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Poet’s Heart, God’s Gift: Yoked with Christ by Pamela Hollrah-Asleson reminds us that however heavy our burdens are, Christ walks willingly with us to remind us we are not alone.
Poet’s Heart, God’s Gift: Yoked with Christ by Pamela Hollrah-Asleson is the culmination of her struggle and trials and the realization that Jesus walks beside us all when we bear our burdens.
Her mentor, Dr. Stan Miller, once asked Pam to write her poetry down on paper, telling her “[that] many people struggle, but not all have the words to express their emotions and God’s part in loving and caring for us.” Her poetry, he said, “…is a spiritual gift and should be shared, not hoarded.”
As it is said in Hebrews 13:15:
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased.”
When we are blessed with the gift for whatever form of art, it is our godly duty to share it with the world, as Pam did with her devotional poetry.
A Hosanna from the Heart
Devotional poetry is a powerful form of religious self-expression. It has the ability to heal or, at least, ease the suffering of the soul. It can also be a way for us to better connect with God and explore our inner selves, discovering more of our beliefs and values and, in turn, processing emotions that have become too difficult to wave away.
When we write poetry that bears our souls out for the Lord, what we are actually writing is what is called devotional poetry. Thus, it is called because it presents our piety, our faith, and our devotion to God.
Most devotional poetry plays with the use of religious imagery and language; personal and religious themes often characterize many examples that fall under this category–branching off to other more specific concerns such as prayer, praise, thanksgiving, repentance, and forgiveness.
One can easily imagine that devotional poetry is a prayer that exists in the heart, which we want to write down and share with the world; a hosanna from the heart, if you will.
How Devotional Poetry Heals
The process of writing devotional poetry can be an extremely cleansing act. When you are opening up your heart and writing from the soul, it becomes a potent vessel for communing more intimately with God. When we write about Him and His glory, even if it is often indirectly, we are allowing Him to speak through us–and that connection can be a powerful source for drawing out peace, comfort, and strength.
It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to explore what our beliefs and values truly are. During the writing process, it is imperative that we reflect on what is important to us and what keeps us standing despite the pressures of life; it’s also just a good method of interrogating and investigating your thoughts to get a better perspective on why you believe this and that and why it is important to fight for them. This process helps us grow into our faith and develop a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Writing devotional poetry is also a method to process difficult emotions. When we struggle with pain, grief, anger, or other difficult emotions, it is often difficult to articulate them into speech, but writing poetry can be a way to express them healthily and constructively. Begin healing by letting the words come from your pen.
Common Themes in Devotional Poetry
While devotional poetry is obviously quite religious and God-focused, there are themes that are more specific than others. Here are some specific common forms and themes that devotional poetry can manifest in:
- Prayer: Writing poetry can be a form of worship. When we write to God, we open our hearts and share our thoughts and feelings with Him. This experience allows us a deeper connection with God.
- Praise: Praising God through poetry is pleasantly healing. When we focus on God’s goodness and greatness, our spirits are lifted, and we are given a sense of hope.
- Thanksgiving: Writing about what we are thankful for can also be healing. This helps us redirect our focus to the positivity brimming in life and brings us back to appreciating all that we are grateful for.
- Repentance: Writing down our sins and our guilt and shame can be a way to repent and seek forgiveness from God; it is also a good method of properly facing your inner demons.
- Forgiveness: Forgiving others in the form of poetry can also be very healing. This can help us to let go of resentment and experience the peace that comes from reconciliation.
If you want to read more about Pamela and religious poetry, check out more blogs.