LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL Poem Devotional

Posted on May 31, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 31 The Power of God’s Word
If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. –Matthew 10:37 (NLT)
LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL
A poem by ILMA
Do you spend more time honoring your father and mother?
Do you take time to pray and be with your heavenly father?
What preoccupies your mind and heart?
Do you invest in spending time with God or stay apart?
If you love your sons or daughters more than the Lord
You do not deserve to be worthy of his love and his word
Love God above all else and you will reap a harvest
He promised all will be will if you make him first.
There are many kinds of things that we can idolize such as a house or a car that we love so much, but what if it is a loved one that is your idol? When you have a family, it is good to be in a healthy relationship with them, but when you prioritize your parents or children more than God, then you are not worthy of being called God’s people. The bible says that we must put God first in all. His command says that we love him first, then our neighbors as ourselves.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to make you first in everything.
REFLECTION
Why should we prioritize God?

DO TO THEM AS YOU DO UNTO ME Poem Devotional

Posted on May 30, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 30 The Power of God’s Word
I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters you were doing it to me. –Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
DO TO THEM AS YOU DO UNTO ME
Do you treat people with kindness?
How often do you grant forgiveness?
Do you allow others to be in pain or suffer?
Do you go out of your way to help and offer?
I tell you the truth, when you do it to your brothers
You are a doing it unto your heavenly father
He wants us to cherish and love one another
That is the only way our life gets better.
How often do you think of Jesus when you do something for someone? Many people do things without even realizing that when they do so, they are actually doing it to the Lord too. How we relate to others is how we relate to God. How we treat someone is also how we treat ourselves. When someone is so angry, he or she is also angry with himself/herself and probably with God as well.
The bible tells us that what we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we are doing to God. If we ignore others, we also ignore God. If we hate ourselves, we probably hate others and God as well.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to walk in love.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants us to love?

FAITH MAKES YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT

Posted on May 28, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 28 The Power of God’s Word
You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. –Galatians 3:2 (NLT)
FAITH MAKES YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT
When you received Christ as your savior
You also got his spirit living inside your heart and soul
Faith makes your heart the home of Christ
It protects you from the devil’s tactics and lies.
The spirit of God will teach and guide you
It helps your mind to be aware and renewed
It protects you from going against God’s will
It defends you from the enemy’s ploy to steal.
Ephesians 6:12 says: For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. This means that there is a constant spiritual war that we don’t visually see, but is real. How can we win a battle when we don’t know how the enemy’s strategies? The devil has kept many people living in lies that gave him a foothold on their hearts. They became his slaves.
The bible tells us that faith makes us receive the Spirit of God. It is the first step to allowing the spirit to work and strengthen us to win the spiritual battle of unseen forces. It is the spirit that corrects us and teaches us to do right.
PRAYER
Lord, let your spirit stay in my heart.
REFLECTION
Why is faith essential in salvation?

EXAMINE YOUR WAYS

Posted on May 28, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 27 The Power of God’s Word
Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven. –Lamentations 3:40-41 (NLT)
When things don’t go well in your life
Do you examine your ways or continually fight?
Do you resort to blaming and pitying yourself?
Why not confess instead and ask God for help.
When rebellion and disobedience dominate your heart
Everything is a struggle no matter where you start
Lift your heart and hands to God in heaven
He will protect and provide you with a haven.
Do you examine your ways on a daily basis? Many people do not reflect on what they think and do. Actions speak out our minds and hearts. Our decisions and reactions are greatly influenced by what preoccupy our minds. If we constantly think of negative things, the results will be destructive choices. On the other hand, if we renew our minds and feed it with the truth that comes from God, we will reap all the promises he has made to us. We will harvest the fruits of the spirit and have peace and joy.
In Lamentations, we are summoned to examine and test our ways and turn back to the Lord. We must lift our hearts and hands to God in prayer and supplication.
PRAYER
Lord, hold captive my heart and mind.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to examine our thoughts and ways regularly?

WISDOM BUILDS, FOOLISHNESS DESTROYS Poem Devotional

Posted on May 26, 2014 by ilmaarts

GOD IN NATURE Poem Devotional

Posted on May 24, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 24 The Power of God’s Word
Only fools say in their hearts, ”There is no God.” They are corrupt and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! Psalm 53:1(NLT)
GOD IN NATURE
Tulips gracefully rising, cupping the sun’s light coming out
What a beautiful spring sunny day where birds come about
Leaves sprouting out from the branches of some trees
They finally come to life and survive the severe winter freeze.
Only fools say “There is no God”
The trees, birds and flowers give him laud
God cares and nourishes all his creatures
He manifests himself in all of nature.
Many unbelievers claim that there is no god. They make all kinds of theories of how the universe and everything came about. They concoct all kinds of stories to disprove the existence of God. The enemy has blinded them with lies that appear like truth to them. Their choice to believe these lies deprive them to see that there is a God who is magnificent and has created everything we can’t explain and understand.
Psalm 53 talks about fools that claim there is no God. They are corrupt and choose evil deeds. What will it take for people to believe that there is a higher being who made everything? Just watch the birds, the trees, the flowers, the river, the seas, and the skies. Who can create such magnificence?
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your presence in nature!
REFLECTION
Soak yourself in nature and feel God’s presence.

SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT Poem Devotional

Posted on May 23, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 23 The Power of God’s Word
My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me and from finishing his work. –John 4:34 (NLT)
SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
Do you feed on God’s truth and his word?
Are you contented with what is in this world?
Spiritual nourishment comes from doing God’s will
Starving your spirit brings havoc and makes you ill.
Just as your body needs food to keep alive
So does your spirit needs truth to break the lies
Feed your spirit with what will make you see
Seeking and following God’s will is what sets you free.
It is amazing how so many people put so much emphasis on their physical well being. They spend much money being a member of a health club or a gym just so they can look good and stay fit. Sadly, the mental and spiritual health is often neglected by many of us. This is one of the reasons why so many people are mentally or spiritually ill. Because we see our bodies and not our minds and spirit, it is often ignored.
The bible tells us that our nourishment must come from doing God’s will who gave us life. Our purpose in life is not just to care for our bodies, but also to put priority to the real reason for our existence. We were created to fit in God’s big plan.
PRAYER
Lord, help me keep spiritually fit.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to feed our spirits?

BE ENCOURAGED! Poem Devotional

Posted on May 23, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 22 The Power of God’s Word
“Don’t be afraid”, he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” –Daniel 10:19 (NLT)
BE ENCOURAGED!
Are you anxious and worried about challenges?
Don’t be afraid, for God will bring changes
You are very precious to him like a treasure
He gives you favors for his own pleasure.
Be encouraged and have peace
Doubting and hopelessness must cease
Be strong, he will not take long
His timing is perfect and he is never wrong.
Do you know that you are very precious to God? A lot of people do not realize this truth and go in circles trying to find value in their identity. I lived many years believing the enemy’s lies that I don’t deserve to be loved. It made me obsessed with finding love from others. God freed me after many decades pursuing human love and attention. He revealed my true identity as his child many years later. After that revelation, I had peace and knew my identity in Christ.
In Daniel 10, the prophet had a vision of great hardship and times of war. So he mourned for three weeks, fasting. He grew weak because of this but was consoled by God that he is very precious and that he will regain his strength and be encouraged and have peace for he provides for his people.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for encouraging me.
REFLECTION
Do you feel precious and encouraged by God’s love?

LIVING BY GOD’S POWER Poem Devotional

Posted on May 21, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 21 The Power of God’s Word
For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.
–1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)
LIVING BY GOD’S POWER
Do you live in the standards set by this world?
Do you depend on God’s power shown in his word?
For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk
It is about believing and following Jesus’ walk.
Can you discern the wisdom that God provides?
Do you listen to all the things he reveals and confides?
Living by God’s power is accepting the spirit within
It is by walking in love that we can be free and redeemed.
The world we live in puts much emphasis on “power.” Everyone wants a bite of this power. The clamor for recognition, success, wealth, possessions have all led to a life of corruption and conflict. Each one wants to prove who is better at something. In God’s economy, power is only granted to those who seek the Lord.
It is the power to let go and surrender every need, craving and desire our hearts yearn for.
The bible tells us to live in God’s power. How can we live by his power? We can look at how Jesus lived amongst us. He was the son of God, yet he did not exercise any of his powers, he surrendered to his father’s will.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to humbly surrender.
REFLECTION
Why is humility essential in salvation?

GIVING UP IMMATURITY Poem Devotional

Posted on May 20, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 20 The Power of God’s Word
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like truth.
–Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)
GIVING UP IMMATURITY
Can you honestly say that you have grown up?
Have your tantrum fits and whining stopped?
Are you easily swayed by lies that appear like truth?
Do worldly teachings appear inviting to you?
Faith and knowledge of the Lord brings maturity
It makes us admit our mistakes and take responsibility
Wisdom protects us from sly tactics of the enemy
The word of God will free us from deceit and slavery.
The bible says in Matthew 18:3 that we cannot enter God’s kingdom unless we become like little children. Why did God require us to be like these little ones as a pre-requisite to a place in his kingdom? Children are pure. They are excited, bold, adventurous, creative, full of energy and fearless. They have no schemes or ill intentions. They don’t judge. They easily forgive.
In Ephesians, we are told to no longer be immature like children. Kids are vulnerable. Because of their purity, they can be deceived and victimized. We are asked to stop being vulnerable to worldly influence through scriptures. Only God’s word will protect us from lies.
PRAYER
Lord, grant me a hunger for knowing you.
REFLECTION
Why do we have to give up immaturity?

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