April 10
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PSALM 140
6 I say to the LORD, You are my God;
give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
7 O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah
9 As for the head of those who surround me,
let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall dwell in your presence.
– Psalm 140:6-13
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PSALM 140 THE RIGHTEOUS DWELLS IN GOD’S PRESENCE
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
I praise the Lord who is the only true God
He has covered me during the times of chaos
O Lord, please continue to protect me from wickedness
Your steadfast love will allow me to live in righteousness.
Keep me away from slanderers and liars who plot evil
Because your presence is with the righteous, I can win over the devil
Let all their wicked tactics and plots bounce back to them
For your presence is greater than any of their schemes.
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REFLECTION
• Share an experience where you strongly felt God’s presence especially in the midst of the enemy’s evil plans against you.
Monthly Archives: April 2023
PSALM 140 PLEA FOR DISCERNMENT AND DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL
April 9
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PSALM 140
Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart
and stir up wars continually.
3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,
and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread a net;
beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah
– Psalm 140:1-5
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PSALM 140 PLEA FOR DISCERNMENT AND DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, I come before you on my knees to plead you for mercy
Grant me grace to face with boldness the plots of the enemy
I know that you are always with me especially during temptations
Do not let me be lured by my own desires and sinful cravings.
Guard my mind and help me to see with your guidance what is evil
Do not let the arrogant succeed in all the traps that he set for me
Instead, let them fall from their own wicked plans of tricking me
I plead that you deliver me from all deceptions and lies so I can stay free.
Help me to never engage in provocations for arguments and conflicts
But keep me only speaking your words so that evil can be exposed
Give me boldness to declare your truth and follow your word always
Keep me away from those who scheme to distract and destroy the saints.
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REFLECTION
• How can we easily discern traps and tactics of the enemy to lure us to sin?
PSALM 139 SEARCH AND TEST MY HEART O LORD
April 8
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PSALM 139
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
– Psalm 139:21-24
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PSALM 139 SEARCH AND TEST MY HEART O LORD
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, search and test my heart so I know when I have displeased you
Because of my sinful nature, I sometimes fail to see the wrongs I’ve done
Check if there is anything resentful and offensive in my thoughts
It is easy to defend myself rather than to put my trust in you.
I tend to be selfish and want everything to be easy and comfortable
Give me courage to face what is difficult, painful and unfathomable
Do I engage with those who loathe and despise you?
Make me aware of it so that I can have my mind renewed.
Remind me to always put you first amongst everything
Sometimes my loved ones can distract me from worshiping
Give me strength to bear the burdens that come my way
Make me remember that you suffered to give me deliverance.
Grant me discernment to recognize spirits that are evil
Especially when they are disguised to look desirable
Continue to make me long for your word constantly
It is the only way I can embrace the gospel faithfully.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it essential for us to let the Lord examine and test our hearts regularly?
PSALM 139 HOW PRECIOUS TO ME ARE YOUR THOUGHTS
April 7
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PSALM 139
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
– Psalm 139:17-20
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PSALM 139 HOW PRECIOUS TO ME ARE YOUR THOUGHTS
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When I wake up in the morning, Lord, I’d like to know your thoughts
It keeps me grounded and mindful of my weaknesses during the day
I often think of what you are thinking when I am faced with changes
I am truly grateful that you gave us your word so I won’t be in bondage.
How precious are your thoughts my Lord; if I don’t consult it, I’ll be at a loss
It is unfathomable how you know all things; your wisdom overflows
Even before a thought comes to my mind, you already know it
You guide me and ensure that I will not be deceived by the wicked.
When I retire in bed at the end of the long day, I long for your thoughts
I’d like to know if I walked with your Spirit or if I displeased you
O Lord, shower me with your wisdom so I will know the right thing to do
Never let me waver so I can continue to be faithful to you and mature.
O Lord, let me deepen my knowledge of you so I can do what pleases you
Let me never go against your will and always have my mind renewed
Discipline me and always make me aware when my nature takes over
Your thoughts are the most precious thing for me; it lasts forever.
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REFLECTION
• How often do you wonder what God is thinking?
• Why do you think some Christians do not even reflect on God’s thoughts?
PSALM 139 FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE
April 6
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PSALM 139
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
– Psalm 139:13-16
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PSALM 139 FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
I am amazed at your wondrous work and your creativity
You have made each one of your people wonderfully
No one can fathom the intricacy of the human body
We can only marvel at the exquisite work you have created.
You watched me woven together inside my mother’s womb
How joyful it is for us to know these things from your word
Like a great artist, you worked to make me an excellent piece
But you didn’t need a brush to complete a wonderful me.
I praise you and glorify the One who creates from his own breath
Thank you for the privilege of being one of your chosen people
Remind me constantly how grateful I should be for your deeds
Make me never defy or change what you have excellently created.
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REFLECTION
• What does it mean to be fearfully and wonderfully made by God?
• Why do humans easily forget the wonder of God’s creation in mankind?
PSALM 139 THE ONLY ONE WHO TRULY KNOWS YOU
April 4
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PSALM 139
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
– Psalm 139:1-6
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PSALM 139 THE ONLY ONE WHO TRULY KNOWS YOU
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Is there anyone in the world who knows you deeply?
The one who sees you wherever you are constantly
The only one who knows the number of your hair
He discerns every thought that comes in your head.
Even before you conceptualize a thought and say it
He already knows it; he sees through your inmost being
For he formed you in your mother’s womb so delicately
He made sure you are made in his image so very closely.
The one who truly knows you feel every emotion you have
He knows when you are excited, angry, lonely or sad
He whispers to you how much he deeply loves you
He gave you his word so your mind can be renewed.
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REFLECTION
• What reassurance do you have after meditating on the stanza in this psalm?
• If God is the only one who truly knows us, how should we respond to that truth and knowledge?
PSALM 138 THE PRESERVER OF MY LIFE
April 3
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PSALM 138
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand
against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
– Psalm 138:7-8
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PSALM 138 THE PRESERVER OF MY LIFE
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Lord made all my inmost being and knit me together
In my mother’s womb, God created a sanctuary for me
When I was born, that comfortable place was altered
The world is now my home where I am amidst many trials.
God has a purpose for each of those whom he has elected
No one can destroy the plan of God; he will follow what he decided
It may seem like the world’s troubles can overwhelm us intensely
God will always be there to preserve the lives of the saints so faithfully.
Because the Lord made us in his likeness, we can overcome
With his generosity and loving kindness, we will be triumphant
The preserver of my life never sleeps nor forsakes me
He ensures that I am not defeated or hurt by the enemy.
Though I walk in the valleys and deserts, I will not be afraid
For the Lord preserves me and gives me strength and courage
He defends me and delivers me from the enemy’s tactics
He makes sure that I am able to fulfill my purpose in life.
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REFLECTION
• What is the promise that we can stand on in this psalm?
PSALM 138 THE HOLINESS OF GOD’S NAME & HIS WORD
April 2
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PSALM 138
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name
for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar. – Psalm 138:1-6
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PSALM 138 THE HOLINESS OF GOD’S NAME & HIS WORD
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
There is no other name above the name of the Lord
And there is only absolute truth in his word
Give thanks to the One whose name is above all names
Every knee will bow down to the most powerful of all names
Even all the kings of the earth will eventually bow down to him
No other gods have that power to cleanse the people from their sins
When we declare the name of the Lord our God, we triumph over evil
The holiness of his name will make every scheme of Satan defeated
The word of the Lord is true and righteous altogether
God’s word is alive and exposes every lie that we hear
It corrects us when we do wrong and gives us a way out
The word of God is the weapon against evil and is our sword
If you meditate on it day and night, it will destroy all bondage to sin
The holy word of God is the food for our souls, if we eat it we will live.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us never to take the name of the Lord in vain?
• What has the word of God done to transform your life?
• How can we develop a hunger for God’s word?
PSALM 137 LAMENT OVER THE ENEMY’S MOCKERY
April 1
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PSALM 137
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres.3 For there our captors required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!
6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!
7 Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said,
“Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!”
8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!
9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
and dashes them against the rock! – Psalm 137:1-9
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PSALM 137 LAMENT OVER THE ENEMY’S MOCKERY
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, I plead you to take notice of the enemy’s scoffs
They make fun of us and want us to defy our worship of you
Through our songs of praise and adoration, they mock us
They want to turn our worship of you into a performance
Do not allow the gifts you gave us to entertain their wicked souls
Expose it Lord, so everyone will see their schemes and ploys.
How long O Lord will you let these mockeries go on?
We only want to praise and glorify you alone
Give us grace to withstand their wickedness
Help us to be unstained by the world systems
Keep us strong to continue to exalt you, O Lord
Do not allow their derision to keep us away from your love.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think this community lament sounds very intense? What event was verse 8 referring to? Is it justified for the psalmist to ask God to punish the enemy?