December 26________________________________________
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. – Psalm 25:3 (NLT)
ON TRUST AND DECEPTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ
They will be guaranteed a shame-free life
The Lord protects those who honor him
He does everything to ensure their integrity.
When you deceive others intentionally
You will be full of shame and disgraced instantly
The Lord commands us to walk in love and peace
He wants us to live in purity and to stay always free.
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In my dark past, I have lived with people who have compromised their lives and have no integrity. The hardest people to be with are those who are dishonest and always out to deceive others to get what they want. What a shameful life it was to be these people. I became accessory to their evil ways because I was so scared to lose these relationships. By doing so, I lived a life of shame as well.
I thank God that he has freed me from these lies that I lived in and freed me from the fear of not being loved. I am grateful that I was no longer a slave of my desires and cravings. What matters most to me now is to trust the Lord and obey his commands. When I did, I was freed from shame and guilt.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being the only one I can truly trust.
REFLECTION
What do you do when you see someone you love deceives 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
Tag Archives: ILMA
WORDS CAN DEFILE Poem Devotional
December 6________________________________________
The words you speak come from the heart-that’s what defiles you. – Matthew 15:18(NLT)
WORDS CAN DEFILE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What have you been saying lately?
Does it edify or hurt someone immensely?
The words you speak come from the heart
It can defile you or it can make others glad.
Guard your mouth for it reflects what is inside you
Ensure that you are the person Jesus made new
Words can destroy or edify; it is powerful
Do you use it to encourage others to stay faithful?
________________________________________Many people have been defiled by what they have said. The bible says that the one thing that can tarnish our person is the words that come out of our mouths. In Proverbs 18:21, we are warned that death and life lies in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 21:23 says that whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. The book of James gives us a good lesson on restraining our tongues. He reminds us that we all stumble in many ways and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to control his whole body.
What we say is a reflection of the condition of our hearts. If we encourage and help, we have stayed pure, but if we criticize and put down someone, we have defiled ourselves.
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PRAYER
Lord help me to guard my mouth and keep my heart pure.
REFLECTION
What have you said that has defiled 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
PRAYER TO BE CHILDLIKE Poem Devotional
November 29________________________________________
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever and for revealing them to the childlike.
-Matthew 12:25(NLT)
PRAYER TO BE CHILDLIKE
A poem and essay by ILMA
O Lord of heaven and earth, help all believers
Remind us how precious to you all the little children
Help us to guard our hearts and stay pure and childlike
You have created all human beings in your likeness.
Like children, let us constantly depend on you for everything
Don’t allow the enemy to corrupt us and be tempted to sin
Keep us always amazed by you and make us always grateful
Like children, let us always be excited to talk about the Good News.
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These verse in Matthew is a prayer of Jesus to the heavenly Father thanking him for revealing truth to the innocent and childlike. In Matthew 18: 3-4, Jesus calls a little child and placed that child in front of all of them, saying “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This latter verse of Matthew has been my life verse since my late twenties. It made me validated and valued even though I grew up traumatized as a child. Childlikeness is a passport to heaven.
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PRAYER
Lord, keep me innocent and pure, always depending on you.
REFLECTION
What hinders people from being childlike and pure?
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 REVELLING OVER OTHER’S SUFFERING Poem Devotional
October 2________________________________________
You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity. -Obadiah 13(NLT)
ON REVELLING OVER OTHER’S SUFFERING
A poem and essay by ILMA
There are some people who gloat over other’s anguish
They compare and think they’re better off than others
We are warned not to revel at our neighbor’s misfortune
Pray for them so that they will focus on the important
Help them to focus on the Lord instead of their troubles
It will bring them to God’s light and out of the rubbles.
Comfort others who are going through difficulties
Revelling on others’ trials is listening to the enemy.
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I knew someone in the past who likes to compare herself with others. I didn’t understand how dangerous it was at that time, but now I know that it was really a sin to do this. The bible tells us that we are made in the image of God in Genesis and in John it says that God is love. If we are designed in his likeness and He is love, therefore, we are love. That is simple logic, but is also the truth. When we act in a way that is not loving, we are operating in the system of the world. The bible also says that the prince of this world is not Jesus, but Satan. The prophet Obadiah warned us of revelling over other’s suffering. It is not godly do so.
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PRAYER
Lord, forgive me if I unknowingly gloat over other’s mishaps.
REFLECTION
Why isn’t it a good practice to compare ourselves with 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
TURN TO GOD FOR HEALING Poem Devotional
September 8________________________________________
Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.
-Isaiah 6:10(NLT)
TURN TO GOD FOR HEALING
A poem and essay by ILMA
When something besets you in life
You would want to turn to Christ
He can make you unable to hear or see
He wants you to rely on him regularly.
When you rely on yourself for things
He will make you unable to see
This way you can turn to him for healing
He is waiting for you to depend on him.
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The Israelites took an eleven-day journey into a forty year wandering. Why did they take that long? They were complaining and very stubborn people and had little faith. Despite all the miracles that God provided for them so they can increase their faith, they actually turned their backs on him and worshiped other Gods. So, God made them unable to hear and see what he is planning to do for them. All that God wants them to do is to obey and to stay faithful and look up to his promises. He didn’t want them to be self-sufficient and independent.
Don’t we behave like the Israelites at times? Don’t we resort to many things to heal ourselves instead of running to the greatest healer of all times?
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PRAYER
Lord, help me never to forget to rely on you especially for healing.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God makes us unable to hear and see some of his plans?
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
SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH Poem Devotional
February 22
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By my power, I will make my people strong, and by my authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the Lord have spoken. – Zechariah10:12(NLT)
SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you have limitations with what you can do?
When you are born again, it changes, you are made new
He gives you authority to fulfill all that he has planned
By his power, he prospers you and make you “grand”
Without God’s grace, you can do nothing
All things are possible once he gives you the anointing
There is nothing impossible with the Almighty
He gives you strength to conquer and have victory.
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During the dark times of my adult life, I experienced so much suffering and pain. I didn’t know that I caused all these traumatic experiences with the wrong choices I made. I also lived a life without a personal relationship with God. There were times I wondered how I survived such dreadful situations. I took credit for being a survivor. I didn’t realize that the Lord was the one who gave me supernatural strength to survive and thrive the many upheavals I had in life. He had a purpose when he allowed me to go through such circumstances. He was preparing me for something big in his ministry.
The bible says that apart from God, we can do nothing. It is through him that we get supernatural strength and power.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the power and authority you bestowed on all of mankind.
REFLECTION
Why don’t people use the power and authority given to them by 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
RUN FROM FOOLISH DISCUSSION
November 3
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Avoid godless foolish discussion with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. – 1 Timothy 6:20(NLT)
RUN FROM FOOLISH DISCUSSION
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
You will seek God and his will in your life
Avoid godless foolish discussions
Don’t participate in evil conversations.
Do not waste your time with arguing
Be clear and don’t make things confusing
Meditate on Scriptures and you’ll discern
Care only about what God wants you to learn.
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Have you ever engaged a conversation with a person with high conflict personality? It is tiring to deal with this spirit who likes to drag people into reasoning, debate and arguments. I used to be fascinated by philosophy and when God revealed to me that human reasoning is actually foolish. In 1 Corinthians 1:19-21, Paul says that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent. So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom. When I studied these verses, I let go of all my interest in philosophy, logic and debate. The Lord showed me that engaging in such foolish discussion is a waste of time and I open doors for the enemy to trap me into sinning.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me when I am being lured into human reasoning.
REFLECTION
What is the antidote to human reasoning and arguing and foolish discussions?
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 STOOD BY ME Poem Devotional
October 10
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But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.
-2 Timothy 4:18 (NLT)
GOD STOOD BY ME
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever been in very difficult situations?
The Lord will stand by you especially in temptations
He gives strength so you might preach the gospel
He is faithful to bring you his own Spirit as your helper.
No matter how bleak the circumstances are
He will never leave you alone at any hour
He will make a way for you to spread his Good News
Press on! He will ensure that all your gifts are used.
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There were many times in my life that I was beset by obstacles to discourage me from preaching the Good News. Sometimes I give in to the distraction and temptations. When I allowed the Lord to discipline my body and spirit, he transformed me and gave me strength. It is amazing that no matter how hard the situations were, he carried me through all of them. The bible tells us to preach the Good News that Jesus was given to us to save us from sin and that we need to believe that his sacrifice gives us new life. He promised to rescue us and never forsake us so we can fulfill our purpose.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember your faithfulness.
REFLECTION
Cite an instance when you felt God was there in the hardest and crucial times of 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 POWER OF SPOKEN WORD Poem Devotional
February 15________________________________________
The Lord merely spoke and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. – Psalm 33:6(NLT)
THE POWER OF SPOKEN WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord merely spoke when he created the world
He breathed on anything he made and said the word
The power of spoken word is astonishing
It will bring your wishes to happen, it is amazing.
The power is in your tongue which can bring life or death
Are you using your mouth to build up and encourage?
Are your words bringing others closer to Christ?
Use your words to bring about the truth and to give life.
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I used to be a Speech Teacher for fifteen years. I was blessed to have the chance to make a difference in the youth by building teaching oral communication skills to freshmen high school students. It was a very rewarding vocation because I was able to see the fruit of my labors. For many, verbal communication can be terrifying, especially with teenagers. I wished that I could have been a born again Christian back then, I would have stressed to my students the importance of using God’s word and truth to make a difference.
The bible tells us that God breathed and spoke a word and whatever he commanded was created. Since we were created in his image, we too have the power of spoken word.
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PRAYER
Lord, help us to speak only what is good and true and encouraging.
REFLECTION
What have you uttered that made or broke someone? Share your experience.
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
QUALIFICATIONS FROM GOD Poem Devotional
January 30________________________________________
It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualifications come from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:5(NLT)
QUALIFICATIONS FROM GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
All our qualifications come from the Creator
He made us all different and no one is greater
He gave each one of us different gifts and skills
He also gave us choices through our own will.
Not one of us can do anything on our own
Only through Christ can we harvest what we’ve sown
Don’t ever forget to thank him for all that you are
Without him, you will not succeed or get far.
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When you apply for a job, your qualifications for the said position are crucial for the employer to see whether you are a good fit for the job and the company. The hiring managers are trained to ask questions after you have passed their first tests to gauge how your work ethics are and what other traits you have to qualify you for the position. When people finally get hired, a lot of them forget to thank God that they have such skills that made them get the job.
The bible tells us that all our qualifications come from God. We can’t do anything on our own. We are only deceiving ourselves if we take credit for something that only our creator has given us.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be grateful of all the things you have given me.
REFLECTION
What are your qualifications that will bring more people to know God?
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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