Faith Daily Lectio Saturday, October 31, 2026 Evening Psalm
Saturday, October 31, 2026 · Reformation Day
Evening Psalm
Oratio (prayer)
O LORD, You hear the prayers of Your people. Send Your Holy Spirit as I pray Psalm 141 this evening, that my prayer may rise before You as incense through Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Psalm 141
A Psalm of David.
1LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
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:
“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)
What other lines speak to you?
The Law At day's end we may recall words we wish we had not spoken. David prays, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (v. 3). He knows the pull of evil: "Incline not my heart to any evil thing" (v. 4). We have not kept our lips, and our hearts have leaned toward sin.
The Gospel Still David prays, "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (v. 2). Jesus offered Himself as the one true evening sacrifice on the cross, and for His sake your prayer is welcome before the Father. With David you may say, "mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust" (v. 8).
Prayer O LORD, I confess the careless words and evil desires of this day. Forgive me for Jesus' sake. Set a watch before my mouth, and receive my prayer as incense this evening. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
Correction is hard to receive. David sees it as a gift: "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness" (v. 5). Under trial it may help to hear a friend's honest word, or Your pastor's, as part of God's care for you.
Evening prayer Lord, as I lie down tonight, keep me from the snares of the evil one. Leave not my soul destitute, and keep me in Your trust. 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.
