Tag Archives: Christian devotional

THE FUTILITY OF LIFE Poem Devotional

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January 18________________________________________
You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes. – Haggai 1:6(NLT)
THE FUTILITY OF LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you often wonder why you don’t harvest abundantly?
You work very hard yet you don’t reap much results easily
You put more hours toiling but seem to lose much time
You work day and night, yet there is still much to do and find
Life is futile when you don’t have Christ to look up to
It is pointless when you are blind and can’t see the truth
Your heavenly father awaits you to come back to him
He longs for you to return so he can free you from sin.
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There were many years of my life when I felt that it was meaningless. Those where the dark years when I turned my back on God. I isolated myself from others thinking that if I did, I will feel better. I felt hopeless and depressed those years I rebelled against my Lord. I just went to work, enjoyed every chance I can by gratifying my desires. Then it got to be so tiring. I finally decided to run back to Jesus. Until, we focus on him, our lives will always seem futile.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to constantly keep my eyes on you.
REFLECTION
When was the last time you felt that life was meaningless?
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 NEGLECT THE LORD Poem Devotional

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January 17________________________________________
Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? – Haggai 1:4 (NLT)
WHEN YOU NEGLECT THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are always busy working to prosper yourself
You are neglecting your creator, the Lord God Himself
Whenever you prioritize other things instead of Him
You are opening the door for the enemy to win.
When you surround yourself with all the comforts in life
And then miss out God’s truth that brings us light
You are neglecting the Lord’s house by letting it lie in ruins
Don’t turn your back on the only one who can free you from sins.
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There are many people who get so busy accumulating wealth and hoarding comforts and conveniences in life. They have no time to read the word of God or even pray because they are so wrapped up in getting what they want in life. “Busy-ness” is a trick of the enemy to veer us away from our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. The devil wants to create wants in life and make it appear like needs. Then we start to aspire and desire that thing which becomes a never ending goal to get. Then he creates more things for us to be busy with so we won’t have time for praising the Lord and building his kingdom. We should watch out that we don’t neglect the Lord and his kingdom.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never neglect my priority which is to serve you first.
REFLECTION
What have you done to build God’s kingdom?
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 THE YEAST Poem Devotional

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January 16________________________________________
The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.
–Matthew 13:33 (NLT)
LIKE THE YEAST
A poem and essay by ILMA
God’s kingdom is like the yeast used to make breads
Even a small amount is used, it permeates and spreads
Each verse in the bible will make us grow spiritually
No matter how small it is, it will help us continually.
The word of God is useful for us to mature
It makes us see things clearly in a big picture
Like the yeast that helps to make the bread grow
The kingdom of heaven eases all trials and sorrows.
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Yeast is a microscopic fungus consisting of single oval cells that reproduce by budding., and are capable of converting sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The main purpose of yeast is to serve as a catalyst in the process of fermentation, which is essential in the making of bread. The purpose of any leavener is to produce the gas that makes bread rise. Yeast does this by feeding on the sugars in flour, and expelling carbon dioxide in the process. It is amazing how this little fungus is responsible for producing bread that is the staple food of some cultures. God’s kingdom is likened to a yeast that produces bread which brings life.
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PRAYER
Lord, allow me to be like a yeast in spreading your word.
REFLECTION
How often do you reflect on God’s truth and allow it to grow?
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

UNCONDITIONAL GIVING Poem Devotional

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January 15________________________________________
Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
–Matthew 5:42 (NLT)
UNCONDITIONAL GIVING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you give to those who ask from you?
Do you respond right away or think it through?
Don’t turn away from those who want to borrow
Do it now and don’t wait until tomorrow .
Give unconditionally and expect nothing
You will reap God’s reward if you are giving
Look forward to the fruit of your generosity
You will be given blessings and have victory.
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I grew up in a third world country and people where I come from have to work very hard to be able to afford the basic necessities in life. We take care of what we earned and usually there is nothing extra to save. Sometimes, many people live in deficit for many years. Only those who are well off can actually afford to lend money or things. When I wasn’t a born again Christian yet, I cared much for things I worked hard for and rarely lend anyone my stuff. God changed me.
Do you weigh many things before you lend or give someone something? The bible tells us to give to those who ask. It didn’t specify that we have to scrutinize the situation before we give. We are also asked never to turn our backs to those who want to borrow something from us.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be generous like you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants us to be generous?
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

BRING US BACK LORD Poem Devotional

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January 14________________________________________
Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had. – Lamentations 5:15,21 (NLT)
BRING US BACK LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, bring us back to you so we can stop mourning
You created us so we can enjoy life and stop sinning
Restore us, O Lord, and give us back the joys we once had
Free us from lamenting and show us how to be glad.
Bring us back and pull us out from darkness
Help us to recover from this feeling of emptiness
Show us how to become more like you each day
Help us to prioritize you and regularly pray.
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Have you had a loss that caused you to grieve? Has this loss made you bitter and angry? Do you know the many phases of grief? There are many ways people deal with losses. Some avoid thinking about it. Others get stuck in bitterness and anger. Some continually blame someone or the Lord for that thing or person they lost. We can wallow in self-pity and lose our joy if we don’t focus on the Lord.
It took me many decades to even realize that I had many loses that got me stuck in anger and bitterness. When God revealed them to me, he restored my grief into joy.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to choose joy even in the most adverse situations.
REFLECTION
How can one bring back the joy once it is gone?
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

WEALTH BY UNJUST MEANS Poem Devotional

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January 13________________________________________
Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means. At midlife, they will lose their riches; in the end, they will become poor old fools. – Jeremiah 17:11(NLT)
WEALTH BY UNJUST MEANS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who get their wealth by unjust means
Are dishonest and are actually sinning
Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid
They are actually stealing and will have to pay.
At midlife, they will lose their riches
They will become poor and have no resources
Gaining wealth dishonestly will drag you to ruin
They will eventually suffer the consequences of their sins.
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In my country of origin, graft and corruption is rampant. It was one of the reasons why I decided to migrate to Canada. I just had too much of it. Poverty does many things to people. When one is surrounded by so much dishonesty, it either makes you participate or totally turn away from the system. Struggling with being poor can become a lifestyle of striving. One can be desperate and use measures that can quickly alleviate the deficiency they are experiencing. Survival mode becomes a lifestyle. Cheating to get easy wealth can be another option. These are all worldly ways that we cope with mediocrity.
The bible warns us not to get wealth by unjust means because we will eventually lose them.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me never to lose my integrity.
REFLECTION
Why is dishonest ways to be rich discouraged in God’s people?
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 LORD EXAMINES Poem Devotional

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January 12________________________________________
The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.
-Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)
THE LORD EXAMINES
A poem and essay by ILMA
The human heart can be wicked and misleading
It can conceal what is true about something
The Lord searches all hearts and examines
He knows exactly what caused us to sin.
Be careful what your heart desires
It can keep you longing and be on fire
The Lord examines motives and intentions
Make sure that it is free from deception.
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According to the bible, the human heart can be deceptive and wicked. If we can only be honest in looking closely into our hearts, we can admit that it is evil. What usually comes out of our mouth knowingly or unknowingly is what is in our hearts (Matthew 15:18-20 paraphrased). Mark 7:21 says: For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery. This is why the Lord examines our hearts. That is the reason for God warning us to guard our hearts and our tongues because they are naturally wicked. They can only be supernaturally pure when we allow God to work in our hearts. The Lord rewards according to what our actions deserve.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me wisdom to guard my heart from wickedness.
REFLECTION
What happens to us when our hearts are full of unconfessed sins?
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

LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOU GOT Poem Devotional

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January 11________________________________________
Listen Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.
– Deuteronomy 6:4-6 (NLT)
LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOU GOT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Listen, all you people, there is only one God!
You must bring him all the glory and laud
You must love the Lord with all your heart
He is your strength so never leave or depart.
Commit yourselves wholeheartedly to his commands
He will bring blessings and provide for life’s demands
Love God with all that you got and follow his ways
He will lead you to the path to his kingdom if you obey.
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Have you been in love so deeply that you gave it all you got Parental love is most likely the closest to what our heavenly Father feels for us. God’s love for us is unfathomable and our parent’s love is a poor comparison to God’s unfailing and unconditional love. I am sure that if you have children who are now adults, your heart would have been broken by one of your child’s poor choice or blatant disobedience. They may have gone astray or put themselves in deep trouble.
The bible tells us to love God with all your heart, soul and strength and obey his commands.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, let me give back the love you give me with all I have.
REFLECTION
How do you manifest loving God with all you got?
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

ALL BELONG TO GOD Poem Devotional,

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January 9________________________________________
The earth is the Lords’ and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1– (NLT)
ALL BELONG TO GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
The birds, the trees and all of nature
They all belong to God and we must nurture
We must be thankful for all creatures
We are all equally made no matter from what culture.
Treasure the blessings that God gave us all
He wants to bring us victory and not easily fall
Be good stewards of all that has been given
It will bring us close to him and to heaven.
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There are so much blessings that we can thank the Lord for. Everything on earth was all made by the Lord. Isn’t it only fitting that we bring him laud? There have been various distractions that the enemy brings to our lives that hinders us from being grateful and for praising God. There are even people who think that they own stuff and fail to see that without God, they won’t have such things. The enemy twists our minds and heart to think that all that we own is ours. In truth, we have them because God was merciful enough to grant us such blessings. He loves us all so much that he gave us everything we need and could ever want. We must remember that they all belong to him and we must care for them respectfully.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, remind me that I own nothing so I can praise you for all that I have.
REFLECTION
What happens if we think that we own stuff?
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

DISGRACE COMES TO DECEIVERS Poem Devotional

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January 8________________________________________
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. – Psalm 25:3 (NLT)
DISGRACE COMES TO DECEIVERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When someone trusts in the Lord, they will receive grace
To those who try to deceive others, they will be disgraced
Shame will result from a habit to trick your sisters and brothers
Guilt will be a consequence of doing evil to others.
Live in righteousness and integrity so you won’t feel shame
Apply God’s truth in your life and stop putting blame
If you continue to discredit God for all that He is
You will be judged by him and will not experience bliss.
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Shame is defined as a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. We oftentimes feel shame when we have done something that we know is not right. We also experience shame when we believe a lie that is told to us and twist God’s truth. Shame doesn’t come from God. It is the enemy that is the origin of shame. In Genesis, we are given an illustration of the shame that Adam and Eve felt after disobeying God and allowing themselves to be tempted by the devil. The bible says that we will be free from shame or disgrace if we trust in the Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never be tempted to do anything that is not right.
REFLECTION
Why do you think some people think that shame is a form of punishment by 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