Tag Archives: poetry

GOD KNOWS AND DECIDES Powm Devotional

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December 8________________________________________
Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Exodus 4:11(NLT)
GOD KNOWS AND DECIDES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whatever you are struggling with today
Trust that the Lord will always have his way
You might think that it is you who makes decisions
He is behind every thought and all choices and actions.
Sometimes we boast and take credit for success or weakness
He allows things to work out for good in the bleakest times
God knows and decides what we are going to do or say
Why resist his power when we can go the right way?
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When Moses questions God’s command for him to go to the Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites from slavery from the Egyptians, he argued with God because he didn’t think he was capable of speaking and being heard by the powerful ruler of Egypt. We see a spirit of resistance and complaining in Moses. But aren’t we all like this too? Whenever God leads us to do something of our comfort zones, we resist and question what God wants us to do. Even though God shows Moses how to convince the Egyptians with the miraculous signs he showed him, he still questioned his abilities. God reminds us that he knows and decides all things, but he wants our obedience first.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never question your plans but follow instead.
REFLECTION
How can one overcome a habit of questioning God’s will and commands?
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

WORDS CAN DEFILE Poem Devotional

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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

NEW GEMS OF TRUTH Poem Devotional

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December 4________________________________________
Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.
– Matthew 13:52(NLT)
NEW GEMS OF TRUTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
You will experience a lot of changes in your life
You are promised a life that is eternal
This is God’s promise to all his followers.
A disciple is likened to a homeowner who brings new gems
The truth of God’s word are jewels that we must treasure
When you live for God, you will abound in wisdom
He reveals to you new truth and keep you in freedom.
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The years that I lived as an immature Christian versus the six years that I was born again is such a big gap. Before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I relied on human and worldly wisdom. I read all kinds of books under the sun to be intelligent and looked up to. It was very important to me to have the knowledge because it gave me power.
When I became born again, my life was changed. I was never the same. The one thing I discovered was the treasury of wealth that God’s word can give a Christian. It is sad to know that many believers stay immature and not grow as disciples because they haven’t obeyed and seek him.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for the fountain of knowledge found only in your word.
REFLECTION
How can we get spiritually rich in this 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

LIKE A TREASURE Poem Devotional

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December 3________________________________________
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. – Matthew 13:44(NLT)
LIKE A TREASURE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What things do you value most in your life?
Are they going to bring you closer to God’s light?
God’s kingdom is like a treasure that is so precious
Don’t love the world, instead, seek the Lord Jesus.
When you reflect on the sacrifice of the Son of Man
You will feel so loved; it will touch your heart
There is nothing else more valuable than this
Stay focused on Jesus and you will find eternal bliss.
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Many people live without joy and hope. They get so wrapped up in the hunt for happiness and wealth. They barely have time to spend with their loved ones because of this obsession to be happy and be rich. Happiness is fleeting but joy isn’t. This two concept gets interchanged. Happiness usually come from the pleasure that is derived from something or someone we have craved for. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit which is a result of something you have done for someone. Happiness is more self-seeking while joy is from filling others’ needs.
Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a discovered treasure in a field. We would give up all to hide it and protect it.
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PRAYER
Lord, help us to understand what needs to be prioritized in our lives.
REFLECTION
What do you treasure most in 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 GOD IS WITH YOU Poem Devotional

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December 1________________________________________
The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed. – Genesis 39:23(NLT)
WHEN GOD IS WITH YOU
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you form a relationship with the Lord
He will never leave you; he’ll be there for you
As soon as you commit to Jesus Christ
You will encounter many challenges in life.
When God is with you, you have his blessings
Stay faithful to him and you will overcome evil
When God is with you, he can give you favors
Keep growing your faith and your life will be full.
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The story of Joseph the dreamer in the bible is a clear example of how God is with the people whom he loved and have plans for. His brothers plotted to kill him and sold him later to slavery because they were jealous of how their father Jacob treated him. He was his favorite son. The Lord allowed all the bad things that Joseph experienced to be a way for him to succeed in life. After being sold to the Egyptians, years later, he ended up working for the Pharaoh. Because God was with him all the time, everything he did was blessed and anointed. Potiphar, the Pharaoh found Joseph so good at everything he did and so he promoted him and trusted him with everything he got. Later on, he helped his relatives during the worst famine in the land despite what they did to him.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for all your blessings and keep me faithful to you.
REFLECTION
How can you be more grateful for 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

THE NAME THAT BRINGS HOPE Poem Devotional

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November 30________________________________________
And his name will be the hope of all the world. – Matthew 12:21(NLT)
THE NAME THAT BRINGS HOPE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you lost your joy and passion?
What have you lately been focusing on?
If you listen to all the lies that the enemy says
You will loose hope and get trapped in his ways.
God gave us his only Son to bring salvation
Call on his name so you can come out of oblivion
Jesus’ name is the only one that brings hope and joy
Say it out loud and you’ll enjoy a life that is full.
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There was probably over two decades of my life that I was desperately hopeless and lonely. I wasn’t loved for who I was but for how I can live up to the unrealistic expectations set before me. It was a very tiring life because I was always walking on eggshells, fearing that if I didn’t follow what I was told to do, I will be punished and more pain from the rejection and criticism will ensue. At a very young age, I learned to cope with this impossible life. They wanted me to be perfect, to perform all the talents they want me to excel in, and to academically outshine all of my classmates. If I didn’t, they will withdraw their attention and love. I learned to call on Jesus at age seven and his name brought me hope and comfort.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your most powerful name.
REFLECTION
Share an instance when Jesus’ name brought you joy and hope.
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

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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

IF YOU LOVE OTHERS MORE THAN GOD Poem Devotional

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November 28________________________________________
If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. – Matthew 10:37 (NLT)
IF YOU LOVE OTHERS MORE THAN GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you spend hours with someone and don’t have time for God
You are not worthy to be called His people, you don’t give laud
When you prioritize your family than Jesus
You are showing that they are more precious.
If you claim to be a believer of Christ
You must manifest it in your life
Investing time to praise and worship Him
Must be your priority so you won’t sin.
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In Luke 2:39-52, we are given an account when Jesus and his family went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. Jesus and Mary didn’t realize that Jesus wasn’t with them when they came back home and they looked for him and came back to Jerusalem. When Mary found him, she said “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” Jesus replied with “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” His parents didn’t understand what he meant. This story clearly tells us that Jesus prioritized God the Father and his purpose for his kingdom.
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PRAYER
Lord, help all of us to remember that you come first than anyone else if we claim to love you.
REFLECTION
How can family be idols?
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 GOD SHOWS UP Poem DEvotional

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November 21________________________________________
He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground. -Genesis 18:2(NLT)
WHEN GOD SHOWS UP
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever felt God’s presence in your life?
He is always with you and shedding you His light
Are you able to let go of whatever you are doing?
Do you recognize His spirit as your day is going?
Do you notice when God is just nearby and hovering?
What do you do when he overwhelms you with his loving?
Abraham bowed low to the ground to give him reverence
How do you acknowledge the Lord God Almighty’s presence?
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According to the Blue Letter Bible.org website, During the period of the Old Testament God appeared to certain people in a physical form. This form was not the essence of God but rather a physical representation of God for the benefit of those to whom He was speaking. Nobody has seen God or can see God for, by nature, He is an invisible spirit. In Genesis 17, we clearly read that the Lord appeared to Abram when he was ninety-nine years old telling him that he was “El Shaddai” – ‘God Almighty.’ He instructed Abram to serve him faithfully and live a blameless life and made a covenant with him to guarantee countless descendants coming from him (Genesis 17:1-2).
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PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to magnify you whenever you make me feel your presence.
REFLECTION
Share a moment when you literally experienced God’s powerful presence.
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

FOLLOWERS WILL BE DESPISED Poem Devotional

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November 27________________________________________
And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. – Matthew 10:22(NLT)
FOLLOWERS WILL BE DESPISED
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you believe in Jesus Christ
You must be ready to be despised
When you join Jesus’ flock
You will be antagonized and blocked.
If you continue to endure all the rejection
You will be a recipient of his salvation
If you want to be approved by everyone
You won’t find it by believing in God’s Son.
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It is shocking to find some Christians who live compromised lives. They claim that they want to follow Jesus, but are not ready to take up the cross. Luke 14:27 says that whoever does not carry their cross cannot be Jesus’ disciple. So, I don’t understand how one can say that they are a follower of Jesus and expect to be approved and accepted by others. The bible also says that we cannot serve two masters. We cannot please others and follow the ways of the world and at the same time claim to be a disciple of Christ.
In fact, we are told that if we take the path that leads to salvation, we will be despised and rejected. So how come some believers expect to be treated like queens and kings when our king Jesus came to serve and not be served?
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PRAYER
Lord, please remind me to always take the narrow path to salvation.
REFLECTION
How can rejection from others be an upside of 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