Psalm 119:18

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Continue to show me, Lord, the wondrous intricacy of Your Law, how it fits together so delicately and beautifully to form a tapestry of life. How it covers all aspects of my life, providing wisdom and guidance.

Psalm 14:4-6

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.

You are my refuge, Lord. I must keep that continuously before me that You are my refuge. You will protect me, You will provide, You are between me and those who seek to harm me. I am relieved of all need for concern or anxiety. You have set a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Praise You, my Lord and my Master.

Psalm 14:7

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

My strength and peace does come out of Zion. The Lord does provide for all my needs. Will I recognize that peace and strength? Will I accept them? Will I be content with the provision of the Lord? Will my joy and gladness be evident to all? Will all who see me say, "The hand of the Lord is upon that man?"

Psalm 15:1-5a

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

You call me to a day spent in examen before You. I don't hear You saying that it is to be a day of introspection but a day of application. I am to be faithful in examining my words and actions before they become actuality, strict in heeding the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Lord, may it be so.

Psalm 15:5b

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Thank You for this promise. I will hold on to it as my lifeline, my surety of citizenship in the Kingdom.

Psalm 16:1-3 A Miktam of David.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

Lord, apart from You, apart from the company of Your saints, separated from Your refuge; I am without value, of no use to You for any of Your purposes. But in Your presence and with the company of Your saints, there is delight and Shalom. Thank You for those saints in my life who encourage me and set examples for me to emulate.

Psalm 16:4

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

Sometimes it is good to see the sorrows that result from disobedience; sometimes I need vivid reminders that the ways of others gods are seductive entrapments. I need to remember that a little yeast leavens the entire batch of dough and that an unchecked cancer spreads throughout the entire body. Thank You, my Lord, for these warnings.

Psalm 119:30

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.

I have made a vow of obedience and sworn to keep Your rules in my mind and on my heart; to let them be the informer of my conscience.

Psalm 16:5-6

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Yes, Lord, the lines have fallen in pleasant places, I do have a beautiful inheritance, for You are my portion, You hold my lot in the palm of Your hand and I am secure. I am sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of my inheritance until I acquire possession of it, to the praise of Your glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Voices Together is also available in weekly formats suitable for distribution within prisons and for insertion into church bulletins at the following locations:

Prison Ministry

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Psalm 16:7-8

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

You are Wisdom; You are Knowledge; You are Light; You are Love; You are Truth; You are Grace; You are Mercy; You are Forgiveness; You are Righteousness; You are Justice; You are Goodness. You are the One who imparts all to me, who counsels and leads me in the Way I should go.

Voices Together is also available in weekly formats suitable for distribution within prisons and for insertion into church bulletins at the following locations:

Prison Ministry

Church Bulletins

Psalm 16:9-11

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Lord, there has been a day of resurrection and transformation for my soul; a day where You brought me out of the mire and corruption and set my feet upon solid ground; a day where I began to allow You to direct my footsteps and where I began to realize the pleasures if Your company.

Now I can look forward to the Day of Your coming, when I will be with You and know You in all Your fullness. Then there will truly be pleasures for evermore.

Voices Together is also available in weekly formats suitable for distribution within prisons and for insertion into church bulletins at the following locations:

Prison Ministry

Church Bulletins

Psalm 17:1-5 A Prayer of David.

Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

I am not as sure as David that I can make these statements with the same confidence. I do know that the desire of my heart would be that it were so. I do know that this can only come through the work of the Holy Spirit transforming my mind, heart and conscience. And I know that He requires my complete submission and obedience. He will not argue with me -- I must submit. O, Lord, this is hard!

Voices Together is also available in weekly formats suitable for distribution within prisons and for insertion into church bulletins at the following locations:

Prison Ministry

Church Bulletins