2017 Scriptures of Praise Month

2017 Scriptures of Praise Month

Introduction:

Strictly speaking, all of the Psalms are writings of praise. In Hebrew, the name of this book is Tehillim1, which means praise. The Psalms expresses praise through various literary styles and perspectives while also demonstrating how the psalmists turn towards God in different circumstances.

In these one hundred and fifty psalms, over a third are lamentations. It’s quite interesting that these lamentations often end in a declaration of faith, thanksgiving towards God, or an abrupt rise in the narrative to praise. All of our Scriptures of Praise for this year come from the Book of Psalms. In these readings, you will find a variety of vocabulary and literary descriptions, but at their core is the same central message that God is magnified and is worthy of the greatest praise- and this is done through supplication, thanksgiving, praise, crying out, and even cursing one’s enemies.

There is no better school than the Book of Psalms when one is trying to learn how to give praise. Reading and praying aloud the Psalms is the best starting point if you have ever felt like you do not  know how to pray or give thanks, do not understand who God is or what He does, or if you simply lack the words to praise Him with. Wherever you are at right now in relation to God and life, may the Lord bless you in this Month of Praise through His words and enable you to experience the great power that comes with praising Him.

According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; (48:10)

1 Tehillim. Also the title of Psalm 145

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 30

Introduction...

Day 30 Psalm 118:5-24 The Lord is on my side; What can man do to me?
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 6,8-9,14）
5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.





.

Psalm 118 is the poem that the Israelites sung when they went to the Temple at the festivals to offer sacrifice and sing praise to God. As they were heading to the Temple and remembering how Jehovah God had listened to their prayers and placed them in a spacious place after so many years of turmoil, they could not help but to say, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? For it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.“ Many times in the history of Israel, nations surrounded them like a swarm of bees to destroy them, but the people of Israel could be victorious in the name of the Lord. It is why they could sing, “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”

Today, we also face so many spiritual battles in our lives. Let us also learn to come to the LORD often and experience that “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”, because “the Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” (NY)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 29

Introduction...

Day 29 Psalm 44:1-8 Give Thanks to God for he commands victories for us
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 4-5）
1 We have heard with our ears, O God,
Our fathers have told us,
The deeds You did in their days,
In days of old:
2 You drove out the nations with Your hand,
But them You planted;
You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
Because You favored them.
4 You are my King, O God;
Command victories for Jacob.
5 Through You we will push down our enemies;
Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow,
Nor shall my sword save me.
7 But You have saved us from our enemies,
And have put to shame those who hated us.
8 In God we boast all day long,
And praise Your name forever. Selah


This is a contemplation from the descendant of Korah, and is also a national prayer psalm. Since the country was under attack by the enemy at the time, the psalmist recounts God’s great deliverance in the past to “force five passes and slay six captains”, to defeat the enemy and lead them to Canaan. Now, they cry out to God in one accord to help them again in defeating their enemies, saying “You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob." Even though they were facing the formidable enemies they could still trust God and as they sing "Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.” Thanks be to God, who through this verse strengthens our faith too. Whenever we are attacked by enemies, fall on tough times, or feel weak and discouraged, we can declare and win the victory of God through faith. Hallelujah! “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14a) (EY)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 28

Introduction...

Psalm 126:1-6 Delivered from Exile to Exultation
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 4-6）
1 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.
5 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.



Psalm-shaped thankers of God are people that recognize who we are and humbly, rightly respond to the stunning grace of God. Your thanksgiving will only be as deep and as wide as the distance you recognize existed between who you were before Christ delivered you and who you are today because the Lord has done great things for us.

This psalm of ascent recognizes that it was God’s grace alone (and not merely Cyrus’ political policy) which brought Israel home from Babylonian exile in the sixth century BC (see Ezra, Nehemiah). The rejoicing pours forth not only for physical homecoming but that God’s wonderful and life-giving covenantal presence is back with His people. Like Israel’s dry south (Negeb) which would flood after a rainstorm, so too will the restored people be overflowing in praise, laughter, and hope for the Lord has done great things for us.

Let us together this day thank God who in Christ Jesus brought us out of exile into His very presence that we might abide, be filled, and rejoice! (KA)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 27

Introduction...

Day 27 Psalm 18:31-36,46-49
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 31-36）
31 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
…
46 The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your name.



[Sharing] Psalm 18 is written by a veteran who experienced a lot of wars, and it is collected from 2 Samuel 22. After the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and battles, and after experiencing ups and downs, victories and defeats, honor and disgrace, David wrote this psalm that reads through ages.
Who is God besides the Lord? Who is the Rock except our God? Who arms me with strength except Him? Who enables me to stand on the heights in the drums of war? If it were not for the Lord, how can my weak arms bend a bow of bronze? [You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.] We also often go through narrow paths and walk to the brink of danger, but the Lord always leads us to victory, and makes our enemies flee. I am secure in my distress, and my ankles never slip into the abyss. O LORD, my Savior, my God, I will praise you among the nations, I will sing praises to your name. (NY)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 26

Introduction...

Day 26 Psalm 57:1-2，7-11

（Memorization Scripture: vv. 9-11）
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,To God who performs all things for me.

7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
8 I will sing and give praise.
Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples.
I will sing to You among the nations.
10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.


[Sharing] In a difficult situation David made a psalm in the cave, saying, "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge ..." At that time David was in as much danger as being among lines or placed in a fiery furnace, for Saul would stop at nothing to kill him. In his difficulties, David knew well that God's mercy and love was exalted among the heavens and he decided to look to God and treat the cave of refuge as a sanctuary for praising the Lord. He said, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise." He encouraged himself, saying, "Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn." Not only did he sing and praise the Lord in the cave, but he also would use instruments to praise the Lord in early mornings as he set his heart to praise, sing, and give thanks to God among all nations.

May the Lord help us so that our souls would not fall asleep or lay depressed in difficult circumstances. Instead, let us choose to be awake and sing to the Lord like David in hardships. Even with tears in our eyes we'll praise and sing to the Lord, for He loves us, His mercy reaches unto the heavens, and His truth unto the clouds.

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 25

Introduction...

Day 25 Psalm 86:1-13
(Prayer for Mercy, with Meditation on the Excellencies of the Lord
A Prayer of David.)
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 8-10）
1 Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me;
For I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am holy;
You are my God;
Save Your servant who trusts in You!
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,
For I cry to You all day long.
4 Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
And attend to the voice of my supplications.
7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;
Nor are there any works like Your works.
9 All nations whom You have made
Shall come and worship before You, O Lord,
And shall glorify Your name.
10 For You are great, and do wondrous things;
You alone are God.
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forevermore.
13 For great is Your mercy toward me,
And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.


The Psalms today teach us how to pray to God in trouble. In the affliction, David not only humbly turns to God all day long, but also in faith he believes God would answer his cry. David realizes that the Lord God can do much more than merely saving him from distress - for He is great, He alone is God, none of the gods are comparable to Him; and the unique true God is willing to save him from suffering - because He is good, willing to forgive, with abundant love for all who call on Him!

Even more wonderful is that in the affliction, David not only seeks God to save him from trouble, but also he prays to God for his Word for him to act according to the truth of God and asks for a fearing heart for the name of God.

Finally, David's prayer in adversity turns into praise and gratitude to God - "I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore."He no longer just focuses on the affair, but instead on the salvation that God has made, and he knows that the love God that has given to him is great, for He has saved the soul of David from deep darkness.

May David's prayers and compliments to God in times of trouble also be our testimony in affliction today!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 24

Introduction...

Day 24 Psalm 66:8-20 Experiencing God's trimming in trials and tests
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 18-20）
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!


[Sharing]
When we are in all kinds of trials and tests (prison, burdens, fire and water), often we ask: "Where is my God? Has he forgotten me? Did he hear my prayer?" But the psalmist has a different understanding of trials and prayer.

God loves us, so he tests us, refines us like silver, brings us into prison, lays burdens on our backs, and even lets people ride over our heads. All these circumstances are for one purpose: bring us to a place of abundance after going through fire and water. During the tests, our sins are revealed. Sin is what God hates, and it is also the greatest obstacle when we pray to God. [If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (v18)]. Let us pray that God will help us, not only reveal our sins, but also set us free from the power of sin, and come to Him with clean hands and pure hearts. He will turn his ear to us and not reject our prayer. (DX)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 23

Introduction...

Day 23 Psalm 116:1-7, 17-18 Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 5-7）
1 I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The pains of death surrounded me,
And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
…
17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people,


[Sharing] Have you ever gone through the situation that psalmist pictured - “The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow”? (v3) If you have similar experiences, then pray diligently just as the psalmist who came to God with his prayer, “Then I called upon the name of the Lord:“O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!””(v4)
How often we forget we are still alive only because God listens to our prayer. Even though He does not always perform exactly all that we ask, He indeed listens to all our prayers. He is gracious and righteous and merciful, and also He is the one true God who people seek and find in the tribulation. It is His grace that helps people from difficulties to stay faithful and to wait for His salvation.
As the psalmist passed through the Valley of Baca, he who had already tasted the grace of God, said “Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” (v7). Also he went inside the temple of the Lord, offered to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and paid his vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.
“I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” (vv.1-2) (NY)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 22

Introduction...

Psalm 28：1-2，6-9

（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7-9）
Rejoicing in Answered Prayer
A Psalm of David.
1To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock:
Do not be silent to me,
Lest, if You are silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications
When I cry to You,
When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
…
6 Blessed be the Lord,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.
8 The Lord is their strength,[a]
And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.
9 Save Your people,
And bless Your inheritance;
Shepherd them also,
And bear them up forever.


Sharing: In this psalm, we find that David is a man of prayer. He raises his hands to the Lord and cries, "O Lord my Rock"! He asks the Lord to not be silent, lest he become like those who go down to the pit and lose all hope. But when David recalls how God had heard his prayers and delivered him, he cannot help but sing with joy, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped". David then goes on to pray for God's people, for he knows that God is not only his strength, but also the strength of His people. Praise the Lord! He is forever the God of salvation and blessing, the God who shepherds and upholds.

David here reminds us that God is our rock and our shield. If we follow his lead by praying to God in faith, I believe we too will experience answered prayers and will testify to how He personally became our strength and help. Praise the Lord, He is a God who listens to prayers so that through our prayers we too can experience His salvation, blessings, shepherding, and faithful support!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 21

Introduction...

Day 21 Psalm 73:1-5,16-28 Grievances because of the wicked going well whereas the righteous being plagued
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 25-26）


1 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.

16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.


We often feel unfair that others did not receive what they deserve. This is especially true when we see how those who have done evil goes unpunished; these thoughts make our footsteps on the path of righteousness unsure. The author of this particular Psalm, Asaph, was suffering due to having these exact thoughts. That is, until he went into the sanctuary of God, and, in the light of God, he saw what he did not understand before - the end of the ungodly is truly terrible. He humbly came before God to admit his ignorance and foolishness. He realized that God is continually with him. God holds him by hand, guides him with counsel, and will receive him to glory. My God, whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Let me not carry grievance in my heart any longer. Let the ungodly receive their end! As for me, I will draw near to God; He is my refuge (NASB), and I will declare all His works. (NY)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 20

Introduction...

Day 20 Psalm 40:12-17 Faith Produces Thanks in Trials
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 16-17）

12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;
They are more than the hairs of my head;
Therefore my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who seek to destroy my life;
Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor
Who wish me evil.
15 Let them be confounded because of their shame,
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
16 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
17 But I am poor and needy;
Yet the Lord thinks upon me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.

Though God has answered an earlier prayer of the psalmist (vv.1-8), a new crises brings him back to before the Lord to seek deliverance. And this is where things are interesting - what’s ruining the writer’s life is both external (innumerable evils surround me) and internal (my iniquities have overtaken me). A great key to be a Psalm-shaped thanker of God is being humbled to recognize exactly just how feeble and sinful I am but how grand and holy is my Lord. I’m brought to great gratitude because though I am poor and needy the Lord thinks upon me, not withholding His tender mercies, lovingkindness and truth that preserves me! That, brother and sisters is nothing less than amazing - though I am but dust and overtaken by my own sins, God thinks about me and cares for me in that pitiful condition. Recognition then leads to response. So let us be thankful to our God who is our sole help and deliverer, hearing our cries and not delaying to come and rescues His children.

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 19

Introduction...

Psalm 13:1-6 from Grief and Desperation to Sing with Faith
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 5-6）
1 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.



The psalmist David uses four "How long"s to express to God his suffering, injustice and hopelessness. In the difficult situation he couldn’t see any hope but only felt forgotten by God and so he questions God, “How long will You hide Your face from me?” Yet, David doesn’t stay downcast after sharing his distress but asks, “Consider and hear me, O Lord my God.” David knows that the only way to turn from suffering and hopelessness o singing of the Lord’s great love is by seeing reality through spiritual eyes. This is indeed a precious reminder for us that following the Lord is not by feeling but by faith. The enemy often uses suffering and negative feelings to blind the children of God, so that in difficulties we only look down instead of looking up to the Lord who is always with us! May the Lord open up our hearts in times of doubt to look upon God in trust and thanksgiving, for He has dealt bountifully with us. (JZ)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 18

Introduction...

Day 18 Psalm 20:1-8 Triumph in faith
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7-8）
1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.


[Sharing] This psalm is a prayer of the people and the king before the war. In verses 1-5, people ask blessings for the king (May the Lord… answer you, protect you, help you, support you, remember you, accept you, give you, make all your plans succeed]. They pray that God Himself will bring salvation. The enemies trust in chariots and horses which are fearful to the Israelites, but David is full of assurance that God is going to save his anointed ones; the people of God trust in the name of the Lord, they lift up the banners in the name of God (Jehovah Nissi), they will rise up and stand firm.
Do the problems we are facing and the surrounding sinister environment often make us fearful and timid? Though we may see an army besieging us, we ask in the name of God that He will open our spiritual eyes and let us see the hills full of His horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:15-17), so that we may proclaim and testify in faith: They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. (verse 8). (DX)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 17

Introduction...

Day 17 Psalm 116:8-14 Giving thanks after experiencing God’s salvation in suffering
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 12- 14）
8 For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.
10 I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
11 I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”
12 What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
13 I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people.






[Sharing]
How do we respond to suffering? In today’s psalm, the psalmist encountered trouble and sorrow as pains of death surrounded him, the pangs of Sheol laid hold of him, and as he was greatly afflicted. In his suffering, realizing that no one is able to help him he called on the name of the Lord. The Lord heard his plea and delivered his soul from death, his eyes from tears, and his feet from falling.

After the psalmist experienced God’s salvation in suffering, he chose to take up the cup of salvation, to call upon the name of the Lord, and to give glory and praise to God. May his response to suffering become our response in facing our own difficulties.

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 16

Introduction...

Day 16 Psalm 9:1-4,7-14 Give Thanks to God Devotedly Because of His Salvation
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 1-2）

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all your marvelous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you: I will sing praise to your name, O most High.
3 When my enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at your presence.
4 For you have maintained my right and my cause; you sat in the throne judging right.

7 But the LORD shall endure forever: he has prepared his throne for judgment.
8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know your name will put their trust in you: for you, LORD, have not forsaken them that seek you.
11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
12 When he avenges blood, he remembers them: he forgets not the cry of the humble.
13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer from them that hate me, you that lift me up from the gates of death:
14 That I may show forth all your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in your salvation.
.......
9:19  Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
9:20  Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.


Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail. What words we need to hear today as our academia, media, and own hearts brag that mankind is the center of the universe. What truth we need to rule our minds today - this life is neither ruled by me or the threat of my enemies. I can turn to the Lord in great thanksgiving as it is He who sits enthroned forever, it is His justice that rules, and He is the stronghold in whom we can put our trust. Even in the dark days of tragedy and failure in our own lives and in times when it seems evil is winning, our Lord is present with us in the world (v.11, among us in Zion), is actively judging evil (vv.4,7,8, 12), and never forgets His people (v.10) but shows such great mercy and care. What does this mean for the psalmist and me? It means instead of boasting of myself or cowering in fear and despair, I can publicly (v.14, gates of Zion) praise the Lord with my whole life (v1, my whole heart) for delivering me from sin, enemies, and death itself! Let’s sing together today I will rejoice in your salvation!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 15

Introduction...

Day 15 Psalm 142:1-7 A Plea for Relief from Persecutors
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 5- 7）

A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

1 I cry out to the Lord with my voice;
With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
They have secretly set a snare for me.
4 Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul.
5 I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

Today’s Psalm is a prayer by David when he was in the cave in time of persecution by Saul. In this psalm, David pleaded his complaint and trouble to God, and declared his loneliness, weakness, and helplessness while enemies tried to overtake him. But when he turned to God, he could declare in faith that “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.” (v5) David believed that God will incline His ear and hear his words, and that God Himself, will ‘Bring my (David’s) soul out of prison’ (v7), and “The righteous shall surround me (David)”(v7). And therefore, the psalmist praised the name of the Lord, and gave thanks for God having dealt so graciously with him. We shall be reminded, by the experiences of David, that no matter which hardship we are going through, we should look upon God with a humble heart like David’s, and put faith in Him that He will deliver us out of all troubles, for He is our refuge and portion, and also our salvation. Together we praise His name! (EY)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 14

Introduction...

Day 14 Psalm 34：1-8 Give thanks to God for His goodness and salvation
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7- 8）

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

After David departed from Abimelech the king of the Philistines, he wrote the psalm to give thanks to God for answering him when he called upon the Lord in distress, and listening to his prayer in trouble. David said “I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (v1). Also the psalmist invited us to exalt His name and to give thanks to God, for He sent His messengers far off and encamped all around those who fear Him, so that those who looked to Him will not be ashamed.
When you face challenges and go through a spiritual valley, please do not forget that our God is good. Open your eyes of faith and look around, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” (v7) For we not only see, but taste the Grace of the Lord, and we (shall) live through the greatness of God day by day. David said: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (v19)Praise the Lord, blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 13

Introduction...

Day 13 Pslam103:1-13 Reminding yourself to count on God's salvation in your heart and give thanks to God
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 1-5）

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

Have you ever talked to your heart? When facing extreme difficulties, have you ever encouraged yourself to bless the Lord? David started with “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” in the psalm today, and it feels like he needed to consciously encourage himself to give thanks to our Lord. David reminded himself to not forget all of the Lord’s blessings - the forgiveness of all of his iniquities, the healing of all his diseases, the redemption of his life from destruction, and being crowned with lovingkindness and tender mercies. David was also able to give thanks to the Lord as God satisfied his mouth with good things, so that his youth was renewed like the eagle’s. As David counted God’s blessings one by one, the Spirit enlightened him to acknowledge God’s everlasting mercy and love, a love so wide, so long, so deep, and so high that it goes well beyond our knowledge.
Maybe today you’re facing some challenging situations that drain you, but like David you can encourage yourself to not be overwhelmed! In spite of all life’s afflictions, let’s remind ourselves to “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits”!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 12

Introduction...

Day 12 Psalms 98:1-9 Remembering God’s salvation with a new song
（Memorization Scripture: v. 1）

1 Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
2 The Lord has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
5 Sing to the Lord with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell in it;
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord,
9 For He is coming to judge the earth.
With righteousness He shall judge the world,
And the peoples with equity.

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory” (v1). Our God does marvelous things. His work among the people of Israel is marvelous. Similarly, God accomplished the marvelous work of salvation through His son Jesus, whose name is “wonderful” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is the Incarnate Word. He lived among us and paid our debt on the cross. He was resurrected, and he ascended to the heavens. He will come again and bring judgement. God’s salvation, from beginning to end, is full of marvels.

Not only did God accomplish salvation before the foundation of the world, but, every day He brings renewal into our lives. In each day, God delivers us from a fallen world and from our sin nature so that we are not condemned before His righteous judgement. The “new song” flows out of the new experiences we have under God’s saving grace. As it is written, “[Your mercies and compassions] are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23). Day by day, let us take to heart God’s new doings on us through His finished salvation and count His blessings. Let us shout joyfully before Him and sing Him a new song.

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 11

Introduction...

Day 11 Psalm 51:1-19 Give Thanks to God for His Mercy and Forgivness
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 10-12）

A Prayer of Repentance
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

This psalm is the most renowned of all prayers of repentance. When Nathan the prophet pointed out David’s sin, David the psalmist came before God with a broken and a contrite heart and confessed that he had sinned against God, and asked God for His kindness and mercy, and to cleanse his sin. The psalmist believed that if he (himself) is willing to confess to God and to repent in truth, God Himself will “Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.” (v.9) and “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Such a repentant sinner responds in thankfulness when they know the wonderful mercy that has blotted out all of the iniquities: Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods, having great mercy, passing over the transgressions and cleansing all the iniquities by which we have sinned against Him, (so) “that the bones You have broken may rejoice (vv. 7-8).

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 11

Introduction...

Day 11 Psalm 51:1-19 Give Thanks to God for His Mercy and Forgivness
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 10-12）

A Prayer of Repentance
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

This psalm is the most renowned of all prayers of repentance. When Nathan the prophet pointed out David’s sin, David the psalmist came before God with a broken and a contrite heart and confessed that he had sinned against God, and asked God for His kindness and mercy, and to cleanse his sin. The psalmist believed that if he (himself) is willing to confess to God and to repent in truth, God Himself will “Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.” (v.9) and “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Such a repentant sinner responds in thankfulness when they know the wonderful mercy that has blotted out all of the iniquities: Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods, having great mercy, passing over the transgressions and cleansing all the iniquities by which we have sinned against Him, (so) “that the bones You have broken may rejoice (vv. 7-8).

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 10

Introduction...

Day 10 Psalm 32:1-11 Forgiveness Turns Into Thankfulness
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7）

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Today do you know the joy of being truly, completely forgiven? Once you were bound in sin, crushed in iniquity, and enslaved under the heavy load of you - your flesh and your rebellion. And just as our merciful Father forgave us when Jesus was bound to the cross for our sin and crushed for our iniquities, so too His grace is available now as you acknowledge your sin to Him. Oh what daily joy and thanksgiving is ours in being able to talk to God in confession and to be so graciously delivered from sin! Don’t groan through today under sin’s heavy weight, but come rest in your Lord who will deliver and preserve you. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 10

Introduction...

Day 10 Psalm 32:1-11 Forgiveness Turns Into Thankfulness
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7）

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Today do you know the joy of being truly, completely forgiven? Once you were bound in sin, crushed in iniquity, and enslaved under the heavy load of you - your flesh and your rebellion. And just as our merciful Father forgave us when Jesus was bound to the cross for our sin and crushed for our iniquities, so too His grace is available now as you acknowledge your sin to Him. Oh what daily joy and thanksgiving is ours in being able to talk to God in confession and to be so graciously delivered from sin! Don’t groan through today under sin’s heavy weight, but come rest in your Lord who will deliver and preserve you. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 10

Introduction...

Day 10 Psalm 32:1-11 Forgiveness Turns Into Thankfulness
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7）

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Today do you know the joy of being truly, completely forgiven? Once you were bound in sin, crushed in iniquity, and enslaved under the heavy load of you - your flesh and your rebellion. And just as our merciful Father forgave us when Jesus was bound to the cross for our sin and crushed for our iniquities, so too His grace is available now as you acknowledge your sin to Him. Oh what daily joy and thanksgiving is ours in being able to talk to God in confession and to be so graciously delivered from sin! Don’t groan through today under sin’s heavy weight, but come rest in your Lord who will deliver and preserve you. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 10

Introduction...

Day 10 Psalm 32:1-11 Forgiveness Turns Into Thankfulness
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7）

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Today do you know the joy of being truly, completely forgiven? Once you were bound in sin, crushed in iniquity, and enslaved under the heavy load of you - your flesh and your rebellion. And just as our merciful Father forgave us when Jesus was bound to the cross for our sin and crushed for our iniquities, so too His grace is available now as you acknowledge your sin to Him. Oh what daily joy and thanksgiving is ours in being able to talk to God in confession and to be so graciously delivered from sin! Don’t groan through today under sin’s heavy weight, but come rest in your Lord who will deliver and preserve you. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 10

Introduction...

Day 10 Psalm 32:1-11 Forgiveness Turns Into Thankfulness
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7）

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Today do you know the joy of being truly, completely forgiven? Once you were bound in sin, crushed in iniquity, and enslaved under the heavy load of you - your flesh and your rebellion. And just as our merciful Father forgave us when Jesus was bound to the cross for our sin and crushed for our iniquities, so too His grace is available now as you acknowledge your sin to Him. Oh what daily joy and thanksgiving is ours in being able to talk to God in confession and to be so graciously delivered from sin! Don’t groan through today under sin’s heavy weight, but come rest in your Lord who will deliver and preserve you. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 10

Introduction...

Day 10 Psalm 32:1-11 Forgiveness Turns Into Thankfulness
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 7）

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Today do you know the joy of being truly, completely forgiven? Once you were bound in sin, crushed in iniquity, and enslaved under the heavy load of you - your flesh and your rebellion. And just as our merciful Father forgave us when Jesus was bound to the cross for our sin and crushed for our iniquities, so too His grace is available now as you acknowledge your sin to Him. Oh what daily joy and thanksgiving is ours in being able to talk to God in confession and to be so graciously delivered from sin! Don’t groan through today under sin’s heavy weight, but come rest in your Lord who will deliver and preserve you. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 9

Introduction...

Day 9 Psalms30:4-5, 10-12 Thanks Through it All
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 4-5）
4 Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.

10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.


[Sharing] Life so often moves in rhythms of peaks and valleys, with our darker days often throwing us into despair, worry, and even bitterness. David here does not whitewash over his mourning but recognizes that though times of heartache and seasons of refining come for us who are in covenant (saints) with the merciful God, there truly is great thankfulness because the joy of the Lord does comes in the morning and His favor lasts a lifetime. Darkness does not last - God sees to that! We can give thanks to God always and forever for turning our mourning into dancing and removing our sackcloth to clothe us in His goodness, all so that we may sing His glory and not be silent. ( Kyle)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 8

Introduction...

Day 8 Psalms 107:1-9
(Memorization Scripture: vv. 8-9)
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.
4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.


[Sharing] The psalmist says that each one who received grace should give thanks to God. By counting the grace of God, we should be reminded that He is good, and His mercy endures forever. He saved us from enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, and He led us the right way, so that we would not be lost in the wilderness. Also out of His love, He promised that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
Yes, all we like sheep have gone astray, it is He that found us in the wasteland, a howling wilderness. He encircled us with love, He instructed us, He kept us as the apple of His eye. And also He poured out His soul and became the bread of life for us. As Jesus said “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 7

Introduction...

Day 7 Psalms 92:1-15 Give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness and faithfulness
(Memorization Scripture: vv. 12-15)

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night,
3 On an instrument of ten strings,
On the lute,
And on the harp,
With harmonious sound.
4 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
5 O Lord, how great are Your works!
Your thoughts are very deep.
6 A senseless man does not know,
Nor does a fool understand this.
7 When the wicked spring up like grass,
And when all the workers of iniquity flourish,
It is that they may be destroyed forever.
8 But You, Lord, are on high forevermore.
9 For behold, Your enemies, O Lord,
For behold, Your enemies shall perish;
All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
10 But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox;
I have been anointed with fresh oil.
11 My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies;
My ears hear my desire on the wicked
Who rise up against me.
12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
15 To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

The psalmist reminds us that giving thanks to the Lord and singing praises to the name of the Most High is good. We are invited to “declare [His] lovingkindness in the morning, and [His] faithfulness every night.” If we begin each day with praises and thanksgiving towards God, our focus turns from the burdens and pressures of life to our loving Lord. We are then able to enjoy His lovingkindness and blessings and to experience His amazing works. And just suppose, at the end of each day, if we would come before God again to reflect on how He has led us through the day by the integrity of His heart and the skillfulness of His hands, oh our gratitude would overflow!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 6

Introduction...

Day 6 Psalm 119：57-64 Give Thanks to God because of His words
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 62-64）

57 You are my portion, O Lord;
I have said that I would keep Your words.
58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;
Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59 I thought about my ways,
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I made haste, and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have bound me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes.

The psalmist rises to give thanks to God for His words at midnight! How we admire his deep understanding and thirst for God’s words. We experience the blessing and grace of God by following His words. Not only do His words lead our path, but they also set us free from the cords of the wicked. Let us give God thanks for His words, desire for His words, be joyful with His words, and obey His commands. And as we do we will find ourselves lost in His immense mercy and love. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10a)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 5

Introduction...

Day 5 Psalm 65:5, 9-13 Experience God's abundant provision

5 By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,
O God of our salvation,
You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth,
And of the far-off seas;
...
9 You visit the earth and water it,
You greatly enrich it;
The river of God is full of water;
You provide their grain,
For so You have prepared it.
10 You water its ridges abundantly,
You settle its furrows;
You make it soft with showers,
You bless its growth.
11 You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance.
12 They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,
And the little hills rejoice on every side.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks;
The valleys also are covered with grain;
They shout for joy, they also sing.

Although David’s life is filled with countless persecutions and oppressions, at the same time, he profoundly experiences God’s salvation, preservation and provision. That’s why he can praise God with a heart full of gratitude and say: God our Savior, you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas (v5)! Looking at the nature created by God as well as the rain, grain, livestock and everything else, the psalmist then vividly portrays God's grace and writes: ``You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance (v11).” When we think of God’s abundant grace on us day in and day out, year after year, we cannot help but accept the invitation of the psalmist -- to thank the great God and His abundant supply and blessings together with the rivers, paths, wilderness, meadows, hills, and flocks.

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 4

Introduction...

Day 4 Psalm 7:1,3-6,8-11,17 Be thankful For God's righteous judgment
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 8-9）

1. O Lord my God, in You I put my trust;
Save me from all those who persecute me;
And deliver me
...
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this:
If there is iniquity in my hands,
4 If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
Or have plundered my enemy without cause,
5 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
Yes, let him trample my life to the earth,
And lay my honor in the dust. Selah
6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;
Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;
Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded!
...
8 The Lord shall judge the peoples;
Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness,
And according to my integrity within me.
9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
But establish the just;
For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
10 My defense is of God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
...
17 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

David comes before the Lord and tells of his sufferings: how his enemies' slander and persecutions are like a lion tearing him apart, with none to deliver. However, even in such difficult circumstances he first asks God to assess his uprightness, to see if there is iniquity in his hands. Only then does he pray to God: "Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies". Furthermore, David praises the Lord for he knows that He judges justly, tests the hearts and minds, and saves the upright in heart. When we encounter malicious slander or harsh criticism, do not forget that our God is a God who judges justly. He is angry with the wicked and saves the upright in heart. Therefore, Paul says in Romans 12:19: "19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord."

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 3

Introduction...

Day 3: Be thankful for the Lord being our shepherd
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 1-6）

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

What a glorious message that the Lord is our loving shepherd! Our God is the one who provides us sufficiently in time so that we do not lack anything. He leads us to the green pastures when we are hungry. He guides us to the still waters when we are weary. When we died in sins and transgressions, He restored our souls and leads us in the paths of righteousness. Even though sometimes we do walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not have to fear, because the Lord Himself is always with us. He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, so that we can always enjoy His grace regardless of any difficulties. Moreover, He anoints our heads with oil, and our cups run over. Goodness and mercy follow us throughout our lives all because the amazing God is our great shepherd. Let’s all trust Him, follow His guidance, and enjoy His presence, that is, dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. Let’s give all the praises and thanks to our amazing shepherd!

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 2

Introduction...

Day 2 Psalm 8:1-9 What is man that You are mindful of him!
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 1-4）
1 O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6-8 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!


[Sharing] As the psalmist looks to the divinely created heavens, we are given a glimpse of God’s omnipotence and wisdom, and we are compelled to give thanks for His love. Even more so, we cannot help but admit our insignificance. Indeed, what is man that God is mindful of him! God says, “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7). If we cannot take this to heart, we would not be able to understand why God has entrusted us with ruling over His creation. Furthermore, we would find this unfathomable: that after man gave into Satan’s temptation, God sent His only Son as a man to give His life as ransom so that a new people would be brought forth. The first created man was not able to complete God’s charge, but the last Adam, Jesus Christ, has received honor and glory as His crown (Hebrews 2:9), and all things are under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:27, Ephesians 1:22). As Jesus Christ reigns over our lives, you and I, who have put our faith in Jesus Christ, will restore God’s intended purpose for His creation.

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 1

Introduction:

November is a month of familial joy, and it is also SVCA’s annual Month of Thanksgiving. We’ve chosen thirty readings from the Book of Psalms for this year’s Scriptures of Thanksgiving, and they are divided into the following six categories:

1. Giving thanks to God for who God is
2. Giving thanks to God for God’s salvation
3. Giving thanks to God in difficult circumstances
4. Turning to God and giving thanks while going through injustice and grievances
5. Giving thanks to God for answered prayers
6. Giving thanks to God for spiritual battles won

Psalms are meant to be sung and not pedantically studied, but they are, nevertheless, profound in wisdom. Ask the Lord to help you draw closer to Him through these verses and through the provided daily reflections. We encourage you to recite the psalm aloud, pray-read to God, and taste the act of “eating the Lord’s words.” Please place more emphasis on the bold verses and reflect on them throughout your day. We have faith that if you begin your day in this way you will be dwelling in Christ and bearing much fruit throughout the day, and the Father will receive glory.

In this season of thanksgiving, along with our family and friends, let us earnestly practice these words - “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Give Thanks to God For Who He Is 因著 神的所是稱謝 神

Day 1 Psalm 136:1-9 Give thanks to God for His Creation
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 1-3）
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.
3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:
4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever;
5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever;
6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever;
7 To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever—
8 The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever;
9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.

If we look upon God’s wondrous creation with humble hearts, we will gasp with admiration. But if our hearts are yet more humble, we will see within His wondrous creation His wondrous love. These verses call Him the God of gods and the Lord of lords: they speak to His goodness, His doing of great wonders, and His wisdom, and they provoke us to ponder His power, His creation, and His wholeness. Their central message is but one: we are to give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever!