December 11
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WHEN WE RUN FROM GOD
A poem by ILMA
Jonah said to the crew of the ship, “I am a Hebrew
I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land”
Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him
How could you do this?” For the men knew he was fleeing from God’s presence.
They asked Jonah “What should we do to you that the sea may calm down?
He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea
I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you
However, the men rowed desperately for the sea was becoming rougher.
Then they called on the LORD and said, “We earnestly pray, O LORD, do not let us perish
So, they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging
Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to God
God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, where he was 3 night and 3 days.
Jonah prayed earnestly while he was inside the stomach of the fish
He cried out to God and realized that he cannot run from the Lord
He needed to walk in obedience and do as the Lord says.
He proceeded to Nineveh and delivered the message to repent.
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MEMORY VERSE
I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you. – Jonah 1:12
Read: Jonah 1:9-17
This story is a famous one that all Christian children probably knows. But there is much depth behind this story. When we run from God, we reach rock bottom or become trapped in our own foolish actions. We eventually fall on our knees and remember the Lord. It is ironic that God used a fish in the middle of a storm to swallow Jonah. It seems like thrown in the storm and yet quiet inside the fish. In the storm, we can still find peace.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the other passengers in the ship prayed to the Lord even though they have their own gods as well?
Tag Archives: disobedience
GOD DETESTS LAWLESSNESS Poem Devotional
September 1________________________________________
God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law. – Proverbs 28:9(NLT)
GOD DETESTS LAWLESSNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you pray to the Lord
Make sure that you are obeying his word
God detests those who ignores his commands
He cannot hear the prayers of those who demands.
Those who follow his law diligently
They will know how to walk in victory
The Lord hears the prayers of those who are faithful
Stay in his word and in his will so you will be fruitful.
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“Lawless” is defined as someone who do not follow or abide the law. Laws are made so that there will be order and peace in a community or a place. Those whom the law is made for is usually the one who will receive the most benefit of if the rule is followed. When laws are breached or broken, chaos usually is the result. Without order and obedience to an authority, anarchy is not far from happening.
God honors those who are obedient and living in his will. When I lived in rebellion and disobedience in my twenties up until my fifties, I reaped disorder and confusion. So much pain and bitterness became part much of my life. When I became born again, the Lord convicted me of this rebellion. He showed me why my prayers weren’t answered then. I was ignoring his law. Thanks be to God that he granted me the grace to obey.
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PRAYER
Lord, please let me never disobey you.
REFLECTION
What should you do before you pray and expect God to answer you?
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
REFUSING TO DO RIGHT Poem Devotional
May 12________________________________________
You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. -Genesis 4:7(NLT)
REFUSING TO DO RIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
We are always given choices to make
Do you think long or choose in haste?
When you refuse to do what is right
You endanger your own life.
When you choose to do wrong
Sin will easily crouch at your door
It will control you and keep you in slavery
Do what’s right and you will have victory.
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Why is it easy to do what is wrong? Our human nature is bent on it. Because of the fall in the Garden of Eden, we are prone to do that is wrong and it takes only God’s grace and mercy to do the right thing. Because of our sin nature, it is not second nature for us to do good. That is why it is important for us to have a close relationship with the Lord. It gives us strength and wisdom to choose what God wants for us. It straightens our bent nature.
The bible says that you will be accepted if you do what’s right. If you refuse to do so, the you will be very vulnerable and become easy prey to the devil. Sin will easily take over to control you.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you so much for letting me be protected.
REFLECTION
How can we easily say “yes” to God?
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
Begin to Obey the Lord poem devotional
January 28________________________________________
The Lord sent me to prophesy against this Temple and this city. The Lord gave me every word that I have spoken. But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the Lord your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you.
– Jeremiah 26:12-13(NLT)
BEGIN TO OBEY THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord send us prophets so we can begin to meditate
Look and carefully examine how you are and how you relate
If there is any sin you have been convicted of, confess it
God will change you and you will be filled with his Spirit.
Begin to obey whatever the Lord asks of you
You will be amazed at what he can do
Miracles are not far to those who choose obedience
Disasters come to those who continue to be insolent.________________________________________
Many of us including me have at one point in our lives been insolent. I think it is normal for teenagers to go through this phase in their lives so that they can learn to see what the consequences of their wrong choices can bring about. But if it is a middle age person who continues to act like a rebel without a cause, there must be sin that is not seen at all.
The bible tells us how the prophet Jeremiah begged the Israelites to change and stop sinning so God will spare them the disaster.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for protecting us and warning us.
REFLECTION
Why is it essential to listen to warnings, especially from God’s prophets?
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
SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY Poem Devotional
February 2
Everyone must submit to governing authority. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.– Romans 13:1-2NLT)
SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you respect and come under authority?
Are you struggling to follow them in all capacity?
Everyone must submit to authorities
God anointed them to bring peace and harmony.
When you defy those who are in positions of power
You are rebelling against God and you should cower
When you are lawless and disobedient to authority
You are questioning God’s choice and sovereignty.
I used to have problems with authority figures. My negative experiences with authority from childhood contributed to having formed a resistant attitude towards them. I became very obstinate and rebellious as a coping mechanism so that I will never be hurt by those who have power over me. Defiance became my survival skill to protect myself from being traumatized. When God revealed to me that rebellion was a sin, I repented of every lawless deed I ever made and realized that my life was very hard because of disobedience. The bible tells us that we have to learn to submit to authority. They represent him, so if we don’t follow them, we are also not following God.
PRAYER
Thank you for all authorities in my life.
REFLECTION
When is it hard to submit to authority?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
STUBBORNESS BRINGS DESTRUCTION Poem Devotional
February 1
But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. – Romans 2:5(NLT)
STUBBORNESS BRINGS DESTRUCTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been obstinate to admit your sins?
Do you know that it leads you to ruin?
Stubbornness is a manifestation of pride
It clearly indicates that you do not want to abide.
When you continually rebel against God’s truth
You are inviting destruction to take root
When you turn your back on God’s commands
You will find that ruin is at hand.
Samuel tells King Saul that rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshipping idols. (1 Samuel 15:23) Because the king rejected the Lord’s command, he was stripped of his position as king. Samuel anointed Saul as king through God’s instruction, but he became proud, stubborn and refused to follow God. Because of his disobedience, God took away his anointing as king and gave it to someone else.
Paul was teaching the Romans the aftermath of stubbornness. He said that when someone rebels, they store up terrible punishments for themselves, just like digging their own graveyard. As Samuel likens rebellion to witchcraft and stubbornness to idolatry, we can clearly see how God loathes it.
PRAYER
Lord, let me constantly obey you.
REFLECTION
Cite an instance when stubbornness let you to trouble.
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
GOD’S ENEMIES Poem Devotional
November 2 The Power of God’s Word
This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. – Colossians 1:21 (NLT)
GOD’S ENEMIES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you a friend of God or his enemy?
How can you easily be an adversary?
When you don’t obey the heavenly Father
You are prone to cater to yourself instead of others.
The devil gains a foothold on rebels
He stamps them with thoughts that are evil
You become more lawless as you dwell in wickedness
When your actions defy God’s plan, you become one of his enemies.
What makes someone an enemy of God and an ally of the devil? Corruption, impurities, a life of compromises, succumbing to evil thoughts and actions, disobedience can all be leading to defying God’s plan in your life.
This is why the bible always cautions us to preserve a heart that isn’t tarnished by worldly ways and standards. When we turn our backs to God or become disobedient to his will, we are candidates to be his enemies. When we obey his will and feed on his word, we become his friend.
The bible also promises a way out when you become an enemy. You can repent of your sin and forgive others. God will take you back as his friend.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to obey you.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to repent and forgive to remain friends with God?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com