Grace Church
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Thursday, August 17, 2023

Monday, October 14, 2024

Read

Psalm 130, Jonah 2, Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)

Psalm 130
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

From the depths of despair, O Lord,
    I call for your help.
Hear my cry, O Lord.
    Pay attention to my prayer.

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
    who, O Lord, could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness,
    that we might learn to fear you.

I am counting on the Lord;
    yes, I am counting on him.
    I have put my hope in his word.
I long for the Lord
    more than sentries long for the dawn,
    yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

O Israel, hope in the Lord;
    for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
    His redemption overflows.
He himself will redeem Israel
    from every kind of sin.

Jonah 2
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said,

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,
    and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
    and Lord, you heard me!
You threw me into the ocean depths,
    and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
    I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.
    Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’

“I sank beneath the waves,
    and the waters closed over me.
    Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
    I was imprisoned in the earth,
    whose gates lock shut forever.
But you, O Lord my God,
    snatched me from the jaws of death!
As my life was slipping away,
    I remembered the Lord.
And my earnest prayer went out to you
    in your holy Temple.
Those who worship false gods
    turn their backs on all God’s mercies.
But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise,
    and I will fulfill all my vows.
    For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”

Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
God’s Messenger (p.160)

Meditate

O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. (Psalm 130:7)


Pray

O God, You are my strength and my salvation. You heard my cry for help and have rescued me from the Enemy. Lord Jesus, You alone are victorious. You descended into my judgment and delivered me from the grave. All your promises prove true. I love You for Your unfailing love toward me. Enable me by Your Spirit to not grow weary of seeking Your kingdom but to fight the good fight. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 42: How is the Word of God to be Read and Heard?

Answer: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Read

Psalm 129, Isaiah 53:1-10, Philippians 2:5-11 (NLT)

Psalm 129
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.
    Let all Israel repeat this:
From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,
    but they have never defeated me.
My back is covered with cuts,
    as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
But the Lord is good;
    he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.

May all who hate Jerusalem
    be turned back in shameful defeat.
May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop,
    turning yellow when only half grown,
ignored by the harvester,
    despised by the binder.
And may those who pass by
    refuse to give them this blessing:
“The Lord bless you;
    we bless you in the Lord’s name.”

Isaiah 53:1-10
Who has believed our message?
    To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?
My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
    like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
    And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
    he did not open his mouth.
Unjustly condemned,
    he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
    that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
    for the rebellion of my people.
He had done no wrong
    and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
    he was put in a rich man’s grave.

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

Philippians 2:5-11
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Operation “No More Tears!” (p.144)

Meditate

He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (Isaiah 53:5)


Pray

O LORD how majestic is Your name in all the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens and your power is evident to all. You have shown us favor in Your Son and blessed us with every grace. Lord Jesus, we are in awe of your love and humility. Though you are very God you gave up your divine rights for our sake. Thank you for serving us through your life, death, and resurrection. Forgive us for thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. It is your name that is above every name. Enable us by Your Spirit to serve others like Christ. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 42: How is the Word of God to be Read and Heard?

Answer: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Read

Psalm 128, Exodus 20:1-17, Matthew 5:1-12 (NLT)

Psalm 128
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
    all who follow his ways!
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
    How joyful and prosperous you will be!
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
    flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
    as they sit around your table.
That is the Lord’s blessing
    for those who fear him.

May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
    May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
    May Israel have peace!

Exodus 20:1-17
Then God gave the people all these instructions:

“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

“You must not have any other god but me.

“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

“You must not murder.

“You must not commit adultery.

“You must not steal.

“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

Matthew 5:1-12
One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
    for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
    for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Ten Ways to Be Perfect (p.100)

Meditate

How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways! (Psalm 128:1)


Pray

Lord Jesus, you alone are our Redeemer. Forgive us for striving to keep the law in our own strength. Thank you for uniting yourself to us and delivering us from the penalty of the law and the power of sin. It is only by your work that we are set free. Enable us by Your Spirit to walk in the freedom that you have given us. Fill our hearts with love and gratitude for your grace. In your name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Friday, October 11, 2024

Read

Psalm 127, Deuteronomy 6:4-12, John 15:1-8 (NLT)

Psalm 127
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds a house,
    the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
    guarding it with sentries will do no good.
It is useless for you to work so hard
    from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
    for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
    He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

Deuteronomy 6:4-12
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

“The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”

Scripture Reference
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A Giant Staircase to Heaven (p.48)

Meditate

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)


Pray

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are the source of life. Every good thing I have has come from You. Forgive me for finding my joy more in Your gifts than in You, the Giver. Lord Jesus, you have united yourself to me and given me eternal life. Thank you for revealing to me the paths of life. Help me, Holy Spirit, to abide in your Word and to live the way of Christ’s Kingdom. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Read

Psalm 126, 2 Samuel 6:12-19, 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NLT)

Psalm 126
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,
    it was like a dream!
We were filled with laughter,
    and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
    “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
    What joy!

Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    as streams renew the desert.
Those who plant in tears
    will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
    but they sing as they return with the harvest.

2 Samuel 6:12-19
Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.

But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.

They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.

1 Peter 1:3-9
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A Dream of Heaven (p.342)

Meditate

Through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (1 Peter 1:5)


Pray

O God, You are my strength and my salvation. You heard my cry for help and have rescued me from the Enemy. Lord Jesus, You alone are victorious. You descended into my judgment and delivered me from the grave. All your promises prove true. I love You for Your unfailing love toward me. Enable me by Your Spirit to not grow weary of seeking Your kingdom but to fight the good fight. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Read

Psalm 125, Deuteronomy 32:7-13, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (NLT)

Psalm 125
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
    they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly,
    for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
O Lord, do good to those who are good,
    whose hearts are in tune with you.
But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord.
    Take them away with those who do evil.

May Israel have peace!

Deuteronomy 32:7-13
Remember the days of long ago;
    think about the generations past.
Ask your father, and he will inform you.
    Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you.
When the Most High assigned lands to the nations,
    when he divided up the human race,
he established the boundaries of the peoples
    according to the number in his heavenly court.

“For the people of Israel belong to the Lord;
    Jacob is his special possession.
He found them in a desert land,
    in an empty, howling wasteland.
He surrounded them and watched over them;
    he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.
Like an eagle that rouses her chicks
    and hovers over her young,
so he spread his wings to take them up
    and carried them safely on his pinions.
The Lord alone guided them;
    they followed no foreign gods.
He let them ride over the highlands
    and feast on the crops of the fields.
He nourished them with honey from the rock
    and olive oil from the stony ground.”

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Young Hero and the Horrible Giant (p.122)

Meditate

Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever. (Psalm 125:2)


Pray

Heavenly Father, You are my Rock and my Defender. Thank You for turning Your compassionate eyes to my great need. Forgive me for placing my hope in my own strength and not in Your grace. When I feel surrounded by the world, harassed by the Enemy, or tempted by my flesh, raise up the banner of Christ before my eyes and remind me of Your promises. In Him You have rescued me and will provide every need. As I await the day of final victory, enable me by Your Spirit to walk faithfully in the way of the cross. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Read

Psalm 124, Exodus 15:1-21, 2 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

Psalm 124
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

What if the Lord had not been on our side?
    Let all Israel repeat:
What if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us?
They would have swallowed us alive
    in their burning anger.
The waters would have engulfed us;
    a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
Yes, the raging waters of their fury
    would have overwhelmed our very lives.

Praise the Lord,
    who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
    The trap is broken, and we are free!
Our help is from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

Exodus 15:1-21
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord,
    for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
    into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.
This is my God, and I will praise him—
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
The Lord is a warrior;
    Yahweh is his name!
Pharaoh’s chariots and army
    he has hurled into the sea.
The finest of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.
The deep waters gushed over them;
    they sank to the bottom like a stone.

“Your right hand, O Lord,
    is glorious in power.
Your right hand, O Lord,
    smashes the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty,
    you overthrow those who rise against you.
You unleash your blazing fury;
    it consumes them like straw.
At the blast of your breath,
    the waters piled up!
The surging waters stood straight like a wall;
    in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard.

“The enemy boasted, ‘I will chase them
    and catch up with them.
I will plunder them
    and consume them.
I will flash my sword;
    my powerful hand will destroy them.’
But you blew with your breath,
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.

“Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—
    glorious in holiness,
awesome in splendor,
    performing great wonders?
You raised your right hand,
    and the earth swallowed our enemies.

“With your unfailing love you lead
    the people you have redeemed.
In your might, you guide them
    to your sacred home.
The peoples hear and tremble;
    anguish grips those who live in Philistia.
The leaders of Edom are terrified;
    the nobles of Moab tremble.
All who live in Canaan melt away;
    terror and dread fall upon them.
The power of your arm
    makes them lifeless as stone
until your people pass by, O Lord,
    until the people you purchased pass by.
You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain—
    the place, O Lord, reserved for your own dwelling,
    the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established.
The Lord will reign forever and ever!”

When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers rushed into the sea, the Lord brought the water crashing down on them. But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground!

Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. And Miriam sang this song:

“Sing to the Lord,
    for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
    into the sea.”

2 Peter 2:9
So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
God Makes a Way (p.92)

Meditate

The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials. (2 Peter 2:9)


Pray

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Monday, October 7, 2024

Read

Psalm 123, Lamentations 3:19-26, Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

Psalm 123
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

I lift my eyes to you,
    O God, enthroned in heaven.
We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
    just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
    as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
    for we have had our fill of contempt.
We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
    and the contempt of the arrogant.

Lamentations 3:19-26
The thought of my suffering and homelessness
    is bitter beyond words.
I will never forget this awful time,
    as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
    when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
    therefore, I will hope in him!”

The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
    to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly
    for salvation from the Lord.

Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Good Shepherd (p.130)

Meditate

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. (Lamentations 3:25)


Pray

O God, You are trustworthy and strong. I praise You for Your mighty rescue and intimate compassion toward me. You know the taunts of my Enemy and the details of my sorrow. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle and recorded each one in Your book. In Christ, I know that You will never forsake me. Enable me by Your Spirit to let vengeance be Yours and to love my enemy like Your Son. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Read

Psalm 122, 2 Samuel 7:8-16, Ephesians 2:11-22 (NLT)

Psalm 122
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now here we are,
    standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a well-built city;
    its seamless walls cannot be breached.
All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—
    make their pilgrimage here.
They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord,
    as the law requires of Israel.
Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
    the thrones of the dynasty of David.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
    May all who love this city prosper.
O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
    and prosperity in your palaces.
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
    “May you have peace.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 7:8-16
“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

Ephesians 2:11-22
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
God Sends Help (p.326)

Meditate

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. (Ephesians 2:20)


Pray

Our great God, You are holy. It is only by Your grace that we have been rescued from our sin and brought into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, You have cleansed us by Your sacrifice and made us holy in God’s sight. Thank You for giving your body and blood to establish the New Covenant. Forgive us for searching for our identity in the world. Help us to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple You have made us to be. We pray especially for our church family. May we seek out opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up. May Your mercies and excellencies be celebrated among us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Read

Psalm 121, Isaiah 49:8-12, Jude 24-25 (NLT)

Psalm 121
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

Isaiah 49:8-12
This is what the Lord says:

“At just the right time, I will respond to you.
    On the day of salvation I will help you.
I will protect you and give you to the people
    as my covenant with them.
Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel
    and assign it to its own people again.
I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’
    and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’
They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures
    and on hills that were previously bare.
They will neither hunger nor thirst.
    The searing sun will not reach them anymore.
For the Lord in his mercy will lead them;
    he will lead them beside cool waters.
And I will make my mountains into level paths for them.
    The highways will be raised above the valleys.
See, my people will return from far away,
    from lands to the north and west,
    and from as far south as Egypt.”

Jude 24-25
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. (Psalm 121:5)


Pray

God of all grace, You are Lord over the flood. I will not trust in my own strength but put my confidence in You. I know that You will not abandon me because You gave up Your only Son for my sake. In the midst of my struggles remind me that nothing, not even death, can separate me from Your love. Strengthen me with the truth that through trials you are making me more like Christ and that through him I will endure. Deepen my trust in Your will and help me to lift my eyes to you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Friday, October 4, 2024

Read

Psalm 120, Isaiah 30:23-29, 1 Peter 2:9-12 (NLT)

Psalm 120
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

I took my troubles to the Lord;
    I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
    and from all deceitful people.
O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
    How will he increase your punishment?
You will be pierced with sharp arrows
    and burned with glowing coals.

How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
    It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
I am tired of living
    among people who hate peace.
I search for peace;
    but when I speak of peace, they want war!

Isaiah 30:23-29
Then the Lord will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock. The oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat good grain, its chaff blown away by the wind. In that day, when your enemies are slaughtered and the towers fall, there will be streams of water flowing down every mountain and hill. The moon will be as bright as the sun, and the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days in one! So it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people and cure the wounds he gave them.

Look! The Lord is coming from far away,
    burning with anger,
    surrounded by thick, rising smoke.
His lips are filled with fury;
    his words consume like fire.
His hot breath pours out like a flood
    up to the neck of his enemies.
He will sift out the proud nations for destruction.
    He will bridle them and lead them away to ruin.

But the people of God will sing a song of joy,
    like the songs at the holy festivals.
You will be filled with joy,
    as when a flutist leads a group of pilgrims
to Jerusalem, the mountain of the Lord—
    to the Rock of Israel.

1 Peter 2:9-12
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

“Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Get Ready! (p.170)

Meditate

You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. (1 Peter 2:9)


Pray

Heavenly Father, You are my Rock and my Defender. Forgive me for placing my hope in my own strength and not in Your grace. I am surrounded by the world, harassed by the Enemy, and tempted by my flesh. Raise up the banner of Christ before my eyes and remind me of Your promises. In him, I will be victorious. Yet, as I await the day of final victory, enable me by Your Spirit to carry out the good works you have for me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Read

Psalm 119:145-176 (NLT)

Qoph

I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord!
    I will obey your decrees.
I cry out to you; rescue me,
    that I may obey your laws.
I rise early, before the sun is up;
    I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.
I stay awake through the night,
    thinking about your promise.
In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry;
    let me be revived by following your regulations.
Lawless people are coming to attack me;
    they live far from your instructions.
But you are near, O Lord,
    and all your commands are true.
I have known from my earliest days
    that your laws will last forever.

Resh

Look upon my suffering and rescue me,
    for I have not forgotten your instructions.
Argue my case; take my side!
    Protect my life as you promised.
The wicked are far from rescue,
    for they do not bother with your decrees.
Lord, how great is your mercy;
    let me be revived by following your regulations.
Many persecute and trouble me,
    yet I have not swerved from your laws.
Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart,
    because they care nothing for your word.
See how I love your commandments, Lord.
    Give back my life because of your unfailing love.
The very essence of your words is truth;
    all your just regulations will stand forever.

Shin

Powerful people harass me without cause,
    but my heart trembles only at your word.
I rejoice in your word
    like one who discovers a great treasure.
I hate and abhor all falsehood,
    but I love your instructions.
I will praise you seven times a day
    because all your regulations are just.
Those who love your instructions have great peace
    and do not stumble.
I long for your rescue, Lord,
    so I have obeyed your commands.
I have obeyed your laws,
    for I love them very much.
Yes, I obey your commandments and laws
    because you know everything I do.

Taw

O Lord, listen to my cry;
    give me the discerning mind you promised.
Listen to my prayer;
    rescue me as you promised.
Let praise flow from my lips,
    for you have taught me your decrees.
Let my tongue sing about your word,
    for all your commands are right.
Give me a helping hand,
    for I have chosen to follow your commandments.
O Lord, I have longed for your rescue,
    and your instructions are my delight.
Let me live so I can praise you,
    and may your regulations help me.
I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
    come and find me,
    for I have not forgotten your commands.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
God’s Messenger (p.160)

Meditate

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)


Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your Word. Though we are not deserving of Your grace, You have revealed Yourself to us and brought us peace through Your Son. In Him, You have been faithful to all of Your promises and made us right in Your sight. Thank You for demonstrating your unfailing love toward us sinners. Enable us by Your Spirit to remember the power of Your Word so that we might declare and demonstrate the Gospel among the nations. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Read

Psalm 119:113-144 (NLT)

Samekh

I hate those with divided loyalties,
    but I love your instructions.
You are my refuge and my shield;
    your word is my source of hope.
Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,
    for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
    Do not let my hope be crushed.
Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
    then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
    They are only fooling themselves.
You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
    no wonder I love to obey your laws!
I tremble in fear of you;
    I stand in awe of your regulations.

Ayin

Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies,
    for I have done what is just and right.
Please guarantee a blessing for me.
    Don’t let the arrogant oppress me!
My eyes strain to see your rescue,
    to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.
I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
    and teach me your decrees.
Give discernment to me, your servant;
    then I will understand your laws.
Lord, it is time for you to act,
    for these evil people have violated your instructions.
Truly, I love your commands
    more than gold, even the finest gold.
Each of your commandments is right.
    That is why I hate every false way.

Pe

Your laws are wonderful.
    No wonder I obey them!
The teaching of your word gives light,
    so even the simple can understand.
I pant with expectation,
    longing for your commands.
Come and show me your mercy,
    as you do for all who love your name.
Guide my steps by your word,
    so I will not be overcome by evil.
Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
    then I can obey your commandments.
Look upon me with love;
    teach me your decrees.
Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
    because people disobey your instructions.

Tsadhe

O Lord, you are righteous,
    and your regulations are fair.
Your laws are perfect
    and completely trustworthy.
I am overwhelmed with indignation,
    for my enemies have disregarded your words.
Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
    that is why I love them so much.
I am insignificant and despised,
    but I don’t forget your commandments.
Your justice is eternal,
    and your instructions are perfectly true.
As pressure and stress bear down on me,
    I find joy in your commands.
Your laws are always right;
    help me to understand them so I may live.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
He’s Here! (p.176)

Meditate

The Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:14)


Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the Word made flesh. We praise you for rescuing us from sin, defeating our greatest Enemy, and delivering us into your Kingdom. Forgive us for doing what is right in own eyes rather than heeding your Word written. Thank you for perfectly fulfilling the Law on our behalf and drawing us back into God’s holy presence. Enable us by Your Spirit to live as the holy people You have made us to be. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Read

Psalm 119:81-112 (NLT)


Kaph

I am worn out waiting for your rescue,
    but I have put my hope in your word.
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true.
    When will you comfort me?
I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke,
    but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.
How long must I wait?
    When will you punish those who persecute me?
These arrogant people who hate your instructions
    have dug deep pits to trap me.
All your commands are trustworthy.
    Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause.
They almost finished me off,
    but I refused to abandon your commandments.
In your unfailing love, spare my life;
    then I can continue to obey your laws.

Lamedh

Your eternal word, O Lord,
    stands firm in heaven.
Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
    as enduring as the earth you created.
Your regulations remain true to this day,
    for everything serves your plans.
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy,
    I would have died in my misery.
I will never forget your commandments,
    for by them you give me life.
I am yours; rescue me!
    For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me,
    I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Even perfection has its limits,
    but your commands have no limit.

Mem

Oh, how I love your instructions!
    I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
    for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
    for I am always thinking of your laws.
I am even wiser than my elders,
    for I have kept your commandments.
I have refused to walk on any evil path,
    so that I may remain obedient to your word.
I haven’t turned away from your regulations,
    for you have taught me well.
How sweet your words taste to me;
    they are sweeter than honey.
Your commandments give me understanding;
    no wonder I hate every false way of life.

Nun

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path.
I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
    I will obey your righteous regulations.
I have suffered much, O Lord;
    restore my life again as you promised.
Lord, accept my offering of praise,
    and teach me your regulations.
My life constantly hangs in the balance,
    but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
The wicked have set their traps for me,
    but I will not turn from your commandments.
Your laws are my treasure;
    they are my heart’s delight.
I am determined to keep your decrees
    to the very end.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Light of the Whole World (p.184)

Meditate

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)


Pray

Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we worship You. That the Infinite Creator would become a finite man is gloriously beyond our understanding. Deepen our faith. Lord Jesus, you are our Light - the rightful King. In you we see God Himself. Thank you for living among us out of love for us. Enable us by your Spirit to follow You and dwell with our neighbors with your same self-giving love. In your name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

The Light

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Monday, September 30, 2024

Read

Psalm 119:49-80 (NLT)

Zayin

Remember your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me;
    it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
    but I do not turn away from your instructions.
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
    O Lord, they comfort me.
I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions.
Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
    wherever I have lived.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
    therefore, I obey your instructions.
This is how I spend my life:
    obeying your commandments.

Heth

Lord, you are mine!
    I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
    Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay,
    to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.

Teth

You have done many good things for me, Lord,
    just as you promised.
I believe in your commands;
    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and do only good;
    teach me your decrees.
Arrogant people smear me with lies,
    but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
Their hearts are dull and stupid,
    but I delight in your instructions.
My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver.

Yodh

You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Get Ready! (p.170)

Meditate

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)


Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the Gospel. Though we are not deserving of Your grace, You have brought us life and peace through Your Son. In him You have been faithful to all of Your promises and made us right in Your sight. Forgive us for presuming on Your grace. Our salvation belongs to You alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your love toward us who are sinners. Enable us by Your Spirit to declare and demonstrate the Gospel so that Your saving power might bear fruit among the nations. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Read

Psalm 119:1-48 (NLT)

Aleph

Joyful are people of integrity,
    who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Joyful are those who obey his laws
    and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil,
    and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us
    to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently
    reflect your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed
    when I compare my life with your commands.
As I learn your righteous regulations,
    I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your decrees.
    Please don’t give up on me!

Beth

How can a young person stay pure?
    By obeying your word.
I have tried hard to find you—
    don’t let me wander from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
I praise you, O Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
I have recited aloud
    all the regulations you have given us.
I have rejoiced in your laws
    as much as in riches.
I will study your commandments
    and reflect on your ways.
I will delight in your decrees
    and not forget your word.

Gimel

Be good to your servant,
    that I may live and obey your word.
Open my eyes to see
    the wonderful truths in your instructions.
I am only a foreigner in the land.
    Don’t hide your commands from me!
I am always overwhelmed
    with a desire for your regulations.
You rebuke the arrogant;
    those who wander from your commands are cursed.
Don’t let them scorn and insult me,
    for I have obeyed your laws.
Even princes sit and speak against me,
    but I will meditate on your decrees.
Your laws please me;
    they give me wise advice.

Daleth

I lie in the dust;
    revive me by your word.
I told you my plans, and you answered.
    Now teach me your decrees.
Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
    and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
I weep with sorrow;
    encourage me by your word.
Keep me from lying to myself;
    give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
I have chosen to be faithful;
    I have determined to live by your regulations.
I cling to your laws.
    Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
I will pursue your commands,
    for you expand my understanding.

He

Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
    I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
    I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands,
    for that is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws
    rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things,
    and give me life through your word.
Reassure me of your promise,
    made to those who fear you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways;
    for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!
    Renew my life with your goodness.

Waw

Lord, give me your unfailing love,
    the salvation that you promised me.
Then I can answer those who taunt me,
    for I trust in your word.
Do not snatch your word of truth from me,
    for your regulations are my only hope.
I will keep on obeying your instructions
    forever and ever.
I will walk in freedom,
    for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
I will speak to kings about your laws,
    and I will not be ashamed.
How I delight in your commands!
    How I love them!
I honor and love your commands.
    I meditate on your decrees.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Story and the Song (p.12)

Meditate

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. (Romans 10:4)


Pray

O Lord, You are our Rock and our Redeemer. You have laid the foundations of the world and all creation points to You. We thank you for revealing Yourself to us in Your Word. Every page points to Your Son, our Savior and King. Forgive us for ignoring and rejecting such a vast and glorious testimony. Enable us by Your Spirit this day to celebrate your grace and to delight in Your will for our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Read

Psalm 118, Isaiah 28:16, 1 Peter 2:4-7 (NLT)

Psalm 118
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.

Let all Israel repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”
Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”
Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”

In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
    and the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
    I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

Though hostile nations surrounded me,
    I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
    but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
They swarmed around me like bees;
    they blazed against me like a crackling fire.
    But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
My enemies did their best to kill me,
    but the Lord rescued me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.
Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
    The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
    The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
I will not die; instead, I will live
    to tell what the Lord has done.
The Lord has punished me severely,
    but he did not let me die.

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
    and I will go in and thank the Lord.
These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
    and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer
    and giving me victory!

The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Please, Lord, please save us.
    Please, Lord, please give us success.
Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
    We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God, shining upon us.
    Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you!
    You are my God, and I will exalt you!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.

Isaiah 28:16
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,
a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
Whoever believes need never be shaken.”

1 Peter 2:4-7
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
    chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”

Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A Giant Staircase to Heaven (p.48)

Meditate

As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” (1 Peter 2:6)


Pray

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 39: With What Attitude Should We Pray?

Answer: With love, perseverance, and gratefulness; in humble submission to God’s will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Friday, September 27, 2024

Read

Psalm 117, Isaiah 2:1-4, Revelation 7:9-17 (NLT)

Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all you nations.
    Praise him, all you people of the earth.
For his unfailing love for us is powerful;
    the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

Isaiah 2:1-4
This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
    will be the highest of all—
    the most important place on earth.
It will be raised above the other hills,
    and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways,
    and we will walk in his paths.”
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;
    his word will go out from Jerusalem.
The Lord will mediate between nations
    and will settle international disputes.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation,
    nor train for war anymore.

Revelation 7:9-17
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar,

“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
    and from the Lamb!”

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
    and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
    forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?”

And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.”

Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.

“That is why they stand in front of God’s throne
    and serve him day and night in his Temple.
And he who sits on the throne
    will give them shelter.
They will never again be hungry or thirsty;
    they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.
For the Lamb on the throne
    will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
    And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A Dream of Heaven (p.342)

Meditate

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. (Isaiah 2:2)


Pray

Lord Jesus we offer you praise. You are seated at the right hand of the Father and have been given all power and authority. May the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice as we behold Your justice and mercy. Subdue the nations by the Gospel and gather your people for the glory of Your Kingdom. We especially pray for your missionaries around the world. Enable them by Your Spirit to faithfully exalt Your name among the nations so many might turn from their idols and worship You in spirit and in truth. Come Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 39: With What Attitude Should We Pray?

Answer: With love, perseverance, and gratefulness; in humble submission to God’s will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Read

Psalm 116, Lamentations 3:19-26, Romans 8:31-39 (NLT)

Psalm 116
I love the Lord because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath!
Death wrapped its ropes around me;
    the terrors of the grave overtook me.
    I saw only trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “Please, Lord, save me!”
How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
    So merciful, this God of ours!
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
    I was facing death, and he saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again,
    for the Lord has been good to me.
He has saved me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence
    as I live here on earth!
I believed in you, so I said,
    “I am deeply troubled, Lord.”
In my anxiety I cried out to you,
    “These people are all liars!”
What can I offer the Lord
    for all he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.
I will keep my promises to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.

The Lord cares deeply
    when his loved ones die.
O Lord, I am your servant;
    yes, I am your servant, born into your household;
    you have freed me from my chains.
I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people—
in the house of the Lord
    in the heart of Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Lamentations 3:19-26
The thought of my suffering and homelessness
    is bitter beyond words.
I will never forget this awful time,
    as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
    when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
    therefore, I will hope in him!”

The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
    to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly
    for salvation from the Lord.

Romans 8:31-39
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
God’s Wonderful Surprise (p.310)

Meditate

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:23)


Pray

God of all grace, You are Lord over the flood. I will not trust in my own strength but put my confidence in You. I know that You will not abandon me because You gave up Your only Son for my sake. In the midst of my struggles remind me that nothing, not even death, can separate me from Your love. Strengthen me with the truth that through trials you are making me more like Christ and that through him I will overcome. Deepen my trust in Your will and help me to follow you through the sea. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

Psalm 116

 

New City Catechism

Question 39: With What Attitude Should We Pray?

Answer: With love, perseverance, and gratefulness; in humble submission to God’s will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Read

Psalm 115, Isaiah 44:6-11, Revelation 22:12-17 (NLT)

Psalm 115
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
    but to your name goes all the glory
    for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Why let the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens,
    and he does as he wishes.
Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
    shaped by human hands.
They have mouths but cannot speak,
    and eyes but cannot see.
They have ears but cannot hear,
    and noses but cannot smell.
They have hands but cannot feel,
    and feet but cannot walk,
    and throats but cannot make a sound.
And those who make idols are just like them,
    as are all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust the Lord!
    He is your helper and your shield.
O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the Lord!
    He is your helper and your shield.
All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!
    He is your helper and your shield.

The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
    He will bless the people of Israel
    and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
He will bless those who fear the Lord,
    both great and lowly.

May the Lord richly bless
    both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
The heavens belong to the Lord,
    but he has given the earth to all humanity.
The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord,
    for they have gone into the silence of the grave.
But we can praise the Lord
    both now and forever!

Praise the Lord!

Isaiah 44:6-11
This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies:

“I am the First and the Last;
    there is no other God.
Who is like me?
    Let him step forward and prove to you his power.
Let him do as I have done since ancient times
    when I established a people and explained its future.
Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses—is there any other God?
    No! There is no other Rock—not one!”

How foolish are those who manufacture idols.
    These prized objects are really worthless.
The people who worship idols don’t know this,
    so they are all put to shame.
Who but a fool would make his own god—
    an idol that cannot help him one bit?
All who worship idols will be disgraced
    along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—
    who claim they can make a god.
They may all stand together,
    but they will stand in terror and shame.

Revelation 22:12-17
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A Dream of Heaven (p.342)

Meditate

This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)


Pray

Almighty God, You have clearly revealed Yourself to us and yet we have refused to worship You. We are without excuse and worthy of Your holy wrath and righteous judgment. Forgive us for our idolatry and wandering. Thank you for sending Your Son to suffer in our place and to bring us back to You. Convict us by Your Spirit and enable us to walk in the wisdom of the Gospel and not the foolishness of our sin. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 39: With What Attitude Should We Pray?

Answer: With love, perseverance, and gratefulness; in humble submission to God’s will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started: