OBEYING CHRIST Poem Devotional

Posted on September 16, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 16 The Power of God’s Word
We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
-2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)
OBEYING CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you faithfully given your life to Christ?
Is there any part of you that still fights?
Destroy every proud obstacle that keeps you from knowing
Capture your rebellious thoughts and continually seek him.
To love Christ is to completely obey
Follow him and do whatever he says
Let all your faculties surrender to his ways
Through your obedience, Christ will reign.
One of my biggest weaknesses before I totally submitted my life to Christ was my rebellious mind. I was raised to think very independently and not to rely on anyone for any decisions in my life. It brought havoc to my life because I never consulted Christ’s plans for me. I lived a life to please my own will and desires. As a consequence of doing things on my own, the enemy got a good reason to manipulate me into disobedience.
The bible tells us that we must remove every obstacle that keeps us from knowing God. We need to capture our thoughts and make it obedient to Christ. By complete surrender, we reap a harvest of all the promises of God. We fulfill all that God wants for us.
PRAYER
Lord, show me when I resist obeying you.
REFLECTION
How is obedience an antidote to rebellion?

HARVEST FROM FAITH Poem Devotional

Posted on September 15, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 15 The Power of God’s Word
Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. -2 Corinthians 10:15 (NLT)
HARVEST FROM FAITH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you boast when you have completed tasks and tests?
Do you ever claim credit for the work of someone else?
Have you ever imposed your way on someone and something?
Do you consider other people’s priorities and feelings?
When you work on your faith, your boundaries will grow
Your growth will extend to those you touch lives and sow
God’s kingdom will spread throughout the ends of the earth
You will reap a harvest that goes beyond this life and yourself.
Have you ever planted something in a pot like a plant or a flower? Isn’t it with expectancy that you wait for a tiny little sprout to come out of the soil? Then as you water and give it sunshine, you see it grow inch by inch. In a few days or week, you reap what you sowed.
The bible tells us to grow our faith so that we can extend the kingdom of God’s boundaries throughout the earth. We cannot boast or claim credit for someone else’s work, but work our way to increasing our faith.
PRAYER
Lord, inspire me to grow my faith.
REFLECTION
How is faith essential in our spiritual growth?

YOUR LOVE FOR ME WILL BE IN THEM Poem Devotional

Posted on September 14, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 14 The Power of God’s Word
I revealed you to them and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them and I will be in them. –John 17:26 (NLT)
YOUR LOVE FOR ME WILL BE IN THEM
A poem and essay by ILMA
Jesus reveals himself to those who love him
He will change their hearts and will be redeemed
He asks God the Father to continually reveal
Christ wants to transfer God’s love to those who believe.
He prays that we hunger for the love of God
He wants all believers to give him laud
When we seek God with all our heart
We will be one with Christ and never be apart.
Have you ever prayed so hard for someone? I am sure that when someone you love is suffering, you will pray very hard to alleviate their pain. It is easy to pray for someone close to you but what about people you don’t know? What about people who are giving you a difficult time to love them? Praying for someone is a very powerful act. The prophet Daniel prayed for the Israelites and God heard and answered his prayers.
Jesus prayed to God for people who believe. He asks everything for all those who believe. He summons God to continually revealing truth to them. God’s love for Jesus is transferred to His people.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to pray like you.
REFLECTION
How can prayers change lives?

HOLY VERSUS IMMORAL LIFE Poem Devotional

Posted on September 13, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 13 The Power of God’s Word
Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
-Romans 13:13 (NLT)
HOLY VERSUS IMMORAL LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
God gave you the choice to either be corrupt or pure
You can dwell and participate in evil but your life will be unsure
You can drown in sexual promiscuity, jealousy, envy and fights
Happiness and peace will evade your life and you will lose sight.
If you choose to live a godly and righteous life
You will reap wisdom and holy insights
Clothe yourself with the presence of Christ
Then you will be victorious, holy and right.
Do you consider yourself a believer or an unbeliever? Paul stresses the importance of living righteous lives once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. The moment someone declares that they believe in God, they are expected to live in the light. All forms of darkness must be given up. In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul urges Christians to live decent lives for everyone to see. He cautions them not to participate in wild parties, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, immoral living, quarreling and jealousy. How you live your life as a believer must reflect Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, give me courage to win over temptations.
REFLECTION
Why are Christians expected to live pure lives?

THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE Poem Devotional

Posted on September 12, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 12 The Power of God’s Word
And this is the way to have eternal life-to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. –John 17:3 (NLT)
THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Our lives here earth are not everlasting
They are fleeting and there’s no point in clinging
Are you preoccupied with worldly matters?
Do you heed God’s call to help your sisters and brothers?
The way to eternal life is to know Christ
If you seek him you will have insight
Believe and follow the only one true God
You are guaranteed a place in heaven up above.
Many people believe different concepts about life and death and after life. Sadly, even some Christians find it hard to believe in eternal life. Knowing one thing does not necessarily mean that you believe it. Sometimes, our head gets in the way of faith. Our limited minds tell us that we need to be convinced first by seeing or experiencing before we get persuaded to trust that God gives everlasting life.
The bible tells us that the way to have eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ. Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t quite comprehend the concept of eternal life while Jesus was still among them despite the many miracles they witnessed. Jesus wants us to know him to have endless life.
PRAYER

ON JUDGMENT Poem Devotional

Posted on September 11, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 11 The Power of God’s Word
It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but certainly it is your responsibility to judge those who are inside the church and are sinning. God will judge those on the outside, but as Scriptures say “You must remove the evil person from among you.” -1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (NLT)
ON JUDGMENT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you follow what the word of God says?
Do you evaluate yourself according to his ways?
It isn’t your responsibility to judge unbelievers
However, you are accountable for your sisters and brothers.
God will judge those who deliberately follow the devil
You must purify Christ’s body by eliminating evil
Believers need to take accountability for God’s people
They must eliminate all forms of evil to be victors.
There are many misconceptions about “judgment.” I always hear a lot of excuses for sinful ways like “You must never judge me.” The bible says that Christians are all part of the body of Christ. Just like our own bodies, we take care of it and ensure that all parts contribute to good health. Doctors usually prescribe to take out anything that will further contaminate wellness.
Scriptures says that we must remove evil amongst believers. It is our responsibility to judge those who claim to be Christians and continually sin. We need to be accountable for the purity of Christ’s body.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to take responsibility for other believers.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to judge believers?

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Poem Devotional

Posted on September 9, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 9 The Power of God’s Word
When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. – John 16:13(NLT)
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
There are many kinds of spirit in our midst
God will show you which ones are counterfeits
When his Spirit comes, he will reveal
You will know the truth and you’ll be free.
The Spirit of truth does not speak on his own
He will tell you what he heard from the Son
He will ensure that the Father gets all the praise and glory
When he dwells in you, you will have life and gain victory.
Have you ever experienced moments when you suddenly know something which you never knew before? Have you battled with a decision for a while and then unexpectedly, something just told you to do something you’d never normally do?
These are some ways that the Spirit of God tells us to do the right thing. When the spirit of truth comes, you will know it because it will always work for your best. Be careful not to boast that it is from you because the he himself points to the only source, God.
PRAYER
Lord, I welcome your spirit.
REFLECTION
How can you cooperate with God’s spirit?

THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING GOD Poem Devotional

Posted on September 8, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 8 The Power of God’s Word
Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. 1 John 3:6(NLT)
THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Anyone who believes in God will have life
They will have victory over sin and have insight
Those who belong to him follow his commands
They want to God and he makes them understand.
Those who keep on sinning don’t know Christ
They disobey him and blindly follow their desires
Those who know God walk in love and embrace peace
They keep their eyes focused on him that’s why they see.
Many people live not knowing how much they are loved by God. They may have been deprived of love from their parents or their other relatives. This does not change the truth that even when we are unable to accept God’s love, he still wants to have a relationship with us. He loves us deeply and gave us free will to choose. He leaves it up to us to either give him back the love or turn away from him.
Peace and love are some of the privileges of knowing God. Anyone who continues to live in Christ, they will not sin. But those who keep sinning don’t know him or understand who he is.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to choose to love.
REFLECTION
What can “seeking God “ bring in our lives?

CRAVINGS FROM THE WORLD Poem Devotional

Posted on September 7, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 7 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 John 2:16(NLT)
CRAVINGS FROM THE WORLD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you long to own things and power?
Is your time consumed by satisfying pleasure?
Are you obsessed to have something?
Do you succumb to every physical craving?
Watch out what your flesh yearns for
It can consume your being and make you a fool
Don’t partake of the longings of this world
Instead, crave for the truth that comes from the Lord.
In the past, multi-tasking and finishing many things in a short period of time gave me so much pleasure. Checking the list of things to do gave me a sense of fulfillment. I took pride in finishing my plans and didn’t realize that they were not aligned with God’s.
What are you pre-occupied with? Do you prioritize work, career or your family than spending time with God? Are you always busy with accumulating money and wealth? Do you take time to devote for relationships with God and others? Cravings from the world are usually longings for things we see, pride in our achievements and possessions. The bible says that they are not from God, they are from this world.
PRAYER
Lord, let me long for you always.
REFLECTION
What are the things you crave?

WAGING WAR WITH STRONGHOLDS Poem Devotional

Posted on September 5, 2014 by ilmaarts

Sept 5 The Power of God’s Word
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NLT)
A poem and essay by ILMA
Strongholds are mindsets that the world is conveying
They come in the form of arguments, reasoning and thinking
They slowly sneak in our minds, hearts and souls
They can ruin relationships and make us out of control.
We use God’s mighty weapons to wage war with the world
Take the sword of the spirit which is the word of God
Put on peace that comes from the good news and have faith in the Lord
This is the only way we can have victory over strongholds.
Have you ever have recurring negative thoughts and behaviors or attitudes that sometimes you have no control over? It just comes out naturally from you. Beware! They can be strongholds. They can be passed on to you from many generations or they can be curses that you were unaware of that your families had suffered in the past.
Confession and repentance is essential for God to give us revelations how to wage war with these strongholds. We wage war by walking in love, embracing peace, and using the word of God.
PRAYER
Lord, be with us as we battle the world and overcome strongholds.
REFLECTION
What strongholds hamper your life?

ILMA ARTS STUDIO

Where Visual & Literary Arts Thrives

Tag Archives: Christian poem