Tag Archives: ilmaarts.com

POSSESSIONS ARE WORTHLESS Poem Devotional

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July 16
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Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming when your possessions will be plundered right in front of you. – Zechariah 14:1(NLT)
POSSESSIONS ARE WORTHLESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What do you own that makes you feel superior over others?
Is it your wealth that makes you discriminate your brothers?
Why do you cling to your belongings in this world?
Possess nothing that competes with the Lord.
Worldly things do not last long and are temporary
Pursue God and his word and you will be extraordinary
Possession are worthless especially on judgment day
Don’t hoard for it will be plundered in every way.
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Hoarding is defined as “to accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden or carefully guarded place.” Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s not clear what causes hoarding disorder. Genetics, brain chemistry and stressful life events are being studied as possible causes. Doctors point to a number of potential causes for hoarding. These include difficulty processing information, beliefs about possessions, and the emotional distress associated with discarding items or possessions. To the compulsive hoarder, each and every item is of value – often an exaggerated value. We are warned in the bible that possessions are worthless especially on judgement day.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me to let go of things that have no value in your kingdom.
REFLECTION
What worldly things are you clinging to?
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

MIGHTY MAN DESTROYED Poem Devotional

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July 15
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The mighty man has been destroyed. Yes, your insolence is ended. For the Lord has crushed your wicked power and broken your evil rule. -Isaiah 14:4-5(NLT)
MIGHTY MAN DESTROYED
A poem and essay by ILMA
There is no one more powerful than God
The enemy entices us not to bring him laud
Never be afraid of the mighty man
His power is just like any other human.
The devil knows that he is going to be defeated
That is why he uses tricks to make us all tempted
He appears to be mighty and powerful
He is actually a fraud, weak and deceitful.
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How do you win a battle? First, you have to know your enemy. Many defeats happen because of lack of strategy and knowledge. We have to acknowledge and get familiar with our opponent for us to be able to win and overcome. In many athletic competition, there are rules that need to be followed in order to win tournaments or races. When the participants don’t follow the rules, they get disqualified.
Our enemy, the devil has another title, the mighty man. He likes to think that he is powerful but without doubt God is the only one who has all power and all might. The enemy’s tactic is to deceive you that he has great control but since Jesus was born, he has already been destroyed and defeated. The perfect obedience of Christ crushed him.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me never to allow the mighty man to control me.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to know your opponent when in a battle?
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

BREAKING THE YOKE OF SLAVERY Poem Devotional

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July 14
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For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
-Isaiah 9:4 (NLT)
BREAKING THE YOKE OF SLAVERY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Is it an idol or a loss that enslaves your life?
Are you following traditions that covers light?
Are you constantly addicted to something?
God can break your slavery to anything.
The Lord promised freedom to all believers
Though the enemy has power, his is greater
Commit your mind, body, soul and spirit
He will break the yoke and you’ll be free from it.
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Addiction is a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance. What many people don’t realize is the addiction may be a coping mechanism that people use to alleviate a loss or pain. There is also a spiritual component in addiction. The enemy uses substance dependence or repeated bad habits that trap us from growth. Satan does it ever so cunningly that we don’t recognize the different forms of slavery he brings in our lives. It took me over five decades to recognize all these strongholds that delayed my progress in kingdom work.
The bible tells us that God can break any yoke of slavery in our lives and defeat the devil’s tactics and tricks to keep us enslaved to anything.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for breaking the yokes of slavery in my life.
REFLECTION
What yokes of slavery have you been freed from by 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

LIGHT WILL SHINE IN THE DARK

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July 13
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The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. -Isaiah 9:2(NLT)
LIGHT WILL SHINE IN THE DARK
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who are in darkness will see a great light
Fear not for the Lord will give hope and sight
It is in total darkness the light shines through
It is by depending on him that you’ll be renewed.
Light will shine in the dark and can’t be extinguished
Hope will be given back to them; it won’t be diminished
The light will guide them back to the love of the Lord
It will help them to navigate through this dark world.
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There were many years of my life that I lived in total darkness. I went through a phase of desperation in my teen life that I almost succeeded ending my miserable life. The Lord had a plan and didn’t let me die. He used this darkness to teach me how to rely on him totally. One of my weaknesses is “rebelling”. It detoured my journey to God. Just like the Israelites took them to reach their promised land. The trip should have taken just 11 days; instead it took them 40 years. It also took me 40 years to have the light shine in my life when I gave up rebellion and opt to obey God.
PRAYER
Thank you for shining on me in my darkest times Lord.
REFLECTION
Why should a believer never lose hope?
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

WHAT’S EVIL IN GOD’S SIGHT Poem Devotional

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July 12
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In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David had done. – 1 Kings 11:6 (NLT)
WHAT’S EVIL IN GOD’S SIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you find it hard to follow the Lord’s will?
Are you struggling finding rest and being still?
When you refuse to obey what God commands
You will have difficulty responding to life’s demands.
Do you constantly examine yourself and what you do?
Are they things that keeps close to the Lord and pure?
Obedience is very essential to keep close to him
What’s evil in God’s sight is rebellion and evil things.
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The usual challenge a parent faces with their children is disobedience. As parents, we already have experienced going through the phases of growing up. We have an idea what hurt us in the past and we don’t want our children hurt. We do our best to protect them with rules that can keep them safe and make them learn to cope with life’s demands. When they go against our will, it hurts us because we don’t want to see them suffer the consequences of wrong choices and decisions.
The bible talks about Solomon’s disobedience to the Lord and refusal to acknowledge God’s will in his life. He didn’t honor what the Lord is saying because he followed his own will and rejected God’s will.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be always in your will.
REFLECTION
Why do you think obedience is very important in our relationship with 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

THE BLESSING OF STILLNESS Poem Devotional

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July 9
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He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! – Psalm 107:29-30 (NLT)
THE BLESSING OF STILLNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What is making your life such a disaster?
Is it those dreams that you are after?
Is there a sin that you haven’t confessed?
Why do you fret and not have peace?
Jesus calms the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves
He can pacify you and give you strength to be brave
What a blessing it is if you can be still for the Lord
It brings joy and peace when you give him laud.
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I did not know how to be still for over five decades of my life. The enemy kept me in bondage to “busy-ness” and performing to prove that I was really good at what I did. I didn’t even realize how it was affecting my body because I just grinded and grinded and never paid attention to my health. One day, I became so sick that I couldn’t even raise my hands up. I was literally melting like a candle inside me. It took awhile before I was diagnosed with Hepatitis A because the symptoms of a flu are almost the same. I was bed ridden for 3 months. That was how God calmed the storm inside me. That’s when I learned to be still in the Lord.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to be still always.
REFLECTION
Why is it very hard to be still these days?
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’S MIGHT Poem Devotional

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July 8
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Oh please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless. With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes. -Psalm 108:12-13(NLT)
GOD’S MIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you rely on your own strength to fight enemies?
Remember that you are only human and have frailties
Whenever you feel compromised and defeated
Run to God for he will help you as you are being tempted.
With God’s help, we will do mighty things and overcome
On our own, we will fail, so why not run to Christ his Son
He is a god who can do the impossible and improbable
He has power and might beyond what humans can be capable.
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I remember how Julie Andrews impressed and influenced me to look up to governesses and teachers in the Sound of Music movie. I was six years old and that was my very first big screen movie. In about the same year, the Singing Nun was also very popular. I guess those two movies influenced me to be a teacher, a singer and a nun.
The bible tells us that if we run to God, he will do mighty things for us. If we keep our eyes on the Lord and make him first in our lives, he will trample down our foes and ensure that we are winners in this life. Is God your superhero?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to always run and look up to you.
REFLECTION
Why is self-reliance not as good as relying on 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

WHAT DEFILES US IN GOD’S SIGHT Poem Devotional

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July 7
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They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love for idols was adultery in the Lord’s sight. – Psalm 106:39(NLT)
WHAT DEFILES US IN GOD’S SIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever we think of evil thoughts
We delay and hamper or spiritual growth
Each time we do things to please ourselves
We end up displeasing him and we need help.
Prioritizing other things over the Lord defiles us
It opens the door for the enemy to tempt us fast
God considers loving other idols as an adultery
It disgusts him when we treat him unfaithfully.
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If you are a parent, you probably made rules for your children in order to protect them and ensure that they are not being influenced by others who are totally believe differently from you. This is why parents consider carefully the schools that they enrol their kids in and filter the kind of friends their children go with. Because we love them and want them to grow up in a safe and healthy environment, we set boundaries for them to follow so that they can stay unharmed and grow up fully. God is the same with us. That is why we have Scriptures so we follow his commands and be safe to live in this corrupted world. He warns us not to be defiled by evil deeds and to avoid idolatry. These things defile us in the Lord’s sight.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never desecrate what is holy and what you’ve created.
REFLECTION
What have you done in the past that defiled you in God’s sight?
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 ENDURING HARDSHIPS

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July 6
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If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.
-2 Timothy 2:12(NLT)
ON ENDURING HARDSHIPS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you going through difficult times now?
Don’t worry; continue to believe and never doubt
If we endure hardship, we will reign with Christ
If we deny it, we will lose reason to live in this life.
Remember that Jesus experienced the worst suffering
Just look up the cross and keep on remembering
Hardships can stretch our character and discipline
It gives us the power to overcome sin and win.
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There is a misnomer in our society today that we should have a trouble-free life. Many people are in pursuit of happiness and getting what they want. I used to chase these same things before God changed my heart. I endured hardship in a way that God didn’t want me to. I used my talents and skills to overcome adversities and never really relied on God’s grace and mercy. I proved to others that I am a survivor and took pride in it. It was the worldly way to endure hardships. But when I was saved, God showed me that all the things I went through had a purpose. It was to bring me strength and character so I could contribute to build up his kingdom and to spread the good news about his redemption through Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember that you died for me.
REFLECTION
What do you usually do when you encounter difficulties?
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

LIVING WITH HONOR Poem Devotional

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July 4
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We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. – 2 Corinthians 8:20-21(NLT)
LIVING WITH HONOR
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you are a believer, you are expected to be faithful
Live with honor and integrity and always be truthful
Those who are committed to the Lord are honorable
They show others that they are respectable.
Be careful how you live for you will experience testing
Don’t give up on living pure and keep on believing
A dignified life is a proof of an authentic believer
It shows everyone that they are true disciples.
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How many people nowadays are honest even when others are not looking? We live in a world where many people show only the side that they want others to see. They hide their natural tendencies and keep others believing that they are respectful and honest. Some employees in companies just wait for the clock to timeout so they can go home. They don’t do anything beyond what their job description says. They use company time to do their personal emails or calls or use company resources for their own use.
Christians are expected to be honorable before the Lord and also before everyone else. Just as Christ showed us how to live a life full with integrity, believers are also expected to live a pure and honest life.
PRAYER
Lord, let me do the right thing whether someone is looking or not.
REFLECTION
How can we preserve a pure life in this very corrupt world?
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