January 3
________________________________________
PSALM 98
Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
– Psalm 98:1-9
________________________________________
PSALM 98 GOD MANIFEST HIS GOODNESS & RIGHTEOUSNESS AMONG US
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Look and see the goodness of the Lord; watch his wondrous work
As you wake up each morning, you see the light of day
When you run through the meadows, you are exhilarated
Those wonderful beautiful flowers can make you invigorated
The sounds of the stream and the ocean makes you refreshed
A feeling of joy is felt as birds chirp and sing as you walk through the forest
The sun rises and shows off all of its wonderful warm colors each morning
Then it sets at the horizon with its various cool tones during the evening
But the greatest manifestation of God’s love is his Son Jesus Christ
For in him, we are saved and reconciled with God’s loving grace.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it so easy to take for granted God’s manifestation of his goodness and righteousness among us humans?
Tag Archives: ILMA BARAYUGA-DOHERTY
PSALM 97 LIGHT AND JOY FOR THE UPRIGHT IN HEART
January 2
________________________________________
PSALM 97
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!
8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O LORD.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
– Psalm 97:1-12
________________________________________
PSALM 97 LIGHT AND JOY FOR THE UPRIGHT IN HEART
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
For all those who love the Lord and keep his laws
There will be an abundance of light and joy
For the Lord God goes before him and destroys his foes
All idolaters will be punished and they will be his footstool
As you live for the Lord, he will lead you to paths of righteousness
His grace and mercy will abound and the faithful will receive his blessings
O you, who are lovers of God, keep on focusing on his promises
He will deliver you from all the tactics of the devil and all unrighteousness
Rejoice in the Lord and his presence will always be with you
Be the light to all so that they may praise and glorify Go.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How is being guided by God’s Spirit the only way for us to continually walk in light and have joy in our hearts?
PSALM 96 LET THE EARTH REJOICE AND DECLARE GOD’S WONDROUS WORKS
January 1
________________________________________
PSALM 96 LET THE EARTH REJOICE AND DECLARE GOD’S WONDROUS WORKS
Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established;
it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. – Psalm 96:1-13
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Come, all you people of God, rejoice for God’s work of salvation
He gave us his only begotten Son to forgive us and grant us reconciliation
Without God’s mercy, we will still be unable to be reconciled with him
It is him who chose us first so we can be his; a people who are redeemed
The God of majesty has given us an opportunity to receive his grace
Embrace all that he has given you and remember to always give him thanks.
Declare the works of the Lord to all the ends of the earth
His splendor and majesty are manifested in all that he made
There are no other gods who made heaven and earth but the Lord
Worship him alone and be awed by all the wonderful deeds he has done
Love the Lord with all your heart; a God who is steadfast in his love for you
Never let anything come between you and the Lord, have your minds always renewed.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How is rejoicing in God’s goodness and declaring his wonderful deeds considered good habits for believers to get into?
PSALM 95 TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS
December 31
________________________________________
PSALM 95 TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,8do not harden your hearts,
as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9 when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”
11 Therefore I swore in my wrath,“They shall not enter my rest.”– Psalm 95:1-11
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Let us come before the Lord and sing songs of praise and worship
In the morning, prepare your hearts to receive his kingship
He is the Lord our God, who is the greatest and above all other gods
No one is like him, he is Almighty and powerful, steadfast in his love.
He selected his own people to have a relationship with him
The Lord is faithful to keep his promises to them
Because he is our God and we are his people
When he calls us today, our hearts must not be hardened.
Each moment must be an opportunity to serve the Lord
Let each day be a day of worship and singing with joy
Examine your hearts often so you can hear his voice
Follow the lead of his Spirit so you can constantly rejoice.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What hinders us from hearing God’s voice?
• How can we ensure our hearts are not hardened when he calls on us?
PSALM 94 GOD CHEERS MY SOUL WHEN CARES ARE MANY
December 30
________________________________________
PSALM 94 GOD CHEERS MY SOUL WHEN CARES ARE MANY
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.
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 94:12-23
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, give me rest from all the distractions and afflictions of this world
Let me remember that you never abandon us and let me dwell in your word
There are no other gods like you for you provide help to those who call on you
Each day, troubles and challenges come my way, but I will press on
I will stand on all your promises for you are steadfast in your love
Nudge me when fear visits me so I can walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
God cheers my soul when my cares are many, he wants me to endure
When I remain steadfast under trials, he promised the crown of life
Who can withstand God’s judgment? He is a stronghold to the saints
All the wicked and evildoers cannot face the Almighty God
They will be wiped out if they ever continue to destroy the upright
No human power can ever be enough to withstand God’s anger.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can believers look at the upside of troubles and many cares that this world brings?
PSALM 94 THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF MAN
December 29
________________________________________
PSALM 94 THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF MAN
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
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
How long O Lord will you let the wicked have their way?
Their arrogance is exhausting and is unbearable
They purposefully victimize the weak and vulnerable
They sneak their agendas to attack the helpless so cunningly.
But you O Lord knows every thought that comes from a man
You know what they’ll say even before it comes out of their mouth
Save me O Lord from such evil plots and tactics of the enemy
Deliver me from their plans to exhaust and eventually kill me.
Keep me under your protection; you are my shield O Lord
Help me stand on your promise that you will never abandon
You promise to those whom you love, restoration and deliverance
I look forward to that day that you will crush all my enemies.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• If the Lord knows all our thoughts, why do you think man continually think that they can get away with their plots and schemes to sin?
• Why is being aware of one’s thoughts and holding them captive into the obedience of Christ a very essential habit that all Christians must do?
PSALM 93 WHAT THE LORD ESTABLISHED SHALL NOT BE MOVED
December 28
________________________________________
PSALM 93 WHAT THE LORD ESTABLISHED SHALL NOT BE MOVED
The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the LORD on high is mighty!
5 Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, forevermore. – Psalm 93:1-5
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
What the Lord creates, he gives it a solid foundation
If he has chosen someone, he equips that person
The Lord is sovereign; he is there before the world was made
Whatever he makes, it is for the purpose of giving him glory and praise
He created the waters, the sky and the earth and all living creatures
He made man in his own image so that he will have domain over his creation.
God’s throne is founded from ancient days and it is everlasting
No other gods are like him for he alone can create anything out of nothing
He is Almighty and powerful, he is all-knowing and all-seeing
If you serve the majestic God, you will be free and be discerning
If the Lord has chosen you, he established you and you shall not be moved
You will withstand trials and suffering for he will always be with you.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What trait of God is this psalm focused on?
• Why is it important to remember this trait of God especially when in trouble?
PSALM 92 THE RIGHTEOUS FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM TREE
December 27
________________________________________
PSALM 92 THE RIGHTEOUS FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM TREE
9 For behold, your enemies, O LORD,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over me fresh oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the LORD is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. – Psalm 92:9-15
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I give thanks to you for blessing the righteous
You have given them protection and favor
You keep them away from the plots of the evil one
I praise you my Lord, for you are steadfast in your love.
You have poured much of your love on your people
Like the palm tree, you nurture them and they flourish
Even in old age, they still continue to bear fruit
They get wiser each and every day for you are full of grace.
When the wind blows, they go with the force and still stands
Their resilience to the pressures of the world is astounding
The Lord is generous to give them yield of much fruit
For God takes care of all those who continue to be true.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What have you observed with the lives of those who are faithful to God?
PSALM 92 DECLARE GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS
December 26
________________________________________
PSALM 92 DECLARE GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O LORD!
Your thoughts are very deep!
6 The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
7 that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
8 but you, O LORD, are on high forever. – Psalm 92:1-8
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Lord is good and deserves all the praise and thanksgiving
Let us declare God’s steadfast love every moment of our living
Sing out loud with music accompanied by the lute and harp
Shout out loud to all so that God will be adored and praised.
Do not be distracted by wickedness all around you
Even though evildoers seem to continue to grow
They are destined for ruin and annihilation forever
Praise the Lord and keep your focus on who is eternal.
Continue to keep your eyes on Jesus and speak of his faithfulness
When you do so, you are going to receive steadfastness
Hail your wonderful Lord who has given you all things
Be devoted to follow his word and you will win over sin.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can declaring God’s steadfast love and faithfulness change our hearts?
PSALM 118 LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD
December 25
________________________________________
PSALM 118 LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, O LORD!O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the house of the LORD.- Psalm 118:14-26
________________________________________
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Word became flesh, let us rejoice and be glad
Today, the Lord has begotten his own Son to us
In his steadfast love and mercy, he brought salvation
He gave us his only Son so we can receive reconciliation.
Jesus Christ’s sacrifice opened the gates of righteousness
All the saints can now rejoice and continually praise
Blessed is he who follows the path towards uprightness
All those who love him will enter God’s dwelling place.
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us sing with joy
Worship and exalt him; never forget what God has done
He cancelled our sins through Jesus Christ’s death
Confess and repent all your sins so you may be saved.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What should Christmas really mean to all those who walk in the faith?