October 25________________________________________
When I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
-2 Corinthians 2:10-11(NLT)
OUTSMARTING SATAN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know that you have a hidden enemy who attacks you?
You need to live in God’s truth and have your minds renewed
Satan’s out to destroy and create havoc and confusion in your life
Un-forgiveness gives a foothold to the devil and snuffs off God’s light.
When you harbor resentment and do not forgive others
You are the one who will actually be affected and suffer
To outsmart the enemy, you need to forgive right away
Abide in Jesus and you will never be corrupted and swayed.
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How do you strategize so you can win a contest, a battle or competition? First, you have to know your enemy or the other people involved in the competition if it was one. Then you have to equip yourself so that you have a big chance to win it. Next, you exercise and build up your discipline and bodies if it was a marathon or physical contest. Not knowing your enemy’s tactics, capabilities and schemes will not ensure a winning stance.
The bible says that one of the biggest ways we can outsmart Satan is by forgiving others who have wronged us. This keeps him out of our heart’s door.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a repentant and forgiving heart always.
REFLECTION
How can forgiveness keep our heart’s door shut towards the devil?
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: ILMA’s Poem Devotional
PRODUCE LASTING FRUIT Poem Devotional
October 23________________________________________
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for using my name. – John 15:16(NLT)
PRODUCE LASTING FRUIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
God chose us first to be his people
He wants us to abide in Him to be fruitful
He appointed us to produce lasting fruit
We will reap a harvest if we live in his truth.
To produce the fruits of the Spirit
We need to seek his word and follow it
We can ask anything in His name when we have fruits
He will grant our heart’s desires if His word is taking root.
________________________________________When we become believers, we think that we chose Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. What some Christians often to fail to remember is that He chose us first. Nothing we do is really from our own. His plans are already clear to Him from the beginning of time. He knows everything including our heart, our desires, our dreams and the health of our spirits.
We are called to produce lasting fruit so that the Father will grant our requests in Jesus’ name. It sounds like it a condition for us to be able to have an outpouring of blessings from the heavenly Father. A lot of people misinterpret the “give you whatever you ask in my name” verse. Anything outside of God’s will, He definitely won’t grant.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to focus on growing my faith to produce your Spirit’s fruits.
REFLECTION
What fruits have you received lately?
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
CALLING ALL REPENTANT SINNERS Poem Devotional
October 22________________________________________
I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent. – Luke 5:32(NLT)
CALLING ALL REPENTANT SINNERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Jesus didn’t come for self righteous people
He came for all the repentant sinners
He’ll be there for those who have humility
Those who confess their sins will have victory.
Calling all those who need eternal life
You’ll have it if you believe in Jesus Christ
You need to confess your sins to receive it
If you do, your heart will be the host for His Spirit.
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Each person is invited to partake of the gift of salvation. Just like a regular invitation that you receive, you have the option to come or not to come. God gave us all a free will to decide whether we want eternal life or not. It is sad to know why some people would reject or take for granted this grand invitation to the most important thing for us all, salvation.
Some of us are held captive by the enemy to dwell on those sins so we will not receive the greatest gift of freedom. Jesus came for all the repentant sinners. He didn’t come for those who think they are perfect and sinless because unless they repent and confess their sins, they won’t be transformed in Christ. He came for those who acknowledge their sins and repent.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always repent and confess when I sin.
REFLECTION
Why do you think Jesus wants us to confess our sins and repent?
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
GET DEEPER TO CATCH FISH Poem Devotional
October 21________________________________________
Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets to catch some fish. – Luke 5:4(NLT)
GET DEEPER TO CATCH FISH
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you commit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ
You are expected to get deeper in in truth in your life
The more you hunger to know and be close to him
The more you are responsible to get serious in following.
He commanded us all to get intimate with him and walk in love
We are also commissioned to make disciples of all nations
Are you living the truth in love and service to others?
Are you getting deeper to catch men for Jesus?
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My grandfather was a fisherman and sometimes he took me with him fishing in the middle of the night. I didn’t quite understand when I was small why he fished at night instead of during the day. So he told me that at night, is low tide and the fishes are in the deeper waters rather than in the shallow area. So he goes to the deeper area to get a good catch.
According to Wikipedia, the Philippine sea is a marginal sea and its sea plate forms a portion of the western North Pacific Ocean. It has deep sea trenches, among them containing the deepest point on the planet.
No wonder Jesus asked us to get into deeper water to catch men.
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PRAYER
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to get deeper into your word Lord.
REFLECTION
How can getting to know the Lord bring us a big catch?
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 PRUNES US Poem Devotional
October 20________________________________________
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. – John 15:2(NLT)
GOD PRUNES US
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are a child of God, you are cared for
Your needs he will grant, that is for sure
He prunes that part of you that doesn’t produce
He trims parts that do so you can reap fruits.
God is the gardener who nurtures his garden
He waters and throws out dead leaves
He wants his plants and trees to bear fruits
He will never allow them to die but thrive.
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According to Wikipedia, “pruning” is a horticultural and silvicultural practice involving the selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots. Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or redirecting growth), improving or sustaining health, reducing risk from falling branches, preparing nursery specimens for transplanting, and both harvesting and increasing the yield or quality of flowers and fruits. The practice entails targeted removal of diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, structurally unsound, or otherwise unwanted tissue from crop and landscape plants.
The bible says in the book of John that God prunes all those he loves. He removes all the things that will not bear fruits in our lives. However, He also trims those that produces good things in our lives so it will reproduce more.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for pruning me.
REFLECTION
What things did the Lord prune in your life lately?
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 CHOOSING GOOD Poem Devotional
October 19________________________________________
Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners or join in with mockers. – Psalm 1;1(NLT)
ON CHOOSING GOOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who choose to do good are blessed
They do the right thing and knows what’s best
They do not follow the advice of the wicked
They don’t stand around sinners and join mockers.
Blessed are those who guard their hearts and do right
They will have joy overflowing in their lives
They will prosper from the good deeds they do
And will reap the Spirit’s fruit as they live the truth.
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Psychiatrist William Glasser distinguished between survival and psychological needs in his 1996 book Choice Theory. He postulated that unhappiness results from bad relationships with relatives and friends, which in turn suffer as a result of making misguided choices. He believed that by making better choices, we can maintain better relationships which will help us to lead a more fulfilled lives. I have no idea what Glasser’s theory was based on or if he was influenced by some truths that comes from God’s word. But the truth presented in Psalm 1:1 about avoiding the counsel of the wicked and not following their ways must have been either a conscious or unconscious source in his formulation of this theory. When we choose do to right thing, joy will be overflowing.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from evil and corruption of this world.
REFLECTION
How can hanging around with evil people influence what you 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
JOY SUSTAINER poem devotional

October 18________________________________________
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
-Psalm 119:82 (NLT)
JOY SUSTAINER
A poem and essay by ILMA
What could bring joy to you?
Could it be money or a change of view?
The truth will set you free and make you glad
There is freedom when you follow God’s commands.
I would have died in my suffering and misery
If God didn’t rescue me and gave me full recovery
I never would have experienced joy overflowing
If not for God’s unfailing love and blessings.
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Many different things can bring happiness to some people. We traverse this life in pursuit of that momentary pleasure to be happy. Sadly, many of us don’t experience it because we try to find it in the wrong things such as material wealth, fame, a relation or a career. I am a testament to this quest. Many decades of my life was wasted on chasing the wrong things that will bring me happiness. In the end, all these things made me feel even more empty than I already was. I kept looking for answers as to what could fill up that void inside me. What I didn’t realize was that I didn’t have to go far. I found it eventually when I heed to God’s call for me to come back to him and follow his commands. When I obeyed, it sustained my joy.________________________________________
PRAYER
Thank you for your commands that bring much joy to us.
REFLECTION
What would happen if you constantly seek God and obey his commands?
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
SUFFERING’S LESSON Poem Devotional
October 17________________________________________
My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
– Psalm 119:71(NLT)
SUFFERING’S LESSON
A poem and essay by ILMA
When I went through much suffering
I learned many ways of enduring
It wasn’t pleasant during the experience
But later on, it made me strong and resilient.
God convicted me to heed his commands
I began to learn to cope with life’s demands
I realized Jesus died a horrible death for me
My pain is no comparison to what he did.
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Human tendency is to avoid pain. We want to ensure that we are comfortable and safe. When we get in trouble, the flight or fight mode kicks in so we can survive. When I was about young girl, there was an earthquake in the Philippines that killed many people in a building that collapsed. It was early morning when it happened so many people died because they were asleep when it happened. I watched on television how the victims where being pulled out from the ruins of the building. After seeing those dead people on the news, I began getting nightmares. Many years later, I still fear disasters especially earthquakes. Several painful events ensued after that disaster. Many years later, the Lord convicted me and assured me from his word that he was always with me and that he died for all those who are in pain and oppressed.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me discern what to learn when I suffer.
REFLECTION
How can suffering make us resilient and strong?
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
LIFE THROUGH THE WORD Poem Devotional
October 16________________________________________
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
-Psalm 119:37 (NLT)
LIFE THROUGH THE WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Each time you consult the word
You will find out more about the world
It makes you see things clearly
It guides you to live life righteously.
Turn your eyes from worthless things
God’s word will make you overcome sin
You will be alive when you obey his commands
It makes you learn to deal with life’s demands.
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When I became born again and started studying his word, my whole life changed. I didn’t realize that all the years before that, I was dead. It wasn’t a physical death. I was dead because I was living in sin and out of God’s will. I had no peace or joy because I didn’t know how much loved I was. I wasn’t aware of all of God’s promises until I got to the word of God. It was Scriptures that convicted me of all the wrong things I have done. It was also in His truth that he changed my point of view about the things that really matters in life. I realized how shallow I was. I lived in the world’s standard instead of living a spiritual life.
The bible taught me what are more important while we live in this world. It taught me how to live the life God wants me to live.
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PRAYER
Lord thank you that you gave us your word so we can be alive and not dead.
REFLECTION
What worthless things have you been distracted 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
UNTIL GOD DISCIPLINES YOU Poem Devotional
October 15________________________________________
I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.
– Psalm 119:67 (NLT)
UNTIL GOD DISCIPLINES YOU
A poem and essay by ILMA
I used to rebel and live a life of reckless abandon
Until the Lord called my full attention
He convicted me as I read his word
He asked me to let go of the system of this world.
I began to study and follow his will
His word calmed me and made me still
His only Son Jesus died so I can be saved
Until I obeyed him, I wasn’t bold and brave.
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I have wandered off from the Lord almost four decades of my life. I accepted Jesus when I was seven years old as a result of being neglected and ignored. I was desperate for attention. I felt invisible and minimized by the people I lived with. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t provided with love. As a result, I started talking aloud to Jesus on my way to my kindergarten class. The Holy Spirit guided me all those first fourteen years of my life even though no one from my family guided me.
I began to deepen my relationship with God, but the enemy snatched that wonderful relationship by using the abandonment and lack of love in my family. I became rebellious towards my family. Until God disciplined me and asked me to turn to him again, I lived in anger.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never resist your discipline.
REFLECTION
How can rebellion derail you from God’s will?
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








