Begin with this prayer:

O come, the wise Lord of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Give me a heart that seeks Your wisdom, that can discern Your way amidst many ways. Let me always give careful thought to my ways. Turn my wisdom to knowledge of You.

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Begin with this prayer:

O come, key of David, the Lord of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Give me clear and safe passage on the road you’ve set before me. Show me Your good and wise path and give me the desire to follow.

Read these verses aloud several times or listen to the audio recording several times:

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

• How is the Spirit speaking to the depths of you today? What is your heart hearing?

Begin with this prayer:

O come, key of David, the Lord of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Give me clear and safe passage on the road you’ve set before me. Show me Your good and wise path and give me the desire to follow.

Merry Christmas!!

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say;
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”

5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
6 May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it, nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them, “The blessing of the Lord be on you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.”

• On a separate piece of paper, write out a prayer expressing your heart to the Lord on this morning we celebrate His birth.

Begin with this prayer:

O come, key of David, the Lord of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Give me clear and safe passage on the road you’ve set before me. Show me Your good and wise path and give me the desire to follow.

Read these verses aloud several times or listen to the audio recording several times:

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say;
2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.
3 Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.
4 But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”

5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.
6 May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow;
7 a reaper cannot fill his hands with it, nor one who gathers fill his arms.
8 May those who pass by not say to them, “The blessing of the Lord be on you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.”

• Sit quietly and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the text. What do you hear Him saying?

Begin with this prayer:

O come, key of David, the Lord of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Give me clear and safe passage on the road you’ve set before me. Show me Your good and wise path and give me the desire to follow.

Read these verses aloud several times or listen to the audio recording several times:

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.

5 May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.

• On a separate piece of paper, write out the (above) Psalm.

Begin with this prayer:

O come, key of David, the Lord of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Give me clear and safe passage on the road you’ve set before me. Show me Your good and wise path and give me the desire to follow.

Read these verses aloud several times or listen to the audio recording several times:

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.

5 May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.

• How has the Holy Spirit prompted your heart as you read right now? What is He saying through these verses?

Begin with this prayer:

O come, key of David, the Lord of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Give me clear and safe passage on the road you’ve set before me. Show me Your good and wise path and give me the desire to follow.

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.

3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

• On a separate piece of paper, write out a prayer for wisdom in building your spiritual house.