SYMPTOMS OF JEALOUSY Poem Devotional

rbg 032

May 3________________________________________
For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. -James 3:16(NLT)
SYMPTOMS OF JEALOUSY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When there is insecurity in someone’s heart
That’s an opening for the enemy to start
Longing to have something others possess produces envy
It breeds contempt, anger, bitterness and folly.
Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition
There you will find disorder, chaos and division
Whenever there is discontent and comparison
There’ll be unkind and evil things beyond reason.
________________________________________
Baker’s Evangelical dictionary defines “envy” as the sin of jealousy over the blessings and achievements of others, especially the spiritual advancement that is being done for God’s kingdom. Envy certainly leads to disorder and all kinds of evil, affecting one’s physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. Unchecked, it slowly leads to a detrimental and regretful way of life ( Proverbs 27:4 ), and eventually, to estrangement from God ( Roman 1:28-32 ). Envy manifests the treacherousness of sin and human wickedness apart from God’s redeeming grace. If you are a believer, it is wise to avoid the company of such envious, godless people ( Proverbs 24:1 ). Envy is listed among the sins of the flesh that must be conquered through the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 2:1 ). Where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, you will find chaos, stagnation and proliferation of other sins.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, heal the hearts of those who are in bondage of the spirit of envy.
REFLECTION
Why do you think the bible instructs us to stay away from envious people?
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

JEALOUSY IS LIKE CANCER Poem Devotional

port elgin camping 2012 494

May 2________________________________________
A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
-Proverbs 14:30(NLT)
JEALOUSY IS LIKE CANCER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever your heart desires what others have
Be careful! That is not totally walking in love
When you fail to give the Lord thanksgiving
You are going to miss out on many blessings.
Jealousy is like cancer in the bones
Selfishness and Pride is where it comes from
If you think the world owes you something
You lose peace opens the door to continuously sin.
________________________________________
Jealousy is defined as an unhappy or angry feeling of wanting to have what someone else has. Notice the presence of unhappiness and anger in the definition. The origin of jealousy dates back to our first parents, Adam and Eve. The fall of man was an offshoot of jealousy of Adam and Eve. They want to have the all-knowing character of God. Their desire to want to be like him led them to disobey his command not to eat from the fruit from the tree of good and evil. Prior to their sin, they had everything they could ever want. They were well provided for and had no need to toil. After the fall, all sins came about. The mother of all sins is pride. It centers on the “self” rather than others. A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body but jealousy is like cancer. It poisons and kills.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from jealous people.
REFLECTION
How do you know that you or someone you know manifests jealousy or envy?
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

ENVY AND SELFISHNESS IS EVIL Poem Devotional

dragonfly park and broadway 110

March 17________________________________________
If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual and demonic. James 3:14-15(NLT)
ENVY AND SELFISHNESS IS EVIL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you compare yourself with others
Watch out! You’ll eventually envy a sister or brother
When you have selfish ambitions in your heart
It is an opening for the devil to easily start.
Don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying
Be honest with God for he is very forgiving
Envy and selfishness can lead you to other evil
It is earthly, unspiritual and comes from the devil.
________________________________________
“Envy” is defined as a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck or it is also desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to someone else. Selfishness, as we all know is the quality of being self-centered or desiring to always satisfy one’s own desires. Both envy and selfishness focus on I, me and myself.
The apostle Paul gives us an antidote to these two evils in Philippians 4:11-12. He gives us contentment and thanksgiving as the cure for envy and selfishness. James warns us not to cover up these evil with boasting and lying, but to be honest with God and to confess and repent.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to be thankful always so I don’t fall envious of others.
REFLECTION
How can you overcome selfishness in this very corrupt world?

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

BENT TOWARDS REBELLION Poem Devotional

collingwood2013 015 (2)

June 4

________________________________________
Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. -Hosea 12:3(NLT)
BENT TOWARDS REBELLION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever done something lawless?
We all have the tendency to say “no” instead of “yes”
Have you ever argued with God to get your way?
We think we can manipulate him and get him swayed.
Why is it easy to be selfish rather than selfless?
It only leads us to ruin and a life that is pointless
Seek God so you can overcome pride and rebellion
He’s the only one who can change you and bring salvation.
________________________________________
Jacob’s story in the bible is a clear example of a bent towards rebellion. He was tricked by his father-in-law to marry Laban first before he actually married Rachel for many years. Then his two wives were always fighting over which one could bear him more children. In Genesis 34 his daughter, Dinah, went out “to see the daughters of the land” and ended up in fornication. Two of his sons used the occasion to kill a whole city of men, thus causing Jacob to fear for his family’s safety. Jacob’s sons were less than shining examples of godliness. Then Jacob had a favorite son Joseph which he openly showed to his other sons and caused them to plot to kill their brother because of Jacob’s favoritism.
PRAYER
Lord, help me overcome my natural tendency to rebel.
REFLECTION
What can we do to fight our bent towards rebellion?
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

ON JEALOUSY & SELFISHNESS Poem Devotional

stormy clouds 2012 093-003

December 19________________________________________
Jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambitions, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.–James 3:15-16 (NLT)
ON JEALOUSY & SELFISHNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you ever envy someone else’s status or possession?
Where there is jealousy, there is selfish ambition
Jealousy and selfishness are partners in crime
They will bring you disorder and evil of every kind.
Jealousy and selfishness are both rooted in pride
You can win these evil by being close to God and abide
When you find yourself comparing and wanting more
Be careful for the devil can enter your wide open door.
________________________________________
Lack of love and attention as a child taught me how to be jealous. I was criticized and minimized a lot. As a result, I became very insecure and wanting to be given attention. I also learned to compare myself with others especially when my caregivers would say that others were better than me. I became focused on performing to get attention and love. The world taught me to be jealous and insecure as a result of my experiences.
The bible tells us that jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. These are considered unspiritual and demonic. It says that jealousy and selfish ambition are partners and the result of these partnership is disorder and evil of every kind.
PRAYER
Lord, free me from jealousy and selfishness.
REFLECTION
Relate a time you were either jealous or selfish.
________________________________________
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