Aug 18 The Power of God’s Word
I do nothing on my own but say only what the father taught me.
– John 8:28(NLT)
NOTHING ON MY OWN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Can you do anything without Christ?
Without God’s guide, there will be no light
Jesus did nothing on his own
He reaped what his father sown.
If you believe in the Lord
You must bring him all applaud
You can do nothing without the father
You must love all your sisters and brothers.
Many years of my life, I lived for pleasing the “self.” That was what the world taught me to be. I aimed at a goal to achieve and success at getting it was something to be proud of. My parents taught me the value of setting goals and working hard at achieving reaching them.”If I focused on achieving my goals, I will be a success” became my philosophy for a long time. Sadly, no matter how much achievements I got, I still felt empty and lost. The only time I felt peace and joy was when I was freed from this worldly principle of taking pride in my achievements. The bible convicted me of my pride in my own work.
Jesus did nothing out of his own, but only did what God taught him. He spoke only what God would say and did what he commanded.
PRAYER
Lord, I completely surrender to you.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to align our life to God’s will?
Tag Archives: Poem devotional
IF YOU REALLY KNOW ME Poem Devotional
Aug 17 The Power of God’s Word
If you had really known me, you would know who my father is.
– John 14:7(NLT)
IF YOU REALLY KNOW ME
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you really know me, you would follow
If you seek me, you would have tomorrow
If you love me, you will obey my father
If you want me, you will care for others.
Those who hunger and want a relationship with me
They will get healed from their brokenness and be free
Once you know who I am, you’d know my father
You are my disciple if you care for your sisters and brothers.
Have you ever desired to know someone deeply? The word love has been so misused and abused that many people hardly know what it really means. To love someone is to know him or her so intimately. How can people claim that they love somebody when they hardly know anything about that person? It is a shame to say you love someone and yet not have the desire to want to know him or her deeply.
The bible claims in John 14:7 that if we know Jesus, then we know who the heavenly father is as well. This verse tells us that the Son and the Father are one. Jesus represented God. He made him amongst us so we can know him.
PRAYER
Lord, give me a hunger to know you.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to seek to follow and know Jesus?
AUTHORITY OVER THE ENEMY Poem Devotional
Aug 16 The Power of God’s Word
Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
– Luke 10:19(NLT)
AUTHORITY OVER THE ENEMY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you aware of your enemy’s tactics?
Do you allow him to use his tricks?
Believers are given authority over the enemy
Exercise it by keeping peace and embracing humility.
If you believe in Christ, you have nothing to worry
His sacrifice on the cross has granted you victory
You need to expose the lies with God’s word
Keep a close relationship with the Lord.
Are you aware that you have an unseen enemy daily who attacks you every moment they can sneak? Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. They are invisible so we must be able to sense and discern when they are attacking. Sadly, many Christians are not even aware of this truth and that’s why the enemy easily manipulates them like puppets.
The bible tells us that we have authority over the enemy and we need not fear because we can walk amongst them and crush them. Nothing can hurt us when we are God’s people.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to have the confidence to exercise my authority over the enemy.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to wear God’s armor at all times?
CHURCH IS GOD’S WARFARE Poem Devotional
Aug 15 The Power of God’s Word
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
– Ephesians 3:10 (NLT)
CHURCH IS GOD’S WARFARE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you belong to the body of Christ?
Does God use you to shine his light?
The purpose of the church is to display God’s wisdom
It is to combat the unseen rulers who attack His kingdom.
This is why we need to be part of Christ’s body
It shows that we are his soldiers marching for victory
It displays God’s wisdom in its rich variety
It diminishes evil and darkness caused by the enemy.
There are many believers who do not go to church because of past experiences that were unpleasant. Some Christians justify that since they are reading the bible daily and following Christ, they need not be part of a church. As believers, we are expected to partake in the body of Christ. As family members of the church, we all have roles to play in preaching the good news and spreading his kingdom.
God’s purpose for the church is to display his wisdom to the unseen rulers. When we participate in church, we are like God’s soldiers bravely taking part in his warfare with the spirit realm.
PRAYER
Lord, give me courage to be your soldier.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to be part of a church?
GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING Poem devotional
Aug 14 The Power of God’s Word
He knows everything, doesn’t he also know what you are doing? The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless. – Psalm 94:10-11(NLT)
A poem and essay by ILMA
What are your thoughts today?
Do you allow God to renew your mind every day?
God knows every thought and action each person does
Do you really think you can hide from his care and love?
He knows our thoughts are worthless
Yet he doesn’t condemn or love us any less
He wants us to be transformed into his likeness
God’s word protects us from evil and darkness.
Have you ever met anyone who can guess what you are thinking every moment? Only God knows everything. So many people sin by assuming or presuming they know people’s thoughts and intentions. Most of us don’t even realize that it is a sin to dwell on theories about someone’s thoughts or guess why people do things. We are not God, so we don’t have the power to read into other people’s minds or intentions. It is an act of pride and arrogance to do so.
The bible tells us that it is only God who knows everything. He knows people’s thoughts which are worthless. That is why he gave us his words to train our thoughts to become pure like his.
PRAYER
Lord, never allow me to presume anything.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants us to stop assuming or presuming things?
HEALER OF THE BROKENHEARTED Poem Devotional
Aug 13 The Power of God’s Word
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. – Psalm 147:3 (NLT)
HEALER OF THE BROKENHEARTED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Who has hurt you my child?
You need not run from me or hide?
I am your father who loves you so
Why do you keep listening to your foes?
I am your Lord, the healer of the brokenhearted
I will bandage your wounds and get you mended
I have come to rescue you and grant you salvation
Believe in me and you will get total renewal and restoration.
We were all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). God is love (1John 4:8). When someone does not walk in love, he or she is not fulfilling what God has designed them to be.
Let’s take the example of an artist’s life. He puts his heart, mind and soul to create a masterpiece. The canvas has no life on its own. It is at the painter who will decide what to put in it. He has total control of where he wants his work to go, what to put and what to subtract. He removes the undesirable areas of his work to turn it into a masterpiece.
God is the healer of the brokenhearted. He heals them and bandages their wounds. God transforms us so we can become the masterpieces he originally planned us to be.
PRAYER
Lord, mold me into your image.
REFLECTION
How has God dealt with your brokenness?
INSIGHT FOR LIVING Poem Devotional
Aug 12 The Power of God’s Word
The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Psalm 20:8(NLT)
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord’s commands are right
They bring joy to the heart
The word of God breaks all confusion
When you seek it, you will have a revelation.
The commandments are clear
It drives all conflicts and fear
They guide us and give insight for living
It helps us from wondering and wandering.
Have you ever travelled to a new place without a map or a tourist guide? Can you imagine how lost you would be and how much time can be wasted wandering around and figuring out which way to go? Travel agencies help you make your vacation trips more enjoyable and less chaotic. With access to internet, you can now plan your holiday outings from other people’s experience of the places and how they rate it. To enjoy our trips we need to have a plan. It is the same in life. Without preparation and guidelines, we can’t enjoy life and have peace.
The bible says that the commandments of God are right and clear. It brings joy to us and insight for living. Without God’s truth, we will be wandering or even be lost. We need a map.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to follow your commands.
REFLECTION
How do you avail of the guidelines that God gave you?
SOURCE OF JOY Poem Devotional
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
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
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?