May 29
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PSALM 88 LET MY PRAYER COME BEFORE YOU
O LORD, God of my salvation,
I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry!
3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one set loose among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
for they are cut off from your hand.
6 You have put me in the depths of the pit,
in the regions dark and deep.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah– Psalm 88:1-7
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I COME TO YOU LORD WHEN MY SOUL IS FULL OF TROUBLE BY ILMA
I come pouring out my anguish and distress to you my Lord
Hear out my plea for I am overcome with troubles in this world
Day in and day out, so many forces go against my quest for peace
There is so much corruption around and an abundance of injustice
How long will you let me be marinated in such wickedness?
I cry out to you Lord, deliver me from such unrighteousness
Give me courage to face the wrath that you have laid upon me
All those who used to be my friend have become an enemy
I have been weak and am overwhelmed with much sorrow
Help me to rely on you alone and not worry about tomorrow
Grant me wisdom to never lose hope no matter how grim it is
I believe that you are always there to deliver me and overcome sin.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it wise to go to the Lord when you are beset by troubles and pain?
Monthly Archives: May 2022
PSALM 120 DELIVERANCE FROM LYING LIPS & DECEITFUL TONGUE
May 28
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PSALM 120 DELIVERANCE FROM LYING LIPS & DECEITFUL TONGUE
In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
2 Deliver me, O LORD,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you,
and what more shall be done to you,
you deceitful tongue?
4 A warrior’s sharp arrows,
with glowing coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war! – Psalm 120:1-7
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DELIVER US FROM LIARS AND DECEIVERS by ILMA
Lord, look, I am surrounded by many liars and deceivers
They inched their way to your family of believers
In my anguish and agony, I come to you for rescue
Help your people to detect right away what is askew
Do not let their cunning schemes develop or progress
Lord, hinder their plans to make your saints transgress.
Free me Lord! I have lived with many unbelievers and liars
I am so exhausted by their baits and sly plans to attack
Punish the wicked people whatever it takes to protect the faithful
I plead you to deliver us from all the tactics of Satan and his demons
Grant your people peace even in the midst of war and suffering
Cover us with your love; give us resilience to face these adversities.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it the responsibility of Christians to stay away from liars and deceivers?
PSALM 47 GOD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH
May 27
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PSALM 47 GOD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! – Psalm 47:1-9
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SHOUT TO GOD WITH LOUD SONGS OF JOY by ILMA
Exult and hail our God, who is King over all the earth
He alone is to be revered and praised; he is the only true God
Raise your hands to praise your Maker; he made you in his own image
Shout out loud and give glory to the Most High; he is ruler of all age.
Sing hallelujah; clap your hands, sound your trumpets
God is sovereign and he reigns over all realms
All things belong to God; he created every creature on earth
All must praise him; a God who is generous and full of steadfast love.
All you people of God, do not forget to worship and give him thanks
He has dominion over you and all things in heaven and on earth
Pledge your allegiance to the only one who can give you deliverance
He promises eternal life to all those who fear and give him reverence.
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REFLECTION
• How can singing and shouting out loud to God be a manifestation of worship?
• Why do you think God created music? What is its purpose?
• What can you say about the modern worship in our current age in the Evangelical, Pentecostal and other denominations?
• Do you think God is glorified in the modern Christian songs of praise?
PSALM 80 HAVE REGARD FOR THIS VINE LORD
May 26
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PSALM 80 HAVE REGARD FOR THIS VINE LORD
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.
10 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 80:8-19
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LET YOUR HAND BE ON THE RIGHTEOUS by ILMA
O Lord, we come to your throne for deliverance and vindication
These evil people have trampled on us and kept us in oppression
Look down from heaven and see; your people are unjustly treated
Let your hand be on the righteous and avenge your faithful servants.
The enemy has spitted its venom on all the righteous people of God
Have regard for your faithful ones Lord, let them not be overcome
Give us life and courage so we can call upon your name continuously
Restore us O Lord God of hosts, shine your face on us constantly.
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REFLECTION
• Who is the vine that is constantly mentioned in this psalm by Asaph?
• Why was the psalmist pleading God to have regard for this vine in verse 14?
PSALM 80 STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US!
May 25
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PSALM 80 STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US!
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!
– Psalm 80:1-7
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RESTORE US AND LET YOUR FACE SHINE O LORD by ILMA
O Lord, hear me out as I plead you my cause
You are the Lord Almighty, the God of Hosts
Come and bring to your people restoration
Let me feel your presence during this period of depression
How long will you be angry at your people’s prayers?
Please do not cut us out from your loving presence.
Let your face shine upon us, O just and merciful God
Without your face shining on us, we won’t have joy
We have been drowning in tears and feeling abandoned
Grant us grace and have your presence be manifest
Forgive us all our sinful nature and give us strength to hold on
Rejuvenate your people and help us to endure and press on.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God was angry at his people as mentioned in verse 4 that even their prayers were rejected?
• Share an experience when you have felt God’s anger or disapproval of a prayer you pleaded him to answer.
PSALM 81 AFTERMATH OF STUBBORNNESS
May 24
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PSALM 81 AFTERMATH OF STUBBORNNESS
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” – Psalm 81:11-16
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CONSEQUENCE OF STUBBORN HEARTS by ILMA
When you do not listen to the voice of the Lord
You are probably corrupted and consumed by this world
He gave us everything so we can serve and glorify him
But the world we live in entices us to disobey and sin
When you hear God’s voice today, harden not your hearts
The consequence of such stubbornness will tear you apart
The Lord promised his covenant people his protection
But when you do not follow him, you are on your own
Those who hate the Lord, watch out, for you will regret it
The consequence of stubborn hearts will bring you down the pit
Our God Almighty will not force you to walk in his ways
If you resist, he will leave you in your own stubbornness
Those who submit to the Lord will reap a harvest of rewards
They will be protected, rescued and be assured of deliverance.
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REFLECTION
• How is rebellion and stubborn hearts like witchcraft or divination as 1 Samuel 15:23 mentions?
PSALM 81 OH ISRAEL IF YOU WOULD BUT LISTEN TO ME!
May 23
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PSALM 81 OH ISRAEL IF YOU WOULD BUT LISTEN TO ME!
Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. – Psalm 81:1-10
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GOD ADMONISHES HIS PEOPLE by ILMA
All you covenant people, sing out loud and joyfully praise the God of Jacob
He brought you out of the land of Egypt and delivered you from the evil one
He led you out of bondage into a land of freedom so you can give him glory
He decreed you to follow his commands; but you wouldn’t heed his warnings
He commanded pure allegiance to him alone and no other gods idolized
Yet, you bowed down and worshiped some of these gods who are powerless.
Have you forgotten all that God has done to free you from slavery?
How long will you continue to be untrue to a God who loves you faithfully?
He has chosen you to serve him and have showered you with blessings
Why have you turned your back on the Lord God who is just and is so giving?
All you people of God, confess and turn from your evil ways and be cleansed
The Lord admonishes those whom he loves so he can be worshiped and praised.
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REFLECTION
• How did Asaph illustrate God in the following passages in this prophetic hymn?
• Why would a majestic God sound almost like pleading his people in this psalm?
PSALM 135 THE FATE OF IDOLATERS
May 22
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PSALM 135 THE FATE OF IDOLATERS
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.
19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 135:15-21
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WHEN ONE MAKES IDOLS by ILMA
When one bows down to idols made by human hands
They are worshiping things that do not have life
They appear to have mouths but they are mute
Their ears are not able to hear and are devoid of sounds.
When one makes idols, they turn to objects that are lifeless
They become like what they bow down to and idolize
O you house of Israel, praise only the God who made you
O you house of Aaron and Levi, bless the Lord.
Let all who serve the Lord bless His holy name
Do not tolerate those who likes to compete with God
Stay away from idols and idolaters, they are enemies of God
They have no loyalty to anyone else but their own selves.
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REFLECTION
• Why is idolatry and having idols a big sin to our Lord God?
PSALM 135 THE LORD IS THE VINDICATOR
May 21
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PSALM 135 THE LORD IS THE VINDICATOR
8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and of beast;
9 who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders
against Pharaoh and all his servants;
10 who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings,
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan
and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
12 and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.
13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown,
O LORD, throughout all ages.
14 For the LORD will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants. – Psalm 135:8-14
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GOD VINDICATES HIS PEOPLE by ILMA
The Lord God is faithful to defend and protect his people
He is full of compassion and never lets down his servants
Remember how the Lord punished the Egyptians
He also struck Pharaoh, the Amorites and the Canaanites
All the kings who competed with him were all defeated
To think they have power to compete with God, is foolishness
All you faithful saints, do not fear for God is your vindicator
The Lord keeps his promise to protect and rescue his loved ones
Your name, O Lord endures forever, it is the name above all names
We bow down to you alone our Lord Almighty, our majestic God
Keep us always dependent on you alone and be fearless
We praise you Lord for you are our defender and fortress.
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REFLECTION
• Why should believers not be quick to react or defend themselves?
• Why is defense of the self an open door for the enemy to attack a believer?
PSALM 135 THE LORD WHO IS GREAT AND IS ABOVE ALL GODS
May 20
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PSALM 135 THE LORD WHO IS GREAT AND IS ABOVE ALL GODS
Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD,
give praise, O servants of the LORD,
2 who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God!
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that the LORD is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. – Psalm 135:1-7
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THE LORD DOES WHATEVER HE PLEASES by ILMA
Acclaim the Lord who is great and is above all gods
Servants of the Lord, give him all glory and praise
He is the Maker of all things in heaven and on earth
He is in control of all things; whatever he pleases, he does
No other gods can have the power to bring life
They have no ability to help people or shine their light
The Lord is all-knowing and all-seeing, he is above all
If you choose to follow him, you will not be tempted to fall
Trust in the only God who can deliver you from sin
He is faithful to protect you from the devil’s schemes
Trust in the Lord alone for he is steadfast in his love
Do only what please him so you can discern his ways.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us to leave all things to the Lord?