December 20
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PSALM 90 A DWELLING PLACE IN ALL GENERATIONS
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence. – Psalm 90:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Who can give us a place to experience comfort and peace?
If you remember to be still and know that the Lord is God,
Then you have been made aware of his dwelling place
The Lord is our refuge, strength, shield and our shelter
He made us in his image, so we can serve only him
We were all made to praise and give him glory.
Give praise, honor to a majestic God who is faithful
Put your hope in the Lord who is your defender and Savior
Remember how short your life is; live for Jesus Christ alone
Have a hopeful attitude when you wait for his return
Be watchful that you do not displease or anger him
Follow his laws and hunger for his word so you can avoid sin.
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REFLECTION
• How is God a dwelling place for all generations as mentioned in verse 1?
• Why is it important to run to God for shelter when we are faced with troubles?
Monthly Archives: December 2022
PSALM 89 REMEMBER HOW SHORT OUR TIME IS
December 19
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PSALM 89 REMEMBER HOW SHORT OUR TIME IS
47 Remember how short my time is!
For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
48 What man can live and never see death?
Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
which by your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,
and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations,
51 with which your enemies mock, O LORD,
with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.
52 Blessed be the LORD forever. Amen and Amen. – Psalm 89:47-52
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Do you think that you have all the time in the world to waste?
Do you not remember that we have limited time here on earth?
There is a season for everything including your own life
Why do you live it as if there is no end to all that is vain?
Remember how short life is; we need to set priorities
We need to manage where we put all our attention
Do we live for this world or do we follow God’s word?
Are we consumed by our desires or by God’s wisdom?
What are we doing with the life that was given to us?
Are we serving the Lord or are we following our flesh?
Go to the throne of God and ask him to give you discernment
Don’t waste another day with worldly pursuits; give your life to Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• What makes people forget the limitations of this life that was given to us?
• Why do we need to be reminded of how our lives is like a vapor, now here and gone tomorrow?
PSALM 89 GOD’S WRATH IS A CALL TO REPENTANCE
December 18
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PSALM 89 GOD’S WRATH IS A CALL TO REPENTANCE
41 All who pass by plunder him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
and you have not made him stand in battle.
44 You have made his splendor to cease and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with shame. Selah
46 How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire? – Psalm 89:41-46
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
God is love and therefore hates all evil and sin
He does not condone wickedness; he must punish it
An anointing from the Lord doesn’t mean he won’t discipline you
Because he loves you so much, he doesn’t want you to fall away.
Examine your hearts when you experience God’s anger
There must be a rebellion or lawlessness going on in there
When God’s wrath happens, it is a warning to check one’s heart
It may be an invitation to repentance and renewal of the mind.
Do not be hopeless when you experience his wrath
It may be a learning experience as he leads you to his path
Plead your Lord who generously gives without reproach
Ask for forgiveness so he can cleanse your heart and soul.
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REFLECTION
• Why is God’s wrath not something that a believer should feel hopeless about?
• How is God’s discipline important for all believers?
PSALM 89 GOD DOESN’T BREACH HIS COVENANT
December 17
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PSALM 89 GOD DOESN’T BREACH HIS COVENANT
29 I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.
30 If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,
31 if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,
32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,
33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.
36 His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.
37 Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah
38 But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust. 40 You have breached all his walls; you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
– Psalm 89:27-40
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When the Lord gives a promise, he will surely keep it
God doesn’t breach his covenant, he honors his promise
The Lord keeps his relationship with all the faithful
Even though the saints violate their vow, God still fulfills.
If his people violate his commands or don’t keep his laws,
He will rebuke and discipline them whenever they fall away
But the Lord will never change the words he has already spoken
He is a God who is true to his words, always stable in all his ways.
Whenever you are tempted to breach from your vow to the Lord
Remember what he has done for you, he gave you his only Son
He will never forsake you if you continue to serve the Lord
Continue to stand on his promises so you can overcome the world.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to remember that God never breaches his covenant promise but he punishes evil when his people do so?
PSALM 89 GOD’S BLESSINGS AND COVENANT TO HIS ANOINTED ONES
December 16
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PSALM 89 GOD’S BLESSINGS AND COVENANT TO HIS ANOINTED ONES
19 Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said:
“I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,
21 so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
and my covenant will stand firm for him. – Psalm 89:19-28
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When the Lord chose David, he poured out his blessings on him
Though he was a shepherd boy, he was anointed with holy oil
The Lord established his covenant with him and gave him strength
God loved David immensely for he pursued his own heart without end.
He promised victory to his anointed king and foes will never defeat him
God favored David, he will never be outwitted by the enemy’s strategies
The Lord pours his blessings to his covenant people and to his anointed
Though many are rising against the faithful, they will always be protected.
The highest of the kings of the earth will come from David
Through his lineage, God’s plan is going to be fulfilled
The Lord’s steadfast love will always be with his beloved people
His covenant promise for a Messiah was finally fulfilled in Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• What blessings from the Lord was mentioned in the following verses mentioned in this psalm?
• Share how you have experienced God’s promises fulfilled in your life?
PSALM 89 OUR SHIELD BELONGS TO THE LORD
December 15
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PSALM 89 OUR SHIELD BELONGS TO THE LORD
8 O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you? 9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.12 The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.13 You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. 15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
16 who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.
17 For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
– Psalm 89:8-18
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord because of your steadfast love, you chose us first
You made us endure all the challenges set before us
Even though we are faced with attacks from the devil
You protected us and was faithful to show us what was evil.
Help me to never forget that everything comes from you
Even the ability to draw near to you, we cannot boast about
For you have provided us every good and righteous gift
Protect me from pride in thinking that strength comes from me.
You are the Mighty One O Lord; you are our shield against the foe
In your throne lies justice and righteousness; you lead us to freedom
Blessings and praise to you O Lord, who is the Maker of all
Help us to walk in your ways so that we can get up each time we fall.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to remember that our strength and shield comes only from our glorious and majestic God? What happens if we forget this?
PSALM 89 A GOD GREATLY TO BE FEARED
December 14
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PSALM 89 A GOD GREATLY TO BE FEARED
I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant: 4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders,
O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him? – Psalm 89:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
I will give praise to the Lord who is abundant in his steadfast love
I will speak of his wondrous deeds and his faithfulness forever
Who can compare to a God who is mighty and powerful as the Lord?
No other gods or anyone in the heavens can do what he has done.
He is full of compassion, mercy, and grace; he provides for all whom he loves
He covers all the saints with favor and his protection as in a shield
He establishes his people and their offspring with a sure foundation
The saints will not be overcome by the enemy’s tactics and manipulation.
I will sing of the Lord’s steadfast love all the days of my life
I will declare his goodness and mercy to all the ends of the earth
The Lord God is to be greatly feared; he is our judge and our vindicator
In him alone can we be saved for he has righteous indignation.
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REFLECTION
• What did the psalmist mean when he said “a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones” in verse 7?
• Do you think unbelievers would understand “fear of the Lord?” Why or why not?
PSALM 88 ARE YOUR WONDERS KNOWN IN THE DARKNESS
December 13
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PSALM 88 ARE YOUR WONDERS KNOWN IN THE DARKNESS
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I, O LORD, cry to you, in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
16 Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together.
18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
my companions have become darkness. – Psalm 88:10-18
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, do not let your presence leave my poor soul or I will suffer
In the past, I never knew your amazing grace because I am so sinful
Because I was so focused on living in this corrupt and fallen world,
I failed to marvel at your greatness; yet you still gave me your word.
Do not cast me out from your love; deliver me from my flesh
If you withdraw your presence from me, the enemy will defeat me
Even the closest to my heart have been serving the enemy
They have surrounded me to tempt and tire me daily.
Forgive me for all my sinfulness O Lord, shower me with your mercy
How can we triumph over evil if you let us wallow in all these darkness?
Deliver me from all these helplessness and terror which have afflicted me long
Heal me O Lord, for I am weakening and getting so depressed slowly.
Cover me with your grace as I struggle with the corruption around me
Do not forsake your faithful servant, you are my vindicator
Save me O my God, only in you will I find peace and safety
I can only thrive in this life for you are with me to give me sustenance.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the psalmist wondered if God’s people will remember all his wonderous deed in darkness? What did you think he meant by that?
PSALM 88 I CALL UPON THE LORD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE
December 12
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PSALM 88 I CALL UPON THE LORD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE
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
8 You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape; 9 my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you. – Psalm 88:1-9
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, you are my salvation and my protection
Hear my prayer as I get swamped by trials and tribulation
I cry out to you in the midst of all these painful events
It seems like everyone has turned their backs on me
Help me O God of my salvation; without you, I am stuck
I am overwhelmed with anxiety from the devil’s attacks.
Have you forgotten your servant who calls upon you day and night?
Why do I feel so alone and depressed even though I know you are everywhere?
Comfort me O Lord, I cannot go on without your steadfast love
Do not forget the poor and the needy, I know that your grace abounds
Flood me with your compassion so that all these feelings will leave me
Do not forsake your beloved faithful; I need your assurance and mercy.
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REFLECTION
• The psalmist sounded hopeless in this psalm, why do you think it is important to come to the throne of God especially in times of great trouble and anxiety?
• What can we learn from the psalmist about anxiety and depression in this psalm?
• Do you think it is alright for Christians to experience these negative feelings? Why or why not?
PSALM 87 THE LORD ESTABLISHES HIS DWELLING PLACE
December 11
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PSALM 87 THE LORD ESTABLISHES HIS DWELLING PLACE
On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah
4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—
“This one was born there,” they say.
5 And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her.
6 The LORD records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah
7 Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.” – Psalm 87:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, we thank you for choosing us to enter your dwelling place
Through the sacrifice of your Son’s life, we have the Holy Spirit in us
What an amazing gracious love you gave us so we can reconcile with you!
Help us to remember that our own bodies are the temples that you chose.
Though we are still sinners, you elected us to serve and bring you glory
Make us thankful and be aware of this privilege to give you praise always
You have made your Son, Jesus as the head of your faithful ones
We cannot come to you on our own if we do not love and serve Christ.
It is in your church that you gather all those who love your name
Cover your holy people with protection so they can grow in faith
Establish us so that your dwelling place will be incorruptible by this world
Let us be the salt and light as we hear, speak, live and follow your Holy word.
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REFLECTION
• Has God established his dwelling place in your heart and mind? What are the manifestations of the stability of your faith in your life and how are you the salt and light to others?