October 23
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PSALM 62 SET NOT YOUR HEART ON RICHES
9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work. – Psalm 62:9-12
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
All you people of God, do not be attached to your wealth
All the things we have are all coming from our gracious God
Do not put down those who are poor and lowly
They are blessed by the Lord, so treat them kindly.
If your wealth increases, do not set your heart on them
They are fleeting and when you die, you can’t bring it
Do not garner riches by stealing or extortion
The Lord hates any form of cheating or injustice.
Set not your heart on riches that are earthly
Instead, gather riches that are eternal and heavenly
Our earthly life is only temporary and just a stop over
The life to come is our destination and lasts forever.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God doesn’t want us to set our hearts on earthly riches?
• What happens when we get so attached with the gifts that God gives us?
• What kind of riches should we focus on gathering instead of material wealth?
Tag Archives: Christian devotional
PSALM 62 POUR OUT YOUR HEART BEFORE GOD
October 22
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PSALM 62 POUR OUT YOUR HEART BEFORE GOD
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah – Psalm 62:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
All you people of God, praise him by waiting silently
He alone can save you and release you from slavery
There is no need to fear those who attacks all God’s people
For he delivers then all, he is their fortress and refuge.
Do not fear when the devil schemes against you
Pour out your hearts to the Lord, so he can make you new
He knows what you are going through; he is all powerful
Be vigilant to continue to be devoted and faithful.
The Lord is our strength and our solid foundation
Cling to him always and you will have your salvation
Trust him alone at all times, depend on his provision
Do not ever waver in your faith, for he is your redemption.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God wants us to pour our hearts on him instead of whining and complaining to others?
• What is the value of opening up your hearts to your Lord?
PSALM 61 LEAD ME TO THE ROCK & LET ME DWELL IN YOUR TENT FOREVER
October 21
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PSALM 61 LEAD ME TO THE ROCK & LET ME DWELL IN YOUR TENT FOREVER
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
8 So will I ever sing praises to your name,
as I perform my vows day after day. – Psalm 61:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
I plead you Lord to raise me up to the rock higher than me
There are times that I have been overcome by my flesh
It is so easy to take over things that I really have no control
Only you my Lord knows all things and is All-powerful.
Grant me a humble heart and a resilient mind that follows truth
Change my stone heart into an obedient and faithful heart
Show me my stubbornness and my pride when it surfaces
Make it succumb and surrender to your Son’s holy name, Jesus.
Let me dwell in your tent forever so that I may worship you always
It is mostly a struggle to obey you when surrounded by enemies
Grant me anointing to do the work you have set for me
I praise and honor you my Lord, the God of power and majesty.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it a good habit for Christians to dwell on God’s strong foundation?
PSALM 59 A REFUGE IN THE DAY OF MY DISTRESS
October 19
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PSALM 59 A REFUGE IN THE DAY OF MY DISTRESS
11 Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power
and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13 consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more,
that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah
14 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
15 They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.
16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love. – Psalm 59:11-17
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my Lord, you are a refuge in the day of my distress
Without your presence, I will be constantly depressed
Each day, the enemy won’t stop pressing me down
It is consoling and comforting to have your steadfast love.
You are my strength and my shield; I have power because of you
I sing praises to you my Lord who never fails to watch over us
I will declare your truth during times of anxiety and suffering
Let your Spirit constantly guide me in all my daily dealings.
I worship you my Lord, only in you will I have peace
Praise the Lord who is the source of all goodness
I rejoice in the Lord for he is my rock and my salvation
Hallelujah to my Almighty God, who alone is worthy of adoration.
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REFLECTION
• Where do you run when you are distressed or anxious?
• Why is it important to have a sanctuary to resort to when we are beset by troubles and challenges?
PSALM 59 DELIVER ME FROM MY FOES O LORD
October 18
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PSALM 59 DELIVER ME FROM MY FOES O LORD
Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me;
2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see!
5 You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips—
for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”
8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
9 O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.
10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. – Psalm
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my God, I plead you to protect me from all my enemies
They have plotted against me and I struggle to defeat them
They have schemed to do me harm without cease
Help me to depend more on your Spirit so I can have peace
You are the Lord God of hosts; come to my rescue
Give me endurance and grant me a mind that is renewed
Bring me wisdom to do what is right and help me discern
O my Lord, you are the God of my salvation, my help
You are my strength and my strong foundation
The Lord is my shelter, my refuge and my vindicator
Help me to resist the urge to defend myself
Remind me to constantly let you rescue and deliver me.
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REFLECTION
• Why do most people resort to solving their problems automatically rather than going to God first?
PSALM 58 PRAYER FOR GODLY LEADERS
October 17
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PSALM 58 PRAYER FOR GODLY LEADERS
Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter.
6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!
7 Let them vanish like water that runs away;
when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!
10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges on earth.” – Psalm 58:1-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my God, you are a just and gracious God
Please hear our prayers for leaders who know you
There are so many of them who does wicked things
They rule the people with so much selfish schemes
O Lord, break all the evil deeds they do to oppress others
Let them not succeed to enrich themselves and have power
Let them not minimize the voices of the righteous
Make way for the upright to free the oppressed
Allow the godly to prevail in the midst of evil
Make your Spirit take over the plans of the wicked
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to pray for godly leaders according to this psalm?
PSALM 57 I WILL GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD
October 16
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PSALM 57 I WILL GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD
6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth! – Psalm 57:6-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
I will forever declare my thanksgiving to the Lord
He never fails to provide for all my needs and more
Even though the enemy sets a trap for me to fall
They end up falling into their own trap; the Lord cares
The Lord God is steadfast in his love and never fails to deliver
He is there for me when I continually serve him; he is faithful
Sing out loud to give praises to the Lord God who protects his people
Be faithful to give glory to the God of our salvation, he is full of majesty
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his steadfast love endures forever
Praise and exult him for he is the beginning and the end, he is eternal
I will make melody to bring glory to God; I will always lift him up in adoration
The Lord is full of grace and mercy, he is our stronghold and foundation.
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REFLECTION
• How is giving thanks a form of exaltation and praise to God?
PSALM 57 THE GOD WHO FULFILLS HIS PURPOSE FOR ME
October 15
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PSALM 57 THE GOD WHO FULFILLS HIS PURPOSE FOR ME
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth! – Psalm 57:1-5
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
No matter what happens to me, I will cry out to God
Even in the midst of all the enemy’s tactics and attacks
I will take refuge in the Lord who is my stronghold
It is in his faithfulness that I can count on; he is my firm foundation.
The Lord has a plan for my life; I will surrender to it
He created me in my mother’s womb and a part of his creation
I will trust his unquestionable wisdom; he knows what’s best for me
Even if I am surrounded with wicked and ungodly people, I will trust him.
Have mercy on me O Lord for I am faithful to serve you
Give me strength and make me love the way you do
I worship the Lord God who is the Alpha and the Omega
He holds all things in his hands and he will fulfill his wonderful plan.
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REFLECTION
• Why do a lot of people struggle following God’s plans for mankind?
PSALM 56 COLLECTOR OF MY TEARS
October14
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PSALM 56 COLLECTOR OF MY TEARS
8 You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God
in the light of life. – Psalm 56:8-13
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Whenever you are grieved and suffering, be joyful
All those who belong to God will be constantly assured
The Lord collects all our pains, sufferings and tears in a bottle
We need not be hopeless for he knows all that we undergo.
When you are overwhelmed and seem things are all dark
Run to your Almighty God who knows what’s true and right
Though enemies surround you, trust that the Lord protects
It may seem so impossible to win, but he delivers the faithful.
Can you fathom how this faithful God can be concerned with our pain?
He is steadfast in his love; continue to rely and depend on him
In God, we will trust for he sees everything and is in control
Surrender your life to the one who is omnipotent and omniscient.
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REFLECTION
• Can you visualize in translate in words what comes in your mind when the psalmist mentions in verse 8 that the Lord puts our tears in a bottle?
• How can this picture assure us of his love for his people?
PSALM 56 WHEN AFRAID I WILL TRUST THE LORD
October 13
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PSALM 56 WHEN AFRAID I WILL TRUST THE LORD
Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many attack me proudly.
3 When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they have waited for my life.
7 For their crime will they escape?
In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! – Psalm 56:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The enemy unceasingly attacks and oppress me
I get trampled on day and night without end
The devil stirs up fears, confusion and uncertainties
Lord, I plead you to help me to focus on your Spirit’s leading.
All day long, I get distracted from focusing on you by this world system
I ask you to grant me grace and mercy so I can win over all kinds of wickedness
When I am afraid, I will put my trust only on you for you are truth
During such weaknesses, please transform my mind and make it new.
Cast down all my strongholds and make it captive to your will
Grant me the grace to let go of all bitter roots and unforgiveness
You are my foundation that will never be unstable or be destroyed
Keep me in your fold so that I can overcome darkness and have joy.
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REFLECTION
• What do you do when you are afraid? What does the psalmist advice us to do?