PUT TO DEATH THE SINFUL NATURE Poem Devotional

January 29
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Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.- Romans 8:12-13(NLT)
PUT TO DEATH THE SINFUL NATURE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you put to death the sinful nature
You will begin to grow fast and mature
Do not follow your inclination to sin
Let the Spirit control you so you can win.
You’ll be victorious if you listen to the Spirit
He will live in your heart if you allow him
Keep your hearts pure so you’ll feel his presence
Be filled with the Spirit and you will never be bent.
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We always have a tendency to follow our nature which likes to satisfy its desires or cravings, thus, we become bent or crooked. We see things in the natural rather than the supernatural. The bible says that we are not just physical but also spirit beings. When we live only in the physical, our spirits suffer. The apostle Paul stresses the importance of putting to death our sinful nature which is in the natural. We need to feed our spirit God’s truth that it needs so that we don’t need to follow our natural instincts alone, but also what the Spirit is saying.
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PRAYER
Lord help me to overcome my natural instincts and follow the Spirit.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to keep our hearts pure and feed on God’s word?
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’S SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU Poem Devotional

January 28
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You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you (and remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all).
– Romans 8:9(NLT)
WHEN GOD’S SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU
A poem and essay by ILMA
When God’s Spirit lives in you
Your old life changes; you are new
When you are controlled by the Spirit
You belong to Christ and you soak in it
Your heart suddenly begins to be stirred
He ignites you to stay pure and chase peace
Those who are controlled by their sinful nature
They take awhile to grow, they stay immature.
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There are some believers who choke or grieve the Holy Spirit. Some Christians do not even acknowledge his presence inside their hearts. When Christ died on the cross to pay for our sin debt, he paved the way for the Spirit to live in us. It is the Spirit who guides, teaches and convicts us when we do wrong and gives us a way out. It is God’s spirit who prods us to do righteous things and avoid evil. We can disappoint the Spirit of God in us when we have unbelief, we question his person, we don’t listen to what he is teaching us or if we choose to sin. When God’s Spirit lives in you, you choose the good and the loving.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for allowing the Spirit to live in my heart.
REFLECTION
Why do you think is it difficult for some Christians to let the Spirit dwell?
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

CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT Poem Devotional

January 27
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So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. – Romans 8:6(NLT)
CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you follow the path that leads to life?
The only way to this peace is through Christ
If you led the Spirit control your mind
It will bring you wisdom and see God’s light.
When sinful nature controls your life
You will either slowly or easily die
Our sinful nature brings us death
God’s truth and love bring life and rest.
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Many people don’t realize how their choices affect their lives. We make many choices daily and almost each moment. One of the gifts that God gave us is to have free will. He is a very loving God and will never force us to follow him. Instead, he gently guides us and gives us his word so we can make wise choices and decisions.
There is about five decades of my life that I chose the way of the world and it resulted in many trials and consequences that made me stuck. I allowed my sinful nature to control my mind and heart, so I failed to win over sin. The bible tells us that only the Spirit can give us that control over sin, we can’t do it on our own. We ought to cooperate with him to have life.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me be able to make choices that you want for me.
REFLECTION
How can we cooperate with the Spirit so He can take control of us?
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

END TO SIN’S CONTROL Poem Devotional

January 26
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The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. – Romans 8:3(NLT)
END TO SIN’S CONTROL
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you submit yourself to Christ
You will find victory in this life
The law wasn’t able to save us
Instead it kept us bonded to lust.
God sent his only son as a sacrifice
He did this so we can have eternal life
He brought an end to the control of sin
Let’s exercise dominion over it so we can win.
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The bible tells us that we are all sinners and only the act of Christ’s dying on the cross gave us control over sin. When we commit our lives to Jesus, everything is turned over. We begin to experience power that comes from knowing God’s word. We get be convicted by the Holy Spirit and shown a way to win over temptations. In the Old Testament, the law was the only thing that mattered but when Jesus came to the world, everything changed. We are no longer bound by the law but by love and grace that comes from God’s unfailing love.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to exercise the authority you have given me to win over sin.
REFLECTION
Why do some believers live fearful lives in this world?
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

POWER THAT FREES YOU FROM SIN Poem Devotional

January 25
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So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life giving spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. – Romans 8:1-2(NLT)
POWER THAT FREES YOU FROM SIN
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you committed and gave your life to Jesus
You have been considered very precious
Now, you don’t have to feel condemned
You belong to him and he has redeemed.
In your own strength, you can do nothing
Only God’s Spirit will make you win over sin
Because you belong to him, you live in freedom
He grants this to those who belong to his kingdom.
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We live in a society where there is much emphasis in human power rather than in the power that comes from the only source of life, the Lord Jesus Christ. When new year comes, many people make resolutions to change and better themselves. I used to do this but end up frustrated. I was a fool. I didn’t know the truth that without Jesus, I can do nothing. I loved self-help books that empowered me to do things through their advice. When I became born again, the Spirit corrected that wrong notion that I can do things on my own effort. We don’t give the Lord much credit for what he does. Only his power can free us from sin.
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PRAYER
Lord, always remind me that I am nothing without you.
REFLECTION
Describe a time when you had supernatural power coming from the Spirit of 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

GOD’S INTERVENTION poem devotional

January 24
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For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors. I was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So I myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm, and my wrath sustained me.
-Isaiah 63: 4-5 (NLT)
GOD’S INTERVENTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are oppressed or depressed
Don’t lose hope for your Lord will be there
Your heavenly Father will intervene in your situation
And you will be amazed at his unwavering devotion.
The Lord will avenge his people and rescue them
He will ensure their oppressors will be incriminated
The Lord will always step in to ransom his people
Run to your Creator and witness his faithfulness.
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Intervention is defined as “to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it or prevent it from getting worse.” Most counselors, social workers, therapists or mediators fulfill this duty to ensure that their clients’ situations are confronted without much damage to them.
When we encounter much trials in life, sometimes God allows us to go through it for he might be teaching us something or strengthening our faith and endurance. In this verse from Isaiah, the Lord stepped up just at the right time to ransom his people from their oppressors. You may not understand why he allows suffering, but God is in control. In his perfect timing, he will rescue you.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to hold on to your promises during trials.
REFLECTION
When and how did God intervene in your suffering?
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 GARDEN IN EARLY SPRING Poem Devotional

January 23
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The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere. – Isaiah 61: 8(NLT)
LIKE A GARDEN IN EARLY SPRING
A poem and essay by ILMA
God’s righteousness is like a garden in early spring
Like plants springing up everywhere, his goodness will be seen
The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to all nations
He will protect all his people from all kinds of temptations.
The Lord is like a gardener who sows his seeds on the ground
His words water each seed so fruits of his Spirit can be found
Praise the Lord for his love, provision and faithfulness
Devote your life to him and you will harvest righteousness.
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I love flowers, plants, trees and gardens. When I moved to Canada from the Philippines, my visual and smell senses were heightened by the variety of colors and scents from God’s wonderful creation. When I migrated to Canada, I had to give away plants that I tended for 15 years back in the Philippines and these people I handed them down to were so grateful. Now that I am surrounded by much gardens and vast landscapes of various plants, flowers and trees, I thank the Lord for such blessings. God’s righteousness is likened to a garden in early spring. It fills the earth with all of his goodness.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your goodness that is everywhere in your creation.
REFLECTION
What can stop us from experiencing God’s righteousness and missing 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

A COVENANT WITH THE LORD Poem Devotional

January 22
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For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. – Isaiah 61: 8(NLT)
A COVENANT WITH THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you given your life to Christ?
If you did, he will transform your life
You will no longer compromise
You will look forward for his prize.
He gave you a covenant and will keep his promises
He is faithful to help you in all your weaknesses
Be joyful when you encounter sufferings
You can grow in your faith and keep enduring.
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Have you ever been into an agreement with someone? We usually want to take into consideration what we will gain when we enter into a commitment with someone. We don’t want to get involved with dishonest people or those without integrity. Just like marrying someone, we want to make sure that we are getting tangled with someone who can make us grow. Getting into an agreement with crooks or wicked people will likely turn us to the way they are.
The Lord gets into a covenant with all those who love him. He promises to protect them and take care of them. He especially rewards those who continue to live honest and pure lives. God gives them assurance of his faithfulness by keeping his promises as part of this covenant.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from ungodly and wicked people.
REFLECTION
Why is it important for us to choose carefully those whom we will get into commitment with?
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

CROWN OF BEAUTY FOR ASHES Poem Devotional

January 21
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To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. – Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)
CROWN OF BEAUTY FOR ASHES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been grieving for something lost?
You have been promised a crown from the Lord
This crown replaces all the pain from your losses
He will replace all the ashes of death with beauty.
The Lord gives you hope when there is despair
He will bring you to a resolution and find a way
Run to the Lord for all your cares and burdens
He will restore and bring you closer to heaven.
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For five decades, the enemy have kept me in bondage from all the pain that traumatic experiences and losses brought in my life. There were stages in these years that I was in deep despair. I was blinded by the enemy to keep believing the lies that I have learned since I was a small child. I had no idea that there were many promises to those who love the Lord until I became born again and hungered for knowing the truth. The Lord revealed to me many of his teachings to correct all the lies that I was made to believe. In a few years, he delivered me from all the ugliness of my experiences and gave me a crown of beauty.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for recycling all the ashes into the beauty you have made me.
REFLECTION
How can we easily recognize the beauty in the ugly experiences we encounter?
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

END OF MOURNING Poem Devotional

January 20
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Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting light. Your days of mourning will come to an end. – Isaiah 60:20(NLT)
END OF MOURNING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Is there a loss that you are grieving for?
Don’t fret, pray instead and take it to the Lord
God cares for all his people who are suffering
He will give you his light that is everlasting.
The Lord is there to help and give you comfort
Your days of mourning will come to a halt
He loves you and will release you from pain
Your dark days will be over and you will finally gain.
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When you have lost something or someone in your life, it may take a while to recover. Denial of the loss usually makes it longer to heal from it. We can easily deceive ourselves when we refuse to accept that we had a loss. For many decades, I went through so many losses and it was much later that I realized how I used many coping mechanisms such as denial in order to alleviate the pain that came with it. The longer I kept shrugging it and hiding from the agony of it, the further I regressed. We can be stuck in a stage of grieving and hamper us from moving forward. The bible says we must give up mourning and let God’s light shine on us.
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PRAYER
Lord, be with me in my agony and losses.
REFLECTION
How can we deal with grief in a positive way?
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