OPEN MY EYES LORD! Poem Devotional

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October 25
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Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. -Psalm 119:18(NLT)
OPEN MY EYES LORD!
A poem and essay by ILMA
When I am feeling down and discouraged
Open my eyes Lord so I can have courage
When days are bleak and I am tested
Open my eyes so I will not be tempted
When my enemies put me down
Open my eyes to receive your crown
When I don’t see what you are doing
Open my eyes so I won’t stop believing.
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It is sad to see so many believers whose eyes are not really open to the truth in Scriptures. Many Christians are trapped in religion and probably only a few really have an intimate and personal relationship with Christ. God has given us the bible so we can feed on it. It is our spiritual food but many believers do not partake of this food that nourishes our whole being especially our spirits. Some believers do not even realize that they are blinded by the world. James was very specific in his book that we shouldn’t only be hearers of the word of God, we should also be doers (James 1:22), otherwise, we are only fooling ourselves if we don’t walk our talk. Have the humility to ask God to open your eyes to things that you are blind to. He will give you wisdom if you do.
PRAYER
Lord, bring me light when I am in the dark.
REFLECTION
Why is the act of asking God for wisdom one of the best gesture a Christian can do?
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

VICTORY THROUGH FAITH Poem Devotional

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October 24
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For every child of God defeats this evil world and we achieve this victory through our faith.
– 1 John 5:4(NLT)
VICTORY THROUGH FAITH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will ensue
It is waiting eagerly and abiding in him and in what is true
For every child of God wins over this wicked world
We will have victory by confessing his powerful word.
Don’t ever lose hope when you can’t see results
God knows what’s best, so do not revolt
Keep on growing your faith so you can win
It is the best way you can overcome sin.
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One of the best verses about faith is the centurion’s story in Matthew 8. In ancient Rome, “centurion” meant “captain of 100”. The backbone of the Roman army were the centurions who were legionaries. The centurion received pay that amounted to more than 20 times the ordinary soldiers pay, about 5,000 denarii per year.
In Matthew’s account, the centurion stooped down in humility and asked Jesus to heal one of his servants who was paralyzed and in terrible pain. The officer’s words “I am not worthy to have you come in my house, but only say the word and my servant will be healed,” is one of the strongest manifestations of faith. Jesus himself was amazed by him. Because of his faith, he was granted healing for his servant.
PRAYER
Lord, give me a faith that never wavers.
REFLECTION
Why do you think faith is the foundation of victory over sin?
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

RIGHTEOUS THROUGH FAITH Poem Devotional

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October 23
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Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but not have been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. – Romans 4:11(NLT)
RIGHTEOUS THROUGH FAITH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you struggling with doing the right thing?
We are counted as righteous if we keep on believing
The Lord wants all glory given to his own Son
He sacrificed his life so we can all be one.
Abraham is our spiritual father because of his faith
When we allow God’s presence, we change our fate
You are considered holy if you believe in Jesus
He loves you much and you are very precious.
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There are many misconceptions about being righteous. I grew up being taught to work hard to be good and avoid doing evil. The teachings that I learned were focused on performing so that God will love me more or save me. I thought that I needed to do stuff so God will approve me. I didn’t know that I had already so much value as far as God was concerned. He loved me the way I am because he made who I am. No one told me that I only need to believe in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross and I’ll be saved. The bible says that we are counted righteous because of our faith, just as Abraham who is our spiritual father was.
PRAYER
Thank you for the gift of your son Jesus.
REFLECTION
Why do you think faith is what makes us righteous?

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 FRUIT OF PATIENCE Poem Devotional

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October 22
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I will certainly bless you and I will multiply your descendants beyond number. Then Abraham waited patiently and he received what God has promised.
– Hebrews 6:14-15(NLT)
THE FRUIT OF PATIENCE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Is there anything that you have been waiting for?
Continue to be patient and rely on the Lord
He will certainly bless you and multiply what you sow
He wants you to live joyfully and have fruits grow.
Abraham waited patiently and he received
Be hopeful and enjoy life so you won’t be deceived
The fruit of patience is your dream’s realization
Because of faith, Abraham became father of all nations.
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Patience in Hebrew is qawah, which means “to wait” or “to expect”. Parents have this joyful expectancy to see the fruit of their love come to life, their offspring. I will never forget that experience when I gave birth. I can’t stop watching my baby and figuring out how he lived inside of me and then become a person when he came out of my womb. I loved that verse from the bible that says that God intricately woven me in my mother’s womb. Before I gave birth, I experienced a lot of discomfort and pain but it was all worth it when I met my baby.
God promises to multiply our resources and blessings if we wait patiently and endure. He wants us to continue believing even through suffering.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for allowing me to suffer so I can expect your fruits.
REFLECTION
Why do you think patience is a very valuable trait a Christian can possess?
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

ROAD TO FULFILLED DREAMS Poem Devotional

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October 21
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Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
– Psalm 105:19(NLT)
ROAD TO FULFILLED DREAMS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you going through tests and trials in your life?
Do you have things that are not going right?
Sometimes we experience tests to build character
It brings out the best when we are tried by our Maker
Do not stop until you get right to your dream
It pays to be patient rather than being grim
Don’t be afraid of suffering for it makes you strong
It will make your dreams come true not for very long.
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The story of Joseph in Genesis 37 is a good testimony about how the Lord tested Joseph’s character. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the son’s of his father’s wives. Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day, Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph, a beautiful robe. He dreamed about bundles of grain that bowed low before his. Another dream was that the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed low before him. When he told his brothers, the more they hated him and they plotted to kill him. Joseph was sold as a slave to the Egyptians, but later made ruler of Egypt. A dream fulfilled.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never give up when I am faced with trials?
REFLECTION
How can character be built out of suffering and trials?
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

MAKING CERTAIN DREAMS COME TRUE Poem Devotional

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October 20
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Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. – Hebrews 6:12(NLT)
MAKING CERTAIN DREAMS COME TRUE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What are the dreams that you’ve hope for?
Do they make you closer to God and faithful?
For wishes to be come true, keep on believing
To realize them, you also need to keep on loving.
Walk in love for as long as life lasts
It is the secret to fulfilling dreams fast
Living a life full of love makes anything possible
Satisfying selfish pleasures make it improbable.
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What dreams have come true for you already? What other wishes have not come to fruition yet? When I was three years old, I was captivated by paintings and wished I was a painter. That dream didn’t come true until I was thirty-two years old. What took it that long? I was living in rebellion and disobedience many years of those era of my life. When I decided to turn to God again at age twenty-nine and became celibate and more loving to those around me, he made the impossible dream come true. I became a self-taught or rather God-taught painter. I sold over 75 artworks by the time I had my very first solo exhibit. Our dreams will be realized if we keep on loving others.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never live out of love.
REFLECTION
What dreams are being hindered to happen because of your unloving ways?
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

ENDURANCE LEADS TO PERFECTION Poem Devotional

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October 19 ________________________________________
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete needing nothing. – James 1:3-4(NLT)
ENDURANCE LEADS TO PERFECTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you being challenged to press against all odds?
Your strength and patience is being stretched by God
Don’t give up, don’t hinder it while it is progressing
It will make you perfect, complete and needing nothing.
Don’t resist while pressures against you builds up
Press on and continue to focus on God’s only Son
Wait a little longer and you will reap a harvest
Don’t worry, stay faithful and you’ll be blessed.
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Back in my early 40’s, I was a member of a cycling club and was the only woman in a group of over fifty members. I needed to practice on my own daily, at least 30 kilometers per day to keep up with the boys. I also had to ensure that I slowly pace myself up to a certain speed so I can catch up with all these strong men during our weekend bike marathons with distance goal of 200 kilometers in a span of 2-3 hours. When we reach that height of the climb, I almost want to give up, but I press on and I did it. The bible encourages us to keep on enduring so we can reach perfection.
PRAYER
Lord, give me strength to endure even when I can’t understand.
REFLECTION
What is the most challenging test that God allowed 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

LIVING IN GOD’S WILL Poem Devotional

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October 18
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How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that. – James 4:14-15(NLT)
LIVING IN GOD’S WILL
A poem and essay by ILMA
I don’t know what tomorrow may bring
I need not hold on to material things
My life is like a fog, it is here now
It can easily be dissolved and gone.
If the Lord wants me to do this
I must obey and rejoice in it
Living in God’s will is my destiny
It is the only way I can have victory.
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There are many people who plan so much for tomorrow. Nothing wrong with that. It is good to have a plan and aim to get closer to your dreams. Some people become too obsessed with their future. It robs them of joy and peace and they keep on worrying about tomorrow. The bible tells us in Matthew 6 that we shouldn’t be worried about anything because God already knows our needs even before we can actually figure out what they are. He wants us to focus on him and put him above all things, live righteously and all our needs will be given to us. He wants us to live in his will and be close to him.
PRAYER
Lord, help me build an intimate relationship with you.
REFLECTION
What has worrying about the future brought into 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

LIVING WITHOUT DIRECTION Poem Devotional

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October 17
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When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. – Proverbs 29:18(NLT)
LIVING WITHOUT DIRECTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you faithfully following God’s will and direction?
Do you focus on him daily so you can avoid temptations?
When people don’t accept divine guidance, they run wild
Those who commit their lives to him will faithfully abide
To live without direction is compromising one’s life
Commit to his will and sacrifice your life for Christ
He will constantly be with you and never leave
Make sure that you don’t turn your back but cleave.
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Have you ever driven without really knowing where you are going? What was the result? You probably got lost or used up all your gas. We can’t live life without a purpose. Those who go through life without meaning find it hard to have peace and joy. God didn’t make us so that we can run in circles and guess all our lives. He gave us the bible so that we can have a guide to navigate through this very challenging journey of life.
The bible says that those who do not follow divine guidance will run wild. Whoever obeys him will find joy. We are summoned to live a life that is guided by our heavenly father, not by the world or other people’s philosophy. When we obey God, we find peace and joy.
PRAYER
Lord, show me where to go whenever I get lost.
REFLECTION
How can we know what purpose God has for 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

STUBBORNNESS DESTROYS Poem Devotional

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October 16
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Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. -Proverbs 29:1(NLT)
STUBBORNNESS DESTROYS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Is your life full of hardships and suffering?
Have you been obstinate in following?
Those who can’t take criticism
All they want to do is to argue and win
They will be destroyed beyond recovery
The devil will continually con them into slavery
The Lord detests defiance and rebelliousness
He considers it witchcraft when you are lawless.
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The life of Christ is full of obedience and humility. This is the reason why he was able to save humankind from our folly and sin. Christians are summoned to live a life like Jesus in order to thrive in this life. The world on the other hand offers us a very different way to live. The world focuses on material gain, power and winning by disobedience and disrespect.
I was a very stubborn person for many decades of my life and I can attest to this verse because it surely destroyed me and led me to more sins. Each act of lawlessness was equivalent to endless troubles and sufferings. This stronghold was one of those many that God delivered me from. I thank him that he pulled me out of it. It took over 50 years to get out of it which was a result of my resistance and denial. Learn to accept criticism and learn from it.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to have an openness to your convictions.
REFLECTION
Why do you think stubbornness is considered witchcraft or divination according to 1 Samuel 15:23?

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