January 19
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LET EVERYTHING PRAISE THE LORD
Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary;
Praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
Praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; Praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD! -Psalm 150:1-6
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ESV Study Bible Footnote on this Psalm: This hymn closes the Psalter with its call for “everything that has breath” to praise the Lord with every king of jubilant accompaniment. The list of musical instruments generates the impression of loud song and ceaseless motion- the worshiper’s whole resources offering praise to God.
Sadly, some believers do not praise the Lord as much as this Psalm encourages us to do. Very few churches among many denominations actually practice this kind of worship. I think that our voices (which is a musical instrument as well) plus all the other instruments should be giving glory to the Maker of all things.
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ADORATION: Shout to the Lord to praise Him. He is Lord of all creation, Lord Almighty. He is Worthy to be praised. Praise the Lord.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I am lukewarm or cold with my stance. I want to praise you and worship you with everything I have but sometimes I forget that you want us to have passion to adore you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the different instruments that you inspired people to create. Thank you for the gifts of music and dancing which we must use to worship you.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers be exulting you in music, dance and all art forms. May all our natural and spiritual gifts point only to you.
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REFLECTION
• Why are we supposed to use our voices and bodies and other instruments to praise the Lord? Why not just be quiet in our seats?
• What happens when we joyfully worship?
Tag Archives: ILMA’s Poem Devotional
BLESSED IS EVERYONE WHO FEARS THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 18
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BLESSED IS EVERYONE WHO FEARS THE LORD
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
You shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
5 The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel!
-Psalm 128:1-6
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Wisdom psalms are called as such because they are like the genre used in Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes. Wisdom literature tends to give us comparisons of life choices made by those who turn back to God as a contrast to those who obey him. Psalm 128 gives us a clear overview of the blessings that someone who fears the Lord, can experience. We see a picture of the bounty of a good family and a long life that dedicated and faithful believers will receive.
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ADORATION: Praise to you our Living God. You are a generous giver who makes sure that those who bring you honor are blessed. You are so faithful and the source of all things.
CONFESSION: Whenever I fail to honor you, please forgive me. My flesh may be working against my desire to please you, grant me mercy when those times happen.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your bountiful blessings to all those who keep a straight path to you and to all those who make you first in their lives.
SUPPLICATION: May your grace abound to those who faithfully carry their crosses and live their lives to please you. May you grant strength to those who struggle to follow the only road that leads to you. May those who are lost, find their way to discover your unconditional love and come back to you Lord.
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REFLECTION
• What blessings have you received as a result of your reverence for the Lord?
• How is “fear of the Lord” the beginning of wisdom as stated in Proverbs 9:10?
RESTORE OUR FORTUNES O LORD Poem Devotional
January 17
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RESTORE OUR FORTUNES O LORD
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with shouts of joy;
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
Shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
– Psalm 126:1-6
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This psalm is another song of ascents (sung while they are going up on the hill where the Temple is). It is a recollection of how the Lord has renewed them from their former struggles and once again requests Him to do the same. As if in a dream, they are declaring what the Lord will give them once again as He did in the former. A psalm full of expectancy and faith in the Lord’s generosity and mercy.
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ADORATION: We praise the God who is most generous and faithful to deliver his people. We look up to a God of mercy and who is Sovereign.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I become so discouraged and fail to have a hopeful expectancy on your unfailing mercy and love.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all that you have done in our lives. It is amazing how you continually provide for all our needs even though we don’t deserve it.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people continue to look forward to the hope that only comes from knowing and believing in your promises.
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REFLECTION
• How can a believer avoid to be pulled down from discouragements and struggles?
• Why is looking back on the miracles that God has done for you important in maintaining a hopeful expectant attitude?
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD Poem Devotional
January 15
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THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.3He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. – Psalm 23:1-6
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This psalm is my mother-in-law’s favorite among all the other psalms. It was read in her funeral service and what was memorable from her pastor’s service was how she has chosen the Lord to be her shepherd. He said that by choosing Jesus as her Lord and Shepherd, she has invested in her eternal life. Even though it was a sad occasion losing her in our lives, I had peace knowing the she is taken cared of and has eternal life.
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ADORATION: You are my shepherd Lord. Praise the Lord for your care and love. You are the giver of eternal life. You are worthy.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I give in to my flesh and want something that belongs to this world and when I allow fear to creep into my heart.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for choosing me to be yours and for faithfully rescuing me and keeping me on the narrow path that leads to you. The table you prepare for me in your Father’s house is a great manifestation of your faithfulness. Thank you for loving me.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people be reminded of the goodness and mercy that follows all those who walk in Your ways. May fear be replaced by love during the whole time that we live in this world.
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REFLECTION
• How is courage defined in this psalm?
• Why is Jesus is enough for all those who believe Him? Why can’t they want more?
THE LORD SURROUNDS HIS PEOPLE Poem Devotional
January 11
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THE LORD SURROUNDS HIS PEOPLE
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So, the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the LORD will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel! – Psalm 125:1-5
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The psalmist gives us a picture of how the Lord surrounds his people likening it to the mountains surrounding Jerusalem. The picture of a fortress or a stronghold is what we can imagine in this psalm. God is a protector from enemies and infiltrators around us. He ensures our safety and protects us so we can experience peace even in the midst of everything that may distract or derail our walk with Him.
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ADORATION: Blessings to the Lord. May He continue to shine His light on all of those who are faithful to Him. Glory to the Lord of hosts.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord each time I rely on my own strength, especially when I delude myself to think that I can do anything without you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for the strength and protection you provide all your people. Thank you that you provide even though we forget to ask at times.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people recognize the strongest fortress ever on earth, that is your love and faithfulness.
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REFLECTION
• How can we remind ourselves of the fortress that God has given us each day of our lives, especially during times of attacks from the enemy?
HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER Poem Deovtional
January 10
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HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!2 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!5 For the LORD is good;
His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
– Psalm 100:1-5
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The word “steadfast” means unwavering, resolute, persistent, committed. The psalmist describes God’s love as steadfast. In this psalm, he invites us to make joyful noise to the Lord and to serve him with gladness. We are also prompted to come to his presence with singing and thanksgiving and praises. Since God created us in his image, we too, can have a steadfast love for God and for others.
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ADORATION: Your steadfast love for all your people is amazing! You are love and everything you made and comes from you is mad out of love. Praise you Lord for your faithful and persistent love for us.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to love steadfastly and hurry to do things for you. Show me to surrender to love, your faithful love.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all that you supply me with, especially your commitment to pursue me. Thank you that you bring the people that you want us to walk with in love and in truth.
SUPPLICATION: I pray that you give me more commitment to do your will and to bring truth in spirit and love.
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REFLECTION
• Why is “steadfast love” required from Christians?
• What is the essence of the Christian walk?
• Why is “giving up” the opposite of steadfastness?
• Are believers supposed to give up when we suffer and when we don’t get our agendas met?
THE LORD REIGNS Poem Devotional
January 9
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THE LORD REIGNS
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
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The Lord is sovereign. No one else is. It is sad to see many of us humans to want to take that control and somehow think that we can do it. Only the Lord God Almighty can have sovereignty over all his creations. After the fall of Adam and Eve, we became inclined to want to take over that control. In this psalm, we surrender such control to the one and only King Jesus. We praise him for the things and wonders he has done to show us who is the only one who rules justly.
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ADORATION: I praise and glorify only you, Lord Jesus. You are the only one I will bow down as you are the only one who is the beginning and also the end. I worship you alone and will be faithful as you are to me.
CONFESSION: Forgive me each time I listen to myself and cater to my flesh as this is actually bowing down to me and not to you. Help me to keep my focus on you alone and make you first in all things.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all your guidance and provision in my life. Thank you so much for all the wonders and miracles you have done to manifest your love for me.
SUPPLICATION: Please keep us away from any evil that is going to separate us from you and give us wisdom to see it whenever the enemy starts distracting us. Give us courage to confront it and have victory over the temptation.
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REFLECTION
• Why is making God first in all things very important in our walk as a Christian?
• What is going to happen if we praise the Lord daily and keep our eyes on him?
O LORD, DO NOT DELAY Poem Devotional
January 8
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O LORD, DO NOT DELAY
Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!”
4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!
– Psalm 70:1-5
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In this psalm, we hear David prays for a haste deliverance from his enemies. David is being pursued by Saul who wants him dead. Despite all the things David did to support Saul, he was sought after by him because of jealousy. Since David was blessed with such strength to win many battles and Saul won a few, Saul’s ego got wounded. We hear David’s humble heart to seek God’s help and acknowledges his neediness before the Lord. Because he has a deep relationship with God, he addresses the Lord with such intimacy to ask him to hasten his deliverance from his enemies. How many of us believers have such confidence in our closeness with God?
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ADORATION: You are our deliverer, our protector! Praise be to the one who has made each one of us. We praise and honor your name, Lord Jesus Christ.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I run to many things and people who cannot deliver me from the works of the enemy. Pardon my ego when I chase things that I feel insecure about to feed my pride.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your undying faithfulness to give us protection and direction when we are attacked or when we go astray.
SUPPLICATION: Help us to focus on you always so that we will only come to you for help as you are the only one who knows what is best for us.
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REFLECTION
• Do you have an intimacy with Jesus that you have a confidence like David to pour out your heart and needs?
SEND YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR TRUTH Poem Devotional
January 7
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SEND YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR TRUTH
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
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 salvation and my God. – Psalm 43:1-5
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In this psalm, we discover how the psalmist run to the Lord for protection. How often do we do that today in our world? We have isolated ourselves from God and think that we can live our lives the way we want them without a consequence. The humility and faith of the psalmist is refreshing to hear as he humbly asks God to be taken under his wings. Hope in God is not always evident in many Christians’ lives. We allow the world to corrupt our dependency on God. We don’t always remember to let the truth set us free and end up being comfortable living in bondage to lies.
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ADORATION: You are the God who knows what is best for us. You are protector of all those who love you. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ for the powerful shield you provide.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord each time I forget that I need to run to you for truth and light and for protection. Let me never to assume that I can do anything without you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all that you do for sinners like me. Even though we don’t deserve it, you always faithfully deliver all your promises to us.
SUPPLICATION: Help us to never entertain thoughts of doing things on our own strength. When I automatically do things independently, please remind me to seek your wisdom.
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REFLECTION
• Why is seeking God for truth and light important to walk in the Spirit?
• Why do we need to worship God in spirit and in truth?
• Are you a true worshiper? How do you worship God in Spirit and in truth?
WHO SHALL DWELL ON YOUR HOLY HILL? Poem Devotional
January 6
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WHO SHALL DWELL ON YOUR HOLY HILL?
O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved. – Psalm 15:1-5
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In this psalm, tent and holy hill refers to God’s sanctuary. In other words, the psalmist talks about who are allowed to be in this holy place. Blameless living instead of a life of wickedness is the pre-requisite for that dwelling place of God. He enumerates them as those who do what is right, speaks truth, rends their tongue and does no evil.
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ADORATION: You are worthy of praise for you are the only one who deserves to be lifted up high on a hill. You are majestic in your lovingkindness.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I forget to keep holy and follow your ways. Give me a repentant and humble heart always.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you that you always provide many second chances to walk back to your path.
SUPPLICATION: I pray for all believers who are constantly bombarded with a battle with their own flesh and the attacks of the enemy to stay pure.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to keep yourself pure for the Lord?
• Do you think you will be allowed to dwell in the Holy Hill by how you live your life?