May 7
________________________________________
PSALM 31 BE GRACIOUS TO ME IN TIMES OF GRIEF
6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away. – Psalm 31:7-10
________________________________________
A PLEA FOR GRACE by ILMA
My Lord, please hear my distressed soul
Be gracious to your servant who is in much sorrow
Please keep away all the idolaters from my life
They suck the energy out and snuff off your light
Set me free from those whose only concern is “self”
Change their hearts and reveal yourself to them
Let them know that their wickedness destroys
Grant me grace to overcome the enemy’s ploys
I trust you completely and stand on your steadfast love
I praise you and honor your name my Lord and my God
Replace my sorrow with the joy that only comes from you
Give me a heart that endures all things and forgives
Shower me with your wisdom and grant me patience.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why are prayers important especially when you are going through grief and sorrow and suffering?
Tag Archives: Christian poem
PSALM 31 INTO YOUR HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT
May 6
________________________________________
PSALM 31 INTO YOUR HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT
In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. – Psalm 31:1-5
________________________________________
INTO YOUR HANDS I SURRENDER MY LIFE by ILMA
It is in you that I run for defence; you are my sanctuary
Hear out my plea for protection, deliverance and safety
Be that stronghold for me as I go through trials and adversity
The enemy has been constantly assaultive and combative
Lord, I plead you to shelter me under your wings for I am so tired
Be my rock of refuge and strength so I can be rejuvenated.
I need your comfort and deliverance so I can overcome evil
Take me out of their schemes and plans to destroy your calling
Into your hands alone will I surrender my entire life
You are the reason for my life and without you, I will expire
Never leave me or forsake me; I can do nothing on my own
Give me enough strength and let me focus on your firm foundation.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What does the writer mean when he said “Into your hands I commit my spirit?”
• Why did Jesus say the same phrase before he died on the cross?
• Why is it important to surrender all to the Lord?
PSALM 71 O GOD BE NOT FAR FROM ME
May 3
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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 94 THE LORD WIPES OUT WICKEDNESS
May 1
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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 55 CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD
April 28
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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 55 -GOD SAVES THOSE WHO CALL ON HIM
April 27
________________________________________
PSALM 55 -GOD SAVES THOSE WHO CALL ON HIM
12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me, then I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.
15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive;
for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage,
for many are arrayed against me.19 God will give ear and humble them,
he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change
and do not fear God. – Psalm 55:12-19
________________________________________
BETRAYALS FROM A FRIEND by ILMA
When the enemy attacks or mocks me, it is anticipated
But when my closest friend does this, it is so unexpected
In true friendships, they commit to open up their hearts
All that you can give them, you will likely offer and share.
But if this friend deceives and betrays your trust, it hurts
It is as painful as a stab right through your already wounded heart
I cry out to God for comfort in this time of grief from this relationship
Lord, give me strength to forgive and move on to your next calling.
May you take pity on my soul that is so full of pain and sorrow
Pull me out of this pit that can easily lead and drag me to Sheol
Deliver and redeem me from this battlefield that is in my mind
Renew and restore my crushed spirit so it can once again trust.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why are betrayals between friends such a painful experience and process?
• What is the antidote to the deep hurt from betrayals from very close friends?
PSALM 35 BE NOT SILENT LORD
April 24
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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?
PSALM 35 THE LORD DELIVERS THE POOR & NEEDY
April 23
________________________________________
PSALM 35 THE LORD DELIVERS THE POOR & NEEDY
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.
13 But I, when they were sick – I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing; 16 like profane mockers at a feast,
they gnash at me with their teeth. – Psalm 35: 9-15
________________________________________
PRAYER FOR PROTECTION FROM MOCKERS by ILMA
My Lord, I come to you for deliverance, I revel at your mercy and grace
To the oppressed, crushed in spirit and broken hearted, you are close
Many unbelievers have inched their way to your communion of saints
I pray that you will not allow them to corrupt your faithful servants
They are wolves in sheep’s clothing that have entered your sheepfold
Keep them away from contaminating your flock and creating confusion
I ask you Lord to deal justly with those who perpetuate sorcery and evil
Especially those who cunningly device tactics to destroy your people
Give your servants discernment to expose such mockers among us
Keep us bold to confront and not tolerate the spirits that seduce
Do not let lovers of self be comfortable in the communion of saints
They will only use your resources for their own selfish agenda and gains
Let your word penetrate and cut through their hardened hearts
Do with them what needs to be done to stop their evil plans.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why must all Christians be wary of evil plots to infiltrate and corrupt the saints?