An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136
By Chad Bird
09/30/25
8mins

An Excerpt from Untamed Prayers: Psalm 123 and Psalm 136

The following entries are excerpts from Chad Bird’s new book, Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of the Psalms (1517 Publishing, 2025), pgs. 311 and 335
St. Michael, Defender of God’s People
Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
09/29/25

St. Michael, Defender of God’s People

Why did the church dedicate a day to St. Michael anyway? Who is he, and what does he do?
Yardwork and the Antichrist
1517 Guest Contributor
1517 Guest Contributor
09/26/25

Yardwork and the Antichrist

The Antichrist offers another continual presence. It is every whisper that tempts us toward autonomy, that tells us to carry it alone, that insists suffering is meaningless.

All Articles

Wade Johnston
Wade Johnston
02/26/20

The Ashes of Hope

Ash Wednesday confronts us with our true nature, our mortality, and marks us with the only escape from it: the cross of Christ.
RJ Grunewald
RJ Grunewald
02/26/20

No Approaching God Without Christ

For what end does the Law exist? The Law exposes us so that we might find the remedy in the person and work of Jesus.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
02/25/20

If God Would Just Choose Someone Else

The end of the pursuit isn't regeneration, but degeneration. We're fighting fire with bottles of gasoline.
John T. Pless
John T. Pless
02/17/20

Preaching the Penitential Psalms for Lent: Sermon Notes

John Pless offers thoughts on preaching for your midweek Lent sermons.
Kyle G. Jones
Kyle G. Jones
02/13/20

The Introduction: Our Father Who Art in Heaven

This article begins an eight-part series inspired by the Lenten themes of catechesis, prayer, and repentance found in the Lord’s Prayer as Luther taught it in his Small Catechism.
Chad Bird
Chad Bird
02/11/20

Weaponizing Our Virtues

Virtue, like all good things, can easily be weaponized. And not only can, but constantly is. Indeed, I would argue that, for churchgoing, rule-following, tradition-honoring, morality-applauding people, virtue often becomes the cancer that we deem a badge of honor.
Bruce Hillman
Bruce Hillman
02/10/20

The Baptism that Swallowed the Rocks

The Church gathers around the Word and Sacrament in order to receive Christ and each other.
Luke Kjolhaug
Luke Kjolhaug
01/30/20

Absolution and a Crying Baby

In our search for absolution, human beings leave no stone unturned. We’re desperate to have our uneasy consciences soothed.
Ryan Couch
Ryan Couch
01/28/20

You Aren’t Jesus and You Don’t Need to Be

The gospel is the good news that in Christ we have been given the very righteousness of Christ himself. This means that everything God commands of us is given to us in Christ as a gift.
Philip Bartelt
Philip Bartelt
01/27/20

Pelagius and Pelagianism

Pelagius maintained an orthodox appearance while rejecting original sin and the distinction between law and gospel.
Robert Kolb
Robert Kolb
01/27/20

I’m Mortified and, If Not, I Must Get to It

God has placed preachers of His Word in the frontlines of His combat against Satan and all his minions that is fought out on the battlefields of the individual lives of believers.
Haroldo Camacho
Haroldo Camacho
01/17/20

The Law and the Conscience: An Excerpt from Martin Luther's Commentary on Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians

Indeed, the law said, “You shall love the Lord your God,” but the law cannot give me such love, nor can it take my hand to grasp on to Christ.
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