October 11
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PSALM 55 WHEN FRIENDS BETRAY YOU
9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues;
for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls,
and iniquity and trouble are within it;
11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud
do not depart from its marketplace.
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. – Psalm 55:9-15
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I plead you to defend me from wicked schemes
Examine my heart so that I can clearly see and discern
Help me to accept that humans are all sinners
This way, I do not have to give in to offensive spirits
Do not let me live in the city of regret when people deceive me
Show me another perspective so I can live in victory
When friends betray me, let me be focused on you alone
Do not let people’s wicked ways steal my joy
Let those who taunt me bear the consequence of the mockery
Help me let go of unrealistic expectations from people
Only you alone, O lord are good and perfect
Teach me to trust others and not be let down easily
Change my mind so that I can see others as you see them.
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REFLECTION
• Why is betrayal of a friend more painful than when your trust is breached by anyone else?
Monthly Archives: October 2022
PSALM 55 WHEN I AM RESTLESS
October 10
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PSALM 55 WHEN I AM RESTLESS
Give ear to my prayer, O God,
and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
2 Attend to me, and answer me;
I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
3 because of the noise of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they drop trouble upon me,
and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
4 My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
7 yes, I would wander far away;
I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
8 I would hurry to find a shelter
from the raging wind and tempest.” – Psalm 55:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When I am restless, I will run to the Lord for refuge and comfort
I will hide in his steadfast love and let God be in control
Because the enemy has pursued me constantly
The more I will seek God and surrender to him completely
When I am restless, it may be because I am led by my flesh
I will invite the Holy Spirit to take over my whole soul and mind
Though I fear and tremble from all that overwhelms me
I will continue to believe in the Lord who is my deliverer
I will trust in the name of the Lord, my God who is my strength
When I am restless, I will confront the fear that makes me overwhelmed.
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REFLECTION
• What do you think is behind restlessness?
PSALM 54 THE LORD DELIVERS HIS PEOPLE FROM EVERY TROUBLE
October 9
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PSALM 54 THE LORD DELIVERS HIS PEOPLE FROM EVERY TROUBLE
O God, save me by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.
2 O God, hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers have risen against me;
ruthless men seek my life;
they do not set God before themselves. Selah
4 Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
in your faithfulness put an end to them.
6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
7 For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. – Psalm 54:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my Lord, I am forever grateful to you for upholding my life
You have been faithful to forgive me when I am unable to resist strife
The enemy has been plotting against me constantly and without ceasing
Vindicate me by your might and give ear to my pleadings
Praise the Lord for he is my helper and shield
Without him, I won’t be able to overcome and win
The Lord delivers his people from every trouble
I will run to him for defense and vindication
I will praise the name of the Lord Almighty always
He is my deliverer; I will not fear any adversity.
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REFLECTION
• How is this psalm a good reminder for us not to fear when trouble or any adversities come our way?
PSALM 53 THERE’S NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE
October 8
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PSALM 53 THERE’S NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE
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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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
If you think that you are a good person, you are only fooling yourself
It’s the devil’s trap to keep you proud and hinder your from being humble
Only God is good, humans are naturally selfish and inclined to sin
Because of this nature, we do not walk in the Spirit towards Him
When you do things out of looking good, you are not really loving
Loving is thinking less of yourself and being more a God-pleaser.
Fools do not acknowledge God; they are corrupt and have no honesty
They do all kinds of selfish things and love to gratify themselves
Vanity is in the nature of all men, but humility is the way of the Spirit
If you walk in the flesh and crave for pleasure, then you are foolish
There is none who does good, only God himself is
Do not fall into the trap of those who are foolish.
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REFLECTION
• What does the psalm say about those who think they are good? What happens to them according to the psalmist?
PSALM 52 WHY DO YOU BOAST OF EVIL
October 7
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PSALM 52 WHY DO YOU BOAST OF EVIL
Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.
2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,
7 “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”
8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it.
I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. – Psalm 52:1-9
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
All you unrighteous men, why do you boast of all your evil?
You love to plan conflicts, violence and all kinds of deceit
There is nothing truthful that comes out of your mouth
Filth and lies are the only things that regularly comes out
Do you not know that God will crush and destroy you?
The righteous will watch the disaster that you will go through.
Those who serve the Lord will be blessed with growth
They will watch the wicked as they suffer and punished by God
All those who are proud and do not acknowledge the Lord’s power
They will experience God’s wrath and will eventually cower
Trust in the steadfast love of the Lord for he protects his people
Those who boast of evil deeds will in the end be judged and suffer.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think ungodly people love to boast of the evil things they do?
• As a believer, what should you do when someone boasts of their evil deeds?
PSALM 51 PRAYER FOR A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART
October 6
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PSALM 51 PRAYER FOR A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar. – Psalm 51:9-19
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I come to you to ask forgiveness for all my sins
I have been sucked into the corruption of this world’s system
Do not turn your back on me my Lord; cleanse my heart
Give me a new and pure one, so I can have a brand-new start
Grant me a hunger and desire to love you more than anyone else
Keep me away from the pleasures that I so easily give in
Help me to make you first in my life so I can have peace
Bring me back the joy I once had when I believed in Jesus Christ.
Deliver me from the sins that have been passed on to me
Restore me to the joy that I once had and free me from being bitter
I will praise you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength forever
Have pity on me Lord, I want to be granted life eternal.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for a Christian to recognize their brokenness and have a contrite heart?
PSALM 51 WASH ME O LORD SO I CAN BE WHITE AS SNOW
October 5
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PSALM 51 WASH ME O LORD SO I CAN BE WHITE AS SNOW
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
– Psalm 51:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, please cleanse me from all my sinfulness
I have been so full of myself and gave in to unrighteousness
I find myself being dragged to go against you by forces around me
Please forgive me and grant me mercy so I can triumph over the enemy
Wash me O Lord from all my filthiness, so I can be purified and be white as snow
I have been conceived in sin from my mother’s womb and have been untrue
Remove my sins through the blood of your only Son Jesus
Help me never to forget that you want me to be holy and righteous
Though my nature is evil, I know that you can change that
Grant me a heart that longs to please you and follow your path
Let me be filled with gratitude and a spirit that rejoices in you
Give me repentance of my sins so I can shout out loud with joy
Lord, I worship and adore you for you are steadfast in your love
Take away everything that draw me away from you, my Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why does the psalmist request God for cleansing? Don’t we do that ourselves?
• Why is it important to remember that we were all conceived in sin as this psalm mentions?
PSALM 50 WARNING TO THOSE WHO FORGET GOD
October 4
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PSALM 50 WARNING TO THOSE WHO FORGET GOD
12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.
19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.
22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God,
lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!
23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
– Psalm 50:12-23
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Do you think you can live in this world and forget the one who gave you life?
Do you think that you can do what you want and not suffer any consequence from it?
If you hate restraint and discipline of any kind
You are likely living to satisfy your selfish desires
If you do not want to be accountable for your own action
Chances are that you are only concerned for gratification
You engage with people who won’t question your unrighteousness
That is why you only associate with men who do all kinds of sins and perversions
The faithful people of God do not forget their Lord who freed them from sins
The wicked denies his existence because they feel threatened by what is right.
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REFLECTION
• What is the consequence of forgetting God according to this psalm?
PSALM 50 THE MIGHTY ONE SPEAKS AND SUMMONS THE EARTH
October 3
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PSALM 50 THE MIGHTY ONE SPEAKS AND SUMMONS THE EARTH
The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence;
before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.
4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah
7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.
– Psalm 50:1-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Mighty One, the Maker of all things and Lord of lords
Summons the whole earth and all the creatures in this world
He expects all of his creation to bow down and give him glory
He displays his power over all the earth and announces his presence
No one or nothing can ignore such wondrous deeds; all will be amazed
He calls the heavens and gathers all his people who vowed allegiance
He declares his power over all those whom he has chosen
The Lord expects obedience and faithfulness from all his servants
Listen and heed God’s call for he rebukes all those whom he loves
He judges all those who turn their backs on him and they become lost
No one can boast of anything since God made and own all things
Rejoice and be glad to hear God’s summons to all his people.
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REFLECTION
• How does God summon his people? How does he manifest himself to get their attention?
• How must we respond to God’s instructions as his servants?
PSALM 49 ON ENVYING THE WEALTHY
October 2
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PSALM 49 ON ENVYING THE WEALTHY
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 49:16-20
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Do not envy those who are wealthy
Instead, gather riches in heaven that lasts forever
Though a man makes himself rich materially
He cannot take those things with him when he perishes.
Some people think that they are blessed when they have much
It is when you have nothing that you tend to run and depend on God
Material possession may seem like a good thing
When it is used for self gratification, it becomes nothing.
Why would you envy those who are wealthy?
They have much idols that makes them filthy
The rich and foolish may seem to live in comfort
But not all of them have the joy and peace from the Lord.
Busy yourselves with consuming the word of God
When you do, you will have the mind of Christ
Let God be given all the glory for all your blessings
Thank him for every good thing that you are given.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think many people envy the rich and aspire to be wealthy?