May 28
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PSALM 120 DELIVERANCE FROM LYING LIPS & 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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DELIVER US FROM LIARS AND DECEIVERS by ILMA
Lord, look, I am surrounded by many liars and deceivers
They inched their way to your family of believers
In my anguish and agony, I come to you for rescue
Help your people to detect right away what is askew
Do not let their cunning schemes develop or progress
Lord, hinder their plans to make your saints transgress.
Free me Lord! I have lived with many unbelievers and liars
I am so exhausted by their baits and sly plans to attack
Punish the wicked people whatever it takes to protect the faithful
I plead you to deliver us from all the tactics of Satan and his demons
Grant your people peace even in the midst of war and suffering
Cover us with your love; give us resilience to face these adversities.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it the responsibility of Christians to stay away from liars and deceivers?
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PSALM 80 HAVE REGARD FOR THIS VINE LORD
May 26
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PSALM 80 HAVE REGARD FOR THIS VINE LORD
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.
14 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!
19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved! – Psalm 80:8-19
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LET YOUR HAND BE ON THE RIGHTEOUS by ILMA
O Lord, we come to your throne for deliverance and vindication
These evil people have trampled on us and kept us in oppression
Look down from heaven and see; your people are unjustly treated
Let your hand be on the righteous and avenge your faithful servants.
The enemy has spitted its venom on all the righteous people of God
Have regard for your faithful ones Lord, let them not be overcome
Give us life and courage so we can call upon your name continuously
Restore us O Lord God of hosts, shine your face on us constantly.
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REFLECTION
• Who is the vine that is constantly mentioned in this psalm by Asaph?
• Why was the psalmist pleading God to have regard for this vine in verse 14?
PSALM 80 STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US!
May 25
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PSALM 80 STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US!
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
– Psalm 80:1-7
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RESTORE US AND LET YOUR FACE SHINE O LORD by ILMA
O Lord, hear me out as I plead you my cause
You are the Lord Almighty, the God of Hosts
Come and bring to your people restoration
Let me feel your presence during this period of depression
How long will you be angry at your people’s prayers?
Please do not cut us out from your loving presence.
Let your face shine upon us, O just and merciful God
Without your face shining on us, we won’t have joy
We have been drowning in tears and feeling abandoned
Grant us grace and have your presence be manifest
Forgive us all our sinful nature and give us strength to hold on
Rejuvenate your people and help us to endure and press on.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God was angry at his people as mentioned in verse 4 that even their prayers were rejected?
• Share an experience when you have felt God’s anger or disapproval of a prayer you pleaded him to answer.
PSALM 81 AFTERMATH OF STUBBORNNESS
May 24
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PSALM 81 AFTERMATH OF STUBBORNNESS
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” – Psalm 81:11-16
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CONSEQUENCE OF STUBBORN HEARTS by ILMA
When you do not listen to the voice of the Lord
You are probably corrupted and consumed by this world
He gave us everything so we can serve and glorify him
But the world we live in entices us to disobey and sin
When you hear God’s voice today, harden not your hearts
The consequence of such stubbornness will tear you apart
The Lord promised his covenant people his protection
But when you do not follow him, you are on your own
Those who hate the Lord, watch out, for you will regret it
The consequence of stubborn hearts will bring you down the pit
Our God Almighty will not force you to walk in his ways
If you resist, he will leave you in your own stubbornness
Those who submit to the Lord will reap a harvest of rewards
They will be protected, rescued and be assured of deliverance.
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REFLECTION
• How is rebellion and stubborn hearts like witchcraft or divination as 1 Samuel 15:23 mentions?
PSALM 81 OH ISRAEL IF YOU WOULD BUT LISTEN TO ME!
May 23
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PSALM 81 OH ISRAEL IF YOU WOULD BUT LISTEN TO ME!
Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. – Psalm 81:1-10
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GOD ADMONISHES HIS PEOPLE by ILMA
All you covenant people, sing out loud and joyfully praise the God of Jacob
He brought you out of the land of Egypt and delivered you from the evil one
He led you out of bondage into a land of freedom so you can give him glory
He decreed you to follow his commands; but you wouldn’t heed his warnings
He commanded pure allegiance to him alone and no other gods idolized
Yet, you bowed down and worshiped some of these gods who are powerless.
Have you forgotten all that God has done to free you from slavery?
How long will you continue to be untrue to a God who loves you faithfully?
He has chosen you to serve him and have showered you with blessings
Why have you turned your back on the Lord God who is just and is so giving?
All you people of God, confess and turn from your evil ways and be cleansed
The Lord admonishes those whom he loves so he can be worshiped and praised.
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REFLECTION
• How did Asaph illustrate God in the following passages in this prophetic hymn?
• Why would a majestic God sound almost like pleading his people in this psalm?
PSALM 135 THE FATE OF IDOLATERS
May 22
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PSALM 135 THE FATE OF IDOLATERS
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.
19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 135:15-21
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WHEN ONE MAKES IDOLS by ILMA
When one bows down to idols made by human hands
They are worshiping things that do not have life
They appear to have mouths but they are mute
Their ears are not able to hear and are devoid of sounds.
When one makes idols, they turn to objects that are lifeless
They become like what they bow down to and idolize
O you house of Israel, praise only the God who made you
O you house of Aaron and Levi, bless the Lord.
Let all who serve the Lord bless His holy name
Do not tolerate those who likes to compete with God
Stay away from idols and idolaters, they are enemies of God
They have no loyalty to anyone else but their own selves.
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REFLECTION
• Why is idolatry and having idols a big sin to our Lord God?
PSALM 135 THE LORD WHO IS GREAT AND IS ABOVE ALL GODS
May 20
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PSALM 135 THE LORD WHO IS GREAT AND IS ABOVE ALL GODS
Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD,
give praise, O servants of the LORD,
2 who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God!
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that the LORD is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. – Psalm 135:1-7
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THE LORD DOES WHATEVER HE PLEASES by ILMA
Acclaim the Lord who is great and is above all gods
Servants of the Lord, give him all glory and praise
He is the Maker of all things in heaven and on earth
He is in control of all things; whatever he pleases, he does
No other gods can have the power to bring life
They have no ability to help people or shine their light
The Lord is all-knowing and all-seeing, he is above all
If you choose to follow him, you will not be tempted to fall
Trust in the only God who can deliver you from sin
He is faithful to protect you from the devil’s schemes
Trust in the Lord alone for he is steadfast in his love
Do only what please him so you can discern his ways.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us to leave all things to the Lord?
PSALM 27 LOOK UPON THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD
May 19
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PSALM 27 LOOK UPON THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
– Psalm 27:7-14
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I SEEK THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD by ILMA
O my Lord, I cry out loud for your grace and response to my plea
I seek your presence O God; In spirit, I long to see your face
Though I cannot see you with my eyes, I ask you to be with me
Help me as many plots have come my way from the enemy
Even my own family and loved one have left me on my own
But I know that you are faithful and will never leave me all alone.
I believe that your goodness will always manifest in our lives
I will patiently wait on you Lord; you are my salvation and my light
Do not let me be overcome by evil and lead me to the right path
Keep me strong and let me trust you more when I am down
My Lord, you are my priority, let that be manifest in my life
I will seek the Lord alone; I will worship him with all heart.
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REFLECTION
• What did David mean when he said “Your face Lord, do I seek in verse 8?
• What did verse 10 means when he said that his parents have forsaken him?
• How often do you seek the presence of the Lord in your life?
PSALM 27 WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
May 18
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PSALM 27 WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD, all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD. – Psalm 27:1-6
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THE LORD IS MY LIGHT & MY SALVATION by ILMA
Since I serve the Lord, He is my light and my salvation
There is nothing in this world to be fearful or anxious about
Whenever the enemy spits their venom on the righteous
The Lord will ensure his people are aware and cautious
Though the devil relentlessly attacks here and there
I will not be afraid; I will gaze on the Lord’s beauty
He will hide me in his sanctuary during times of troubles
He will watch over me, protect and encamp angels around me
The Lord is my fortress; no schemes of the devil will prosper
He will lift me up and ensure that I am out of danger
I will sing and praise the Lord with shouts of joy
He alone can deliver me; I offer him my heart and soul.
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REFLECTION
• Why should a believer not be habitually fearful?
• What should we do when we are pressed down by the enemy and feel crushed?
PSALM 113 WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD?
May 17
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PSALM 113 WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD?
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD! – Psalm 113:1-9
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WHY PRAISE GOD FOREVER by ILMA
There is only one true God, the Lord Almighty Father
He made heaven and earth and all things for his purpose
He made the sun and the moon, the day and the night
It is only fitting to praise him at sunrise and at moonlight
Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high?
He will always be there for his people when they need him
The Lord is the only one who can speak life to his creation
He also is the only one who can bring destruction
Give him all your blessings for he is steadfast in his love
He is patient and generous to forgive our misdeeds and wrongs
He is in control of all things and whatever he pleases, he does
When he closes a door for you, no one else can open it
He is generous to give and never gives up on his children.
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REFLECTION
• Why is praising God very important in a believer’s life? Share some reasons why you need to give God glory?