Psalms 139:1-17

Psalms 139:1-17
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

---

O God, you knew me
before I was knit together
in my mother's womb.

Even there, you set me apart for your glory.
Though hidden away in the waters of the womb,
you brought me out to the light
to experience your goodness and mercy that endures forever.
Hallelujah!
You knew when I would take my first unsteady and wobbly steps.

You heard my cry, my unintelligible speech.
You heard my first words.
You knew when I would be mischievous and playful
and a delight to my parents.

Thank you for surrounding me on all sides.
What a gift: that you know
when we sit down and when we get up…
you know about our restless slumber.
Thank you for coming to lie down beside us
and laying your hands on us
so that we may sleep in peace.

If we climb to the heavens or descend to the deep,
you are there.
Thank you for the gift of your glorious presence
every day of our lives.
We rest in the assurance of your goodness!

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Amen.

Psalms 31:1-3

Psalms 31:1-3
In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

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Lord, you are my hiding place.
You are the refuge for my soul.
You are my protector and guide
to shield me from shame.

From the evil devices of the wicked one,
I cling to you as moss clings to rock.
I hold on for dear life.
For my life is in your hands.

Lord, even when I don't know what to say or how to say it,
the Holy Spirit speaks in inexpressible groans on our behalf,
which helps us in our weakness.

Strengthen us where we are weak
and build us up brick by brick,
where we have been torn down.
When the enemy comes—and he will come—
rescue us by your strong, powerful, righteous right hand.

Be our tall, impenetrable fortress
that cannot be weakened or destroyed,
protecting us from all hurt, harm, and danger.

Lord, I surrender all to you.
I cannot run this race
without your sure and steady guidance.
Your love and forgiveness of me
is more than I could ever imagined.
Rebuke and rebuff the enemy.
When the enemy comes my way,
stand guard over my soul
so that it is pure and holy before you.
You are the God of my salvation.
It is in you that I place all of my trust.
I love you, Lord,
and it is in your name that I pray.

Amen.

Psalms 23:1-2

Psalms 23:1-2
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

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Lord, I thank you that you're my shepherd,
that you lead me
so that I'm not trying to flounder out there today by myself.

I thank you, Lord, that I lack nothing.
There is nothing that I need that you don't have.
And all I have to do is ask.
I thank you for being my great, great provider.

Lord, I thank you so much
that in grassy meadows we can find rest.
Sometimes when I'll look out
and I see the beautiful green grass,
and thinking about lying there and looking up into the heavens,
my heart is filled with your peace and rest.

And then, God,
you keep the waters around me from being tumultuous.
That I can rest beside your waters
that are still and quiet and reflective.

You provide times of quiet for me
So that I can gather myself.
You provide times of rest
and rejuvenation and restoration
because you are our Shepherd.

You know what we need even before we ask.
You hold us over your shoulder
as you speak words of comfort and peace to us.
We follow your voice
because your voice is the only one we want to follow.

Thank you for providing everything that we lack.
Even if we don't have a job yet, we believe that a job is coming.
Whatever it is that we think that we need--?
We believe that it may not be here now, in the physical,
but we believe in the spiritual realm, God,
that it's coming—
because you are the Shepherd
who knows the needs of your sheep before they ever ask.

And sometimes, God, in the waiting,
you are working with our spirit and our mind
to get us prepared for the great gift you have in store for us.

So, in advance of the gift, we say thank you.
And thank you for being the Shepherd of all shepherds,
the leader, the one that we look to,
the one that we never tire of, following Jesus Christ the Savior.

Amen.

Psalms 34:8

Psalms 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

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God, we have tasted how good your word is,
how good it is to be in your presence,
how good it is to worship you,
how good it is to lift holy hands in your presence.

God, we have seen you.
We have seen you in brothers and sisters
who have radiant faces
because they been in your presence.

We have seen how you have been a provider
for people who have needs,
and that includes me.

God, you are so very, very good.
The one who takes refuge in you is happy.
Where else can we go but to hide ourselves in you?
Hallelujah!
There is no place
except under the gentle wing of your arm.
Let us hide ourselves in you,
until we are ready, God,
to come out and face the world.

Thank you for your protective arm that keeps us safe.
Thank you for being a refuge
in times of distress and in times of confusion,
and in times of uneasiness.

Thank you, God, that we can run to you.
And we are safe. And we are truly safe!
And we bless your name, God,
because you're good, good, good, good.

And my eyes have seen your glory.
My eyes have seen your goodness.
My eyes have seen the wondrous working power
of a great and awesome God.

Your people bless you today
and we give you thanks in your precious name.
Amen.

Psalm 34:4

Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord and He answered me,
And rescued me from all my fears.

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Lord, you have dried all my tears.
You have held my quivering hands
and comforted my trembling heart.

When I called out
with racing heart and shaking hands,
I was so afraid.
There were moments I was utterly terrified.
But God, you took my fears
of job insecurities rising
and questionable insurance costs
and diminishing savings accounts…

You answered me
and you said, “I am here.”
You reminded me you are Jehovah Jireh: “The Lord will provide!”
You provide for all of our needs
according to your riches in glory through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Then I remembered:
God, you own the cattle on a thousand hills.
Somebody ought to say “Amen!”
All the gold, the silver, the land and the resources are yours.

Then I was comforted.
My assurance returned.
You are the way-making God.
You are the ultimate deliverer from all of our fears.
Thank you for listening to my heart,
when I've been unable to articulate my needs.

Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus,
Amen.

Psalm 18:1-3

Psalm 18:1-3
I love you, Lord my strength. The Lord is my solid rock, my fortress, my rescuer. My God is my rock. I take refuge in him…. He's my shield, my salvation’s strength, my place of safety. Because he is praiseworthy, I cried out to the Lord, and I was saved from my enemies.

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Lord God,
we thank you so much
that you hear us when we call.

That you are our solid rock!

That you protect us!

That you put a wall of protection around us,
a hedge around us.
You are the rock on which we stand.

That even when the winds and the waves come,
we are standing on your solid rock!

Thank you for being my strength,
when I can't carry myself.
You carry me.

Lord, we love you so much.
You are so good to us.
Even when we can't hear you,
we know that you hear us.

Thank you for being everything we need
all the times that we need it.

We give you thanks
and we give you praise
for being our God and our salvation.

I love you, Lord,
and I give thanks in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Psalm 27:1

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone?  The Lord is a fortress protecting my life.  Should I be frightened of anything? 

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Perfect Love,
cast out fear!

God is love,
external, eternal,
internal, omnipotent,
extravagant,
LOVE!

Where there is love,
there is light and life!

A fortress,
strong, and tall,
and towering to the heavens,
with the breath of God being my shelter.

How can I be afraid
when the power who rules both heaven and earth
is my shield?

In you, O Lord,
I place all my fears and trepidations,
insecurities,
and even my heart’s desires.  

Be my rescue!
Be my guide!
I love you, Lord,
more than life itself.  

Amen.

Psalm 121:1-2

Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

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May you awaken today
to the tender Presence of the Almighty
gently nudging you awake.

 May you find the wisdom and strength,
discernment and creative genius
to do the tasks ahead of you today.

May you always look to the hills
knowing ALL your help
comes from Him
who is able to keep you from falling.

May you find yourselves
saturated in His goodness and mercy
so much that your cup overflows to others
who will be blessed by your presence...the Holy Spirit in you.

May the Lord God watch over your coming and going;
your sitting down and getting up;
your vehicles, home, cabinets and refrigerator.
May the Lord bless you in all things
and overshadow you with His great favor.

May grace and joy,
peace and hope
always surround you.

May the awesome Presence
of our Almighty God
be a shade over you
and a safety net
and clear path
beneath you.

May you find yourself
the head and not the tail.

May health and strength
always be your cloak.

May these blessings follow you always
as you bask in the glory
of His Presence daily!

Amen!  Love you to LIFE…