Tag Archives: ilmaarts.com

WHY CHRIST IS FIRST Poem Devotional

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August 29
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He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. So he is first in everything. -Colossians 1:17,18(NLT)
WHY CHRIST IS FIRST
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you realize that without God, you are worthless?
All accomplishments that doesn’t praise him is valueless
Nothing in this world can make us holy and complete
Only his love and grace make us whole and bring peace.
He existed before anything else and holds all creation together
When you don’t put Christ first, you will be empty and bitter
Since he is first in everything, why not prioritize him?
Freedom, love and joy abound to those who are redeemed.
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Why should we prioritize God in our lives? There are many reasons why we should choose to put Christ first in everything. We lose our joy when we put other things first. Strife or conflicts find their way in our lives when we don’t focus on Jesus. We become vain or idolaters, putting so much time and energy on pleasing ourselves or performing to get credit for it. Our lives become chaotic when we dismiss God’s presence. We can lose our energy and get depleted because they won’t bring us peace. We were created for God who is love, so when we live out of what he made us, we feel empty.
Christ was there before all creation was made. He binds us all together. He is first in everything.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to make you my priority always.
REFLECTION
What was the result when you didn’t prioritized Christ 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

WHERE YOU’LL FIND STRENGTH Poem Devotional

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August 28
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Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. – Isaiah 30: 15(NLT)
WHERE YOU’LL FIND STRENGTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been tired and depleted these days?
Are you struggling to confide in God and pray?
Only in returning to him will you find peace
Only by resting in the Lord will you be complete.
In quietness and confidence lie your strength
There is no need for worry, Jesus is your friend
Go back to him and you will never be weary
He lights up your life when your life is dreary.
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When was the last time you felt so depleted? I lived a stressful life and full of conflicts a good five decades of my life. I was always running and performing. No wonder I was so exhausted by the time I was in my mid-thirties. I was so much in bondage to proving my worth. It was a cover up for my emptiness and loneliness. Because I was very driven and stubborn, God literally allowed for me to be sick to a point where I was helpless and bedridden for many months. It was time for me to stop running and performing. Those three months of my life literally changed me. God wanted me to return to him and stop all these worldly pursuits. He wants to silence my anxious heart.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to recharge my strength only from you.
REFLECTION
What re-energizes you when you get so depleted?
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

RESPOND TO GOD’S PROMISES Poem Devotional

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August 27
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Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge. -2Peter 1:5(NLT)
RESPOND TO GOD’S PROMISES
A poem and essay by ILMA
God promised to be there for you always
Do you even follow his word and what he says?
There are numerous promises he has given
What is your response to the call of heaven?
Make every effort to respond to God’s promises
Supplement your faith with moral excellence
Look forward to all the things that he is giving
Open your heart so you can keep receiving.
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Every child gets excited when they are given a promise. I remember when I was a child and my mother would take us out on picnics with my cousins and aunts. I couldn’t sleep when I know that we would be spending time with my mom because she was always busy. It was a novelty to be given time to spend with her. I will be counting the days when that promise will materialize. Most of my waiting time will be imagining that day is already happening.
We are asked in the bible to supplement our faith with a generous provision of moral excellence and with knowledge. If you were to count the numerous promises of God to you, wouldn’t you be as excited as a child to wait for it to happen and receive these promises?
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for all the many promises you gave us.
REFLECTION
How do you respond to God’s promises?
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

LET LOVE RULE Poem Devotional

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August 26
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For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
– 1 Corinthians 15:56 (NLT)
LET LOVE RULE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever we operate in obedience of the law
It brings more power to sin and hinder us to grow
When we stick to the law just for its sake
We get into the trap that Satan makes.
Love surpasses all understanding and power
When we do things out of love, the enemy cowers
We must all live in the knowledge of God’s grace
Living under his love removes the stress of this rat race.
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There are so many Christians living under the law and stuck in the Old Testament. They have no idea that living in it without reference to the New Testament actually make them live under the law. The apostle Paul stressed the importance of living under grace in most of his letter to the Romans and Corinthians. He warns us not to live under the law. He says that the more we focus on the law, the more we sin. In John 13:34 Jesus gives us a new commandment: Love each other just as he loved you.
The bible tells us not to live with so much rules because it makes us sin more. We need to focus on God who is love. When we operate in love, Satan flees and sin has no power.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to live under your love and grace.
REFLECTION
When did the law make you more sinful?
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

CLEANSING PRAYER Poem Devotional

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August 23
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How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
-Psalm 19:12(NLT)
CLEANSING PRAYER
A poem and essay by ILMA
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from hidden fault as soon as it starts
You are the only one who knows me inside and out
Only you can lead me to the righteous route.
Purify my intentions and let me not be distracted
Only your grace can keep me focused and motivated
Forgive me when I become so self-centered and waylaid
Grant me mercy so I can have the courage to be brave.
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There are occasions when we get sidetracked and distracted with the things we do in life. The enemy wants us to be busy so that we won’t have time for God. When Satan traps us into his “worldly pleasures and standards,” it can be so subtle that we don’t even realize that our time, energy and peace were already stolen. One way that I get waylaid is when I start to crave for something. The desire is so indirect that it seems alright at first, then it becomes an obsession and the center of my time and effort. Before I know it, I have lost intimacy with the Lord. The bible tells us that we need to come to Jesus and ask him to constantly examine our hearts.
PRAYER
Lord, bring to my attention any hidden faults and sins I commit.
REFLECTION
How is spending time with God going to bring us victory from our daily spiritual battles?
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

ACCEPT GOD’S WORD Poem Devotional

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August 22
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So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts for it has the power to save your souls. -James 1:21 (NLT)
ACCEPT GOD’S WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you any troubles and sins you want to get rid off?
Get rid of all the evil in your life and focus on the Lord
Listen to his voice inside you and accept his word
It will bring you peace and victory in this world.
The word of God is alive and has power
It can defeat the enemy and make him cower
Humbly accept what the word teaches you
It will transform your life and have your mind renewed.
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What stops people from accepting God’s word? There are many reasons why Christians fail to feed on God’s word. We live in troubled times and the enemy has infiltrated our pure hearts with all kinds of filth and evil. Satan hindered my acceptance of the word of God through idolatry, arrogance, pride and performance. I lived a life that was very worldly. I followed the standards that the world set because I was ignorant of God’s will for me. I didn’t know any better. When God called me to accept his word, my life was totally transformed. Let us rid of all the evil and humbly accept his word in order to receive salvation.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your word. Let me feed on it daily.
REFLECTION
How has the word of God transformed you?
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

FOR GOD’S GLORY Poem Devotional

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August 21
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Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. -Romans 6:13(NLT)
FOR GOD’S GLORY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you believed in Christ, you have been born again
It is time to straighten all your tendencies to be bent
Do not let any part of your body do evil schemes
Instead, give yourselves completely to Him.
Use all the gifts he gives you to bring Him glory
This is the only way you can have victory
For you were dead but now have new life
You once lived in darkness but now have light.
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I used to be very religious and went to church daily to hear mass for over almost two decades. I worked at my own salvation through rituals and traditions. I am sure God knows my intentions and understood that I wanted to please him by doing these religious acts, but my life wasn’t shining for him or giving him glory. I compartmentalized my life with career, roles and religion. I didn’t completely glorified God with the way I lived because I gave myself credit for my career success. The bible says all our actions and words must point to him and give him glory.
PRAYER
Lord, please save me from my pride and arrogance.
REFLECTION
What’s the difference when you boasted and when you gave God all the glory?
¬¬¬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

HOW TO ENJOY LIFE

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August 20
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If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. -1 Peter 3:10(NLT)
HOW TO ENJOY LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you struggling to enjoy your life?
Do you find it difficult to live in God’s light?
If you want to see happy days ahead of you
You need to keep your mind constantly renewed.
Keep your tongue from speaking evil and lies
It will purify your heart and keep you alive
The enemy wants to steal your peace and joy
Satan wants you to stagnate and never grow.
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I spent many years of my life in strife and bitterness. I didn’t even know that I was angry as a result of the many traumatic experiences in my life. I wallowed in self pity parties for so long. One of the ways the enemy trapped me into loneliness and desperation was swearing and telling lies. I manipulated a lot of circumstances so that I can get what I wanted. Lying became automatic and sometimes I get caught in my own lies too. God delivered me from this stronghold and set me free this past decade. I will never do anything to compromise my joy in the Lord now that have his righteousness. The bible tells us to enjoy life but we must keep our tongue from evil and lies.
PRAYER
Help me daily to watch what comes out of my mouth, Lord.
REFLECTION
How can speaking evil and lies deprive you of enjoying 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

A FOLLOWER’S PRIORITY Poem Devotional

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August 19
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If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison, your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even your own life.
-Luke 14:26(NLT)
A FOLLOWER’S PRIORITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you a true believer of Jesus Christ?
Are you willing to give up everything including your life?
A true Christian seeks him first in everything
They are not ruled by selfish desires or material things.
If you want to be a follower, you must make him your priority
Even your family must not come between your loyalty
Remember, Jesus shed his blood to set you free
You must sacrifice your life to serve him faithfully.
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What are your prized possessions? For so many years, my son was my life. I did everything for him and made him the center of my life. Since I was a single mom, I got so wrapped up living my life for him and making all the sacrifices I needed to do to ensure that he was loved and looked after. There is nothing wrong with loving your own children, but if they come between you and God, then there is something amiss with that picture.
The bible tells us that one of the requirements of being a disciple or follower of Jesus is to make him first in everything. Even your family should only come second to God.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never lose focus on you.
REFLECTION
How is loving others first than God going to open doors for defeat 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

COME CLOSE TO GOD Poem Devotional

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August 18
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Come close to God and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners: purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. -James 4:8(NLT)
COME CLOSE TO GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you a believer who seeks God regularly?
Are you reading and following his word daily?
Come close to God and he will come close to you
Purify your heart and he will make you new
If your loyalty is divided between him and the world
It will be a struggle to walk in God’s word
If you draw near him, he will give you his kingdom
Pursue him constantly and you will experience freedom.
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Do you recall when you were being wooed by your spouse at the start of your courtship? I remember my husband come up with all kinds of reasons to be with me. He loves walking in shores and parks and that became our date venues. When he learned that I was into billiards and biking, (a hobby which he was so much into as well) he didn’t lose time to bring me to do these common interests. I got to know him more and saw the potential of us being together. Just like romantic love, we can also draw near to God and he will come close to us. We need to cleanse our hearts and have undivided loyalty to him.
PRAYER
Lord, let me pursue you as you seek my heart.
REFLECTION
How can you come closer 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