Psalm 73:25-28

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

It is good to rest in You; it is good that You are my refuge, may my response always be to tell of all Your mighty works in my life. Let Your praise pour from my lips, this day and every day.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 77

Mid-day: 119:81-88

Evening: Psalm 3

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm 73:21-24

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

I have sinned against You and against You only have I sinned. In my prideful actions yesterday, I made fun of another individual and demeaned him before his friends and peers. It was arrogance and it was mean. Forgive me, Lord. Change my heart, O God, make it ever true. I know that Your Holy Spirit was warning me but I refused to listen; break that headstrong spirit within me that refuses to obey. Thank You, for accepting my repentance. Praise You for transforming me into Your likeness. One more step along the King's Highway. Now I must apologize to my brother and to the brothers.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 76

Mid-day: 119:73-80

Evening: Psalm 2

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm 119:1

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!

Lord, thank You that I am blessed even as I fall and struggle to get up once again, seeking to walk in Your way. Thank You for the gift of the Comforter to guide me into all truth and to remind me of all that You have said to me.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 75

Mid-day: 119:65-72

Evening: Psalm 1

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm 73:18-20

Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

It is so easy to forget that the Evil One packages the most grievous sin, the vilest and most heinous offense as the sweetest and most beautiful morsel, beckoning and alluring. And as a fish rising to the fly, I do not see the thin, gossamer leader that leads to death.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 75

Mid-day: 119:57-64

Evening: Psalm 150

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm 73:16-17

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

I forget that You use these trials and temptations to teach me to lean on You. Another area that I need to be constantly reminded is to realize that You are bringing me to to a state of maturity in You. I need to have an attitude of praise and thanksgiving for the challenges that You allow to come into my life. Let me not forget that Your discipline is evidence of Your love.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 73

Mid-day: 119:49-56

Evening: Psalm 149

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm 73:15

If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

Lord, I have betrayed the generation of my children, I am without defense. I am a man of unclean lips and greatly to be shamed. To You, Oh Lord, I come in repentance, seeking transformation into one who heralds Your grace and mercy to the generations to come. Not in my strength, but Yours.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 72

Mid-day: 119:41-48

Evening: Psalm 148

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm 73:1-14

A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.

Lord, the list of opportunities for me to turn from You to other gods is endless; I never seem to miss a chance to indulge in lust, or let covetousness consume my every thought, or allow pride to dictate the words of my mouth, or encourage greed to drive my decisions, or ... Lord, I repent, I need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to excise the old man from my heart. Bless me now, my Lord and Savior.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 71

Mid-day: 119:33-40

Evening: Psalm 147

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

1 Corinthians 10:6-13

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Lord, I believe in Your promise that You will always provide a way of escape for me from every temptation. I know that Your word is yes and amen for ever. I know that the escape hatch is always present, always open, free and clear. I know that all I have to do is take advantage of the promise. But, oh, so weak, so ready to let the temptation take control of my mind, to dwell upon it and let desire begin to form. Lord, help me, for often I cannot even put up a token resistance against the wiles of the Evil One.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 70

Mid-day: 119:25-32

Evening: Psalm 146

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm72:17-20

May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

I've been thinking this morning, Lord, about conversations yesterday about Your Kingdom and how we tell others about it. It is the same message to everyone: "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is available to you now," for You do wondrous things, the whole earth is filled with Your glory, my eyes need to be opened to see it. May the revealing of Your Kingdom advance in power, in righteousness, in peace and in joy through the Holy Spirit. May Your name be glorified in all the earth.

Amen!

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 69

Mid-day: 119:17-24

Evening: Psalm 145

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm 119:169-170

Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.

Understanding and delivery. Doesn't that define life in Your Kingdom? To understand Your Word and thereby to be delivered from the assaults of the Evil One?

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 68

Mid-day: 119:9-16

Evening: Psalm 144

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.

Psalm 72:15-16

Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!

Lord, You have instructed me to pray for the leaders of this nation but I have not been obedient and faithful. Forgive me, but more important, reform and transform me so that I will be in continuous prayer for those whom You have placed in authority over me.

I pray for your salvation for those who do not know you; that they will enter into submission to You and to Your rule. For those who claim to be followers of You, I pray for wisdom and for a willingness to hear and obey Your word.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 67

Mid-day: 119:1-8

Evening: Psalm 143

Psalm 72:12-14

For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.

As I wait for Shalom to be established, for the Day of the Lord to be fully revealed, guide me, Lord, in working to advance Your Kingdom today. Send me to the poor and the needy, to those who lack a knowledge of You, to those suffering from injustice and oppression, to all who need to hear of Your love and grace, to all who need that You died for them.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 66

Mid-day: 119:169-176

Evening: Psalm 742

Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and Volume 1, Psalms 1 through 75 can be purchased at the Fellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. Volume 2, Psalms 76 through 150 will be available for sale shortly.