March 17
________________________________________
PSALM 40 SPEAK OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AND SALVATION
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. 10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 11 As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! 12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! 14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!” 17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! – Psalm 40:9-17
________________________________________PROCLAIMING GOD’S DELIVERANCE by ILMA
O Lord, I am forever grateful to be delivered from sin
Your steadfast love sustains me and is so amazing
Your faithfulness keeps me stable and preserves me
Grace and mercy abound when we confess and repent.
Though my iniquities can be overwhelming at times
You never failed to forgive and extend your mercy to me
I will proclaim to the congregation of your goodness
Let all the nations know your righteousness.
Great is the Lord who thinks of me who is not worthy
He is the source of my help and deliverance
I will never get tired to speaking of his miracles
I will forever serve my Lord, my God and my all.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why did the psalmist mention and admit that he is poor and needy in verse17? What does that tell us of the condition of his heart?
Tag Archives: Psalm
CHILDLIKE TRUST IN THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 2
________________________________________
CHILDLIKE TRUST IN THE LORD
O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
Or in things too difficult for me.
2 Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever. – Psalm 131
________________________________________
Children are special in God’s eyes. Jesus says in Matthew 18:3 “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” This clearly indicates the importance of having a childlike perspective in life. Children are pure and innocent. Adults have a tendency to be corrupt and tainted with the world. The psalmist comes to the Lord with a childlike attitude and rests in God like a child to his mother.
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise the Lord for his amazing grace and love. He is the king of all kings, Lord of all lords. He is mighty and full of compassion and understanding. He is omniscient and omnipotent.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord for not guarding my mind and heart and allowing the standards of the world and human traditions to color the way I see things. I have judged others and thought that I was better than them.
THANKSGIVING: I am grateful for your provision of having a comfortable home despite a divided marriage. Thank you that my husband has a job that allows me to fully be at home and serve you Lord.
SUPPLICATION: I pray that all believers will see things like a child who is like a sponge, absorbing all that you are saying and teaching us. May peace permeate the hearts of all men and may they come to you Lord for every little thing they ask for. Give us a heart that constantly depend on you for all things.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is a childlike attitude important in approaching God?
DESPITE MY BITTERNESS Poem Devotional
Nov 11
________________________________________
Then I realized my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant – I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you, you hold my right hand. – Psalm 73:21-23(NLT)
DESPITE MY BITTERNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Despite my bitterness, you continued to love me
Even when I didn’t forgive, you waited patiently
I must have seemed senseless and foolish
Yet, I still belong to you and considered precious.
In the face of my anger and resentment
You waited for my return and was so lenient
You showed me compassion and loyalty
After all my disobedience, arrogance and cruelty.
________________________________________Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. This is a command given to us in Ephesians 4:31-32. Bitterness is a form of anger. The Hebrew word for bitterness is “marah” which means to be contentious or rebellious. When someone is bitter, we know for sure that there is discontent in that person’s heart. Bitterness can be like cancer. It can slowly kill our joy, peace and belief in God. We can have the root of bitterness and yet not be aware of it. Despite our bitterness, God still love us and is faithful.
PRAYER
Lord, reveal to me any signs of bitterness in my heart.
REFLECTION
How has bitterness affected your 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