Tag Archives: grace

FALLING AWAY FROM GOD’S GRACE Poem Devotional

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March 22
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For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace – Galatians 5:4(NLT)
FALLING AWAY FROM GOD’S GRACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you committed your life to Jesus Christ
You will be showered with his grace in life
You need not keep on following rules
Openly receive his mercy, grace and his truth.
You will be falling away from God’s grace right away
When you obsessively follow the law always
You will be denying yourself of all his blessings
Walk in love instead of keeping the law strictly.
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Are you a stickler to rules? Do you follow the law just so you can be right with the Lord? I used to be legalistic and followed the commandments so I can feel right with myself and with God. I didn’t know I lived in the old testament by following the ten commandments and abiding by it for the sake of being saved. Romans 13:10 says that love is the fulfillment of the law and in Matthew 22:36-40, we are given the highest commandment to love God first and our neighbors as ourselves. It states that love rules over law. When we do things out of just obeying the law, we lose out on what is more important, which is love. We fall away from God’s grace when we prioritize law over love.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me follow your commands out of love and not just out of duty.
REFLECTION
How can we avoid falling out of grace?
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

UNWAVERING MERCY Poem Devotional

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February 26
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Whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times.
– Nehemiah 9:28(NLT)
UNWAVERING MERCY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever been forgiven again and again?
The Lord gives you mercy seventy times seven
He gives you forgiveness afresh each morning
He listens to your cry for help as you are praying.
He is faithful to understand you and give you grace
He never fails to hear the pleas of the human race
Run to his throne and he will never fail you
He is all-loving, he always rescues and renews.
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One of the hardest things to do is to forgive someone who has done you wrong. Human nature makes us respond to hurt in a vengeful reaction. We react to pain with either a flight or fight response. In Exodus 21, we hear that an eye for an eye is how we should respond to a fight. In Matthew 5, we hear the teaching that we must not resist an evil person but if someone slaps us on the right cheek, we must offer the other cheek. Does this mean that we are to allow ourselves to be abused? It means that we need not avenge ourselves from the wrong done to us, but forgive instead. The Lord grants us mercy without cease. Why can’t we do the same for others?
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PRAYER
Lord, give me the grace to grant forgiveness to those who have wronged me.
REFLECTION
How do you know that you have already forgiven someone?
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

MERCY THROUGH GRACE Poem Devotional

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January 17
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Foreigners will come to rebuild your towns, and their kings will serve you. For though I have destroyed you in my anger, I will now have mercy on you through my grace.
-Isaiah 60:10(NLT)
MERCY THROUGH GRACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you done something so wrong?
You can be forgiven not for very long
Run to the Lord and ask for forgiveness
He is full of grace and will grant you mercy.
No matter what you have done
Confess and repent and don’t run
Receive his mercy through his grace
And you will finally be amazed.
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I was a believer for very long but I never understood the concept of grace until the Lord revealed to me how amazing it is. I grew up thinking that I could work for my salvation but it was wrong to think so. Despite all the sins I have committed, Jesus loved me so much and forgave me all that I confessed and repented for. He gave me new life so I can also forgive myself and live a life that is full.
Grace is unmerited favor that we receive through God’s unfailing mercy and love. We receive it when we asked for forgiveness for the wrong we have done. Nothing we will ever do can make up for the sins we have committed. Only the mercy and grace of God will bring us restoration and healing in our lives.
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PRAYER
Lord, please show me how to be worthy of your mercy.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to acknowledge God’s mercy and grace as we receive it?
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

GRATEFUL FOR GRACE

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December 11
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Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words. -2 Corinthians 9:15(NLT)
GRATEFUL FOR GRACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever received an undeserved gift?
Christ gave you grace even if it doesn’t seem fit
He sacrificed his life for you and died for your sins
Did you thank him for what he did so you can be free?
The gift of grace is too wonderful for words
Only the righteous can overcome this world
The holy people of God are forever grateful
Follow Jesus’ way and you will learn to be faithful.
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Have you ever been speechless from someone giving you something or doing some acts of kindness to you? When I got divorced from my first husband who was abusive, it was very difficult to go through the motions of finding a new place to move into. I was new in Canada and my 16-year old son was joining me soon. A group of men from a church in the town I lived helped single mothers to move out. They provided for the extra hands to lift the pieces of furniture. I wasn’t a born again Christian then when they helped me. What was so overwhelming was when they prayed in a circle before they started moving out my things from my old house and prayed again to bless me and my son after. What grace God has given me through these people.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the undeserved favor you have given me.
REFLECTION
What does thankfulness do to you and to others?
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

GRACE BUILDS YOU UP

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November 2
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And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. – Acts 20:32(NLT)
GRACE BUILDS YOU UP
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you go through trials and feel discouraged
Focus on the grace of God so you will be encouraged
He will not allow you to be tested beyond your capacity
His grace is there to build you up in all your suffering and frailties.
When you cannot understand what you are going through
Grace gives you comfort by leading you to His truth
You need not understand why he unconditionally loves you
Just receive grace, thank the Lord and be renewed.
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The word “grace” used in the bible like forgiveness, repentance, regeneration, and salvation, mean something as broad as describing the whole of God’s activity toward man or as narrow as describing one segment of that activity. An accurate, common definition describes grace as the unmerited favor of God toward man. It was hard for me to comprehend “grace” before I became a born again Christian. I was raised in the concept of working for my salvation. I wouldn’t be saved if I didn’t do good works. It enslaved me to think that I wasn’t going to be saved because I wasn’t good enough. God’s unconditional love for me is manifested in his grace.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to see the grace I receive from you daily.
REFLECTION
What might block you from receiving God’s grace?
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’S GRACE BRINGS WISDOM Poem Devotional

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March 16________________________________________
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. -James 3:13(NLT)
GOD’S GRACE BRINGS WISDOM
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you love the Lord with all your heart
You are transformed; you want a new start
You turn your back from old and become new
Your heart is opened and your mind renewed.
If you are wise and understand God’s ways
Your life will shine and you won’t be easily swayed
God gives you the grace by giving you wisdom
He wants you to choose the path to his kingdom.
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We know that grace means undeserved favor from the Lord. The only reason why we have what we are currently enjoying is because God has poured his grace and mercy on us. Wisdom is not pure knowledge. We say that someone is wise when that person has actually manifested in his life the things he has learned. Otherwise, he is just called a knowledgeable person rather than a wise one. We don’t need to be literate to be wise. I know someone who cannot read or write and yet was able to succeed in life. He was a very strong believer of Jesus. Whenever he is to make a choice or decision, he consulted God through prayer and reading Scriptures. Most of all, he applied the truths in his life.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never forget that wisdom only comes from you.
REFLECTION
Do you believe that God is the source of your wisdom and all your blessings?
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

NOT I BUT GOD’S GRACE Poem Devotional

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March 4________________________________________
Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. – 1 Corinthians 15:10(NLT)
NOT I BUT GOD’S GRACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whatever I possess right now is not truly mine
It is a special favor on me bestowed by Christ
It is not I but God’s grace that brought me here
Only God knows all my weaknesses and fears.
Despite all the hard work I do to for his kingdom
I cannot boast because then I won’t have freedom
I thank my Lord who constantly shower me with grace
It is only fitting that I glorify him and give him praise.
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I was a very proud person before I was a born again Christian. I always took pleasure when I accomplish something. Though I may not speak or boast openly about it, I had this sense of victory inside me that I did it and I needed to be acknowledged for it. I was so foolish to think that it was my doing and effort that me successful in those endeavors I chose.
The bible tells us that it is not I but God’s grace that brought me where I was and it wasn’t for my own but for his kingdom purpose. ________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never take my eyes of your grace.
REFLECTION
What can impede us from living in God’s grace?
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

HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE Poem Devotional

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February 26________________________________________
Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God.
– Hebrews 12:15 (NLT)
HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you committed yourself to Jesus?
Do you know how much you are precious?
If you want to receive God’s grace
You must do what the word says.
Look after each other so no one fails to receive it
Then you will be harvesting the fruits of the Spirit
He commanded us to care for one another
Are you showing your love for your sisters and brothers?
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The word ‘grace’ (CHEN in Hebrew, CHARIS in Greek), as it is used in the scriptures, literally means ‘favour’, to bend or stoop in kindness to another as a superior to an inferior. It has the idea of graciousness in manner or action. When used in reference to God, it is the benevolent action of Him stooping down to us in His kindness to reach us in our need, and convey upon us a benefit. What an awesome God! He stoops down to our level just so he can show his love for us. Have you ever been loved this much by anyone?
The bible tells us that there is a requirement to receive the grace of God. He wants us to look after each other so that we won’t miss it. By loving others, we show that we love him.
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PRAYER
Show me how to live in your grace always.
REFLECTION
Why do some Christians fail to live in God’s grace?
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

MERCY EACH MORNING Poem Devotional

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February 25________________________________________
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. -Lamentations 3:23(NLT)
MERCY EACH MORNING
A poem and essay by ILMA
To those who love the Lord with all their heart
They will have mercy each morning; what a start!
God’s love is unconditional and unfailing
Be faithful in return so you won’t keep falling.
Is there anyone else who could forgive you each time?
He waits for you to return when you commit a crime
Great is his faithful, his mercies begin afresh each day
Seek him constantly; he is faithful to those who obey.
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There were many years that I tortured myself with guilt when I did something wrong. I sometimes punished myself for my sins. It was a life full of remorse and condemnation. I never felt that I was good enough for anyone especially for God. I always critiqued myself harshly. I get so down and hopeless at times when I know I broke a rule or a law of the church. I did not realize that these attitude and thinking were the result of the legalism I grew up into. Corporal punishment was the way adults disciplined children. So much rules, but very little love and affection.
The bible tells us that God is faithful and he forgives and gives us grace and mercy each morning. We need not compare God with our parents and other caregivers. He is a merciful God.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your faithfulness and mercy.
REFLECTION
What are the ways that you can manifest mercy to others?
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

SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS Poem Devotional

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January 4________________________________________
And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution hating the sins that contaminate their lives. – Jude 22-23 (NLT)
SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering
Rescue them from judgment and keep on helping
When you show understanding and compassion
You help them from falling into temptation.
Whenever you see a believer sinning
Don’t hate them, but continue forgiving
Remember what Jesus did to show us an example
He gave mercy and grace to all of God’s people.
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I know someone who never forgives. Her motto in life is never to show mercy to those who have done something wrong to her. I never understood why it was difficult for her to forgive until I learned all the abuses she underwent even as a young child. She allowed her circumstances to harden her heart. Later on, she was beset by cancer which was probably an aftermath of her heart’s un-forgiveness.
The bible tells us to show mercy to those whose faith is wavering and to snatch them from the flames of judgment. We have to be careful when we show forgiveness and understanding so that we don’t fall into the danger of contaminating our own lives. Keep a close relationship with the Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to follow your example of generously granting mercy.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God requires us to give mercy to others?
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