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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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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?

PRAYING IN SOLITUDE Poem Devotional

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April 17                                                                                    The Power of God’s Word

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.      –Mark 1:35 (NLT)     

PRAYING IN SOLITUDE

A poem by ILMA

Do you find time each day to isolate from this world?

Do you seek God and study his word?

Jesus went to a place apart from the rest

He went to God to consult him and get blessed.

When no one is looking

That’s the best time for praying

Uninterrupted moments with our father

It will bring us to his kingdom closer.

We live in a world full of noise and distractions. We do everything to reach our goals in life. We provide for ourselves and our families. In the process, we get consumed by this world and lose perspective of who we are and who we belong to. We don’t prioritize praying to our heavenly father who provides for all our needs.

Jesus, the son of God always knew his priorities. The bible says that even before daybreak, he got up and went to an isolated place to pray. This was right after Jesus healed so many sick people.  In the midst of ministering to the sick and broken people, Jesus found time to go to his father just before he face another crowd of people who would clamor for more miracles and healing.

PRAYER

Lord, allow me to be with you intimately often.

REFLECTION

Why is it important to have a quiet place to pray?