Monthly Archives: May 2018

DEMONS COWER Poem Devotional

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June 1________________________________________
The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. -Luke 8:31 (NLT)
DEMONS COWER
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
You will experience power in your life
He is the name above all names
Demons cower when it is spoken.
Jesus is the beginning and the end
Declare his name and it won’t be in vain
He has authority over all creation and beings
No any other evil forces can ever beat him.
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One of the most unpopular and neglected ministry in the church is the deliverance and healing ministry. Luke 10:19 says that we have authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome the enemy and nothing will harm us. How come, there are many Christians who live defeated lives. They have relinquished the given power to them by God to the father of all lies, the devil. In Matthew 17, the father of a demon possessed boy came to Jesus so that his son may be healed. He mentioned that the apostles were unable to heal him. Jesus confronted the apostles about their faithlessness and corrupt heart that made them unable to heal. In Matthew 10:1, Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness but because of impure hearts and lack faith, they failed. Even demons cower to Christ when he speaks.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to use the power you gave me to heal.
REFLECTION
Why is a pure heart and faith essential to exercise power and authority?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

LEAVE YOUR CASE TO GOD Poem Devotional

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May 31________________________________________
He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly. – 1 Peter 2:23(NLT)
LEAVE YOUR CASE TO GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When someone hurts you, do not retaliate
Remember God loves you and have you covered
Jesus didn’t fight back with those who hurt him
He prayed for them instead so they can repent of sin.
When you trust in the Lord despite what you’re going through
God will deliver you from suffering and bring the Spirit’s fruits
Follow what Christ did; he quietly suffered and obeyed
Let God’s Spirit lead you to freedom to Jesus who leads the way.
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When someone hits or inflicts pain on you, how do you respond? Isn’t it automatic for us to react with either defense or retaliation? One of the many reasons why there has been a high divorce rate today is because we respond with the fight or flight reaction. When Jesus was here on earth, we didn’t hear stories of him walking away or abandoning someone who asks for help. He didn’t fight back or engage in useless discussion of who is wrong or right. He didn’t mislead others by saving himself. Instead, he only spoke of truth and obeyed God’s will. Even though he could have evaded the cross, he left his case to God and followed his will.
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PRAYER
Thank you for teaching us how to respond with love to those who hurt us.
REFLECTION
How can we avoid automatic fight or flight reactions?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

THE GREAT RESTORER Poem Devotional

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May 30________________________________________
I will give you back your health and heal your wounds. – Jeremiah 30:17(NLT)
THE GREAT RESTORER
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are going through much pains
Run to the Lord for he will break your chains
He will restore you and will heal your illnesses
He is also concerned with your spiritual wellness.
He promised to heal all our wounds
Let us receive it and so we will abound
Let us run to Jesus Christ, the great restorer
Only in him will we be healthier and wealthier.
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Is there anyone who can give you a guarantee of healing and restoration? We go to the doctor to find out what might be wrong with us, but they can never give us an assurance that we will be well again. The medicine that he might prescribe might or might not work. He may not be able to totally figure out what is wrong with us because he can only diagnose based on what information we give him. We cannot rely also on other kinds of healing because they do not work a hundred percent.
There is however, only one who can restore and heal all our wounds, suffering, pain and illnesses. The great restorer is Jesus Christ. He gave us life, so he can repair it because he is the only source of our existence. Rely only on the one who gave you life, our Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always trust you when illnesses and sufferings beset me.
REFLECTION
How can we be able to build trust in the Lord when we are wounded?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

SEARCHING WHOLEHEARTEDLY Poem Devotional

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May 29________________________________________
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. -Jeremiah 29:13(NLT)
SEARCHING WHOLEHEARTEDLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you search wholeheartedly for Jesus Christ
He will satiate your hunger for him in your life
Those who seek will surely find him
In their hearts will live his Holy Spirit.
He will only show himself to those who abide
He sees your heart, so don’t entertain pride
Guard that your mind, soul and spirit are his’ alone
It will bring you victory when you trust in his precious Son.
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Treasure hunting doesn’t need to be expensive. You don’t really have to be part of an exploration team in order to reap the fruits of this adventurous hobby. You can go hunting for treasures in your own home, old places, neighborhood, thrift shops or even abandoned places. I love a show in Britain that features a well awarded lady designer who goes to the junkyard before people throw away their stuff. In each episode, she tries to salvage three items that she will convert into an upcycled product or totally re-use it for a different purpose. It is amazing how she converts junk into money making treasures.
I love to go through thrift shops, garage sales or even look at what people throw away in the curbs along their houses.
The bible says that if you search wholeheartedly for the Lord, you will find him, just like discovering a treasure.
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PRAYER
Lord, keep me hunting for your truths and promises.
REFLECTION
What happens when you seek the Lord with all your heart?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

BOAST ONLY ABOUT KNOWING GOD Poem Devotional

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May 28________________________________________
Those who wish to boast should boast in this alone; that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord. -Jeremiah 9:24(NLT)
BOAST ONLY ABOUT KNOWING GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you truly know Jesus, you will praise him
For he is the only one who is without sin
He became man just to redeem us all
Why can’t we be like him; He’s so faithful?
Boast only of how you intimately know him
Nothing else matters but to hear His Spirit
When you hunger for him, he will live in you
Focusing on him will transform and make you new.
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Before I became a born again Christian, I never really talked much about my faith and walk with Christ. I was made to believe that we keep our faith to ourselves or it will be boasting and disrespectful of other religions and beliefs. One day, a new believer who was on fire for Jesus asked me if I was a Christian and I said yes. He was perplexed why I never spoke about the Lord. He shared Luke 11:33 to me which says “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. He also mentioned that I should only be boasting about how much I know God.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never forget to declare my faith to others.
REFLECTION
How is sharing testimonials important in your Christian maturity and growth?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

THANKSGIVING HONORS GOD Poem Devotional

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May 27________________________________________
Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. -Psalm 50:23 (NLT)
THANKSGIVING HONORS GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Each time you are thankful
You become more bountiful
Being grateful is an act of humility
You are giving praise to the Lord Almighty.
When you have an attitude of gratitude
You will increase wisdom in such magnitude
Give thanks to the Lord who is so good
His mercy is fresh each day, he always soothes.
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Two psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the have done much of the research on gratitude. In one study, they asked all participants to write a few sentences each week, focusing on particular topics. One group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that had displeased them, and the third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on them being positive or negative). After 10 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they also exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation.
The bible tells us that gratitude truly honors the Lord. Whenever we count our blessings and focus on the things we can be thankful for, we are humbling ourselves to glorify the one who gave us all, the Lord Almighty.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a thankful heart always.
REFLECTION
How can gratitude change our negative attitude?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

GOD IS IN CONTROL Poem Devotional

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May 26________________________________________
We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall. -Proverbs 16:33(NLT)
GOD IS IN CONTROL
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you think you have it all
You are in for a great fall
You may take the lead in many things
Only God knows each and everything.
You may plan where to go and what to do
God’s in control, he knows best for you
Do not be obsessed with your own will
The Lord alone can determine and see.
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I lived many years of ungodliness in my youth up until my fifties. I lived by the world’s standards, making my own plans and seeking after success and achievements. I even took a job in the theatre that gave me much control over the performances as a stage manager. I plan, I disciplined myself, trained and made sure I was knowledgeable. I was a perfectionist and a planner and took so much pride in running things for the performance oriented job.
My personal life was also lived like a micro-manager. I planned my day, my career, the roles I played and my future. Because I didn’t grow up in a loving environment and everyone controlled me, I became fastidious and took control of ever aspect of my life. I lived a very independent and self-sufficient life, never relying on anyone for help. God opened my eyes and heart that he wanted me to relinquish control to him.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to let go of control and let your will be done.
REFLECTION
Why do you think humans love to take control?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

DISCRETION Poem Devotional

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May 25________________________________________
Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools. -Proverbs 16:22(NLT)
DISCRETION
A poem and essay by ILMA
When someone always exercises discretion
He or she is ready to overcome temptations
When one reveres the Lord and introspects
He or she learns to easily exercise respect.
Discretion generates a life-giving fountain
Discipline is not for fools, they won’t have it
When you choose to be sensitive and discreet
You will enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
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Discretion is defined as the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. It is also the freedom to decide what to be done in a particular situation. How many of us really apply this concept? We are all so busy living our own lives, we forget to focus on others around us. We don’t have time to consider other people’s feelings and be tactful or sensitive enough to take their challenges and difficulties. How many believers really have the confidence to decide what to be done in a particular setting applying truth and following God’s will?
I have yet to meet people who really have discretion and discipline in their lives. If there is a bounty of such kind of individuals, we will have less conflicts, misunderstandings and hurting people. The bible says that discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it.
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PRAYER
Lord, guide me always to be discreet and sensitive to other people’s situations and needs.
REFLECTION
How can we develop discretion and discipline in our lives?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

WHAT LEADS TO WISDOM Poem Devotional

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May 24________________________________________
Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. -Proverbs15:33(NLT)
WHAT LEADS TO WISDOM
A poem and essay by ILMA
The fear of the Lord teaches wisdom
It delivers you from slavery to freedom
When you revere the Lord and worship him
You will discern his ways and overcome sin.
The humble gives honor to the Father
It leads them to be closer to others
Seeking the Lord brings you near him
Fear of God makes you win over the enemy.
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People view wisdom very differently. Most individuals view wisdom as a feat that is achievable through accumulation of information. Some think wisdom can be learned from experiences. The bible tells us that wisdom is a by-product of the fear of the Lord. This may sound bizarre to those who have never heard of God, but most believers are taught that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge in Proverbs 1:7. When we seek him first and his righteousness, he will add all these things to us (Matthew 6:33)
Fear of the Lord means that we worship him and we won’t do anything to displease him. When we revere him, we will want to know what he wants for us. We will obey his commands so that things will go well with us. He also puts emphasis on the importance of humility in our lives because it results in respect and wisdom. When we respect him, we worship him.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always honor and worship you.
REFLECTION
Why should fear of the Lord come first in everything in our lives?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

WHEN YOU REJECT CORRECTION Poem Devotional

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May 23________________________________________
If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. -Proverbs 15:32(NLT)
WHEN YOU REJECT CORRECTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you reject correction, you will harm yourself
But if you listen to discipline, you’ll grow in wisdom
Make sure that you don’t stay in bondage
Truth will definitely keep you in constant freedom.
When you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you
Your mind will be transformed and you will be “new”
Let the mind of God change the way you think
You will discern how to stay free and out of sin.
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Why do you think it is very easy for us to rebel or disobey? The source of this natural response has its roots from the first sin in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were pretty much given everything they needed, without having to work for anything. They had a very comfortable life but when the serpent came to convince them that God was keeping them from the tree of knowledge of good evil so they won’t have the same powers as his, it all changed. Greed was introduced in their hearts and the desire to have equality with God became the source of all sins.
The bible says that God corrects all those he loves. We need to listen to his correction so that we will grow in understanding.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always hear you out when you correct me.
REFLECTION
How can heeding to correction lead one to his or her own growth?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com