PSALM 144 BLESSED BE THE LORD, MY ROCK


March 19
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PSALM 144 BLESSED BE THE LORD, MY ROCK
Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!
Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them!
7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me
and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners,
8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand
is a right hand of falsehood. – Psalm 144: 1-8
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THE LORD TRAINS HIS PEOPLE FOR BATTLE by ILMA
My Lord is my rock and my shield, he protects me
He is my stronghold and deliverer, he defends me
He ensures that his people are trained for warfare
God fully gives us his word for instructions to follow
Though we may not physically see these unseen forces
He exposes their tactics and schemes for our awareness
Even though man is just a minute part of his creation
God our Lord treasures him as his own possession
From his throne, he provided a solution to our sins
He stretched out his hand to rescue and keep us free
The Lord has given us his own Spirit to guide our path
Why would we even think we can go our own way?
He trains us when he gave us his commands
We can win by simply following his will and laws
Go and wear God’s full armor and be ready for war
He has equipped his people for he himself is our rock.
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REFLECTION
• How has God equipped you to face the battles you face on a regular basis?

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD!

April 2
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BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD!
9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
10 Who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
12 May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars
Cut for the structure of a palace; 13 may our granaries be full,
Providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands
And ten thousands in our fields;14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
Suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! – Psalm 144:9-15
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This psalm asks the Lord to be delivered from those who continually lie and bewitch others. It also declares the character of God who delivers his people from the hands of foreigners whose purpose is to bring lies. It is a prayer of blessing for God’s people’s offspring in verse 12. It also is a prayer for being blessed with bounty in verse 13 and for protection in verse 14. It speaks of the privilege of being a people whose God is the Lord Almighty.
It is sad that many Christians nowadays fail to bless their families at different stages of their lives and special occasions. Many of us have forgotten the promises that God has made to his people through blessing declarations. Maybe we could learn from the Jews as how blessings is almost a part of their daily lives, whether they eat, drink or in the face of many natural events. By doing so, they acknowledge that God is involved in everything. Isn’t this something Christians should practice as well?
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ADORATION: Bless the Lord for all that He is, powerful, mighty and steadfast in his love.
CONFESSION: May all those who believe in the Lord make God a part of all their lives.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the promises and bounty you pour on your people
SUPPLICATION: May all of God’s people involve the Lord in everything they do.
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REFLECTION
• What does a prayer of blessing do to someone? Why is it a good practice to do?