January 11
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone.
–Galatians 6:4 (NLT)
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you work on something
Pay careful attention to what you are doing
Do your best to make the job well done
Then you won’t compare yourself with anyone.
God created each one uniquely different
There is no need to feel insecure and insufficient
Whenever you seek and do what pleases God
You are gratefully exulting and giving him laud.
I had been a very insecure person for the first two decades of my life. I was very shy and felt undeserving or incapable of doing things. It became a problem as I grew up in my teen years because I always felt rejected and minimized by friends and family. I became an approval addict and my own best critique. It blew my view of the world in a very limited way and made me fearful of failure, rejection and criticism.
The bible tells us to pay careful attention to the work we do because it will give us the satisfaction of a job well done and will stop us from comparing ourselves with others or living up to expectations beyond our capacities. Focusing on God when we do things free us from approval addiction.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for my uniqueness.
REFLECTION
How do you deal with differences with others?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
Tag Archives: Christian devotional
STAY FREE FROM SLAVERY Poem Devotional
January 10
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. – Galatians 5:1 (NLT)
STAY FREE FROM SLAVERY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you believed Christ, he made you free
Don’t get tied up again in any form of slavery
Make sure you are regularly seeking God’s Word
It makes you have victory over this corrupt world.
Humanity brings about many forms of bondage
If you are a true believer, you have an advantage
The law that used to enslave you has no more power over you
Love rules your life and the Spirit helps you see God’s view.
When you become a born again Christian, you are given the promise of freedom from any fear or form of slavery. That is the reason why Christ died for you. He gave you freedom so you can use it to exercise love and care for each other and not to serve your own purpose.
The bible tells us that Christ has truly set us free. He wants us to stay free and not tied up again in slavery to the law. It means that we don’t have to be legalistic and strictly following it just to appear good. That’s why he summed all laws to “Love God above all, then love your neighbor as yourself.”
PRAYER
Lord, help me when I am being legalistic.
REFLECTION
How can you enjoy freedom God’s way?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
WORD STAYS FOREVER Poem Devotional
January 9
Heaven and earth will disappear but my words will never disappear.
– Matthew 24:35 (NLT)
WORD STAYS FOREVER
A poem and essay by ILMA
All things in this world pass
Our bodies grow old and sag
Our circumstances change
Our points of view range.
Heaven and earth will disappear
God’s word will still be here
If you abide in it, things will be clear
Nothing in this world will bring fear.
The only thing constant in this world is “change.” All physical matters go through change and deteriorate eventually. The book of Ecclesiastes likened our life to a mist. It disappears like it. All the things we work for which we possess can end in an instant. Beauty is momentary. A person grows old and as he or she does, youth is gone and beauty fades away. All the things we cling to are sometimes gone before we know it.
The bible says that heaven and earth will pass away, but the word of God will never disappear. God identifies himself with his word. Scripture is eternal like him. He created the world and mankind using the ”word.” He made everything by breathing “word” to bring it to life. Do we use the “word” to breath with?
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your word.
REFLECTION
How often do you use God’s word to bring wisdom into your life? What has the word of God taught you lately?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
THE WORLD HATES THE GODLY Poem Devotional
January 8
The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world, I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
– John 15:19 (NLT)
THE WORLD HATES THE GODLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you ever get misunderstood by worldly people?
Pay attention to this corrupt world and be careful
If you belong to Christ, you are no longer part of this world
It will start to hate you, twist your beliefs and contradict you.
No matter what the system of the world says
Do not allow yourself to be swayed
Never let it affect your walk with the Lord
Only be concerned with following God’s word.
As a believer, it is challenging to deal with the world. There was always something that offended unbelievers or shallow Christians. Many times, what I say or did offended someone even though I only spoke of the truth from God’s word. Sometimes, little things become so humungous and lead to strife or to a misunderstanding that poisons relationships. I used to be very affected by what others think of me or what I did and God delivered me from that.
The bible says that the world hates the godly. When we become Christians, we are no longer part of the world, so, it hates us.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for setting me apart from the world.
REFLECTION
How do you deal with the world’s hatred?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
DISCIPLES PRODUCE MUCH FRUIT Poem Devotional
January 7
When you produce much fruit, you are my disciples. This brings great glory to my father. – John 15:8 (NLT)
DISCIPLES PRODUCE MUCH FRUIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
What fruits of the Spirit have you been bearing?
Is it love, joy, peace, or kindness the Lord has given?
Are you still struggling with self-control or gentleness?
Are you responding devotedly to God’s faithfulness?
When you produce much fruit, you are his disciples
You have authority over sin and the tactics of the devil
These fruits bring great glory to the heavenly Father
Bless those around you especially your sisters and brothers.
The term “disciple” means a pupil, an apprentice or a student. How can you distinguish a mere follower from a disciple? According to the bible, a true disciple of Jesus produces much fruit. In Galatians, we are told about what the fruits of the Holy Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Anyone can follow Jesus but not all are disciples. The bible gives us a gauge or measure of the true believer of Christ. They exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. They truly obey and apply what they have heard. They are doers and not just hearers of the word of God. They honor God and give him glory by aligning their lives to God’s and following his instructions.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for all the fruits of the Spirit.
REFLECTION
How can we be a true disciple?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
LISTEN CAREFULLY Poem Devotional
January 6
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard or we may drift away from it. – Hebrews 2:1 (NLT)
LISTEN CAREFULLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you spend time in the Word?
Only through Scriptures can you conquer the world
You must listen carefully to the truth you have heard
It will make you to understand God’s ways and learn.
Seek the Lord first and follow what he says
If you do, you have protection from being swayed
Spend time regularly to read the bible
It will bring you victory and make you a survivor.
When we love someone, we always want to spend time with that person. When we have developed a strong bond with each other through constant connection, we make the foundation of our relationship with that person stronger and more stable. It is the same concept when you relate with God. When you are constantly in his word, you are able to hear what he wants you to know. You develop intimacy with the Lord.
The bible says that we must listen very carefully to the truth that we hear from his word or we may drift away from it. We cannot hear what he says if we don’t spend time in prayer and studying his truth. So, we must listen so we can hear what he wants to reveal.
PRAYER
Lord, let me focus on you always.
REFLECTION
How intimate is your relationship with the Lord?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
WARN EACH OTHER TODAY Poem Devotional
January 5
You must warn each other every day, while it is still today, so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. – Hebrews 3:13 (NLT)
WARN EACH OTHER TODAY
A poem and essay by ILMA
As believers, we need to care for each other
We are expected to love our sisters and brothers
We protect our hearts by aligning our will to the Lord
We renew our minds to avoid corruption of the world.
Whenever we catch ourselves and others falling away
We need to refer to God’s truth so we won’t stray
Warn each other every day and don’t delay!
It guards us from hardening our hearts today.
What makes a family stay closely knit? Communication, love and admonition are
Important ingredients to make a family centered on God. The reason why many families fall apart is because they do not have enough love and courage to confront and rebuke each other when someone among their family members strays from God’s truth.
The bible tells us to warn each other every day while it is still today, so that no one of us will be deceived by sin and have hardened hearts. Just like a parent would warn a child to ensure they are safe, we also should care for each member of our family to never walk out of love.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for families.
REFLECTION
What do you do when a family member is being deceived by the enemy?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
THE UNTOUCHABLES Poem Devotional
January 3
We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s son holds them securely and the evil one cannot touch them. – 1 John 5:18 (NLT)
THE UNTOUCHABLES
A poem and essay by ILMA
When we are closely walking with the Son
We are the untouchables to the evil one
Engaging in sin is not an option to God’s people
They seek and obey the Lord in all of life’s seasons
Whatever challenges they encounter, they bow down
They are always thankful that they have found
The evil one cannot touch them; they are protected
Believers will win; God guards their hearts when tempted.
How do you gauge if you are a true believer? The bible says that we know God’s people because they do not make a practice of sinning. It doesn’t mean that they are flawless and perfect, but their righteousness is clearly manifested in their humble acceptance of their sins, their confession and their declaration that God can heal and forgive them. The apostle John clearly expounds on the security that God provides to his people. He calls God’s children as “untouchables.” He emphasizes how God holds them securely and protects them from harm from the evil one. As soon as we declare Christ as our Savior, we begin to live in the light (1 John 1:7) and have authority over the devil (Luke 10:9).
PRAYER
Thank you for your protection, Lord.
REFLECTION
How can we strengthen God’s protection over us?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
LIKE UNTHINKING ANIMALS Poem Devotional
January 1
These people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. What sorrow awaits them! – Jude 10-11 (NLT)
LIKE UNTHINKING ANIMALS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What sorrow awaits those who mock the Lord!
They only listen to their whims and reject his word
Like animals, they don’t think but follow their instincts
They bring their own destruction by wallowing in sin.
Those who defy the truth and continually disobey
They become blind and never see the light of day
They cannot reap the harvest from God’s promises
They don’t have God’s Spirit who frees and releases.
What was the most selfish thing you have ever done? Perhaps it is stealing an idea of someone and taking credit for it. It could be controlling someone to do something that will bring them progress and you don’t want to be left behind.
The bible talks about people who defy the truth. It compares lawless people to unthinking animals. Like them, they do whatever their instincts tell them. They justify their sins to serve their own purposes. They become blind to the truth and believe the lies that substantiate their choices and actions. They bring about their own destruction. The bible cautions us to avoid being like them. Sorrow awaits such rebellion.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me to obey you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think we are cautioned never to mock God’s truth?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
THE ANOINTED ONE Poem Devotional
December 31 The Power of God’s Word
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see and that the oppressed will be set free. – Luke 4:18 (NLT)
THE ANOINTED ONE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Because of God’s love for humankind
He has brought Christ for us to find
The Spirit of God is upon Him
He was anointed for us to be redeemed.
He came so we can hear the Good News
He brought us spiritual gifts that we can use
He makes the blind see and the oppressed free
He loves you so much that he wants you to see.
Anointing is a ceremony conferring divine or holy office upon a priest or monarch by smearing or rubbing with oil. David was anointed (1 Samuel 16:13) before he became king. What does an anointing do? In Isaiah 11:2, we are shown that the Spirit of the Lord rests on the anointed giving him wisdom, understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. That is what anointing does. It brings his power in us through his Spirit.
Christ is the anointed one. He brings Good News to the poor, release captives, let the blind see and the oppressed free.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your anointing.
REFLECTION
What gifts are you anointed with?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com