March 1
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GOD WILL JUDGE WITH EQUITY
We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds. 2 “At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity. 3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,
It is I who keep steady its pillars.4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;
5 Do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’”
6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,
7 But it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.
8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed,
And he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth
Shall drain it down to the dregs. 9 But I will declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
But the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. – Psalm 75:1-10
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This is a hymn of praise to God for the many wondrous deeds he has done. It is also a warning to the people, a reminder that it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting another (v7). It gives us a clear picture of God’s hand over the mix of people he made (v8) and ensuring that the wicked and the righteous will be both filtered in the end. The horn (v4) is a symbol of power according to the ESV study bible footnotes. To lift up is to make public assertion of power. God warns the ungodly not to do this. God promises the he will lift up the horns of the righteous. To cut off the horns is to render powerless and to humiliate, which is what he will do to the wicked.
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ADORATION: Praise to the only just God, our heavenly Father. He is omniscient and omnipotent. We bring you all the glory.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I forget to exercise fairness to others.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all the equality you exercise in all your creation.
SUPPLICATION: May all people remember that it is your judgment that matters. Nothing else does. May righteousness reign over all mankind.
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REFLECTION
• Why is justice a practice that all believers need to exercise?
Tag Archives: justice
GOD’S POWER AND JUSTICE Poem Devotional
November 11
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The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. – Nahum 1:3(NLT)
GOD’S POWER AND JUSTICE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you faithfully seek the Lord?
Are you meditating on his word?
God is slow to anger but is fair
Do not test him or disobey.
The Lord deals with sin fairly
So don’t treat others unjustly
He won’t allow the guilty go unpunished
Confess and repent so he can give you mercy.
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Some people think that because God is merciful and loving, they can get away with sin. He hates sin. He loves us all but he doesn’t want us to participate in any form of evil or lawlessness. That is why he gave us Christ so that we can believe in him and be new. We need not go back to our old self which is by nature sinful. If we committed ourselves to Christ, we have the privilege to be forgiven right away and be cleansed by his blood. Some lax Christians think that God loves them and will forgive them easily, so they can just do the evil they planned and ask forgiveness. In the book of Nahum, we are warned that he never lets the guilty go unpunished. Though God is slow to anger, it doesn’t mean that he is partial. He advocates the law of sowing and reaping.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me always how sin can draw us away from you.
REFLECTION
How can you avoid being a lax Christian?
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
BLESSED ARE THE JUST Poem Devotional
Nov 26
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Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. -Isaiah 56:1(NLT)
BLESSED ARE THE JUST
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you treat others equally as you would yourself?
Are you compassionate to the oppressed and give help?
Blessed are the just and fair, they are doing what’s right
They are following what God has required in their life.
Do what is right and good, for God will come to rescue
He wants you to have your minds and heart renewed
If you treat others fairly and with no favoritisms
You are imitating Jesus in all his conduct and mannerisms.
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If only everyone would treat each other fairly, there would probably be more peace on earth. One of the reasons why people revolt is because of injustice. Because, God designed us in his own image, we are actually made out of love. When we are not treated right, our spirits sense it inside. We have the option to revolt and react but we can also respond lovingly by gently saying our right to be treated fairly. It is exercising boundary when we do this. It also helps those who are treating others unreasonably to think twice. The Lord blesses those who are just and fair to all.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to treat others lovingly and justly always.
REFLECTION
How do you think fair treatment eliminates conflicts and troubles in life?
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
GOD’S VINEYARD Poem Devotional
August 9
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The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence.
– Isaiah 5:7(NLT)
GOD’S VINEYARD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord
They are considered part of God’s vineyard
They are expected to treat others fairly
Their hearts succumb to him faithfully.
God expects righteousness from his children
He wants them to store riches in heaven
Those who follow his commands and truth
They will have a strong foundation and bear fruits.
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What does it take to make wine? It all starts in the vineyard along working its way into the bottle. It is a lot of hard work, very physical undertaking. It is time consuming and you need a lot of patience. In the winter, you prune the vineyard and tend to the wine in the vats or barrels. In the Spring, you bottle and cleanup the vineyard from the winter by fixing the trellis system so it will be strong enough to carry the load of the fruit.
The bible tells us that we are God’s vineyard. He tends to us and ensure that we are all protected and nurtured so we can bear fruits of righteousness and justice.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for nurturing and protecting me.
REFLECTION
How has God cared for your spiritual growth? Are you considered the vine that produces sweet wine?
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
PRAYER FOR THE HELPLESS AND OPPRESSED Poem Devotional
March 18________________________________________
Lord you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them. -Psalm 10:17-18 (NLT)
PRAYER FOR THE HELPLESS AND OPPRESSED
A poem and essay by ILMA
My Lord, My God, I pray for those who are anxious
Bring them comfort and reveal to them that they are precious
Bring justice to the orphans and those who are oppressed
Do not allow others to terrify them so they won’t be depressed.
You promised redemption to those who are crushed in Spirit
Break their chains so that they can be free from it
Give them hope and strength so they can face their trials
Reveal to them your love so they can get free from denial.
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The hardest thing for me to witness is an oppression or injustice being done to someone. As a survivor of complex trauma, it is very difficult not to be triggered when you see others experiencing the pain that is so familiar to you. You can’t help but react or respond to the helplessness that you observe. I used to be so angry when I see a child being yelled at or even just being ignored or neglected.
The bible says that Jesus died on the cross for the broken-hearted which includes all the helpless and oppressed. Their cries are heard.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to pray for those who are oppressed and helpless.
REFLECTION
How do you deal with oppression or injustice when you experience them?
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
A GOD OF JUSTICE Poem Devotional
October 25 The Power of God’s Word
For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing, I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them.– Isaiah 61:8 (NLT)
A GOD OF JUSTICE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you experiencing pain and anguish?
Worry not for the Lord wants you to flourish
He is a God of justice and understanding
He is faithful to reward his people for their suffering.
Seek the Lord who is just and fair
He is always after your welfare
Don’t lose hope or succumb to desperation
He loves you and brings you hope and consolation.
Do you feel defeated by troubles in your life? The bible tells us that God is a god of justice. He will never allow you to suffer more than you can bear. When we encounter problems and difficulties in our lives, we need to lift it up to God so he can do what he is good at doing: taking care of you and making everything work out for your good.
The Lord hates robbery and wrongdoing. He faithfully rewards his people for their suffering and makes an everlasting covenant with them. Be at peace when you encounter trials and tribulations. God promised provision and protection for his own people. If you are faithful to him, he will be faithful to you.
PRAYER
I thank you Lord, for giving me comfort and protection.
REFLECTION
When did God give you justice?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com