January 20
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FOOLS SAY “THERE IS NO GOD”
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is none who does good, not even one.
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
Who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?
5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. – Psalm 14:1-7
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Psalm 14 is a community lament according to the ESV Study Bible. Humans in general do not seek after God and thus they treat God’s people cruelly. If you read Psalm 53, you’ll find some similarities to the content of it. It reminds believers that we need to be able to run to God because our human nature is so corrupt. It is a shame to read this Psalm especially for God’s people because it seems like we are no different from unbelievers.
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ADORATION: Praise to the God of Abraham, to our Heavenly Father, who promised to rescue us from corruption and bring us back to Him.
CONFESSION: I repent of the times I allow myself to be tainted by this world, Lord. Forgive me when I forget that my body, mind and spirit is yours and not mine.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your mercy and faithfulness. You grant us forgiveness when we repent and confess.
SUPPLICATION: May all your holy people remember never to forget that there is a God and not behave like other pagans. You separated us from all this worldly people, may we always walk in obedience to your laws.
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REFLECTION
• How can you convince an unbeliever that we need to be different from them?
Monthly Archives: January 2020
LET EVERYTHING PRAISE THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 19
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LET EVERYTHING PRAISE THE LORD
Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
Praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; Praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD! -Psalm 150:1-6
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ESV Study Bible Footnote on this Psalm: This hymn closes the Psalter with its call for “everything that has breath” to praise the Lord with every king of jubilant accompaniment. The list of musical instruments generates the impression of loud song and ceaseless motion- the worshiper’s whole resources offering praise to God.
Sadly, some believers do not praise the Lord as much as this Psalm encourages us to do. Very few churches among many denominations actually practice this kind of worship. I think that our voices (which is a musical instrument as well) plus all the other instruments should be giving glory to the Maker of all things.
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ADORATION: Shout to the Lord to praise Him. He is Lord of all creation, Lord Almighty. He is Worthy to be praised. Praise the Lord.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I am lukewarm or cold with my stance. I want to praise you and worship you with everything I have but sometimes I forget that you want us to have passion to adore you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the different instruments that you inspired people to create. Thank you for the gifts of music and dancing which we must use to worship you.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers be exulting you in music, dance and all art forms. May all our natural and spiritual gifts point only to you.
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REFLECTION
• Why are we supposed to use our voices and bodies and other instruments to praise the Lord? Why not just be quiet in our seats?
• What happens when we joyfully worship?
BLESSED IS EVERYONE WHO FEARS THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 18
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BLESSED IS EVERYONE WHO FEARS THE LORD
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
You shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
5 The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel!
-Psalm 128:1-6
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Wisdom psalms are called as such because they are like the genre used in Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes. Wisdom literature tends to give us comparisons of life choices made by those who turn back to God as a contrast to those who obey him. Psalm 128 gives us a clear overview of the blessings that someone who fears the Lord, can experience. We see a picture of the bounty of a good family and a long life that dedicated and faithful believers will receive.
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ADORATION: Praise to you our Living God. You are a generous giver who makes sure that those who bring you honor are blessed. You are so faithful and the source of all things.
CONFESSION: Whenever I fail to honor you, please forgive me. My flesh may be working against my desire to please you, grant me mercy when those times happen.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your bountiful blessings to all those who keep a straight path to you and to all those who make you first in their lives.
SUPPLICATION: May your grace abound to those who faithfully carry their crosses and live their lives to please you. May you grant strength to those who struggle to follow the only road that leads to you. May those who are lost, find their way to discover your unconditional love and come back to you Lord.
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REFLECTION
• What blessings have you received as a result of your reverence for the Lord?
• How is “fear of the Lord” the beginning of wisdom as stated in Proverbs 9:10?
RESTORE OUR FORTUNES O LORD Poem Devotional
January 17
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RESTORE OUR FORTUNES O LORD
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with shouts of joy;
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
Shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
– Psalm 126:1-6
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This psalm is another song of ascents (sung while they are going up on the hill where the Temple is). It is a recollection of how the Lord has renewed them from their former struggles and once again requests Him to do the same. As if in a dream, they are declaring what the Lord will give them once again as He did in the former. A psalm full of expectancy and faith in the Lord’s generosity and mercy.
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ADORATION: We praise the God who is most generous and faithful to deliver his people. We look up to a God of mercy and who is Sovereign.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I become so discouraged and fail to have a hopeful expectancy on your unfailing mercy and love.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all that you have done in our lives. It is amazing how you continually provide for all our needs even though we don’t deserve it.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people continue to look forward to the hope that only comes from knowing and believing in your promises.
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REFLECTION
• How can a believer avoid to be pulled down from discouragements and struggles?
• Why is looking back on the miracles that God has done for you important in maintaining a hopeful expectant attitude?
THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS GOOD Poem Devotional
January 16
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THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS GOOD
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man
To see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt;
There is none who does good, not even one.
4 Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon God? 5 There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror!
For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;
You put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. – Psalm 53:1-6
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Have you ever wondered why God chose many shady or weak characters in the bible to be his people? People like Moses, David, Rahab, Jacob, Rachel, and many more depict their natural inclination to follow their own desires and exhibit bad choices and traits. This psalm is identical to Psalm 14, which laments how mankind doesn’t seek after God which is why God’s people are treated cruelly.
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ADORATION: We praise you our Father in heaven, Maker of all things. You are Almighty and powerful. We adore only You who is the Giver of Life.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord when I follow my flesh and not make you first in all things.
THANKSGIVING: I am grateful for all that I have and help me to be thankful as well for all that I don’t have. You always see the big picture and I don’t.
SUPPLICATION: May all people of God remember to make You the focus of everything in their lives. Grant us a spirit who seeks after you.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to be aware of our natural inclination to sin?
• What happens when we think we are good and not recognize that it is only God’s Spirit who can make us see our need for God?
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD Poem Devotional
January 15
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THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.3He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. – Psalm 23:1-6
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This psalm is my mother-in-law’s favorite among all the other psalms. It was read in her funeral service and what was memorable from her pastor’s service was how she has chosen the Lord to be her shepherd. He said that by choosing Jesus as her Lord and Shepherd, she has invested in her eternal life. Even though it was a sad occasion losing her in our lives, I had peace knowing the she is taken cared of and has eternal life.
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ADORATION: You are my shepherd Lord. Praise the Lord for your care and love. You are the giver of eternal life. You are worthy.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I give in to my flesh and want something that belongs to this world and when I allow fear to creep into my heart.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for choosing me to be yours and for faithfully rescuing me and keeping me on the narrow path that leads to you. The table you prepare for me in your Father’s house is a great manifestation of your faithfulness. Thank you for loving me.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people be reminded of the goodness and mercy that follows all those who walk in Your ways. May fear be replaced by love during the whole time that we live in this world.
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REFLECTION
• How is courage defined in this psalm?
• Why is Jesus is enough for all those who believe Him? Why can’t they want more?
HOW LONG O LORD? Poem Devotional
January 14
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HOW LONG O LORD?
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
And have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
Lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
– Psalm 13:1-6
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In this Psalm, we can sense the condition of David’s discouragement. It almost feels like closest to despair. He pours out his heart to God how tired and weary he feels as he is being pursued by his enemies. Despite the condition of his heart, at the end of this Psalm, he is still able to desire to sing to the Lord for the past blessings God has poured on him.
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ADORATION: Praise be to a God who never abandons us and always protects us. He is a shield to all those who run to him.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord whenever I allow despair and hopelessness to enter my heart. I repent of times when I succumb to negativity which equals to lack of trust in you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the negative circumstances that come my way. It helps me to be refined and stay humble.
SUPPLICATION: May all those who feel discouraged re-focus to Jesus so that they will not believe the lies that are shot at them by the devil.
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REFLECTION
• How can believers overcome despair, depression and discouragement?
• Why is it important to be honest with God? How does God look at this honesty?
• Should a believer trust his own emotions and feelings? Why or Why not?
THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED Poem Devotional
January 13
________________________________________THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD and on his law, he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish. – Psalm 1:1-6
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According to the ESV study bible, the first psalm serves as the gateway into the entire book of Psalms. Those who would worship God genuinely must embrace hi law. They must love the law and see themselves as the heirs and stewards of its story of redemption. This Psalm reiterates some Proverbs as well which show us how to follow the path that the Lord wants us to take and stay away from the wide road to destruction. People of God are likened to a tree that yields much fruit which nourishes others into God’s kingdom.
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ADORATION: Lord, you are so good and so faithful to lead the way to your kingdom. Praise the Lord for his guidance and truth.
CONFESSION: Forgive me each time I take detours and not stay on the path of salvation. Sometimes I listen to my desires and selfish nature. Help me to become more like you daily.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your word that constantly lead us to your kingdom. Thank you for bringing people to us to lead to you and to get us to do your will.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers choose the road that leads to you and never get distracted by the tricks of the father of lies. May we keep our focus only on you. May the Spirit help us discern when we are being waylaid.
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REFLECTION
• How can you know if someone is a genuine believer?
• Why is it important to meditate on God’s laws day and night?
GOD’S BLESSINGS ON MAN’S EFFORTS Poem Devotional
January 12
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GOD’S BLESSINGS ON MAN’S EFFORTS
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
Eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
– Psalm 127:1-5
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A special group of psalms comprising Psalms 120—134 are called Songs of Ascents or also called Pilgrim Songs. The city of Jerusalem is situated on a high hill, that’s why they are called such as they sing these psalms as they were climbing up the hill. The theme of each Song of Ascent offers much encouragement for those who seek to worship God. Psalm 127’s theme is “God’s blessings on Man’s Efforts.” This is a good reminder for all of us. Without God’s blessings, all our efforts will be in vain. Without acknowledging that he is the source of everything, we will be distracted to focus on our efforts instead of on God who gives us all things.
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ADORATION: Praise be to the God who is the source of all things. All blessings and favor come from Him, who is creator of all things.
CONFESSION: Whenever I forget to acknowledge your work in all that I do and all that I have, forgive me Lord.
THANKSGIVING: What a pleasure to receive your gifts and favors despite my sinfulness, Lord. I burst with a grateful heart that lifts up your name forever.
SUPPLICATION: May all of your creation be reminded of the generosity that you so bestow on all those who are faithful to you. May the acknowledgment of such kindness motivate us to give generously to one another as well.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think that all efforts are in vain without God’s blessings?
• What happens when we remove God in the equation of our lives?
THE LORD SURROUNDS HIS PEOPLE Poem Devotional
January 11
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THE LORD SURROUNDS HIS PEOPLE
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So, the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the LORD will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel! – Psalm 125:1-5
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The psalmist gives us a picture of how the Lord surrounds his people likening it to the mountains surrounding Jerusalem. The picture of a fortress or a stronghold is what we can imagine in this psalm. God is a protector from enemies and infiltrators around us. He ensures our safety and protects us so we can experience peace even in the midst of everything that may distract or derail our walk with Him.
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ADORATION: Blessings to the Lord. May He continue to shine His light on all of those who are faithful to Him. Glory to the Lord of hosts.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord each time I rely on my own strength, especially when I delude myself to think that I can do anything without you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for the strength and protection you provide all your people. Thank you that you provide even though we forget to ask at times.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people recognize the strongest fortress ever on earth, that is your love and faithfulness.
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REFLECTION
• How can we remind ourselves of the fortress that God has given us each day of our lives, especially during times of attacks from the enemy?