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Dear Family in Christ,

First Cup is designed to assist you in the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer. The name is to remind you that as you reach for your first cup of morning coffee or tea, reach also for your Bible and prayer list. The prayers at the beginning of each week are taken from hymns, sometimes found in obscure hymnals in my library. They are intended to be read as your beginning prayer, to focus your mind on the daily readings that follow. May this spiritual discipline strengthen you as you face each day.

October 2024

Click below to download this month's readings and prayer list. 

October Readings (PDF) Prayer List (PDF)

1 Romans 9:1-33; Jeremiah 18:1-23; Isaiah 29:13-16, Isaiah 64:5-9

2 Isaiah 65:1-25; Romans 10:1-21

3 Romans 11:1-36; Psalm 139:1-24

4 Romans 12:1-21; Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 20:22; 1 Peter 2:11-25

5 Romans 13:1-14; Ephesians 5:11-13, Ephesians 6:10-18

6 Romans 14:1-23; Psalm 34:14; Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

Hear my words, O gracious Lord, to my thoughts attentive be; Hear my cry, my King, my God, I will make my prayer to Thee. With the morning light, O Lord, Thou shalt hear my voice arise, and expectant I will bring prayer as morning sacrifice. Thou art holy, O my God, Thou delightest not in sin; Evil shall not dwell with Thee, nor the proud Thy favor win. (The Hymnbook, No. 48)

7 Romans 15:1-16:27; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 4:7-21

8 1 Peter 1:1-25; 1 Chronicles 29:15; Psalm 39:12; Hebrews 13:13-16; Ephesians 2:1-13

9 1 Peter 2:1-12; Romans 13:8-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19; Psalm 65:1-4

10 1 Peter 2:13-3:22; Ephesians 5:22-6:9; Romans 13:1-14

11 1 Peter 4:1-19; Philippians 1:27-30; Revelation 2:10

12 Jeremiah 10:21, Jeremiah 23:1-4; Matthew 9:36; John 10:1-18; 1 Peter 5:1-14

13 Matthew 17:1-8; 2 Peter 1:1-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105; 2 Corinthians 4:6

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. (The Baptist Hymnal, No 371)

14  2 Peter 2:1-22; Hebrews 6:4-6

15 Ezekiel 12:21-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

16 James 1:1-8; Romans 5:1-5; Job 28:20-28; Psalm 90:12; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 8:1-36; Proverbs 21:30

17 James 1:9-11; Psalm 49:1-20; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 18:18-30; 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 

18 James 1:12-18; Matthew 6:9-13; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13; Galatians 6:1-5

19 James 1:19-27; Psalm 119:97-112; Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:17-32; Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 29:11

20 James 2:1-13; Leviticus 19:15; Proverbs 3:1-35; Proverbs 14:21; Luke 10:25-37

God, be merciful to me, on Thy grace I rest my plea; Plenteous in compassion Thou, blot out my transgressions now; Wash me, make me pure within, cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.  Gracious God, my heart renew, make my spirit right and true; Cast me not away from Thee, let Thy Spirit dwell in me; Thy salvation’s joy impart, steadfast make my willing heart. (The Hymnbook, No. 282)

21 James 2:14-26; Ephesians 2:8-10; Matthew 7:21-27, Matthew 25:1-46

22 James 3:1-12; Proverbs 4:1-27; Proverbs 12:19; Proverbs 16:23-30; Proverbs 18:6-8; Proverbs 26:20-28; Proverbs 27:2; Psalm 12:1-8; Psalm 141:1-10

23 James 3:13-18; Proverbs 29:23; Matthew 20:20-28,Matthew 23:1-12; Luke 22:24-30 

24 James 4:1-12; Proverbs 10:18-21; Matthew 15:10-20; Titus 2:11-15; 1 John 2:1-17

25 James 4:13-17; Matthew 6:34; Proverbs 3:27-28, Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 19:21; Proverbs 27:1; Psalm 139:1-24

26 James 5:1-6; Leviticus 19:9-13; Leviticus 24:14-15; Matthew 6:19-21; Hebrews 11:24-26 

27 James 5:7-12; Job 1:1-2:10; Job 1:42; Romans 12:6-21

Fight the good fight with all thy might; Christ is thy Strength, and Christ thy Right: Lay hold on life, and it shall be Thy joy and crown eternally. Run the straight race through God’s good grace, lift up thine eyes, and seek His face; Life with its way before us lies, Christ is the Path, and Christ the Prize. Faint not nor fear, His arms are near; He changeth not, and thou art dear; Only believe, and thou shalt see that Christ is All in all to thee.  (The Hymnbook, No. 359)

28 James 5:13-20; 1 Kings 17:1-24; 2 Kings 4:1-37; Acts 9:36-43; Romans 8:26-28

29 Titus 1:1-16; 1 Timothy 1:1-7; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Philippians 1:11

30 Titus 2:1-15; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Deuteronomy 11:18-21; Psalm 25:1-22; Proverbs 9:9, 22:17-21

31 Titus 3:1-15; Romans 13:1-14; 1 Peter 2:17