Monthly Archives: August 2014

SOURCE OF JOY Poem Devotional

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Aug 11                                                   The Power of God’s Word
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty. – Psalm 32:1-2(NLT)
SOURCE OF JOY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who listen to the Lord’s convictions
They will overcome the devil’s temptations
Whenever the Spirit shows you sin you’ve done
Confess it, ask pardon and it will be gone.
The source of joy is hearing the Spirit’s prodding
It is opening your heart to God’s discipline and teachings
Be free from guilt when your sin is absolved
Enjoy your life and don’t give the enemy a hold.
I still struggle with enjoying my life whenever I recognize a sin I’ve done. God forgives me faster than I forgive myself. When we are raised with iron fists, we become hard on ourselves. The bible says that there is no condemnation from God. He convicts us and corrects us so we can enjoy our lives.
The source of joy comes from confessing our sins and being forgiven. He cancels the record of sin. There is no point in giving the enemy a chance to make us feel unworthy again. If we live in total honesty and integrity, we can have joy that comes from knowing that we are loved so much.
PRAYER
Lord, free me from guilt and condemnation.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to accept forgiveness.

PRAISE FROM MY LIPS Poem Devotional

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Aug 10                                                                                 The Power of God’s Word
Let praise flow from my lips, for you have taught me your decrees. Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right.
– Psalm 119:171-172(NLT)
PRAISE FROM MY LIPS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Let words of praise flow from my lips
You have taught me to love so deep
Let my tongue sing about your word
It frees me from corruption of the world.
Thank you for giving me your truth
It gave me foundation and roots
I choose to be guided by your commands
Help me to be thankful and never demand.
What comes out of your mouth? Is it gratitude, praise, encouragement and worship for the Lord that flows from your lips? Our nature tends to cater towards negative thoughts rather than positive one. Therefore, we are prone to criticize more than to encourage others. Check your thoughts. What have they been lately? Words that come out of your mouth originate from your mind.
The bible tells us that we must only allow praise and God’s words to flow from our lips. Why does God warn us about the importance guarding our tongues? He knows that is a very powerful weapon that can either destroy or build us up or someone else. We are encouraged to use our mouths to declare him and encourage others. He wants us to walk in love.
PRAYER
Lord, cleanse my mouth.
REFLECTION
What can the word of God do in our lives?

THE GREATEST SHIELD Poem Devotional

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Aug 9                                                                               The Power of God’s Word
Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. – Proverbs 30:5(NLT)
THE GREATEST SHIELD
A poem and essay by ILMA
God has provided sanction to those who seek him
He always forgives those who repents from their sin
When we are faced with so much trials and corruption
The word of God is our only shied to overcome temptations.
There is no other way we can be victorious in this life
It is only through God’s love and truth that we will have light
Every word that comes from the mouth of God is true
It will ensure us of safety and freedom from all evil and rue.
Do you struggle in your life right now? Whether it is health, finances, relationships or work related difficulties, there is always a solution to every kind of problem. The answers to these trials are always found in God’s word. It is sad to know that many of us do not even use the greatest shield given to us. The bible contains all that we need to equip ourselves with in this life. It has answers to all our questions. Every word that is said in the bible proves true. They work for our lives. What a waste it is if we do not even come to read it.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to use your word daily.
REFLECTION
Why is reading and studying the bible important?

LIVE OUT OF THE BOX Poem Devotional

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Aug 8 The Power of God’s Word
For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law and stopped trying to meet all its requirements, so that I might live for God.
–Galatians 2:9 (NLT)
LIVE OUT OF THE BOX
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever a believer strictly follows the law
He will find life tedious and impossible to grow
The law of love is what God wants us to follow
It frees everyone from difficulties and sorrows.
Jesus died for us so we can be free
He sacrificed his life so we can have peace
Stop being legalistic and live out of the box
Follow the road to righteousness and walk in love.
Many believers still live under laws, traditions, religious doctrines and rituals. Some have practically mixed up religion with relationship with God. No wonder they are stuck where they are. They live for themselves and claim that they love God. It is very sad to see many Christians who cannot follow Christ’s example of humility and follow the path to love, forgiveness and mercy. Jesus came to save us from sin. He sacrificed his life so we can be free from condemnation and be dead to the laws. He gave us life through love. The more we keep living in the box of the laws, we feel more condemnation.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to live out of the box.
REFLECTION
How can you be free from the law?

FAITH BRINGS RIGHTEOUSNESS Poem Devotional

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Aug 7                                                                           The Power of God’s Word
When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. –Romans 4:4-5 (NLT)
FAITH BRINGS RIGHTEOUSNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Wages are what we earn when we work for someone
Righteousness is what we receive when God gave his Son
When we choose to believe, we partake in his promises
It helps us to follow the road to uprightness.
Work on strengthening your faith
It will definitely change your fate
Believe only in the Lord
Give him praise and applaud.
There are many Christians who think that they have to work hard to earn their salvation. They work hard at doing good works to be saved. God loves us so much that even if we don’t deserve it, he still sent his one and only son to free us from the debt of sin.
The bible tells us that we are counted righteous, not because of what work we did, but because of our faith. God gave us the gift of salvation through his son’s death. He does not expect us to work for it for it will defeat the purpose of the cross. He gave us mercy and grace, all we need to do is receive it.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to live by your grace.
REFLECTION
How much faith in God do you have?

TRANSFORMED INTO A NEW CREATION Poem Devotional

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Aug 6                                                                                         The Power of God’s Word
It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. –Galatians 6:15(NLT)
TRANSFORMED INTO A NEW CREATION
A poem and essay by ILMA
The moment you believe in your heavenly father
You will seek to follow him and be united with your sisters and brothers
It doesn’t matter whether you follow religious rituals
You are transformed into a new creation, that’s what’s vital.
Do not live under the law and be religious
That will only be hard work and tedious
God wants you to walk in love and follow him
It is the only way you will enter his kingdom and be redeemed.
The whole book of Galatians was written to disprove their own interpretation of the gospel and their legalistic and ritualistic ways to show others that they belong to God. Paul, the apostle was very bold in dealing with the lies that they perpetuated to deceive others into thinking that the laws they follow is what will save them. Jesus himself confronted the Pharisees and the Scribes who were very legalistic and religious. God wants a relationship with us, not rituals.
Galatians 6:15 assures us that what counts is that we are being transformed into a new creation. It is walking in love that brings us to God’s kingdom.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from religion.
REFLECTION
Why do you think Jesus hated religion? What does it do to us?

GOD PLEASER NOT PEOPLE PLEASER Poem Devotional

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Aug 5                                                                                 The Power of God’s Word
No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. It is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. –Romans 2:29 (NLT)
GOD PLEASER NOT PEOPLE PLEASER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you seek people’s approval in many things?
Isn’t it too confusing, frustrating and tiring?
You can’t live up to anyone’s standard
It will make you unhappy and haggard.
If you choose to become a God pleaser
Your life will be peaceful and happier
A person with a heart that seeks Christ
He becomes totally free from conflicts and fights.
Do you find yourself doing things to seek someone’s approval? I did it so many years of my life and sadly, it had enslaved me for many years. It was the cause of so many unhappy and unhealthy relationships I got into. The book of Joyce Meyer’s entitled “Approval Addiction” demystified all the wrong notions I had about seeking approval. Constantly reading God’s word made me realize the truth that I can do nothing to change God’s love for me. Believers must be God pleasers instead of people pleasers. The bible says that a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God and one who seeks to prioritize praising and pleasing God.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from pleasing people.
REFLECTION
Why should we focus more on pleasing God rather than people?

RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH Poem Devotional

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  1. Aug 4                                                                              The Power of God’s Word
    And Abram believed the Lord and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. –Genesis 15:6 (NLT)
    RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH
    A poem and essay by ILMA
    Faith means believing even when you don’t see
    It is being hopeful in chaos and being free
    It is continually looking forward to God’s promises
    It is giving up worldliness and pursuing righteousness.
    When Abraham believed, he was granted uprightness
    Because of his faith, he showed others God’s goodness
    It is through his faith that we are all recipients of salvation
    It is through believing in God that we are granted his kingdom.
    How important faith is in a Christian’s life? Faith is the foundation that makes a believer’s life solid. Without it, a believer will be prone to focus on works of the flesh, rather than allowing the spirit of God to work in their lives. Works of the flesh are things that someone pursues to gain the love of God or approval of someone. I used to do a lot of works of the flesh before I became a born again. No wonder my life became tedious and I didn’t have the joy that comes from believing.
    The bible tells us that Abraham became the father of all nations because of his faith. God considered him righteous and granted him to be the father of all his people.
    PRAYER
    Lord, grow my faith.
    REFLECTION
    How can we allow the spirit to work on our faith?

CHANGE YOUR HEART Poem devotional

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Aug 2                                          The Power of God’s Word
Therefore, change your heart and stop being stubborn. The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live.
–Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6 (NLT)
CHANGE YOUR HEART
A poem and essay by ILMA
Seek the Lord only and turn to him for everything
He listens to your prayers and can grant you anything
Therefore, change your heart and stop being stubborn
It makes your life difficult and you end up in the wrong.
The Lord your God is the only one who can change your heart
He never wants you to go astray and be apart
When you decide to follow him, your descendants will live
They will learn to love God with all their hearts and souls and be firm.
Is your heart longing for God or for the things of this world? Are you in love with the Lord that you can’t stop thinking about him or wanting to spend time with him? Do you keep your hearts pure for him and avoid corruption from this world we live in?
The bible tells us to stop being stubborn and change our hearts. God will change our hearts so that we can prioritize him and love him with all our hearts and souls and be given life.
PRAYER
Lord, keep my heart pure.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to constantly obey and seek God?