Psalm 14

1 The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven
on the sons of men
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.

3 All have turned aside,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.

4 Will evildoers never learn—
those who devour my people as men eat bread
and who do not call on the LORD ?

5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.

6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge.

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

As I read this psalm, I just felt reminded by the Holy Spirit that I can be 100% (not 99%) sure that God will always bring about His blessings upon me, just as what the psalmist felt in verse 7. God's faithfulness to us is as certain as the fact that the sun will rise up every morning.




There were many times that I asked God "Where are You? Why have You forsaken me?". Eventually, God always bring something good out of the worst situation. And that is how I know the certainty of His love.


Things to ponder
1. What are some negative circumstances that you've experienced before and you questioned God's love?
2. What eventually happened to those negative circumstances? Was there a closure? If not, pray and ask God to reveal.
3. Spend time praising God for who He is. And how certain of His love we can be.


Dear Father, I give thanks that Your love for me is absolute and certain. That You will never forsake or abandon me. Even when I'm in the pits of my life, You were there to lift me up. Lord, help me to always remember Your love. Thank You for bringing me through the difficult circumstances. In Jesus' name, I pray and give thanks. Amen!

Click here for Pastor YC's Reflection on Psalm 14

Psalm 13

1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

As I read this psalm, I can really identify with the psalmist's feelings of despair, as mentioned in verses 1 to 4. That there are times I feel so distant from God. And my heart is so heavy that I think it can literally just drop onto the ground. Other times will be when my mind is filled with negative thoughts and the feelings of sorrow inside me is simply overwhelming.

To summarize, I don't know how to go on.

To be honest, even now, though it is the Year of Sabbath, I feel like I'm carrying so many bags of potatoes (as Pastor Julie put it). I'm weighed down by many different responsibilites. Sometimes, I don't even know where to start.

Yes, I'm desperate, just like David, who wrote Psalm 13.

Yet, God is gracious. Verses 5 and 6 hold the keys to lift me out of my despair. And these two verses summarize one of the key focus of FCBC this year:
Remembrance and Reliance on the Lord.

Remember the cross, whereby Jesus died for me so that I may have abundant life.
Remember the blessings that God has given me in the past.

Remembering the Lord in 2007
1. I completed NIE and became a full-fledge teacher.
2. I was posted to RI (as I asked for).
3. My grandfather received Christ before he passed away.
4. Dawn & I have started MPC.

Thank You, Lord!


Things to ponder
1. Out of a scale of 1 to 10 (10 means great!), how has 2008 started out for you? Why?
2. For the year 2007, what are 3 things that you can give thanks for? List them out.
3. Pray and praise God for the blessings He has given you in 2007. Always remember them, especially when you go through hardships in 2008.


Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the cross. Upon the cross, You have given me salvation. Upon the cross, You have lifted me up from my despair. Upon the cross, You have given me blessings upon blessings. Today, Lord, I make a commitment before You. I nail every burden and responsibility to the cross. Take complete control. I thank You once again, in Your name I pray. Amen!

Pastor YC's Reflection on Psalm 13

Psalm 12

1 Help, LORD, for the godly are no more;
the faithful have vanished from among men.

2 Everyone lies to his neighbor;
their flattering lips speak with deception.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue

4 that says, "We will triumph with our tongues;
we own our lips — who is our master?"

5 "Because of the oppression of the weak
and the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise," says the LORD.
"I will protect them from those who malign them."

6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified seven times.

7 O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people forever.

8 The wicked freely strut about
when what is vile is honored among men.

The first thing that I thought of as I read this psalm was how destructive our tongues can be.

According to the psalmist, the tongue can be used to
1. speak lies to people (verse 1a)
2. flatter people whom we want to please (verse 1b)
3. boast about ourselves (verse 2)

Some of us really abuse the usage of our tongues. We even deny the fact that whatever we said has to be acceptable before God. We insist our tongues are our own, they don't belong to God (verse 4). We can say whatever we want, whenever we want.

No wonder in James 3:8, it is said that "no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

As I think about my own behavior, even after I had become a Christian, there were so many times that my tongue wasn't used to build up others. Instead, sometimes, it became an instrument whereby I used it to vent my frustrations on others; sometimes, it became an instrument of gossip; sometimes, it became an instrument of boasting.

I know that God is dealing with me in this area. Of course, now I'm slightly better off than last time, but I still have a long way to go in terms of taming my tongue.



Another thought that came to mind as I meditate on Psalm 12 is that in life, we will surely face people who will bad-mouth us and speak lies about us. God's promise to us is that He will protect us from such people (verse 7).


Things to ponder
1. On a scale of 1 (means really bad) to 10 (means really good), how do you think God will rate you in terms of using your tongue (speaking words)? Why?
2. What is one thing (for example, speaking lies, flattering people so that you get what you want. boasting about yourself, gossiping) that you do with your tongue that displeases the Lord?
3. Confess and repent before the Lord in this area. Pray 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."


Dear Heavenly Father, I ask for Your forgiveness. There has been many times that I abused the gift of speaking which you had blessed me with. Lord, sometimes I had gossipped about my students; sometimes I had scolded others in anger; sometimes I had boasted about myself and not You. Father, I really want to change. I want to encourage and build others up with my words. Help me change, Father, for I know it is impossible to do it without You. I pray all this, in Jesus' name. Amen!

Click here for Pastor YC's Reflection on Psalm 12

Psalm 11

1 In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
“Flee like a bird to your mountain.

2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
at the upright in heart.

3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”

4 The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes the sons of men;
his eyes examine them.

5 The LORD examines the righteous,
but the wicked and those who love violence
his soul hates.

6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.

7 For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
upright men will see his face.

If you have been a Christian long enough, and if you really obey the word of God, you will realize that there will be many situations in your life that you will stick out like a sore thumb.

For instance,
1. Refusing to speak any kind of vulgarities in school or NS.
2. Refusing to cheat during tests or exams when all your friends are doing it (rampant in NUS or NTU)
3. Refusing to smoke or watch porn when your friends think it's the cool thing to do.
4. Attending church and cell meetings regularly whereas your friends go out and have fun.
5. Committing your studies to God and continue to serve Him whereas your friends just mug and mug at home when exams near.


And because you are different, people around you may call you all kind of names, and they may even laugh at you. Just like verses 1 and 2 in Psalm 11. They may shoot arrows of accusations at you.

The psalmist didn't encouage us to strike back directly at these people. He wants us to know that God is in control, and He will judge those who judge us. We just need to take refuge in Him and trust Him. Our reward is to be able to see His face (verse 7) - to be able to enjoy a personal relationship with Him and have direct access to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Isn't that wonderful?


Things to ponder:
1. What are some situations in your life that you've learnt to be different from the rest of your friends when you obey God?
2. What are some situations that you've compromised your faith and joined your friends in doing things that doesn't please God?
3. Commit all the above situations to God and pray a prayer telling Him that you truly desire intimacy with Him.


Dear Heavenly Father, I know that when I truly obey You in all that I do, there will be times that people around me will make fun of me or even call me names. Father, my prayer is that I will stand firm to what I believe in and not be afraid or embarrassed, because I know You care about me, and it's Your opinions that truly matter. Father, I desire a personal relationship with You and see Your face. In Jesus' name I ask and pray. Amen!

Click here for Pastor YC's Reflection on Psalm 11

Psalm 10

1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.

3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

5 His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.

6 He says to himself, “Nothing will shake me;
I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.”

7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.

8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.

9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.

10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.

11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees.”

12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.

13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
“He won’t call me to account”?

14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.

As mentioned many times in the Bible (for example, Psalm 8), God has given us dominion over every living creature and the things on the earth. However, because of our sinful nature, we have abused our authority and used it to satisfy our sinful desires.

In psalm 10, it talks clearly about the wicked man who hunts down the weak. He cares nothing about God and is concerned only about making himself prosperous.

Though I don't think I'm as wicked as the man mentioned in the Bible, I do recognize that there are times in my life whereby I neglected my responsibilities as a cell leader and as a teacher. Or even worse, I even sometimes vent my frustrations on the people under me. As a result, my cell members and my students did not receive the things that they ought to receive. This can be considered ways of abusing the authority that God has given me.


A man of God should have the characteristics of God as mentioned in verses 14, 17 and 18: defend the fatherless and the oppressed, encourage the afflicted and listen to their cries, and prevent those who terrify others.

Things to ponder
1. What are some situations that you've abused the things that God has blessed you with?
2. Think about the earth whereby God has given you dominion over; in what ways have you abused the earth by wasting electricity or wasting other kinds of resources?
3. What are you going to do to change? Confess and repent before the Lord straight away.


Dear God, I confess that there are times whereby I've abused my authority as a cell leader and as a teacher. I ask for You forgiveness today and pray that from now on, I will take upon my roles even more seriously so that the people under me can be blessed. Lord, I know that I'm not perfect, but You are. Your grace is sufficient for me. I claim that in the name of Jesus. I want to defend the fatherless, encourage the afflicted and deny the wicked. I pray all this in Jesus' most mighty name. Amen!

Click here for Pastor YC's Reflection on Psalm 10

Psalm 9

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.

4 For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

6 Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

7 The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.

8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.

12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

13 O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

14 that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

16 The LORD is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked return to the grave,
all the nations that forget God.

18 But the needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

19 Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.

20 Strike them with terror, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men.
Selah

Our God is righteous and just. From His throne, He rules over all of creation forever and ever, as stated in verse 7.

That means that He is in control. He is in control of every situation in our lives. He oversees all that we do and allow certain things to happen to us for His purposes.

Last year, there was a time that I asked God why He allowed my grandpa to be in ICU when I haven't had the chance to share Christ with Him yet. I could only come to the conclusion that He is control. In the end, miraculously, I managed to share Christ with my grandpa, and He's with the Lord now. Thanks be to God.


It's all about trusting God as the ultimate ruler. He is righteous and just.

1. He destroys the wicked (verse 5).
2. He is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble (verse 9).
3. He cares about the needy and the afflicted (verse 18).
4. He defends His people - those who love and trust Him (nearly the whole psalm!).


Things to ponder
1. Out of the 4 things mentioned above, which one do you need the most now?
2. What are some unfair situations that you see in your life right now? Give at least 2.
3. Pray to God about all these situations and trust Him that He will bring you through.


Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that I will always be reminded that You are the ultimate ruler and judge over all of creation. Lord, help me have the attitude of always trusting You, even when my world collapses and everything seems to go wrong. I know that You love me and that all things work out for the good of those who love You. I pray that this will always be in my heart. In Jesus' name I ask and pray. Amen!

Psalm 8

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider 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,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

God loves us so much that He is concerned about each and every single one of us. Just like the psalmist, I sometimes find myself asking God why He, the creator of the heavens and the earth, would be mindful of me (verse 4)? After all, I have so many flaws.

The answer that I get from God is always the same. It's because of His grace. His grace that was given us and demonstrated when Jesus went to the cross to take upon all of our sins while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). God loves us because He loves us.

And because of His love for us, He gave us authority over every living creature and allow us to rule over the earth (verse 5 - 8). This means He wants us to have victory over every storms in our lives, just like the eagle soaring high above the storm, as shown below.




One of the challenges for me in 2008 is to be able to enter God's rest in the midst of so many commitments - I have more roles and responsibilities to play in school, serving actively in TPE, running cell groups, being part of WM12, going through MPC and spending time with family. This is like a storm to me.

But I know that I want to be like the eagle and rise above the storms. To find rest in the Lord. To find intimacy with Him.


Things to ponder:
1. Is there a storm in your life right now? Or is there a storm you're expecting?
2. If you are able to rise above this storm, what would the outcome look like?
3. Present your requests before the Lord immediately. Don't wait.


Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the cross. It is at the cross that You took upon all my sins. Because of that, I am able to experience victories in my life. Lord, I know that in 2008, I will be very busy. But I pray that I will rise above this storm (of busyness) and spend time with You consistently. Lord, I want to have intimacy with You and find rest in You. Thank You, Lord. I pray all this in Your name. Amen!

Psalm 7

1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,

2 or they will tear me like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands-

4 if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me
or without cause have robbed my foe-

5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
Selah

6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.

7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you.
Rule over them from on high;

8 let the LORD judge the peoples.
Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.

9 O righteous God,
who searches minds and hearts,
bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure.

10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge,
God who expresses his wrath every day.

12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.

13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14 He who is pregnant with evil
and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.

15 He who digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit he has made.

16 The trouble he causes recoils on himself;
his violence comes down on his own head.

17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Just like many of his psalms, David started with telling God how much trouble he is in.

Notice that in this psalm, David was so certain that he is a righteous man in the eyes of God. Look at verse 8. He actually asked God to judge him according to his righteousness (in Chinese, it's called yi).

Well, if you know the life of David, he sinned against God big time when he murdered Uriah and made Bathsheba his wife.

How then can he be considered righteous?

Look at Genesis 15:6 "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness."

Righteousness in the kingdom of God doesn't mean that you totally have no sins (if so, there is no need for Jesus). But it means that you need to put your faith in the Lord.

I believe that David believes in God. He believes in whatever God said to him.

Do you believe in God? Do you believe in whatever God says in the Bible? That He will love and bless you to a thousand generations when you keep His commandments (Exodus 20:6)? How about the promise that He has a plan for you? A plan to prosper you and not to harm you (Jeremiah 29:11)? I know that there are times I didn't believe in them.


Things to ponder:
1. Out of a scale of 1 to 10, how righteous do you think you are? Give an honest self-evaluation.
2. Are there promises in the Bible that you thought they are NOT meant for you? List them out.
3. Pray about all these promises and believe God for them. If there're sins in your life that interferes with God's promises, confess & repent straight away!


Dear God, I really pray that today I will be reminded that when I put my faith in You, when I trust You and when I believe in You, You have already declared me righteous. By the blood of the Lamb, You've cleansed me of all my past, present and future sins. Thank You, God, for sending You son, Jesus to die for me. I pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen!

Psalm 6

1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

3 My soul is in anguish.
How long, O LORD, how long?

4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.

5 No one remembers you when he is dead.
Who praises you from the grave [b] ?

6 I am worn out from groaning;
all night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.

7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.

8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

As I read this psalm, I could almost feel the hopelessness that the psalmist felt at that point in time. How many times I myself have come to a point and tell God, "I cannot make it. I want to give up fighting!" Sometimes we just feel like the whole world is against us.

However, as I read the psalm again, I realised one thing. Despite the emotions, the psalmist still acknowledges that God's love for him is unfailing (verse 4) and He will accept his prayers (verse 9).

I need to be like the psalmist. To have that kind of faith in the Lord, despite the not-so-victorious situations, I need to remember the cross. It's only at the cross that we see how our Lord Jesus took upon Himself all our sins and died for us. That is an act of unfailing love.


Dear Lord Jesus, I know that You love me so much that You went to the cross for me. You took it upon Yourself all my sins even though You're perfect and without sins. Lord, thank You for loving me. I pray that I will always remember Your unfailing love, and that I will thank You and trust You even when I'm in challenging circumstances. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!

Psalm 5

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
2 Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.

3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;
with you the wicked cannot dwell.

5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
you hate all who do wrong.

6 You destroy those who tell lies;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
the LORD abhors.

7 But I, by your great mercy,
will come into your house;
in reverence will I bow down
toward your holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make straight your way before me.

9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongue they speak deceit.

10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

After reading through Psalm 5, there is one conclusion that I gather:
God cares deeply about you and I.

When we're in need, or even when we're lamenting, the Lord's invitation to us is to lay down all requests before Him (verse 3). And then we just need to wait in expectation. At the right time, God will give us answers.

God did not say that when we trust in Him, we will not have enemies or tribulations. But in verse 8, He said that we can ask of Him to make straight our paths.

He also said that He will bless us with His joy, favour and protection when we recognize Him as our refuge.

As I think about the year just past - 2007, I discover that in almost every situation, God brought about a closure or answer to the things that happened.

Isn't it amazing grace? That He who created the heavens and the earth is actually interested in each of our lives?


Dear heavenly Father, today I just want to give thanks to You because I know You care deeply about me. Whenever I am in need, whenever I face tribulations, I know that I can ask of You. As I reflect on the past year, I realize that You have kept watch over me. You have blessed me tremendously. Thank You, Father. I pray that I will always have a heart of thanksgiving. I pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen!

Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Selah

3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him.

4 In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD.

6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

In this psalm, the Lord promises us a few things:

1. The Lord will hear our prayers (verse 3).
2. The Lord will give us joy that is far deeper than what material things give (verse 7).
3. The Lord will grant us peace (verse 8).


I really desire the things that the psalmist has mentioned. But he also talked about something like a prequisite - that I need to offer the Lord the right sacrifices and trust Him. One of the best sacrifices that we can give to the Lord is TIME. We need to spend time with Him.

Everyday before food, a psalm a day.

For the past few days, I have been reading the book of Psalms. The amount of joy, wisdom and peace that I get out of it is amazing. I just sense the closeness of God.

And I want to continue this. My commitment is to blog daily about the things that God have spoken to me through the book of Psalms.


Dear Holy Spirit, I pray that everyday, I will put spending time with You as the top priority in my life. That each day, before I have my breakfast, I want to first have my spiritual food - the word of God. I do not want to rush in each day and do things without first consulting You. I offer this as a sacrifice before You. Holy Spirit, take complete control of my life. Sustain me each day, even if I am physically tired. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!

Psalm 3

1 O LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
"God will not deliver him."
Selah

3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

4 To the LORD I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill.
Selah

5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

6 I will not fear the tens of thousands
drawn up against me on every side.

7 Arise, O LORD!
Deliver me, O my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.

8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Selah

This psalm was written by David while he was fleeing away from his son, Absalom. I could imagine the depth of emotions that David had.

The fear. The despair. The helplessness. The sadness. The weariness.

2 things I felt God spoke to me as I read this psalm.
1. In verse 3, David acknowledged that God was His shield. He was well-protected.
2. In verse 5, David acknowledged that God was the one who sustained Him.

Firstly, there have been times in my life that I felt that some people were just unfriendly and against me. I felt like retaliating, to be honest. To treat them the same way as they did to me. An eye for an eye.

However, that wasn't what David did. He chose to trust in the Lord. He believed that God was His shield. God will bring him through whatever circumstances. God will protect him.

Jesus put it plainly in Luke 6:27-33. Love your enemies. Let God be the one who vindicates you.

Secondly, there are times that I personally felt burnt out. There were so many things that needed my attention, and I just felt like giving up, and not doing anything. But now, I know that my response should be like David.

Let God be the one that sustains me. I don't want to rely on my own strength.

In order for me to really recognize that God is my shield and He is the one who sustains me, I need to grown in INTIMACY with Him in the Year of Sabbath, 2008. Everyday before food, 1 psalm a day is a commitment that the church have made corporately.


Dear Father-in-heaven, help me remember that You are always my shield. When I am in difficult circumstances or when I faced broken relationships with people, You will protect me and vindicate me. Lord, I want to trust You in all things. And also, I pray that I will always allow You to sustain me, whether is it good times or bad times. Help me also grow in intimacy with You. In Jesus' name I ask and pray. Amen!

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.

3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.

5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

6 "I have installed my King
on Zion, my holy hill."

7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
He said to me, "You are my Son ;
today I have become your Father.

8 Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You will rule them with an iron scepter;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

This psalm really speaks a lot to my heart. Often the negative influence of this fallen world is so strong. Many people choose to live according to their desires and selfish ambitions. Either they have heard of God, but they deny Him, or they simply don't believe in God.

In both cases, they are against God.

The Lord's word is clear. These people will not have victories. They will not be victors.

On the other hand, for those whom God has called His children, He will make nations their inheritance, and the ends of the earth their possessions (verse 8). God's promises to us is that He will make us the head, and not the tail; the top and not the bottom (Deu 28:13).

Do you have victories at your workplace or your school? Ask of Him (but don't do it out of selfish ambition because God hates it - Gal 5:19-21).



Dear Father-in-heaven, You're the One that has created ALL things. And I know that because I believed in Jesus, I am Your son, not Your slave. Today, I ask of You, that You will give me a greater foothold in my workplace, so that through my life, men can praise You. I ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

In this psalm, God's promise to us is that we will be fruitful in every aspect of our lives, just like trees growing near streams. He wants to makes us successful. He wants to bless us.

But there're conditions attached to this promise.
1. We must not seek the counsel of the world or be part of it.
2. We need to meditate His word day and night.

Honestly, I don't know how many times I have given up reading God's word or spending time with Him and went on to do my own things. This psalm just awakens something in me. I need to know and meditate upon His word.


O'Lord, I confess to You the times that I walked away from Your word. I pray that this day, I make a fresh new commitment to You. I want to know Your word and apply it into my life. I want to be like a tree by Your streams of living water. Help me meditate upon Your word day and night. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.