Petal

Q4. Since Christians don't seem immune to accident, persecution, and death, how are we to understand these psalms of protection? Why don't some believers seem to be protected? Does God really protect us? How? Even Jesus - a man without sin - was persecuted and nailed on the cross to die. Who are we the sinful creatures? But having aid that, Jesus came to this world with a purpose - to wash all our sins by dying on the cross. He will be back on the Judgment Day. I believe we are with a mission to serve a purpose here too. And only God knows what, how and why. We walk in faith believing that God's protection is here for us on earth and in heaven. If a believer is harmed on earth - rest assured that his soul is set free on the judgment day. Cheers

Q3. (Psalm 121). What reassurance is it to you that God keeps you and watches over you? How does Psalm 121 make you feel? I am glad that God is keeping an eye over me all the time. He neither sleeps or slumber - what a committed God he is. My help comes from the maker of heaven and earth - He has the best credentials. He will not let your foot slip - such a loving father. Lord will keep you from all harm - the best protector. He watches over your coming and going - the number one caretaker. I guess, when you read Psalm 121, one does not feel lonely although you are all by yourself at that time. How can you feel lonely when God is monitoring, guiding and taking great effort in every step you take. Such comforting Psalm!

Hi Davidjjj, I like the way you answered the question on your reaction to this Psalm. I have had the same questions. Many times, I have been dumbfounded when my non-Christians friends questioned me on this. Like you, I agree that all this will pass and God is not to be blamed for all the disasters or the wrong things that happen in this world. Cheers

Q2. (Psalm 91) What does this psalm teach us about God's protection when in danger? What does it teach about our authority to vanquish our enemies? What promises does Psalm 91 contain? How does this psalm make you feel? There is no doubt that God saves us from danger. But yet, sometimes, He is the last person that we seek when trouble befall us. Only when we have exhausted all channels that we crawl back to him for protection. This Psalm teaches us that God provides the best protection. We should seek him first when we think we are in danger. Verse 7 says that thousands will fall by our side but nothing will happen to us. It seems an impossible thing by human standard but that is the awesome promise by God. And he provides us with his TLC - tender, loving care from 24/7 - 24 hours and every day. And on top of that, he gives us the authority to win our battles with the help of the angels. He gives us strength to overcome the evil - thoughts, attacks and actions. He gives us the power to overcome our weaknesses may it be physically, mentally or emotionally. If we look at it, God has given us all the necessary tools to lead a righteous life in this world but it all depends on how we use and manage these tools. This Psalm is really an eye-opener for me. It is not that I did not know about God's protection but it is comforting to understand and know how well this Psalm describes His protection over his people. God really loves me a lot and he does not like when others mess with me. In this world especially where crimes are increasing by numbers, it is good to know that God's wonderful protection is there for all of us.

Q1. (Psalm 61:1-4) What images does the psalmist evoke to communicate his trust in God's protection? How do the first four verses of this psalm make you feel? The images are "the rock that is higher than I"; "a strong tower against the foe"; "dwell in your tent forever"; "take refuge in the shelter of your wings". Feel comforted that God's protection is just a call away. Assurances are given that if we are in trouble, God takes care of us in the best possible way. Amen to that.

I have chosen to meditate on this verse [font="Impact]"Restore us O Lord; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. Psalms 80: 3,7,19[/font] I chose three areas of my life that I wanted God to restore. I hope these changes in me will be a good testimony to others. I feel I have failed God by the way I carry myself at times. I want to be saved from straying away from the Lord.

Q5. (Psalm 80) If you were to formulate a personal prayer for revival for your own life or for your congregation, how would you word it? What elements should be present in a prayer for personal or congregational revival? What would this prayer have in common with 2 Chronicles 7:14? How does this kind of prayer pave the way for revival and restoration to take place? Father, I am tired of letting you down again and again. I am truly sorry. Forgive me of my sins O Lord. I am completely drained out - physically and mentally -. I am losing focus of you in my life. I am busy with the things of the world that I am missing the lover of my soul. Restore my soul O father. Help me to get started all over again. Take away this bitterness and help me to show unconditional love to others as how you have showed it to me. I praise you O father. Thank you for your constant presence in my life. Don't ever let me go. Love you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. The elements: Repentance, humbleness, forgiveness, sensitivity to the need of others, love, desire to see changes Common with 2 Chronicles 7:14: humbleness, seek God's face, turn from their wicked ways (repentance). When God hears this kind of prayer, he forgive their sins and begin to heal the person or the people. It brings a positive change.

Q4. (Psalm 40:17) In this verse David combines both humility and faith in his prayer to God. Why are both humility and faith necessary? What happens when one of these qualities is missing? Both humility and faith is required so that our prayer will not be inclined towards self-righteousness. We have to accept the fact that we are imperfect. And we must believe that despite our imperfection and flaws, God answers our prayers because he is our loving God. With the combination of faith and humility, our prayers and petitions are songs to God's ears.

Q3. (Psalm 40:5b) When you realize that God's thoughts and plans are focused on you in particular, how does that make you respond? Am I sure God's thoughts and plans are focused on me? Then, why things are not the way I would have wished it would be. Well, this probably would have been my answer to the question above when I did not understand God's love for me those days. But I guess, I am out of that doubtful state of mind. Praise God for that. Now, I feel special in the eyes of the Lord. He takes account of every details of me. The bible says that he even nows the number of my hair. Awesome. Yes, there may be questions on certain things but I know now that God knows the best for me. I am learning to trust and obey his plans for me. He will not forsake me nor abandon me.

Q2. (Psalm 69:30-32) Why does this lament (and nearly all laments in the Psalms) end with an upswing of hope and praise? What does this teach us about our own laments and prayers? Why is praise, the language of faith, so important in our prayers, especially prayers of desperate pleas for help? The way these laments are build shows that there is always light at the end of a tunnel. The Psalmist pours out his soul - knowing very well that God is listening and will take him out of his misery. He knows that what he is going through will pass away. It is pointless to wallow in self pity but hope keeps one going. And it is this hope from God that the Psalmist is banking on to overcome the misery. Sometimes, talking to God just releases whatever burdens one has. Confiding in God is like a de-stress programme. And praises help us to get out of the pit of unworthiness, self-centredness. It is like a healing process for the soul. By giving God glory, we are telling the Satan that there are no problems to big that my God cannot solve it. It is an open declaration that my God will see me through this.

Q1. (Psalm 69:12-18) How could David dare to ask anything from God after the shameful things he had done with Bathsheba and Uriah? How does God's grace and mercy function in the face of our sins? I have never found it easy to talk to God after sinning. There are times when I have condemned myself rather than being open to God although I know he knows what I have done. But like David, there is no way out rather than going back to God. Sins separates man from God but in Romans 8:39 says "Nothing can separate us from the love of God." So, it is God's love and mercy that keeps us together and washes our sins. All we need is to be frank to God about what we have done and seek his forgiveness and deliverance. He wants to hear everything - our frustrations, disappointments, bitterness and our pleas.

Q2. (Psalm 95) In Psalm 95 we are commanded to worship the Lord. What are the reasons why we should worship contained in this psalm? Why do you think the warning in verses 8-11 is included in this psalm? How does this fit with the earlier elements of the psalm? We should worship the Lord because of his characteristics - he is a great creator, he is the lord of lords, he is full of love, he is our shepherd, who tend to our need and cares for us, he is merciful and he promises life after death. The warning tells us that we have to be faithful under any circumstances. People tend to forget the good things from God. We rather complain against God when things go wrong rather than believing that, troubles come our way - for a reason. It is when we are down that we really should seek God to take us out of it. This Psalm reminds us that God does not bless people who lacks faith. It teaches us to trust God to deliver us from any tough battles. We are to praise God although things may not seem all rosy. God does not want the doubting Thomas syndrome to grow within ourselves. Through this Psalm, we are expected to praise God wholeheartedly.

Q1. (Psalm 150) What does this psalm teach us about praise? Where should praise occur? With what should praise be conducted? Who should praise? What does this psalm make you feel like after reading it out loud? This Psalm tells us that we can praise God anywhere, anytime and for anything. And we can praise him using all kind of instruments - even it means using an electric guitar in these modern days. There is no restriction to where we should or should not praise God. We should praise him for all the good things he has done on earth - and for the wonderful promises made for us in heaven. And God wants every living creature in this world to praise him. He did not single out anyone. To him, all are the same. After reading it out aloud, the Psalm motivated me to praise God for all the wonderful things he has done for me in my life. There was just this awesome joy in my heart. In the busyness, we tend to forget that God is in control and in charge of everything. I just praise him for loving me for the way I am.

I took up a challenge to memorize the Psalm 15. I read it many times, I wrote it down in a paper and decorated it with stickers. I read it aloud before I go to sleep. Have been doing this for the last few days whenever I have the free time. Unfortunately, I still have not master it. I can get the first two verses and from then on I keep on missing some of the words. As I read half way through,mind wonders somewhere else. But given more time, I believe I will be able to stay it without looking at the bible. I plan to read it aloud infront of my bible study group members. (I will update with the outcome). Cheers have a good weekend everyone.

It is the shortness of this psalm that amazes me. It is short but contains a powerful message in it. It all revolves around one point - unity. The message is crystal clear that it will be rewarding when people stay in united. There are many reasons to why it is difficult to dwell together in unity. a) People have different opinions. In malaysia, people are from different ethnic, culture, race and religion. It is difficult to share a common thing. One race is always suspicious of the other. c) Selfish desires. Does not want other than thy to excel d) The way government run the country. Their policies only benefit certain races. e) lack of love for people who are not in the same class or league with thy. f) driven by worldly goals g) people do not trust each other h) hatred i) Pride j) lack of spiritual wisdom to treat everyone as the same. The commitment for unity includes for us to love one another - no matter how different they; not to incite hatred among each others; to be fair to everyone; running after the same goal; to prevent quarrel; to have a good understanding; and to appreciate one another's contribution. One must have the purity of the heart to be united. There should be any malice nor hidden agenda for personal glory. If the heart is pure, one will be driven to live in harmonious way. Reconciliation and unity are integral values in Jesus; teaching because they becomes the guide for Christians to love one another as they love themselves.

The first thought that came to my mind was - why not find 15 things from this Psalm 15 that can be used as a base for the growth of a child. Well here it goes: 1. Obey God's teaching 2. Walk blamelessly 3. Do what is right 4. Speak the truth 5. Don't slander 6. Be good to your neighbour 7. Be fair 8. Don't say bad things to others 9. Do not conform to evil ways 10. Make clear what you believe - make a stand although it may not be accepted by the society 11. Live by the word of God 12. Persevere 13. Don't cheat poor people 14. No bribes 15. Being righteous is rewarding According to this Psalm, the righteous living include being ethical, fair, knowing and stating clearly who is our focus, ability to persevere while trying to live true to His words and putting the need of others ahead of oneself.

A reminder like this keeps me going in this walk of faith. It is easy to feel discouraged when there are so many wrong things happening around us. Injustice gets me all riled up. But God promises that the wicked will perish. He is telling me that he will handle this and asking me not to worry about it. My task is to stay righteous and not to follow the wrong path or be influenced by it or even be a stumbling block to others. What a great reminder indeed! The Psalm 1:3 attracts me with its imagery. As I picture the tree planted by streams of water - a sense of calmness envelops me. There is serenity. It must feel good to feel that cold water (especially if you are staying in this hot Malaysia:_). And the leaf not does wither. Wow, such a powerful description. It makes me want to be this person referred in this verse. The righteous are truly blessed.

This week, I have decided to pray the Psalm 27. I rephrased it as my personal prayer. Here it is; NOTHING Lord, I fear nothing coz you promised to be by my side to save me and protect me from any harm and danger. I want to thank you for that. ONE THING Lord, the one thing that I seek is to have a growing relationship with you. I want to get to know you better. Be

Life is meaningless without God's love. It is His love that keeps me going. His love helps me to understand and accept things that are beyond my comprehension. It is because of His love so free that I am able to walk in faith. Because His love is so precious and given so freely for sinners like me - I can't help but value and appreciate it in the best way I can. His love re-energize my dry soul. I cannot imagine life without His love for me.

The Psalmist is feeling helpless. He has no answers for what has befallen him and finding it hard to rationalize the state he is in. He thirsts for a solution - on how to find the joy of praising the Lord again. He motivates himself to come out of the spiritual depression. He deliberately recalls how good God has been. Instead of wallowing in self pity, he praises God day and night through songs. Today, here in Malaysia, marks the first day of the Ramadan month - the fasting month - for the Muslims. One of my bible study friends and I have decided to fast too - 7am-7pm - daily. Right now, I feel so thirsty for water, coffee - name it whatever liquid I can think off. It makes my mind go bonkers. The physical thirst makes me weak. Similiar to that, my past spiritual stuggles had made we very weak - too weak that I lost the grip on the trust and believe I had on God. It was a time that I questioned God a lot and doubted on his sheer existence. But eventually, I claimed the promises that God made through his words, I refused to let the Devil or my own circumstances and musings to get the better of my situation. Enouragement from friends also helped greatly. I am thirsty now (yes for water) but I want to sing praises to him. I want to change the focus on Him and on the reasons behind the fasting. I plan to do the same - if I am sucked back somehow into spiritual struggles again.

What is so special about this "house of the Lord?" David must have liked the "house of the Lord" very much that he yearns to dwell there all the days of his life. Well, I find peace, quietness, sense of belonging and joy when I am in a church or within a group of believers. But not all the time though - sometimes I am in church but my mind wonders to all the problems of the world and my own inadequacy. But David is talking beyond the physical attributes of the "house of the Lord". He desires to be close to the Lord always. Not only during the church services or during a gathering with fellow believers but he is talking about an all-the-time relationship with the Lord during ups and downs of ones life. Seeking his face is putting the effort in looking for the Lord - to really feel his presence. Imagine talking to someone you love through a long-distance phone call. There is a satisfaction. But it makes it more worth while, when the person puts the effort, travels all the way to meet the person face-to-face. Seeking the face of the Lord, is about opening up the bible, praying, telling others about Him, marveling at His works, understanding his will and having him to understand our daily problems, questions and disappointments on a daily basis. With so many disasters, crimes and injustice, in this world now, it is easier to doubt the existence of God. But like David, we can psyche ourselves. Like David, we can learn to be confident and see God's goodness in the land of the living. One must not give up. Hope carries us through. What a comforting thought! Cheers Rajes

Well, I know I have sung this song in the past. So, i did a search in the internet. There were so many different versions. But it felt just good to just read them and follow the tune (although I was not sure I was following it accordingly Here is one of the links http://www.cyberhymnal.org/scr/scriptur.htm (Look for the book of Psalms and click on chapter 8 and walla - there are a few different hymns) I somehow did not find my favourite - O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name - version. Cheers

David wonders on the intricacy and details that are taken account into creation. God knows from A-Z about a person from the beginning until the end. There is no secret about man that God does not know. And this amazes David and even me. God is a loving father and he certainly takes the pain to know everything about everyone. In the finale of the Psalm, David makes this bold statement for God to search his heart and know his worries. And, then he takes it one step further by asking God to test him to make sure that he is on the right path. Wow! thats boldness. I am not sure how many would come out and ask God to correct one self. It shows' that David is really a humble and a faithful person.

In the first part, God's goodness and greatness is reflected through his wonderful creation. One only has to look and marvel at the nature to know and comprehend God's greatness. In the second part, written words describe God's greatness and glory. Although these powerful and meaningful words are written by men but they are God breathed. So, it speaks and says only the truth. The Psalmist places great value to His words. For him, it is better than all the treasures of the world and even sweeter than the best of honey. Yes, it gives such joy when the word comes alive and touches my heart in the most amazing way. It tastes so good that you want to read the particular words again and again and sometimes, you want to sing a particular verse from the bible repeatedly. The psalmist's amazement over the creation must have affected him greatly. Rather than just sitting and enjoying the creation, it made him look at himself- his sins, his errors. Sometimes, we find it hard to look at our faults but we are able to identify them by reading His word. The verse 14 is a personal declaration by David to God that he wants to live a pleasing life. For David, pleasing God, who is his protector, means guarding what he says and thinking only of good things in his heart - as by required by His words. Rajes

This Psalm 8 reminds me of a song I used to sing long time ago. I remember the tune but can't seem to get the lyrics right. But anyway, this Psalm certainly teaches us that God has the reputation as the best - creator and lover of mankind - in all the earth and even above the heavens. He values human beings as his most prized creation and possession. Due to this reputation, people - both weak and strong- cannot help but sing praises to his name. God have put men above his wonderful creation. This is difficult for men to understand because they feel small compared to all the things that God created. They are at awe because God trust them and had placed them responsible over the things of the world. In this Psalm, Christ is reflected as a humble person, who came to die for all our sins. He did this so that we can have that wonderful relationship with the creator. We must not take this responsibility for granted. We must justify the trust the creator has in us - by appreciating his creation -the nature, the surroundings and even our own selves.