May 10
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GOD HAS LISTENED
You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water;
Yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you,
14 That which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,
With the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats.
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer
Or removed his steadfast love from me! – Psalm 66:11-20
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This psalm recounts how God allowed suffering and pain in the lives of those whom He delivers. These trials and hardships are what God used to bring them out of trouble. It becomes a test of their faith and the source of strength and endurance to go through what comes their way. Verses 17-18 identifies what will be required for God to hear our prayers: fear of the Lord and giving up of sin. These are very essential requirements of answered prayer. Oftentimes, man do not follow such necessities when they lift up their voices to God. Many occasions, we fail to ask in line with his will. Thus, we end up not being able to be heard. God will never give us anything that will be detrimental to us. Have you ever asked God something and he listened?
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ADORATION: Praise a God who hears our prayers. He is full of Mercy and steadfast Love.
CONFESSION: Forgive me each time I ask something that isn’t what you want for me.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you Lord, for all your test so I can grow in faith and endurance.
SUPPLICATION: May all of God’s people recognize the importance of trials and hardships in life and learn to endure and grow their faith.
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REFLECTION
Monthly Archives: May 2020
SHOUT JOYFULLY GOD’S AWESOME DEEDS
May 9
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SHOUT JOYFULLY GOD’S AWESOME DEEDS!
Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name;
Give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.”
5 Come and see what God has done:
He is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him, 7 who rules by his might forever,
Whose eyes keep watch on the nations—let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 Who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. – Psalm 66:1-10
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When we shout out loud something, we are expressing the uncontainable emotion inside us. In this psalm, all the earth is summoned to shout for joy to God, to give him praise and all the glory. When we declare aloud all of God’s wonderful and awesome work, we bring him glory. Rejoicing is one manifestation of our thankfulness and delight in what God has given us. It is a way of blessing God for all the love he has showered us with and all the provisions he has given us. Verses 8-10 mentions how God has strengthened his people by testing and trying them as silver is tested through fire. It is a hymn of exultation over the deliverance of God to those who are faithful to him.
In our present day and age, do we shout joyfully God’s awesome deeds? How many believers actually make a habit of this? How many of us get consumed by the corruption of this world that we fail to even thank and acknowledge God for what we have received?
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord who is a generous Giver of all things that we need.
CONFESSION: Forgive me each time I take for granted opportunities to shout joyfully.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all that you have delivered me from Lord.
SUPPLICATION: May all of God’s people make a habit of shouting out joyfully God’s deeds.
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REFLECTION
• How can joyful shouting of God’s marvelous deeds change our perspective in life?
THE UPRIGHT SHALL RULE ILMA’S VLOG
May 8
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THE UPRIGHT SHALL RULE
Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations,
Though they called lands by their own names.12 Man in his pomp will not remain;
He is like the beasts that perish.13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
Yet after them people approve of their boasts.
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd,
And the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.
16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
And though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 His soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light.
20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
– Psalm 49:11-20
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This psalm of one of the sons of Korah reminds us of man’s mortality and that nothing in life is permanent. No matter how much properties they own with their names on their land titles, they will still perish and cannot take any of their wealth after their deaths. Those who live righteous lives on the other hand will enjoy the promise of God’s redemption from the power of hell. The psalmist gives us words of wisdom to not concern ourselves of things of this world especially of accumulating earthly possessions for it will not matter in the end anyway. Let us boast of how we can live holy lives while we are still on earth rather than concern ourselves with riches that doesn’t have value in eternity.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord, the source of Eternal life.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I become attach to earthly things.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for reminding me of my mortality.
SUPPLICATION: May we gather heavenly treasures instead of worldly matters.
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REFLECTION
• Why does man get so wrapped up with worldly stuff when it doesn’t last forever?
WORLDLY MATTERS DON’T MATTER ILMA’S VLOG
May 7
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WORLDLY MATTERS DON’T MATTER
Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
When the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 Those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life,
8 For the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,
9 That he should live on forever and never see the pit.
10 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish
And leave their wealth to others. – Psalm 49:1-10
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This psalm written by the sons of Korah is a great reminder for all mankind, low and high, rich and poor alike. We can never boast of our possessions or be consumed by wanting to have riches. In verse 4, we hear the psalmist suggests the importance of listening to wisdom instead of living in fear. Just like the book of Ecclesiastes says in the first chapter, everything is meaningless; everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. The psalm talks about the fact that no one have guarantees in this life. They can never ransom another life. Both the poor and the wealthy, the wise and the fools all perish. The rich cannot bring their wealth when they die. Only dependence on God can bring them salvation. Eternal life is their only guarantee, so why depend on worldly matters instead of spiritual things?
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord Almighty, the God of our salvation!
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I focus on worldly things and boast about it.
THANKSGIVING: Remind me to boast only of my dependence on you.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers remember that only in God will they have eternity.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to remember that worldly matters won’t matter in eternity?
TELL EVERYONE GOD’S WONDERFUL DEEDS ILMA’S VLOG
May 6
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TELL EVERYONE GOD’S WONDERFUL DEEDS
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.
15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
In the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
The wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion.
17 The wicked shall return to Sheol all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
And the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
19 Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! – Psalm 9:11-20
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Whether we tell other Christians or unbelievers the wondrous works of God, we are declaring his majesty and power. The decision to give witness to God’s acts of mercy and grace is an act of worship in itself. The Lord never forgets these acts of humility that declares our nothingness in comparison to his greatness. It is a manifestation of our service and obedience to his command to make him first among all things. In this psalm, David recounts all the things the Lord has done for them and how he looks forward to those promises He gave his people, especially the forgotten ones such as the needy. David is hopeful that God will bring them justice and mercy.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for all his wondrous deeds. Glory and praise to Him alone.
CONFESSION: I will speak of God’s goodness to as much people as I can.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all your faithfulness to deliver your promises to us.
SUPPLICATION: May we only speak of your wondrous deeds instead of complaining.
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REFLECTION
• What happens to our hearts when we speak of God’s wondrous deeds to others?
I WILL RECOUNT YOUR WONDERFUL DEEDS ILMA’S VLOG
May 5
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I WILL RECOUNT YOUR WONDERFUL DEEDS
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
You have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.
5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
Their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.
7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice,
8 And he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.
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. – Psalm 9:1-10
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David manifests throughout the psalms his worship of the Lord. It shows his humility and love and obedience to the Master of his life. In this psalm, he recounts the many wonderful deeds that the Lord has extended to him. He uses all this remembrance to praise God and to remind himself of God’s steadfast love and deliverance from wickedness and evil. Shouldn’t all of God’s people do the same? Oftentimes, we get consumed by troubles and suffering that we forget to recall those times that the Lord has shown us favor, mercy and grace. We automatically rely on ourselves and problem-solve instead of counting the many times God had been faithful to help and deliver us from evil.
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ADORATION: Praise you Lord as you continually rescue your beloved people.
CONFESSION: Forgive me whenever I fail to recount your wondrous deeds in the past.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving me unconditional love though I don’t deserve it.
SUPPLICATION: May we all remember the times God rescued us and walked us through.
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REFLECTION
• How do you think recounting the many good deeds God did changes our views?
WHAT SHALL I RENDER TO THE LORD? ILMA’S VLOG
May 4
________________________________________WHAT SHALL I RENDER TO THE LORD?
What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
And call on the name of the LORD.18 I will pay my vows to the LORD
In the presence of all his people,19 in the courts of the house of the LORD,
In your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! – Psalm 116:12-19
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When you love someone, don’t you do something for them to show that love? In this psalm, the people of God are urged to show their love for the Lord by: lifting up the cup of salvation and call on his name. Declaring our love for the Lord in the presence of all other believers is another suggestion that is mentioned in this psalm. If we utter such declarations of love and devotion to Jesus even in the midst of unbelievers, we are shining the truth and the light to them. Making our Lord our Master and Savior means that we are only to serve him and no other gods or idols. As servants of Christ, we are to bow down to him alone and follow him. We are to love one another as he first loved us. We are supposed to prioritize him in everything we do. We are to focus on him despite all the things that we cannot understand and have control over. We need to surrender all to him who knows and sees all things and is the Almighty and Power behind all creation.
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ADORATION: I bless and bow down only to my Master, Maker, Lord and Savior Jesus!
CONFESSION: I will show my love to the Lord by following him and taking up my cross daily.
THANKSGIVING: I am forever grateful for your sacrifice on the cross for me.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers not only say they love the Lord, but live for him as well. May they obey and live within his will.
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REFLECTION
• Why is obedience and faithfulness and loyalty important in our Christian lives?
• What happens when we only say we love God and yet not obey and live for him?
I LOVE THE LORD ILMA’S VLOG
May 3
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I LOVE THE LORD
I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Our God is merciful.6 The LORD preserves the simple;
When I was brought low, he saved me.7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” – Psalm 116:1-11
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Why we should love the Lord? Apart from being our Maker, he does so many personal favors for each one of his beloved children, such as hear our voices and listen to our requests. The Lord loves us so much that he is inclined to listen, therefore, he wants us to call on him constantly. In the midst of a troubled and chaotic world we live, we are daily exposed to stressors and anxieties. The more we are in the midst of adversities, the more the Lord wants us to lean on him and not on our own strength and understanding. Because God’s nature is gracious, righteous and merciful, it is only fitting that we ask him for deliverance and not attempt to rely on our own problem-solving skills or planning. God’s generosity towards us have been written down in history He has shown his steadfast love and faithfulness. We ought to walk before the Lord while we are still here on earth. It’s the only way to navigate this world.
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ADORATION: You are the creator of all things, the Sovereign and the Merciful Lord.
CONFESSION: Forgive me whenever I automatically think and decide on my own.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the manifestations of love that you show me.
SUPPLICATION: May we love the Lord as much as he loves us!
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REFLECTION
• Do you declare and show your love for the Lord for others to see?
HAVE REGARD FOR THIS VINE ILMA’S VLOG
May 2
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HAVE REGARD FOR THIS VINE
The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
So that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? 13 The boar from the forest ravages it,
And all that move in the field feed on it.14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,
15 The stock that your right hand planted,
And for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
May they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
The son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!
19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
– Psalm 80:10-19
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Matthew Henry comments on this psalm about the church being represented as a vine and a vineyard. The root of this vine is Christ, the branches are believers. The church is like a vine, needing support, but spreading and fruitful. If a vine does not bring forth fruit, no tree is so worthless. He says further that we are planted in a well-cultivated garden with every means of being fruitful in works of righteousness, but useless leaves of profession and the empty boughs of notions and forms abound far more than real devotion. John 15:5 reiterates the importance of the branches clinging to the vine If a man remains in Christ, he will bear fruits, but if he turns his back, he will be fruitless.
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ADORATION: Lord, you are the Vine that allows us to bear fruits. We praise you Lord.
CONFESSION: I will pursue to remain in the vine so that I may be fruitful.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for being the vine that causes me to multiply gifts.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers be faithful and remain in the vine which is Christ Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• How can we maintain to constantly be abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ?
LET YOUR FACE SHINE THAT WE MAY BE SAVED! ILMA’S VLOG
May 1
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LET YOUR FACE SHINE THAT WE MAY BE SAVED!
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
Stir up your might and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
And given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved! 8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
You drove out the nations and planted it.9 You cleared the ground for it;
It took deep root and filled the land. – Psalm 80:1-9
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Matthew Henry’s commentary on Psalm 80:1-8 says that He that dwelleth upon the mercy-seat, is the good Shepherd of his people. But we can neither expect the comfort of his love, nor the protection of his arm, unless we partake of his converting grace. If he is really angry at the prayers of his people, it is because, although they pray, their ends are not right, or there is some secret sin indulged in them, or he will try their patience and perseverance in prayer. When God is displeased with his people, we must expect to see them in tears, and their enemies in triumph. There is no salvation but from God’s favour; there is no conversion to God but by his own grace.
It is interesting how human nature is bent on praying for things that may not be really good for us in the long run. We must aim instead to let the Spirit lead us in prayer.
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ADORATION: Lord, you are the light that brightens our whole world. Praise be to you.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when my prayers are not right.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for the light that you shine on me.
SUPPLICATION: May your spirit reveal to us only what you want me to pray for.
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REFLECTION
• How can we align our prayers with what God wants us to pray for?