May 1, 2015 – Friday

Start Time:   6:56 AM

End Time:    7:22 AM

Title: Psalm 97. 

Scripture: Psalm 97:1 – 12

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Another great chapter to start my day!  Truly, the Lord reigns and so for this reason alone, let the whole earth be glad, which means, all living and even non-living creation be with joy!  The glory of the Lord is amazing!  He is surrounded by clouds and thick darkness, righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne - clearly, this illustrates and magnifies the value of "righteousness" or in short, the way to His path, as I call it.  To be with God, the keys are righteousness and justice... My point us, without them, there's no way, we can approach the Lord.  That's why we pray in the Name of Jesus because Jesus displayed righteousness and justice as a man.  So we call upon God thru Him and Him alone.  Verses 1 - 6 portray the magnitude of God's righteousness and glory, which in comparison to who we are, we can clearly say we are undeserving and nothing.  Thanks to Jesus who is righteous and just who became our way to the Father.  So worship the Lord, let go of any idols, or anything that sway us from Jesus, let us release them and focus on Him alone.

Verse 8-12, shows us that as the Righteous people of God, we rejoice because of God's judgment - again this reiterates the message yesterday that we long for His judgment not fear it.  It is not just the righteous but the righteous people of God are also the villages of Judah - Judah meaning praise.  So the righteous people of God can also be called the villages of Praise.  It is then crucial to develop a habit of praise to God daily and to make the right choices in our lives every day.  Then we know that God's protection, guidance, deliverance, and joy is upon those who are faithful in Him...the righteous ones!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me the value of being righteous.  I know it is hard, truth is, I don't think i can take the path of righteousness on my own.  I will truly need Your help Lord as I am weak and restless and tired and easily swayed away...having known this, it is then crucial that I hold on to You each day...ensuring that every day I walk with You Jesus and follow Your lead alone.  Give me an ear that listens to You, a heart that submits and mind that accepts.  Help me Lord to be in one with Your instructions every day because I want to be with You so I want to take the path of righteousness and justice with You by my side in every step of the way.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 30, 2015 – Thursday

Start Time:   6:11 AM

End Time:    6:50 AM

Title: Psalm 96. 

Scripture: Psalm 96:1 – 13

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ What a wondrous and joyous psalms chapter 96 is!  Whoever wrote this chapter, clearly had praises in his heart with joy and gladness!  What a very positive author!  Everything in here is about praise and worship, ultimately the most essence of our presence.  Every word declares the glory and power of God; encouraging and urging others to proclaim His praises and declare His glorious Being!  Not many today are able to do this...I am guilty of such.  At times, it's hard to praise and describe the glory of God, primarily because maybe we haven't really seen and witness His glory.  How many times have we struggled during praise and worship?  Not because we don't know the song or the tune, but because we have nothing to say?  Or maybe we do but we don't how to say it or what to say, especially during free-flow worship...am i right?  I know I am guilty of this but I'm glad that this author just made me realize that giving praise to God is first seeing His glory and witnessing it...more than that, experiencing it deep.  We talk about how great God is but even before we say that, remember what made you realize He is great in your life?  Even so, that when things aren't going great in life, you can go back to that memory and remember God's greatness in times of darkness.  I believe this author has a bank of great and amazing memories of the Lord...just look at every word he wrote, it's nothing but praise!  Can we see ourselves in this level of praise to God?  I know i have a long way to go but I desire to be in that level, where every word that comes out of my mouth is a true praise to God. 

Furthermore, I want us to look at verses 11 to 13, the writer here spoke of the coming of the Lord as the JUDGE!  Many people fear the 2nd coming, because in their hearts though they know Christ, they believed in Him, they haven't truly surrendered.  It's sad to know that many Christians are still afraid for the 2nd coming of the Lord.  This author, on the other hand, speaks of such rejoicing and celebration with gladness and joy in the hearts of the people specifically for the Lord's coming as the Judge!  Because in his heart, he believed, he will be judged fairly and justly according to God's righteousness and faithfulness.  Can we say the same thing for us?  Are we excited for the Lord's coming?  Or are we still hesitant for God to come for fear of getting at the wrong side of the court?  Now, this is something we all have to think about; a personal inner evaluation with the Lord.  May we think of such things now before it's too late.

Prayer:

Lord what a wonderful day and message You have for me.  Thank You for the comfort and assurance of Your great love and coming.  Lord, for the past few days or weeks, You have spoken to me about the Fear of You.  With what happened in Nepal and how devastated the nation is right now, Your wrath and anger feels so real.  And yes, it causes fear - definitely the right kind of fear.  But today, though You see it good for me to develop that fear in You in my heart, You took the time to talk to me today about Your 2nd coming, Your coming as the Judge of the world and assured me that the path of the righteous is clear and victorious... filled with love, mercy, grace, peace, and everlasting joy!  So though I am to fear You, there is really nothing to fear Your coming back.  So I await for it Lord, expectantly with rejoicing in my heart.  I long for You to come and judge us according to Your righteousness and faithfulness.  I love You Lord and thank You for my salvation.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 29, 2015 – Wednesday

5

Start Time:   6:20 AM

End Time:    7:01 AM

Title: Psalm 95. 

Scripture: Psalm 95:1 – 11

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ What a wonderful day to start with the words of Psalm 95.  The writer is filled with joy in his heart as we read thru each word he wrote.  He started with a strong invitation to everyone to sing for joy to the Lord, shout aloud, come before Him and extol Him!  Now if you read thru verses 1 and 2, you would see that the author encouraged everyone to ACT!  Sing, shout, come and extol - these are all verbs or action words!  Praise and worship is not a thought or a feeling - they are actions!  It requires movement!  So today when we start the day with praise and worship to God, open your mouth and sing, let your voice be heard, let your body move, let your whole being do the act of worship. Don't settle for just thinking or feeling about praising and worshipping God, DO IT!  Why you may ask?  Well, the author gave you valid reasons to do so...verses 3 to 5, he said, "for the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him.  The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land."  - this let me realize that we don't thank God for just the things that we received or the blessings we thought we got from Him daily... but this author encourages us to praise the Lord for the creation of nature - Because even nature was created for His people.  God's hands work on the molding and creating this world, filled with nature that symbolizes life, for us!  That alone should give our hearts enough reasons to jump for Joy!  All the things you see (Nature) is there for you and me!  For our benefits and enjoyment!  Hallelujah!  Thank You Jesus!  But also, a deeper realization is that God is the greatest for He created all these magnificent natural creations that no one could ever do.  He is powerful and majestic - as shown in His creations too.  So come let us bow down in worship to Him!  Let the whole world know that we are His flock and we belong under His care.

In verse 8, the author spoke of God's people angering Him at Meribah by testing the Lord.  Despite of what the people of the Lord has seen what God can do, they still disobeyed and put God in a test, which shows disrespect.  In verse 10, God said, for forty years, I was angry with that generation!  Wow!  God's anger is so slow... it took Him 40 years to release His anger to His people who went astray despite of their knowledge of God's ways...so God declared an oath, a promise, or a vow in His anger...that those who went astray and tested Him will never enter His rest.  Scary right!  I never want to be in that situation and I'm sure you don't want either.  That's why every day, we must choose to walk the right path and worship Him declaring His glory and greatness.  Focusing on Him rather than any other misguided targets.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus at all times and never test Him for though He is merciful and He loves us so much, He is loving as much as He is just and He does not tolerate sin!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, what a wonderful way to start the day!  A great praise and worship time with You.  Thank You for reminding me to always make the most of the time I spend with You.  Help me Lord to see Your greatness day by day that I may declare Your praises and glory at all times.  Help me Lord to never test You or put You in a situation that I will provoke You to anger against me.  Give me the wisdom and help me Lord to listen carefully to Your words that I may do as You say and not fall into temptation or sin.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 28, 2015 – Tuesday

Start Time:   6:00 AM

End Time:    6:15 AM

Title: Psalm 94. 

Scripture: Psalm 94:1 – 234

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Psalm 94 is such an emotional and strong chapter.  I can sense the author as someone who is in a struggle...in a battle against the wicked or sin that seemed like his defeat!  Yet his words are full of hope and victory in the end.  He spoke of God avenging him or avenging him from the wicked who is attacking him.  This made me think and realize that many of the Bible characters never really fought back, right?  I mean, when Adam was remove from the garden, he didn't feel unjustly treated.  When Abel was beaten to death by Cain, nowhere in the Bible did it say that Abel fought back.  In Abraham's lifetime, there was no record of him fighting against other nations except when God told him to do so or when Lot was captured.  But there were so many records of Abraham oppressed or kings of other nations taking Sarah his wife from him.  I haven't really look into all the characters in the Bible but almost all never fought back...only Joshua, David and the kings of Israel or Judah who were in either a mission for God or in war with other nation.  But if you think of a time when the characters of the Bible went to war for revenge or to fight back when they were oppressed... I don't know but I can't pinpoint a time that it was this case right at the top of my head.  Maybe because, we are never to avenge the oppression or unjust treatment we were given, God takes care of that.

This author was maybe getting a little impatient to see the defeat of his enemies.  He wanted them stopped but he never thought of stopping it themselves.  He wants the Lord to do it.  I love that this author spoke of God's nature and being precisely.  How God sees it all, the one who formed the eye.  He hears them all, the One who created the ear.  But here's something we ought to remember, God punishes too, the One who disciplines... God teaches those who lack knowledge.  Sometimes, we get hurt or don’t like how we are being taught by God...but we are to go thru it to evolve and grow.

In verse 12, the author considered it blessed to be disciplined by the Lord, for He grants them relief from the days of trouble!  Hallelujah!  So if you are going thru some teaching or reformation right now (reformation is change and change is never easy), be happy!  For God is molding You to be right like Him and He is sparing you from total destruction that awaits you when you continue to do what you're doing now.  Listen, accept and change in God!

If you feel you are being oppressed by the enemy or temptation/sin comes to torture you day in and day out...do not fret!  God will rise up for you against the wicked!  The Lord will take a stand for you against evildoers!  Hallelujah!  When your foot seems to be slipping, God's unfailing love will support and carry you back.  Focus on the Lord, His unfailing love and His strength and Power to overcome whatever circumstances or troubles we are in!  Amen!

However in verse 20, the author reminds us a simple truth that we must standby..."Can a corrupt throne be allied with You (God)-a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? The truth is, it cannot!  so we have to choose each day!  Do we want God to become our fortress, our rock in whom we can take refuge from?  Or we become part of the wicked and face God's judgment in the end?  The choice is really ours!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Gracious and wonderful Father!  Thank You for an amazing message that will keep me in check always.  Thank You for helping me make the right decision to choose You today.  Give me the strength to fight any sin or temptation and give me the power to focus solely in You despite of whatever destructions or hindrances the enemy prepared for me today.  I want to live this day with You Jesus and with You only!  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 27, 2015 – Monday

Start Time:   6:00 AM

End Time:    6:10 AM

Title: Psalm 93. 

Scripture: Psalm 93:1 – 5

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Psalm 93 is a short chapter but it focuses on one thing, the Lord's majesty!  The writer wrote about the Lord's reign, that He is robed in majesty and armed with strength...the world is established, firm and secure...why?  Because God Reigns!  His throne has been established long ago, and He is from all eternity so with our trust in Him, we can be secured, firm and established!  The author spoke of the sea giving praise to the Lord.  The sea being lifted up...their voice lifted up and it is mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea...why?  All for the Lord!  For the Lord is on high and He is mighty!  His statutes stand firm and stood thru the tests of times.  His house is adorned by Holiness for endless days.  The Lord is Holy and He is solid thru all times.  His words remain steadfast and what He has spoken shall come to pass.  Holy is He and we are to be holy like Him.  For we are His dwelling place, His temple and we will be established, firm and secure with Him in us!  His power and might is stronger than any strongest being or nature we can ever think of!  Nature itself moves and acts to give Him Praise.  The Sea will raise its voice, the ground will dance for Joy, the wind will shake in agreement of His glorious presence...nature itself bows down to Him in awe and reverence!  Hallelujah!  That's how magnificent the Lord is!

Prayer:

Lord amazing God and wonderful Lord.  Thank You because every day You show me Your power and love and grace enough for me to know You and fear You.  Give me the opportunity to know Your true being Lord - I know it won't be possible because I will be ruined if that happens as I won't be able to contain Your glory...but as how You shielded Moses so he can see Your back, may You grant me the same favor and privilege as I truly want to know You Lord.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 26, 2015 – Sunday

Start Time:   10:08 AM

End Time:    10:28 AM

Title: A Psalm. A Song.  For the Sabbath Day. 

Scripture: Psalm 92:1 – 15

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Hallelujah!  Psalm 92 is so fit for me today.  I mean today is Sunday and psalm 92 is a psalm or a song for the Sabbath day!  How appropriate!  We read thru the whole chapter and we see that the author spoke of nothing but Praise!  In the day of the Sabbath, the most crucial act one must always possess in embracing Sabbath is the act of Praise!  We do this on a daily basis but more so in the Sabbath day!  We praise the Lord and make music to His Name!  You may ask...how?  Simple!  We praise God by proclaiming His love in the morning and His faithfulness at night.  Well not literally that it has to be that way - I mean, proclaiming God's love doesn't necessarily need to be done in the morning only...but in short, to Praise God, just proclaim His love and His faithfulness.  And that won't be hard at all! 

Like today, this week is the end of the month and most of the time, I'm struggling in budgeting the little money I have left, but this time around, I have plenty but more than that, it seems like I managed to buy more than the usual items I get in the same amount.  The Broccoli alone usually sells at 70 a piece...today I managed to buy 2 for only P85, now isn't that amazing?  This truly shows God's love and faithfulness to me.  When I get to the grocery store, they already have the "Saba" sardines that I usually buy for my diet and they have the size that fits my budget.  Last week, I bought only 3 because they only sell the big size of the product, but earlier, when I went there, they have the small sizes which again allowed me to buy more.  These little things may mean nothing to you but for me, it is a sign of God's love and faithfulness every day.  When we walk and live life daily in total dependence on Him, He truly is faithful and true to fulfil and satisfy every need we have.  For that, I know God loves me and HE is faithful always.  So thank You Lord.

That's why I can truly relate with the author's words in verse 4, he said, "For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what Your hands have done."  Clearly, with what I experienced in my shopping time this morning was all because of the work of the Lord and these simple things just touch my heart so much.  Why would one even think of doing sin or doing something that the Lord is against?  When we see God's goodness and love and faithfulness every day, it's so hard to go against Him and so easy to exalt Him forever!  Thank You Lord!

Yes, the wicked may seemed flourishing today...or they seem to spring up like grass but their future has been marked and it only leads to destruction.  So there's no point of jealousy or envy because they may have a convenient life today, but their future will surely perish.  On the other hand, we who live in God's trust and hands daily, our lives are great!  It may not be convenient or comfortable all the time, but definitely it is Great!  For every day, we come out victorious in every small details of accomplishments in our lives, which sometimes, we fail to see as accomplishments.  We know that the wicked's future is defeat and ours, is filled with victory in Christ.  Daily we experienced that and daily we win with Him!

That's why, in verse 12 the author says, the righteous will flourish like a palm tree, grow like a cedar of Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord, we will flourish in the courts of our God.  We will bear fruit even in our old age; stay fresh and green - WOW!  Just full of life.  For God is our Rock!  He is upright and there is no wickedness in Him!  So we ought to never allow wickedness in us too!

Prayer:

Lord thank You because You know when I am weak and when I needed encouragement and today, You just provided what I needed most.  Thank You for making me realize the importance of keeping myself right and never allow wickedness to enter even if no one sees or knows because the truth is, You know and You see!  Lord thank You for keeping me in the right path as always.  I truly am grateful for that.  Keep me in Your path all the time Lord especially when I am weak.  Today, it is Sabbath and today I will praise and exalt You!  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 25, 2015 – Saturday

Start Time:   6:04 AM

End Time:    6:18 AM

Title: A Prayer of Moses the Man of God. 

Scripture: Psalm 91:1 – 16

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Psalm 90 seems like a continuation of Moses' prayer.  In the previous chapter we learned Moses a man of God who saw and witness God as the God of love and mercy and God as the Judge.  He is both love and Just!  Moses spoke of God's power, glory and honor and indicates his fear of the Lord.  But in chapter 91, amazingly, the same man who was in full reverence of God showed full confidence and strength against his enemies, why?  Because of his confident in the Lord.  It is somehow weird that the man who feared God and in total humility before the Lord, spoke in such power and confidence against his enemies.  It can even sound ironic - that the previous chapter, we see a man in total fear of God, in total humility and in total acceptance of what is set to come or happen as according to the Lord; a man who seemed to be without any control or power...and the next chapter that, we see a total different man!  A man of God in full power, confidence and assurance that everything will go in a positive way!  I thought of this and even joke myself that Moses may have a split personality hehehe but in reality, man is capable of many personalities... and we ought to choose how we respond to every situation.  We ought to be humble and in fear of the Lord but courageous, brave, confident and assured of winning against our enemies - for what reason? Because of God!  Because He is our refuge!  The real question here is, are we able to identify our real enemy?  Or we blindly think that everything against us is our enemy? Well in a sense it is but if you are walking the path you chose and not the path God has chosen for you, doesn't it looks more like you're the enemy?  That's why to be truly confident and assured of victory is to dwell in the Lord; to push through the path He has chosen; to give Him full control because only when God is directing our path and our lives every day, can we truly be confident and speak in power against anything that go against us!  

Prayer:

Lord Jesus what a marvelous message today.  Lord, thank You for clarifying things as always.  Thank You because You made me see clearly every time I read Your word.  At first, I feel a little confuse but as I continue on, You always enlighten me and point me into the right direction.  Lord, help me to have the same character and behavior as Moses did.  Help me to learn to surrender, to fear You and be humble, to learn to give You full control of my life then I will speak and walk and act in full confidence and power in You because I am assured that we are on the same path.  Never allow me Lord to lose my way from You.  I need YOu more than ever now and for the rest of my life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 24, 2015 – Friday

Start Time:   7:23 AM

End Time:    8:00 AM

Title: A Prayer of Moses the Man of God. 

Scripture: Psalm 90:1 – 17

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Chapter 90 is a prayer from Moses, the man whom God chose to lead His people out of Egypt.  A Powerful man of God because God is with him.  His words are crucial and very important so today, we are going to dig deeper into his words.  Moses clearly knew God as who He is.  He had spent many times with the Lord that many things about God had been revealed to him.  One thing I love about Moses' psalm is the truth of God as not only our Lord and Savior, but the God who brings judgment and allows affliction to His people.  We tend to see God as always on our side.  Someone who knows our hearts and love us despite of our evil thinking or emotions.  Though this is true, it doesn't mean tolerate our evil or wickedness.  In fact, He despises it.  More importantly, I see that Moses clearly experienced God as the Judge and despite of what he witness in the wilderness and in Egypt, Moses stood firm in God and feared Him.  If we read thru the chapter, Moses spoke of God's power to destroy, God's glory that can wipe out everything and everyone including His people.  That's why, Moses advised and prayed to God to help us number our days.  Because truly, our days are numbered.  It is only when we realized the everyday of our lives is a gift, that it can be taken away, that we would learn to live as if it's our last.  Lord my prayer is that You show me Your whole self...not just the good but even the things that I fear...because that fear, like Moses, will keep me in a straight path.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for this wonderful message.  Thank You for showing me the truth.  Help me Lord to see who You truly are and not to selectively portray You as how I want You to be in my life.  Help me Lord to see that I am the one who has the privilege of knowing You and not the other way around.  Give me the revelation that You showed Moses that I may see and be one with You in Your purpose.  Help me Lord to number my days and gain a heart of wisdom.  I praise You for Your glory and honor and power.  May Your favor be upon me and rest on me daily.  I pray that You establish the work of my hands for me Lord according to Your purpose.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 23, 2015 – Thursday

Start Time:   9:00 AM

End Time:    9:53 AM

Title: A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. 

Scripture: Psalm 89:1 – 52

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Truly who is like the Lord?  Ethan the Ezrahite started his maskil with that thought.  Who is like the Lord?  He bagen by introducing God in praise...talking about His faithfulness, His love that stands firm forever; Why does Ethan say this?  Because God made a covenant with His chosen one, David, to establish David's line forever.  Note that Ethan, praise God because of a covenant that He has made with David, which impacts even his generation at that time.  And in reality, impacts our generation at this time.  That's how faithful God is and will always be.  The promise He made with Abraham, David, Jacob, and all the characters we heard in the Bible, those promises are still in effect even to our times today.  That's how faithful God is to us.  That alone should drive us to never let go of the Lord because of His love and faithfulness.  Indeed, there is none like Him!

The author then illustrated God's power in verse 9, how he can calm the waves, destroy Rahab (Rahab was known to be prostitute who hid the 2 spies of Joshua in  Jericho.  She belonged to an idolatrous people).  He spoke of God as the owner of heaven earth.  He has all power and His right hand is exalted.  He spoke of God's righteousness and justice as the foundation of His throne.  Love and faithfulness go before Him.  Those who have learned to acclaim Him is blessed and will rejoice in His Name.  Why?  Because He is their glory and strength.  Think about having your strength as the God who crushes Rahab or silences the waves of the sea?  Amazing!

In verse 19, the author spoke of God speaking in a vision about how He bestowed strength on a warrior and have raised up a young man from among the people...David.  Everything He spoke about David, it came to be.  His faithful love remained with David and struck down all his enemies.  God also spoke of David calling out to Him as his Father, God, the Rock, and his Savior.  And David did say or call God all those.  God even spoke of David's possibility of forsaking His law and what He intends to do.  All these things happened and I believe was happening during the time Ethan wrote this maskil. 

That's why in Verse 46, Ethan asked, how long Lord?  Will you hide yourself forever?  Then he cried out to God to remember His former great love, the faithfulness He swore with David.  And in the end, Ethan knew that God will not hide furthermore because of His promise...so in verse 52, Ethan spoke of what really matters at that time in his life, when things are falling apart, when God is nowhere to be found...Ethan ended his maskil with these words..."Praise be to the Lord forever!  Amen and Amen!"  Praise God in all situations, good or bad, worse or without hope!  Praise God at all times!

Prayer:

Lord what a heartwarming maskil from Ethan.  Truly, You are faithful and You do have such great love for us!  Thank You Lord because You showed me that You predicted everything as it is.  What's the point of leaving or going things my way when You have all the answers needed.  What's the point of walking my own path when everything leads to You?  What's the point of running away when security, assurance, protection, safety, prosperity, love, joy, and etc...belong to You alone?  There's no way than You Jesus.  Thank You for making me realized this.  Thank You for the life of Ethan who managed to praise You in the end despite of the difficulties of times.  Help me to have the same habit or practice.  Develop in me a habit of praise Lord.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 22, 2015 – Wednesday

Start Time:  6:07 AM

End Time:   6:23 AM

Title: A Song.  A Psalm of Korah.  For the director of Music.  According to Mahalath Leannoth.  A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. 

Scripture: Psalm 88:1 – 18

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Here a new writer or author who wrote a psalm for the Lord and in his psalm, we can see that he was in trouble when he wrote this.  He spoke of his trouble being overwhelming, sounds like a matter of life and death.  He pointed out like his failure is inevitable - like it is sure and certain.  And he spoke of no strength to fight this anymore - a sign of surrender.

In verse 6 to 9, the writer wrote as if he knew he deserves his trouble.  He describe his condition as God's doing for God's wrath is heavy on him (which made me conclude that somehow he did something to deserve it - because he did not ask God why His wrath is upon Him...in his psalm, he knew that God's wrath lies heavy on him).  He knew he had no escape.

In verse 9, he surrendered and pleaded mercy - calling unto God every day, spreading his hands to Him as if a sign of surrender.  In verse 13, he said, "But I cry to You for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you."  Clearly, this man knew that God is responsible for his misery because he deserved it.  Despite of that he humbled himself and called upon Him instead of running away from God.  Now that shows great humility...to plead for your life to the person you wronged.

This man despite of his condition, having darkness his only friend and knowing that it is God who is causing this because of his sins...humbled down and pleaded for his life to God.  What a powerful demonstration of humility.  May we have the same character in times of trouble.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for the psalm of the Ezrahite.  Thank You for teaching me humility and understanding that even if You allow these troubles in our lives, these should drive us nearer to You - running towards You for mercy and love and not the other way around.  Help me Lord to have a humble heart and to use humility at all times and not only in times convenient for me.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 21, 2015 – Tuesday

Start Time:  5:50 AM

End Time:   6:04 AM

Title: Of the Sons of Korah. A Psalm. A Song. 

Scripture: Psalm 87:1 – 7

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Chapter 87 of Psalm is a very short psalm but it spoke of Zion.  It is said that zion is the city of God - the City He built!  His dwelling place and where God is found.  At times, I thought of it as the city that God promised Abraham to build for His people.  The city, whose architecture is the Lord Himself.  This city is known to be at the holy mountain and the Lord loves the gate of Zion, more than any other places known to be God's dwelling place.  Zion is known to be glorious!  Neighboring cities and nations declare of this truth and anyone born in Zion is establish, specifically because that person is born in Zion.  Based on how I understand it, Zion is God's dwelling place - and we are God's dwelling place for we are His temple.  So we are glorious and other nations or neighboring cities declare that of us.  Anyone born of us or anyone associated with us is established because of us!  God will establish that person because he/she is connected with His dwelling place and other nations or cities will know about it.  Isn't it amazing to be associated or connected with God's dwelling place?  That's why it is very important to know the people you are connected to.  And know their spiritual connection with God too.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for a great reminder and the assurance that as Your dwelling place, You will establish me.  I will not be afraid for everyone will know that I am Your dwelling place and You will make me glorious because of that.  Thank You Lord that anyone associated or connected with me will be established and the mere reason that I am connected to a person of God or a person who is God's dwelling place, I get to be blessed as well.  Thank You Jesus.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

April 20, 2015 – Monday

Start Time:  8:44 AM

End Time:   9:13 AM

Title: A Prayer of David. 

Scripture: Psalm 86:1 – 17

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ This is an intimate and personal prayer of David to God.  Every word of David clearly shows his heart.  David showed us in the first few verses his total dependency to God.  He started by pleading to God to hear and answer him, for he is poor and needy (what king would say this? - clearly no one!)  A king is usually proud and rich, whose needs are met.  But David is a king who recognized that he had nothing but needs.  So he comes to his God who is able to supply them.  In verse 2, he asked God to guard his life for he is faithful to Him; because He is his God.  David requested for mercy and for God to bring him joy for he calls upon Him daily and put his trust in Him.  Again, here we see a king trusting his every day to God, recognizing his nothingness and needs and acknowledging that only God can bring him joy and supply them all.

David established God as a God who is forgiving and good, abounding in love and who answers those who call upon Him.  Now, David is building praises to God even at the start of his prayer.  In verse 8, he continued by declaring there is no god like Him; no deeds compare to His; and that all nations God created will come and worship before Him to bring glory to His Name for He is great and do marvelous deeds; clearly He alone is God.  Now at this point, David is declaring glory, praise, honor, and power to God.

In verse 11, David changed the direction of his prayer from praising God to his need.  But note that even in David's prayer of his needs, it showed his longing for the Lord.  He asked for God to teach him His ways...and for what reason?  So that David may rely on His faithfulness.  Wow!  Speaking of total dependency!  He asked for an undivided heart...for what again?  To fear His Name!  What a selfless request.  David was not asking for more riches or his enemies destroyed or more power and more food or more people under his care...his heart spoke of a longing for God's ways and a heart that is undivided...for what purpose?  To rely on God every day, for him to fear His Name...  Now who can say they prayed this prayer?  Maybe you and I did at one time but clearly this prayer did not come from the flesh.  This was truly a prayer from the Spirit!  Hallelujah!

In verse 14, David spoke of his enemies but instead of praying against his enemies, he prayed blessings for him...he asked God for compassion and grace, mercy and strength in his behalf...David asked to be saved because he serve God.  David asked for a sign of God's goodness that his enemies may see it and be put to shame...again, david's prayer is not for revenge but for God to show His mercy upon him so his enemies will know it themselves that they did wrong.  So David doesn't want to point finger or he didn't ask to have the chance to tell his enemies, "I told you so" - he just wants his enemies to see and learn the truth themselves.  Amazing!  Again a selfless heart and prayer.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to have the same heart as David.  A heart that longs after thee.  A heart that is after You Lord.  I want to have the same prayer like David and a total declaration of dependency on You Lord.  Give me wisdom and the heart that I need to reach this.  Mold me and change me daily to become more and more like You Lord.  Give me a selfless heart and help me pray Lord the right words to ask and the right requests to present to You.  Give me a prayer from the Spirit Lord.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!