Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO

PRAY AT ALL TIMES Poem devotional

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May 14 The Power of God’s Word
One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray and he prayed to God all night. –Luke 6:12(NLT)
PRAY AT ALL TIMES
A poem by ILMA
Jesus always went to a quiet place
He made it a point to be with God always
Whenever he got busy with his ministry
He runs to be alone with his Father unfailingly.
Do you pray at all times to your heavenly Father?
It helps you be strong to handle worldly matters
It keeps you connected to your source of might
It helps you discern and gain insight.
The bible describes to us how often Jesus went to a quiet place like the mountain top or a garden to spend quality time with God. He didn’t want any distraction as he connects with him. When he finished healing and teaching people, he always finds a way to escape the world’s noise to be one with his heavenly father. It seems like he draws strength and power from God so he can continue working for his kingdom.
In our “busy”ness, we get so wrapped up in the things we do in this world. We become idolaters of our careers, families, friends, ministries, possessions. We fail to see that it is God who gave us all that we have.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember to pray at all times.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to pray more when we are busy and have more challenges?

PRAYING FROM THE HEART Poem Devotional

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May 13                                                                         The Power of God’s Word
When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. –Matthew 6:7(NLT)
PRAYING FROM THE HEART
A poem by ILMA
Babbling and repeated prayers are futile
They do not involve your heart which is vital
When you pray, be in a secret place
Listen to his voice and hear what he says.
Don’t repeat your words again and again
It is only a waste of time and gets no gain.
Cry or shout for joy when you talk to the Lord
Pour out your heart to bring him laud.
When I was a child, the Our Father was the first prayer I was taught. The process of memorizing something is like storing the words in your heart. Be careful to be mindful when you utter memorized prayer. If you do not take the time to let your heart process the words, it will just be repeated words with no meaning. There were so many formula prayers I learned in the past that were futile.
The bible tells us that we shouldn’t repeat again and again what we say when we pray. God isn’t deaf. In fact, he already knows what we need even before we pray. Praying is like having intimate conversations with God where there’s interaction.
PRAYER
Lord, guard me from futile praying.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to use our hearts when we talk to God?

FAITH HEALS Poem Devotional

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May 12 The Power of God’s Word
“Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. –Matthew 9:22(NLT)
FAITH HEALS
A poem by ILMA
Do you believe that faith can save you?
Trust completely in the Lord and he will renew
Your confidence in him will bring healing
It will lead you to freedom and rejoicing.
When you have a weakness or an illness
Be encouraged, faith will bring hopefulness
If you surrender anything to God’s power
He will bring a miracle right at that hour.
Do you realize how faith can actually save you from darkness and illnesses? I have seen actual healing happen when I went to a faith healer who got his spiritual gift of healing from the Lord. He received God’s gift to heal and he was used by the Lord so God will be glorified. Millions of people followed him and I actually saw cripples and bed ridden cancer patients literally standing up and walking as he laid his hands and prayed on them. The first thing he asks from them is if they totally believe that God will free them from their predicament. The moment they declare their faith, they were instantly healed. The bible has many faith stories that would attest to healing as an offshoot of faith. Matthew mentions the woman who instantly received healing by trusting Jesus.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to grow in faith.
REFLECTION
Why is faith essential in healing?

LIKE A MOTHER Poem Devotional

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May 11                                                                                  The Power of God’s Word

I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.

  • Isaiah66:13(NLT)     

LIKE A MOTHER

A poem by ILMA

Who can ever provide a love that is unconditional?

Women are gifted with instincts that are maternal

A mother provides all she can to protect her family

She will do everything to bring them up righteously.

Like a mother, God comforts his children daily

He gives them hope and loves them completely

He promises his beloved children great riches

His faithfulness endures forever which brings fullness.

Motherhood is one of the hardest roles a person could ever handle. I think God gave mothers special gifts and the power to press on in life.  From the time of conception, it is amazing how mothers are given the strength to handle the changes in their bodies and their emotions. When women are pregnant, they go through major hormonal changes in their bodies, which often times are hard to deal with. If you are a woman, you probably know what I am talking about. The cravings, the mood swings, the heightened sensitivities to different things.  God has equipped women to have emotional strength to bear difficulties. How awesome is our God who designed women to have the capacity to nurture and care. The bible tells us that God is like a mother who constantly comforts her child.

PRAYER

Lord, make me more caring and nurturing.

REFLECTION

Why do you think God likens himself to a mother?

 

REMAIN IN GOD Poem Devotional

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May 10                                                                       The Power of God’s Word
Remain in me and I will remain in you, for a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
–John 15:4(NLT)
REMAIN IN GOD
A poem by ILMA
Do you think you can do anything on your own?
Do you realize that without God, you cannot grow?
Like the fruits to its vine, one cannot do without the other
Remain in God so you can mature and be a blessing to one another.
The fruits of the spirit will present itself if you remain in him
Discernment, knowledge and wisdom, God will bring
All God’s children will reap his promises
By abiding in him, you are granted peace and happiness.
It is sad to see a lot of people living in isolation from God or others. They want to be separate from anyone who would stop them from getting what they yearn for. The bible likens us to the vine and its branches. If we remain in God’s love, He will stay with us. By seeking him and abiding in his love, we produce fruits of the Spirit. Without the choice to seek him in our lives, it will be very difficult to reap these fruits such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Without God, these fruits will not be present.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me in your love.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to remain in God?

GOD ANSWERS Poem Devotional

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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

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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?

NOTHING WITHOUT GOD Poem Devotional

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downtown orangeville 001May 6                                                                             The Power of God’s Word
I can do nothing on my own, I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.
– John 5:30 (NLT)
NOTHING WITHOUT GOD
A poem by ILMA
Whenever you do things separate from God’s will
You make yourself vulnerable for the enemy to steal
God made humans so they can love him back
He doesn’t want people to be isolated and have a lack.
Christ didn’t do anything separate from God’s plans
He obeyed and did all his Father’s commands
The son carried out the will of the Father
He was a perfect example to his sisters and brothers.
Do you consult God when you make a decision or do something? There are many reasons why we fail or succeed in life. We will never be able to comprehend why we fall short of something or why someone else succeeds and we don’t. Has it ever occurred to you that it might be because you didn’t have the humility to ask God? It might be because you have been taking credit for something that God needs to be praised for.
The bible tells us that we can do nothing on our own. Even Christ who was divine had the humility to do nothing without God’s consent.
PRAYER
Lord, grant me a hunger to align my will with yours.
REFLECTION
Why is humility important in life?

BUILD OTHERS UP IN THE LORD Poem Devotional

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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

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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?