May 5
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PSALM 71 YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS O GOD REACHES THE HIGH HEAVENS
19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again; from the depths of the earth, you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God;
I sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt. – Psalm 71:19-24
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A GOD WHO REVIVES AND COMFORTS by ILMA
My Lord, I praise you with all that I am and all that I have
You have constantly guided and pulled me towards the right path
In all the years that I have lived, I have never felt alone
You were there in the midst of my most traumatic moments
Despite the enemy’s plot to bring me down and defeat me
You never allowed me to be overcome by the devil’s tactics
I bow down to you my Lord and my God who revives the oppressed
You always comforted me and never left me alone to be so depressed
Without you, my Lord, my life will be a total mess
Thank you for healing me from all the abuse and illnesses
All my life challenges built up my character and strength
It added much wisdom and grew my faith and discernment
My lips will only praise you constantly so you can be glorified
You are a God who revives and comforts the poor in spirit.
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REFLECTION
• How can we faithfully worship the Lord for all that he has done for us?
• Why should we be thankful when we undergo trials and suffering?
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PSALM 71 HOPE AND PRAISE THE LORD CONTINUOSLY
Quote
May 4
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PSALM 71 HOPE AND PRAISE THE LORD CONTINUOSLY
But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come. – Psalm 71:14-18
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PRAISE THE LORD EVEN AT YOUR OLD AGE! by ILMA
I will continue to worship my Lord at my graying years
He had faithfully led me to the path of righteousness
I will not be faint though life had been stormy
I will praise the Lord more amidst all the adversities.
Trust that God never abandons those who love him deeply
Proclaim the goodness of the Lord to the world incessantly
To the youth, I will not tire of telling God’s mighty deeds
They need to remember his goodness and righteousness.
All those who have known the Lord will be assured and justified
He promises salvation for the upright and wrath for the wicked
All you people of God, don’t stop praising God no matter what comes
Acknowledge Him who is King of kings and Lord of Lords.
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REFLECTION
• How can praising God be an antidote to all the trials and sufferings you are facing as this psalm samples us?
• Why does the psalmist recommend us to praise God especially in our ageing years?
PSALM 71 O GOD BE NOT FAR FROM ME
May 3
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PSALM 71 O GOD BE NOT FAR FROM ME
7 I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, “God has forsaken him, pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”
12 O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt. – Psalm 71:7-13
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DO NOT LEAVE ME LORD WHEN I AM SPENT by ILMA
My Lord, you have always been with me as a young child
You have guided me closely when no one seemed to care for me
I have faithfully declared praise to you my Lord and my master
Do not forget me as I have reached all these years of life.
I plead you to be by my side especially when I am spent
So much evil surrounds me and I get discouraged at times
O my Lord, please do not be far from me and make haste
Bring justice to your faithful servant and grant her grace.
Do not let the enemy gloat as they taunt and say that you’ve left me
They think that you have abandoned me and they plan their attack
Keep me safe from all these evildoers who constantly scheme
Manifest your presence to me so I can be rejuvenated.
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REFLECTION
• How has the psalmist manifest his faith in the Lord amidst all the years that he has served the Lord and all the attacks of the enemy?
PSALM 71 IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, DELIVER ME
May 2
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PSALM 71 IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, DELIVER ME
In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you. – Psalm 71:1-6
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RESCUE ME FROM THE HANDS OF THE WICKED by ILMA
Lord, I plead you to bring me out of this ploy of the enemy
I come to ask you to rescue me from this attack I get constantly
There is so much deception and betrayals going on around
You promised deliverance to your faithful servant; I look up to you.
You know me deeply as you formed me in my mother’s womb
Deliver me from this injustice and cruelty to bring me down
I continually praise you amidst this spiritual battle going on
Use it to strengthen me so I can endure and press on.
Rescue me from the hands of the wicked and the hypocrites
Give me courage to confront and expose evil when they arise
Let me discern the spirits that hover and distract many to sin
You, O Lord are the rock that I can stand on and be planted firmly.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it essential for believers to be mindful of the ploys of the enemy and come to the Lord for assurance, trust and hope?
PSALM 94 THE LORD WIPES OUT WICKEDNESS
May 1
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PSALM 94 THE LORD WIPES OUT WICKEDNESS
19 When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
those who frame injustice by statute?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my stronghold,
and my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He will bring back on them their iniquity
and wipe them out for their wickedness;
the LORD our God will wipe them out. – Psalm 94:19-23
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WHEN THE CARES OF MY HEART ARE MANY by ILMA
When the cares of my heart are many and overwhelming
The Lord cheers my soul pouring me with much blessings
Though it may feel so tiring and discouraging, he brings peace
When so much evil attack me, I can surely run to Him.
When the cares are so much, I can be assured of his presence
He promised never to leave me nor allow evil to be victorious
The Lord is my rock and my sanctuary; in him, I am strong
He will retrieve back all that the enemy has stolen.
When trials and sufferings plague me and I feel discouraged
I will press on to remember that it will help me to endure more
Even the evil that is used against me will also be used for his good
He may allow a little suffering but He’ll punish all evil and the fools.
When I am surrounded by plots and schemes of the devil
The Lord will surely put an end to all those who perpetuate evil
He will never allow his beloved people to be defeated
He is a stronghold and protector to all who live in righteousness.
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REFLECTION
• Why should we run to the throne of God when our cares are many?
PSALM 94 YOUR STEADFAST LOVE HELD ME UP
April 30
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PSALM 94 YOUR STEADFAST LOVE HELD ME UP
12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD,
and whom you teach out of your law,
13 to give him rest from days of trouble,
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage;
15 for justice will return to the righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17 If the LORD had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, “My foot slips,”
your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.– Psalm 94:12-18
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THE LORD DISCIPLINES THOSE WHOM HE LOVES by ILMA
Blessed is the one who loves the Lord, for God disciplines him
He will not be misled for he follows His will and he avoids sin
For him who is faithful to serve the Lord, he will be given rest
He will be protected from all evildoers who bring conflict and unrest
The Lord will never forsake his people, he ensures their safety
While a pit awaits all those who are evildoers and wicked
All the upright will heed to discipline and correction
While the idolaters do not want rebuke or any instructions
Blessed are the meek and those who follow God’s laws
They will inherit God’s kingdom and will never fail
God’s steadfast love sustains all those who love him
They don’t compromise their faith; they won’t intentionally sin.
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REFLECTION
• Why is discipline an integral part of faith and serving the Lord?
• What makes unbelievers different from believers in terms of accepting discipline?
PSALM 94 O GOD OF VENGEANCE, SHINE FORTH
April 29
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PSALM 94 O GOD OF VENGEANCE, SHINE FORTH
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!
2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!
3 O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?
4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.
5 They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless;
7 and they say, “The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
8 Understand, O dullest of the people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge—11 the LORD—
knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. – Psalm 94:1-11
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THE LORD KNOWS MAN’S THOUGHTS by ILMA
O Lord, we, your people come to you for vengeance
Rise up O Lord, for the evildoers continue their wicked ways
All that comes out of their mouths are lies and arrogant words
They have been oppressing and imposing the systems of the world
They have brought death to the widows, the fatherless and sojourners
They do not know you; they are fools who take credit for your creation.
O you fools, who do not know the Lord and are full of arrogance
How long will you continue to taunt the only giver of life?
When will you be wise to see that he gave you your eyes?
Why do you go on living for yourselves and not give him praise?
Do you not know that the Lord knows man’s thoughts and heart?
Go and repent and praise him who gave you all; you are but a breath.
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REFLECTION
• Why did the psalmist give emphasis on those who are arrogant and wicked?
PSALM 55 CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD
April 28
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PSALM 55 CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD
20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends;
he violated his covenant.
21 His speech was smooth as butter,
yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction;
men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you. – Psalm 55:20-23
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GOD SUSTAINS THE RIGHTEOUS by ILMA
I come to you my Lord bringing all my burden and pain
A friend has dishonored the covenant he made
This person violated my trust and cunningly manipulated
It was a sly tactic to make me open up so I can be blindsided.
O my Lord, I cast my burden on you for I know you love me
You promised to sustain all those who are upright and godly
I have been devoted to you my Master and my Lord
I trust that you will sustain me to overcome this corrupt world.
I am human and weak and without you I can do nothing
So, I bring to you all that these betrayals have caused me
I trust that you will avenge me and let me endure all these
You are faithful to deliver your promises to all the righteous.
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REFLECTION
• This psalm began with David’s fear, fury from the friend’s betrayal. How can someone so fearful and furious end this psalm in a most trusting way to his Lord and Master?
PSALM 35 GOD DELIGHTS IN HIS SERVANTS’ WELFARE
April 25
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PSALM 35 GOD DELIGHTS IN HIS SERVANTS’ WELFARE
26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
who magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
shout for joy and be glad
and say evermore,
“Great is the LORD,
who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long.– Psalm 35:26-28
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THE LORD CARES FOR HIS PEOPLE by ILMA
Let us praise the Lord who is love himself
He cares for those who are righteous and does his will
He makes sure that they are not put to shame
The Lord will protect those who honor his name.
Let all those who have troubles and suffering come to him
He will make their burden light and deliver them from sin
Great is the Lord who delights in the welfare of his servants
He is steadfast in his love and ensures their well-being.
Let us testify and declare all God gave us and be thankful
Without his grace and mercy, we will not be bountiful
Praise the Lord forever and always trust his providence
He is steadfast in his love, unchanging and full of compassion.
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REFLECTION
• This psalm started with David’s plea for deliverance and asking God to vindicate him, but he ends on a thankful note praising God for his provision. Why is it important for us to be honest in our circumstances but not be overcome by it?
• What was David teaching us in this psalm?
PSALM 35 BE NOT SILENT LORD
April 24
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PSALM 35 BE NOT SILENT LORD
17 How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! 18 I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. 20 For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. 21 They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!” 22 You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! 23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! 24 Vindicate me, O LORD, my God,
according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! 25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
– Psalm 35:17-25
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RESCUE US O LORD! by ILMA
My Lord, how long will you allow evildoers to destroy your people?
Do you not see how much havoc they have inflicted on the faithful?
I plead you to vindicate us from the wickedness that they generate
They do not care for others; it is deception that they propagate
They concoct lies and twist the truth so they can gain something
Awake and rescue us Lord from these people who habitually sins
Come, Lord, vindicate us and let them not have the upper hand
Let them not think that they are victorious in their wicked plans
Deliver us from the deceptions and manipulations they slyly invent
Show us your favor and grace by reverting back evil on each of them
We glorify you and look forward to your promise of deliverance
We thank you for your steadfast love and your constant protection
Manifest your presence when times of weakness and temptations arise
Strengthen your beloved people with much faith and enough endurance.
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REFLECTION
• Why did David sound as if God wasn’t making himself present in the situations he was experiencing in this psalm? Was he impatient with God in this prayer?