Faith Daily Lectio Thursday, October 29, 2026 Morning Psalm
Thursday, October 29, 2026 · Thursday in the week of the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25)
Morning Psalm
Oratio (prayer)
O LORD, You hear the prayers of Your servants. Send Your Holy Spirit as I pray Psalm 143 this morning, that I may hear Your lovingkindness and walk in Your way through Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Psalm 143
A Psalm of David.
1Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
Consider even rereading in another translation.
You could also consider listening to this chapter, narrated:
KJV (Max McLean) · ESV (Max McLean) · NIV (dramatized)
You might read the whole reading slowly, aloud, more than once.
Consider this verse, for example:
“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God” (Psalm 143:10)
What other lines speak to you?
The Law David knows where he stands before God: "enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified" (v. 2). If God weighed our lives on our own merit, none of us would stand. Our spirit, like his, is "overwhelmed" (v. 4).
The Gospel So David does not plead his own goodness. He asks God to answer "in thy faithfulness" and "in thy righteousness" (v. 1). That is the righteousness God gives freely in Christ, who stood in our place under judgment. Because of Him you may pray, "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust" (v. 8). God hears you this morning for Jesus' sake.
Prayer O LORD, I confess that I cannot stand before You on my own. Do not enter into judgment with me, but forgive me for Jesus' sake. Let me hear Your lovingkindness this morning. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
Some mornings begin in darkness, when the spirit fails and the heart feels desolate. Under trial it may help to do what David does: "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works" (v. 5). Recalling what God has done can steady us for what lies ahead.
Prayer Lord, teach me to do Your will today. By Your good Spirit, lead me on level ground. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
My church home: Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA. Looking for a church? See About Daily Lectio.
