April 28
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PSALM 55 CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD
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 55:20-23
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GOD SUSTAINS THE RIGHTEOUS by ILMA
I come to you my Lord bringing all my burden and pain
A friend has dishonored the covenant he made
This person violated my trust and cunningly manipulated
It was a sly tactic to make me open up so I can be blindsided.
O my Lord, I cast my burden on you for I know you love me
You promised to sustain all those who are upright and godly
I have been devoted to you my Master and my Lord
I trust that you will sustain me to overcome this corrupt world.
I am human and weak and without you I can do nothing
So, I bring to you all that these betrayals have caused me
I trust that you will avenge me and let me endure all these
You are faithful to deliver your promises to all the righteous.
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REFLECTION
• This psalm began with David’s fear, fury from the friend’s betrayal. How can someone so fearful and furious end this psalm in a most trusting way to his Lord and Master?
Monthly Archives: April 2022
PSALM 55 -GOD SAVES THOSE WHO CALL ON HIM
April 27
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PSALM 55 -GOD SAVES THOSE WHO CALL ON HIM
12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me, then I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.
15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive;
for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
18 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. – Psalm 55:12-19
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BETRAYALS FROM A FRIEND by ILMA
When the enemy attacks or mocks me, it is anticipated
But when my closest friend does this, it is so unexpected
In true friendships, they commit to open up their hearts
All that you can give them, you will likely offer and share.
But if this friend deceives and betrays your trust, it hurts
It is as painful as a stab right through your already wounded heart
I cry out to God for comfort in this time of grief from this relationship
Lord, give me strength to forgive and move on to your next calling.
May you take pity on my soul that is so full of pain and sorrow
Pull me out of this pit that can easily lead and drag me to Sheol
Deliver and redeem me from this battlefield that is in my mind
Renew and restore my crushed spirit so it can once again trust.
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REFLECTION
• Why are betrayals between friends such a painful experience and process?
• What is the antidote to the deep hurt from betrayals from very close friends?
PSALM 35 GOD DELIGHTS IN HIS SERVANTS’ WELFARE
April 25
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PSALM 35 GOD DELIGHTS IN HIS SERVANTS’ WELFARE
26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
who magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
shout for joy and be glad
and say evermore,
“Great is the LORD,
who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long.– Psalm 35:26-28
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THE LORD CARES FOR HIS PEOPLE by ILMA
Let us praise the Lord who is love himself
He cares for those who are righteous and does his will
He makes sure that they are not put to shame
The Lord will protect those who honor his name.
Let all those who have troubles and suffering come to him
He will make their burden light and deliver them from sin
Great is the Lord who delights in the welfare of his servants
He is steadfast in his love and ensures their well-being.
Let us testify and declare all God gave us and be thankful
Without his grace and mercy, we will not be bountiful
Praise the Lord forever and always trust his providence
He is steadfast in his love, unchanging and full of compassion.
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REFLECTION
• This psalm started with David’s plea for deliverance and asking God to vindicate him, but he ends on a thankful note praising God for his provision. Why is it important for us to be honest in our circumstances but not be overcome by it?
• What was David teaching us in this psalm?
PSALM 35 BE NOT SILENT LORD
April 24
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PSALM 35 BE NOT SILENT LORD
17 How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! 18 I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. 20 For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. 21 They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!” 22 You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! 23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! 24 Vindicate me, O LORD, my God,
according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! 25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
– Psalm 35:17-25
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RESCUE US O LORD! by ILMA
My Lord, how long will you allow evildoers to destroy your people?
Do you not see how much havoc they have inflicted on the faithful?
I plead you to vindicate us from the wickedness that they generate
They do not care for others; it is deception that they propagate
They concoct lies and twist the truth so they can gain something
Awake and rescue us Lord from these people who habitually sins
Come, Lord, vindicate us and let them not have the upper hand
Let them not think that they are victorious in their wicked plans
Deliver us from the deceptions and manipulations they slyly invent
Show us your favor and grace by reverting back evil on each of them
We glorify you and look forward to your promise of deliverance
We thank you for your steadfast love and your constant protection
Manifest your presence when times of weakness and temptations arise
Strengthen your beloved people with much faith and enough endurance.
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REFLECTION
• Why did David sound as if God wasn’t making himself present in the situations he was experiencing in this psalm? Was he impatient with God in this prayer?
PSALM 35 THE LORD DELIVERS THE POOR & NEEDY
April 23
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PSALM 35 THE LORD DELIVERS THE POOR & NEEDY
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.
13 But I, when they were sick – I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing; 16 like profane mockers at a feast,
they gnash at me with their teeth. – Psalm 35: 9-15
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PRAYER FOR PROTECTION FROM MOCKERS by ILMA
My Lord, I come to you for deliverance, I revel at your mercy and grace
To the oppressed, crushed in spirit and broken hearted, you are close
Many unbelievers have inched their way to your communion of saints
I pray that you will not allow them to corrupt your faithful servants
They are wolves in sheep’s clothing that have entered your sheepfold
Keep them away from contaminating your flock and creating confusion
I ask you Lord to deal justly with those who perpetuate sorcery and evil
Especially those who cunningly device tactics to destroy your people
Give your servants discernment to expose such mockers among us
Keep us bold to confront and not tolerate the spirits that seduce
Do not let lovers of self be comfortable in the communion of saints
They will only use your resources for their own selfish agenda and gains
Let your word penetrate and cut through their hardened hearts
Do with them what needs to be done to stop their evil plans.
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REFLECTION
• Why must all Christians be wary of evil plots to infiltrate and corrupt the saints?
PSALM 35 LET THOSE WHO SEEK EVIL BE PUT TO SHAME!
April 22
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PSALM 35 LET THOSE WHO SEEK EVIL BE PUT TO SHAME!
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers!
Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!”
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!
7 For without cause they hid their net for me;
without cause they dug a pit for my life.
8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his destruction! – Psalm 35:1-8
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LORD, BRING JUSTICE TO YOUR PEOPLE by ILMA
Lord, take justice in your hands when wickedness beset your saints
Bring shame to those who plot and scheme evil and twist the truth
You are the God of my salvation, rescue me from their manipulation
Let them be like chaff before the wind, drive them away in oblivion
These evil men love to put themselves on a pedestal and be worshiped
Let their plans to deceive your people not emerge and be halted
They devise to scheme and control things to their gain
Let their tactics not take place, send quickly your angels
May your promise to defend your beloved servants ensue
Let them experience your wrath and bring us justice, Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think David prays like this when we are told to love our enemies?
• Why do you think this kind of prayer is Spirit and truth filled prayer?
PSALM 34 THE LORD REDEEMS HIS SERVANTS
April 21
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PSALM 34 THE LORD REDEEMS HIS SERVANTS
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. – Psalm 34:15-22
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DELIVERER OF THE RIGHTEOUS by ILMA
God favors all those who live in righteousness
He cares for every little thing that they encounter
When they cry out to him in the midst of adversities
He is fast to assist and free them from the devil’s tactics.
God turns his back on those who perpetuates evil and sin
He doesn’t tolerate wrongdoers to crush his beloved saints
The Lord is close to all those who are broken hearted
He also rescues those who are poor in spirit and rejected.
Though adversities and suffering afflict the righteous
The Lord is faithful to deliver them of all such hardships
He keeps all their bones intact and redeems his servants
He slays all those who plot evil and scheme to hurt his own people.
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REFLECTION
• Share a time that God delivered you from an evil scheme towards you.
PSALM 34 TURN AWAY FROM EVIL
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April 20
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PSALM 34 TURN AWAY FROM EVIL
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it. – Psalm 34:8-14
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ON GUARDING YOUR LIPS AND HEARTS by ILMA
Blessed are those who takes refuge in the Lord
They will lack no good thing in this world
All you saints, arise and see how good the Lord is
He blesses all those who fear him and listens to him.
All you servants of the Lord, guard your hearts and lips
Make sure no evil words or deceit comes out of it
Turn away from all wickedness and corruption
Seek peace and pursue it, don’t engage in division.
Examine your hearts at all times and be wary of deceit
When we act out of our nature, we are not far from sin
Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to react at all times
It teaches us to think highly of others instead of ourselves.
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REFLECTION
• What happens when we don’t guard our lips and hearts?
• Why does the psalmist advice us on watching what comes out of our mouths?
PSALM 34 MY SOUL MAKES ITS BOAST IN THE LORD
April 19
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PSALM 34 MY SOUL MAKES ITS BOAST IN THE LORD
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them. – Psalm 34:1-7
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WHEN I SOUGHT THE LORD by ILMA
I will glorify the Lord incessantly with my lips
My whole being will constantly seek him
To all the servants of the Lord; go and praise your God
Let your hearts abide in him and always walk in love.
When I sought the Lord, he heard me and answered
He pacified all my fears and freed me from shame
All who cried out to him during troubled times
He didn’t give me a deaf ear, but listened to all of them.
Those who serve the Lord and fear him are full of joy
Their faces become radiant and their eyes exudes love
When I sought the Lord, he surrounded angels around me
He delivered me from all evil and tactics of the enemy.
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REFLECTION
• Why should a believer make a habit of seeking the Lord and glorifying him according to this psalm?