February 24
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YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the LORD,
“You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
Their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand,
I shall not be shaken.9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
My flesh also dwells secure.10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
Or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life;
In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
-Psalm 16:1-11
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The psalm declares the result of entrusting one’s life to God. They experience confidence and contentment knowing that without the Lord, they are nothing. It declares the importance of taking delight in being with the other holy people of God. They set themselves apart to those who are idolaters because they have chosen to be faithful to the Lord. They take counsel from him alone and allow his Spirit to guide and teach him. They have that joy from being with a God who is solid rock and they are all secure in him.
God never abandons his people. He is always there for them.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord who is our solid rock, our foundation. He is our refuge and the only source of joy and wisdom.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I allow myself to be corrupted by the world.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for choosing me as one of your people.
SUPPLICATION: May all God’s people stay pure and holy so that God can be glorified. May we all shine his light in this corrupt world.
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REFLECTION
• Why does the psalmist say that he is no good apart from God?
Author Archives: ilmaarts
Psalm 146-Put Not your Trust in Princes
February 23
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PUT NOT YOUR TRUST IN PRINCES
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.3 Put not your trust in princes,
In a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.4 When his breath departs,
He returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
But the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.10 The LORD will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! – Psalm 146:1-10
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This psalm is a song of hope. All God’s people praise the Lord. They sing songs of worship to him. They declare that there is no one trustworthy put the God of Jacob, who has delivered his people from the enemies and who made a covenant with them. They worship the one and only creator of all the heaven and earth, the sea and everything in it. The character of God is recited by those who love him. They speak of his provision, protection, healing, his justice and bondage breaker. They edify the Lord by speaking of all that he has done for his people.
Do we meditate on the attributes of God in our busy lives now? We have gone so far from these faithful and committed people of God. Let us never forget to sing praises to the God who is Maker of all. We need to put our trust only in him.
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ADORATION: May the God of Jacob be blessed and praised forever by all nations.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I fail to remember your character focus only on mine.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for making us in your image; we have hope that we can one day be like you, full of unconditional love.
SUPPLICATION: May we trust only in the Lord who made all things and knows all things.
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REFLECTION
• Why shouldn’t we put our trust in mere humans? Why trust only God?
GIVE EAR TO MY VOICE
February 22
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GIVE EAR TO MY VOICE
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds
In company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—
It is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
Then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
So shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol; 8 But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely. – Psalm 141:1-10
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The ESV study bible calls this an individual lament, a prayer that God will protect the faithful person against all insincerity and compromise. This is a prayer to God requesting the Lord to hear the plea for protection over any form of complacency, dishonesty and impurities in their hearts. We can all definitely identify with this prayer. This world is full of seductions to do evil and live compromised lives. When we fail to see that the Lord comes first, we are putting ourselves in danger of being ensnared by the evil one.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord! He is merciful and loving. He is our protector. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION: Grant me pardon each time I compromise making you first in all.
THANKSGIVING: Thanks be to God who cares for every detail of our lives.
SUPPLICATION: May we never merge evil and righteousness together which is a form of compromise and lack of integrity.
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REFLECTION
• What compromises do you see in the body of Christ and what should you do?
THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NEVER BE MOVED ILMA’S VLOG
February 21
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THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NEVER BE MOVED
Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who greatly delights in his commandments!
2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
Who conducts his affairs with justice.6 For the righteous will never be moved;
He will be remembered forever.7 He is not afraid of bad news;
His heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
Until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.9 He has distributed freely;
He has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever;
His horn is exalted in honor.10 The wicked man sees it and is angry;
He gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!
-Psalm 112:1-10
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This psalm declares the fulfillment of God’s promise to those who are righteous. The psalm praises God for granting his people a reverence for him. We are not able to do that in our own strength because of our fallen nature, so God grants his chosen people to have that fear for him and delight in his commands. The psalm enumerates the blessings that the righteous receive. They become prosperous and unmovable. Their hearts are firm and trusting in the Lord always and thus, they triumph over their enemies. They are full of integrity and just in all their ways. God honors such faithfulness with much favors.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for being the Rock that we can all stand on.
CONFESSION: Forgive me whenever I rely on others people and things rather than on you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for the foundation that you grant me in your truth.
SUPPLICATION: May all God’s people never fail to obey and trust him all the days of their lives. May they choose righteousness in all they do.
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REFLECTION
• How has God been faithful to provide your every need and requests when you stay faithful to trust and obey him? What happens when you don’t do so?
HE PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH Psalm Blog
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HE PUT A NEW SONG IN MY MOUTH
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog,
And set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,
Who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
Your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
None can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them,
Yet they are more than can be told. – Psalm 40:1-5
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The Lord puts a new song in the psalmist’s mouth. He enumerates the many reasons why we all need to declare the new song which is a testament to all of his goodness and love. He reckons the reasons why we need to continue to put our trust in God. His loving kindness to hear our cry is clearly stated in verse 1. The second verse shows God’s deliverance and protection and how he gives us stability and strength like a rock. It is only right to sing the new song (new things he has done for us) so many will see and fear the Lord and continue to put their trust in him. Our testimonies will bring glory to his faithful love for us and shine light on those who have forgotten him. It will be an encouragement to those who have lost their way and gone tepid in their walk. By singing the new song he gives us, we become salt and light of the earth and we praise and worship him.
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ADORATION: We sing the songs that you placed in our mouths to glorify you. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION: Forgive me each time I fail to see the blessings and solutions you give me.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for rescuing me from darkness and the hopelessness.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers hear the new songs you put in their mouths so they can glorify you and give you all the praise for the many blessings you bestow on us each day.
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REFLECTION
• What is the new song that the Lord has put in your mouth lately? Have you sang these songs to others?
THE KING OF GLORY Poem Devotional
February 17
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THE KING OF GLORY
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness there of the world and those who dwell therein,
2 For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! – Psalm 24:1-10
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The psalm addresses the Israelites and to glorify the only true king who has delivered them and granted them victory in battles. They acknowledge the source and the creator of all things who wants all of his people to be pure for him and to hate evil, just as he does. The word hosts is a translation of the Hebrew word sabaoth, meaning “armies”—a reference to the angelic armies of heaven. Thus, another way of saying “LORD of hosts” is “God of the armies of heaven.” This is the only psalm declaring God as king of glory. The Hebrew word for glory (kavod) is sometimes used figuratively to mean “heavy” or “dense.” When we speak of a “weighty” person, someone who is honorable and worthy.
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ADORATION: We praise you, the Lord of Hosts, the King of glory. We lift up our heads to give you praise and honor.
CONFESSION: Forgive me each time I fail to hate evil and compromise my purity.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all creation and all your provision to fill my needs.
SUPPLICATION: May all men bring you the glory that is only Yours alone. May all peoples come to their knees and bow down only to the King of Glory.
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REFLECTION
• Why is the stance of looking up to the Lord in praise essential for all Christians?
O LORD DELIVER MY LIFE Poem Devotional
February 16________________________________________
O LORD DELIVER MY LIFE
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD,
For my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O LORD—how long? 4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
Save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
In Sheol who will give you praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning;
Every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
For the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my plea;
The LORD accepts my prayer.10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
They shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. -Psalm 6:1-10
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We hear King David’s penitent heart in this psalm. He pleads the Lord to correct him but not in anger. He asks for God’s grace to heal him as he acknowledges his sins and past mistakes. We hear the dependence of David to God in the midst of great trouble and physical ailments. What is amazing with this psalm is his humility to admit how weary and tired he was. It illustrates a picture of a king who bows down to a greater eternal King. We see in this psalm how David is intimate with the Lord and isn’t afraid to admit his need for God’s deliverance for him. He is full of hope that the Lord will deliver him. What a heart that really seeks God’s heart!
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ADORATION: Praise to you Lord, full of grace and mercy. You are my deliverer and Savior.
CONFESSION: Forgive me each time I fail to repent and confess my sins.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for never being stingy to reveal yourself to me.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers have a heart like David, who is humble, repentant and pursues God’s heart.
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REFLECTION
• How do you relate with David’s circumstance in this psalm?
• How can he be depressed, tired, sick and yet hopeful at the same time?
SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG Poem Devotional
February 15
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SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song,
His praise in the assembly of the godly! 2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
Let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
Making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 To execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,
8 To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To execute on them the judgment written!
This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the LORD!- Psalm 149:1-9
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This is psalm inviting all the godly to rejoice, be glad and praise the Lord. It invites the children of Zion to rejoice in their king with dancing, making melody with tambourines and lyre. It is stressed in this psalm how the Lord is pleased when we sing to the Lord new songs. It is amazing how God has given us the gift of music so that he can be glorified. Sadly, in our world today, we use singing to glorify our own selves or sometimes the idols that we give more time for than the one who gave us all. Many Christians fail to sing to the Lord new songs because they are so busy with all worldly concerns and pleasing themselves.
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ADORATION: Sing a new song to the Holy, Eternal King Jesus. He is worthy! He is Mighty!
CONFESSION: Forgive me whenever I am not enthusiastically singing or rejoicing about your goodness, your omniscience and omnipotence.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you Lord that you gave us music to express our rejoicing for your glory.
SUPPLICATION: May all of God’s people exult him in songs of praises and hymns about his goodness and miracles.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God wants us to sing new songs to him? What should our songs be about?
HOW SHALL WE SING THE LORD’S SONG Poem Devotional,
February 14
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HOW SHALL WE SING THE LORD’S SONG?
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept,
When we remembered Zion. 2 On the willow 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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This community lament remembers the Babylonian captivity. The Israelites remember how they were asked to sing songs by their captors. It was difficult for them to do so as they would rather do so when they are in their own land. It is a prayer of plea to the Lord not to let them forget Jerusalem and to deliver them from the cruelty of the Edomites. This psalm requests the Lord to bring them justice and payment for the abuses and wickedness that the Babylonians did to them. Because they are sure that the Lord is a God of Justice, they look forward to that day that their enemies will be punished for their evil deeds to them.
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ADORATION: You are a just and fair God. Praise you for delivering us from evil.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I fail to be intimate with you and rely on you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for delivering me from wickedness and injustice.
SUPPLICATION: May evil be defeated by righteousness and your unfailing love.
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REFLECTION
• How can the Israelites pray with such boldness and trust for justice to be done to them? What is required to have such boldness to pray to God?