January 24
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DELIVER ME FROM LYING LIPS AND DECEITFUL TONGUE
In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
2 Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you, deceitful tongue?
4 A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war! – Psalm 120:1-7
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This Psalm is an individual lament sung by someone living away from Israel (v.5). The psalmist weeps over those people who constantly seek to lie and pursue wars and conflicts. He wants peace so he even went away from such high conflict people, but the effect of living with such kind of evil is not unnoticed. In the first verse, he recalls how the Lord has delivered him in the past from such circumstances and pleads for deliverance from such situations and conflict lovers. I could easily identify with the psalmist. I have loved ones who just loves do fight for the sake of being right or just to prove how much better they are from others. It is an exhausting task to love people like this, but we are commanded to love all, especially those who are difficult and makes an enemy of us. I do my best to justify the reasons for their insecurities and pray for freedom from that bondage for all those who embrace a life of conflict. I have been there and I know how hard it is to cling to self-protection or mistrust. When I learned my true identity in Jesus, I didn’t have to continue being imprisoned by proving my self-worth.
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ADORATION: Praise you Jesus, for your faithful love that endures forever.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I engage in conflict and anger to defend myself. You are my defender and I need not say a thing to explain.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for being the epitome of unconditional.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers remember to surrender to God who is “love” himself.
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REFLECTION
• How do we deal with people who constantly lie to us? Should we just be silent?
• What is the antidote to those who love to argue and engage others in conflict?
• What other verses in the bible can we dwell on when faced with conflicts?
Category Archives: Poem devotionals
January 22
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GLORIOUS THINGS OF YOU ARE SPOKEN
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.
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.”
7 Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.” – Psalm 87:1-7
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The first section of this psalm focuses on how glorious things are spoken of God’s dwelling place, the city of God.
According to the ESV bible study notes, the second section is startling as one expects a reference to those who know me, but the list is composed of Gentile nations. Yet, the Most High himself will establish Zion, in order to allow the peoples to be treated as born in her, as Israelites. When the people of God sings this psalm, they stay focused on their God-given purpose, to be a light for the Gentiles (Psalm 86:8-10).
It is interesting how in God’s glory, he is still all-inclusive of all peoples. He wants everyone to be saved and return to him.
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ADORATION: I glorify you O Lord God. I praise your name for you are Most High. I love to talk about how glorious you are to all peoples, especially to those who don’t know you.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to act according to the image you made me. Sometimes I let my nature dictate my actions.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for choosing me to be one of your people. It is such an honor and a privilege to work for your glory.
SUPPLICATION: Grant me mercy to continue to be the light to this corrupt world and obey your will always.
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REFLECTION
• How can we as believers be always aware to stay focused on our purpose to be the light for the unbelievers? What do we need to do to stay on track?
MAKE YOUR FACE SHINE UPON US
January 21
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MAKE YOUR FACE SHINE UPON US
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us,
2 That your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity
And guide the nations upon earth. 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
Let all the peoples praise you!6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.7 God shall bless us;
Let all the ends of the earth fear him! – Psalm 67:1-7
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ESV Study bible notes that this psalm is a prayer that God will bless Israel with a fruitful harvest (v.6) so that the rest of the world may come to know the true God. Singing this helps Israel to keep its own calling in view; their blessing is not simply for themselves but for the Gentiles to see.
It is interesting to know that the Israelites asks the Lord to bless them so that they can reflect to the Gentiles the face of God.
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ADORATION: May your face shine upon us, glorious God! Praise be to you, who is the only source of Light and Life. We adore and glorify you. You are the God of all creation, the All-Seeing and All-powerful God.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to shine your light on others, especially when I am not able to bless others with the bounty you have given me. Forgive me when I fail to do the right thing and follow my natural inclination.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for the many things you have given me, the natural and spiritual gifts that you generously endowed upon me. Thank you for choosing me to be one of your people who can shine your light on others.
SUPPLICATION: Let me not forget to remember to bless others with the blessings I receive from you. May all believers watch their hearts so that they can be light for Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us to share the blessings that we have received from the Lord to others?
• What happens when we don’t reflect Jesus’ light in our lives?
FOOLS SAY “THERE IS NO GOD” Poem Devotional
January 20
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FOOLS SAY “THERE IS NO GOD”
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
2 The LORD 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 turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is none who does good, not even one.
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
Who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?
5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. – Psalm 14:1-7
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Psalm 14 is a community lament according to the ESV Study Bible. Humans in general do not seek after God and thus they treat God’s people cruelly. If you read Psalm 53, you’ll find some similarities to the content of it. It reminds believers that we need to be able to run to God because our human nature is so corrupt. It is a shame to read this Psalm especially for God’s people because it seems like we are no different from unbelievers.
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ADORATION: Praise to the God of Abraham, to our Heavenly Father, who promised to rescue us from corruption and bring us back to Him.
CONFESSION: I repent of the times I allow myself to be tainted by this world, Lord. Forgive me when I forget that my body, mind and spirit is yours and not mine.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your mercy and faithfulness. You grant us forgiveness when we repent and confess.
SUPPLICATION: May all your holy people remember never to forget that there is a God and not behave like other pagans. You separated us from all this worldly people, may we always walk in obedience to your laws.
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REFLECTION
• How can you convince an unbeliever that we need to be different from them?
LET EVERYTHING PRAISE THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 19
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LET EVERYTHING PRAISE THE LORD
Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
Praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; Praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD! -Psalm 150:1-6
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ESV Study Bible Footnote on this Psalm: This hymn closes the Psalter with its call for “everything that has breath” to praise the Lord with every king of jubilant accompaniment. The list of musical instruments generates the impression of loud song and ceaseless motion- the worshiper’s whole resources offering praise to God.
Sadly, some believers do not praise the Lord as much as this Psalm encourages us to do. Very few churches among many denominations actually practice this kind of worship. I think that our voices (which is a musical instrument as well) plus all the other instruments should be giving glory to the Maker of all things.
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ADORATION: Shout to the Lord to praise Him. He is Lord of all creation, Lord Almighty. He is Worthy to be praised. Praise the Lord.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I am lukewarm or cold with my stance. I want to praise you and worship you with everything I have but sometimes I forget that you want us to have passion to adore you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the different instruments that you inspired people to create. Thank you for the gifts of music and dancing which we must use to worship you.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers be exulting you in music, dance and all art forms. May all our natural and spiritual gifts point only to you.
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REFLECTION
• Why are we supposed to use our voices and bodies and other instruments to praise the Lord? Why not just be quiet in our seats?
• What happens when we joyfully worship?
BLESSED IS EVERYONE WHO FEARS THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 18
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BLESSED IS EVERYONE WHO FEARS THE LORD
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
You shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
5 The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel!
-Psalm 128:1-6
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Wisdom psalms are called as such because they are like the genre used in Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes. Wisdom literature tends to give us comparisons of life choices made by those who turn back to God as a contrast to those who obey him. Psalm 128 gives us a clear overview of the blessings that someone who fears the Lord, can experience. We see a picture of the bounty of a good family and a long life that dedicated and faithful believers will receive.
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ADORATION: Praise to you our Living God. You are a generous giver who makes sure that those who bring you honor are blessed. You are so faithful and the source of all things.
CONFESSION: Whenever I fail to honor you, please forgive me. My flesh may be working against my desire to please you, grant me mercy when those times happen.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your bountiful blessings to all those who keep a straight path to you and to all those who make you first in their lives.
SUPPLICATION: May your grace abound to those who faithfully carry their crosses and live their lives to please you. May you grant strength to those who struggle to follow the only road that leads to you. May those who are lost, find their way to discover your unconditional love and come back to you Lord.
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REFLECTION
• What blessings have you received as a result of your reverence for the Lord?
• How is “fear of the Lord” the beginning of wisdom as stated in Proverbs 9:10?
RESTORE OUR FORTUNES O LORD Poem Devotional
January 17
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RESTORE OUR FORTUNES O LORD
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with shouts of joy;
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
Shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
– Psalm 126:1-6
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This psalm is another song of ascents (sung while they are going up on the hill where the Temple is). It is a recollection of how the Lord has renewed them from their former struggles and once again requests Him to do the same. As if in a dream, they are declaring what the Lord will give them once again as He did in the former. A psalm full of expectancy and faith in the Lord’s generosity and mercy.
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ADORATION: We praise the God who is most generous and faithful to deliver his people. We look up to a God of mercy and who is Sovereign.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I become so discouraged and fail to have a hopeful expectancy on your unfailing mercy and love.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all that you have done in our lives. It is amazing how you continually provide for all our needs even though we don’t deserve it.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people continue to look forward to the hope that only comes from knowing and believing in your promises.
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REFLECTION
• How can a believer avoid to be pulled down from discouragements and struggles?
• Why is looking back on the miracles that God has done for you important in maintaining a hopeful expectant attitude?
THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS GOOD Poem Devotional
January 16
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THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS GOOD
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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Have you ever wondered why God chose many shady or weak characters in the bible to be his people? People like Moses, David, Rahab, Jacob, Rachel, and many more depict their natural inclination to follow their own desires and exhibit bad choices and traits. This psalm is identical to Psalm 14, which laments how mankind doesn’t seek after God which is why God’s people are treated cruelly.
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ADORATION: We praise you our Father in heaven, Maker of all things. You are Almighty and powerful. We adore only You who is the Giver of Life.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord when I follow my flesh and not make you first in all things.
THANKSGIVING: I am grateful for all that I have and help me to be thankful as well for all that I don’t have. You always see the big picture and I don’t.
SUPPLICATION: May all people of God remember to make You the focus of everything in their lives. Grant us a spirit who seeks after you.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to be aware of our natural inclination to sin?
• What happens when we think we are good and not recognize that it is only God’s Spirit who can make us see our need for God?
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD Poem Devotional
January 15
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THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.3He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. – Psalm 23:1-6
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This psalm is my mother-in-law’s favorite among all the other psalms. It was read in her funeral service and what was memorable from her pastor’s service was how she has chosen the Lord to be her shepherd. He said that by choosing Jesus as her Lord and Shepherd, she has invested in her eternal life. Even though it was a sad occasion losing her in our lives, I had peace knowing the she is taken cared of and has eternal life.
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ADORATION: You are my shepherd Lord. Praise the Lord for your care and love. You are the giver of eternal life. You are worthy.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I give in to my flesh and want something that belongs to this world and when I allow fear to creep into my heart.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for choosing me to be yours and for faithfully rescuing me and keeping me on the narrow path that leads to you. The table you prepare for me in your Father’s house is a great manifestation of your faithfulness. Thank you for loving me.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people be reminded of the goodness and mercy that follows all those who walk in Your ways. May fear be replaced by love during the whole time that we live in this world.
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REFLECTION
• How is courage defined in this psalm?
• Why is Jesus is enough for all those who believe Him? Why can’t they want more?
HOW LONG O LORD? Poem Devotional
January 14
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HOW LONG O LORD?
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
And have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
Lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
– Psalm 13:1-6
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In this Psalm, we can sense the condition of David’s discouragement. It almost feels like closest to despair. He pours out his heart to God how tired and weary he feels as he is being pursued by his enemies. Despite the condition of his heart, at the end of this Psalm, he is still able to desire to sing to the Lord for the past blessings God has poured on him.
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ADORATION: Praise be to a God who never abandons us and always protects us. He is a shield to all those who run to him.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord whenever I allow despair and hopelessness to enter my heart. I repent of times when I succumb to negativity which equals to lack of trust in you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the negative circumstances that come my way. It helps me to be refined and stay humble.
SUPPLICATION: May all those who feel discouraged re-focus to Jesus so that they will not believe the lies that are shot at them by the devil.
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REFLECTION
• How can believers overcome despair, depression and discouragement?
• Why is it important to be honest with God? How does God look at this honesty?
• Should a believer trust his own emotions and feelings? Why or Why not?