GOD’S ENEMIES Poem Devotional

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November 2                                                                         The Power of God’s Word
This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. – Colossians 1:21 (NLT)
GOD’S ENEMIES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you a friend of God or his enemy?
How can you easily be an adversary?
When you don’t obey the heavenly Father
You are prone to cater to yourself instead of others.
The devil gains a foothold on rebels
He stamps them with thoughts that are evil
You become more lawless as you dwell in wickedness
When your actions defy God’s plan, you become one of his enemies.
What makes someone an enemy of God and an ally of the devil? Corruption, impurities, a life of compromises, succumbing to evil thoughts and actions, disobedience can all be leading to defying God’s plan in your life.
This is why the bible always cautions us to preserve a heart that isn’t tarnished by worldly ways and standards. When we turn our backs to God or become disobedient to his will, we are candidates to be his enemies. When we obey his will and feed on his word, we become his friend.
The bible also promises a way out when you become an enemy. You can repent of your sin and forgive others. God will take you back as his friend.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to obey you.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to repent and forgive to remain friends with God?
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

KINGDOM BUSINESS Poem Devotional

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November 1                                                              The Power of God’s Word
Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. – Mark 16:15(NLT)
KINGDOM BUSINESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What is your purpose in life?
Are you here to get what you want or be a light?
How do you spread the Good News to everyone?
Are you living in a material world instead of seeking the Son?
All believers are expected to do kingdom business
It is spreading the Good News and not being consumed by “busy”ness
God wants us all to partake of his kingdom
What do you need to give up to enjoy God’s freedom?
There are so many things that keep people busy. Careers, relationships, accruing wealth, chasing dreams, wanting fame and power, finding romantic love, etc keep people distracted from the business of God’s kingdom. There are some individuals who even reach the end of their lives and not know why they are here on earth. It is sad to see people going in circles making the same mistakes over and over again without realizing their purpose.
The bible tells us our purpose in life. It is to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. We need not be preachers, evangelists or bible scholars to fulfill this purpose. We need to tell them that God loves them and gave his Son to pay our debts.
PRAYER
Lord, use me to further your Kingdom.
REFLECTION
What have you done to spread the gospel to everyone?
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 ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY Poem Devotional

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October 31                                                        The Power of God’s Word
God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
– 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NLT)
HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY
A poem and essay by ILMA
What do you put in and on your body?
Are they things that keep you healthy?
Are the clothes you put on maintaining your purity?
Are you distracting others by focusing on your outward beauty?
God bought you with a high price
Will you continue to listen to lies?
Honor God with what he gave you
His Son died so we can be renewed.
Do you respect the body that God has given you? Do you think that your body is entirely your property? It is sad to see that the world has corrupted people’s minds that we totally own our bodies and can do anything we want with it. This lie that the enemy has perpetuated in our worldly views has brought so much havoc in our lives. We cater to our own pleasures and ingest things that are not always good for our physical, emotional or spiritual well being.
The bible says that God bought us with a high price through the blood of his own Son, Jesus. He expects us to honor him with our bodies. It is like being stewards of a house that we are renting because it is not ours.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me constantly that you own everything.
REFLECTION
How can you honor God with your body?
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

CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH

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October 30                                                                           The Power of God’s Word
The message is very close at hand. It is on your lips and in your heart. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:8,9 (NLT)
CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
The message is very close at hand
It is on your lips; it need not be grand
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
You will be using the most powerful sword.
The word of God is a weapon against the enemy
If you use it regularly, you will have victory
Believe in your heart that God raise Christ from the dead
It will reap a harvest of peace and a life that is Spirit-led.
I was a believer for so long and yet I didn’t know the power of confessing with the mouth. Confession was a term in my former religion to go to a priest and tell him all about my sins. Until I studied the bible thoroughly, I got revelations from the Spirit that what I needed to confess was the truth from God’s word.
The bible says that the Message is close at hand. It is on our lips and in our hearts. It tells us the power of confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to memorize your words.
REFLECTION
Why is verse memory essential in a Christian’s life?
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

GOD HAS NO FAVORITES Poem Devotional

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October 29                                                                             The Power of God’s Word
I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation, he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. – Acts 10:34-35 (NLT)
GOD HAS NO FAVORITES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you struggling with prejudice?
Is there anyone in your life who plays favorites?
Worry not! God has no biases
He treats us all with equality and fairness.
He made us unique and different from one another
There is no need to compare with each other
God loves those who do what is right and fear him
He waits for you patiently and faithfully to give up sin.
Favoritism is defined as the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another. We live in a society where competition rules. People become enslave by the dictates of the culture. They long to be looked up to and shown favor or feel important. Many families have been destroyed by this preferential practice that clearly generates jealousy and conflicts.
The bible says that God has no favorites. He loves us all because he created us all like him. He doesn’t care what culture or race you come from. He wants us all to long for him and do what is right. He loves us all that is why he gave his only son to free us.
PRAYER
Will you heal me from insecurities?
REFLECTION
Why is favoritism dangerous to people?
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

HARMONY BRINGS UNITY Poem Devotional

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October 28                                                                The Power of God’s Word
So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members so that all the members care for each other. – 1 Corinthians 12:24-25(NLT)
HARMONY BRINGS UNITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
God gave you each a different gift to bring him splendor
Are you cooperating with the body of Christ to bring God honor?
The strong parts of the body will support the weaker parts
They will never function separately from one another or be apart.
When you see a part of the body going weak
Help them focus on God so they won’t be bleak
We are all summoned to work harmoniously
This is the only way to bring peace and unity.
Helping others is something that I automatically do. There are times I get in trouble for doing so or I get misunderstood. In my former country, the Philippines, helping and hospitality is inherent in most Filipinos. I’d like to give God’s Spirit credit for motivating me to help someone and giving me the sensitivity to know when someone is in need.
The bible tells us that harmony brings unity. Christ wants us all to help build his body. When we see someone weak, we are asked to aide that member so we can be one in Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, show me who to help.
REFLECTION
How is Christ’s body strengthened?
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

SPIRITUAL GIFTS Poem Devotional

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October 27                                                                 The Power of God’s Word
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
– 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What kind of spiritual gift has God given you?
Is it to give wise advice or is it a gift of vision?
Whether it is faith or a gift of healing
God gave it to us so we can use it for sharing.
He gives one person the power to perform miracles
To others are given the gift to speak in unknown languages
It all comes from God’s Spirit who distributes all these gifts
He alone decides what to give a person that will surely fit.
Do you know what spiritual gifts God has endowed you with? God gave me a faith and wise advice. I wasn’t aware of it until others recognized them. When I was raising my son alone, they saw my strength and persevering character. I never gave up even at the most adverse situations because I always believed that God is taking care of me even if I don’t see clear manifestations of the change in the circumstances. The Spirit chooses the gift that suits us best. These gifts are not to be hoarded or used for personal purposes but to spread God’s kingdom. It must be used to lead others to God.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your gifts.
REFLECTION
How many people have you led to God using your gifts?
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

LOVING OTHERS WITH ALL YOUR HEART Poem Devotional

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October 26                                                                       The Power of God’s Word
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. – 1 Peter 1:23 (NLT)
LOVING OTHERS WITH ALL YOUR HEART
A poem and essay by ILMA
As soon as you obeyed God’s truth, you are set free from sins
Leave your sinful nature and don’t look back where you’ve been
God is love and he created us to be like him
Walking in love is the surest way to be redeemed.
You are cleansed from sins if you believe that Jesus died for you
Love each other deeply with all your heart and you’ll reap the Spirit’s fruit
Show sincere love for your sisters and brothers in Christ
When you love others genuinely, you will gain wisdom and insight.
Perhaps the word “love” is the most misused and abused word in the human vocabulary. Love is viewed romantically and lustfully by many. The enemy has blinded everyone to think that love is about mushy feelings and physical attraction.
The bible tells us that God is love and that is why God sent us his only son to cleanse us from sin and be reconciled with him. He expects us to love others with all our hearts just as he loves us so much.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to walk in love always.
REFLECTION
How can you show love to difficult people?
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

A GOD OF JUSTICE Poem Devotional

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October 25                                                                  The Power of God’s Word
For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing, I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them.– Isaiah 61:8 (NLT)
A GOD OF JUSTICE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you experiencing pain and anguish?
Worry not for the Lord wants you to flourish
He is a God of justice and understanding
He is faithful to reward his people for their suffering.
Seek the Lord who is just and fair
He is always after your welfare
Don’t lose hope or succumb to desperation
He loves you and brings you hope and consolation.
Do you feel defeated by troubles in your life? The bible tells us that God is a god of justice. He will never allow you to suffer more than you can bear. When we encounter problems and difficulties in our lives, we need to lift it up to God so he can do what he is good at doing: taking care of you and making everything work out for your good.
The Lord hates robbery and wrongdoing. He faithfully rewards his people for their suffering and makes an everlasting covenant with them. Be at peace when you encounter trials and tribulations. God promised provision and protection for his own people. If you are faithful to him, he will be faithful to you.
PRAYER
I thank you Lord, for giving me comfort and protection.
REFLECTION
When did God give you justice?
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

STUBBORNESS BLOCKS THE HOLY SPIRIT Poem Devotional

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October 24                                                                    The Power of God’s Word
You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? – Acts 7:51 (NLT)
STUBBORNESS BLOCKS THE HOLY SPIRIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Being lawless and disobedient opens the door to the enemy
It makes one vulnerable to all kinds of sin and impurities
When you are stubborn, you cannot hear the Spirit’s revelations
It blocks your heart and makes it hard to receive Christ’s salvation.
Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit in your life?
Don’t you realize that obedience can bring you light?
Engaging in stubborn ways will make your life harder
Resisting God makes you vulnerable to sin and weaker.
Have you ever wondered why some people are happier and others are not? Observe carefully and you will discover that those who are unhappy are usually living in disobedience or defiance. I lived a life of rebellion up until my forties. It was a very difficult and hard life. I was a whiny perfectionist and an arrogant person. When I got very sick, God stripped me of my strength so I can rely on him.
The bible tells us that stubbornness blocks the Holy Spirit. It makes our hearts hard and makes us deaf to the truth. When we resist the Holy Spirit, we don’t reap the fruits God promised.
PRAYER
Lord, tame my heart and mind.
REFLECTION
What stubborn ways do you do to block the Holy Spirit?
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