June 4
________________________________________
PSALM 89 HIS OFFSPRING SHALL ENDURE FOREVER
28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
and my covenant will stand firm for him.
29 I will establish his offspring forever
and his throne as the days of the heavens.
30 If his children forsake my law
and do not walk according to my rules,
31 if they violate my statutes
and do not keep my commandments,
32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod
and their iniquity with stripes,
33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
or be false to my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;
I will not lie to David.
36 His offspring shall endure forever,
his throne as long as the sun before me.
37 Like the moon it shall be established forever,
a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah – Psalm 89:28-37
________________________________________
THE PROMISE KEEPER by ILMA
God’s steadfast love is constant and unchanging
Though his children are disobedient and unrelenting
He never violates his covenant or changes his promises
The Lord is faithful to fulfill his covenant vow to his people
Humans are fickle but the Lord is always constant and faithful
Never lose your trust and dependence on a God who is so reliable
He sees all things and how fallen we all are yet he never gives up on us
The Lord preserves, protects and delivers his people into life and freedom.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we become more like God in keeping our promises?
• What does it do to someone if promises are broken by someone to them?
Tag Archives: Christian devotional
PSALM 89 THE HIGHEST OF ALL KINGS
June 3
________________________________________
PSALM 89 THE HIGHEST OF ALL KINGS
19 Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said:
“I have granted help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,
21 so that my hand shall be established with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27 And I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth. – Psalm 89:19-27
________________________________________
STAND ON GOD’S PROMISES by ILMA
When things are rough, there is one thing to do
Look up to the promises of our dearest Creator
He has assured help to all those who are faithful
The Lord has chosen Christ to come from his own people
Our heavenly Father has established his kingdom through David
The king was given anointing and strength to crush the enemy.
So much blessings were granted to all those whom he has chosen
God’s steadfast love and faithfulness manifests in all his servants
The Lord promised protection and victory against the enemy
There is nothing to fear when evil plots seem overwhelming
He will crush the foes and strike down all those who harm them
The Lord is the rock of our salvation, He has total control and power.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important for God’s people to always look up and stand on all the promises He gave to us?
PSALM 89 THE CREATOR AND OWNER OF ALL THINGS
June 2
________________________________________
PSALM 89 THE CREATOR AND OWNER OF ALL THINGS
8 O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
12 The north and the south, you have created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13 You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
16 who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.
17 For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
– Psalm 89:8-18
________________________________________
EXALT THE LORD AND BE EXULTED IN HIM by ILMA
O Lord, I bring you all the praise and glory; You are worthy
You created all things for the purpose of giving you glory
Your commands are based on justice and righteousness
Help us to choose and walk towards the path to uprightness.
Blessed is the Lord who lights the lives of his chosen ones
Exalt the Lord so you can be exulted and share your joy
The Lord is your strength and your shield, your true vindicator
Praise and worship him; He alone is your source and Redeemer.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can exalting the Lord make you exulted?
• How is praising God the way to eternal life?
• What happens when we praise ourselves instead of God?
PSALM 89 A GOD GREATLY TO BE FEARED
June 1
________________________________________
PSALM 89 A GOD GREATLY TO BE FEARED
I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him? -Psalm 89:1-7
________________________________________
AN INCOMPARABLE GOD WORTHY OF PRAISE by ILMA
Who else can compare with a God whose steadfast love endures forever?
Who among the heavenly beings can even come close to a God who is majestic?
Let all people give praise to an incomparable God who made all things
Let the whole creation bow down to Him who has the sole sovereignty
Praise and give glory to the one who established a covenant with David
The Lord promised an offspring from his lineage to rescue God’s people
Let us sing and shout out joyfully for he has been faithful to his promise
Lift up your hands and sing a song to declare his goodness and majesty.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What can you observe from these beginning verses of the psalm written by Ethan the Ezrahite?
• Why was this considered a community lament? What where they weeping about in this song?
PSALM 88 O LORD, WHY DO YOU CAST MY SOUL AWAY?
May 31
________________________________________
PSALM 88 O LORD, WHY DO YOU CAST MY SOUL AWAY?
13 But I, O LORD, cry to you;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?
Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
your dreadful assaults destroy me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long;
they close in on me together.
18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
my companions have become darkness.– Psalm 88:13-18
________________________________________WHEN DARKNESS SURROUND ME by ILMA
When darkness surrounds me, I feel your absence
Why have you hidden your face from me; I feel helpless
O Lord, I cry out to you as I suffer these terror
Why have you allowed me to be swept over?
Fear envelopes my whole being when I don’t have your presence
I plead you to deliver me from all these betrayals from my friends
I trusted these people, shared all my gifts and formed bonds with them
But the wicked have used my generosity use it to supply their needs.
When darkness surrounds me, I feel restrained and fearful
Hold my hand so I can follow you to the path for the faithful
Why have you abandoned me Lord, come to my rescue
Bring back that Holy Presence so I can have my mind renewed.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it so easy to wallow in our feelings? How can we combat this fleshly desire to cater to it?
PSALM 88 ARE YOUR WONDERS KNOWN IN DARKNESS?
May 30
________________________________________
PSALM 88 ARE YOUR WONDERS KNOWN IN DARKNESS?
8 You have caused my companions to shun me;
you have made me a horror to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
9 my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O LORD;
I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your wonders known in the darkness,
or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? – Psalm 88:8-12
________________________________________
MY EYES GROW DIM THROUGH SORROW by ILMA
My Lord, I cry out to you as I am in this chasm of darkness
You have allowed my closest friends to continue their wickedness
I feel so isolated and trapped in this silence that you give me
My eyes grow dim through the pain, sorrow and adversity
How long will you let me suffer Lord, have I not been faithful?
Lord, I call on you daily and yet they continue all their ridicules
Have mercy on me and let me feel your presence again
Show the enemy that their tactics are all in vain
I will not survive this world if your presence is ambiguous
Give me strength to continue to overcome this darkness
Lead me to a place where your assurance of your love is present
Deliver me out of this pit where I cannot experience your presence.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why does the psalmist sound so desperate and depressed in this individual lament?
• What was the cause of the psalmist’s grief when he wrote this psalm?
• Why is it important not to dwell on our feelings as this psalm illustrates?
PSALM 120 DELIVERANCE FROM LYING LIPS & DECEITFUL TONGUE
May 28
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it the responsibility of Christians to stay away from liars and deceivers?
PSALM 47 GOD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH
May 27
________________________________________
PSALM 47 GOD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! – Psalm 47:1-9
________________________________________
SHOUT TO GOD WITH LOUD SONGS OF JOY by ILMA
Exult and hail our God, who is King over all the earth
He alone is to be revered and praised; he is the only true God
Raise your hands to praise your Maker; he made you in his own image
Shout out loud and give glory to the Most High; he is ruler of all age.
Sing hallelujah; clap your hands, sound your trumpets
God is sovereign and he reigns over all realms
All things belong to God; he created every creature on earth
All must praise him; a God who is generous and full of steadfast love.
All you people of God, do not forget to worship and give him thanks
He has dominion over you and all things in heaven and on earth
Pledge your allegiance to the only one who can give you deliverance
He promises eternal life to all those who fear and give him reverence.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can singing and shouting out loud to God be a manifestation of worship?
• Why do you think God created music? What is its purpose?
• What can you say about the modern worship in our current age in the Evangelical, Pentecostal and other denominations?
• Do you think God is glorified in the modern Christian songs of praise?
PSALM 80 STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US!
May 25
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How is rebellion and stubborn hearts like witchcraft or divination as 1 Samuel 15:23 mentions?