Tag Archives: poetry

PROTECTED FROM PRIDE Poem Devotional

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February 25
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He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride. – Job 33:17(NLT)
PROTECTED FROM PRIDE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you become a believer
You will become aware of the deceiver
The enemy will plot to destroy you
Let God have your mind renewed.
The Lord will protect you from pride
He will always be by your side
He delivers you from arrogance
He shows you humility and temperance.
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One of the greatest sins that we can commit is being proud. This is probably why it is considered to be one of the deadliest sins. Pride as a noun is defined as a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. As a verb, it means to be especially proud of a particular quality or skill.
Humility is the opposite of pride. Jesus Christ championed the act of humility by becoming human even though he was God. The world has turned humility into a false idea of not acknowledging one’s strengths and belittling oneself. True humility is actually knowing who you are in Christ and recognising your strengths and weaknesses and using it to further his kingdom.
The bible tells us that the Lord protects all his children from pride. He brings them a thorn in their flesh so they’ll remember who they are in Christ.
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PRAYER
Lord, keep me humble always.
REFLECTION
What are the manifestations of pride in your life that can be tricky to discern?
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

AS YOU REST Poem Devotional

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February 24
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He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. – Job 33:15(NLT)
AS YOU REST
A poem and essay by ILMA
As you lie down in your bed to sleep
God sorts your problems while you rest
Keep still and know that he is there
Don’t live in anxiety and fear.

As you rest and replenish your strength
The Lord straightens everything that is bent
As you relax and trust him, he will give you answers
He wants you to have faith for he is the best provider.
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There are many bible characters that have been given visions and prophecies while they sleep. Joseph, the husband of Mary was given instructions to marry his fiancée even though she was pregnant already. Daniel was able to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream which made him part of the king’s counsel.
Sadly, in our modern age, we sometimes get little time to sleep or rest. There are so many stimulants to give us time to relax. Even planning a vacation becomes work in itself and fail to be a source of replenishing the mind and body. Researchers say it does seem clear that sleep is key to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself — a feature called plasticity.
I think that God designed us to sleep so he can help us solve our issues and regenerate our minds, bodies and spirits.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for giving us time to rest.
REFLECTION
Why is sleep or rest crucial in our existence?
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 HEARING GOD’S VOICE

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February 23
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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.
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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.
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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

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February 22
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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.
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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.
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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

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February 21
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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.
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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.
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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

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February 20
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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.
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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.
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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

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February 19
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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.
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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?
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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

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February 18
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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.
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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.
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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

CROWN OF BEAUTY FOR ASHES Poem Devotional

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February 17
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And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you, I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed. -Zephaniah 3:19(NLT)
CROWN OF BEAUTY FOR ASHES
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you are going through much oppression
Don’t despair, the Lord will bring you justification
He promised to save the weak and the helpless
He is faithful to deliver his aide even to the hopeless.
He promised you a crown of beauty for all your ashes
Rejoice when you have trials for he will bring your favor
He will give glory and fame to those who were wronged
Where they’ve been shamed, there they’ll be strong.
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Isaiah 61:3 says that all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. I could attest to this verse because it actually happened to me. I was a victim of many traumas from childhood until my early fifties. Yet, the Lord gave me so much beauty through the gifts of communication, visual arts, music and writing. All those things that people ridiculed me about became all my gifts.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for converting all my suffering to crowns of beauty.
REFLECTION
What have you gone through that God used now to give you 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

HE CALMS YOUR FEARS

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February 16
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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.
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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.
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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