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

Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
12/20/20

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 (Christmas 1: Series B)

As Simeon sang, you might lead your hearers in a song of defiant and hopeful confidence to close out a year characterized by death and despair.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/16/20

An Advent Ransom Note

Advent is not a call to prepare to engage in a transaction with God.
Valerie Thur
Valerie Thur
12/15/20

To Us a Child is Born: Everlasting Father

The well-meaning advice “time heals all wounds” is offensively false when we confront the overwhelming evidence that the constants in our lives are death, taxes, and suffering.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
12/13/20

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 (Advent 4: Series B)

At the center of this gospel reading is a conversation. It was of the memorable variety. It involved a peasant girl from a small town and a mighty messenger from God.
Cindy Koch
Cindy Koch
12/07/20

To Us a Child is Born: A Mighty God

He assumed the weakest form to do his greatest work.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
12/06/20

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-20 (Advent 3: Series B)

Whatever else may come, however worse it may get, the light has come and will come again.
Ken Sundet Jones
Ken Sundet Jones
12/04/20

Who was Anselm of Canterbury?

On this day in the year 1093, Anselm was consecrated as the archbishop of Canterbury.
Delwyn Campbell
Delwyn Campbell
12/03/20

For Those Who Wait: Abraham

Many of us have experienced what it feels like to wait and to remain patient this year. This Advent, we are reminded of how the saints before us experienced similar feelings of uncertainty, need, and hopeful expectation as they awaited - both faithfully and unfaithfully - for God to fulfill his promises.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
12/02/20

Advent Time

To a world enslaved to time (because it has no future), the Church's disregard for clocks and calendars is ridiculous.
Jay Sawrie
Jay Sawrie
12/02/20

Fear & Fruit Bearing

Bearing fruit is wonderful, but you do not stay a Christian through fruit-bearing. You bear fruit and are growing because you are united to Christ.
Scott Keith
Scott Keith
11/30/20

A Message for Giving Tuesday

We at 1517 are utterly committed to keeping the main thing, the main thing.
Peter Nafzger
Peter Nafzger
11/29/20

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 (Advent 2: Series B)

Mark makes no effort to impress listeners or win votes. His voice aims only to prepare those who hear it for the coming of the Lord.
1517 is a Christian non-profit (501(c)3) multi-media organization. Our mission is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free on account of the death and resurrection of Jesus alone.
1517.org
Search
Academy
Donate

1517 grants permission for our free online resources to be printed, photocopied, and otherwise used freely for private and church use. We require that authorship and source (1517.org) are referenced and maintained. These resources may not be sold or included in any publications for sale.