Instamonth review

I did it. I managed to spend a month photographing life and combining it with Psalms. Even though there were many times I wanted to add a disclaimer. Even though there were many times I wanted to add a verse from another book. Even though there were many times I had to sit down and find a psalm that fit what I was feeling. I was tempted to let it go, but I pulled through. 

And you know what? It feels good. First, because I had that sense of accomplishment. Check. But also because I noticed that I spent this whole month doing a lot of listening, and not a lot of talking. Although I came into it thinking this would be a good way to digest some stuff, it was actually a way God used to show me new things. My purpose was to revisit some old issues, but God's purpose was to show me new ones. 

Funny how that works, isn't it? We are dead sure we know why God is directing us, we get ready, set and go. Only to realise we had no idea of what it was about in the first place.

I also couldn't help but smile as Holy Week came and I realized that the very last day would be Easter Sunday. That was not planned at all, at least not by me. But it was yet another moment of God's grace.

A day in which all the new issues I had during the whole month went where they belong. Washed away by his righteousness. 

Instamonth Day 31

Lord, guard my mouth.
    Keep watch over the door of my lips.
 Don’t let my heart be drawn to what is evil.

Psalm 141:3

Instamonth Day 30

God, show us your favor. Bless us.

    May you smile on us with your favor. Selah

 

Then your ways will be known on earth.

    All nations will see that you have the power to save.

God, may the nations praise you.

    May all of the people on earth praise you.

 

May the nations be glad and sing with joy.

    You rule the people of the earth fairly.

    You guide the nations of the earth. Selah

 

God, may the nations praise you.

    May all of the people on earth praise you.

Then the land will produce its crops.

    God, our God, will bless us.

 

God will bless us.

    People from one end of the earth to the other

    will have respect for him.

Psalm 67

Instamonth Day 29

God, we give thanks to you.
    We give thanks because your Name is near.
    People talk about the wonderful things you have done.

Psalm 75:1

Instamonth Day 28

All you nations, praise the Lord.

All you people on earth, praise him.

 

Great is his love for us.

The Lord is faithful forever.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 117

Instamonth Day 27

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:3-4

Instamonth Day 26

Praise the Lord!

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

 

    I will praise the Lord as long as I live.

    I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

Psalm 146:1-2

Instamonth Day 25

Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.
 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
    for they are from of old.
 Do not remember the sins of my youth
    and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.

Psalm 25:4-7

Instamonth Day 24

Your strength, God, is the king’s strength.
    Helped, he’s hollering Hosannas.
You gave him exactly what he wanted;
    you didn’t hold back.
You filled his arms with gifts;
    you gave him a right royal welcome.

Psalm 21:1-7 (The Message)

Instamonth Day 23

I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord.

Psalm 116:13

Instamonth Day 22

On your feet now—applaud God!

    Bring a gift of laughter,

    sing yourselves into his presence.

Know this: God is God, and God, God.

    He made us; we didn’t make him.

    We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password: “Thank you!”

    Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

    Thank him. Worship him.

For God is sheer beauty,

    all-generous in love,

    loyal always and ever.

Psalm 100 (The Message)

Instamonth Day 21

Oh, God, my Lord, step in;
    work a miracle for me—you can do it!

Psalm 109:21 (The Message)

Instamonth Day 20

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91:14-16

Instamonth Day 19

I lie awake; I have become
    like a bird alone on a roof.

Psalm 102:7

Instamonth Day 18

On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
 Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
 I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:6-8

Instamonth Day 17

O Lord, you have examined my heart

    and know everything about me.

 

You know when I sit down or stand up.

    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

 

You see me when I travel

    and when I rest at home.

    You know everything I do.

 

You know what I am going to say

    even before I say it, Lord.

 

You go before me and follow me.

    You place your hand of blessing on my head.

 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

    too great for me to understand!

I can never escape from your Spirit!

    I can never get away from your presence!

 

If I go up to heaven, you are there;

    if I go down to the grave, you are there.

 

If I ride the wings of the morning,

    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

 

even there your hand will guide me,

    and your strength will support me.

 

I could ask the darkness to hide me

    and the light around me to become night—

 

    but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines as bright as day.

    Darkness and light are the same to you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

 

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

 

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

 

You saw me before I was born.

    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

    before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

    They cannot be numbered!

 

I can’t even count them;

    they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up,

    you are still with me!

O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!

    Get out of my life, you murderers!

 

They blaspheme you;

    your enemies misuse your name.

 

O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?

    Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?

 

Yes, I hate them with total hatred,

    for your enemies are my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 

Point out anything in me that offends you,

    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139 (New Living Translation)

Instamonth Day 16

Your hands made me and formed me;
    give me understanding to learn your commands.
 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,
    and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
 May your unfailing love be my comfort,
    according to your promise to your servant.
 Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.

Psalm 119:73-77

Instamonth Day 15

The lazy do not roast any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

Psalm 12:27

Instamonth Day 14

I’m not trying to get my way
    in the world’s way.
I’m trying to get your way,
    your Word’s way.
I’m staying on your trail;
    I’m putting one foot
In front of the other.
    I’m not giving up.

Psalm 17:4-5 (The Message)

Instamonth Day 13

God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,

    I don’t want to be king of the mountain.

I haven’t meddled where I have no business

    or fantasized grandiose plans.

I’ve kept my feet on the ground,

    I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.

Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,

    my soul is a baby content.

Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.

    Hope now; hope always!

Psalm 131 (The Message)