Week of January 24, 2010

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Psalm for Prayer and Praise:  Psalm 19 (ESV)

1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.  In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?  Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Suggested Baptist Catechism Questions:

Question 51: What is it to believe in Christ?

To trust in Christ alone for salvation.

(Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim 2:5; 1 Jn 5:11-12)

Question 52:  Can you repent and believe in Christ by your own power?

No. I can do nothing good without God’s Holy Spirit.

(John 3:5, 6; 6:44; Romans 8:2, 5, 8-11; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; Galatians 5:17, 18; Ephesians 2:4-6)

Question 53: How does the Holy Spirit work repentance and belief in a sinners heart?

The Holy Spirit works repentance and belief by the hearing of the Word of God.

(Galatians 3:1-5; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12)

Praying through the Psalms

Week of January 24, 2010

Day 1 ~ “General Revelation”

Read: Psalm 19 – focus today on verses 1 through 6

Consider:

For Adults: This section of the Psalm speaks of what is called “General Revelation.”  What is it, exactly, that creation declares universally in every language?

Older Children: How does is make you feel to know that God commands the movement of the sun?  How should that help us when we pray?

Younger Children: Who made the sun and tells it when to rise and set?

Family Application: Talk about what it means that creation declares God’s glory to every language.  Talk further about what it means that everyone everywhere has knowledge of God through creation?  What is that creation can’t tell them and why is it that we must send and be missionaries?

Pray: Pray together through the verses of the Psalm.  Thank God for His rule of creation and how He reveals Himself to all people through it.  Ask God to help you think of Him and praise Him as you see His sovereign hand guiding and sustaining the world we live in.

Meditate: Write this week’s memory verses on a white board in your home and/or on index cards that each family member can carry with them during the week.

Day 2 ~ “Special Revelation”

Read: Psalm 19 – focus today on verses 7 though 10

Consider:

For Adults: This section of the Psalm celebrates God’s “Special Revelation,” which is His inspired word.  What is the psalmist’s disposition toward God’s word?  Is this your disposition?  Why or why not?

Older Children: What does it mean that God’s word “rejoices the heart” and “enlightens the eyes?”

Younger Children: Is God’s word more valuable than money or treasure?  Why?

Family Application: Consider together the great value of God’s word and why it is that seeing God in creation is not enough to save us.  Talk about what “right” is and how we can know “right” from “wrong.”  Also talk about how the word of God can make us wise and why that is something the psalmist celebrates.

Pray: Pray through verses 7 through 10 of Psalm 19.  Thank God for His word and how it tells us how to be wise and to be saved.  Ask God to help you love His word just as the psalmist does and ask Him to help you make His word more central in your life and home.  As you pray, think of “the pearl of great price” that Jesus speaks of and ask God to help you to see and feel the surpassing value of His word and His kingdom in your life.

Meditate: See if anyone in the family can quote this week’s memory verse.  Make new note cards of any of the cards from Day 1 that may have been lost.

Day 3 ~ “Living by God’s Word”

Read: Psalm 19 – focus today on verses 11 through 14

Consider:

For Adults: What is that we learn in the word of God that can leads to being truly “blameless” in God’s sight?  How does the word of God help us to be more like Christ?

Older Children: What is the great reward that comes from keeping the word of God?  Can we “discern” our own errors completely without the word of God?

Younger Children: Does God know that we think?  What type of things does God want us to think about?

Family Application: Talk about how we need God’s word to correct us when we are wrong and the benefits a family gets from following God’s word.  Talk about how all of God’s word points us to Jesus and how only He can make us truly innocent before God.

Pray: Pray through verses 11 through 15 of Psalm 19.  Thank God for how His word gives us warning and shows us how to live godly lives.  Thank God for the blessings that flow to believers as they follow God’s word in their daily lives.  Pray that God would use his word to keep you from sin and its destructive consequences.  Ask God to help you meditate upon His word more often for the sake of your own joy and fellowship with Him.

Meditate: See again if anyone in the family can quote this week’s memory verse.  Talk about any ways that this verse has encouraged or taught you this week.

Scripture Memory for the Week: Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Hymn of the Week

Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven

SOURCE: Morningview Baptist Church