Tag Archives: idolatry

IDOLATRY INSULTS THE LORD Poem Devotional

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September 13________________________________________
All day long they insult me to my face by worshiping idols. – Isaiah 65:3(NLT)
IDOLATRY INSULTS THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you aware of the idols in your life?
The literally snuff off God’s glorious light
Is it a career or an obsession that steals your time?
What are you idolizing that makes you lose insight?
It insults the Lord when you praise other gods and things
He considers it unfaithfulness and a grave sin
He is a jealous God and he doesn’t want competition
He wants you to make him first, so resist the temptation.
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What is the worst thing one can do when he or she is in a relationship? Unfaithfulness is what breaks and ruins relationships. Why do you think it is so? The bible says that God is love in 1 John 4:8. In Genesis 1:27, we are told that we are made in the image of God. The way God created us is exactly like him. We were not created for betrayal, unfaithfulness and adultery. It is the exact opposite of love. So, when we focus our attention, priorities, time and adulation to someone or something other than the Lord Jesus Christ, we are committing adultery. James 4:4 bluntly calls us adulterers when we become friends with the world. Idolatry is one way that Satan derails us from the straight path to Jesus. It insults the Lord seriously when we worship idols.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from anything that will take away my focus on you.
REFLECTION
What kinds of idols can easily sneak 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

WINNING US BACK Poem Devotional

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April 23________________________________________
But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. -Hosea 2:14(NLT)
WINNING US BACK
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord loves us unconditionally
Even when we behave lawlessly
He forgives us our sins when we repent
He comforts our hearts when we lament.
He wins us back when we rebel and disobey
He lets the Spirit convict us when we go astray
He speaks to us wisely and gives us discernment
If we depend on him, he will give us enlightenment.
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When I lost someone’s love because of a wrong decision I made, I began to pursue to win back his trust. I asked for forgiveness and became accountable for what I did. Forgiveness can be granted easily, but sometimes, trust may take a while to happen. If the person repeatedly changed his behavior, then the other party may start to build the trust again and the relationship may be repaired. But if the offending partner do not follow through his or her word, there may be consequences that will ensue from the lack of accountability.
The bible tells us an account of God’s great love for Israel. Despite his people’s unfaithfulness, he still wins her back and brings her to a place where they initially became lovers. He shows how much he grants us grace and mercy despite all our sins.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for loving me unconditionally.
REFLECTION
How do you respond to God’s winning you back when you turn your back on him?
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

WOE TO IDOLS & IDOLATRY Poem Devotional

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January 16
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What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, ‘Wake up and save us!’ To speechless stone images you say, ‘Rise up and teach us!’ Can an idol tell you what to do? – Habakkuk 2:19 (NLT)
WOE TO IDOLS & IDOLATRY
A poem and essay by ILMA
What sort of idols are you giving praise?
Is it money, power or any new craze
What sorrow awaits those who have idols
They are making God so very jealous.
When people prioritize other things over the Lord
They lose much by following the standards of this world
Why waste time on things that fade away
Only the Lord is the real God who can save.
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The New Living Translation gives a background to the book of Prophet Habakkuk. He preached during the last days of Judah, before its fall to Babylon in 586 B.C. He foresaw the impending doom and was troubled by two things: why God allowed the people of Judah to sin and how God could use a sinful nation like Babylon to punish Judah. Desperate for answers, Habakkuk boldly and confidently took his complaints directly to God which the Lord replied with righteousness ultimately prevailing despite the impending dark days ahead.
Habakkuk 2:18-19 is a warning to all regarding idols and idolatry. How meaningless it is to put your trust in idols carved by man. He warns the people to give up idolatry for there is much sorrow awaiting them.
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PRAYER
Lord, convict me of any idols in my life.
REFLECTION
What is the gauge that something or someone is becoming an idol?
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

IDOLS PEOPLE WORSHIP Poem Devotional

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June 27
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So I went in and saw the walls covered with engravings of all kinds of crawling animals and detestable creatures. I also saw the various idols worshiped by the people of Israel.
– Ezekiel 8:10(NLT)
IDOLS PEOPLE WORSHIP
A poem and essay by ILMA
People have turned their backs to God
Minds are twisted and hearts are hard
They worship all kinds of idols to replace Him
They disconnected to his love and lived in sin.
Wealth, people, money, even family are some idols
Living your life against his will is turning against the Lord
Religious acts and legalism bring hypocrisy at its height
Jesus died so we can have relationship, stop putting up a fight.
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Many decades of my life was wasted on idols. The Lord revealed to me these past six years the real reason why he transported me to Canada. I married a Canadian, so God used this decision (which I did out of loneliness) to pull me out of a country that was predominantly dominated by the spirit of idolatry and religion. It was amazing how I got freed from these strongholds that have kept me in bondage for many years. I kneeled on images in the past and not read any of his truth in the bible. I didn’t realize how cleverly Satan created idols in the form of my own child, spouse, career, knowledge, etc. I prioritized them instead of making God first in my life.
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PRAYER
Lord, forgive me each time I idolize and prioritize other things instead of you.
REFLECTION
How does God rank in your life?
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 MORE I CALL, THE FARTHER THEY MOVED Poem Devotional

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March 22________________________________________
But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. – Hosea 11:2(NLT)
THE MORE I CALL, THE FARTHER THEY MOVED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you hear God’s voice calling you back to him?
Are you heeding his call or are you stuck in sin?
When God calls some people moved farther away
They choose to live in bondage and continue to stray.
Why don’t his followers stay faithful and true?
Why do we usually choose to stay in trouble and rue?
Follow the voice that comes from God’s nudging
It will bring victory over the enemy’s tempting
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Why did the Israelites choose to turn their backs on God after they were delivered and brought to the Promised Land? It sounds like the relationship between a parent and a rebellious child. The more parents ask them to obey, the more they rebel, just like the more God called the Israelites to him, the farther away they moved from him. They defied God instead and offered sacrifices to the images of Baal, another pagan god and burned incense to idols. They knew that the very first commandment that God asked from them to obey is not to have any other gods before him but to love him above all. So, they deliberately followed the spirit of rebellion and idolatry.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from any idols that I have carved for myself and other gods.
REFLECTION
What kind of idols today do we worship that we are unaware of?
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 NEGLECT THE LORD Poem Devotional

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January 17________________________________________
Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? – Haggai 1:4 (NLT)
WHEN YOU NEGLECT THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are always busy working to prosper yourself
You are neglecting your creator, the Lord God Himself
Whenever you prioritize other things instead of Him
You are opening the door for the enemy to win.
When you surround yourself with all the comforts in life
And then miss out God’s truth that brings us light
You are neglecting the Lord’s house by letting it lie in ruins
Don’t turn your back on the only one who can free you from sins.
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There are many people who get so busy accumulating wealth and hoarding comforts and conveniences in life. They have no time to read the word of God or even pray because they are so wrapped up in getting what they want in life. “Busy-ness” is a trick of the enemy to veer us away from our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. The devil wants to create wants in life and make it appear like needs. Then we start to aspire and desire that thing which becomes a never ending goal to get. Then he creates more things for us to be busy with so we won’t have time for praising the Lord and building his kingdom. We should watch out that we don’t neglect the Lord and his kingdom.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never neglect my priority which is to serve you first.
REFLECTION
What have you done to build God’s kingdom?
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

GODLY LIVING Poem Devotional

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Nov 9
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Don’tmake your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life. -Psalm 62:10(NLT)
GODLY LIVING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you live a life of integrity?
Do you make God your priority?
Don’t make your living by extortion
Don’t allow wealth to bring much distortion.
Godly living is guided by biblical principles
It is not complex but it is very simple
Wealth must never be the center of your life
If you seek God first, you will be in the light.
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There are people who live dishonest and impure lives. They become obsessed having power and wealth. They forget the more important things in this life, which is not always material wealth. Matthew 6:19-20 tells us not to store treasures here on earth where moths and rust can destroy and thieves can steal but to store treasures in heaven. The next verse tells us too that where our treasure is, there our hearts will also be. In plain words, when we treasure material things so much, it becomes our master. It will be very hard to live a godly life and serve money and wealth as your master. Many Christians do not realize that love for money and wealth is evil. If it becomes the center of your life, then you are not putting God first. This is a form of idolatry.
PRAYER
Lord, help me watch that I always never compromise my relationship with you.
REFLECTION
How can the love of wealth and money ruin a person’s life?
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 PUT GOD FIRST Poem Devotional

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October 6
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Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. -Matthew 6:33-34(NLT)
WHEN YOU PUT GOD FIRST
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you make God your priority
You actually let go of idolatry
Seek God first and be right with him
When you take your eyes off God, you sin.
Worrying brings out more fear and sorrow
Let go of all your concerns about tomorrow
Today’s trouble is enough, so give up anxiety
Instead, put God first and you will have victory.
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What is the first thing you do as soon as you wake up? Do you run to the shower or rush to do your stuff? I learned early to say a prayer before anything else. Having been brought up to follow religious rituals paid off after all. As I habitually prayed as young as seven years old, the Holy Spirit taught me to find meaning in rote praying. He invited me to converse and tell Jesus my heartaches and troubles. So, at an early age, I had a personal relationship with Christ.
The bible tells us that when we put God first in everything, live a holy life following Jesus, we will be granted all our needs. We need not worry about anything.
PRAYER
Lord, help me whenever the enemy distracts my attention from you.
REFLECTION
What happens when you take off your eyes off Jesus?
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

IDOLS SAP STRENGTH Poem Devotional

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August 2
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Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it.
-Hosea 7:9(NLT)
IDOLS SAP STRENGTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
What distracts you from worshiping the Lord?
What things or people prevent you from giving him laud?
How much time do you use up for things that are worldly?
Do you realize they sap you of time, strength and energy?
Prioritizing God in all you do will bring you prosperity
Leaving him last will deplete you and deprive you of victory
There is only one God who can deliver you from the enemy
Christ is all knowing, all powerful, loving and full of mercy.
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There is a misnomer that idolatry only involves other foreign gods. The enemy prevents us from knowing and seeing that even other things and people can become our idols. An idol is something or someone that keeps us away from praising and worshiping the only one true God, Jesus Christ. A job can easily be an idol. If we spend long hours on it and never acknowledge God for the blessing of being employed, we are idolizing our jobs. If our relationships hinder us from being close to God, we are compromising our intimacy with God and these people become idols.
The bible talks about how the Israelites’ idolatry of foreign gods have sapped them of their strength without being aware of it. Idols distract us from focusing on God.
PRAYER
Lord, show me instantly what idols I have in my life.
REFLECTION
What idols does the enemy use to keep you away from 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

TRUSTING IN YOUR OWN Poem Devotional

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July 17________________________________________
How foolish to trust in your own creation. –Habakkuk 2:18 (NLT)
TRUSTING IN YOUR OWN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you believe in your creator?
Do you think you are any better?
God has power beyond your capacity
He is all powerful and mighty
How foolish to trust in your own ability
It will never be at par with the Almighty
Trusting in your own is idolatry
It will never bring you victory.
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I became a self-taught painter in the early 90’s and became obsessed with painting and drawing for almost two decades. I was very prolific. I painted over two thousand works in the last two decades of my life. My artworks became so important to me. When I came to Canada, God revealed to me that it was my artworks that got in the way of my relationship with him. I couldn’t see his plan because I was clinging to my idol, my art.
The Lord spoke to the prophet Habakkuk about the dangers of idolatry and what it does to the people who believe in their own creation making their own gods. In our modern day setting, we need not create our own god carved from wood or other materials. The enemy has cunningly camouflaged idolatry in many other forms. Media has bombarded society with many idols such as Hollywood stars, beauty, wealth, power, fame and many more.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to detect any forms of idolatry in my life.
REFLECTION
What idols are you clinging to that hampers your spiritual growth?

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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