Devo July 31 Psalm 20

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

Meditation
1. David’s trust in God rather than chariots (v7) is expressed in his
conviction that blessing comes from God. We who share David’s
belief will express our best wishes for others in prayers like his.
2. Think of one person that may need this prayer. Pray this psalm for
that person. You may rephrase it to suit his/her situation. You may
also write it down and send a note to let him/her know you are praying
for him/her.

What do I really trust in?  I trust in God's providence and protection!

Devo July 24 Psalm 14

Chapter 14
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on
the LORD.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their
refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel
be glad!

Meditation
1. The Hebrew word for “fool” describes a person whose heart is
closed to God and whose life is characterized by gross immorality.
It reminds us of Paul’s teaching that anyone who does not acknowledge
God will become corrupt and does “vile” deeds (Rom 1).
2. When the fools say “No” to God, they are actually telling God that
they know better and are more powerful than God. Thus, they are
cutting themselves off from the abundant life and blessings God
intends to give them.
3. The most stupid thing a person can do is to keep God outside of his
life. Think those in your family and friends who are avoiding or
denying God. Pray for them that God will enlighten them to know
and experience God’s love for them. Ask that God will make you a
living testimony to this truth.

July 19 Devotion Psalm 11

1 In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the
strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.
5 The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love vio
lence, he hates with a passion.
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his
face.

Meditation
1. This psalm records well-intentioned, but faithless advice of David’s
friends when he was a fugitive from King Saul. David lifts his eyes
to the Lord to find faith in a time of testing. He knew the safest
place to stand was in radical trust in God.
2. Have you ever felt that your foundations were being destroyed and
you wanted to run away?
3. Remember, running to God is always safer than running away. Besides,
the wicked will surely receive God’s judgement.

July 16 Devo

Chapter 9
1 I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O
Most High.
3 My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.
4 For you have upheld my right and my cause,
sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.
7 The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.
9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of
trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Meditation
1. David celebrated the Lord, for he knew God not only reigns forever,
but “he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the
peoples with uprightness”. This enables a person who is oppressed
or in trouble to find refuge and hope now.
2. Trust in God may not change our circumstances, but it changes us!
The mere fact that we can experience peace despite persecution is
the most convincing evidence that God is real.
3. Bring your troubles and heartaches to God with full confidence that
God rules and he judges.

Devo July 13

Chapter 7
1 LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who
pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to
rescue me.
3 LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands —
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my
foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.
6 Arise, LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8 Let the LORD judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous se
cure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.
10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.

Meditation
1. Have you felt falsely accused? How did you appeal your case?
Like David?
2. Would you want God to judge your righteousness or the integrity of
your heart? Why?
3. Speak candidly to God your thoughts, emotions and desires at this
moment. Wait for God respond to you.

July 11 Devo Psalm 6

Chapter 6
1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long?
4 Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with
tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.
8 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my
weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Meditation
1. David described his feeling of weakness as he had no strength left
to face life’s challenges. His bones were in agony, his soul in anguish,
he was worn out from groaning. His bed was flooded with
weeping and his couch drenched with tears. His eyes grew weak
with sorrow.
2. Praying along with David’s psalm helps us face our own challenges.
He was realistic about his weaknesses, and honest about his fears.
Dishonesty – an attempt to maintain a “perfect” image – keeps us
from acknowledging our weaknesses. And keeps us from full dependence
on the Lord.
3. Read through this psalm for a couple more times. Pay attention to
the words David used to describe his emotions and attitudes. Use
this psalm as your plea to God for your own situations.

Personal Note:
I have been feeling very weak physically lately.  I see that life is full of challenges.  I am weak and I need to depend on God.

July 10 Devos

Psalm 5
As I reflect on this poem, I have the following thoughts:
1. Am I desperate in asking God to listen to my requests?
2. Do I lay my request and wait accordingly?
3. God, you hate all wickedness.  Is there areas in my life that displeases you?  I was living a totally wicked life without Christ, I thank God for cleansing me with His Words.
4. I can come before God's presence because of God's great love.
5. There seems to be enemies that the psalmist described.  Who are my enemies and who are God's enemies?

Devo Psalm 1, John 6:1-15

Psalm 1 is comparing the two different ways of living.  The ways of the righteous and the way of the wicked.  Righteous people are ones who delights and follows God's commands.  They are like a well planted tree, which bear fruits in season.  The wicked are like chaff, they will not stand judgment and ultimately leads to destruction.  I desire to be a fruitful and productive person.  I see bearing fruit as transformation of character to be more and more like Jesus Christ.  I bear fruit as I partner with God in serving brothers and sisters to love God more deeply and leading more disciples for God's glory.

John 6:1-15 is the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand.  I lost track of how many times I came to this passage.  I am touched every time I read this account.  Jesus Christ is the supplier of human need.  Christ gives all that I need.  I can trust Him fully for all my needs.