SORROW REFINES US Poem Devotional

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February 23________________________________________
Sorrow is better than laughter for sadness has a refining influence on us.
-Ecclesiastes 7:3(NLT)
SORROW REFINES US
A poem and essay by ILMA
When we go through trials and challenges
We can stay broken or embrace changes
Let grief bring us closer to Christ
It can refine us and transform our lives.
Losing something or someone can bring pain
Looking up to Jesus will turn that agony into gain
Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort and console you
If you learn to live with sorrow, you’ll be renewed.
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There are many people who do not deal with grief or loss in a godly manner. Some people stay stuck in blaming, anger or wallowing in pity. I got stuck in anger for many years simply because I didn’t acknowledge the loses I went through. I fixed myself and covered up the anger with performance and achievements. I was deceived by the enemy into thinking that I can patch up all my pain with worldly pursuits. So it took over five decades of running around in circles of anger which later turned into rage. It wasn’t explosive outward fury. It was a very subtle slow form of wrath that imprisoned my spirit. Because I didn’t acknowledge the many loses I had, it opened the door for more sins. The bible tells us that sorrow is better than laughter for it refines us and brings us on our knees to God.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to have a positive attitude towards sorrow.
REFLECTION
When was the last time you grieved over someone or something? Did it make you strong?
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

SORROW THAT FREES Poem Devotional

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June 19
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For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance results in spiritual death. -2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT)
SORROW THAT FREES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Sorrow that doesn’t involve penitence
Usually doesn’t clear the conscience
When we grieve and wallow in sadness
It doesn’t lead us to peace and happiness.
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience
Is that kind that results in salvation and repentance
This sadness shields us from death and brings life
It frees us from guilt and leads us to God’s light.
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Whenever we have a loss, we usually go through the process of grief. Never was it mentioned in the bible that believers will be free from sorrow. In fact, Jesus Christ himself wept in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was captured. He felt such sadness because he knows exactly how he will be betrayed by his own disciple and how he will be put to death. He wasn’t afraid of death or suffering, he was weeping for the hardened hearts of those who will crucify him and not being saved. It was a godly sorrow. He was repenting for the sins of his accusers.
The bible talks about the sorrow that frees. It leads us away from sin and brings us to seek God.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from worldly sorrow and lead me to godly sorrow.
REFLECTION
What was the consequences of worldly sorrow in 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

GOD KNOWS AND KEEPS TRACK Poem Devotional

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Aug 21                                                            The Power of God’s Word
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. – Psalm 56:8(NLT)
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord knows and keeps track of all your sorrows
Whenever you feel down and seems there is no tomorrow
He wants you to trust him as you go through life’s battles
He has collected all your tears in your own bottle.
God keeps track of all your pain and suffering
He keeps a record of all the difficulties you are enduring
He knows every detail of your anguish
He wants you to overcome it and flourish.
Do you ever feel hopeless or helpless in your life? Sometimes life’s challenges can bring a person down. I used to be a pessimist and easily drawn to negativity. God has transformed me into a grateful person. He taught me to count my blessings and I kept a thank you diary since I was in my twenties. After many years of listing all the things I can be thankful for, I noticed how my negativity had melted down.
The bible tells us that God keeps track of all our sorrows. He collects all our tears in our assigned bottles and records everything. He knows every detail of our pain.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for loving me much.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to be grateful for all that we have?