July 9

PSALM 55

   He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.
¹⁹ God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah
    because they do not change and do not fear God.

²⁰ My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant.
²¹ His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart;
    his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

²² Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;
    he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

²³ But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction;
    men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.

                                                                                        – Psalm 55:18-23

PSALM 55 CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are feeling down and stressed, do not feel hopeless

For the Lord your God will never abandon all the righteous

No matter how bad your predicament is, cast your cares on him

He will listen to all the pleas of those who love him and hate sin

Believe in his promises for protection and shield for all his people

You will realize that your burden will become light and bearable

Trust in him alone for he knows every detail of your lifecycle

He only allows things to happen to you that you can handle.

Humans tend to solve their problems on their own and don’t usually get help until they are so desperate. It is in the sinful nature of man to be proud and be independent, but God made us all for his own purpose. The reason for our existence is for us to be in relation to him, our Creator. He made us in his own image so that we can eventually reflect him in our lives. The fall of Adam and Eve changed all that original plan that God had for mankind. God gave us dominion to rule over the earth and subdue it. Adam and Eve were provided all they needed and enjoyed God’s presence regularly until the serpent came into the picture and changed the plan of God for mankind. The disobedience they committed changed the design that they were made for. They were made to walk with God and depend on him for everything, but the original sin totally changed their God-dependence to independence and self-indulgence.

In this psalm, the author reminds us to cast our burdens to God. When we run to God and trust him in all things, we are going against our sinful nature of isolation and independence. Like little children who are helpless and can’t do without the parent, God expects us to have that same dependency on him. It is his original purpose for humans, to be connected and dependent on him and not on ourselves.

REFLECTION

• Why do you think we stopped depending on God when we became adults?

July 8

PSALM 62

For God alone my soul waits in silence;   from him comes my salvation.
² He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

³ How long will all of you attack a man   to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
⁴ They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths   but inwardly they curse. Selah

⁵ For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
⁶ He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
⁷ On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us. Selah – Psalm 62:1-8

PSALM 62 TRUST IN YOUR ROCK & YOUR SALVATION

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you rely and trust in the Lord, you will be fortified

No victory awaits your enemy for they will be shaken

God alone will be your strength and your fortification

Trust in your God who is your rock and your salvation

If you trust in yourself and in other men, you’ll be doomed

But if you rely and depend on God, you will be assured.

In these following verses, David explicitly described his overwhelm from the attacks of his enemies. We can’t particularly identify who or what was historically going on at the time he wrote this psalm. Some scholars say that it was written when Saul was pursuing him and some sources say that it was Absalom, his own son who was plotting to overthrow him. This psalm starts with focus on the character of God which David described as his rock, his salvation and his fortress. This psalm sounds like a Shakespearean soliloquy where he speaks out his thoughts and beliefs. David is one of my favorite characters in the bible because he is so honest about his own feelings and fear. He doesn’t run away from what he perceives or sense, but faces all the things that are confronting him with much courage and faith in his Lord. There are varied emotions presented here such as fear, anxiety, depression but at the same time he also looks upon the Lord’s promises. When he focuses on God, the fear is replaced by assurance and knowledge that his God is bigger and mightier than any of his enemies.

As he laments over his predicament, he also rejoices knowing that God is on his side. In verse 8 David exhorts all those who are hearing this psalm about trusting God alone. His faith shines in this psalm which Paul reiterates in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 when he said that when he is weak, then he is strong. The only way we can be strong is if we run to our rock and our salvation in Jesus. On our own, we can never defeat our enemies or overcome our anxieties and fears. Trusting God who is bigger than us and who knows all things brings that strength in us.

REFLECTION

·       How is admitting your own weaknesses a form of praising and trusting the Lord?

July 7

PSALM 112

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!
² His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
⁵ It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.
⁶ For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.
⁷ He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
⁸ His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

                                                                                        – Psalm 112:1-8

PSALM 112 A FIRM HEART FROM TRUSTING GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you have the fear of the Lord, you will delight in his laws

You love God and don’t look at his commandments as rules to follow

Because you love him, you have a desire to always please him

You allow the Spirit to transform your heart and begin to hate sin

As you trust in the Lord your God, you receive a heart that is firm

It doesn’t compromise and follow cultures; it sees sin for what it is

The righteous will not be moved; they triumph over the wicked

They don’t take part in evil, instead, they expose them.

A firm heart is not something a human being can manufacture.  It is the result of believing, loving and trusting the Lord. Those who do not know the Lord are easily tempted to sin because they have no loyalty and allegiance to God. They are unstable and changeable which is exactly the opposite of God’s character. They lack the discipline to follow through with what is hard and easily gives up when things are not comfortable and convenient. On the other hand, a true believer is stirred by the Holy Spirit to choose what is right and what is pleasing to God.

In this psalm, the anonymous author alludes to the benefit of trusting God. Those who rely and anchor their lives on God live in uprightness and constant fear of the Lord. This psalm is almost a reiteration of David’s Psalm 1 where he describes the differences between the blessed and the wicked. As Psalm 1 describes the righteous as delighted in the word of God, this psalm also says the same thing. But the author enumerates more benefits in this Psalm. He points out that the offsprings of the righteous and those who trust in God are poured out riches and prosperity. They see the light and do not stay in the old life which is covered in darkness. Most striking of these benefits is having a firm heart when we trust the Lord our God. Trusting God is one of the ways we can truly show our allegiance and love for our Maker. Without trust, our relationship with God won’t grow deep.

REFLECTION

• Give examples how a firm heart is manifested in a believer’s life.

July 6

ISAIAH 26

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.4 Trust in the LORD forever,

for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

5 For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city.

He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.

6 The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.”

7 The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous.

8 In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you;

your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul.  – Isaiah 26:3-8

ISAIAH 26 TRUSTING GOD BRINGS PERFECT PEACE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As you stay faithful and continue to trust in the Lord

You will observe that your heart and mind turn calm

Since you no longer rely on yourself, anxiety leaves you

You begin to be humble and know that God is in control

Trusting God brings you perfect peace and endurance

It grows your faith and starves your bent on impatience.

Anxiety plagues our world today. There are many distractions and a lack of the knowledge of God in our world that leads to constant chaos and turmoil. In this information age, we begin to have an overload of things that are not truly important for us. We forget our purpose in life and it becomes meaningless. We pursue things that are all fleeting as the book of Ecclesiastes presents to us. Without the knowledge of God and the absence of purpose in our lives, we will always generate anxiety and worry. Where does all these unrest stem from? It usually comes from our sinful nature. By nature, we want to know things, understand it and have control over them. We rely on our own understanding which are so limited that we often fail to see many aspects of what is truly going on around us.

In these following verses in Isaiah, he emphasizes the benefit of trusting the Lord. Perfect peace is the aftermath of dependence on God. It is the opposite when we trust in ourselves or other humans. He shows us that God is an everlasting rock, a sure foundation. When we rely on the Lord, we begin to recognize his sovereignty which humbles us and keeps us focused on his majesty and greatness. Not only do we gain perfect peace, but we reap the knowledge that only comes from those who fear God. We get to deepen our faith and our hearts become softened and long for those that pleases God. It gives us a way of strengthening our weakness and discerning the evil plots that are constantly at work while we are in this world. If we don’t trust the Lord, we will have a hard time navigating this cruel and corrupt world. But if we come to God and trust our heavenly Father, he will provide for all that we need.

REFLECTION

• Why do you think we get more anxious and unstable when we rely on our own strength?

July 4

PSALM 56

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; 

I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

⁵ All day long they injure my cause;
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
⁶ They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.⁷ For their crime will they escape?
    In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

⁸ You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call.
    This I know, that God is for me. – Psalm 56:3-9

PSALM 56 TRUST GOD WHEN YOU’RE AFRAID

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

In the midst of danger, God’s people know where to turn

They don’t rely on their understanding but run to God instead

They are aware of the power of the One who made all things

They keep their eyes on Jesus, the source of all strength

Trust the Lord even if you are overwhelmed; He’ll always be there

He will never leave or forsake you; he is always after your welfare.

David had many enemies wanting his head. We hear in this psalm that he is overwhelmed with fear. What do you do when you get into this kind of dilemma? Most of us, if I am being honest, would probably be so distressed and frozen to do anything. Maybe, depression would set in when we focus on the reasons why we are being hunted. Interestingly, David was a faithful king, but Saul’s jealousy paved the way for his life of running and living in caves. What did David do in these distressing and fearful times? Instead of wallowing in fear and pity for himself, he stood on the promises of God. I love how honest David was to cry out to God and tell the Lord all the things he is going through. Instead of complaining and grumbling, he recalls that God is aware of every detail that is happening in his life. He focuses on how much God loves him and recalled how God would keep count of all his enemies and store all his tears in a bottle. What intimate knowledge of his God! Do we have that kind of relationship with our Lord? Do we honestly declare our difficulties and humbly lay it down to God?

In this psalm, David prays for all the fear that he is going through. Instead, he runs to God and continues to faithfully trust in Him. Like a child to his father, he goes to the person who would know how to deal with his enemies and who is capable of protecting him. He declares his dependence on God in the most fearful and adverse times of his life.

REFLECTION

·       Share a time when you were overwhelmed with fear and remembered to run to the Lord.

July 2

PSALM 9

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

¹¹ Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!
    Tell among the peoples his deeds!
¹² For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

¹³ Be gracious to me, O Lord!
    See my affliction from those who hate me,
    O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
¹⁴ that I may recount all your praises,
    that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
    I may rejoice in your salvation. – Psalm 9:9-14

PSALM 9 TRUST IN GOD ALONE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you trust in God alone, you will not be abandoned

He is a fortress for all those who have been forgotten

Put your trust in God and not in any idol or human being

He is the Lord Almighty who is gracious, loving and amazing

His love for you is unconditional and never-ending

Trust in God alone for if you do, you will be contended.

We can easily trust ourselves but to trust in God can pose many challenges to many people, especially those who do not know God. Some people trust in their wealth, knowledge, power and many other idols which do not last or truly give us a guarantee or assurance in life. Many unbelievers do not have a clue as to their purposes in life. We become so accustomed to the world’s system of believing in the “self” instead of a higher power who knows more than ourselves. We all live our lives assuming that we know a lot of things when in reality we often struggle with trying to make sense of many things. By nature, we are so arrogant and rely on our own skills and understanding which sometimes cancel other people’s opinions or expertise. Then we become disillusioned if these idols we trust do not live up to our expectations.

In this psalm, the writer wants us to trust in God alone because he is a stronghold. A stronghold is a fortress that shields us from enemies and attackers. If we trust in God alone, we will be assured of total safety and protection, but if we trust in something else, we won’t have that guarantee since no one loves us more than our Maker.

REFLECTION

• What do most people trust in our world today and why do you think they rely on them?

June 30

1 PETER 2

¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. – 1 Peter 2:17-25

1 PETER 2 RESPECTING OTHERS SHOWS LOVE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As servants of Christ, you will possess the fear of the Lord

This reverence manifests when you consider all his laws

Because of God’s love for you, you can love others too

This love is shown both to the lovable and the unlovable

You will begin to have patience and endure your adversities

You no longer protect yourself but go to God during difficulties

You treat others as God treats you and begin to see God’s image in them

You start to accept your difference from others and become resilient.

If I were to ask you “What is the biggest proof that someone loves you?”, what would your response be? Is it to be loved back or having all your needs met? Most of the world would probably answer with being loved back or having their needs met. This kind of expectation is usual for those who do not know the Lord. But for a Christian, we were given a clear instruction as to how to love. It is in what Jesus did for the whole world that we learn about sacrificial and unselfish love. In other words, we don’t think of yourself first, but we are genuinely interested in others too. We think of other people’s welfare and interests and their needs. Mother Theresa championed this when she gave her life to serve others. Unconditional love as modeled to us by the Lord Jesus Christ himself would mean that we are able to sacrifice our own life for the sake of others. This concept would be counter-intuitive to the world system which always prioritizes the self.

In this account, Peter speaks of the importance of honoring everyone, loving the communion of saints, fearing the Lord and submitting to authorities. Respect is a crucial ingredient in a believer’s life. If we don’t have it, it would mean that we have missed what unconditional love is. Honoring and respecting others would be a deficit in our lives. When we fear God, we will honor one another as well.

REFLECTION

·       Why do you think honor and respect are novelties in our world today?