Tag Archives: Poem devotional

BUILD OTHERS UP IN THE LORD Poem Devotional

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May 5                                                                                    The Power of God’s Word

We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  –Romans 15:1-2(NLT)     

BUILD OTHERS UP IN THE LORD

A poem by ILMA

To think only of one’s own self is not pleasing to God

Catering to your flesh does not bring him laud

Christ wants us to help others do what is right

He expects us to build each other up to stay in the light.

Reflect a life in pursuit of righteousness

This will bring others to follow that goodness

It encourages hope, faith, joy and compassion

It clearly manifests a life full of love and passion.

A lot of believers have turned their backs to the church simply because they see so much conflict in how people live their lives and what they believe in. Somehow, some Christians have separated their beliefs from how they live. This is not how God wants us to be. James 1:22 says that we don’t just listen to God’s word, but must do what it says.

The bible talks more about others than self. It says that we must not just please ourselves but do what is right and build others up in the Lord. We are asked to encourage and build one another in God’s love and in following his commands.

PRAYER

Lord, help me be an example of love and righteousness.

REFLECTION

Why is it important to encourage one another in Christ?

 

 

SEEKING GOD’S APPROVAL Poem Devotional

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May 1                                                                       The Power of God’s Word
And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. –Psalm 90:17(NLT)

A poem by ILMA
Do you find yourself fixated on pleasing someone?
Do you try to search for happiness from everyone?
Do you consult God for every little plan you make?
Do you just do things for your own sake?
May the Lord show you his approval and consent
In all you do, seek his guidance and his presence
Whenever you confer with him, he gives you insight
If you ask in faith, you will bring him joy and delight.
I was raised to be very independent and was surrounded by people who were self-reliant. Identifying and discussing problems and issues in our families were taboo. The authorities in my life made it a point that all issues are dismissed and never talked about. I grew up making my own decisions without consulting anyone and I took pride in doing so. Each time I make the right one, I pat myself on the back for it, as if it was an achievement.
The bible tells us to align all our plans, choices and decisions with God. We will be blessed and anointed if we seek God’s consent rather than other people’s viewpoint. When we seek God first, he will grant our efforts and make it successful.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to seek your counsel always.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to get God’s approval?

JOYFUL HEARTS SEEK PEACE Poem Devotional

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April 29                                                                         The Power of God’s Word
Deceit fills the hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace.–Proverbs 12:20 (NLT)
JOYFUL HEARTS SEEK PEACE
A poem by ILMA
What is in your heart these days?
Does it seek God and all his ways?
Do you find joy in your daily life?
Do you choose truth and stay in the light?
Deceit fills the hearts that are plotting evil
They are prisoners of their own desires and of the devil
Joyful hearts dwell on peace and love
They constantly seek the father up above.
In a world of corruption, we can be deceived by its standards and dictates. No wonder we live in so much confusion and turmoil. It is a difficult feat to seek God amidst all the distractions and noise around us. How can we protect ourselves from all the challenges we face in our world today and stay pure for God? Sadly, many of us view this life as the meaning of our existence. Most of us believe the lie that we are made for this world and not for God.
The bible tells us that we can distinguish a heart that seeks God from a heart that seeks the world. Deceit fills the hearts that are plotting evil while joy fills the hearts of those who plan for peace. Peaceful hearts embrace love and joy.
PRAYER
Lord, guide me to constantly choose peace.
REFLECTION
Is your heart joyful or full of deception?

STEER CLEAR OF ANGER Poem devotional

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April 26 The Power of God’s Word
Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. –Proverbs 22:24-25 (NLT)
A poem by ILMA
Do you associate with angry people?
Be wary for your spiritual progress will detour.
Steer clear of anger and quarrelsome beings
Your soul will be endangered by their bickering.
Have nothing to do with anyone who thrives on conflict
They will constantly keep you on edge and rob you of peace
Resentment, arrogance and judgment are all anger’s signs
They may be calm on the outside but imploding on the inside.
If I had known what the bible says about anger in my younger days, I would have steered away from it. It took me many years to realize that I was an angry person myself. Anger was something I absorbed from my own family and from someone I lived with. It was a stronghold in my family. The two types of anger are implosions and explosions. I was both exposed to the two types. For over 3 decades I was implosive and explosive for a couple of years. I can see through an angry person easily after being one for many years. The bible tells us to steer clear from anger and angry people or you will endanger your soul.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to stay away from conflicts.
REFLECTION
When does anger becomes sin? How can you avoid anger?

GOD SEES WHAT THE WICKED DOES Poem Devotional

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April 22                                                                                    The Power of God’s Word

The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them.         –Proverbs 21:12 (NLT)     

 

A poem by ILMA

Do you often wonder why God allows evil to happen?

Why do people’s hearts continually harden?

How can we help those who are experiencing violence?

Are we bold enough to expose their insolence?

God sees the evil things the wicked does

He watches over those who obey and trusts

He may allow wickedness to take place

God will bring justice and that is what his word says.

Evil lurks in our society. A lot of people have lost faith in God because of the prevalence of wickedness. People question why God would allow such things to happen especially to the weak and vulnerable. I’ve had my share of blaming God for the many sufferings I’ve experienced in life until I studied his word. He revealed to me that after all the pain I went through, he was there to protect me and later on bring justice to my abusers.  He also taught me to forgive so I can be free. The bible tells us that God is a god of justice. We may not be able to comprehend why bad things happen, but God is always watching and promised to bring justice.

PRAYER

Lord, teach me how to trust you.

REFLECTION

Why is faith essential especially in times of crisis?

 

 

 

THE FUTILITY OF PLEASURE Poem Devotional

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April 21                                                                                    The Power of God’s Word

Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even find great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors.     –Ecclesiastes 2:10 (NLT)     

THE FUTILITY OF PLEASURE

A poem by ILMA

What pleasures do you constantly chase?

Do you run after your own cravings or follow what God says?

Are you relentless in the pursuit of your aspirations?

Do you reward yourself instantly or do you delay gratification?

Seeking pleasure is futile and pointless

It defies your purpose in life which is to be selfless

All pleasures want to satisfy the self

It aims only to serve one’s own flesh.

King Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes late in his life when he had chased almost every worldly pursuit imaginable. Later on, he realized that everything is meaningless unless we fear and worship God and obey his commands.  It reminds me so much of my life when I pursued goals, ambitions, achievements just so I can be proud of myself. I rewarded myself for working very hard. I boasted of every little progress I made.  I took pleasure in rewarding myself for all the hard work I put into it.

King Solomon warned us in Ecclesiastes 2:10 that we must be careful not to be consumed by worldly pleasures and be in constant pursuit of gaining it.

PRAYER

Lord, protect me from selfishness and greed.

REFLECTION

Do you think seeking pleasures is a form of idolatry? Why or why not?

THE YOKE OF HIS DISCIPLINE Poem Devotional

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glen haffy conservation2013 144April 20                                                                                  The Power of God’s Word

And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline.

                                                      -Lamentations 3:27 (NLT)

 

A poem by ILMA

It is good for people to submit to God early

The yoke of his will break bondages severely

Surrendering your will to the Father when you are young

It will protect you from rebellion, lawlessness and harm.

The yoke of his discipline can bring restraint early on in life

The Lord tames your flesh and brings you light

He will guard you from falling into sin

He will bind you in his love and he will redeem.

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.  The Bible makes frequent use of the yoke as a symbol of work and servitude. Jesus asks us to take his yoke upon us and let him teach us because he is humble and gentle at heart. He assures us that his yoke is easy to bear and his burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

The bible says that it is good for people to submit to the yoke of God’s discipline at an early age. When we yoke ourselves in God’s discipline, we will find peace and be free from sin’s bondage.

PRAYER

Lord, keep me yoked to you.

REFLECTION

Why is being yoked to Jesus early in our lives essential to a Christian’s life?

ALL FOR GOOD Poem Devotional

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April 18                                                                                  The Power of God’s Word

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

                                                                                    -Romans 8:28 (NLT)

ALL FOR GOOD

A poem by ILMA

When times are rough and challenging

Do you endure and keep on believing?

When you are rejected and violated

Do you get discouraged or feel offended?

When it all seems hopeless and looks like we are doomed

God causes everything to work together for our good

He is the only one who knows and sees

Give back his love and trust him completely.

Do you find it hard to completely trust someone? This is an area in my life that I struggled a lot with. It could be because I am a very visual person and that I have to see things to believe. Just like the apostle Thomas who has to see Jesus to believe that he has resurrected, I have a hard time just having faith unless I see it.

The bible tells us that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose. In other words we are invited to trust God completely because he has the best plan for the lives of those whom he has chosen.

PRAYER

Lord, show me how to trust you completely.

REFLECTION

Why is faith essential in a believer’s salvation ?

 

PRAYING IN SOLITUDE Poem Devotional

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April 17                                                                                    The Power of God’s Word

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.      –Mark 1:35 (NLT)     

PRAYING IN SOLITUDE

A poem by ILMA

Do you find time each day to isolate from this world?

Do you seek God and study his word?

Jesus went to a place apart from the rest

He went to God to consult him and get blessed.

When no one is looking

That’s the best time for praying

Uninterrupted moments with our father

It will bring us to his kingdom closer.

We live in a world full of noise and distractions. We do everything to reach our goals in life. We provide for ourselves and our families. In the process, we get consumed by this world and lose perspective of who we are and who we belong to. We don’t prioritize praying to our heavenly father who provides for all our needs.

Jesus, the son of God always knew his priorities. The bible says that even before daybreak, he got up and went to an isolated place to pray. This was right after Jesus healed so many sick people.  In the midst of ministering to the sick and broken people, Jesus found time to go to his father just before he face another crowd of people who would clamor for more miracles and healing.

PRAYER

Lord, allow me to be with you intimately often.

REFLECTION

Why is it important to have a quiet place to pray?