September 18
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PSALM 39 DELIVER ME FROM MY WRONGDOINGS
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin,
you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may smile again,
before I depart and am no more!” – Psalm 39:7-13
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I plead you to deliver me from my wrongdoings
Do not let me follow my nature and satisfy my cravings
Without your Spirit, I will not be able to praise you
Without your love, I will be desperate and without hope
I confess to you all my sins; forgive me for displeasing you
Discipline me constantly so I won’t get waylaid and lost
Give me strength to face all temptations with courage
Never leave me so I can triumph over evil and be righteous
Rescue me from the flesh that keeps me away from your will
Keep me in your love so that I will please you and turn away from sin
Grant me peace that surpasses all understanding and give me wisdom
I will be lost without your mercy, amazing grace and steadfast love.
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REFLECTION
• How can a believer stay on track on following God’s will in this crazy world?
Monthly Archives: September 2022
PSALM 38 PLEADING FOR FORGIVENESS & DELIVERANCE
September 16
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PSALM 38 PLEADING FOR FORGIVENESS & DELIVERANCE
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
15 But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
who boast against me when my foot slips!”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! – Psalm 38:12-22
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I have sinned against you and do not deserve your love
I plead you to forgive me and to deliver me from my faults
I have been suffering from the consequences of my sins
Forgive me and let me continue to follow your will
The wicked have continually pursued me and made life hard
Please release me from their schemes and all their evil plans
I wait on you O Lord to free me from all the suffering caused by my folly
I will do my best to stay pure and not be selfish and worldly
Give me humility to constantly confess my sins to stay pure
My Lord, my God, help me to do the right things always and seek the truth.
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REFLECTION
• Why must a Christian examine his heart regularly and confess his sins daily?
PSALM 38 A PLEA FOR A GENTLE DISCIPLINE
September 15
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PSALM 38 A PLEA FOR A GENTLE DISCIPLINE
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
and my nearest kin stand far off. – Psalm 38:1-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, do not discipline me in anger, but be gentle with me
I know how much my sinfulness have made you angry
Never let your Holy Spirit leave me; guide me always
I bow down to you and asked for your forgiveness
Grant me wisdom and discernment to be humble
Heal all my diseases and let me be content and simple
My heart pines only for you, keep me in your loving arms
Lord, you are my strength, help me to endure and be strong
Change my heart, mind, soul and my point of view
Let it be synchronized with your truth and plans always
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REFLECTION
• Why is God’s discipline important in a Christian’s life?
PSALM 37 A FUTURE FOR THE MAN OF PEACE
September 14
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PSALM 37 A FUTURE FOR THE MAN OF PEACE
32 The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
33 The LORD will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
– Psalm 37:32-40
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
To be able to have peace, one has to know the Lord Jesus Christ
Only in him can we have that peace that surpasses all understanding
If you serve the Lord, seek him and abide in him and you will be exalted
If you follow the ways of the world, you will be crushed and defeated
There is only a future for those who seek to know and follow God’s ways
Those who continue to serve their own desires will go astray
The Lord helps all those who choose the path to righteousness
He leaves all the ungodly and the wicked to their own rebelliousness.
While the unrighteous man continues to oppress the weak and the vulnerable
The Lord ensures that the godly are unharmed, protected and delivered
Those who bring harm to others will have to account to the Lord
They will be dealt with and cut off and be left to be consumed by this world.
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REFLECTION
• If there is a future for the man of peace, what will happen to those who do not choose to seek the Prince of Peace according to this psalm?
PSALM 37 THE SAINTS ARE PRESERVED FOREVER
September 13
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PSALM 37 THE SAINTS ARE PRESERVED FOREVER
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. – Psalm 37:21-29
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The ungodly does things but are not responsible and accountable
Those who are righteous on the other hand are giving and generous
All the path that the godly takes are guided by God’s laws
The Lord never forsakes those who are faithful to his ways
He requires his people to turn away from evil and do good
He is always there for those who are devoted and righteous.
The Lord is steadfast in his love, he is never changing
He is the source of all that is everlasting and never ending
The Lord loves justice and makes sure that the oppressed are freed
He preserves the saints and will never let anything happen to them
The righteous will inherit the land and live on it till the end of time
But all those who are wicked will be cut off from life eternal.
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REFLECTION
• What are the promises to the faithful in this psalm?
• How are the wicked and unrighteous going to end up according to this psalm?
PSALM 37 THE WICKED PERISH BUT THE BLAMELESS REMAINS FOREVER
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PSALM 37 THE WICKED PERISH BUT THE BLAMELESS REMAINS FOREVER
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine, they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. – Psalm 37:8-20
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Do not let anger consume you, instead let go of rage and bitterness
Be anxious for nothing and don’t worry for it only leads to maliciousness
Be humble, for the meek will be prosperous and have peace in abundance
The proud and the wicked on the other hand will be cut off and abandoned
Do not envy those who gather earthly wealth, they can’t last forever
Gather riches in heaven instead for it will bring you life eternal.
The wicked are busy bringing down the poor and needy
But the Lord will always provide for those who are weaker
It is better to be poor in spirit and have the Lord as your Master
Rather than being rich and serve the prince of this world, Satan
The upright will never be put to shame; they are cared for even in famine
But the wicked will be punished and like smoke, will vanish away.
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REFLECTION
• How does this psalm reveal the character of our loving God?
PSALM 37 BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD
PSALMSeptember 11
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PSALM 37 BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD
Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices! – Psalm 37:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
All you people of God, do not be anxious or worried about anything
For the Lord God is steadfast in his love, he is sovereign over everything
Though you are faced with difficulties and suffering
Trust in the Lord for he knows what you are experiencing
Seek the Lord and abide in his word for he will delight in you
Submit your entire life to him including your heart, mind and soul.
Be still before the Lord and completely depend on him
When you do, you will be able to overcome sin
Do not envy those who prosper but are sinful
The Lord only takes delight in the righteous and faithful
The righteous man will prosper and will be protected
The wicked on the other hand will be judged and defeated.
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REFLECTION
• Why is fretting and being overly anxious not a trait that Christian should have?
PSALM 36 PRAYER FOR PROTECTION FROM ARROGANCE
September 10
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PSALM 36 PRAYER FOR PROTECTION FROM ARROGANCE
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, unable to rise. – Psalm 14:7-12
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, you are the fountain of life and the light to our paths
Let us take shelter from you and let us feast in your steadfast love
Grant us your blessings and protect us from our inclination to selfishness
Without your presence, we are inclined to arrogance and unrighteousness
Continue to shower us with your unconditional love and grace
Don’t let arrogance visit us and aways lead us to follow your ways.
Keep us from wicked people and make us discern their plots
Give us a heart that seeks only your will and your plans
How faithful you are that you continue to grant us grace
Comfort us when things around us seem to fall apart
Give us humility that we will always put you first in all things
Never let our pride get in the way of praising you so we can avoid sin.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for believers to pray for protection from arrogance and pride?
• What humble acts should a Christian be making a habit of on a regular basis?
PSALM 36 THOSE WHO DOES NOT REJECT EVIL
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September 9
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PSALM 36 THOSE WHO DOES NOT REJECT EVIL
Transgression speaks to the wicked; deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O LORD. – Psalm 36:1-6
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Those who does not reject evil are serving the world
They do not fear the Lord nor heed his word
He thinks highly of himself and never cares for others
Greed and control are the way he operates and live for.
What comes out of his mouth are lies and deceit
He always schemes to get and receive
Those who do not reject evil serves the prince of this world
The wicked propagates selfishness and hates God’s word.
Stay away from those who take part in evil ways
They will experience the wrath of God and be shamed
Have nothing to do with them or condone their acts
They will not receive the crown of life from our Lord God.
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REFLECTION
• How can one spot those who do not reject evil?
• How is discernment different from intelligence?
PSALM 35 THE LORD DELIGHTS IN HIS SERVANTS’ WELFARE
September 8
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PSALM 35 THE LORD DELIGHTS IN HIS SERVANTS’ WELFARE
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.”
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 35:18-28________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
All you people of God, thank and praise him amongst all the other believers
Let his holy name be worshipped for he is a God of compassion
When you come to the Lord for vindication, he will not fail you
Those who are pursued by your enemies, don’t fret for you will be rescued
The Lord delights in his servants’ welfare shows his steadfast love
Every detail of your circumstance matters to our merciful God.
Even if your enemy seems to be laughing and mocking
Never fear for that is when your Lord God starts defending
Great is your Lord, for his love overflows and his mercy abound
Do not worry for the Lord provides and protects his faithful servants
Run to your Lord and do not take vengeance in your own hands
He is your vindicator and defender, leave it your Almighty God.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think this psalm is good to meditate on when in adversity?