April 28 The Power of God’s Word
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. –James 1:19,20 (NLT)
QUICK TO LISTEN
A poem by ILMA
Are you quick to listen or to react?
Are you defensive or do you listen to facts?
When we rend our mouth and our emotions
We find peace and come up with resolutions.
Have an ear that is swift to pay attention
Guard your mouth so you can overcome temptations
Carefully watch your thoughts and emotions
Reacting hastily can bring trouble and destruction.
Have you ever regretted a quick reaction you made to someone? Has there been something you said that you wish you could have refrained from escaping your lips? In our fast paced world, it is almost impossible not to react swiftly. I used to teach my students that one of the barriers to effective communication is poor listening skills.
The bible tells us that we must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger because it does not manifest the righteousness of God. In other words, the righteous person knows how to control their emotions, their mouth, and their reactions. Self-control is a fruit of the spirit of God. The absence of such fruit shows spiritual immaturity.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to have self-control.
REFLECTION
Why is self-control essential in enjoying a peaceful and joyful life?
Author Archives: ilmaarts
THE SECRET TO WISDOM Poem Devotional
April 27 The Power of God’s Word
Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. –Proverbs 19:20 (NLT)
THE SECRET TO WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
Do you want to gain wisdom and insight?
Seek God’s word and your mind will be right
When you heed instructions from the wise
You will gain knowledge from good advice.
Get all the guidance and teachings you can take
They will help you avoid mistakes and heartaches
The secret to wisdom is seeking God’s word
It will bring victory over this corrupt world.
Have you ever talked to a very wise person? If you ask the secret to their wisdom, they will probably include a life full of challenges and opportunities to grow. My paternal grandmother always had a lot of wise words to share and inspiring stories that shows her insight about many different aspects of life.
The bible tells us that the secret to wisdom is to get all the advice and instructions you can. It will lead you to a rich and blessed life. Most people who only want to follow their own thinking don’t go very far in life. They stay where they are and are afraid of changes. Those who never want to listen to anyone’s advice or instruction end up having limited knowledge and insight.
PRAYER
Lord, give me humility to seek other’s advice and counsel.
REFLECTION
Why is consulting someone else a good idea when making decisions?
STEER CLEAR OF ANGER Poem devotional
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?
REMEDY FOR SADNESS &DISCOURAGEMENT Poem Devotional
April 25 The Power of God’s Word
My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be. 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 42:4, 5 (NLT)
A poem by ILMA
Is your heart broken and sad?
Pray to God so you will be glad
Allow him to hear your hurts and pain
Then praise him for his mighty name.
Put your hope in God despite adversities
Even if you can’t see a glimpse of hope in your difficulties
Don’t listen to the enemy’s lies and deception
Let your lips release God’s word to fight temptations.
Do you get days when you just feel sad, lonely or discouraged? Sometimes a situation or a medical condition can bring someone down. It could probably because you are not getting enough rest or nutrition. Maybe someone has let you down or didn’t live up to your expectations.
The psalmist in psalm 42 gives us a remedy to sadness and discouragement. He poured out his brokenness to the Lord and chose to put his hope in God. He also praised God and called his name as his Savior and God. Worship and praise remedies these feelings. We have the choice to choose to live beyond our feelings and praise God.
PRAYER
Lord, replace my negative feelings with your truth.
REFLECTION
Why do you think praise stops sadness?
CONSEQUENCE OF REFUSAL TO LOVE Poem Devotional
April 24 The Power of God’s Word
He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived and they will believe these lies. -2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 (NLT)
CONSEQUENCE OF REFUSAL TO LOVE
A poem by ILMA
The enemy hunts people who are unloving
He easily preys on those who are hurting
He would do anything to keep you from the truth
He wants you to stay in the dark and have no roots.
Be wary when you refuse to follow God’s commands
You are vulnerable to deception and cannot take reprimands
The moment you allow your hearts to harden and be corrupted
God will cause you to be greatly deceived and bewildered.
Have you ever been in a relationship with someone so angry and arrogant? They are very hard to deal with. It almost feels like walking on eggshells. You have to be very careful about everything you say or do or you might be the recipient of their wrath. No matter what they went through, they made a choice not to love or forgive. We are warned about the aftermath of unloving hearts. They eventually accept the lies of the enemy and live it. They live in deception and cannot decipher truth from lies.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to walk in love.
REFLECTION
How can refusal to love give a foothold to the devil?
THE LORD RESCUES THE RIGHTEOUS Poem Devotional
April 23 The Power of God’s Word
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken. –Psalm 34:19-20 (NLT)
THE LORD RESCUES THE RIGHTEOUS
A poem by ILMA
Those who obey the Lord isn’t trouble free
They learn and get strong through adversity
Their righteousness gives them a viewpoint that is godly
They find lessons in life and see things objectively.
The Lord rescues the righteous in times of difficulties
God ensures that they are intact and live life freely
He protects their bones and not one of them is broken
He promises them a life with him and his Son in heaven.
Some people think that when someone is godly and righteous, they are free from troubles. On the contrary, it is the opposite. The moment someone declares Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the more challenging it is for the enemy to attack and get us in his camp. God refines us by purifying and perfecting our faith. He readies each one to be part of his big plan.
The bible says that God doesn’t allow the righteous to be broken or crushed. The difference between an unbeliever and a Christian is God’s protection. When a believer is going through difficulties, God doesn’t abandon them. Instead, he rescues them.
PRAYER
Lord, allow whatever it is that will make me grow.
REFLECTION
How has God protected you during your troubles?
GOD SEES WHAT THE WICKED DOES Poem Devotional
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
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
April 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?
April 19 Give up Idolatry Poem Devotional The Power of God’s Word
April 19 The Power of God’s Word
Therefore put to death what belongs to your worldly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. –Colossians 3:5 (HCSB)
GIVE UP IDOLATRY
A poem by ILMA
Do you struggle with greed or immorality?
Do you know that these are forms of idolatry?
When you have impure thoughts or intentions
You are not far from dishonesty and corruption.
When you lustfully desire anyone
Or plot some bad deeds to someone
You do not honor what God has done
You put yourself first instead of his Son.
It is a fact that the enemy wants to blind you to the different forms of idolatry. You might have been enslaved by so many manifestations of it without even knowing it. The dictionary defines idolatry as blind or excessive devotion to someone or something. We can idolize our own selves, our spouse, children, friends or someone we look up to so much that it takes our time away from the top most priority in life, God.
Matthew 22:37 tells us “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the greatest commandment. When one does not follow it, they resort to all forms of idolatry such as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me away from anything that will replace you in my heart.
REFLECTION
Why do you think we should avoid idols?