LIKE THE PAIN OF CHILDBIRTH Poem Devotional

Posted on July 24, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 24 The Power of God’s Word
Pain has come to the people like the pain of childbirth, but they are like a child, who resists being born. The moment of birth has arrived, but they stay in the womb. – Hosea 13:13 (NLT)
LIKE THE PAIN OF CHILDBIRTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
When people disobey and turn their backs to Christ
Their lives become unproductive and they lose sight
Life becomes difficult like the pain of childbirth
They become irrational, emotional, easily offended and hurt.
Like a baby about to be born, they choose to stay in the womb
They fear that their comfort zone is better than facing the world
Their resistance to change becomes a hindrance to their progress
They become paralyzed, choose to stay in fear and continually digress.
There are a lot of people who continually live in fear and wonder why their lives never produce fruits. When someone is fearful, opportunities are. God wants us to walk in love and fear is the opposite of love. When we fear, we lose discernment and insight. We become paralyzed and unproductive.
The bible tells us that pain will come to us like the pain of childbirth if we resist being renewed in Christ. When we are called to do something to glorify God and we resist, our lives become unbearable and full of obstacles and challenges.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from fear.
REFLECTION
How can we stop resisting the progress God promised us?

FREEDOM FROM LYING TO SELF Poem Devotional

Posted on July 23, 2014 by ilmaarts

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July 23 The Power of God’s Word
Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions. I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding.
–Psalm 119:29, 32(NLT)
FREEDOM FROM LYING TO SELF
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know the lies the enemy plants in your head and heart?
Do you catch yourself from believing these lies that draw you apart?
The only way to be free from lies is by knowing God’s instructions
God’s word and commands debunk these lies and brings salvation.
The Word expands your understanding and guides you to do the right thing
It removes conflicts inside you and brings peace and freedom from lying
Pursue his commands so you will be protected from deception
This way, you will be able to detect the enemy’s ploy from its conception.
It is easier to see external conflicts because they are outside of the self. Inner conflicts can be trickier. The enemy attacks us especially when we are stressed out, tired and out of balance. Wholeness is important to keep us free from lies. it is very important for us to stay healthy and study God’s word. The bible tells us to pursue God’s commands so we will have understanding and be able to discern the lies that the enemy plants in our heads and hearts. It protects us from lies.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me in your truth.
REFLECTION
How can studying God’s word free us from lies?

RADIANCE FROM A LIFE WITH CHRIST Poem Devotional

Posted on July 22, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 22 The Power of God’s Word
Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant as though a floodlight was filling you with light.–Luke 11:35-36(NLT)
RADIANCE FROM A LIFE WITH CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
Before you had Christ, your life was in darkness
As soon as you believed him, there is gladness
Make sure that the light you have is from his truth
It is the only guide that will bring you stability and root.
If you are filled with light with no dark corners
You will do things for Christ and never go back in your former
Your whole life will be radiant as though a floodlight fills you
It is only through Christ that you can be radiant through and through.
Have you ever been in a pitch dark room? A small glimpse of light matters when someone is in total darkness. When you are living in sin, you are in total darkness. You feel hopeless and helpless, but when you are in the love of God and following his ways, you shine and radiate like Christ.
The bible tells us to ensure that we have no dark corners in our lives so we can radiate as clear as a floodlight fills us with light.
PRAYER
Lord, fill me with your light.
REFLECTION
How has Christ illumined your life with his truth?

SEARCHING FOR THE LOST Poem Devotional

Posted on July 22, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 21 The Power of God’s Word
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?–Luke 15:4 (NLT)
SEARCHING FOR THE LOST
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you value something and it gets missing
Wouldn’t you stop everything and go searching?
Won’t you leave the rest of what you are doing?
Won’t you find a way to know where they are going?
Searching for someone gone astray that you love most
Is like a shepherd looking for one lost sheep amidst them all
God would do everything to get back those who left Him
He will wait patiently until they’re ready to be redeemed.
The parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15 is a story about a prodigal son who have turned his back from the love of his father and selfishly squandered his inheritance. While he was recklessly spending all the money he got from his father, he couldn’t care less about anything. When he finished them all and started to get hungry, that is when he realized what he has lost. The love of God is clearly illustrated in this parable. If any of his children turn their backs on him, he would do everything to retrieve them.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never turn my back on you.
REFLECTION
How much do you appreciate God’s love?

BE READY! Poem devotional

Posted on July 20, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 20 The Power of God’s Word
So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. –Matthew 24: 42, 44 (NLT)
BE READY!
A poem and essay by ILMA
The master will return unannounced and unexpected
Be ready for those who are prepared will be selected
Like a surprised visit, you don’t want to miss it
Obey and seek him and you will be granted a seat.
Keep watch! You don’t know when he will appear
Be prepared always and you will overcome fear
Choose and enjoy your life and be steady
It is good to be prepared and always ready.
Military training involves an immense readiness aside from the high expectations to master combat skills and training to win a battle. There is always a war going on inside our spirits which is a war between good and evil. It is not something we can physically see, but this spiritual war is real. Whenever we experience inner conflicts inside us that divide us from God, there is definitely an enemy lurking and preying to get you captive to his plan of destruction.
The bible tells us to be ready and keep watch because we don’t know what day the Lord is coming again. It will be unexpected.
PRAYER
Lord, help me be ready always.
REFLECTION
Why is readiness important for a Christian’s salvation?

HARD WORK PAYS Poem Devotional

Posted on July 13, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 13 The Power of God’s Word Wealth from get-rich quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.–Proverbs 13:11 (NLT) HARD WORK PAYS A poem and essay by ILMA Those who work hard and persevere will grow They will have a bountiful harvest from what they sow Wealth will be easy for them to attain They have God who faithfully sustains. All the blessings in life, they will have For as long as they live, they will not starve Those who get rich quickly will not be rich for long They did not work hard enough to be that strong. Hard work is usually behind the success of wealthy people. Wealth does not necessarily mean rich in money and possessions. Some people are wealthy in talents and skills. Others are rich in friendships and family relations. I am blessed with creativity and God has been faithful to shower me with productivity that blesses others as well. When I spent time with God and thanked him for all he gave me, I was prosperous and prolific in my endeavors. The bible tells us that quick get rich wealth disappears easily while wealth derived from hard work grows over time. Do your best to work hard and do not obsess with getting rick quickly because it doesn’t last. Thankfulness is a big part of being prosperous and wealthy. PRAYER Lord, help me to be faithful to you. REFLECTION How is wealth and prosperity a result of hard work?

WISE WORDS BRING HEALING Poem Devotional

Posted on July 13, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 12 The Power of God’s Word
Some people make cutting remarks but the words of the wise bring healing.
–Proverbs 12:18 (NLT)
WISE WORDS BRING HEALING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you careful what words come out of your mouth?
Do you allow only good thoughts in your mind and let bad out?
Do you speak to encourage or do you make cutting remarks?
Does wisdom come out of your lips or does conflict sparks?
Some people say things that are mean and discriminating
The words of the wise bring encouragement and healing
Take into consideration other people’s feelings
Seek God’s truth and you will get all the blessings.
Have you ever been around wise people? They often bring you clarity and wisdom. Even as a young girl, I always want to be around older people because I get wise words and wider perspective on various things. My grandfather was a man of wisdom. He makes me feel secure and always encourage me especially when I am confused or bombarded with problems. Some people just make you feel loved and accepted while others mostly criticize and judge you all the time.
The bible says that the words of the wise bring healing. Wisdom comes from the word of God. Seeking him and following his commands bring wisdom and discernment in our lives. Stay away from fools and be with wise people.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from fools.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to be with wise people?

NARROW GATE TO LIFE Poem devotional

Posted on July 11, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 11 The Power of God’s Word
The gate to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. –Matthew 7:14 (NLT)
NARROW GATE TO LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
To those who believe in Christ
There is a narrow gate to life
Only a few ever find this entrance
God’s people are assured of deliverance.
When your life is full of barriers
Your heavenly Father will carry you further
Keep focused on him and he’ll hold your hands
Don’t be distracted; just obey his commands.
Have you been doing things that will lead to the narrow gate or have you chosen the snares by the enemy? When you hear yourself complaining and counting your bad fate, you are probably on the road to that wide gate. If you are a Christian, you wouldn’t want to choose that wide one. Instead, you want to focus on leading to that narrow path that leads to God.
The bible talks about the difference between the gate that leads to God’s kingdom and the one that leads to the enemy. It describes the gate as narrow and difficult and that only a few will ever find it. Are you one of those who found it already or are you nowhere near that gate? Remember that when you encounter trials and difficulties, you are probably near God’s narrow gate.
PRAYER
Lord, lead me to your narrow gate.
REFLECTION
Why do you think the gate is narrow in God’s kingdom?

LEGACY TO THE GODLY Poem Devotional

Posted on July 10, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 10 The Power of God’s Word
How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. – Psalm 112:1-2 (NLT)
LEGACY TO THE GODLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Reverence for God is the foundation of true wisdom
Those who are godly will have a place in his kingdom
How joyful are those who delight in obeying his commands
Their children will be blessed in God’s mighty hands.
You need not be materially rich to hand down a legacy
You are loved by your heavenly father faithfully
An entire generation of godly people will be blessed
They will victoriously defeat the enemy and pass all tests.
Do you have the right treasures that your children can inherit? A responsible parent invests on the future of their children and the coming generations. The best inheritance you can hand down is “love for God.” All the wealth in the world can never compare to God’s promises to those who love him.
God repays those who are faithful with a legacy. He brings joy to those who honor him and delight in his commands. He promises an entire generation of blessings and success in everything they undertake. The parents will be wealthy and their good deeds will last forever. What an awesome promise!
PRAYER
Lord, grant me a hunger for you.
REFLECTION
How much time have you invested in God that benefits your lineage?

WATCH OUT FOR JEALOUSY Poem Devotional

Posted on July 9, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 9 The Power of God’s Word
If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual and demonic.
–James 3:14-15 (NLT)
WATCH OUT FOR JEALOUSY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you find yourself longing for someone or something you don’t have?
Do you feel empty and compare yourself with others and obsess for love?
If you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart
Don’t cover up the truth; seek God first, be faithful and he will impart.
Jealousy is a poison that contaminates your whole person
It can disguise itself in compliments, concern or reason
Jealousy is rooted in selfishness, pride and envy
It binds you to lies and is a scheme of the enemy.
Watch out for any form of jealousy in your life! The bible cautions us in Galatians 5:19-21 about the manifestations of the sinful nature. Jealousy is one of them. Many bible stories show the aftermath of jealousy. Cain killed Abel because of jealousy. Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him because their father favored Joseph more than them. Saul plotted to exterminate David because of jealousy. Jealousy roots from selfishness and is not from God.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me away from any form of envy or jealousy.
REFLECTION
How do you deal with jealousy according to the book of James?

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