Tag Archives: ILMA’s Poem Devotional

ON HEARING GOD’S VOICE

Posted on by

February 23
________________________________________
For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. – Job 33:14(NLT)
ON HEARING GOD’S VOICE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you regularly spend time with the Lord
Your heart will yearn to praise and be awed
Why can’s some people not hear his voice?
They are too busy to make that choice.
God speaks to his people, yet they don’t recognize it
They are preoccupied with life instead of hearing his Spirit
When you hear his voice, do not let your hearts be hardened
One can easily recognize his voice if they are not over burdened.
________________________________________
When I taught Oral Communication to high school students, one of my favorite topics to teach is “How to Reach out to Audiences and Engage in Conversation.” The basic step to reach a target audience is to know the demographics of their listeners. Once they know this, they can always customize their speech or talk in order to engage and persuade them to hear you out. It is important to break the ice so that they become comfortable to hear out what you are presenting to them. If you analyze what may block them from listening, you may be successful to reach out to them effectively.
This communication concept goes true with your relationship with God. If you haven’t established a rapport or relationship with God, there will be many hindrances to hear his voice.
________________________________________

PRAYER
Lord, please keep me focused on you alone.
REFLECTION
What have stopped you from hearing God’s voice at certain periods of 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

SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 22
________________________________________
By my power, I will make my people strong, and by my authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the Lord have spoken. – Zechariah10:12(NLT)
SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you have limitations with what you can do?
When you are born again, it changes, you are made new
He gives you authority to fulfill all that he has planned
By his power, he prospers you and make you “grand”
Without God’s grace, you can do nothing
All things are possible once he gives you the anointing
There is nothing impossible with the Almighty
He gives you strength to conquer and have victory.
________________________________________
During the dark times of my adult life, I experienced so much suffering and pain. I didn’t know that I caused all these traumatic experiences with the wrong choices I made. I also lived a life without a personal relationship with God. There were times I wondered how I survived such dreadful situations. I took credit for being a survivor. I didn’t realize that the Lord was the one who gave me supernatural strength to survive and thrive the many upheavals I had in life. He had a purpose when he allowed me to go through such circumstances. He was preparing me for something big in his ministry.
The bible says that apart from God, we can do nothing. It is through him that we get supernatural strength and power.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the power and authority you bestowed on all of mankind.
REFLECTION
Why don’t people use the power and authority given to them 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

COMPASSIONATE GOD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 21
________________________________________
I will restore them because of my compassion. It will be as though I had never rejected them, for I am the Lord their God, who will hear their cries. – Zechariah10:6 (NLT)
COMPASSIONATE GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whatever you are going through right now
Run to Jesus, give him praise and bow down
He will restore you for he is a God of compassion
He is there to provide relief and a resolution.
The Lord created us all to be like him
When we cry out to him, he hears and redeems
Stay devoted and true to someone who treasures you
He understands you totally, he knows things concerning you.
________________________________________
Racham is the Hebrew for “compassion.” Strong’s exhaustive concordance defines it as
tender love, great, tender mercy, pity, womb. It is interesting how the definition includes pity. I personally think that without a sense of pity, one cannot be compassionate. The word womb also gives us a picture of a baby in a woman’s womb where she can literally experience what the baby feels because it’s inside of her. One cannot give compassion if one cannot put himself or herself in the same shoe as the person suffering. It is as if she or she is actually experiencing that person’s predicament.
The bible tells us that God is full of compassion and he hears our cries and understand everything that we are going through.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, grant me a heart that is full of compassion.
REFLECTION
What hinders us from being compassionate to others who are going through something?
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

WHEN THERE’S NO SHEPHERD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 20
________________________________________
Household gods give worthless advice, fortune-tellers predict only lies, and interpreters of dreams pronounce falsehoods that give no comfort. So my people are wandering like lost sheep, they are attacked because they have no shepherd. – Zechariah 10:2(NLT)
WHEN THERE’S NO SHEPHERD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When there is no one leading a flock
It is easy to get lost and be stuck
Like a sheep without a shepherd
We can become very helpless.
If one ever goes astray from God’s fold
He will look for him and leave them all
When you feel lost and start wandering
Your beloved Jesus will always be rescuing.
________________________________________
Hundreds of sheep followed their leader off a cliff in eastern Turkey, plunging to their deaths this week while shepherds looked on in dismay. Four hundred sheep fell 15 metres to their deaths in a ravine in Van province near Iran but broke the fall of another 1,100 animals who survived. Shepherds from a nearby village neglected the flock while eating breakfast, leaving the sheep to roam free. The loss to local farmers was estimated at $74,000. One sheep wandered off a cliff and 1,499 others just followed along. This shows how dumb sheep are. Another trait they have is that they are directionless. This is why they need a shepherd because they have no clue where they are going. The bible says that when we don’t have a shepherd to watch us, we will stray.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, let me never lose focus on you shepherding me.
REFLECTION
What happens to believers who have no one to lead them?
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

PRAY FOR RAIN Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 19
________________________________________
Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture. – Zechariah 10:1(NLT)
PRAY FOR RAIN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you had a drought in your life lately?
Pray for a shower of blessings from God Almighty
Ask the Lord for rain and he will grant it to you
He is faithful to deliver his promises if you don’t let go.
Diligently ask anything in his name, and you will get it
Pray for rain of gifts and anointing from the Holy Spirit
If you have already envisioned you have it, it will be done
Nothing is impossible the most powerful one and only Son.
________________________________________
In 1 Kings 18, we hear the story of Elijah praying for rain and the Lord granting him such request. If you live in a desert, the rain is a much welcome thought especially if you have been walking in the heat of the desert. Probably those poor people living in developing countries only access to clean water is from the rain.
In John 14:14, we are told that if we ask anything in his name, he will do it. Mark 11:24 says that you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. So, why don’t people boldly and confidently ask in God’s name?
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, shower me with anointing so I can do the work for your kingdom.
REFLECTION
Why is faith essential in order for prayers to be answered?
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 PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 18
________________________________________
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones. -Zechariah 9: 15(NLT)
GOD PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you struggling to overcome temptations?
Run to the Lord so you can get wise instructions
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people
He will defeat anyone who will treat them so cruel.
God is faithful and just to deliver us from harm
Seek and abide in him who is the Son of God
Your obedience and faith will be your shield against evil
If you walk in love, you will keep away the devil.
________________________________________
Insurance is defined as something providing protection against a possible eventuality. We often insure something of value to us, either our lives and material properties. We want to make sure that in the even of a calamity, theft, or accident, we can be guaranteed some form of compensation for our loss.
How can we insure our spiritual life? Who will cover and protect us when we are being attacked by the enemy either with an illness, disease, a broken relationship, a job loss, the death of someone we love, divorce, or a debilitating fear?
The bible tells us that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people. He will literally bring down the enemy and hurl back at him all that he uses to harm God’s children.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for shielding me from all the tactics of the enemy.
REFLECTION
How can we cooperate with God in destroying all of the attacks of Satan?
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

HE CALMS YOUR FEARS

Posted on by

February 16
________________________________________
For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. -Zephaniah 3:17(NLT)
HE CALMS YOUR FEARS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Who can calm all your fears in an instant?
Run and be close to Christ instead of being distant!
He will live inside you and will wipe all your fears
He will take delight in you and wipe your tears.
The Lord is a mighty Savior and rejoices over you
Receive and enjoy his power to make your mind new
Perfect love casts out fear so always choose love
It is the only way to get closer to the Father up above.
________________________________________
A panic attack is the abrupt onset of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and includes at least four of the following symptoms: accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath or smothering, choking feeling, chest pain, nausea, dizzy or faint, chills or heat sensations, tingling or numbness, fear of going crazy or dying. Panic attacks typically reach their peak level of intensity in 10 minutes or less and then begin to subside. I had panic attacks in five decades without ever being diagnosed. It was debilitating. Only God’s word and his truth freed me from all the fear and these panic attacks.
________________________________________

PRAYER
Thank you for releasing me from all kinds of fear Lord.
REFLECTION
Describe how God literally calmed you from a fearful circumstance 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

COMPLACENCY TO SIN Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 15
________________________________________
I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad.
-Zephaniah 1:12(NLT)
COMPLACENCY TO SIN
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you have sinned and feel contented to stay that way
You are compromising your heart which leads you to go astray
Do not think that the Lord takes for granted sin’s seriousness
He will deal with all those who partake in evil and wickedness.
Always remember that God sees everything you do
You cannot hide anywhere especially not from truth
Confess your sins and repent and God will forgive
If you continue to be complacent, you will be more deceived.
________________________________________
Complacency is defined as a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation or condition. I believe that complacency can pull us down to dangerous territories. The prophet Zephaniah warns the people about the consequence of complacency to sin. He cautions those who think that the Lord isn’t going to deal with this contentment to continue doing evil or sinning.
In relationships, complacency can actually destroy the passion and love in that relationship. When there is no more desire to keep the love going, there is a danger to become indifferent and later on be divided.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from any form of complacency in my life.
REFLECTION
Why do you think that the Lord warns us not to be complacent especially when it comes to sin?
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

DISLOYALTY TO GOD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 14
________________________________________
They claim to follow the Lord, but then they worship Molech, too. And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings. – Zephaniah 1:5-6(NLT)
DISLOYALTY TO GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you claim to be a believer and yet follow the world
It is like being unfaithful to who God is your creator
You cannot serve two masters and not be destroyed
You cannot be friends with God and also with the world.
Remember that our Lord is a very jealous God
He will not put up with those who love idols and bow
He wants his followers to be faithful to only him
He will let you be simultaneously in his love and also in sin.
________________________________________
Matthew Henry’s commentary on Zephaniah 1:1-6 says: Ruin is coming from the Almighty. There is no peace for the wicked. The expressions are figurative, speaking every where desolation; the land shall be left without inhabitants. The sinners to be consumed are, the professed idolaters. Those that think to divide their affections and worship between God and idols, will come short of acceptance with God; for what communion can there be between light and darkness? If Satan have half, he will have all; if the Lord have but half, he will have none. Neglect of God shows impiety and contempt.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, let me never coast in two places, let me only be in your camp.
REFLECTION
Show an example how a Christian can have two masters even unknowingly.
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

AIMING FOR SINCERE HEARTS Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 13
________________________________________
Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. – 2 Corinthians 5:12(NLT)
AIMING FOR SINCERE HEARTS
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord wants for all his followers to be pure
This is the only way we can avoid to be lured
Let us aim for hearts that are sincere
It will help us see lies and think ever so clear.
Having a spectacular ministry is nothing to boast about
Pure hearts are what is important to God up above
Aim for a church that is after God’s heart
It will make God’s Spirit dwell inside and never depart.
________________________________________
We live in a society where social media has exploded and the platforms for ministry has broadened in various forms. Many megachurches have been born in our age and yet it is not really a guarantee of great intimacy with the Lord. A big church doesn’t really mean that each member is saved. Some false teachers capitalize on people’s vulnerabilities as they search to find their true identity in Christ. They may use all kinds of tricks and performances that actually compromises the integrity of Christ’s teachings.
In this verse, we hear how the apostle Paul warns us the importance of sincere hearts rather than a ministry that is remarkable.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Thank you Lord for always warning us how to guard our hearts.
REFLECTION
How can one protect one’s self from the external appearance of the church and get deeper?
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