LIVE AND NOT DIE Poem Devotional

October 18
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But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten and they will live because of the righteous things they have done. – Ezekiel 18:21-22(NLT)
LIVE AND NOT DIE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
Turn away from evil and you will have a new life
Do what is just and right so you will surely live
Seek the Lord first and the truth so you’ll be free.
Confess and repent so you will be forgiven
Even here on earth you can experience heaven
Choose to live in truth and you will never die
Christ died so you can be free and live a joyful life.
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Do you ever wonder why someone would choose death over life? It doesn’t make sense why we would want to die instead of live. In the physical realm, we normally always choose to live but sometimes we choose death in our spiritual walk. When believers make choices based on their whims and desires, they choose death instead of life. When they knowingly disobey his commands, we lose our right standing with God. God will forgive transform you into the new person he planned for you to be. Choose God and you will never die.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for dying for me so I can live.
REFLECTION
When have you chosen death over life in your spiritual walk? How did God pull you out of death?
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 ONE WHO SINS Poem Devotional

October 17
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The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. -Ezekiel 18:20(NLT)
THE ONE WHO SINS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you deliberately choose a life in sin
You will die spiritually and your life will be grim
No one else will bear your own wrongdoing
You will be rewarded if you choose the right things.
The one who sins forfeits heaven if they continue
If you repent, God will transform and change you
Righteous people will be rewarded for their good choices
Wickedness will always lead you to bad consequences
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In the book of Ezekiel, chapter 18 gives us a clear picture of the justice of a righteous God. This verse we are talking about answers the question if a child pays for the sins of his or her parents. It clearly says that the one who sins is the one who receives death. It is not passed on to the children. The parents are not also going to die because of their children’s death. Galatians 6:5 supports this verse as well since it says that we are each responsible for our own conduct. There is a reward to those who repent and turn from wickedness.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being a just God.
REFLECTION
How can you influence others to repent and turn back to 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

DON’T DRIFT AWAY Poem Devotional

October 16
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So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
-Hebrews 2:1(NLT)
DON’T DRIFT AWAY
A poem and essay by ILMA
What things causes you to drift away?
Are there lies you believe that keeps you astray?
Do you regularly seek the Lord and his word?
It actually guides you to understand this world.
Listen carefully to the truth you’ve heard
Don’t drift away from it as fast as a bird
Embrace every detail of the truth’s certainty
Don’t be lost in this world’s false reality.
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Many of us easily drift from God’s will and his commands. We get tossed and turned by the waves of this corrupt world. Even though we have heard God’s truth for a very long time, we still get derailed from living the instructions of the Lord. Why do we drift from the truth? Many times it is caused by unconfessed sins. This is why the bible tells us to immediately confess our sins as soon as we are convicted of it. The longer we delay the confession, the longer we will go astray. One unconfessed sin leads to another and another. Sooner or later, we will just find ourselves turning our backs to what we have been taught in God’s word.
Just like in hypnosis, we must not be keeping our eyes on this world’s pendulum of sin. Let’s focus on the Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me not to drift away from your truth.
REFLECTION
How can studying God’s word prevent us from drifting away.
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 I AM SINKING Poem Devotional

October 15
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But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” -Matthew 14:30-31(NLT)
WHEN I AM SINKING
A poem and essay by ILMA
When I am drowning in fear
I feel your presence so near
When I get tossed by challenges
You are there to make changes.
When I am sinking in unbelief
You are still there to give me relief
When I am overwhelmed and discouraged
You lift me up so I can be encouraged.
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What do you do when you start sinking? The instinctive drowning response is an instinctive reaction that occurs in humans when close to drowning. While distress and panic may sometimes take place beforehand, drowning itself is quick and often silent. A person close to the point of drowning is unable to keep their mouth above water long enough to breathe properly and is unable to shout. Lacking air, their body cannot perform the voluntary efforts involved in waving or seeking attention.
When we start to sink in debt, losses, unbelief, addiction, worries, troubles, our initial reaction is usually fear. We’d do anything to cope with the helplessness the situation. They are called coping mechanisms. Couldn’t we just run to the Lord and ask him to save us instead?
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me that you are always there to pull me out when I am sinking.
REFLECTION
What are you sinking into right now? Have you asked God’s assistance?
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

RICH IN CHRIST Poem Devotional

October 14
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I know about your suffering and your poverty – but you are rich! -Revelations 2:9(NLT)
RICH IN CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
The moment you believed in Jesus Christ
You are covered by his love and light
Christ is the King of all kings
You are rich if you believe in him.
You may be suffering from poverty
Stay strong and live for him faithfully
You are the son or daughter of God
You are always unconditionally loved.
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Romans 8:17 says “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” Those who belong to Christ is definitely going to receive his legacy since we are heirs of him. Everything belongs to Christ, so that means that we are rich. Sometimes it is very difficult to think of our true identity in Jesus because the enemy bombard us with so much lies about our real character. We are his prized possession. We are very valuable to him, his masterpiece.
This verse in Revelation was a message to the church in Smyrna but it is also relevant to us Christians who walk the path to Jesus. We can be afraid of suffering, but if we remain faithful, we will receive the crown of life. The Lord wants us to assert our riches in him.
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PRAYER
Lord, never let me lose sight of my true riches in you.
REFLECTION
What good can suffering and poverty bring to 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

ON FELLOWSHIP AND WORSHIP Poem Devotional

October 12
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They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. – Acts 2: 46(NLT)
ON FELLOWSHIP AND WORSHIP
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you go gather to worship with your spiritual family?
Do you share meals with others to remind you of Christ’s suffering?
Believers are all called to build relationships in the body
Do you try to encourage and connect with others regularly?
When two or more gather in God’s name, He is in their midst
Sharing your joy to God’s people is like giving him thanks
Encourage and share your burdens and testimony
It builds up the body of Jesus Christ greatly.
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One of the gauge of an authentic Christian life is a healthy relationship with other believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 suggests that we must think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works and tells us not to neglect meeting with one another to encourage each other. We cannot call ourselves true believers if all we do is go to church on Sunday and listen to the sermon and not even talk to anyone in the church. Can you imagine being in a family and no one acknowledges the presence of each other? Many homes are broken because there are no relationships built. Let’s worship together with other Christians, share meals and grow in faith.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving us a family of believers.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to fellowship, connect and share with other believers?
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

FREE INDEED Poem Devotional

October 11
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You have died with Christ and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world. -Colossians 3:20 (NLT)
FREE INDEED
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you believed in Jesus Christ
He has freed you from bondage in this life
Why do you keep on following the world’s rules?
Shouldn’t you be focused only on God’s truth?
When Christ suffered and died for you on the cross
You were freed and no longer slaves to sin and lost
Be faithful to the only one who can keep you free
He alone can grant you forgiveness and mercy.
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There are some believers who do not live in the freedom that was given to them when Christ died on the cross for all of us sinners. It took me many years before I finally accepted the new life that I received from Christ’s blood. I kept on going back to my old self but once I got revelation from our Lord, I made a decision to choose to live that free life that was a result of his sacrifice.
When we focus on the standards of this world, it would be very difficult to stay free. Satan wants to steal, kill and destroy our relationship with God. Focus on Jesus and you will know the truth and will be set free.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for granting me freedom from sin by your blood.
REFLECTION
What attitudes and habits do you need to give up so you can stay free?
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

GOD STOOD BY ME Poem Devotional

October 10
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But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.
-2 Timothy 4:18 (NLT)
GOD STOOD BY ME
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever been in very difficult situations?
The Lord will stand by you especially in temptations
He gives strength so you might preach the gospel
He is faithful to bring you his own Spirit as your helper.
No matter how bleak the circumstances are
He will never leave you alone at any hour
He will make a way for you to spread his Good News
Press on! He will ensure that all your gifts are used.
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There were many times in my life that I was beset by obstacles to discourage me from preaching the Good News. Sometimes I give in to the distraction and temptations. When I allowed the Lord to discipline my body and spirit, he transformed me and gave me strength. It is amazing that no matter how hard the situations were, he carried me through all of them. The bible tells us to preach the Good News that Jesus was given to us to save us from sin and that we need to believe that his sacrifice gives us new life. He promised to rescue us and never forsake us so we can fulfill our purpose.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember your faithfulness.
REFLECTION
Cite an instance when you felt God was there in the hardest and crucial times of 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

LIVE IN PEACE AND THANKFULNESS Poem Devotional

October 9
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And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. – Colossians 3:15(NLT)
LIVE IN PEACE AND THANKFULNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Peace can only come by allowing Christ to rule your life
It is a fruit that is given to those who commit to Christ
As members of one body, you are called to live in peace
Be thankful in all things and constantly seek God and heed.
The Lord will provide for all your needs; trust him completely
He will never forsake you, he loves you faithfully
Pursue peace and always have a thankful heart
It will protect you from all evil and let Satan depart.
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What do you have to thank for today? It is amazing how many of us forget to give thanks to the Lord for big or little things we receive from him. Do we really praise the Lord for all that we have no matter what it is? It is easy to thank him for something we have wanted to have, but do we also thank him for the trials, the suffering, the losses, the illnesses? We forget to thank him for stretching our patience, having strength, enduring and being resilient to face all our struggles. We are summoned in the bible to pursue peace at all cost and give thanks.
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PRAYER
Grant me a thankful heart and attitude Lord.
REFLECTION
How can we really show gratitude to God on a daily basis?
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

KEEP A CLEAR MIND Poem Devotional

October 7
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But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. – 2 Timothy 4:5(NLT)
KEEP A CLEAR MIND
A poem and essay by ILMA
A follower of Christ keeps his mind clear
He is to walk in love so he can overcome fear
When he constantly focuses on his commands
He will successfully manage life’s demands.
Don’t be afraid to suffer for the Lord
He gives strength as you struggle in this world
Work at telling the Good News to one another
Fully carry out your ministry to your sisters and brothers.
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It is a novelty these days to have a clear mind. With the rise of social media and many different companies that try to sell their products to us, we are bombarded with so much information and images. These doesn’t help our minds, body and spirit. The enemy wants to distract us from focusing on what the Lord wants us to do. The bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that we don’t have a god of confusion but of peace. So when our minds are confused, Satan is surely working on us to steal our peace.
The antidote to a cluttered mind is to read Scriptures and allow it to speak to you. God renews your mind when you let him.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to always focus on you and your word.
REFLECTION
What do you usually do when you start to get confused and doubtful?
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