A Psalm and A Prayer
Psalm 50

Psalm 50

Leader: The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.

People: Our God comes and does not keep silence. Before him is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around him. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

Leader: The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge.

People: Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call on the Lord in the day of trouble. He will deliver you, and you shall glorify the Lord.

Leader: Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor God.

People: Those who go the right way will see the salvation of God.

Heavenly Father, on this new day that you have given us, we praise You for raising our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from the dead. We praise You for the confidence and courage Jesus inspired in His disciples after You raised Him from the dead, for they fled from Him when armed guards arrested Him and later nailed Him to a cross. Give us the confidence and courage we need to live rightly when tempted to fall back into old ways of living. Father, we ask You to fill us with Your Spirit, that we might live in ways that honor You and bring glory to Your Son. Give us a brave heart and wise words as we tell others about Him in a hostile world. In Jesus’ name we pray, “Our Father. . .”