GOD ANSWERS Poem Devotional

Posted on May 8, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 8 The Power of God’s Word
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 prayer. –Isaiah 65:24(NLT)

A poem by ILMA
Pray whenever you have a need
It will be answered when you heed
Call upon the Lord when you are in pain
He will hear your prayers; it will not be in vain.
Even before you ask, he knows already what you’ll say
He loves you so much and he will always find a way
While you are still requesting in prayer
He has already granted and answered.
How often do you pray? The prophet Daniel is a perfect example of the power of prayer. In chapter 9:4-19, he confessed and pleaded God to forgive the sins of Israel. He used the word “we” even though he has not sinned. Unlike the Pharisees who prayed lifting themselves up and putting down other sinners in Luke 18:11, Daniel’s heart cried out for his people. He wasn’t righteous like the Pharisee. He interceded for Israel and believed that God will have mercy as he has shown the prophet Jeremiah. Daniel quoted scriptures and believed it.
The bible tells us that God answers prayer while we are still praying. Sometimes we don’t hear or see the answers because we don’t want the answers.
PRAYER
Lord, grant me a humble heart that prays always.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants us to pray?

LIVING GODLY LIVES Poem Devotional

Posted on May 7, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 7 The Power of God’s Word
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. –1 Timothy 3:12(NLT)

A poem by ILMA
The moment you accept Christ as your savior
Let your actions reflect righteous behavior
Every believer who wants to live a godly life
Be ready to avoid all forms of strife
It is easy to give in to temptation and sin
It takes grace and trust to be redeemed
Each person who wants to serve the Lord
Press on the challenges to bring him laud.
There are many challenges a Christian face. One of them is persecutions or discrimination. Most unbelievers test you or question your faith and beliefs. In fact, the more you follow Christ, the more the enemy would want to steal your peace, joy and your heart.
When I chose Christ as my Lord and Savior, I wasn’t exempt from suffering. The difference between a believer and an unbeliever lies in knowing that one is not alone when they go through challenges and trials. As they humbly admit their weakness, Christ strengthens them.
The bible tells us that persecution will be part of a godly life. Just as Christ suffered when he was on earth, those who claim to be his followers must face these challenges that are inevitable when they embrace righteousness living.
PRAYER
Lord, bring me strength to face challenges.
REFLECTION
Why do you think suffering is inevitable in a Christian’s life?

BUILD OTHERS UP IN THE LORD Poem Devotional

Posted on May 5, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 5 The Power of God’s Word

We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. –Romans 15:1-2(NLT)

BUILD OTHERS UP IN THE LORD

A poem by ILMA

To think only of one’s own self is not pleasing to God

Catering to your flesh does not bring him laud

Christ wants us to help others do what is right

He expects us to build each other up to stay in the light.

Reflect a life in pursuit of righteousness

This will bring others to follow that goodness

It encourages hope, faith, joy and compassion

It clearly manifests a life full of love and passion.

A lot of believers have turned their backs to the church simply because they see so much conflict in how people live their lives and what they believe in. Somehow, some Christians have separated their beliefs from how they live. This is not how God wants us to be. James 1:22 says that we don’t just listen to God’s word, but must do what it says.

The bible talks more about others than self. It says that we must not just please ourselves but do what is right and build others up in the Lord. We are asked to encourage and build one another in God’s love and in following his commands.

PRAYER

Lord, help me be an example of love and righteousness.

REFLECTION

Why is it important to encourage one another in Christ?

BLINDED BY DARKNESS Poem Devotional

Posted on May 4, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 3 The Power of God’s Word
Anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. –1 John 2:11(NLT)
BLINDED BY DARKNESS
A poem by ILMA
When you find it hard to forgive
It makes it hard to receive
A person who choose to hate
Finds it hard to understand and relate.
When you constantly choose darkness
It makes you blind and hopeless
If you do not want to let go of sin
You forfeit the chance to be redeemed.
Have you ever related with someone who is unforgiving? I have lived my life with so many unforgiving people. It is so hard to watch them destroy their relationships and go down the road of desperation and anger. I’ve known someone who would never forgive a person who has asked her forgiveness for almost a decade until the day she died. I wonder if she ever forgave her. It is sad to watch people get consumed by hatred and anger. It is toxic, but somehow, the choice not to forgive makes that person blinded to the truth that can set them free.
The bible tells us that if we live in hate, we will be blinded by the darkness we chose. That person continues to live in obscurity and forfeits life.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to forgive.
REFLECTION
Why is forgiveness essential to continue walking in love?

SEEKING GOD’S APPROVAL Poem Devotional

Posted on May 4, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 1 The Power of God’s Word
And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. –Psalm 90:17(NLT)

A poem by ILMA
Do you find yourself fixated on pleasing someone?
Do you try to search for happiness from everyone?
Do you consult God for every little plan you make?
Do you just do things for your own sake?
May the Lord show you his approval and consent
In all you do, seek his guidance and his presence
Whenever you confer with him, he gives you insight
If you ask in faith, you will bring him joy and delight.
I was raised to be very independent and was surrounded by people who were self-reliant. Identifying and discussing problems and issues in our families were taboo. The authorities in my life made it a point that all issues are dismissed and never talked about. I grew up making my own decisions without consulting anyone and I took pride in doing so. Each time I make the right one, I pat myself on the back for it, as if it was an achievement.
The bible tells us to align all our plans, choices and decisions with God. We will be blessed and anointed if we seek God’s consent rather than other people’s viewpoint. When we seek God first, he will grant our efforts and make it successful.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to seek your counsel always.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to get God’s approval?

THE ROOT OF CRAVINGS Poem Devotional

Posted on May 2, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 2 The Power of God’s Word
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. –1 John2:16 (NLT)

A poem by ILMA
Do you indulge yourself in pleasures?
Do you get consumed by worldly treasures?
Do you rely on your own efforts to reach ambitions?
Do you take pride in your achievements and possessions?
Be careful you don’t succumb to cravings of this world
They enslave you and give the enemy an opening and a foothold
Yearnings of the flesh are not godly and righteous
They come from this world that is evil and vicious.
Consumerism is defined as the belief that it is good for people to spend a lot of money on goods and services. We are bombarded by all forms of media marketing to consume either a product or a service. These companies pay huge amounts of money to ensure that they create a need for people to purchase their product. They think of all kinds of strategies to persuade us that a want is actually a need in order to make us buy.
The bible tells us that these cravings are not from God but from this world. The moment we boast of our achievements and possessions, we endanger ourselves.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to have humility.
REFLECTION
How can awareness of our cravings keep us humble?

REAP WHAT YOU SOW Poem Devotional

Posted on April 30, 2014 by ilmaarts

April 30 The Power of God’s Word
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature, but those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. –Galatians 6:8(NLT)
REAP WHAT YOU SOW
A poem by ILMA
Those who want to satisfy their flesh
Their lives will be chaotic and a mess
To satisfy the sinful nature brings decay
It brings someone in a state of disarray.
People who live to please the Spirit
They will be in constant light and never adrift
Choose to follow God’s commands
This will make you surrender the world demands.
There are many people who live their lives according to the world’s standard. Sadly, some believers do not really live by the Spirit but by their own sinful nature. If a Christian have been raised by parents who never really followed godly standard and grew up surrounded by decay, it would probably be hard to live a life following the Spirit.
The bible tells us that we reap what we’ve sown. It is the most basic principle that life is founded on. If you live only to satisfy your own sinful nature, you will naturally reap death. If you live to please God, then you will harvest the fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self control.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to live for you.
REFLECTION
What’s the consequence of living for yourself?

JOYFUL HEARTS SEEK PEACE Poem Devotional

Posted on April 29, 2014 by ilmaarts

April 29 The Power of God’s Word
Deceit fills the hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace.–Proverbs 12:20 (NLT)
JOYFUL HEARTS SEEK PEACE
A poem by ILMA
What is in your heart these days?
Does it seek God and all his ways?
Do you find joy in your daily life?
Do you choose truth and stay in the light?
Deceit fills the hearts that are plotting evil
They are prisoners of their own desires and of the devil
Joyful hearts dwell on peace and love
They constantly seek the father up above.
In a world of corruption, we can be deceived by its standards and dictates. No wonder we live in so much confusion and turmoil. It is a difficult feat to seek God amidst all the distractions and noise around us. How can we protect ourselves from all the challenges we face in our world today and stay pure for God? Sadly, many of us view this life as the meaning of our existence. Most of us believe the lie that we are made for this world and not for God.
The bible tells us that we can distinguish a heart that seeks God from a heart that seeks the world. Deceit fills the hearts that are plotting evil while joy fills the hearts of those who plan for peace. Peaceful hearts embrace love and joy.
PRAYER
Lord, guide me to constantly choose peace.
REFLECTION
Is your heart joyful or full of deception?

QUICK TO LISTEN Poem Devotional

Posted on April 29, 2014 by ilmaarts

April 28 The Power of God’s Word
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. –James 1:19,20 (NLT)
QUICK TO LISTEN
A poem by ILMA
Are you quick to listen or to react?
Are you defensive or do you listen to facts?
When we rend our mouth and our emotions
We find peace and come up with resolutions.
Have an ear that is swift to pay attention
Guard your mouth so you can overcome temptations
Carefully watch your thoughts and emotions
Reacting hastily can bring trouble and destruction.
Have you ever regretted a quick reaction you made to someone? Has there been something you said that you wish you could have refrained from escaping your lips? In our fast paced world, it is almost impossible not to react swiftly. I used to teach my students that one of the barriers to effective communication is poor listening skills.
The bible tells us that we must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger because it does not manifest the righteousness of God. In other words, the righteous person knows how to control their emotions, their mouth, and their reactions. Self-control is a fruit of the spirit of God. The absence of such fruit shows spiritual immaturity.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to have self-control.
REFLECTION
Why is self-control essential in enjoying a peaceful and joyful life?

THE SECRET TO WISDOM Poem Devotional

Posted on April 28, 2014 by ilmaarts

April 27 The Power of God’s Word
Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. –Proverbs 19:20 (NLT)
THE SECRET TO WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
Do you want to gain wisdom and insight?
Seek God’s word and your mind will be right
When you heed instructions from the wise
You will gain knowledge from good advice.
Get all the guidance and teachings you can take
They will help you avoid mistakes and heartaches
The secret to wisdom is seeking God’s word
It will bring victory over this corrupt world.
Have you ever talked to a very wise person? If you ask the secret to their wisdom, they will probably include a life full of challenges and opportunities to grow. My paternal grandmother always had a lot of wise words to share and inspiring stories that shows her insight about many different aspects of life.
The bible tells us that the secret to wisdom is to get all the advice and instructions you can. It will lead you to a rich and blessed life. Most people who only want to follow their own thinking don’t go very far in life. They stay where they are and are afraid of changes. Those who never want to listen to anyone’s advice or instruction end up having limited knowledge and insight.
PRAYER
Lord, give me humility to seek other’s advice and counsel.
REFLECTION
Why is consulting someone else a good idea when making decisions?

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