January 4
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COME, BLESS THE LORD
Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,
who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the LORD!
3 May the LORD bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth! – Psalm 134
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The Hebrew word “barak” means “to kneel”. However, when written in the piel form it means to “show respect” (usually translated as “bless”). In this psalm, the servants of the Lord especially those who were in night duty at the house of the Lord brings praise to the Lord. To bless the Lord means to praise or give glory to the Lord. We recognize how the psalmist invites us to bless the Lord with our hands lifted to his Holy Place.
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ADORATION: Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise you creator of all things. You created all things bright and beautiful. I will exalt you every minute and every second of my life.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord each time I don’t lift you up in praise and adoration. Because of selfishness and busy-ness, I forget to focus on you. Instead, I get concerned with my selfish desires and follow the call of the flesh.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you that you have made all creation for Jesus and through Him and with Him. I am forever grateful for the love you showed me when you gave your only Son Jesus, to die for my sins just so I can be free.
SUPPLICATION: I pray for all sinners like me, to learn humility from Jesus. Despite being God, he chose to be human and give up his life for all of us. Help me to decrease and let You increase. Give me courage to say “no” to self-satisfaction, self-preservation, self-protection, approval addiction and self-worship and pride.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for Christians to constantly bless the Lord?
• What happens when we forget to worship God on a regular basis?
• Why is vertical focus on the cross instead of the horizontal focus on life situations more beneficial for believers?
• What benefits do we reap when we bless others and praise God?
Tag Archives: ILMA’s Poem Devotional
THE EXCELLENCY OF BROTHERLY UNITY Poem Devotional
January 3
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THE EXCELLENCY OF BROTHERLY UNITY
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever. – Psalm 133
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David stresses in this psalm the excellency of brotherly unity. Many churches have fallen because of the lack of brotherly unity. Unity is borne out of love. Division comes from selfishness. When there is division in a person’s heart or in a relationship or church, there is a lack of surrender to love. In this psalm, David illustrates what results from oneness in spirit. It allows us to display the pursuit of peace and genuine love for God and his people.
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ADORATION: Praise be to you God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. You are three in one God, all united to bring glory to the Almighty. Since the beginning of time, you have operated in harmony with each other.
CONFESSION: Forgive me whenever I separate myself from you by independent thinking and following the dictates of my selfish nature. Forgive me whenever I do not submit to someone who has authority over me when I know they are believing lies.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for the gift of brotherly love. Without it, there will be more chaos in this already corrupted world.
SUPPLICATION: I pray for all those who are at war with themselves, with others and with authorities. Remind them of the example of humility you showed the world when you came and lived amongst humans. Warn us each time we succumb to conflict or proving we are right and others are wrong.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think we are called for unity in the church?
• What happens when division and selfish ambition corrupts the body of Christ?
CHILDLIKE TRUST IN THE LORD Poem Devotional
January 2
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CHILDLIKE TRUST IN THE LORD
O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
Or in things too difficult for me.
2 Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever. – Psalm 131
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Children are special in God’s eyes. Jesus says in Matthew 18:3 “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” This clearly indicates the importance of having a childlike perspective in life. Children are pure and innocent. Adults have a tendency to be corrupt and tainted with the world. The psalmist comes to the Lord with a childlike attitude and rests in God like a child to his mother.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for his amazing grace and love. He is the king of all kings, Lord of all lords. He is mighty and full of compassion and understanding. He is omniscient and omnipotent.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord for not guarding my mind and heart and allowing the standards of the world and human traditions to color the way I see things. I have judged others and thought that I was better than them.
THANKSGIVING: I am grateful for your provision of having a comfortable home despite a divided marriage. Thank you that my husband has a job that allows me to fully be at home and serve you Lord.
SUPPLICATION: I pray that all believers will see things like a child who is like a sponge, absorbing all that you are saying and teaching us. May peace permeate the hearts of all men and may they come to you Lord for every little thing they ask for. Give us a heart that constantly depend on you for all things.
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REFLECTION
• Why is a childlike attitude important in approaching God?
A PSALM OF PRAISE Poem Devotional
January 1
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A PSALM OF PRAISE
Praise the LORD, all nations;
Laud Him, all peoples!
2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
Praise the LORD!
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This is the shortest Psalm which is only two verses short. Despite its briefness, it is loaded with the character of the God we serve. Our world is so corrupted with much idols every which way you look. The sad thing is that a lot of us do not even realize that these modern- day idols that we cannot really see is so real. This psalm was written after the Lord has shown so much faithfulness to the psalmist. Psalm 116 was a list of the things that God did for him and he doesn’t know how to thank him. What more can God ask from us but Praise and worship. He wants us all to declare to all the nations of the things he has done for us. He wants us to bring his lovingkindness for everyone on earth to glorify Him.
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ADORATION: Lord, you are the source of all lovingkindness. Your truth is everlasting and I praise you for all that you are. You gave us all and we glorify you for your generosity. You are the God of promises and provision. You are love and in you alone can I know how to love.
CONFESSION: Forgive me that I forget at times how you have unconditionally loved me and cared for all my needs. You walked me through tough times, always faithful to deliver.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for being there when I need you most. I wouldn’t survive all these trials and suffering if I don’t give you praise and focus my all to you. Thank you for your provision even when I miss the things you do for me because of my busy-ness.
SUPPLICATION: I plead you to give me an awareness of your lovingkindness so I can be more like you on that regard. It is a struggle to die to my flesh, but I know anything is possible with you. Help me to remember to always pray for others who also go through such suffering. Show me how to carry my cross without complaining. Teach me to be humble and patient and gentle to others.
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REFLECTION
• How can a Christian develop an attitude of true worship to God?
PRAY AND ASK USING JESUS’ NAME Poem Devotional
December 30
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PRAY AND ASK USING JESUS’ NAME
A poem by ILMA
“In a little while you won’t see me anymore, but later, you will see me again”
Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean by that?”
I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me
But as you are mourning over me, the world will rejoice.” Jesus replied.
You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy
It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor
When her child is born, her anguish will become rejoicing
That is because she has brought a new baby into the world.
You have sorrow now, but I will see you again
Then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy
At that time, you won’t need to ask me for anything
If you ask the Father directly using my name, it will be given to you.
The Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe I came from him
Since I came from the Father into the world, now I will return to the Father.”
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
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MEMORY VERSE
At that time, you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. – John 16:27-28
Read: John 16:16-33
The name of Jesus is so powerful that when you ask God anything in his name, it will be granted to you. Some people don’t get the answers they want but it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t answered. It must be that they have missed looking at it in God’s perspective.
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REFLECTION
• Why is going directly to God using Jesus’ name very effective way to pray?
INFINITE VALUE OF KNOWING CHRIST AS SAVIOR Poem Devotional
December 29
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INFINITE VALUE OF KNOWING CHRIST AS SAVIOR
A poem by ILMA
Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord
I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith
We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us and not in human effort
Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own labors, I have even more!
I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin
a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees
These religious group demands the strictest obedience to the Jewish law
I harshly persecuted the church and as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless
Because of what Christ has done for us, everything else is worthless
Nothing compares to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord
For his sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as trash.
I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law
Instead, I become righteous through faith in Christ and knowing him
I want to experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead
I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that I can be resurrected.
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MEMORY VERSE
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. – Philippians 3:7-8
Read: Philippians 3:1-11
Before I was born again in Christ, I engaged in doing so much effort on my own flesh. I was misled by religion to think that I can contribute good works to add to my salvation. I didn’t live in grace and in knowing that the work is finished on the cross when Christ died.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some believers think that they can add to the finished work of the cross?
THINK MORE OF OTHERS Poem Devotional
December 28
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THINK MORE OF OTHERS
A poem by ILMA
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind
Regard one another as more important than yourselves
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests
Make sure that you look also after the interests of other people
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Jesus Christ
Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God.
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death
For this reason, God highly exalted Him, gave him the name above every name.
Do all things joyfully and without grumbling or disputing
This way, you will prove to be blameless and innocent children of God
When you do this, in the day of Christ you will have reason to bring God glory
I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
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MEMORY VERSE
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 2:3-5
Read: Philippians 2:1-18
One of the marks of a true disciple is when one forgets the self and think highly of others more. Humility is another sign of a good Christian. Looking after other people’s interest is something that believers would do as well. All these attitudes show that they are Christlike.
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REFLECTION
• How can a Christian develop humility?
• How can we empty ourselves of arrogance and think more about others?
PROOF OF FAITH Poem Devotional
December 23
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PROOF OF FAITH Poem Devotional
A poem by ILMA
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled; trust in me, also trust God
There is more than enough room in my Father’s home
Why will I tell you that I’m going to make a place for you if it weren’t so?
Be patient, when everything is ready, I will come and get you
This way, you will always be with me wherever I am
Do you have an idea the way to where I am going?”
“We have no clue where you’re heading; how can we know the way?”
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father but by me.
“If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is”, Jesus said
From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied”
“Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!
So why are you asking me to show him to you?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
Anyone who believes in me will do the same as I’ve done, even greater works.
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MEMORY VERSE
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. – John 14:12
Read: John 14:1-14
In this exchange of Jesus with his disciples, he tells his followers what is awaiting them in the Father’s house and the promise of eternal life. It seems though that despite the many years that they have been with Jesus, they still do not understand many things. Jesus reminds them that his presence should make them know the Father already and that if they truly believe in him, they’ll follow his works and even do greater than him.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it that even though Jesus promised his disciples many eternal things, they still were wanting to see God the Father? Are they unbelieving?
SIN NO MORE Poem Devotional
December 22
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SIN NO MORE
A poem by ILMA
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but the next day he was back at the Temple
A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them
As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law brought a woman
Since she had been caught in the act of adultery, she was put in front of a crowd
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery
The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” trying to trap Jesus
Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger
They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again
So, Jesus said, “But let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”
Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one
Beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers?
Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more”
And the woman walked and repented and was freed.
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MEMORY VERSE
All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” – John 8:7
Read: John 8:1-11
In this story, we see how much compassion and mercy the Lord Jesus had for this woman caught in adultery. We also saw how these religious leaders wanted to punish her and stone her to death as that was the verdict on such sin. They were trying to trick Jesus if he was going to follow the law of Moses. In this scene, we witness that love is stronger than the law. When he challenged them to throw the stone if anyone is sinless, they all went away and left. There were many theories as to what Jesus was writing in the dust, probably their own sins.
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REFLECTION
• Why is compassion and forgiveness powerful for repentance to happen?
MULTIPLICATION OF THE BREAD Poem Devotional
December 21
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MULTIPLICATION OF THE BREAD
A poem by ILMA
Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee
This sea It is also known as the Sea of Tiberias
A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went
Because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.
Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him
Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him
Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”
He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
Philip said, “We can’t afford to feed them even if we work for months”
Then Andrew spoke that there’s a young boy with five barley loaves
Then he asked Jesus, “what good is that with this huge crowd?”
“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said, so they all sat down.stia
The men alone numbered about 5,000 Then Jesus took the loaves
He gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people
Afterward, he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted
Then Jesus said, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”
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MEMORY VERSE
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.
– John 6:11
Read: John 6:1-14
This miracle of Jesus was based on what a little boy had to contribute. He was open enough to volunteer his five loaves of barley to the disciple and this is probably what the Lord wants us to do. When we give whatever little we have to the Lord, he can always multiply it.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it that some people do not see miracles even if it’s right in front of them?