July 20
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The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the life of the wicked will be snuffed out.
– Proverbs 13:9(NLT)
THE GODLY AND WICKED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who are righteous and godly will be blessed
They will be full of light as they struggle and encounter tests
The life of the godly is full of joy and peace amidst trials
They don’t argue with God or go through a series of denials.
Those who are wicked will find it harder to progress
They are full of evil and will not even confess
The life of the wicked will be snuffed out
They will not have the wisdom or even freedom.
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When I became born again, I learned to discern evil ways and wicked people. God gave me bionic eyes to see through the facades that people wear. I don’t judge people’s motives but I watch their actions and attitude. The bible tells us that we will know a believer by the fruit in their lives. If their lives jive with God’s truth, then, you will easily see the manifestations of the Spirit’s fruits. They will be kind, gentle, joyful, patient, loving, good, faithful, peaceful and have self-control. They may not possess all of the gifts at one time, but you will see how they press on to obey God’s will. The godly is full of light while the wicked will be full of darkness.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me a way out when I am amidst evil.
REFLECTION
Why should we avoid participating in the evil that others do?
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
Tag Archives: ilmaarts.com
ONLY YOUR OWN HEART KNOWS Poem Devotional
July 19
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Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.
-Proverbs 14:10(NLT)
ONLY YOUR OWN HEART KNOWS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are overflowing with joy, only your heart knows
You cannot fully share your feelings, joys or sorrows
Each heart knows its own grief from losses and its own bitterness
No one else can fully share what its going through or its emptiness.
Only God knows fully what your heart is capable of
No amount of words will suffice to say what you’re going through
Sometimes even your own heart may deny the painful truth
It is when you open up to God that you will be soothed.
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Have you ever opened up to someone very close to you, ¬¬yet feel that you have not been understood totally? The bible says in Romans 8:27 that only God knows the depth of our hearts. It is only him who can totally understand us and what we are going through. There is no need to hide from God whatever it is that is bothering you. We sometimes make the mistake of opening up our struggles to our loved ones and friends. Then we sometimes hear unsolicited pieces of advise or they project what they would have done in your situation. It is good to pour out your heart to a loved one, but when you share it with God, you will always hear the right thing to do.
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PRAYER
Lord, please let me only open my heart to you.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to open up 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
TRULY HEALED, TRULY SAVED Poem Devotional
July 17
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O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed. If you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone. – Jeremiah 17:14(NLT)
TRULY HEALED, TRULY SAVED
A poem and essay by ILMA
How do you get healing during an ailment?
It is when you ask God in all your predicaments
The moment you believe in the power of Jesus
He will rescue you from all of your diseases.
Don’t ever forget that you can always run to Him
He truly heals you of all your illnesses and sin
You must believe him totally so you can receive
You will be truly saved, delivered and healed.
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It was many decades of my life that I suffered from emotional and physical turmoil. Although on the outside, I looked normal, I was terribly dying inside. The traumas I experienced affected my mind and body. I had many kinds of illnesses that sometimes weren’t really easy to identify. I didn’t realize that they were all tied up to my bitterness and un-forgiveness. Until I became a born again and went to see a Christian counselor, I didn’t know that the ungodly soul ties and generational sins were lurking in my whole life. I have been healed already since Christ died for me but I didn’t t receive it because I didn’t let go of my old self. He truly heals and saves when you accept it.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for healing and saving me.
REFLECTION
How can healing and salvation emerge in 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
PLEA FOR ANSWERS
July 16
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Answer my prayers O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me.
– Psalm 69:16(NLT)
PLEA FOR ANSWERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, I plead you to answer my prayers
I won’t make it without you in all my struggles
Take care of me day and night so I can overcome
Give me strength and pour in me all of your wisdom.
When I am weak, assist me to speak out your truth
Help me to sow your words in me so it can take root
Please be with me especially in all of life’s challenges
You alone can bring fruit and make all the changes.
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Have you ever felt frustrated when you don’t get answered prayers? I know I have been upset many times in the past when the answers I am waiting for doesn’t happen. God is faithful and that is one of his greatest traits. When we don’t get the result that we visualized, it doesn’t mean that he hasn’t answered our prayers. Sometimes the answer is “no” or “not now”. We don’t know what is always good for us, but He does. When the timing is not right for whatever he is working on us, he will not let you have it yet. He is an all-knowing God and he is always after your best interest. Never allow impatience to set in. Waiting for God’s timing is good for us.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me patience to trust when I don’t see things the way you do.
REFLECTION
Do you think God wants you to ask him for help?
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
COMPLETE WHEN UNITED IN CHRIST Poem Devotional
July 15
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So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every
ruler and authority. -Colossians 2:10 (NLT)
COMPLETE WHEN UNITED IN CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you become a believer of Jesus, you are complete
You have nothing to worry about or even want to compete
Your union with Christ concludes your purpose in life
It brings much peace, joy and gives you insights.
Christ is the head over every ruler and authority
If you trust him, you will be given stability
Never turn your back on the one true God
You will be empty and always have a lack.
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I lived many years of my life thinking that I was fulfilled by my career and roles in life. I took pride in being a self-made woman. I denied the emptiness I felt all those years that I proclaimed I was good at many things. It didn’t dawn on me that it wasn’t me but the presence of Jesus that can complete me. No wonder I was still anxious and empty inside. God released me from the thought that I was self-made. He made me and I took credit for all of it, leaving him out of the picture. When I became born again, he released me from this stronghold and gave me humility to admit that I will be nothing without him. I also learned to submit to his authority.
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PRAYER
Lord, give us an obedient and humble heart.
REFLECTION
What happens when you turn away from 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
FINISH WHAT YOU START Poem Devotional
July 14
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Now you should finish what you started. – 2 Corinthians 8:11(NLT)
FINISH WHAT YOU START
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you start doing something
Press on, so you can reach what you’re aiming
When you get distracted and delay
You will find that you are going to stray.
Finish what you start so you can progress
If you get side-tracked, you will digress
Direct your mind on the purpose of his plan
Then you will find favor in God’s one and only Son.
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As an artist, it is very important for me to finish a painting or drawing I set out to do. At the beginning of my career as a self-taught painter, I was also a full time teacher, mother and stage actress and manager. I learned in life very early that if I don’t finish what I started, it is likely going to be a challenge to get back to concluding the project or task at hand. Discipline and focus are two very important ingredients in accomplishing what you plan to do. When you fail to press on when things go rough or when there are interruptions, failure has a big chance to happen. The bible encourages us to finish what you started. Remember that the enemy’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. He will do anything to delay you from fulfilling God’s plan in your life.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to finish whatever I start.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to finish what you start?
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
COMPLETING THE WORK Poem Devotional
July 13
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I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
– John 17:4(NLT)
COMPLETING THE WORK
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know what God’s purpose is in your life?
Are all the things you do giving glory to Christ?
When Jesus was here on earth, he completed his work
He expects you to finish your calling in this world.
He wants each of his people to preach the gospel
It needs to reach the ends of the earth, so go and tell
Complete your work so you can bring glory to your Father
Obeying and fulfilling His plan will make you grow and prosper.
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Our God is a god of completion. When he created the world and the whole universe, he completed it in six days and on the seventh day, he rested. He felt good when he finished the things he planned to create. He did not leave anything hanging and undone. Since we are made in God’s image, we too are the same. When we accomplish a task, job or project we are tackling, we get a sense of fulfillment. Just like when we go through a journey, we’d like to reach our destination. Completing a job is the same. We feel glorious that we arrived at our set goal. When Jesus came on earth to save us, he completed the work on the cross so we will be free.
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PRAYER
Thank you for completing to save us through Christ’s death.
REFLECTION
What does finishing your work do to your spirit?
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
A PROVERB IN A FOOL’S MOUTH Poem Devotional
July 12
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A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg. – Proverbs 26:7 (NLT)
A PROVERB IN A FOOL’S MOUTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
When fools say something, it doesn’t jive with truth
They like to focus on themselves instead of what is true
Whenever they try to declare a wise saying
It sounds erroneous because they are boasting.
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is useless
It is like a paralyzed leg that is hopeless
Don’t listen to fools who likes to talk incessantly
They have no wisdom to share to anybody.
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I love to converse with people. I used to talk with anyone and didn’t choose who I communicated with. When I became a born again Christian, God’s word convicted me and taught me that I need to choose to surround myself with people who are righteous because I will learn their ways. Proverbs 22:24-25 tells us that we need not associate with hot-tempered people or we will learn their ways. Ephesians 4:29 says that we shouldn’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Philippians 4:8 tells us to think only of what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy. When we speak foolish things, we are as useless as a paralyzed leg.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from foolish talk.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to choose who we talk with?
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 USING JOKES Poem Devotional
July 10
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Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says “I was only joking.” – Proverbs 26:17-18 (NLT)
ON USING JOKES
Those who are afraid to confront may use jokes
They have no idea that it is deadly and it can hurt
A madman shooting a deadly weapon is damaging
It is like someone lying to a friend saying “I was only joking.”
When you use jokes to someone just think that it can be fatal
It may be a way of covering up for your inability to be truthful
When you believe in truth, jokes have no place in your mouth
You will choose to be open and be able to speak it out.
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I knew someone who would always say a sarcastic remarks or criticize others. When he is confronted by someone bold enough to tell him that he is hurtful with his statement, he will weave out of it by saying “I was only joking.” He made fun of me one day about a fear that I was experiencing. He actually laughed and sneered at how trivial my fear was. I was appalled by the way he minimized my experience even though he knew the source of my fear. I told him how hurt I was and he said “I was only joking.” Jokes are damaging when it hurts someone else’s feelings and character.
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PRAYER
Lord, convict those who use jokes to hurt others.
REFLECTION
Did Jesus ever joked and made fun of someone? How can jokes be damaging?
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
THOSE WHO ARE LAZY Poem Devotional
July 9
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Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.
-Proverbs 26:16 (NLT)
THOSE WHO ARE LAZY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who are lazy think highly of themselves
They won’t do anything except to satisfy the self
They have no motivation to exert any work
They think that it’s only them who has worth.
Lazy people consider themselves smarter
They are so entitled and think they are better
Yet they don’t raise a finger to do something
They won’t move, but they want to have all things.
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I knew someone who will never raise a finger to do anything, and yet, he wants to have a lot of things. He envied those who have what he doesn’t have and tried to justify why he never have them. He will never admit that he is lazy. Some people have an entitlement mentality. They expect people to serve them and get what they want because they think that everyone owes them something. This is a very dangerous attitude because it never gets them anywhere and they never reach progress because they don’t want to labor. They miss out on reaching their goals or dream because they don’t want to lift a finger to do anything. Proverbs 18:9 says that a lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things while Proverbs 21:25 says despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from lazy people.
REFLECTION
Why is being lazy harmful?
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









