February 6
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TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!
4 May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
And in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions! 6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
He will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
But we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.
9 O LORD, save the king! May he answer us when we call. – Psalm 20:1-9
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This psalm is a royal psalm and is paired with Psalm 21. It is a prayer requesting God to grant David triumph in the battles he fights. It is a blessing to the king as he fulfills his anointing to save the Israelites. It is a hopeful declaration of trust that the Lord will anoint and bless their king because the Lord himself chose and anointed David.
How often do we pray for our leaders and rulers? 1 Timothy 1-4 encourages us to pray for those in authority so that we will live peaceful and godly lives. This psalm is a good reminder for us to lift up our leaders and rulers in prayer. This way, they may fulfill how God intended them to lead the people assigned to them and propagate peace in their region. When we pray for authorities, we participate in the kingdom plan to be fulfilled.
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ADORATION: Praise and bless you Lord! We shout for joy for you have redeemed us all.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to pray for those who are leading our nations.
THANKSGIVING: We are grateful for all our leaders. Thank you that you are in control.
SUPPLICATION: May all leaders have a servant leadership like Jesus did. May they see their roles as opportunities to pursue peace and humility and bring peace to all nations.
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REFLECTION
• What benefits do we reap when we pray for all leaders and rulers?
Tag Archives: poetry
HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME Poem Devotional
February 5
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HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.2Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
You have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
And crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
You have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is your name in all the earth! – Psalm 8:1-9
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This psalm is a hymn of praise of the Israelites to their glorious and majestic God. “Majestic “is defined as possessing or exhibiting dignity; of august dignity, stateliness, or imposing grandeur; lofty; noble; grand. That is the perfect description of the Lord’s name. What is interesting in this psalm is how it alludes to Genesis 1 and 2, presenting mankind as the peak of God’s creation, rulers over all animal world and object of God’s attention. According to the ESV bible study, verse 2 reminds us of Genesis 3 and God’s plan for fallen mankind, Israel was to the be firstfruits of restored humanity and explains why Hebrews 2:6-8 quotes Psalms 8:4-6:Jesus as the Davidic king, is the ideal Israelite, and thus the Ideal human being. He is crowned with glory after his suffering on behalf of mankind.
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ADORATION: Praise your majestic name, O Lord our Savior. You are full of splendor.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to rely on your majestic name.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for choosing mankind to be the object of your affection.
SUPPLICATION: May all man fall on their knees to glorify your majestic name forever.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God would choose mankind to reflect his majesty?
• Why do humans forget to praise and give glory to God’s majestic name?
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART Poem Devotional
February 4
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GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
Before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple
And give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
For you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
For they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;
You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And your right hand delivers me.8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands. – Psalm 138:1-8
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Giving thanks to the Lord with all our hearts can be very challenging in our busy world today where we live very comfortable lives. This psalm is a reminder to bow down to a faithful God who is always there especially manifested in his name and in his word. Without praising his name and letting the word permeate our lives, we can’t have that grateful attitude that sings praise to him wholeheartedly.
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ADORATION: Praise your name forever, my Lord and my God.
CONFESSION: Forgive me whenever I don’t wholeheartedly worship you with all my heart, mind, soul and might.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all your unconditional love and provision for all my needs.
SUPPLICATION: May all men recognize the One true God in you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think gratefulness is an act of the heart and not of the mind?
• Can we be grateful without manifesting it in words and action? Will that bless the giver?
• What are you grateful today that God has clearly given you?
MY SOUL WAITS FOR THE LORD Poem Devotional
February 3
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MY SOUL WAITS FOR THE LORD
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 2O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning,
More than watchmen for the morning.7 O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. – Psalm 130:1-8
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This psalm is an individual lament, expressing repentance and trust in God’s mercy. The psalmist reaches out from the depth of his agony. The plea for God to hear him is so marked in this cry for forgiveness. He recognizes his sinfulness and magnifies at how God could stand such sins he has committed, but also sees hope because he knows how great is God’s faithfulness and mercy. He waits on the Lord’s forgiveness after the acknowledgement of his sins with an expectancy that is such a picture of hope and new life.
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ADORATION: You are the Maker of all things. Mercy and grace abound in you and you give it so generously to all your creation. Praise the Lord, he is all good and faithful.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to magnify at the generosity of your heart and when I forget to bow down on my knees to ask forgiveness and depend on you.
THANKSGIVING: I am grateful for all that you are and all that you grant us. You fulfill all my needs.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers have a repentant heart and always hopefully wait on the Lord’s mercy whenever they recognize their sins.
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REFLECTION
• How can we develop a heart that cries to God especially when we realize our sinfulness and pride?
• How is righteous lamenting different from condemning oneself when we are convicted of sins?
THEY HAVE AFFLICTED ME FROM MY YOUTH Poem Devotional
February 2
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THEY HAVE AFFLICTED ME FROM MY YOUTH
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—let Israel now say—
2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.”
4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.
5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!
6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,
7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand
Nor the binder of sheaves his arms,8 nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the LORD!” – Psalm 129:1-8
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This psalm is a song of ascents or a pilgrim song which reflects what God’s people have endured and how God has sustained them. Verse 2 “afflicted me from my youth” indicates the longsuffering and “yet they have not prevailed against me” shows that because God has been faithful to walk alongside with them, they have endured. The psalm shows the trust that the Israelites have for the Lord, knowing that he will defend them from all those who hate them or plan evil against them. Because of their dependence and faith on the Lord, we can see how they can ask the Lord such protection and know in their hearts that they will be heard and that they will be blessed just like how a child believes that their own parents would grant them their requests.
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ADORATION: Lord, you are magnificently omniscient and omnipotent. You are a great Father to all your children, providing and protecting all your loved ones.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I do not endure the trials that come my way and when I become proud and forget that it is you who defends me.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the opportunities you give me to constantly rely on you.
SUPPLICATION: May all your people bear all their trials and sufferings knowing that you have them covered and that you are in control. May we learn to let go of taking things into our own hands.
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REFLECTION
• How can we deepen our dependency on God in this very “self” focused world?
OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD Poem Devotional
February 1
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OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side-let Israel now say-
2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us,
3Then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4 Then the flood would have swept us away the torrent would have gone over us;
5 Then over us would have gone the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
The snare is broken, and we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
-Psalm 124:1-8
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This song of ascents written by David points to how God has delivered them faithfully from all the dangers and enemies that they were up against. We hear David’s gratitude and humility in this psalm as he always points to the Lord whenever they face threats, that if it had not been for the Lord, they would have never made it. He praises and acknowledges God for all the protection and provision He has given them. How many of us would easily attribute to God all the good things we have especially when we just overcome or went through danger or trials?
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ADORATION: Praise you Lord for your generous and unfailing love. You are the only One who can deliver us from any evil. Bless you Lord, for your protection and love for us.
CONFESSION: Grant me pardon whenever I don’t point to your provision and protection and take credit instead for overcoming something that was difficult.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your unconditional love that you extend help and provision even though at times I don’t deserve it.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers have a heart like David, who never forgets the hierarchy of God in their lives. May we never forget that all good things come from God.
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REFLECTION
• What do we need to do so we can always point to the Lord when we are delivered from a difficult situation?
• Why is gratitude and humility essential in a believer’s life?
MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 31
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MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forevermore. -Psalm 121:1-8
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This psalm is a confidence song of those who make the pilgrim to Jerusalem, the top of the hill. It keeps the pilgrim encouraged to keep on looking at the top of the hill instead of focusing on the other elements of the travel that will keep them distracted to finish the journey. It is the same with our walk with Jesus. If we keep our eyes on Christ, we will receive the help we need and the sustenance to endure. God doesn’t sleep, He watches over us and keeps us away from all the distractions in life if we abide in him. He wants us to finish the race and hand us the reward at the end.
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ADORATION: Praise you O my God who never slumbers but always keeps watch on his people. You grant us all the love and protection we need. We adore you and bless you.
CONFESSION: Whenever I allow myself to be distracted by worldly stuff, forgive me Lord. I repent of idols that I unknowingly pay attention. Forgive me when I remove my eyes on you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your love and unfailing mercy and grace.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers remember to constantly fix their eyes on you. May all idols be smashed so that there will be no other distractions that hinders our intimacy with you, my Lord and my God.
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REFLECTION
• How can we constantly keep our eyes on the Lord in this very busy and chaotic world?
• What are the distractions you struggle with in your daily life?
TREMBLE AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 30
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TREMBLE AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
When Israel went out from Egypt,
The house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 Who turns the rock into a pool of water,
The flint into a spring of water. -Psalm 114:1-8
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This hymn praises what God has done for the Israelites. Verse 3 recalls those two times that the Red Sea and the river Jordan was parted just so the Israelites can run and be rescued from their enemies. It is a reminder how God takes care of his people and how powerful he is that he can command any of his creation to turn into something that it isn’t. The flint in verse 8 is a very hard variety of quartz that was abundant in those times and could be broken into sharp pieces and used to make tools, knives and weapons. Even something as hard as this, God can turn into a spring of water. Let us tremble at the presence of such power.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord who is mighty and powerful, who can turn anything into something else. O come, let us adore the God who protects and faithfully loves his people.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord whenever I do not tremble at your presence and take all that you have done for me for granted.
THANKSGIVING: I am so grateful for your thoughtfulness and generosity at providing for all things that I need even before I ask for it.
SUPPLICATION: May we never forget the miracles or the little things we don’t recognize that are the ways that God protects and cares for his people.
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REFLECTION
• What happens when we don’t tremble at the presence of the Lord?
I WILL WALK WITH INTEGRITY Poem Devotional
January 29
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I WILL WALK WITH INTEGRITY
I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.
2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me?
I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;
3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.
I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly, I will destroy.
Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart, I will not endure.
6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me;
He who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.
7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house;
No one who utters lies, shall continue before my eyes.
8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land,
Cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD. -Psalm 101:1-8
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This psalm is an oath of David to God to ensure that his kingdom will exercise integrity. David’s biggest strength is his honesty and integrity. Despite his weaknesses, he is a king who is faithful to the Lord and wants to ensure that his house and kingdom do the same. He talks about not being able to tolerate evil wherever he is ruling. His love for righteousness is clearly the trait that identifies him as the worthy to be Jesus’ ancestor.
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ADORATION: Praise to you the God who makes us walk in righteousness. You are the only one who is without sin. You are Worthy. We adore you our Lord and Savior.
CONFESSION: Grant me mercy each time I fail to walk the straight path of righteousness.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you Lord for giving me choices to choose the right way through Jesus Christ’s example.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers recognize that the only way to the way, the truth and the life is through a blameless and pure life.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it such a challenge to live a life of integrity in this fallen world?
• How can we exercise honesty even though no one sees us?
RESCUE THE WEAK AND NEEDY Poem Devotional
January 28
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RESCUE THE WEAK AND NEEDY
God has taken his place in the divine council;
In the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
Maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness;
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 Nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
-Psalm 82:1-8
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In the book of Chronicles, it is said that Asaph was a descendant of Gershon the son of Levi. He is also known as one of the three Levites commissioned by David to be in charge of singing in the house of Yahweh. According to the ESV study bible notes, Asaph wrote this psalm to God as a community lament with a request on behalf of the whole people. It teaches God’s people to aim to have an ideal society, with their justice visible for all to see. This way, all nations might come to know the one true God. In a corrupt world we live in, this is a reminder for all human rulers and judges (referred to as “gods) that they are accountable to a divine heavenly King, higher than all of them, to bring justice to all.
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ADORATION: Praise you Lord for your just treatment of all. You are Worthy of all praise
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I mistreat anyone because they are different from me.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your magnificent creation of man, each one unique.
SUPPLICATION: May all rulers and judges recognize that they are accountable to someone higher than themselves and lead with the same fairness that you rule.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God is so concerned that justice prevail in the world?
• What is the responsibility of the justice system or sovereignty when they lead the system or monarchy? What is the subjects responsibility on the other hand?