April 16
________________________________________
TEACH ME YOUR WAYS THAT I MAY WALK IN TRUTH
10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth;
Unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
And I will glorify your name forever.13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
And they do not set you before them.15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant,
And save the son of your maidservant.17 Show me a sign of your favor,
That those who hate me may see and be put to shame
Because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. – Psalm 86:10-17
________________________________________
David’s prayer manifests his wisdom and intimate relationship with the Lord in this psalm. He praises his Lord be declaring his Master’s wondrous deeds and how God is the only true God. His humble stance to ask the Lord to teach him is something that all Christians should emulate. He is full of steadfast love and David constantly pleads the Lord to keep him united to his God. A thankful attitude in verse 12 and counting his blessings on the ensuing verses is another evidence how his heart seeks and pursues God’s own heart always. No matter how the situation is, he can still get comfort and be at peace because in the past, the Lord had always helped and comforted him. He is sure that his God will never let him go without help and protection.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Our God, is the best teacher to all of those who love him. Praise the Lord.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I do not rely on your word for guidance.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving us access to Scriptures so easily when others don’t know about it.
SUPPLICATION: May all Christians walk in truth and love and in the Spirit.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do Christians still not seek truth even when they are available to them?
Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO
YOU O LORD ARE GOOD AND FORGIVING ILMA’S VLOG
April 15
________________________________________
YOU O LORD ARE GOOD AND FORGIVING
Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
Abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
Listen to my plea for grace.7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord,
And shall glorify your name.– Psalm 86:1-9
________________________________________
The ESV student study bible says that this is an individual lament of David in a situation win which a band of insolent men seek his life. It confesses of God’s goodness and mercy. He also acknowledges in verse 5 that his own sins may have contributed to his enemies’ plans. I love how David honestly runs to the Lord for help and acknowledging his neediness. His trust in the Lord is astounding and so is his deep knowledge of the character of the God he serves. He is confident that because of God’s goodness and mercy, he will deliver him from these men seeking to kill him. His humble heart has never failed to confess and admit his sinfulness, yet it never stopped him from depending on God and hoping that God will keep his promise to redeem and protect his beloved faithful servants.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise be to the God who is the Good and full of forgiveness. Bless his heart.
CONFESSION: Lord, you are the God who saves and graciously grant mercy.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for always being there for me especially when I need protection and deliverance.
SUPPLICATION: May all God’s people have a dependence and confidence in the Lord.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we develop confidence instead of succumbing to fear in times of trouble?
• What do you think is David’s secret in asking boldly the Lord for help?
DELIVER & PROTECT ME FROM MY ENEMIES ILMA’S VLOG
April 13
________________________________________
DELIVER & PROTECT ME FROM MY ENEMIES
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. 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. – Psalm 59:1-9
________________________________________
In 1 Samuel 19, we hear an account how Saul tries to kill David. He even talked to his son Jonathan who was a friend to David to plot for his life. But Jonathan warned David so he fled from Saul. In verse 11, Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning, but David’s wife, Michal told her father’s plot to kill him, so David fled through the window that night. In this psalm, David pleads to God to be delivered from these enemies who want so much to kill him. He describes how they are bloodthirsty and howling like dogs and prowling about the city. We still witness David’s trust and dependence on God despite all these evil and wicked men who want him dead. He declares that God is his fortress and he is confident that he will be protected and delivered from these enemies by his faithful God.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise the Lord, our faithful protector and deliverer. He is mighty to save.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I succumb to panic or fear when I am attacked by evil.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your steadfast love and protection.
SUPPLICATION: May all God’s people remember to run to him for deliverance and victory over the plots of the enemy.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How do you deal with people who scheme and plot evil to you?
I WILL CAUSE YOUR NAME TO BE REMEMBERED ILMA’S VLOG
April 12
________________________________________
I WILL CAUSE YOUR NAME TO BE REMEMBERED
10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
Forget your people and your father’s house,11and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.12 The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
The richest of the people. 13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber,
With robes interwoven with gold. 14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king,
With her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
Therefore nations will praise you forever and ever. – Psalm 45:10-17
________________________________________
This hymn celebrates a royal wedding and in verse 10-12 the song turns to the bride. Her loyalty now is to her husband, the king and no longer to her father’s house. The song speaks of the king’s enduring line. The marriage of a Davidic king is not a private matter. It is crucial for the fulfilling of God’s promises, not simply to Israel but to the nations.
In this psalm, we see how the princess is encouraged to be loyal to her king because she isn’t in her father’s house anymore. It shows that she is to submit to her king and her sons will be the replacement for her father. It is essential that she contributes for her king to be remembered.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise the Lord, the king of heaven and earth.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord each time I don’t follow authority.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving us leaders who can rule over us.
SUPPLICATION: May all people submit to their rulers and leaders as they would to the Lord Jesus Christ.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why should women submit to their husbands and be faithful to them? Why is a woman’s submission to her husband essential in a marriage?
YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER ILMA’S VLOG
April 11
________________________________________
YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king;
My tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips;
Therefore God has blessed you forever.3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
In your splendor and majesty! 4 In your majesty ride out victoriously
For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
Let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 5 Your arrows are sharp
In the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
With the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 Daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
At your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. – Psalm 45:1-9
________________________________________
According to the ESV student study bible this psalm is a hymn written by the Sons of Korah and celebrates a royal wedding. The words of this song are addressed to the king. It speaks to the king, praising him for his appearance and gracious speech (v2), military power (v3) and commitment to promoting justice (v4) These ideals are what lead to God’s blessing for the king and to the king’s own respected position in the world.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Your throne O Lord stands forever. You are the King of kings. Praise to you.
CONFESSION: The Lord anoints those kings whom he chose to lead his people.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you Lord for the leaders who reigns over us.
SUPPLICATION: May all leaders bow down to the real and true King Jesus. May all leaders have integrity to lead their people and maintain peace.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important for all of God’s people to pray for all their leaders?
MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME O LORD ILMA’S VLOG
April 10
_______________________________________
MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME O LORD
11 As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me;
Your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number;
My iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see;
They are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
Who seek to snatch away my life;
Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
May those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! – Psalm 40: 11-17
________________________________________
“Make haste to help me, O Lord” seems like David is asking God to hurry up and rescue him. Some religious and legalistic people may seem that this is inappropriate for a servant of the Lord to command his Master and Lord. If you do not take this phrase out of context, you will see how much David knows his Master so well. He is confident that the Lord he serves is someone who made a lot of promises to him that he is sure to receive. It almost illustrates the relationship between a father and his child. His child knows that because his father loves him or her so much, he is able to ask anything from him that will be a deliverance from his enemies. He knows that the father will protect him. That is probably how God wants us all to come to him and ask confidently what he is willing to give us.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise the Father, who is the greatest of all fathers.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I do not intimately relate with you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for constantly being there for me, Lord.
SUPPLICATION: May we get intimate with our knowledge of our loving heavenly Father.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What made David confident in asking God to urgently help him?
MY HELP AND MY DELIVERER! ILMA’S VLOG
April 9
________________________________________
MY HELP AND MY DELIVERER!
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog,
And set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud,
To those who go astray after a lie!5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
Your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” – Psalm 40:1-8
________________________________________
This psalm of David manifests his total dependence on God. It also shows how he is so much patient. We know that patience is a fruit of the Spirit and so we can actually deduce that he is a led by God’s Spirit to constantly hope for God’s deliverance. He praised the Lord for his help and deliverance, something David has never failed to exude. Even in the direst situation, he still praises the Lord. His confidence must have come from his deep intimate relationship with his Lord and Deliverer. He even blessed those who put their trust in the Lord and proclaim him as the only God who is incomparable with any other gods.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise our Lord, our Help and our Deliverer! He is steadfast and faithful.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord whenever I fail to trust you especially in times of troubles.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for letting me experience adversities so I can rely on you and grow my faith and endurance.
SUPPLICATION: May all the people of God trust only in the Lord who delivers us from evil.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can David still delight to do God’s will in the midst of attacks from his enemies? How can we develop a patience and confidence in God like David?
THE RIGHTEOUS GOD ILMA’S VLOG
April 8
________________________________________
THE RIGHTEOUS GOD
8 The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness
And according to the integrity that is in me.
9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous—
You who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! 10 My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge,
And a God who feels indignation every day.12 If a man does not repent,
God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
13 He has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.
14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief
And gives birth to lies.15 He makes a pit, digging it out,
And falls into the hole that he has made.16 His mischief returns upon his own head,
And on his own skull his violence descends.
17 I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,
And I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. – Psalm 7:8-17
________________________________________
In this psalm of David, he emphasizes how God is a righteous God. He judges people according to their integrity. The Lord is the only one who knows everything. He knows what we are thinking even before we think of it. He sees our hearts and every intention we have is never hidden from him. This psalm gives us a reminder how to live righteously so that we do not have to contend with the consequences of wrong choices and actions. If we love the Lord, we will do what is right and true. We will give him glory for being a just judge and a rewarder of good.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Lord, you are worthy of praise and glory, you are righteous and just.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I fail to choose the right thing at times.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your truth that keeps me in check with staying right.
SUPPLICATION: May all Christians never forget that all our actions have consequences and that we have a righteous judge who rewards good and punishes evil.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do we have to remember that God hates evil and won’t allow it to thrive?
• Do you think it is fair to punish those who do evil? Why or Why not?
SAVE ME FROM ALL MY PURSUERS ILMA’S VLOG
WHEN HE CALLS, I WILL ANSWER HIM ILMA’S VLOG
April 6
________________________________________
WHEN HE CALLS, I WILL ANSWER HIM
9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place
The Most High, who is my refuge—10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
No plague come near your tent.11 For he will command his angels concerning you
To guard you in all your ways.12 On their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you strike your foot against a stone.13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
The young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him
And show him my salvation.”– Psalm 91:9-16
________________________________________
The psalmist enumerates what happens when we make God our refuge and fortress. First, there will be no evil befalling on you (v10). Second, no plague will come near you (v11). Third, he will command his angels to guard all your ways (v12). Fourth, you will crush all dangerous creatures including the serpent (v13). Fifth, you will be delivered as you hold on fast to God in love (v14). Sixth, God will answer him especially in times of trouble (v15). Seventh, God will rescue him and honor him (v16). Eight, he will have a satisfied long life and lastly, God will show him salvation. Wow! Isn’t this psalm full of promises to those who make the Lord their refuge and fortress? Why won’t some believers not exercise dependence and faith that God can be their sanctuary and stronghold?
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise the Lord who is my refuge and my fortress. He is my Deliverer.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I fail to automatically run to you instead of relying on myself.
THANKSGIVING: I am grateful for your strength, protection and provision.
SUPPLICATION: May all true believers of the Lord never forget to depend on him for all things especially for deliverance from troubles, calamities and challenges.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How is making God your refuge and fortress the solution to all trials, sufferings, adversities and hardships? Why does God wants us to run to him?