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BUILD OTHERS UP IN THE LORD Poem Devotional

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May 5                                                                                    The Power of God’s Word

We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  –Romans 15:1-2(NLT)     

BUILD OTHERS UP IN THE LORD

A poem by ILMA

To think only of one’s own self is not pleasing to God

Catering to your flesh does not bring him laud

Christ wants us to help others do what is right

He expects us to build each other up to stay in the light.

Reflect a life in pursuit of righteousness

This will bring others to follow that goodness

It encourages hope, faith, joy and compassion

It clearly manifests a life full of love and passion.

A lot of believers have turned their backs to the church simply because they see so much conflict in how people live their lives and what they believe in. Somehow, some Christians have separated their beliefs from how they live. This is not how God wants us to be. James 1:22 says that we don’t just listen to God’s word, but must do what it says.

The bible talks more about others than self. It says that we must not just please ourselves but do what is right and build others up in the Lord. We are asked to encourage and build one another in God’s love and in following his commands.

PRAYER

Lord, help me be an example of love and righteousness.

REFLECTION

Why is it important to encourage one another in Christ?

 

 

BLINDED BY DARKNESS Poem Devotional

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May 3                                                                                  The Power of God’s Word
Anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. –1 John 2:11(NLT)
BLINDED BY DARKNESS
A poem by ILMA
When you find it hard to forgive
It makes it hard to receive
A person who choose to hate
Finds it hard to understand and relate.
When you constantly choose darkness
It makes you blind and hopeless
If you do not want to let go of sin
You forfeit the chance to be redeemed.
Have you ever related with someone who is unforgiving? I have lived my life with so many unforgiving people. It is so hard to watch them destroy their relationships and go down the road of desperation and anger. I’ve known someone who would never forgive a person who has asked her forgiveness for almost a decade until the day she died. I wonder if she ever forgave her. It is sad to watch people get consumed by hatred and anger. It is toxic, but somehow, the choice not to forgive makes that person blinded to the truth that can set them free.
The bible tells us that if we live in hate, we will be blinded by the darkness we chose. That person continues to live in obscurity and forfeits life.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to forgive.
REFLECTION
Why is forgiveness essential to continue walking in love?

SEEKING GOD’S APPROVAL Poem Devotional

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May 1                                                                       The Power of God’s Word
And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. –Psalm 90:17(NLT)

A poem by ILMA
Do you find yourself fixated on pleasing someone?
Do you try to search for happiness from everyone?
Do you consult God for every little plan you make?
Do you just do things for your own sake?
May the Lord show you his approval and consent
In all you do, seek his guidance and his presence
Whenever you confer with him, he gives you insight
If you ask in faith, you will bring him joy and delight.
I was raised to be very independent and was surrounded by people who were self-reliant. Identifying and discussing problems and issues in our families were taboo. The authorities in my life made it a point that all issues are dismissed and never talked about. I grew up making my own decisions without consulting anyone and I took pride in doing so. Each time I make the right one, I pat myself on the back for it, as if it was an achievement.
The bible tells us to align all our plans, choices and decisions with God. We will be blessed and anointed if we seek God’s consent rather than other people’s viewpoint. When we seek God first, he will grant our efforts and make it successful.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to seek your counsel always.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to get God’s approval?

REAP WHAT YOU SOW Poem Devotional

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April 30                                                                                The Power of God’s Word
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature, but those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. –Galatians 6:8(NLT)
REAP WHAT YOU SOW
A poem by ILMA
Those who want to satisfy their flesh
Their lives will be chaotic and a mess
To satisfy the sinful nature brings decay
It brings someone in a state of disarray.
People who live to please the Spirit
They will be in constant light and never adrift
Choose to follow God’s commands
This will make you surrender the world demands.
There are many people who live their lives according to the world’s standard. Sadly, some believers do not really live by the Spirit but by their own sinful nature. If a Christian have been raised by parents who never really followed godly standard and grew up surrounded by decay, it would probably be hard to live a life following the Spirit.
The bible tells us that we reap what we’ve sown. It is the most basic principle that life is founded on. If you live only to satisfy your own sinful nature, you will naturally reap death. If you live to please God, then you will harvest the fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self control.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to live for you.
REFLECTION
What’s the consequence of living for yourself?

QUICK TO LISTEN Poem Devotional

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burks falls 2014,barrie,erin, stanley hoop 122April 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?

THE SECRET TO WISDOM Poem Devotional

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island lake duck shots 2013 029April 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

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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

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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?

GOD SEES WHAT THE WICKED DOES Poem Devotional

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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 YOKE OF HIS DISCIPLINE Poem Devotional

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glen haffy conservation2013 144April 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?