Devotional

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Psalm 119:81-96, HE is in control!

KATH  כ  81-88

Psa 119:81-82, MY SOUL FAINTS FOR YOUR SALVATION, But I hope in Your word. My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “WHEN WILL YOU COMFORT ME?”

Here the Psalmist is desperate, without any strength; YET he wants to be delivered by GOD, not man! BEING DELIVERED BY THE STRENGTH OF MAN ACTUALLY ROBS THE PERSON FROM A BLESSING OF GOD!

2Cor 4:8-9, We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed

Psa 119:86-87, All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; HELP ME! They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts.

Still waiting for help but living in faith, in accordance to HIS way! Never lose heart for the LORD’s hand is on the thermostat; shaping and molding the person he wants to see in you! It’s just the potter doing HIS work!

Isa 64:8, But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. 

LAMED ל 89-96

Psa 119:89, Forever, O LORD, YOUR WORD IS SETTLED IN HEAVEN.

HE who knows the end from the beginning! What HE has said, in HIS word will come to pass without fail! IT IS SETTLED!

Act 15:18, “KNOWN TO GOD FROM ETERNITY ARE ALL HIS WORKS. 

Isa 46:10, DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, And from ancient times THINGS THAT ARE NOT YET DONE, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ 

Psa 119:94-95, I AM YOURS, SAVE ME; FOR I HAVE SOUGHT YOUR PRECEPTS. The wicked wait for me to destroy me, BUT I WILL CONSIDER YOUR TESTIMONIES.

Are you HIS? Do you know the LORD? In trials never lose heart for HE is with you wherever you go!

Psa 27:13-14, I WOULD HAVE LOST HEART, UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. WAIT ON THE LORD; BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART; WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD! 

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Psalm 119:65-80, HE corrects HIS own!

Teth ט, 65-72

Psa 119:67-68, Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes.

As a good FATHER, HE corrects HIS own children. HE only wants the best for you! HE IS GOOD AND ONLY DOES GOOD!

Pro 3:11-12, My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CORRECTS, JUST AS A FATHER THE SON IN WHOM HE DELIGHTS.

Psa 119:71, IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED, THAT I MAY LEARN YOUR STATUTES. 

Suffer a little now is better than suffering for all eternity! That is why HE corrects HIS own that we may draw closer to HIM and away from the pit!

1Co 11:32, But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, THAT WE MAY NOT BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD. 

YOD י , 73-80

Psa 119:75, I KNOW, O LORD, THAT YOUR JUDGMENTS ARE RIGHT, AND THAT IN FAITHFULNESS YOU HAVE AFFLICTED ME. 

The LORD uses everything and anything to correct HIS own! HE IS THE GOOD FATHER AND HE DOES WHAT’S BEST FOR US!

Heb 12:10-11 NLT, For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. BUT GOD’S DISCIPLINE IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR US, SO THAT WE MIGHT SHARE IN HIS HOLINESS. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! BUT AFTERWARD THERE WILL BE A PEACEFUL HARVEST OF RIGHT LIVING FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRAINED IN THIS WAY.

Psa 119:80, LET MY HEART BE BLAMELESS REGARDING YOUR STATUTES, THAT I MAY NOT BE ASHAMED.

There are so many people who know how to speak christianese, “bless you brother”, “I’ll pray for you”, “God is good” etc.  YET, their hearts are filled with Anger, hypocrisy, lust, and hatred etc. THEN HE COMES, YET YOU STAYED? GET RIGHT WITH THE LORD FOR HE IS NEAR! HE IS COMING

1Jn 2:28, And now, little children, abide in Him, that WHEN HE APPEARS, WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE AND NOT BE ASHAMED BEFORE HIM AT HIS COMING. 

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Psalm 119:49-64, Examine your ways!

Zayin ז, 49-56

Psa 119:49-50, Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have CAUSED ME TO HOPE. THIS IS MY COMFORT in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.

HIS word cannot be broken, If HE has said it then it shall come to pass! This is our hope!

Num 23:19, “GOD IS NOT A MAN, THAT HE SHOULD LIE, NOR A SON OF MAN, THAT HE SHOULD REPENT. HAS HE SAID, AND WILL HE NOT DO? OR HAS HE SPOKEN, AND WILL HE NOT MAKE IT GOOD?

David boldly asks the LORD to fulfill HIS promise that HE has spoken to him!

2Sa 7:25, “Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, ESTABLISH IT FOREVER AND DO AS YOU HAVE SAID. 

HIS word is our hope, HIS word is our guide in life! But, if we don’t read and know exactly what HE has promised how can we have hope?

Psa 119:54-56, Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, And I keep Your law. This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts.

The LORD are in his thoughts day and night. HIS word has become part of himself, for his faith and hope can be found in the word!

Rom 10:17, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Heth ח , 57-64

Psa 119:59-60, I THOUGHT ABOUT MY WAYS, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. I MADE HASTE, AND DID NOT DELAY TO KEEP YOUR COMMANDMENTS.

Hag 1:7, THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS: “CONSIDER YOUR WAYS! 

If we were to examine ourselves through the lens of HIS word we fall short! Are there things we must give up, Pride, dependence on your own strength, and wisdom?  Are we doing things that we shouldn’t? Examine yourself!

2Co 13:5, Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. DO YOU NOT KNOW YOURSELVES, THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU?—UNLESS INDEED YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED. 

Lam 3:40, Let us search out and examine our ways, AND TURN BACK TO THE LORD; 

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Psalm 119:33-48, Coveting!

HE = ה , 33-40

Psa 119:33-35, TEACH ME, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. GIVE ME UNDERSTANDING, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. MAKE ME WALK IN THE PATH of Your commandments, For I delight in it.

LORD, Teach me, Give me Understanding, and Help me walk in your precepts! The Psalmist only fear was that he wouldn’t be able to understand HIS word! The LORD will give understanding and wisdom if asked!

Joh 6:45, It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD.’ Therefore everyone who has HEARD and LEARNED FROM THE FATHER COMES TO ME. 

Psa 119:36-37, Incline my heart to Your testimonies, AND NOT TO COVETOUSNESS. TURN AWAY MY EYES FROM LOOKING AT WORTHLESS THINGS, AND REVIVE ME IN YOUR WAY.

You shall not covet, “to desire earnestly or set your heart and mind upon”! Coveting is a great threat upon a believer’s life!

King David committed adultery and murdered because he coveted Bathsheba! 2Sam 11

Judas sound out JESUS, the SON of the living GOD for 30 pieces of silver! Matt 26:14-16

Luk 12:15, And He (JESUS) said to them, “TAKE HEED AND BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

VAU = ו , 40-48

Psa 119:44-45, So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.

When JESUS first started HIS ministry HE read from Isaiah 61:1-2a. HE came to set us free from the power of sin! Sin imprisons the mind and body, but HE came to open up the prison doors!

Isa 61:1, ….. TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES, AND THE OPENING OF THE PRISON TO THOSE WHO ARE BOUND; 

Rom 8:2, …FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.

Coveting what others have will lead us in the wrong direction! But, HE came to set us free and to set us on a better path than the one we have chosen!

Pro 14:12, There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 

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Psalm 119:17-32, HE shall open your eyes!

GIMEL = ג , 17-24

Psa 119:18, OPEN MY EYES, THAT I MAY SEE WONDROUS THINGS FROM YOUR LAW. 

These are not just words in a book, it’s HIS living word! Not believing in JESUS and reading this book achieves nothing, but once one comes to faith HE opens their eyes to see the truth in HIS word!

2Cor 3:14-16, But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, BECAUSE THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY IN CHRIST. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. NEVERTHELESS WHEN ONE TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY.

Psa 119:19-20, I AM A STRANGER IN THE EARTH; Do not hide Your commandments from me. MY SOUL BREAKS WITH LONGING FOR YOUR JUDGMENTS AT ALL TIMES.

In knowing Christ JESUS, we know that there is a better way, HIS way! We feel out of place living in this filthy corrupt world! YET, the day is coming when HE shall return to judge the world! HE SHALL BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH!

Zec 14:9, AND THE LORD SHALL BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH. In that day it shall be “The LORD is one,” And His name one. 

DALETH = ד , 25-32

Psa 119:30-31, I HAVE CHOSEN THE WAY OF TRUTH; Your judgments I have laid before me. I CLING TO YOUR TESTIMONIES; O LORD, do not put me to shame!

It is a choice that we make for there are two roads before us, HIS way which leads to life, and our way which leads to death!

Pro 14:12, There is a way that seems right to a man, BUT ITS END IS THE WAY OF DEATH. 

Psa 119:32, I WILL RUN THE COURSE OF YOUR COMMANDMENTS, For You shall enlarge my heart.

In verse 25, the Psalmist was close to death and said, “MY SOUL CLINGS TO THE DUST, REVIVE ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD”!  Now we see HIM running! This is the work of GOD, for HE is always present willing to help in times of trouble! Trust in the LORD!

Psa 18:36, YOU ENLARGED MY PATH UNDER ME, SO MY FEET DID NOT SLIP. 

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Psalm 119:1-16, Aleph/Beth, HIS word!

This psalm is divided in 22 sections in units of 8 verses; one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet! Aleph =  א

Psa 119:1, BLESSED ARE THE UNDEFILED IN THE WAY, WHO WALK IN THE LAW OF THE LORD!

Blessed are the undefiled, not polluted by the ways of the world! YET were all guilty of this very thing! We lived lives without GOD without caring who we hurt! But HE opened our eyes! A good example of this is Enoch!

Gen 5:22-24, After he begot Methuselah, ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD THREE HUNDRED YEARS, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE YEARS. And ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD; AND HE WAS NOT, FOR GOD TOOK HIM.

For 65 years Enoch walked in his own ways, But at the birth of his son he had an encounter with the living GOD! From that point on he walked with GOD, and GOD took him!

Psalm 119:2, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO KEEP HIS TESTIMONIES, WHO SEEK HIM WITH THE WHOLE HEART!

Enoch pleased GOD because he kept HIS word and followed HIM for the rest of his life!

Heb 11:5, By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM”; FOR BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN HE HAD THIS TESTIMONY, THAT HE PLEASED GOD. 

Beth = ב , 8-16

Psa 119:9, How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Keeping HIS word will keep you clean from the filth found in this world!

Joh 15:3, You are already clean BECAUSE OF THE WORD WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU. 

Psa 119:11, 16, YOUR WORD I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You…. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I WILL NOT FORGET YOUR WORD.

How can we hide HIS word in our hearts if we don’t read HIS word? Scripture tells us that if we seek HIM with all of our hearts, we will find HIM! But the opposite is also true, if we don’t seek HIM we will never find HIM!

Jer 29:13, AND YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME, WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART. 

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Psalm 118, He is the GATE, the DOOR!

Psa 118:1, Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 

This Psalm begins and ends with the same way way! Israel sang this verse when the temple’s foundation was laid in place!

Ezr 3:11, And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: “FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, BECAUSE THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WAS LAID.

Psa 118:6-7, THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE; I will not fear. What can man do to me? THE LORD IS FOR ME among those who help me; THEREFORE I SHALL SEE MY DESIRE ON THOSE WHO HATE ME.

Our faith is in the LORD who has promised us many things in HIS word! Even though lawlessness is increasing we know that HE is with us and for us!

Heb 13:6, So we may boldly say: “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?” 

Psa 118:8-9, IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN. IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN PRINCES.

People will generally fail you for we are imperfect creatures! Our leaders, who profess to be wise, have failed us!

Rom 1:22, PROFESSING TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS, 

YET HE, THE LORD IS OUR ROCK OUR STABILITY OUR STRENGTH TRUST IN HIM RATHER THAN ANY MAN OR FAKE LEADER!

Psa 118:19-20, OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; I WILL GO THROUGH THEM, And I will praise the LORD. THIS IS THE GATE OF THE LORD, THROUGH WHICH THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL ENTER.

THAT GATE IN WHICH ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS MAY ENTER IS JESUS! FOR HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE! NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM ALONE!

Psa 118:22, THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.

JESUS IS THE STONE THAT WAS REJECTED, HE IS THE GATE OF THE RIGHTEOUS! HE IS COMING BACK AND WE SHALL SEE HIM FACE TO FACE! BE READY, LOOK UP FOR HE DRAW NEAR!

Luk 13:24, “STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE, FOR MANY, I SAY TO YOU, WILL SEEK TO ENTER AND WILL NOT BE ABLE. 

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Psalm 117, Praise the LORD you gentiles!

Psa 117:1, PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU GENTILES! LAUD HIM, ALL YOU PEOPLES! 

The Psalmist previously called on the Jewish nation to praise the LORD, but now calls on the Gentiles to praise HIM! It was always GOD’s intention to bless the whole world, not just the Jewish nation, BUT EVERY PERSON WILLING TO HEAR THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD!

Gen 12:3, I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; AND IN YOU ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.”

Out of the Jewish nation came our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS the Messiah, who died on the cross for you and me!

Gal 3:8-9, And the Scripture, FORESEEING THAT GOD WOULD JUSTIFY THE GENTILES BY FAITH, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “IN YOU ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED.” SO THEN THOSE WHO ARE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED with believing Abraham.

Psa 117:2, For His merciful kindness is great TOWARD US, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! 

Praise HIM you Gentiles, for the great mercy which was shown to us HIS people, maybe shown to you!

Psa 100:3-4, KNOW THAT THE LORD, HE IS GOD; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; WE ARE HIS PEOPLE AND THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE. ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING, AND INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE. BE THANKFUL TO HIM, AND BLESS HIS NAME.

For Christians all around the world, we rejoice over the name above all names which is JESUS, the SON of the living GOD!

Mal 1:11, For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, MY NAME SHALL BE GREAT AMONG THE GENTILES; IN EVERY PLACE INCENSE SHALL BE OFFERED TO MY NAME, AND A PURE OFFERING; FOR MY NAME SHALL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS,” SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. 

The day is coming when ALL who worship the LORD JESUS, from every nation and tongue, will come together before the LAMB of GOD! WILL YOU BE THERE? WILL YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN IN THE LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE?

Rev 7:9, After these things I looked, and behold, A GREAT MULTITUDE WHICH NO ONE COULD NUMBER, OF ALL NATIONS, TRIBES, PEOPLES, AND TONGUES, standing before the throne and BEFORE THE LAMB, CLOTHED WITH WHITE ROBES, WITH PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS, 

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Psalm 116, HE is with us in times of trouble!

Psa 116:1-2, I LOVE THE LORD, BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD MY VOICE AND MY SUPPLICATIONS. BECAUSE HE HAS INCLINED HIS EAR TO ME, THEREFORE I WILL CALL UPON HIM AS LONG AS I LIVE.

No one likes going through any trial, but the beauty in trials, FOR THE BELIEVER, is when HE hears and responds to your call! THEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR NOT ALONE! HE IS HERE!

Isa 41:10, FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ 

Psa 116:5-6, GRACIOUS IS THE LORD, AND RIGHTEOUS; YES, OUR GOD IS MERCIFUL. THE LORD PRESERVES THE SIMPLE; I WAS BROUGHT LOW, AND HE SAVED ME.

Compared to HIS massive creation we are but microorganisms, YET HE PRESERVES THE SIMPLE! WE ARE BUT DUST, AND STILL HE LOVES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US!

Luk 12:24, Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of HOW MUCH MORE VALUE ARE YOU THAN THE BIRDS?

Psa 144:3, LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? 

Psa 116:10, I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE, “I am greatly afflicted.” 

The Psalmist was greatly afflicted, so in faith he spoke to the LORD in prayer! Paul used this same verse to justify him speaking of Christ JESUS in trying times!

2Co 4:13-14, And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I BELIEVED AND THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe and THEREFORE SPEAK, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

Psa 116:11, I SAID IN MY HASTE, “ALL MEN ARE LIARS.” 

In trials, we may get overwhelmed and say things in haste; saying things that shouldn’t have been said! IT IS MUCH EASIER TO BE QUITE THAN TO RECALL THE WORDS THAT WERE SAID! Calling on GOD, yet cursing men?

Jas 3:10, Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, THESE THINGS OUGHT NOT TO BE SO. 

While HE is faithful and steadfast, we are inconsistent at best! THANK YOU LORD!

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Psalm 115, Worthless idols!

Psa 115:1, Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, BUT TO YOUR NAME GIVE GLORY, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth. 

Pride seems to show its ugly head from even the best of men! Look what I have, I made this, I’m better than you! Give all the glory to GOD; HE is worthy to be PRAISED!

Pro 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 

Dan 4:30-31, The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, THAT I HAVE BUILT for a royal dwelling BY MY MIGHTY POWER and FOR THE HONOR OF MY MAJESTY?” While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!

Honor and Glory belongs to the LORD; never take credit for what HE has done in your life!

Psa 115:3-6, But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. THEIR IDOLS ARE SILVER AND GOLD, THE WORK OF MEN’S HANDS. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell;

The Idols of men, even though they have eyes, ears, mouths, hands and feet are dead! They are objects with no life, YET people worship them expecting it to hear and respond?

Psa 115:8, THOSE WHO MAKE THEM ARE LIKE THEM; SO IS EVERYONE WHO TRUSTS IN THEM. 

As there is no life in these idols, THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND TRUST IN THEM ARE ALSO DEAD SPIRITUALLY!

Mat 8:22, BUT JESUS SAID TO HIM, “FOLLOW ME, AND LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR OWN DEAD.”

The day is coming WHEN THE LIVING AND THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD will be face to face with the LORD to give an account of their time spent on earth (1Pet 4:5)! WHAT CAN WE SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO; FOR HE KNOWS EVERY WORD AND THOUGHT THAT WE HAD SINCE THE DAY OF YOUR BIRTH!

Psa 115:9, O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. 

Don’t place your faith and trust in idols, but in the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! WORSHIP AND FOLLOW HIM WHO GAVE ALL FOR YOU!