August 6
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PSALM 6 THE LORD HEARD THE SOUND OF MY WEEPING
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD—how long?
4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?
6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. -Psalm 6:1-10
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my Lord, I cry out to you and plead you to hear my prayer
Please, grant me grace for I am hurting so much from this torture
Heal me O Lord for my soul is distressed and troubled
I am so tired from the enemy’s pulling me down to the rubble
Often, I cry myself in bed; it’s too painful to watch violence
The world is full of people who don’t care for others but themselves.
I know you are steadfast in your love and your mercy abounds
Please hear the sound of my weeping and wrap your arms on me
Let the unrighteous and wicked people leave me alone
My Lord, please accept my prayer for deliverance and wisdom
Grant me peace and strength so I can endure for your sake
Let me never forget that all your elect will have to go through trials.
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REFLECTION
• Do you think it’s alright to weep to God? Why do some people think that it isn’t appropriate to do so?
• Why did David sound so depressed in this psalm?
• What is the spiritual antidote for anxiety and depression according to the bible?
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PSALM 27 WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
May 18
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PSALM 27 WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD, all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD. – Psalm 27:1-6
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THE LORD IS MY LIGHT & MY SALVATION by ILMA
Since I serve the Lord, He is my light and my salvation
There is nothing in this world to be fearful or anxious about
Whenever the enemy spits their venom on the righteous
The Lord will ensure his people are aware and cautious
Though the devil relentlessly attacks here and there
I will not be afraid; I will gaze on the Lord’s beauty
He will hide me in his sanctuary during times of troubles
He will watch over me, protect and encamp angels around me
The Lord is my fortress; no schemes of the devil will prosper
He will lift me up and ensure that I am out of danger
I will sing and praise the Lord with shouts of joy
He alone can deliver me; I offer him my heart and soul.
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REFLECTION
• Why should a believer not be habitually fearful?
• What should we do when we are pressed down by the enemy and feel crushed?
WITHOUT LOVE, NOTHING MATTERS Poem Devotional
August 20
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WITHOUT LOVE, NOTHING MATTERS
A poem by ILMA
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others,
It would be pointless like I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal
If I had the gift of prophecy, and knew all God’s plan and had great faith
It would mean nothing if I didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body
I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing
Love is patient and kind; love isn’t jealous or boastful or proud or rude
It doesn’t demand; it’s not irritable, and keeps no list of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures all things
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge is useless
But love will last forever! It is the secret for lasting relationships.
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child
But when I grew up, I put away childish things; Now we see things imperfectly, Like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we’ll see everything clearly
Three things last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest is love.
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MEMORY VERSE
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:2
Read: 1 Corinthians 13
This chapter is popularly known as the Love Chapter. This was the reading for my wedding and yet it was something that a lot of people do not really comprehend fully what it means. Until after ten years of marriage, I still often times forget to apply the most important ingredient in any relationships, which is love.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think love covers all and mean everything in relationships?
DIVISION DESTROYS Poem Devotional
June 26
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Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.– Luke 11:17(NLT)
DIVISION DESTROYS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Where there is a disagreement and fighting
Follows shattered vision and victorious living
Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed
A family splintered by feuding will not bloom.
Let go of divisions and embrace peace
Be grateful that you are not bound but free
Division destroys all kinds of relationships
Do not let it be a hindrance to growing friendships.
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When there is a sign of disorder, there usually is division that caused it. Many relationships can be challenged by disagreements and lack of respect and communication. Many things can cause breakdowns in a church, an organization or company, marriages, family or friendships. Division usually is one of the major causes of many broken relationships and communities.
My first husband and I were very divided in terms of our beliefs, culture and traditions, way of thinking and preferences over many issues. It completely destroyed my ideals and my vision of what a marriage should be. I thank the Lord for delivering me from this ungodly and destructive relationship. The Lord allowed my wrong choice to happen so that I can learn to let go of things that will take me away from him.
Where there is division, love cannot thrive and faith won’t grow. Agreement is essential in walking in love.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be able to agree with all your truth.
REFLECTION
Why is an agreement essential in any relationship or partnership?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
CONSEQUENCES Poem Devotional
July 1 ________________________________________
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. – Psalm 34:15-16 (NLT)
CONSEQUENCES
A poem and essay by ILMA
What choices have you made that brought penalties?
Are they the consequence of your selfishness or cruelty?
Whenever we try to live out of God’s righteousness
We will experience difficulties and loneliness.
The eyes of the Lord watches over those who do right
He is open to their cries for help and he never takes it light
God turns his face against those who do evil
Memories are erased if you chose to be a rebel.
________________________________________Most of my life’s difficulties and suffering were the result of living against the will of God. It took so much adversities before I finally succumbed to God’s call for my obedience. I didn’t know that the secret to a peaceful and happy life is to make him first in everything. Just like parents give consequences to their children’s behavior, God also does the same thing to us. He warns us but still gives us the leeway to choose. If we choose within his truth, we reap a harvest. In the book of Psalms, we are cautioned to make the right choice. God rewards and help the righteous but he erases the memory of those who do evil.
PRAYER
Lord, lead me to do the right thing always.
REFLECTION
What wrong choices have you made that you regretted?________________________________________
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com