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?
Tag Archives: Christian devotional
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?
ALL FOR GOOD Poem Devotional
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 ?