Triumphant Trials

Read:  Psalm 41 / Proverbs 30 / Eccles. 7 / Matthew 12

 

Psalm 41:11 ~ By this I know that thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

Proverbs 30:5 ~ Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Ecclesiastes 7:3 ~ Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Matthew 12:17-21 ~ That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet… in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

 

By this I know I have God’s favor:

He has subdued my enemy.

I’m trusting my triumphant Savior,

From whom the trembling demons flee. 

 

Though trials bring their share of sorrow

And fragile life returns to dust,

My past, my present, and tomorrow

Belong to God in whom I trust.  

 

Thrilling Thought

Read:  Psalm 40 / Proverbs 29 / Eccles. 6 / Matthew 11

 

Psalm 40:17 ~ I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Proverbs 29:25 ~ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 ~ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

Matthew 11:28 ~ Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

Though I am poor, despised, and small,

I hold the truth that makes me free,

For though I am inclined to fall,

I know my Savior thinks on me.

 

He thinks on me!  O let me ponder

The treasure of this thrilling thought,

So that my eye may no more wander,

That I may love Him as I ought.  

 

Life I Lose

Read:  Psalm 39 / Proverbs 28 / Eccles. 5 / Matthew 10

 

Psalm 39:5-7 ~ Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity… He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them… Now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

Proverbs 28:26 ~ He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 ~ He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Matthew 10:39 ~ He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

 

Though people heap together wealth,

They shall not thus be satisfied,

Nor can they yet sustain their health

When, as appointed, they have died. 

 

My hope is not in wealth we heap,

Which no one in the end can take. 

The only treasure I can keep

Is life I lose for Jesus’ sake. 

 

Haste to Help

Read:  Psalm 38 / Proverbs 27 / Eccles. 4 / Matthew 9

 

Psalm 38:22 ~ Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Proverbs 27:1 ~ Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

Ecclesiastes 4:13 ~ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Matthew 9:38 ~ Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

There is no time for us to waste

As we proclaim our Lord’s salvation.

We rightly pray, O Lord, make haste

To help us reach our generation.

 

We know not what tomorrow brings,

And so we plead with souls today,

Commissioned by the King of kings

To labor as we also pray.  

 

Curse rendered Causeless

Read:  Psalm 37 / Proverbs 26 / Eccles. 3 / Matthew 8

 

Psalm 37:4 ~ Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Proverbs 26:2 ~ As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 ~ I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Matthew 8:27 ~ But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

 

I will delight myself in Christ

Because my Savior loved me first,

So much that He was sacrificed

And on the cross for me was cursed. 

 

The curse is causeless now forever,

For Jesus saved me by His grace.

There is no tempest which can sever

My life from Christ, my Hiding Place. 

 

His Wings and His Word

Read:  Psalm 36 / Proverbs 25 / Eccles. 2 / Matthew 7

 

Psalm 36:7 ~ How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!... the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Proverbs 25:28 ~ He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Ecclesiastes 2:22 ~ What hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under the sun? 

Matthew 7:24 ~ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.

 

How excellent is God’s great love

Beheld in Christ, the King of kings

Who intercedes for us above

And shelters us beneath His wings!

 

How good it is to hear Him talk

And rule us daily by His Word! 

We build our house upon a rock

As we obey what we have heard.  

 

Healing for Humanity

Read:  Psalm 35 / Proverbs 24 / Eccles. 1 / Matthew 6

 

Psalm 35:3 ~ Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Proverbs 24:16 ~ For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 ~ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Matthew 6:33 ~ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

We’ve heard our Savior softly speak

His words of comfort in our ear.

When we need healing and are weak,

He lifts us up and draws us near.

 

How hopeless is the vanity

That only leads to more vexation!

God’s healing for humanity

Is found in Christ and His salvation. 

 

Purifying Presence

Read:  Psalm 34 / Proverbs 23 / Job 42 / Matthew 5

 

Psalm 34:1 ~ I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Proverbs 23:17 ~ Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

Job 42:2 ~ I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

Matthew 5:8 ~ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 

The time to praise the Lord is now

In every moment that He gives.

The fear of God shall teach us how

To show the lost that Jesus lives.

 

There is no thought that we can hide

From God who sees our inward part.

So may His presence purge our pride

With grace that purifies our heart.  

 

 

Baited Book

Read:  Psalm 33 / Proverbs 22 / Job 41 / Matthew 4

 

Psalm 33:11 ~ The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Proverbs 22:20,21 ~ Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

Job 41:1,10 ~ Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook?...  who then is able to stand before me?

Matthew 4:19 ~ And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

 

The counsel of the Lord shall stand,

Regardless of what men shall do. 

The Lord foretold what He has planned,

And everything He said came true. 

 

The Lord equips us with His Book,

Assuring us He’ll come again. 

As fishers with a baited hook,

We’re fishing for the souls of men. 

 

 

Delight and Declare

Read:  Psalm 32 / Proverbs 21 / Job 40 / Matthew 3

 

Psalm 32:8 ~ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Proverbs 21:29 ~ A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

Job 40:9 ~ Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

Matthew 3:17 ~ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

We hear the voice of Christ our Lord,

Who guides and guards us in His way, 

By whom we also are restored

When we are prone to go astray.

 

We hear the voice from heaven tell

Of God’s great pleasure in His Son.

Let us delight in Him as well

As we declare what He has done! 

 

Ascending with Adoration

Read:  Psalm 31 / Proverbs 20 / Job 39 / Matthew 2

 

Psalm 31:5 ~ Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

Proverbs 20:12 ~ The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

Job 39:27 ~ Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

Matthew 2:2 ~ Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.

 

We hear the final cry of Christ,

Just as the psalmist who could hear it,

When He for us was sacrificed

And afterwards dismissed His spirit. 

 

Ascending with majestic wings,

The eagle soars above creation.

Ascending as the King of kings,

Christ fills our hearts with adoration! 

More Marvelous

Read:  Psalm 30 / Proverbs 19 / Job 38 / Matthew 1

 

Psalm 30:11,12 ~ Thou hast… girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.

Proverbs 19:20 ~ Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Job 38:4 ~ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Matthew 1:23 ~ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

The Lord has girded me with gladness;

I do not have a closer Friend. 

He gave me joy instead of sadness

With love I scarce can comprehend. 

 

The Lord who laid the earth’s foundation,

Did something still more marvelous:

Becoming Man, He brought salvation!

Emmanuel is God with us.  

 

Mighty and Merciful

Read:  Psalm 29 / Proverbs 18 / Job 37 / Revelation 22

 

Psalm 29:4 ~ The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

Proverbs 18:10 ~ The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Job 37:5 ~ God thundereth marvelously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

Revelation 22:17 ~ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

God’s mighty voice is powerful,

Yet He is merciful as well.

He is the Refuge of our soul

Who has delivered us from hell. 

 

His voice has thundered with His power

When judgment ushered forth His flood,

Yet grace protects us in His tower

And ransoms us with precious blood.