Annual Bible Reading Plan:
HOS.6-9
ACT.12
2024 31-Day Praising Day 1:
"Enter His Courts with Praise" (Psalm 100:1-5)
(Memorization Scripture 4-5)
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
5 For the Lord is good
and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
Reflection:
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise." Praise the Lord! Through thanksgiving, we draw near to God and enter His gates; through praise, we come even closer, entering His courts and journeying into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Following our thirty days of practicing thanksgiving, we now begin the month of praising, continuing to cultivate thanksgiving and praise in our lives. Let us, with faith and expectation, embark on these next thirty-one days of focused practice, ascending daily toward greater spiritual growth, fullness, and victory brought about by thanksgiving and praise. This psalm, often used in worship services by liturgically oriented churches throughout history, is a rich resource for reflecting on and practicing praise. Notably, the six imperative sentences in this psalm remind us that thanksgiving and praise are not just attitudes we should adopt when drawing near to the Lord but are also the very pathways into His presence. Furthermore, the psalm emphasizes that our thanksgiving and praise should be accompanied by joyful shouting and gladness of heart. This morning, let us all shout for joy to the Lord and sing to Him with glad hearts! For indeed, "the Lord is good, and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Friday, November 29, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 30
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
HOS.3-5
ACT.11
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 30:
Giving Thanks For Having The Lord’s Ending
(Psalm 73:1-28)
(Memorize verses 23-28)
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.
Reflection:
The challenges and pains of life do not only arise from circumstances but also from comparing ourselves with others, leading to complaints and dissatisfaction—especially when we see the wicked enjoying undeserved prosperity. After experiencing such weakness and struggle, Asaph emphasizes in this psalm the importance of entering “the sanctuary of God” and viewing life from His perspective.
Without such a heavenly perspective, one falls into foolishness and bitterness, where the heart is “grieved” and the mind is “vexed.” But with this divine insight, it becomes clear that God has placed the seemingly secure wicked on “slippery places,” leading them to destruction in a moment of desolation.
In contrast, God’s people have His continual presence, His right hand of protection, His guidance through His counsel, and the promise of being received into His glory. With this assurance, we can walk through life with certainty, singing words of thanksgiving: “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 us give thanks for such a glorious ending in the Lord, trusting Him as our strength and portion forever.
HOS.3-5
ACT.11
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 30:
Giving Thanks For Having The Lord’s Ending
(Psalm 73:1-28)
(Memorize verses 23-28)
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.
Reflection:
The challenges and pains of life do not only arise from circumstances but also from comparing ourselves with others, leading to complaints and dissatisfaction—especially when we see the wicked enjoying undeserved prosperity. After experiencing such weakness and struggle, Asaph emphasizes in this psalm the importance of entering “the sanctuary of God” and viewing life from His perspective.
Without such a heavenly perspective, one falls into foolishness and bitterness, where the heart is “grieved” and the mind is “vexed.” But with this divine insight, it becomes clear that God has placed the seemingly secure wicked on “slippery places,” leading them to destruction in a moment of desolation.
In contrast, God’s people have His continual presence, His right hand of protection, His guidance through His counsel, and the promise of being received into His glory. With this assurance, we can walk through life with certainty, singing words of thanksgiving: “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 us give thanks for such a glorious ending in the Lord, trusting Him as our strength and portion forever.
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 29
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
HOS.1-2
ACT.9-10
2024 Thankgiving Month Day 29:
Giving Thanks For God Doing Great Things Among Us
(Psalm 126:1-6)
(Memorize verses 1-6)
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.
Reflection:
Thank the Lord, for He is the One Who does great and marvelous deeds (Psalm 136:4). This psalm describes the Israelites’ experience of God’s amazing work in bringing back the captives to Zion. In the midst of their great failure, those who had been taken captive were restored—not because of their own strength or efforts, but solely because of God’s grace and the “great things” He had done. This act was beyond their imagination and expectations, evident to all, even to the nations who witnessed it and proclaimed it. The Israelites, too, came to recognize and rejoice in God’s mighty work.
Because they had experienced God’s greatness in the past, the psalm transitions into a prayer for Him to continue His great deeds. They longed for the full restoration of Israel, comparing it to “streams in the South” and the promise that “those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” This hope reflects a desire for Israel’s complete renewal and revival.
Let us also give thanks, not only for the great things God has already done among us but also for the great things He will continue to do. He is the God Who works wonders in our midst. With hearts full of gratitude, let us lift our voices in “laughter” and “singing,” rejoicing and praising Him together!
HOS.1-2
ACT.9-10
2024 Thankgiving Month Day 29:
Giving Thanks For God Doing Great Things Among Us
(Psalm 126:1-6)
(Memorize verses 1-6)
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.
Reflection:
Thank the Lord, for He is the One Who does great and marvelous deeds (Psalm 136:4). This psalm describes the Israelites’ experience of God’s amazing work in bringing back the captives to Zion. In the midst of their great failure, those who had been taken captive were restored—not because of their own strength or efforts, but solely because of God’s grace and the “great things” He had done. This act was beyond their imagination and expectations, evident to all, even to the nations who witnessed it and proclaimed it. The Israelites, too, came to recognize and rejoice in God’s mighty work.
Because they had experienced God’s greatness in the past, the psalm transitions into a prayer for Him to continue His great deeds. They longed for the full restoration of Israel, comparing it to “streams in the South” and the promise that “those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” This hope reflects a desire for Israel’s complete renewal and revival.
Let us also give thanks, not only for the great things God has already done among us but also for the great things He will continue to do. He is the God Who works wonders in our midst. With hearts full of gratitude, let us lift our voices in “laughter” and “singing,” rejoicing and praising Him together!
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 28
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
DAN.11-12
ACT.8
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 28:
Giving Thanks For God Commanding Victory For Us
(Psalm 44:1-8)
(Memorize verses 4-8)
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
Reflection:
The author of this psalm is one of the descendants of Korah. As they reflected on the experiences of their forefathers, they developed a profound understanding of God and His works. From the victories of Israel’s ancestors, they realized that their success was “not by their own sword” or “their own arm,” but by “Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,” because God delighted in them and was their King.
Thank the Lord that among the many ways He relates to us, one is as the Captain of His army (Exodus 12:41), and He is the Commander of this army (Joshua 5:14). As our God, He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies and leads us into every battle with one outcome in mind—victory.
With this understanding and confidence, the descendants of Korah prayed with boldness:
“You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob. … But You have saved us from our enemies and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long and praise Your name forever.”
Dear brothers and sisters, are you facing battles on your spiritual journey? Remember, every battle is not ours but God’s, and He will lead us forward to victory through Him. For this, let us give thanks for the opportunity to fight and win through reliance on Him and pray with faith: “You are my King, O God. Command victories for me (us)!”
DAN.11-12
ACT.8
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 28:
Giving Thanks For God Commanding Victory For Us
(Psalm 44:1-8)
(Memorize verses 4-8)
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
Reflection:
The author of this psalm is one of the descendants of Korah. As they reflected on the experiences of their forefathers, they developed a profound understanding of God and His works. From the victories of Israel’s ancestors, they realized that their success was “not by their own sword” or “their own arm,” but by “Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,” because God delighted in them and was their King.
Thank the Lord that among the many ways He relates to us, one is as the Captain of His army (Exodus 12:41), and He is the Commander of this army (Joshua 5:14). As our God, He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies and leads us into every battle with one outcome in mind—victory.
With this understanding and confidence, the descendants of Korah prayed with boldness:
“You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob. … But You have saved us from our enemies and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long and praise Your name forever.”
Dear brothers and sisters, are you facing battles on your spiritual journey? Remember, every battle is not ours but God’s, and He will lead us forward to victory through Him. For this, let us give thanks for the opportunity to fight and win through reliance on Him and pray with faith: “You are my King, O God. Command victories for me (us)!”
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Monday, November 25, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 26
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
DAN.8-9
ACT.6
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 26:
Giving Thanks For The Strength God Gives Us
(Psalm 28:1-9)
(Memorize verses 6-9)
1 To 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.
3 Do not take me away with the wicked
And with the workers of iniquity,
Who speak peace to their neighbors,
But evil is in their hearts.
4 Give them according to their deeds,
And according to the wickedness of their endeavors;
Give them according to the work of their hands;
Render to them what they deserve.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord,
Nor the operation of His hands,
He shall destroy them
And not build them up.
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,
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.
Reflection:
In a time of personal and national distress, David prayed earnestly before the Lord. Through his prayer, he drew strength from God, received His promise, and moved from a cry of weakness to thanksgiving and praise in peace. Again and again, David experienced the power and victory that came from trusting in God, declaring, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.” (See also Psalm 18:1, 59:9, 17, 118:14.)
Thank the Lord! He is our strength and shield, One we can always rely on. In this psalm, David shows us the secret to drawing strength from God: steadfastly believing, holding fast, and proclaiming, “The Lord is my strength.” In times of need, when we “trust in Him with our hearts,” we will be helped.
In verses 1-2, David demonstrates how he trusted in the Lord: he acknowledged his own helplessness, saying he was “like those who go down to the pit.” By taking God as his “Rock,” standing in faith upon Him, and lifting his hands (a symbol of lifting his heart) to call upon the Lord, David prayed until he was assured that God had heard him and granted him strength.
Dear brothers and sisters, if you are facing difficulties or needs, now is the time to “trust in Him with your heart.” Lift your hands (and your heart) to call upon Him. Believe that the Lord will hear your prayer and give you strength right now!
DAN.8-9
ACT.6
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 26:
Giving Thanks For The Strength God Gives Us
(Psalm 28:1-9)
(Memorize verses 6-9)
1 To 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.
3 Do not take me away with the wicked
And with the workers of iniquity,
Who speak peace to their neighbors,
But evil is in their hearts.
4 Give them according to their deeds,
And according to the wickedness of their endeavors;
Give them according to the work of their hands;
Render to them what they deserve.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord,
Nor the operation of His hands,
He shall destroy them
And not build them up.
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,
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.
Reflection:
In a time of personal and national distress, David prayed earnestly before the Lord. Through his prayer, he drew strength from God, received His promise, and moved from a cry of weakness to thanksgiving and praise in peace. Again and again, David experienced the power and victory that came from trusting in God, declaring, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.” (See also Psalm 18:1, 59:9, 17, 118:14.)
Thank the Lord! He is our strength and shield, One we can always rely on. In this psalm, David shows us the secret to drawing strength from God: steadfastly believing, holding fast, and proclaiming, “The Lord is my strength.” In times of need, when we “trust in Him with our hearts,” we will be helped.
In verses 1-2, David demonstrates how he trusted in the Lord: he acknowledged his own helplessness, saying he was “like those who go down to the pit.” By taking God as his “Rock,” standing in faith upon Him, and lifting his hands (a symbol of lifting his heart) to call upon the Lord, David prayed until he was assured that God had heard him and granted him strength.
Dear brothers and sisters, if you are facing difficulties or needs, now is the time to “trust in Him with your heart.” Lift your hands (and your heart) to call upon Him. Believe that the Lord will hear your prayer and give you strength right now!
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 25
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
DAN.7
ACT.5
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 25:
Giving Thanks and Praise to God in the Land of the Living
(Psalm 27:1-14)
(Memorize verses 13-14)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
Above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
...
13 I would have lost heart,
Unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Reflection:
David wrote this psalm at a time when his spirit was strong and resolute, but he was in a moment of extreme danger, being pursued by his enemies. Even though the enemy was coming to devour his flesh, and armies were encamped against him, he remained “steadfast” and “unafraid.” His peace and strength came from trusting in God, the One who secured his life, hiding him “in the secret place of His tabernacle,” as he boldly declared, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Thank the Lord! David’s testimony encourages us to believe that we, too, will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Our God is not only the One who has done mighty works in history and will resurrect the saints in the future, but He is also the God we can rely on in our present circumstances. The most powerful prayer and thanksgiving come when we, by faith, see God’s grace right where we are!
Let us pray that through this psalm, the Lord helps us to look up to Him in our own “land of the living,” transforming it into a prayer room. As we trust in Him, we will be filled with courage, “lifting our heads above our enemies,” and we will sing and praise the Lord!
DAN.7
ACT.5
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 25:
Giving Thanks and Praise to God in the Land of the Living
(Psalm 27:1-14)
(Memorize verses 13-14)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
Above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
...
13 I would have lost heart,
Unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Reflection:
David wrote this psalm at a time when his spirit was strong and resolute, but he was in a moment of extreme danger, being pursued by his enemies. Even though the enemy was coming to devour his flesh, and armies were encamped against him, he remained “steadfast” and “unafraid.” His peace and strength came from trusting in God, the One who secured his life, hiding him “in the secret place of His tabernacle,” as he boldly declared, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
Thank the Lord! David’s testimony encourages us to believe that we, too, will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Our God is not only the One who has done mighty works in history and will resurrect the saints in the future, but He is also the God we can rely on in our present circumstances. The most powerful prayer and thanksgiving come when we, by faith, see God’s grace right where we are!
Let us pray that through this psalm, the Lord helps us to look up to Him in our own “land of the living,” transforming it into a prayer room. As we trust in Him, we will be filled with courage, “lifting our heads above our enemies,” and we will sing and praise the Lord!
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Friday, November 22, 2024
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 22
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
DAN.3
ACT.2
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 22:
Giving Thanks To God With A Whole Heart
(Psalm 138:1-8)
(Memorize verses 1-3)
1 I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.
5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord.
6 Though the Lord is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Reflection:
David was a man after God’s own heart, and he deeply understood and practiced thanksgiving. In today’s psalm and many others, David emphasizes an important aspect of thanksgiving: “I will praise You with my whole heart” (see also Psalms 9:1, 86:12).
David was able to praise God wholeheartedly because he recognized that God’s deliverance and mercy were not in vain. Rather, they were given so that he might proclaim all God’s marvelous works (Psalm 9:13-14). Through Psalm 138:1-3, David provides us with a few reminders and examples of how to praise God with a whole heart:
- Sing praises before the gods: Wholehearted thanksgiving involves refusing to allow anything or anyone to take God’s place as our Savior and Lord.
- Worship toward God’s holy temple: To praise Him wholeheartedly is to pursue living in His presence, worshiping Him in spirit and truth, and honoring Him as God.
- Remember God’s lovingkindness and truth: Wholehearted thanksgiving means recounting His faithful acts and praising His name for them.
- Treasure and give thanks for God’s Word: Those who thank God with their whole heart value His Word, knowing that He magnifies His Word above all His name, and through it, He answers, strengthens, and encourages them.
Lord, help me also to be one who praises You with my whole heart, for You are a God Who hears prayer and “will perfect that which concerns me.” Amen.
DAN.3
ACT.2
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 22:
Giving Thanks To God With A Whole Heart
(Psalm 138:1-8)
(Memorize verses 1-3)
1 I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.
5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord.
6 Though the Lord is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Reflection:
David was a man after God’s own heart, and he deeply understood and practiced thanksgiving. In today’s psalm and many others, David emphasizes an important aspect of thanksgiving: “I will praise You with my whole heart” (see also Psalms 9:1, 86:12).
David was able to praise God wholeheartedly because he recognized that God’s deliverance and mercy were not in vain. Rather, they were given so that he might proclaim all God’s marvelous works (Psalm 9:13-14). Through Psalm 138:1-3, David provides us with a few reminders and examples of how to praise God with a whole heart:
- Sing praises before the gods: Wholehearted thanksgiving involves refusing to allow anything or anyone to take God’s place as our Savior and Lord.
- Worship toward God’s holy temple: To praise Him wholeheartedly is to pursue living in His presence, worshiping Him in spirit and truth, and honoring Him as God.
- Remember God’s lovingkindness and truth: Wholehearted thanksgiving means recounting His faithful acts and praising His name for them.
- Treasure and give thanks for God’s Word: Those who thank God with their whole heart value His Word, knowing that He magnifies His Word above all His name, and through it, He answers, strengthens, and encourages them.
Lord, help me also to be one who praises You with my whole heart, for You are a God Who hears prayer and “will perfect that which concerns me.” Amen.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 21
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
DAN.2
ACT.1
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 21:
Giving Thanks to God at All Times and in All Places (Psalm 34:1-8)
(Memorization Scripture 1-3)
A Psalm of David when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt His name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to Him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Reflection:
David's experience and testimony in this psalm inspire us greatly in our practice of thanksgiving: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." This precious exhortation reveals that thanksgiving should be a consistent and ongoing practice, regardless of time or place. David wrote this psalm shortly after escaping the Philistine king Abimelech by pretending to be insane. Although he had just emerged from a perilous situation and still faced numerous challenges, he immediately offered thanksgiving and praise to God. David’s deep awareness of his own weakness and helplessness, combined with his profound trust in God's faithfulness and power, allowed him to respond this way. He acknowledged that he was merely a "poor man," completely reliant on "crying out" and "looking to" God for deliverance and guidance. Each time he called out to God, he experienced God's attentive "hearing" and the deliverance provided by the angel of the Lord encamping around him. Not only did David personally give thanks and praise, but he also invited us to join him in magnifying the Lord together. This psalm, written in acrostic form in Hebrew, was specifically designed to help the entire congregation of Israel, including children, to sing and practice thanksgiving. Let us follow David’s example, recognizing that apart from God, we can do nothing. With this humility, may we daily "take refuge" in Him and offer our gratitude and praise to Him at all times and in all places.
DAN.2
ACT.1
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 21:
Giving Thanks to God at All Times and in All Places (Psalm 34:1-8)
(Memorization Scripture 1-3)
A Psalm of David when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt His name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to Him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Reflection:
David's experience and testimony in this psalm inspire us greatly in our practice of thanksgiving: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." This precious exhortation reveals that thanksgiving should be a consistent and ongoing practice, regardless of time or place. David wrote this psalm shortly after escaping the Philistine king Abimelech by pretending to be insane. Although he had just emerged from a perilous situation and still faced numerous challenges, he immediately offered thanksgiving and praise to God. David’s deep awareness of his own weakness and helplessness, combined with his profound trust in God's faithfulness and power, allowed him to respond this way. He acknowledged that he was merely a "poor man," completely reliant on "crying out" and "looking to" God for deliverance and guidance. Each time he called out to God, he experienced God's attentive "hearing" and the deliverance provided by the angel of the Lord encamping around him. Not only did David personally give thanks and praise, but he also invited us to join him in magnifying the Lord together. This psalm, written in acrostic form in Hebrew, was specifically designed to help the entire congregation of Israel, including children, to sing and practice thanksgiving. Let us follow David’s example, recognizing that apart from God, we can do nothing. With this humility, may we daily "take refuge" in Him and offer our gratitude and praise to Him at all times and in all places.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 20
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
DAN.1
JHN.20-21
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 20:
Sing a "New Song" and "Shout Loud" in Thanksgiving (Psalm 98:1-9)
(Memorization Scripture 1, 4-6)
1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.
2 The Lord has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn,
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Reflection:
Praise the Lord! This psalm especially emphasizes that we should offer our thanks and praise to God through singing: singing a new song to God because of His new and living work; and together with His people, "shouting aloud, rejoicing and singing praises." Just as "the sea and all that fills it," "the great waters," and "the mountains" roar, leap, and rejoice before the Lord, our song of gratitude to God should not come from effort or strain, but from a natural outpouring, flowing freely. He is the God who is doing new things among us, and as we continually witness His new works, we are able to continually sing a new song to Him. As we see the heavens declare His glory, and all creation proclaim His handiwork (Psalm 19:1), and as we witness the joy of our fellow believers, worshiping and praising with heartfelt emotion, our hearts will be naturally inspired by the Spirit, rising up to join the chorus of thanksgiving and praise. How grateful we are that God delights in hearing us sing a new song to Him! How wonderful it is that we can join with all the nations, with all the saints, to loudly and wholeheartedly praise Him! May the Lord continually stir up the gratitude within us, that every day we may sing a new song to Him, and with each praise, may we sing loudly and fully!
DAN.1
JHN.20-21
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 20:
Sing a "New Song" and "Shout Loud" in Thanksgiving (Psalm 98:1-9)
(Memorization Scripture 1, 4-6)
1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.
2 The Lord has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn,
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Reflection:
Praise the Lord! This psalm especially emphasizes that we should offer our thanks and praise to God through singing: singing a new song to God because of His new and living work; and together with His people, "shouting aloud, rejoicing and singing praises." Just as "the sea and all that fills it," "the great waters," and "the mountains" roar, leap, and rejoice before the Lord, our song of gratitude to God should not come from effort or strain, but from a natural outpouring, flowing freely. He is the God who is doing new things among us, and as we continually witness His new works, we are able to continually sing a new song to Him. As we see the heavens declare His glory, and all creation proclaim His handiwork (Psalm 19:1), and as we witness the joy of our fellow believers, worshiping and praising with heartfelt emotion, our hearts will be naturally inspired by the Spirit, rising up to join the chorus of thanksgiving and praise. How grateful we are that God delights in hearing us sing a new song to Him! How wonderful it is that we can join with all the nations, with all the saints, to loudly and wholeheartedly praise Him! May the Lord continually stir up the gratitude within us, that every day we may sing a new song to Him, and with each praise, may we sing loudly and fully!
Monday, November 18, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 19
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.48
JHN.18-19
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 19：
Reminding Your Heart to Bless the Lord and Not Forget His Benefits (Psalm 103:1-13)
(Memorization Scripture 1-3)
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 iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
Reflection:
Gratitude is a vital posture and practice for our lives as believers. However, it is also an area the enemy often seeks to obscure, attack, and undermine. Have you ever felt your heart grow indifferent, cold, or even burdened, losing sight of God’s grace and work in your life? In such moments, have you taken the step to speak to yourself and awaken a heart of thanksgiving? In today’s psalm, David begins by repeatedly speaking to his soul, reminding himself to rise up and bless the Lord, not to forget all His benefits! Through this intentional act of self-reminder, David focuses on counting God’s blessings: how He forgives all his sins, heals all his diseases, redeems his life from destruction, crowns him with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies his desires with good things so that his strength is renewed like the eagle's. As he continues, the Holy Spirit leads David into an even deeper recognition of God's loving-kindness and compassion. This revelation causes his heart to overflow with gratitude and amazement, and his spirit is continually lifted and strengthened! In this moment, let us follow David’s example and speak to our own hearts: “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.” May our hearts be filled anew with thanksgiving and praise!
EZK.48
JHN.18-19
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 19：
Reminding Your Heart to Bless the Lord and Not Forget His Benefits (Psalm 103:1-13)
(Memorization Scripture 1-3)
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 iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
Reflection:
Gratitude is a vital posture and practice for our lives as believers. However, it is also an area the enemy often seeks to obscure, attack, and undermine. Have you ever felt your heart grow indifferent, cold, or even burdened, losing sight of God’s grace and work in your life? In such moments, have you taken the step to speak to yourself and awaken a heart of thanksgiving? In today’s psalm, David begins by repeatedly speaking to his soul, reminding himself to rise up and bless the Lord, not to forget all His benefits! Through this intentional act of self-reminder, David focuses on counting God’s blessings: how He forgives all his sins, heals all his diseases, redeems his life from destruction, crowns him with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies his desires with good things so that his strength is renewed like the eagle's. As he continues, the Holy Spirit leads David into an even deeper recognition of God's loving-kindness and compassion. This revelation causes his heart to overflow with gratitude and amazement, and his spirit is continually lifted and strengthened! In this moment, let us follow David’s example and speak to our own hearts: “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.” May our hearts be filled anew with thanksgiving and praise!
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 18
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.46-47
JHN.17
2024 Thanksgiving Month D18:
Being Grateful That God Is Our Dependence (Psalm 20:1-9)
（Memorization Scripture 6-9）
1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
4 May he grant you your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
9 O Lord, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.
Reflection:
This psalm is a prayer shared by the people and the king before going into battle. It describes how, in a time of national and communal "day of trouble," they prayed and prepared together to rely on God as they went to war. In their prayers, they firmly believed that this "day of trouble" would become a day of experiencing God's "protection" and "salvation." Because they were confident in their God, the one "called the God of Jacob," they knew He understood all their circumstances. Not only does He grant us salvation, but He also "strengthens" our lives, "rescues us with the power of His right hand" in all situations, "sets up a banner" for us, and fulfills "all that we ask." Thus, the people and the king turned the "day of trouble" into a "day of calling out" (alternatively translated as "the time of calling"), clearly declaring that their battle and victory would not rely on what others depended on, such as "chariots" or "horses," but on "the name of the Lord our God"! Praise the Lord! With Him as our life and reliance, no matter what each day brings—whether mountaintop or valley—we can be confident that every day should be a day of gratitude and "calling out." It is also a day when we will together experience His "protection" and "salvation"!
EZK.46-47
JHN.17
2024 Thanksgiving Month D18:
Being Grateful That God Is Our Dependence (Psalm 20:1-9)
（Memorization Scripture 6-9）
1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
4 May he grant you your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
9 O Lord, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.
Reflection:
This psalm is a prayer shared by the people and the king before going into battle. It describes how, in a time of national and communal "day of trouble," they prayed and prepared together to rely on God as they went to war. In their prayers, they firmly believed that this "day of trouble" would become a day of experiencing God's "protection" and "salvation." Because they were confident in their God, the one "called the God of Jacob," they knew He understood all their circumstances. Not only does He grant us salvation, but He also "strengthens" our lives, "rescues us with the power of His right hand" in all situations, "sets up a banner" for us, and fulfills "all that we ask." Thus, the people and the king turned the "day of trouble" into a "day of calling out" (alternatively translated as "the time of calling"), clearly declaring that their battle and victory would not rely on what others depended on, such as "chariots" or "horses," but on "the name of the Lord our God"! Praise the Lord! With Him as our life and reliance, no matter what each day brings—whether mountaintop or valley—we can be confident that every day should be a day of gratitude and "calling out." It is also a day when we will together experience His "protection" and "salvation"!
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Friday, November 15, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 16
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.41-43
JHN.15
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 16:
Giving Thanks for the Blessing of “Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity” (Psalm 133:1-3)
(Memorize verses 1-3)
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore.
Reflection:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Do we truly see the goodness and beauty of our fellowship and communal life as the Body? Do we see the blessing of having small groups, church gatherings, and a community built together? Praise the Lord, Who, through this precious psalm of David, reveals His eternal and good will—His desire to gain and bless the Church, His Body. He has poured out His most precious oil, lavishing the Church and His children with the anointing and work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Like the dew of Mount Hermon, which brings refreshing to the dry Mount Zion, this signifies that He knows all our needs and abundantly blesses those who seek His kingdom and righteousness with a faithful and overflowing supply! May we be grateful for family, spiritual companions, small groups, and the Church, cherishing our “dwelling together in unity.” Let’s actively fellowship, love, and build together in unity within the Body, looking up to Him in gratitude for the abundant blessings and provision He grants us in this unity.
EZK.41-43
JHN.15
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 16:
Giving Thanks for the Blessing of “Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity” (Psalm 133:1-3)
(Memorize verses 1-3)
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore.
Reflection:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Do we truly see the goodness and beauty of our fellowship and communal life as the Body? Do we see the blessing of having small groups, church gatherings, and a community built together? Praise the Lord, Who, through this precious psalm of David, reveals His eternal and good will—His desire to gain and bless the Church, His Body. He has poured out His most precious oil, lavishing the Church and His children with the anointing and work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Like the dew of Mount Hermon, which brings refreshing to the dry Mount Zion, this signifies that He knows all our needs and abundantly blesses those who seek His kingdom and righteousness with a faithful and overflowing supply! May we be grateful for family, spiritual companions, small groups, and the Church, cherishing our “dwelling together in unity.” Let’s actively fellowship, love, and build together in unity within the Body, looking up to Him in gratitude for the abundant blessings and provision He grants us in this unity.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 15
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.40
JHN.14
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 15:
Giving Thanks for God’s Choice of Zion as His Eternal Dwelling (Psalm 132:13-18)
(Memorize verses 13-14)
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:
14 “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”
Reflection:
God is not only the One Who accepts our offerings, but He is also the God Who has chosen Zion as His dwelling place. Let’s take special note of the phrases “the Lord has chosen Zion” and “desired it for His dwelling place.” Both “chosen” and “desired” are powerful words, expressing how much God loves and values Zion, how deeply He is determined to establish His dwelling there, and that this is His “resting place forever!” The Israelites were often rebellious, weak, and prone to failure, yet God still chose and established them, making them Zion, the place of His temple and throne, where they could experience His abundance, glory, and victory. How grateful we are to know that Zion points to the Church today, and thus it points to you and me. Lord, please open our eyes further to see the grace and glory of Your choice: that You chose Zion as Your eternal dwelling, the Church as Your Body, and us as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)! Yes, may we, along with all Your people, spend our lives in thanksgiving and praise for the grace of being “chosen” and for Your loving “desire” to dwell among us. Amen!
EZK.40
JHN.14
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 15:
Giving Thanks for God’s Choice of Zion as His Eternal Dwelling (Psalm 132:13-18)
(Memorize verses 13-14)
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:
14 “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”
Reflection:
God is not only the One Who accepts our offerings, but He is also the God Who has chosen Zion as His dwelling place. Let’s take special note of the phrases “the Lord has chosen Zion” and “desired it for His dwelling place.” Both “chosen” and “desired” are powerful words, expressing how much God loves and values Zion, how deeply He is determined to establish His dwelling there, and that this is His “resting place forever!” The Israelites were often rebellious, weak, and prone to failure, yet God still chose and established them, making them Zion, the place of His temple and throne, where they could experience His abundance, glory, and victory. How grateful we are to know that Zion points to the Church today, and thus it points to you and me. Lord, please open our eyes further to see the grace and glory of Your choice: that You chose Zion as Your eternal dwelling, the Church as Your Body, and us as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)! Yes, may we, along with all Your people, spend our lives in thanksgiving and praise for the grace of being “chosen” and for Your loving “desire” to dwell among us. Amen!
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 14
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.38-39
JHN.13
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 14:
Give Thanks for God Accepting Our Offerings (Psalm 51:16-19)
(Memorize verses 16-17)
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 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.
Reflection:
At the end of Psalm 51, after David's prayers for forgiveness and renewal of his spirit, he shifts to seek the Lord's acceptance of his and the people's offerings. In his prayer, he asks how he can present offerings that are pleasing to God—referring generally to peace offerings and burnt offerings—indicating his deep longing to restore his communion with God and to offer worship and devotion in His presence after receiving forgiveness! Thank the Lord, for in his prayer, David understood the right attitude of offering—“a broken and contrite heart” is valued by God more than the offerings themselves, and God “will not despise” such offerings. What a blessing, as David's prayer provides us with invaluable insight into offerings! On one hand, we receive the grace of forgiveness from God, and even more so, the redemptive grace of God sacrificing His only Son. We ought to respond with our lives offered to Him in gratitude. On the other hand, in the presence of the holy, righteous, and abundant God, our ability to offer anything is unworthy and can only be made possible through His grace and mercy. Thank the Lord for His incredible love toward us, forgiving all our sins and transgressions, and for accepting our offerings in accordance with His will. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
EZK.38-39
JHN.13
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 14:
Give Thanks for God Accepting Our Offerings (Psalm 51:16-19)
(Memorize verses 16-17)
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 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.
Reflection:
At the end of Psalm 51, after David's prayers for forgiveness and renewal of his spirit, he shifts to seek the Lord's acceptance of his and the people's offerings. In his prayer, he asks how he can present offerings that are pleasing to God—referring generally to peace offerings and burnt offerings—indicating his deep longing to restore his communion with God and to offer worship and devotion in His presence after receiving forgiveness! Thank the Lord, for in his prayer, David understood the right attitude of offering—“a broken and contrite heart” is valued by God more than the offerings themselves, and God “will not despise” such offerings. What a blessing, as David's prayer provides us with invaluable insight into offerings! On one hand, we receive the grace of forgiveness from God, and even more so, the redemptive grace of God sacrificing His only Son. We ought to respond with our lives offered to Him in gratitude. On the other hand, in the presence of the holy, righteous, and abundant God, our ability to offer anything is unworthy and can only be made possible through His grace and mercy. Thank the Lord for His incredible love toward us, forgiving all our sins and transgressions, and for accepting our offerings in accordance with His will. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 13
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.37
JHN.12
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 13:
Give Thanks for the “Clean Heart” and “Steadfast Spirit” God Gives Us (Psalm 51:10-15)
(Memorize verses 10-12)
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.
Reflection:
Today we continue to meditate on Psalm 51, David's famous penitential psalm. After pleading for God’s forgiveness and cleansing from his sins with a sorrowful and repentant heart, he begins to ask God to create in him a “clean heart” and to renew a steadfast spirit within him, so that he does not lose the presence of the Holy Spirit. This shows us how deeply David understood the corruption of his old nature and his inability to overcome sin, as well as how much he valued God’s presence and the work of the Holy Spirit in his life! Thank the Lord, because of the salvation accomplished through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus on the cross, you and I, under the New Covenant, have received a new life—a new creation—from Christ by faith, possessing the “clean heart” and “upright spirit” that David desired. Moreover, the name of the Lord Jesus is “Immanuel,” ensuring that we will never lose God’s presence, as our bodies have become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). For this reason, let us cherish and thank God for the new life He has given us and His eternal presence with us throughout our earthly lives. Just as the hymn "The Power Is in the Blood" expresses, “No more sin stains, just life flows,” when we live out the new creation life in Christ, we will surely experience the victory of being “without sin stains” that David longed for!
EZK.37
JHN.12
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 13:
Give Thanks for the “Clean Heart” and “Steadfast Spirit” God Gives Us (Psalm 51:10-15)
(Memorize verses 10-12)
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.
Reflection:
Today we continue to meditate on Psalm 51, David's famous penitential psalm. After pleading for God’s forgiveness and cleansing from his sins with a sorrowful and repentant heart, he begins to ask God to create in him a “clean heart” and to renew a steadfast spirit within him, so that he does not lose the presence of the Holy Spirit. This shows us how deeply David understood the corruption of his old nature and his inability to overcome sin, as well as how much he valued God’s presence and the work of the Holy Spirit in his life! Thank the Lord, because of the salvation accomplished through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus on the cross, you and I, under the New Covenant, have received a new life—a new creation—from Christ by faith, possessing the “clean heart” and “upright spirit” that David desired. Moreover, the name of the Lord Jesus is “Immanuel,” ensuring that we will never lose God’s presence, as our bodies have become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). For this reason, let us cherish and thank God for the new life He has given us and His eternal presence with us throughout our earthly lives. Just as the hymn "The Power Is in the Blood" expresses, “No more sin stains, just life flows,” when we live out the new creation life in Christ, we will surely experience the victory of being “without sin stains” that David longed for!
Monday, November 11, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 12
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.36
JHN.11
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 12:
Give Thanks for the Cleansing and Forgiveness of Sin (Psalm 51:1-9)
(Memorize verses 1-2, 7-9)
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.
Reflection:
This is the first half of one of the most famous penitential psalms among the seven penitential psalms. This song often helps us, in our weakness, sin, and guilt, to turn to God with a sorrowful and repentant heart, receiving timely forgiveness and release from Him. David's experience of forgiveness and cleansing, resulting from his genuine and heartfelt repentance, shows us that when we have fallen into weakness and sin, we must not only come before God with a broken heart of repentance but also prepare ourselves with a grateful heart to experience His grace of forgiveness and the power to cleanse our sins. Thank the Lord, what God is like our God, with such abundant mercy and grace to forgive, willing to blot out and cleanse us from all our sins, and to revive our bones, which have been crushed by condemnation! Because of the redemption of the Messiah, we are cleansed from sin and no longer need to use hyssop dipped in the blood of sin offerings, but by faith, we receive the cleansing of God’s Lamb—Jesus Christ’s blood, which is eternally effective. Moreover, the blessed believers today have received that “clean heart” that David sought, along with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us (Psalm 51:10-11), never to depart. For this reason, we should always remember and thank the Lord for His grace of forgiveness and the power of His precious blood. Because of His precious blood, we can boldly enter the Most Holy Place at any time (Hebrews 10:19) and, through “the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony,” overcome all attacks and accusations from the enemy (Revelation 12:11).
EZK.36
JHN.11
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 12:
Give Thanks for the Cleansing and Forgiveness of Sin (Psalm 51:1-9)
(Memorize verses 1-2, 7-9)
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.
Reflection:
This is the first half of one of the most famous penitential psalms among the seven penitential psalms. This song often helps us, in our weakness, sin, and guilt, to turn to God with a sorrowful and repentant heart, receiving timely forgiveness and release from Him. David's experience of forgiveness and cleansing, resulting from his genuine and heartfelt repentance, shows us that when we have fallen into weakness and sin, we must not only come before God with a broken heart of repentance but also prepare ourselves with a grateful heart to experience His grace of forgiveness and the power to cleanse our sins. Thank the Lord, what God is like our God, with such abundant mercy and grace to forgive, willing to blot out and cleanse us from all our sins, and to revive our bones, which have been crushed by condemnation! Because of the redemption of the Messiah, we are cleansed from sin and no longer need to use hyssop dipped in the blood of sin offerings, but by faith, we receive the cleansing of God’s Lamb—Jesus Christ’s blood, which is eternally effective. Moreover, the blessed believers today have received that “clean heart” that David sought, along with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us (Psalm 51:10-11), never to depart. For this reason, we should always remember and thank the Lord for His grace of forgiveness and the power of His precious blood. Because of His precious blood, we can boldly enter the Most Holy Place at any time (Hebrews 10:19) and, through “the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony,” overcome all attacks and accusations from the enemy (Revelation 12:11).
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 11
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.34-35
JHN.10
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 11:
Give Thanks for Forgiveness of Sin (Psalm 32:1-7)
(Memorize verses 1-2, 5-7)
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)
Reflection:
David, the psalmist, confesses, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!” Thank the Lord, for the greatest and most fundamental blessing we receive from God, compared to all the many blessings in our faith journey, is the blessing of forgiveness of sins. God is a covenant-keeping God, and His grace is everlasting. Nothing, except our sin, can separate us from His love. When we truly see that sin leads us into darkness and the power of death, and more importantly, separates us from God’s love, we understand that we cannot return to His loving embrace. We may experience the heaviness of His hand upon us, just as David did. But after experiencing the release and joy of forgiveness, we are free! Yes, when we acknowledge our sins to God and receive His grace of forgiveness, we instantly enjoy freedom and rest. Even if enemies and dangers surround us, we know that nothing can hinder us from praying to God, finding refuge in Him, and triumphantly singing songs of deliverance in the face of our adversaries!
EZK.34-35
JHN.10
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 11:
Give Thanks for Forgiveness of Sin (Psalm 32:1-7)
(Memorize verses 1-2, 5-7)
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)
Reflection:
David, the psalmist, confesses, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!” Thank the Lord, for the greatest and most fundamental blessing we receive from God, compared to all the many blessings in our faith journey, is the blessing of forgiveness of sins. God is a covenant-keeping God, and His grace is everlasting. Nothing, except our sin, can separate us from His love. When we truly see that sin leads us into darkness and the power of death, and more importantly, separates us from God’s love, we understand that we cannot return to His loving embrace. We may experience the heaviness of His hand upon us, just as David did. But after experiencing the release and joy of forgiveness, we are free! Yes, when we acknowledge our sins to God and receive His grace of forgiveness, we instantly enjoy freedom and rest. Even if enemies and dangers surround us, we know that nothing can hinder us from praying to God, finding refuge in Him, and triumphantly singing songs of deliverance in the face of our adversaries!
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 10
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.32-33
JHN.9
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 10:
Give Thanks for God’s Lifelong Grace (Psalm 30:1-5)
(Memorize verses 4-5)
1 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.
3 O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
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.
Reflection:
David wrote Psalm 30 as a song of dedication, possibly for his own palace, with deep gratitude for God’s lifelong grace toward him and His people. In this joyful, glorious moment, David reflected on God’s unchanging love and eternal grace. Though he had endured valleys of enemy oppression, weariness, illness, and even the pain of his soul nearing the grave, God “lifted,” “healed,” and “rescued” him. With these experiences in mind, he encouraged all of God’s saints to rise and give thanks and praise to Him, “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.” Amen! May this psalm inspire us all to see every season through the lens of God’s lifelong grace. Even in trials, let us hold to the promise that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning,” knowing He will “turn my mourning into dancing; He has put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Psalm 30:11), that we may give thanks to His holy name.
EZK.32-33
JHN.9
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 10:
Give Thanks for God’s Lifelong Grace (Psalm 30:1-5)
(Memorize verses 4-5)
1 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.
3 O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
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.
Reflection:
David wrote Psalm 30 as a song of dedication, possibly for his own palace, with deep gratitude for God’s lifelong grace toward him and His people. In this joyful, glorious moment, David reflected on God’s unchanging love and eternal grace. Though he had endured valleys of enemy oppression, weariness, illness, and even the pain of his soul nearing the grave, God “lifted,” “healed,” and “rescued” him. With these experiences in mind, he encouraged all of God’s saints to rise and give thanks and praise to Him, “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.” Amen! May this psalm inspire us all to see every season through the lens of God’s lifelong grace. Even in trials, let us hold to the promise that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning,” knowing He will “turn my mourning into dancing; He has put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Psalm 30:11), that we may give thanks to His holy name.
Friday, November 8, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 9
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.30-31
JHN.8
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 9:
Give Thanks for God's Loving Redemption and Promises (Psalm 107:1-9)
(Memorize verses 1-3)
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.
Reflection:
Thank the Lord! The psalmist reminds us here of our identity in His grace—we are the “redeemed of the Lord,” the ones “redeemed from the hand of the enemy” and “gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.” All who remember this identity should say, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Since being “redeemed of the Lord” is our eternal identity, how can we not use our lives to count and thank Him for His salvation and steadfast love? As the psalmist describes, we should remember and thank God for redeeming us from the hand of the enemy, leading us in the right way so that we are not wandering in the wilderness, and satisfying the hearts of those who seek Him with His abundance. Along the way, He surrounds us with love, cares for us, and protects us as He would the apple of His eye. Yes, thank You for delighting in and hearing the thanksgiving and praise of Your redeemed, for Your grace and works in our lives are never in vain!
EZK.30-31
JHN.8
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 9:
Give Thanks for God's Loving Redemption and Promises (Psalm 107:1-9)
(Memorize verses 1-3)
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.
Reflection:
Thank the Lord! The psalmist reminds us here of our identity in His grace—we are the “redeemed of the Lord,” the ones “redeemed from the hand of the enemy” and “gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.” All who remember this identity should say, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Since being “redeemed of the Lord” is our eternal identity, how can we not use our lives to count and thank Him for His salvation and steadfast love? As the psalmist describes, we should remember and thank God for redeeming us from the hand of the enemy, leading us in the right way so that we are not wandering in the wilderness, and satisfying the hearts of those who seek Him with His abundance. Along the way, He surrounds us with love, cares for us, and protects us as He would the apple of His eye. Yes, thank You for delighting in and hearing the thanksgiving and praise of Your redeemed, for Your grace and works in our lives are never in vain!
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 8
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.28-29
JHN.7
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 8:
Being Grateful for God, Our “God of Salvation” (Psalm 68:19-28)
(Memorize verses 19-20)
19 Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said,
“I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
Reflection:
In this psalm that celebrates Israel’s salvation by God—depicting the journey from defeat to rescue, revival, and victory over enemies—these verses profoundly reveal the God experienced by David and the people of Israel: a Lord who daily bears their burdens, a God who saves them. God’s salvation doesn’t just grant us forgiveness and eternal life; it allows us to draw upon His “manifold salvation” daily, freeing us from burdens and the power of death. Therefore, we should remember constantly that our God is the “Lord who daily bears our burdens,” not only giving thanks that He is our Savior but also for His complete and ultimate salvation, a salvation “to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25) that covers every aspect of our lives. This all-encompassing salvation helps us experience His victory over enemies, filling us with gratitude and praise as we journey into the holy place in transformation and triumph. Hallelujah! Though we may face adversaries, even the power of darkness and death, we have a God who “works manifold salvation for us,” delivering us from death and conquering our enemies. With this, we can thank and praise Him, watching how He brings us into salvation and victory!
EZK.28-29
JHN.7
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 8:
Being Grateful for God, Our “God of Salvation” (Psalm 68:19-28)
(Memorize verses 19-20)
19 Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said,
“I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
Reflection:
In this psalm that celebrates Israel’s salvation by God—depicting the journey from defeat to rescue, revival, and victory over enemies—these verses profoundly reveal the God experienced by David and the people of Israel: a Lord who daily bears their burdens, a God who saves them. God’s salvation doesn’t just grant us forgiveness and eternal life; it allows us to draw upon His “manifold salvation” daily, freeing us from burdens and the power of death. Therefore, we should remember constantly that our God is the “Lord who daily bears our burdens,” not only giving thanks that He is our Savior but also for His complete and ultimate salvation, a salvation “to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25) that covers every aspect of our lives. This all-encompassing salvation helps us experience His victory over enemies, filling us with gratitude and praise as we journey into the holy place in transformation and triumph. Hallelujah! Though we may face adversaries, even the power of darkness and death, we have a God who “works manifold salvation for us,” delivering us from death and conquering our enemies. With this, we can thank and praise Him, watching how He brings us into salvation and victory!
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 7
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.27
JHN.6
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 7:
Give Thanks Because the Lord is the Most High (Psalm 92:1-8)
(Memorize verses 1-5)
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.
Reflection:
"Give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to Your name, O Most High!" David gives us a beautiful example of thanksgiving. Knowing that God is the Most High, and supreme in his own life, David could rejoice in all that God had done and consider it good to give thanks and praise. What a glorious example of a grateful life! May this inspire us to give thanks to the great and exalted God who reigns as Lord of our lives, nurturing and shaping us with His loving kindness and faithfulness. May these verses from David's psalm bless us, helping us to "declare His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness every night" and to invite the Lord to bring gladness to our hearts through His works. Let our thanksgiving not only be a response of love and worship due to God, but also help us experience Him more deeply, finding His joy and strength in our lives.
EZK.27
JHN.6
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 7:
Give Thanks Because the Lord is the Most High (Psalm 92:1-8)
(Memorize verses 1-5)
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.
Reflection:
"Give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to Your name, O Most High!" David gives us a beautiful example of thanksgiving. Knowing that God is the Most High, and supreme in his own life, David could rejoice in all that God had done and consider it good to give thanks and praise. What a glorious example of a grateful life! May this inspire us to give thanks to the great and exalted God who reigns as Lord of our lives, nurturing and shaping us with His loving kindness and faithfulness. May these verses from David's psalm bless us, helping us to "declare His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness every night" and to invite the Lord to bring gladness to our hearts through His works. Let our thanksgiving not only be a response of love and worship due to God, but also help us experience Him more deeply, finding His joy and strength in our lives.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 6
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.24-26
JHN.5
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 6:
Give Thanks Because God Speaks to Us (Psalm 119:57-64)
(Memorize verses 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.
Reflection:
Thanks be to God, who is a God of revelation and who speaks to us. The heavens declare His glory, and the skies proclaim His handiwork (Psalm 19:1). Moreover, through prophets, the Holy Spirit, and the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ, He has spoken to us, giving us statutes, ordinances, and words of life. His Word not only brings us salvation and life but also sets us apart to share in His glory. As Moses testified, “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?” (Deuteronomy 4:7-8). Lord, since Your statutes and precepts are so precious, let us, like the psalmist, rise to give thanks because of Your words and approach Your Word with humble, longing hearts. May we abide in Your abundant love as we receive and walk in Your Word (John 15:10a).
EZK.24-26
JHN.5
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 6:
Give Thanks Because God Speaks to Us (Psalm 119:57-64)
(Memorize verses 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.
Reflection:
Thanks be to God, who is a God of revelation and who speaks to us. The heavens declare His glory, and the skies proclaim His handiwork (Psalm 19:1). Moreover, through prophets, the Holy Spirit, and the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ, He has spoken to us, giving us statutes, ordinances, and words of life. His Word not only brings us salvation and life but also sets us apart to share in His glory. As Moses testified, “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?” (Deuteronomy 4:7-8). Lord, since Your statutes and precepts are so precious, let us, like the psalmist, rise to give thanks because of Your words and approach Your Word with humble, longing hearts. May we abide in Your abundant love as we receive and walk in Your Word (John 15:10a).
Monday, November 4, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 5
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.23
JHN.4
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 5: Give Thanks Because God Is Our Abundant Provider (Psalm 65:9-13)
(Memorize verses 9-11)
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.
【Reflection】
David’s life was filled with many persecutions and trials, yet he deeply experienced God’s deliverance, protection, and provision, continually offering thanks and praise for it. What a precious perspective! In all we see, hear, and need each day, may we recognize and remember God’s mindful provision, enabling us to thank, worship, and trust Him more fully. The Lord is known as “Jehovah Jireh”—He has always provided for us in all things. Not taking His provision lightly helps us to see His faithful work in our lives with a heart of grace and to walk the road of faith, as Abraham did. Through the practice of gratitude, may the Lord help us recognize how richly He has blessed and led us: “You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.”
EZK.23
JHN.4
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 5: Give Thanks Because God Is Our Abundant Provider (Psalm 65:9-13)
(Memorize verses 9-11)
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.
【Reflection】
David’s life was filled with many persecutions and trials, yet he deeply experienced God’s deliverance, protection, and provision, continually offering thanks and praise for it. What a precious perspective! In all we see, hear, and need each day, may we recognize and remember God’s mindful provision, enabling us to thank, worship, and trust Him more fully. The Lord is known as “Jehovah Jireh”—He has always provided for us in all things. Not taking His provision lightly helps us to see His faithful work in our lives with a heart of grace and to walk the road of faith, as Abraham did. Through the practice of gratitude, may the Lord help us recognize how richly He has blessed and led us: “You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.”
Sunday, November 3, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 4
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.21-22
JHN.3
2024Thanksgivign Month Day 4: Give Thanks Because God Is Mindful of Us (Psalm 8:1-9)
(Memorize verses 3-9)
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!
【Reflection】
We thank our God! He is not only the Creator and Ruler of all but also a God who is “mindful” of us and “visits” us. What gratitude we have that, compared with the heavens and all creation, we alone are made in God’s image and likeness. He has made us “a little lower than the angels” and crowned us with “glory and honor,” entrusting us with dominion over all creation according to His will. Oh Lord, knowing that we are Your unique creation, endowed with a special calling and mission, partaking in Your glory and honor, fills our hearts with joy and delight! Even though we sometimes face physical weakness, the world’s rejection, or the enemy’s attacks, we are reminded that we are Your treasured ones—those You are “mindful” of and “visit.” This lifts our spirits, giving us strength through You. Lord, thank You for Your choosing and forming us, and for establishing strength within our gratitude and praise to overcome every enemy. In all creation, You are so “mindful” of us, and so we declare, “O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, in our lives, how excellent!”
【Reflection】 David's life was filled with numerous persecutions and hardships. At the same time, he also deeply experienced God's personal salvation, preservation, and provision. Therefore, he praised God with a grateful heart, saying, "(He is) the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas." (verse 5) Then, David looked upon the nature created by God, as well as the rain, crops, livestock granted by God... vividly depicting God's grace: "You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance." (verse 11) Dear brothers and sisters, having experienced the unique circumstances and challenges in the past few years, should we not be more grateful for His preservation and provision, cherish Him even more, and find our true satisfaction in Christ? When we think of God's grace upon us, day after day, year after year, can we not help but accept the psalmist's invitation, together with rivers, paths, wilderness, meadows, hills, flocks, to give thanks to God for His abundant provision and care?
EZK.21-22
JHN.3
2024Thanksgivign Month Day 4: Give Thanks Because God Is Mindful of Us (Psalm 8:1-9)
(Memorize verses 3-9)
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!
【Reflection】
We thank our God! He is not only the Creator and Ruler of all but also a God who is “mindful” of us and “visits” us. What gratitude we have that, compared with the heavens and all creation, we alone are made in God’s image and likeness. He has made us “a little lower than the angels” and crowned us with “glory and honor,” entrusting us with dominion over all creation according to His will. Oh Lord, knowing that we are Your unique creation, endowed with a special calling and mission, partaking in Your glory and honor, fills our hearts with joy and delight! Even though we sometimes face physical weakness, the world’s rejection, or the enemy’s attacks, we are reminded that we are Your treasured ones—those You are “mindful” of and “visit.” This lifts our spirits, giving us strength through You. Lord, thank You for Your choosing and forming us, and for establishing strength within our gratitude and praise to overcome every enemy. In all creation, You are so “mindful” of us, and so we declare, “O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, in our lives, how excellent!”
【Reflection】 David's life was filled with numerous persecutions and hardships. At the same time, he also deeply experienced God's personal salvation, preservation, and provision. Therefore, he praised God with a grateful heart, saying, "(He is) the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas." (verse 5) Then, David looked upon the nature created by God, as well as the rain, crops, livestock granted by God... vividly depicting God's grace: "You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance." (verse 11) Dear brothers and sisters, having experienced the unique circumstances and challenges in the past few years, should we not be more grateful for His preservation and provision, cherish Him even more, and find our true satisfaction in Christ? When we think of God's grace upon us, day after day, year after year, can we not help but accept the psalmist's invitation, together with rivers, paths, wilderness, meadows, hills, flocks, to give thanks to God for His abundant provision and care?
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 3
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.19-20
JHN.2
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 3: Give Thanks Because God Is Righteous (Psalm 7:6-11, 17)
(Memorize verses 8-11, 17)
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!
7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
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.
【Reflection】
Today, we especially remember that our God is a “righteous God” and a “righteous Judge.” This righteous, powerful God who judges all is also the God who loves us. He sacrificed His beloved Son, covering all our sins and transgressions with His precious blood, and bore our punishment on the cross, granting us grace to become His children, freely justified by faith. In this dark and rebellious age, He is still on the throne and will surely judge sin, yet He remembers His children, upholding us, being our shield, and defending us against injustice and the enemy. Lord, in every situation, help us to remember that human judgment is nothing; judgment belongs only to You (Deut. 1:17). Help us to live with reverence before You, to pursue and maintain integrity of heart, and let us continually “praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”
【Reflection】Thank the Lord! Jehovah is not only the "Creator of Heaven and Earth," but also "Our Lord." What is even more amazing is that He "cares for us." Just contemplating on this fact is enough to make our hearts leap for joy! Who are we that God would care for us in this way! God says, "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." (Isaiah 43:7) If we fail to grasp this point, we cannot understand why God entrusted us with the mission of stewardship over His creation; nor can we comprehend why, after humanity fell into temptation and followed Satan, God would send His only begotten Son in the likeness of man, willingly sacrificing Himself to accomplish redemption and initiate a new creation! Indeed, the first created man did not fulfill God's entrusted task. However, 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). Therefore, let us treasure the salvation we receive through faith in Him and be even more grateful for Jesus Christ reigning in our lives, restoring the glorious mission that God had originally bestowed upon us.
EZK.19-20
JHN.2
2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 3: Give Thanks Because God Is Righteous (Psalm 7:6-11, 17)
(Memorize verses 8-11, 17)
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!
7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
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.
【Reflection】
Today, we especially remember that our God is a “righteous God” and a “righteous Judge.” This righteous, powerful God who judges all is also the God who loves us. He sacrificed His beloved Son, covering all our sins and transgressions with His precious blood, and bore our punishment on the cross, granting us grace to become His children, freely justified by faith. In this dark and rebellious age, He is still on the throne and will surely judge sin, yet He remembers His children, upholding us, being our shield, and defending us against injustice and the enemy. Lord, in every situation, help us to remember that human judgment is nothing; judgment belongs only to You (Deut. 1:17). Help us to live with reverence before You, to pursue and maintain integrity of heart, and let us continually “praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”
【Reflection】Thank the Lord! Jehovah is not only the "Creator of Heaven and Earth," but also "Our Lord." What is even more amazing is that He "cares for us." Just contemplating on this fact is enough to make our hearts leap for joy! Who are we that God would care for us in this way! God says, "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." (Isaiah 43:7) If we fail to grasp this point, we cannot understand why God entrusted us with the mission of stewardship over His creation; nor can we comprehend why, after humanity fell into temptation and followed Satan, God would send His only begotten Son in the likeness of man, willingly sacrificing Himself to accomplish redemption and initiate a new creation! Indeed, the first created man did not fulfill God's entrusted task. However, 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). Therefore, let us treasure the salvation we receive through faith in Him and be even more grateful for Jesus Christ reigning in our lives, restoring the glorious mission that God had originally bestowed upon us.
Friday, November 1, 2024
Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 2
Annual Bible Reading Plan:
EZK.17-18
JHN.1
2024 Thanksgivign Month Day 2: Give Thanks Because God Is Our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6)
(Memorize verses 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.
【Reflection】
We give thanks to God, our Shepherd, for we shall not lack. He is our Shepherd, personally leading us along the path of life, where there are green pastures to rest in and still waters to refresh our souls. He revives our souls, bringing us out of darkness into light, guiding us in His paths of righteousness and peace. On this heavenly journey, though there may be valleys of the shadow of death and “enemies all around,” the Lord leads us through safely and victoriously by His presence and power. May we never forget His works and grace along this journey, and may our trust in Him and hope for the future grow continually. Yes, with our Shepherd’s provision, protection, and guidance, no matter how dark or rebellious this age may become, we are confident that the path ahead will grow brighter, and we have great assurance in life. How thankful we are to hold and experience this truth all our days: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
EZK.17-18
JHN.1
2024 Thanksgivign Month Day 2: Give Thanks Because God Is Our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6)
(Memorize verses 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.
【Reflection】
We give thanks to God, our Shepherd, for we shall not lack. He is our Shepherd, personally leading us along the path of life, where there are green pastures to rest in and still waters to refresh our souls. He revives our souls, bringing us out of darkness into light, guiding us in His paths of righteousness and peace. On this heavenly journey, though there may be valleys of the shadow of death and “enemies all around,” the Lord leads us through safely and victoriously by His presence and power. May we never forget His works and grace along this journey, and may our trust in Him and hope for the future grow continually. Yes, with our Shepherd’s provision, protection, and guidance, no matter how dark or rebellious this age may become, we are confident that the path ahead will grow brighter, and we have great assurance in life. How thankful we are to hold and experience this truth all our days: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
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