September 23
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PSALM 42 MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU, O LORD
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me; therefore, I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
– Psalm 42:1-6
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Like an infant hungering for the mother’s milk,
So does my soul thirsts for the Lord Almighty
There is nothing else that would satisfy my longing
Only the Lord can quench my thirst and keep me holy.
When I am down and feeling empty, he fills all the void
He has given me courage when my soul is in turmoil
Hope is in God alone, praise the Lord and worship him
Especially when you are cast down and struggling with sin.
My soul will continually long for the Lord who made all things
Despite all the suffering that I go through while I am living
With loud shouts of praise, I declare the goodness of the Lord
I will abide in my Redeemer and declare his powerful word.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think many people become hopeless?
• Do you think it is true for the psalmist to say that hope is in God alone?
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PSALM 41 WHEN THE LORD DELIGHTS IN ME
September 22
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PSALM 41 WHEN THE LORD DELIGHTS IN ME
8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O LORD, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!
11 By this I know that you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.
13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. – Psalm 41:8-13
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When the enemy casts his tactics on me, I will not fear
The Lord is my stronghold and my protection
No matter what the enemy does, I will not stop trusting God
The Lord promises salvation to all those whom he loves
When the Lord delights in me, the enemy will not gloat
I will be strong and his steadfast love will bring me hope
The Lord defends me and gives me endurance
Blessed is him who constantly gives me assurance.
Even when my loved ones turn against me
I will not be anxious for the Lord is my peace
When the Lord is pleased with me, joy overflows
If I stay faithful to my Master, his grace will show
I praise my Lord, who constantly grants me mercy
Without his love, I will not overcome the enemy.
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REFLECTION
• What is the manifestation of God’s delight in a believer according to this psalm?
PSALM 41 BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO CONSIDERS THE POOR
September 21
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PSALM 41 BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO CONSIDERS THE POOR
Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
In the day of trouble, the LORD delivers him;
2 the LORD protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.
4 As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me. – Psalm 41:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When you are compassionate to those who are poor
The Lord will deliver you in times of trouble and struggle
He blesses those who think of those who are weak and needy
When they experience suffering, God makes them endure it.
God wants us to take care of those who are frail and aren’t capable
It is an act of love to take time to help those who are feeble
Serving others manifest the love of God, his grace and his mercy
The Lord sustains them when they are sick and brings them recovery.
When you think less of yourself and pour out your thoughts on others
You’ll discover many needs are unmet amongst your own sisters and brothers
Take time to think of those who are marginalized and underprivileged
The Lord will be pleased when you care for those who are forgotten.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it a good practice to go out of your way to think and help those who are poor, weak and vulnerable?
PSALM 40 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO PUTS ONLY THEIR TRUST IN GOD
September 19
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PSALM 40 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO PUTS ONLY THEIR TRUST IN GOD
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
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When you wait patiently for God to show up and hear your prayer
Chances are that you will get a reply sooner or later
The Lord is faithful to keep his promise to the faithful
If you put your trust in God, you will be blessed and prosper.
He will have his angels surround you for your protection
Though it may seem hopeless, he will find a way grant you provision
Do not put your faith on anything else but in your Lord Jesus Christ
You will have no lack when you do so; on you, He will shine his light.
Praise the Lord, depend on him alone and you will find
He is gracious and steadfast in his love and generously kind
He promised to those who love him inclusion in his book of life
Delight in his will and you will know the truth and you will be set free.
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REFLECTION
• What happens to those who put their trust on someone or something else other than God?
PSALM 39 DELIVER ME FROM MY WRONGDOINGS
September 18
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PSALM 39 DELIVER ME FROM MY WRONGDOINGS
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin,
you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may smile again,
before I depart and am no more!” – Psalm 39:7-13
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I plead you to deliver me from my wrongdoings
Do not let me follow my nature and satisfy my cravings
Without your Spirit, I will not be able to praise you
Without your love, I will be desperate and without hope
I confess to you all my sins; forgive me for displeasing you
Discipline me constantly so I won’t get waylaid and lost
Give me strength to face all temptations with courage
Never leave me so I can triumph over evil and be righteous
Rescue me from the flesh that keeps me away from your will
Keep me in your love so that I will please you and turn away from sin
Grant me peace that surpasses all understanding and give me wisdom
I will be lost without your mercy, amazing grace and steadfast love.
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REFLECTION
• How can a believer stay on track on following God’s will in this crazy world?
PSALM 38 PLEADING FOR FORGIVENESS & DELIVERANCE
September 16
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PSALM 38 PLEADING FOR FORGIVENESS & DELIVERANCE
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
15 But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
who boast against me when my foot slips!”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! – Psalm 38:12-22
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I have sinned against you and do not deserve your love
I plead you to forgive me and to deliver me from my faults
I have been suffering from the consequences of my sins
Forgive me and let me continue to follow your will
The wicked have continually pursued me and made life hard
Please release me from their schemes and all their evil plans
I wait on you O Lord to free me from all the suffering caused by my folly
I will do my best to stay pure and not be selfish and worldly
Give me humility to constantly confess my sins to stay pure
My Lord, my God, help me to do the right things always and seek the truth.
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REFLECTION
• Why must a Christian examine his heart regularly and confess his sins daily?
PSALM 38 A PLEA FOR A GENTLE DISCIPLINE
September 15
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PSALM 38 A PLEA FOR A GENTLE DISCIPLINE
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
and my nearest kin stand far off. – Psalm 38:1-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, do not discipline me in anger, but be gentle with me
I know how much my sinfulness have made you angry
Never let your Holy Spirit leave me; guide me always
I bow down to you and asked for your forgiveness
Grant me wisdom and discernment to be humble
Heal all my diseases and let me be content and simple
My heart pines only for you, keep me in your loving arms
Lord, you are my strength, help me to endure and be strong
Change my heart, mind, soul and my point of view
Let it be synchronized with your truth and plans always
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REFLECTION
• Why is God’s discipline important in a Christian’s life?
PSALM 37 A FUTURE FOR THE MAN OF PEACE
September 14
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PSALM 37 A FUTURE FOR THE MAN OF PEACE
32 The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
33 The LORD will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
– Psalm 37:32-40
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
To be able to have peace, one has to know the Lord Jesus Christ
Only in him can we have that peace that surpasses all understanding
If you serve the Lord, seek him and abide in him and you will be exalted
If you follow the ways of the world, you will be crushed and defeated
There is only a future for those who seek to know and follow God’s ways
Those who continue to serve their own desires will go astray
The Lord helps all those who choose the path to righteousness
He leaves all the ungodly and the wicked to their own rebelliousness.
While the unrighteous man continues to oppress the weak and the vulnerable
The Lord ensures that the godly are unharmed, protected and delivered
Those who bring harm to others will have to account to the Lord
They will be dealt with and cut off and be left to be consumed by this world.
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REFLECTION
• If there is a future for the man of peace, what will happen to those who do not choose to seek the Prince of Peace according to this psalm?
PSALM 37 THE SAINTS ARE PRESERVED FOREVER
September 13
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PSALM 37 THE SAINTS ARE PRESERVED FOREVER
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. – Psalm 37:21-29
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The ungodly does things but are not responsible and accountable
Those who are righteous on the other hand are giving and generous
All the path that the godly takes are guided by God’s laws
The Lord never forsakes those who are faithful to his ways
He requires his people to turn away from evil and do good
He is always there for those who are devoted and righteous.
The Lord is steadfast in his love, he is never changing
He is the source of all that is everlasting and never ending
The Lord loves justice and makes sure that the oppressed are freed
He preserves the saints and will never let anything happen to them
The righteous will inherit the land and live on it till the end of time
But all those who are wicked will be cut off from life eternal.
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REFLECTION
• What are the promises to the faithful in this psalm?
• How are the wicked and unrighteous going to end up according to this psalm?
PSALM 37 THE WICKED PERISH BUT THE BLAMELESS REMAINS FOREVER
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PSALM 37 THE WICKED PERISH BUT THE BLAMELESS REMAINS FOREVER
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine, they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. – Psalm 37:8-20
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Do not let anger consume you, instead let go of rage and bitterness
Be anxious for nothing and don’t worry for it only leads to maliciousness
Be humble, for the meek will be prosperous and have peace in abundance
The proud and the wicked on the other hand will be cut off and abandoned
Do not envy those who gather earthly wealth, they can’t last forever
Gather riches in heaven instead for it will bring you life eternal.
The wicked are busy bringing down the poor and needy
But the Lord will always provide for those who are weaker
It is better to be poor in spirit and have the Lord as your Master
Rather than being rich and serve the prince of this world, Satan
The upright will never be put to shame; they are cared for even in famine
But the wicked will be punished and like smoke, will vanish away.
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REFLECTION
• How does this psalm reveal the character of our loving God?