Tag Archives: strength

GOD ENABLES YOU Poem Devotional

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September 27________________________________________
It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us. – 2 Corinthians 1:21(NLT)
GOD ENABLES YOU
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you feel discouraged, down and weary
Remember that he always loves you unconditionally
God enables you to go through life’s obstacles
Believe in him and you will encounter miracles.
God has commissioned you to preach the good news
Through Christ he will anoint you; don’t refuse
He commands you to make disciples of all nations
He will equip you, so don’t give in to temptations.
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Vine’s Greek New testament defines “enable” which is “endunamoo” in Hebrew as “to render strong, power or inwardly strengthened suggesting strength in soul and purpose. In 1 Timothy 1:12, we hear that it is Christ who strengthens us. 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us that God is able to make all grace abound to us that we will always have all sufficiency in everything and may have abundance for every good deed we do. In Luke 10:19, we have been given the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and have power over the enemy and nothing will injure us.
The King James Version dictionary further expounds on its meaning. It means to furnish with competent knowledge or skill, and in general, with adequate means. God enables his people through Christ and has commissioned us to preach the Good News and make disciples of all nations.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for enabling me to do your commission.
REFLECTION
Why do some Christians fail to do the commission we were given?
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.STUD¬¬IO@gmail.com

POWER TO THE WEAK Poem Devotional

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August 14________________________________________
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. – Isaiah 40:29(NLT)
POWER TO THE WEAK
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord is there for those who are powerless
He gives them strength and his love is boundless
When you are weak, he is there to give you power
He will alleviate the pain of those who suffer.
He came to redeem all those who believe in him
He died for all of us so we can overcome sin
Be joyful when you encounter suffering
He will grant you his grace and blessings.
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During the darkest years of my life, I felt very hopeless, powerless and desperate. I had experienced so much pain and abuse without realizing that I was uncomfortable with peace and joy. I wasn’t a born again believer at that time, so I only did what others would do. I followed my will and the world’s standards. I consulted all kinds of self-help books and relied on my own mind and abilities. I didn’t realize that God only wanted me to rely on him and no one else. There was a time when I was at a desperate moment that I almost ended my own life. He still saved me. I didn’t know that he had a plan for me even before I was born. A plan for flourishing his kingdom, not for my own wants. He gave me strength when I was weak and powerless.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for strengthening me in all the desperate moments in my life.
REFLECTION
How can you encourage someone who is helpless?
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 INCREASE STRENGTH Poem Devotional

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Nov 12
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For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.” – Psalm 75:10 (NLT)
HOW TO INCREASE STRENGTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you struggling with some weaknesses?
Don’t fret, for God will manifest his faithfulness
If you want your strength to increase
Stay in his love, righteousness and peace.
He promises provision to those who love him
Stay faithful and abide in him to avoid sin
He will break those who perpetuate evil
To his people, he lets them defeat the devil.
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Have you ever been so sick that you had no strength to even lift your hands or go to the bathroom by yourself? There were three months of my life in my early thirties that I was bogged down by Hepatitis A. It was probably caused by ingesting with contaminated food from street food. In the Philippines, it is a common practice to buy foods from street vendors. It was the most helpless experience I have ever had. My son was about 8 years old that time and I had a cousin who was vacationing with us who was 12 years old. I felt so weak and tired and couldn’t even get on my feet or sit up in bed. Just like we need physical strength and good health, we need spiritual strength, which can only be given to those who are godly.
PRAYER
Lord, please remind me to run to you when I need strength.
REFLECTION
What does the bible mean when it says we are strong when we are weak?
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

SOURCE OF POWER Poem Devotional

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September 28
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Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.
1 Chronicles 29:12(NLT)
SOURCE OF POWER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you any weaknesses that needs firming?
Are you dejected and need strengthening?
Power and might comes only from the heavenly Father
He is the only source of wealth, honor and power.
Only at God’s discretion can people be made great
He alone is omniscient and knows your fate
Plug into his omnipotent source of wisdom
He can deliver you from bondage into freedom.
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In 1 Chronicle 29, we can witness David’s heart and how he gave God praise. We are clearly given a picture of David’s faithfulness, generosity and wisdom in this chapter. He knew God’s heart so well and he passionately pursue what pleases him. In this chapter, he gives willingly and donate more than 112 tons of gold and 262 tons of refined silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the temple of the Lord (verse 4) from his own treasures and collection. He clearly knows that God is the source of all his wealth, so he is cheerfully giving them all back to him. David’s prayer of praise in this chapter as a man who deeply loves his heavenly Father. He acknowledges the only source of wealth, honor, power and might.
PRAYER
Lord, please change my heart to one like David’s and yours.
REFLECTION
How can you honor God, the only source of power and might?
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

STRENGTH WHILE WAITING FOR JESUS Poem Deovtional

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September 1
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Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. -1 Corinthians 1:7-8(NLT)
STRENGTH WHILE WAITING FOR JESUS
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord has showered all his children with gifts
Are you using it to worship and bring others to him?
God has given you every spiritual blessings as you wait
Be hopeful and eager to bring glory to him as you participate.
He promises that he will keep you strong until he comes again
He will guide you and free you from all bondages and blame
Strength will seep through you as you boldly wait for his coming
He will always be inside you, so never give up and keep on hoping.
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Strong is defined as “able to withstand great force or pressure.” That definition gives us a clear picture or a person who can resist something and still keep on. A good visualization of strength is when we watch a body builder lift a ton of weight which can be way over his actual weight. If you imagine that those heavy weights are your burdens.
Jesus promised to give us all the strength we need to endure the burdens we encounter until he comes back again.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me that you have given me gifts to continue to be strong.
REFLECTION
How can you be strong in the midst of adversities?
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

WHERE YOU’LL FIND STRENGTH Poem Devotional

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August 28
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Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. – Isaiah 30: 15(NLT)
WHERE YOU’LL FIND STRENGTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been tired and depleted these days?
Are you struggling to confide in God and pray?
Only in returning to him will you find peace
Only by resting in the Lord will you be complete.
In quietness and confidence lie your strength
There is no need for worry, Jesus is your friend
Go back to him and you will never be weary
He lights up your life when your life is dreary.
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When was the last time you felt so depleted? I lived a stressful life and full of conflicts a good five decades of my life. I was always running and performing. No wonder I was so exhausted by the time I was in my mid-thirties. I was so much in bondage to proving my worth. It was a cover up for my emptiness and loneliness. Because I was very driven and stubborn, God literally allowed for me to be sick to a point where I was helpless and bedridden for many months. It was time for me to stop running and performing. Those three months of my life literally changed me. God wanted me to return to him and stop all these worldly pursuits. He wants to silence my anxious heart.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to recharge my strength only from you.
REFLECTION
What re-energizes you when you get so depleted?
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

YAHWEH IS HIS NAME Poem Devotional

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July 22

The Lord is my strength and my song. He has given me victory. This is my God and I will praise him-my father’s God and I will exalt him! The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name. -Exodus 15:2-3 (NLT)

YAHWEH IS HIS NAME

A poem and essay by ILMA

There is only one source of strength

He is the one who has his own son sent

He gives me victory when I need it badly

He is a warrior who continually protects me.

He is the Lord my God and I will praise him

I will exalt the Lord who faithfully redeems

Yahweh is his name and he is a warrior

He helps remove all bondages and barriers.

Many people take credit for their successes in life. This is one of the reasons why their victories don’t last long. They do not give God credit for fighting their battles and for blessings received. They think they can boast and glorify themselves for such conquests.  We need to give recognition where credit is due or else we are actually idolizing our own selves.

The bible says that the Lord is our strength and our song. He gives us victory. We ought to praise him for he is our God. He is a warrior who fights for all our battles. His name is Yahweh and he is there to protect us. He alone deserves praise and worship.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for being my warrior.

REFLECTION

What did God give you that you took credit for?

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

THROUGH CHRIST Poem Devotional

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March 11________________________________________
The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. -Habakkuk 3:19 (NLT)
THROUGH CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
As I go through challenges, trials and suffering
I can choose to remember God’s Son given as an offering
Through Christ, I am strengthened and can do all things
Without him, I will be defeated and can do nothing.
The Sovereign Lord gives me strength and wisdom
He makes me agile and ensures I embrace freedom
Through Jesus, there is nothing hard and impossible
If we only believe, anything can happen and will be possible.
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We all go through life with many challenges and sometimes adversities that may feel like we are getting defeated. The enemy wants to make sure that we don’t progress, so he does everything to discourage and make us doubt ourselves and others. Remember, the bible says that he is a stealer, a killer and a destroyer (John 10:10) and he is also the father of lies.
The bible also says that the Sovereign Lord is our strength. He makes us agile and skilled as a deer who can tread upon heights. In other words, God has equipped us will all the resources and skills so that we can fulfill his purpose in our lives. He wants us to reach our destiny and soar high. We can only do this through Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to depend on you alone and not in my own strength.
REFLECTION
When has God strengthen you and you made it through?
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 GREATEST RESCUER Poem Devotional

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January 24________________________________________
For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
-Psalm 54:7(NLT)
THE GREATEST RESCUER
A poem and essay by ILMA
What troubles do you need to bring to the throne?
Are they concerning a struggle or does it involve someone?
Are there people persecuting you because of Jesus?
Do you run to the cross to ask help and sing praises?
God is our strength, our rescuer and defender
He is faithful to the body of all believers
Don’t lose hope when you are attacked
If you run to Christ, you will have no lack.
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To rescue is defined as to save someone from a dangerous or distressing situation. The Hebrew word for rescue is “yasha” which means deliverance, salvation, safety, welfare. The Hebrew meaning covers a bigger act of saving someone. Deliverance is defined as “a rescue from bondage or danger.” Deliverance in the Bible is the acts of God rescuing his people from peril. Have you ever been rescued by someone from a dangerous situation?
I come from a country where there is so much disasters and catastrophe. A rescuer is a novelty in the Philippines because almost everyone experience danger, so we rescue our own selves.
The bible tells us how God is the greatest rescuer for all believers. He delivers us from all kinds of evil, strongholds and sins that keep us in bondage. He frees us from suffering.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for rescuing me from all my sins.
REFLECTION
What has God freed you from lately?
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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.co