October 18________________________________________
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
-Psalm 119:82 (NLT)
JOY SUSTAINER
A poem and essay by ILMA
What could bring joy to you?
Could it be money or a change of view?
The truth will set you free and make you glad
There is freedom when you follow God’s commands.
I would have died in my suffering and misery
If God didn’t rescue me and gave me full recovery
I never would have experienced joy overflowing
If not for God’s unfailing love and blessings.
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Many different things can bring happiness to some people. We traverse this life in pursuit of that momentary pleasure to be happy. Sadly, many of us don’t experience it because we try to find it in the wrong things such as material wealth, fame, a relation or a career. I am a testament to this quest. Many decades of my life was wasted on chasing the wrong things that will bring me happiness. In the end, all these things made me feel even more empty than I already was. I kept looking for answers as to what could fill up that void inside me. What I didn’t realize was that I didn’t have to go far. I found it eventually when I heed to God’s call for me to come back to him and follow his commands. When I obeyed, it sustained my joy.________________________________________
PRAYER
Thank you for your commands that bring much joy to us.
REFLECTION
What would happen if you constantly seek God and obey his commands?
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
Tag Archives: misery
CHAINS OF MISERY Poem Devotional
July 10
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Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High.
-Psalm 107:10-11(NLT)
CHAINS OF MISERY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you have sins that are unconfessed
There will be no peace and you’ll be walled by darkness
Those who rebel against God’s word and counsel
Will find life hard and will be constantly bitter.
The chains of misery will keep you in bondage
Surrender to God and you will be at an advantage
Break those shackles and you will experience healing
No longer will you be bound by the misery of sinning.
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A painting by a Filipino national artist named Juan Luna stirred me so deeply that it paved the way for me to become an artist myself. As I stood before this monumental work entitled “Spoliarium” which was about 30 feet by 40 feet, I cried for 2 hours and felt all the pain and suffering those dying slaves were experiencing on that scene. It was in a dungeon cell where dying men were imprisoned. I actually felt and smelled blood as I was viewing the painting. I think it stirred me so much because I was in chains of misery myself from a sinful life.
The bible tells us that if we don’t confess our sins and turn to God, we will be in total darkness.
PRAYER
Lord, please remind me to confess my sins and repent always.
REFLECTION
Share an experience of gloom and darkness as a result of unconfessed sins.
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