Psalm 95
O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice! Do not harden your hearts.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He demonstrated Your great love for us by dying on the cross in our behalf, and He has promised to cleanse us from our sins when we confess them to You and repent of them. Pour out Your grace within me, and empower me to live in ways that will bring You and others great joy, especially as I seek to serve as a vessel overflowing with Your unmerited love. Guide me in my study of the Scriptures. Shine the light of Your Holy Spirit into my mind and heart, and encourage me to conform my life to Your perfect will as I follow my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who taught me to pray with all those who love Him: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 95
Psalm 94
He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, he who teaches knowledge to humankind, does he not chastise? Happy are those whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, giving them respite from days of trouble. For the Lord will not forsake his people. He will not abandon his heritage, for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who contrive mischief by statute? The Lord will repay them for their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness. When I thought, “My foot is slipping,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
Prayer
Father God, as the ancient Hebrews lived in times of oppression, so many live under both spiritual and physical oppression today. Help all of Your people to pray and work that many will come to find the true freedom that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 94
Psalm 93
The Lord is king. He is robed in majesty. He is girded with strength. He has established the world. His throne is established from of old. The Lord is from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord. The floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their roaring. The Lord is majestic on high; more majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea! Your decrees are very sure, O Lord. Holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.
Prayer
O God, my heavenly Father, I honor and worship You as the true King over all nations on Earth and over all worlds throughout the universe. You made all that exists, and all that exists owes their reality and purpose to You. And yet, many have rebelled against You and Your holy rule over all. From time to time, I too have disregarded Your laws, I too have sinned, I too have fallen into temptation and have brought disgrace to You, my Father and King. Forgive me for my sins, cleanse me from all unrighteousness, empower me to serve You with a heart of love for You and others. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and hear me now as I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and only Savior: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 93
Psalm 92
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work. At the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! Though the wicked sprout like grass and evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever. But you, O Lord, are on high forever. For your enemies shall perish. All evildoers shall be scattered. The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar. They are planted in the house of the Lord. They flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit. They are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Prayer
O God, You are the delight and joy of my life. You never fail me, though I sometimes fail You. Though I sometimes sin against You and others, You always love and forgive me when I come back to You. Once again, fill me now with Your Holy Spirit, and heal all me dis-ease and diseases. Hear me now, as I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again to save me: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 92
Psalm 91
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you. He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. Those who love me, I will deliver. I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them. I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I trust in You and in Your word. I trust in Your guidance and protection. I depend on Your loving presence with me, and I love to be in Your presence. I pray that I will always honor You by the way I live and the words I speak in the power of Your Spirit, even as I pray in Jesus’ name: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 91
Psalm 90
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. A thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night. The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong. Teach us to count our days, so we may gain a wise heart. Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands — O prosper the work of our hands!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, as I look forward to a new day, a new week, a new month, a new year, I rededicate my life to serving You and my blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Increase my devotion for You and Your work in this world, both nearby and afar. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can bear fruit and bless others. Prune me so I can bear even more and better fruit. Fill me and prune me in the coming days, and even now as I pray in Jesus’ name: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 90
Psalm 89
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever. Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. O Lord God of hosts, who is as mighty as you, O Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds you. The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it — you have founded them. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. The Lord has promised: “Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. His line shall continue forever, and his throne endure before me like the sun."
Prayer
O God, our Creator and Redeemer, I not only offer my praise to You this day, but my very self as well. I come into Your presence with the humility befitting an unworthy sinner that You have so graciously forgiven. I thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, the One who makes new life possible to believers no matter what their past. Fill me now with Your Spirit that I might live wholly for You and serve Your people. Hear me now as I pray the prayer Jesus taught: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 89
Psalms 87 & 88
On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. O Lord, God of my salvation, let my prayer come before you. Every day I call on you, O Lord. I spread out my hands to you. O Lord, in the morning my prayer comes before you. I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever. With my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I entrust my life to You, knowing that You do all things well. I thank You for inviting me into Your presence as I pray to You. Thank You for being present with me at all times and places. I thank You for the careful planning and preparation that led to the coming of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, into my heart. I pray that Your Spirit will guide me in the days ahead, that I might always be prepared to greet my Lord with a loving heart. Hear my prayers as I pray for my loved ones and others, and as I ask You to heal and bless each one abundantly, even as I pray: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 87 and 88
Psalm 86
Save your servants who trust in you. You are our God. Be gracious to us, O Lord. Gladden the souls of your servants. O Lord, we lift up our souls to you. O Lord, you are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Give ear, O Lord, to our prayers. Listen to our cries of supplication. In the day of trouble, we call on you. All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord. They shall glorify your name, for you are great and you do wondrous things. You alone are God. Teach us your way that we may walk in your truth. Give us an undivided heart to revere your name. We give thanks to you, O Lord our God. We will glorify your name forever, for great is your steadfast love toward us. O Lord, you are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to us and be gracious. Give your strength to your servants.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I eagerly anticipate the return of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. May I so live as to show forth His love and grace to others in all that I say and do, that many might come to love Him as I do. May I live with confidence in Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness. May I trust in You to empower me to live according to Your steadfast love and will, even as I pray: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 86
Psalm 85
Lord, you were favorable to your land. You restored our fortunes. You forgave the iniquity of your people. You pardoned all our sin. Restore us again, O God of our salvation. Will you not revive us again, so we may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord. Grant us your salvation. Let us hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet. Righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground. Righteousness will look down from the sky. The Lord will give what is good. Our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him and make a path for his steps.
Prayer
O God, my Heavenly Father, as I look forward to each new day, I pray that thankful hearts throughout the world will offer praises and prayers to you. I pray that you will forgive me for the wrongs that I have done and restore my relationships with those I have harmed, even as I pray the prayer Jesus taught: “Our Father. . .”
Copyright 2012 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. Permission Granted for Not for Profit Use.
From A Psalm and a Prayer: Psalm 85