Tag Archives: Christian devotional

PRIDE DECEIVES Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 16________________________________________
You have been deceived by your own pride. – Obadiah 1:3(NLT)
PRIDE DECEIVES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you allow pride to control your life
You are going to be deceived and lose insight
Pride is a sin that will bring about many more
It is like cancer; it brings you down to your core.
Give up this deadly disease or you’ll die
Look up the cross so you can see the light
Jesus died so you can be free from wickedness
Pride roots from evil and selfishness.
________________________________________
One of the many generational sins that the Lord has freed me from these past six years was pride. It was prevalent in our family and manifests in many different ways. Ambition was one way it showed in our lives. My father and mother worked hard so they can show others that they are better than them. It was almost like competing with others and the more they become good at what they do, the more my parents would ensure that we can live up to their lifestyle. They set such high standards for their children that destroyed them in terms of relational skills. All of my siblings and I struggled very hard in keeping relationships because we were all set up to reach an unreachable and unrealistic standard. Pride has deceived many people and the more we cling to it, the more we feel empty inside.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to choose humility instead of my selfish ambitions.
REFLECTION
How can pride sneak in your life? What ways can it show?
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

FAMINE ON HEARING SCRIPTURES Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 15________________________________________
“The time is surely coming” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land-not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.
– Amos 8:11(NLT)
FAMINE ON HEARING SCRIPTURES
A poem and essay by ILMA
There will come a time when people won’t hear Scriptures
People will be focused on satisfying their whims and pleasures
We may have all kinds wealth and all of material possessions
Do we seek God’s word, listen and engage in meditations?
There is a famine on being unable to hear God’s word
The prince of darkness has captured much of this world
What are you doing to ensure that Scriptures is heard?
Do you ensure that the Good News is preached?
________________________________________
There is much chaos going on in our world today primarily because many people have turned their backs on the Lord and His word. How far do you think would anyone go without nourishment? They would starve and eventually die. So much poverty is prevalent in many parts or the world. Many children die from malnourishment and sickness. Some people get out in the mission field to help these people and ensure that they are not forgotten.
There is another famine that the prophet Amos was prophesying to us. He saw the vision that people will experience a poverty of hearing the truth that comes from the word of God. Isn’t this currently going on now?
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me never to be deaf to your word.
REFLECTION
What makes people unable to hear the truth that comes from Scriptures?
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

EVEN BEFORE YOU CALL Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 14________________________________________
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers. – Isaiah 65:24 (NLT)
EVEN BEFORE YOU CALL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know that God answers even before you call?
You can count on him to save you from your fall
He is always waiting on you to come to him
This is the only way you can overcome sin.
The Lord sees everything at all times
While you are still talking, he provides
Even before you call, he already answered
Run to your faithful God, your heavenly Father.
________________________________________
I was a telephone operator for a couple of years in the Directory Assistance and Overseas Calls Departments. It was a job that I had right after graduating from Mass Communication Arts degree. I got many compliments as a teenager how my voice sounded well on the telephone. This was way back before computers became popular. We referred to a more complete yellow pages than the public were given. As one of our responsibilities, we were encouraged to memorize frequently asked queries such as hotels, big companies and to facilitate giving them answers. Sometimes, we operators would bet on what is going to be asked to amuse ourselves from boredom and routine.
The bible tells us that even before we call, our God already answered. He doesn’t guess. He knows and responds quickly.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your knowing our needs.
REFLECTION
Why do we still need to pray knowing that God answers even before we call?

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

IDOLATRY INSULTS THE LORD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 13________________________________________
All day long they insult me to my face by worshiping idols. – Isaiah 65:3(NLT)
IDOLATRY INSULTS THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you aware of the idols in your life?
The literally snuff off God’s glorious light
Is it a career or an obsession that steals your time?
What are you idolizing that makes you lose insight?
It insults the Lord when you praise other gods and things
He considers it unfaithfulness and a grave sin
He is a jealous God and he doesn’t want competition
He wants you to make him first, so resist the temptation.
________________________________________
What is the worst thing one can do when he or she is in a relationship? Unfaithfulness is what breaks and ruins relationships. Why do you think it is so? The bible says that God is love in 1 John 4:8. In Genesis 1:27, we are told that we are made in the image of God. The way God created us is exactly like him. We were not created for betrayal, unfaithfulness and adultery. It is the exact opposite of love. So, when we focus our attention, priorities, time and adulation to someone or something other than the Lord Jesus Christ, we are committing adultery. James 4:4 bluntly calls us adulterers when we become friends with the world. Idolatry is one way that Satan derails us from the straight path to Jesus. It insults the Lord seriously when we worship idols.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from anything that will take away my focus on you.
REFLECTION
What kinds of idols can easily sneak in our lives?
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

REBELLIOUSNESS Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 12________________________________________
All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes. – Isaiah 65:2 (NLT)
REBELLIOUSNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you oftentimes question and defy things in life?
Have you purposely disobeyed a command of Christ?
The rebellious spirit wants you to go against the Lord
Fight against being bound by it through God’s word.
Do you know that God always waits on you to obey?
He has your welfare look after, that is his way
Do not follow evil paths and crooked plans
You’ll invite trouble if you resist his commands.
________________________________________
Why are people inclined to rebel instead of obey? Do you notice how children in their innocence still have that tendency to not follow? The spirit of rebelliousness is an aftermath of the first original sin. After the fall of Adam and Eve, we naturally tend to go against rules or laws. The whole theme of the old testament is the rebelliousness of the Israelites against a God who had a good plan for them. This is why it took them forty years to go on a journey to the promised land when it was just an eleven-day travel. Don’t we rebel at some point in our lives? I was freed from this spirit when I became born again. The word of God led me to obey because it was the antidote for it.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Thank you Lord that you are always there to welcome me back when I turn against your will.
REFLECTION
What consequences have you suffered through rebellion?
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 GOD LONGING FOR HIS PEOPLE Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 11________________________________________
I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found but no one was looking for me. – Isaiah 65:1(NLT)
A GOD LONGING FOR HIS PEOPLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When two people love each other, they usually want to be together
Just like a parent always want to watch over their children’s welfare
Our heavenly father longs for all his beloved children
How come they have neglected to come to him for help?
God is always waiting for all his people to run to him
How can we be so proud not to do so; and choose to sin?
If you claim you love Jesus, why don’t you stay faithful?
Why can’t you be open to his Spirit so you can be fruitful?
________________________________________
My own father just died two weeks ago. He had been longing for me to spend time with him ever since he stopped working abroad and retired. I was too busy making a career, raising my son alone and running a business. My son and I were the only one who lived far from my parents. He would manage to find time to see me and my son.
Like my biological father, our heavenly Father is also pining for us to run to him and ask help. He wants us to depend on him for anything and everything. Why do we get so busy giving that time that he so longs from us?
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for patiently waiting for me to come around.
REFLECTION
Why do some Christians never find time for 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

TURN TO GOD FOR HEALING Poem Devotional

Posted on by

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.
________________________________________
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?
________________________________________
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

GRIEF CAN BLUR VISION Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 5________________________________________
I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with tears. My vision is blurred by grief. -Psalm 6:6-7 (NLT)
GRIEF CAN BLUR VISION
A poem and essay by ILMA
When one looses someone; they may have bouts of weeping
It is hard to deal with the loss of someone they love so deeply
Grief oftentimes blurs someone’s perspective and vision
It can bring back painful moments and bring confusion.
When one looses a loved one, it can bring much sadness
For believers of Jesus, there will be a day of hope and gladness
Run to his arms so you can experience God’s comfort and peace
He will wipe your tears away, just be still and know he is there.
________________________________________
My father just died a week ago. It was such a sudden death. Even though he was eighty- six, he had no other conditions but just old age. It was a very hot day according to my brother who witnessed him vomiting and in just a few hours died. When I heard the news on the phone, I was in shock. I couldn’t go home to the Philippines in four days to bury him. We were in the middle of doing our own renovation and practically drained of resources. I sobbed for three days straight. The Lord reminded me of his love, comfort and peace. I am grateful that he comforted me.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, let those who are grieving experience your comfort.
REFLECTION
What can you do when you feel sadness from your loss?
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 MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 4________________________________________
I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do. – Acts 13:22(NLT)
A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you willing to commit your life to Christ?
If so, are you passionately after his own heart?
David was a man who will do everything God wants
He may be a sinner, but he’ll never turn his back
He seeks the Lord and wants to know him deeply
He always pours out his own heart to God openly
His honesty with his own weaknesses is astounding
He often cried out to him for grace that is so amazing.
________________________________________
One of the most interesting bible character is King David. Even before he was king, he had the audacity to fight against Goliath who is a giant. Though he was a very young lad when he did this, his faith is so huge that with a sling and a stone, he was able to defeat this huge and strong Philistine. He was such a musician, always playing the harp or lyre. He was a poet and the Psalms were filled with his writing. Though he was very weak and sinned by killing Bathsheba’s husband so he can have her, he never stopped seeking God. His honesty and openness truly exemplifies his desire to seek God’s own heart.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for showing us a very human King David who was relentless to pursue you.
REFLECTION
Would you consider yourself as someone who is pursuing and seeking to know the Lord?
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 YOU REJECT THE WORD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

September 2________________________________________
It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.
– Acts 13:46(NLT)
WHEN YOU REJECT THE WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you first heard the word of God
Did you heed it or did you turn your back?
It’s essential the word is preached to believers
But when they reject the word, they’re rebelling.
Once you defy Scriptures, you are losing out in life
It is the only way we will be led to God’s glorious light
The word is the only food we have for our spirit
We will be struggling and lost without it.
________________________________________
There were many years of my life when I didn’t know the word of God. I wasn’t raised in a Christ believing family. And yet, the Holy Spirit has taught me that I have a friend in Jesus. No one talked to me about the Lord but something inside me told me that there is someone who watches over me. I believed and was faithful to keep my relationship with the Lord even when I really didn’t know his word. When I was in my late twenties, I began to read Scriptures. It was amazing what I discovered. Yet, I didn’t really follow what it said. When I finally studied and obeyed it, it transformed me.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, show me who to share the word with.
REFLECTION
Why do you think people would reject the word 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