day long.

4 He has made my flesh and my skin waste away;
he has broken my bones;
5 he has besieged and enveloped me
with bitterness and tribulation;
6 he has made me dwell in darkness
like the dead of long ago.

7 He has walled me about so that I cannot escape;
he has made my chains heavy;
8 though I call and cry for help,
he shuts out my prayer;
9 he has blocked my ways with blocks of stones;
he has made my paths crooked.

3:19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!
20 My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

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Psalms: Psalm 31

Father, Into Your Hands – Francesca LaRosa

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NT Reading: 1 Peter 4:1-8 (ESV)

Stewards of God’s Grace

4 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

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Gospel Reading: Matthew 27:57-66 (ESV)

Jesus Is Buried

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

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All My Hope – Crowder – ft. Tauren Wells

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Prayer:

+ Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ O God of the living, on this day your Son our Savior descended to the place of the dead: Look with kindness on all of us who wait in hope for liberation from the corruption of sin and death, and give us a share in the glory of the children of God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

+ Christ as a light, illumine and guide us. Christ as a shield, overshadow us. Christ under us; Christ over us; Christ beside us on our left and our right. This day be within and without us, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom we speak; in the mouth of each who speaks to us. This day be within and without us, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside us on our left and our right.
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Blessing

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

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

Tuesday of The 3rd Week of Easter, 28 April 2020 – John 6:30-35, Acts 7:51-8:1, Psalm 31 ~ “I am the bread of life.”

Tuesday of The 3rd Week of Easter, 28 April 2020

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

Opening:

Almighty God, you gave your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly living: Give us grace to thankfully receive his inestimable benefits, and to daily follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.”

A Reading from the Gospels: John 6:30-35 (NLT)

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 7:51-8:1 (NLT)

The Stoning of Stephen

“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”

The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

Persecution Scatters the Believers

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
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Psalm 31 (You Are My Strength) – My Soul Among Lions

1  In You, Lord, I’ve taken refuge
Let me never be ashamed
In Your righteousness deliver
Hear as I beseech Your name

Be to me a rock of shelter
Where to run and safely hide
When the wicked’s nets entangle
Pull me out and be my guide

 

2  In You, Lord, I’ve taken refuge
Why must life be spent in tears?
Bones are weak and body’s wasted
Through the groans of bitter years

I’m a joke to them who hate You
I’m the horror of my friends
Some have even schemed and whispered
How to bring about my end

But, You are my strength
I trust to You my very soul
You are my strength
My life is under Your control

Save me, O God
In Your mercy be near
Save me, O God
For it’s You that I fear

Save me, O God
Who will ever be true
I put my trust in You

3  In You, Lord, I’ve taken refuge
For the sake of Your own name
Shine the light of favor on me
But the wicked put to shame

I hate all their filthy idols
And their tongues parading lies
Let them make their beds in sorrow
As for me, though, hear my cries

You are my strength
I trust to You my very soul
You are my strength
My life is under Your control

Save me, O God
In Your mercy be near
Save me, O God
For it’s You that I fear

Save me, O God
Who will ever be true
I put my trust in You
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Closing: Matthew 4:4

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

Praying the Psalms: Sat, 04 Aug – Psalm 31 ~ our future is in your hands

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 31 (NLT)

O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me for I find protection in you alone. I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

I hate those who worship worthless idols. I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within. I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors—even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street, they run the other way. I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot. I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave.  Silence their lying lips—those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack. In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.

Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: hear the cries of all your people suffering great hardship and persecution –

  • their enemies seek to entrap them
  • their enemies seek to destroy them
  • their enemies conspire against them
  • their enemies lie and slander them
  • their friends forget them
  • their strength fails them
  • they think you have abandoned them

O Lord our God: hear the cries of the remnant among your people who look to you for rescue and refuge –

  • you are their hope for protection
  • you are their redeemer from sin
  • you are their gracious advocate
  • you hold their lives in your hands
  • you remain faithful to your promises

O Lord our God: turn their weeping into songs of deliverance; fill their lives with goodness; pour out your loving-kindness upon them – that the whole world might know of your justice and mercy – 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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“Father, I Put My Life In Your Hands (Psalm 31)” – John Michael Talbot


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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!