February 23
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PUT NOT YOUR TRUST IN PRINCES
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.3 Put not your trust in princes,
In a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.4 When his breath departs,
He returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
But the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.10 The LORD will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! – Psalm 146:1-10
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This psalm is a song of hope. All God’s people praise the Lord. They sing songs of worship to him. They declare that there is no one trustworthy put the God of Jacob, who has delivered his people from the enemies and who made a covenant with them. They worship the one and only creator of all the heaven and earth, the sea and everything in it. The character of God is recited by those who love him. They speak of his provision, protection, healing, his justice and bondage breaker. They edify the Lord by speaking of all that he has done for his people.
Do we meditate on the attributes of God in our busy lives now? We have gone so far from these faithful and committed people of God. Let us never forget to sing praises to the God who is Maker of all. We need to put our trust only in him.
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ADORATION: May the God of Jacob be blessed and praised forever by all nations.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I fail to remember your character focus only on mine.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for making us in your image; we have hope that we can one day be like you, full of unconditional love.
SUPPLICATION: May we trust only in the Lord who made all things and knows all things.
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REFLECTION
• Why shouldn’t we put our trust in mere humans? Why trust only God?
Tag Archives: trust
TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD Poem Devotional
February 6
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TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!
4 May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
And in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions! 6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
He will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
But we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.
9 O LORD, save the king! May he answer us when we call. – Psalm 20:1-9
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This psalm is a royal psalm and is paired with Psalm 21. It is a prayer requesting God to grant David triumph in the battles he fights. It is a blessing to the king as he fulfills his anointing to save the Israelites. It is a hopeful declaration of trust that the Lord will anoint and bless their king because the Lord himself chose and anointed David.
How often do we pray for our leaders and rulers? 1 Timothy 1-4 encourages us to pray for those in authority so that we will live peaceful and godly lives. This psalm is a good reminder for us to lift up our leaders and rulers in prayer. This way, they may fulfill how God intended them to lead the people assigned to them and propagate peace in their region. When we pray for authorities, we participate in the kingdom plan to be fulfilled.
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ADORATION: Praise and bless you Lord! We shout for joy for you have redeemed us all.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I forget to pray for those who are leading our nations.
THANKSGIVING: We are grateful for all our leaders. Thank you that you are in control.
SUPPLICATION: May all leaders have a servant leadership like Jesus did. May they see their roles as opportunities to pursue peace and humility and bring peace to all nations.
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REFLECTION
• What benefits do we reap when we pray for all leaders and rulers?
ON TRUST AND DECEPTION Poem Devotional
December 26________________________________________
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. – Psalm 25:3 (NLT)
ON TRUST AND DECEPTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ
They will be guaranteed a shame-free life
The Lord protects those who honor him
He does everything to ensure their integrity.
When you deceive others intentionally
You will be full of shame and disgraced instantly
The Lord commands us to walk in love and peace
He wants us to live in purity and to stay always free.
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In my dark past, I have lived with people who have compromised their lives and have no integrity. The hardest people to be with are those who are dishonest and always out to deceive others to get what they want. What a shameful life it was to be these people. I became accessory to their evil ways because I was so scared to lose these relationships. By doing so, I lived a life of shame as well.
I thank God that he has freed me from these lies that I lived in and freed me from the fear of not being loved. I am grateful that I was no longer a slave of my desires and cravings. What matters most to me now is to trust the Lord and obey his commands. When I did, I was freed from shame and guilt.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being the only one I can truly trust.
REFLECTION
What do you do when you see someone you love deceives others?
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
WHOEVER BELIEVES WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN Poem Devotional
December 20________________________________________
Look I am placing a foundation in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It’s a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
– Isaiah 28:16(NLT)
WHOEVER BELIEVES WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
When God promised a Messiah to all of mankind
He gave them Jesus, a solid and firm foundation
From the lineage of King David is where he came from
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone that will never be shaken.
Whoever believes in the Lord will be secure
They will be changed and their hearts renewed
If they continue to seek him for guidance and protection
They will be strong and they will always win over temptations.
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There were years of my life that I wavered in my faith. Those were the years when I was a teenager up until my late twenties. I believed in the Lord, but I was living a life of legalism and materialism as well. In other words, I was flip-flopping from the world and my faith. No one guided me to seek the Lord and his word. I was surrounded by religion, different philosophies and traditions. Sadly, in those years, I was waylaid and was consumed by the culture and worldly systems.
I am grateful and amazed at how God has delivered me from all of these wavering faith. Now, I firmly anchor my life on his word and seek him first always.
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PRAYER
Thank you for being the strength in my life Lord.
REFLECTION
Share moments when you felt so strong and not threatened by the world’s system.
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
ONLY THOSE WHOM GOD HELPS Poem Devotional
December 12________________________________________
If this is the case, it is better not to marry! Not everyone can accept this statement, Jesus said “Only those whom God helps.” – Matthew 19:10-11(NLT)
ONLY THOSE WHOM GOD HELPS
A poem and essay by ILMA
God created us to serve Him and with others
We can only stay single with God’s precious help
It is only possible to be alone with his assistance
Only if we seek Him first will we discern his guidance.
Celibacy is possible only if you’ll commit to serve Christ
Otherwise, you won’t be able to make it alone in this life
You will only survive being single if you serve the Lord
You won’t stay pure in your own strength or effort.
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There was a whole decade of my life that I stayed celibate. Prior to that ten years, I was a prisoner of sexual sins. That was one of my addiction, a love addict. When I decided to raise my son alone after being in an abusive relationship, I promised the Lord that I will stay pure for him. I wanted to be a good mother and role model to my son. I couldn’t have done it if God didn’t help me. I vowed to make him first in my life and the center of my life. I made Christ my husband and the perfect father for my son. Because I was faithful to Christ, He made it possible for me to pure for a decade.
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PRAYER
Lord, hep those who are staying single to serve you.
REFLECTION
How can celibacy be possible in this corrupt world?
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
BY YOUR OWN FAITH Poem Devotional
September 28________________________________________
We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm. – 2 Corinthians 1:24 (NLT)
BY YOUR OWN FAITH
A poem and essay by ILMA
By faith, one can have joy and peace
When you believe in Jesus, you will see
For it is by your own faith that you stand firm
Seek, trust and surrender only to Him.
Work with other believers so your faith can multiply
Seek the truth in love and make sure you follow and apply
By your faith, you can shine for the Lord Jesus Christ
It is by making God first that you transform your life.
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There are some lax Christians who don’t build up their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They think that by declaring him as their Lord and Savior, they are already saved and need not do anything anymore. It is true that we live by God’s grace alone, but he also appreciates those who are faithful to obey and seek him and do what he commands. The book of James tells us that when we have trials, we have a chance to grow our faith because God gives us the strength to endure when we go through difficulties. He can always make miracles but he also wants us to grow our faith because it is by our own faith that we become strong and joyful.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to grow my faith in you.
REFLECTION
How can working together with other Christians help grow our faith?
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
TRUST IN THE LORD Poem Devotional
November 28
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Those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. -Psalm 34:10(NLT)
TRUST IN THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you believe that God is taking care of you?
He wants your pure heart and a mind that is new
If you trust in the Lord with all your heart and soul
He will provide give you a life that will overflow.
If you have confidence that he will supply
You won’t lack any good thing in your life
Continue to depend on the Lord for everything
He will grant your requests and in all good things.
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Where or who do we put our trust into? Is it in your strength or in people that you rely on? I had a big issue with trust. I grew up being let down by all those people who was supposed to be my caregivers. I didn’t have a safe environment. Being constantly criticized by those who claim they love you is a very unhealthy environment for a very young child. In a loving family, there is affirmation and positive environment, so the child learns to trust and grow into a loving person. When a child is neglected and emotionally abused, safety is a rarity. That child learns to fend for himself and not rely on anyone. The bible tells us to trust in the Lord and we will lack no good thing.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be able to depend on you for all things.
REFLECTION
Why is trusting the Lord essential in a Christian’s 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
WHEN YOU TRUST A FOOL
July 7
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Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
– Proverbs 26:6 (NLT)
WHEN YOU TRUST A FOOL
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you trust a fool, you’ll be spun in their foolishness
They will do their best to keep you away from righteousness
When you trust a fool, you will not be away from trouble
It is compromising your life and getting into a big gamble.
When you trust a fool to pass on a message
It would be like jumping into a big wreckage
It is like drinking poison or cutting off your feet
You will continually experience instability and defeat.
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I lived with a fool for almost a decade. It was the most unproductive years of my life. I don’t blame everything on this man because, I too was a fool to even make that choice to relate with him intimately. It was an experience that led me to ruin. When I trusted this fool, I began to compromise my relationship with the Lord. I got involved with witchcraft because he was so much into it. Since he was way older than me, he was able to manipulate and corrupt my values. Because of the stronghold I had when I lived with him, I experienced spiritual death during those years I was linked to him. Trusting a fool brings you harm or death.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from foolish people.
REFLECTION
Why do you think foolishness is harmful?
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
I’LL PUT MY HOPE IN GOD poem devotional
March 8________________________________________
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-my Savior and my God. -Psalm 43:5(NLT)
I’LL PUT MY HOPE IN GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever I feel down and discouraged
I will put my hope in God so I’ll have the courage
When things seem bleak and hopeless
I will look beyond feeling frustrated and helpless.
Why is my heart so sad when my mind can’t fathom?
I need to praise the Lord with complete abandon
I will put my hope in Christ for he is full of grace
I will focus on my God so I will continue to be amazed.
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Was there ever a time in your life when you were frustrated, desperate, helpless and hopeless? I am sure at some point you were in this predicament. There were many dark periods in over 5 decades of my life. I even came to a point when I argued and battled with the Lord over many things I did not understand. I manipulated and made vows and deals with him just so I can have my way. I was a controlling woman who’d do anything to get her wishes and dreams fulfilled. I thank God that he delivered me from this desperation, manipulation and rebellion that enslaved me. I will put my hope in my God and I will completely trust him.
PRAYER
Lord, teach us humility and obedience when we get discouraged.
REFLECTION
What do you do or who do you run to when you feel helpless?
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
TRUST IN THE WORD Poem Devotional
February 13________________________________________
For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does.
-Psalm 33:4(NLT)
TRUST IN THE WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you need wisdom, run to the Word
It will guide you to navigate this corrupt world
When you need help and guidance
It gives you practical options and assistance.
Trust in the Word, for it holds true
We can be safe; it will deliver us from rue
The word is the sword that can beat all evil
Use it at all times to expose the lies of the devil.
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It is a pity that a lot of Christians do not know the benefits of knowing and meditating on God’s word. I wasn’t aware of its benefit for many decades because I wasn’t surrounded by believers while I was growing up. There are many people who do not regard the bible as the main source of life. Without God’s word, we will all be living in the dark.
There are many advantages in knowing, meditating and memorizing Scriptures. It says in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all Scriptures is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. In Matthew 4, Christ used God’s word to answer the devil’s tempting. Trust in the word.
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PRAYER
Please give me a hunger for your word, Lord.
REFLECTION
Describe a time when God’s word popped out of the pages and pierced your heart.
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