April 30
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Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her and she will guard you.
-Proverbs 4:5-6 (NLT)
WISDOM PROTECTS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you run to God’s word for guidance?
Obeying Scriptures will keep sin at a distance
Good judgment is developed from the truth
It leads to wisdom and the Spirit’s fruit.
Don’t turn away from God’s revelations
It guards you from succumbing to temptations
Seek God and his word and it will protect you
It keeps your heart pure and your mind renewed.
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So many people live today without guidance from God. No wonder their lives are all messed up. It is a very dangerous and risky thing to go through life without a map. Just like tourists needs a guide and a map to traverse to a new place, we also need the word or God and his truth to navigate to our destination in this world. Some people do not realize the power of Scriptures to guide us to live the life that God wants for us.
The book of Proverbs emphasizes the importance of wisdom and good judgment in our lives. When we turn to God’s word, we automatically get protection from the world’s view.
PRAYER
Lord, help me navigate to your will for my life.
REFLECTION
What will happen if we do not run to the word for wisdom and guidance?
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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: poetry
OVERCOMING FEAR THROUGH PEACE Poem Devotional
April 29
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Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. – Proverbs 1:32-33 (NLT)
OVERCOMING FEAR THROUGH PEACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What hinders you from embracing peace?
What burdens do you need to release?
Peace comes from knowing God and his truth
It is a result of God’s love and is the Holy Spirit’s fruit.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency
They have no qualms on taking anything selfishly
Listen to God’s word and he will cover you with peace
Fear has no place in the unconditional love that God gives.
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What are you afraid of? Every person is usually afraid of something. Fear is defined as usually a result of an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. It stems from an experience that gets stuck in our senses or memory. I had so much fear of many things for over five decades of my life because of traumatic experiences. I did everything I could to overcome them, but I was only able to get triumph over such fears when I allowed God’s word to heal all the lies embedded in those traumas. The bible says that if we listen to God’s voice, we will experience peace and overcome fear.
PRAYER
Lord, reveal to me the origin of my fears.
REFLECTION
How can obedience to God’s word free us from fears?
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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
CONCERN FOR OTHERS Poem Devotional
April 27
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Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
-1 Corinthians 10:24 (NLT)
CONCERN FOR OTHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you only concerned for your own sake?
Do you think of others or do you just take?
Whenever we do things without consideration
We are not serving Christ or giving compassion.
Are your intentions geared only for pleasing yourself?
Do you thoughtfully think of others and help?
Christ genuinely loves and cares for others
Are you also blessing your sisters and brothers?
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How many people are really concerned about others rather than their own selves? In our world today, so much focus is about the satisfaction of the “self.” Each time we are presented with choices and decisions, aren’t they always about what will be good for our own sake rather than the good of others? Our fallen nature’s default is to self-protect and self-care. It is only by the grace of God that we can be dead to the desires of our own flesh and only in his mercy can we bask at how he can transform our fallen nature into his righteousness. Think of how much of your choices gear towards concern for others.The bible tells us that we have to be concerned for the good of others.
PRAYER
Lord, convict me of selfishness.
REFLECTION
Why does God want us to focus more on others than ourselves?
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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
GRIEF & PAIN FROM FOOLISH CHILDREN Poem Devotional
April 25
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Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
– Proverbs 17:25 (NLT)
GRIEF & PAIN FROM FOOLISH CHILDREN
A poem and essay by ILMA
When children do not heed instructions
They open the door to a lot of temptations
When an offspring challenges his own parent
It grieves the heavenly father in heaven.
Foolish children bring sorrow to their fathers
They cause pain and bitterness to their mothers
Honor your parents for it will bring you blessings
When you rebel against them, you reap sufferings.
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The spirit of stubbornness and rebellion ran in my ancestry. It was one of the many generational sins that my family inherited from past generations. It was almost second nature for me to rebel. Strong willed child is the term they would have used for my attitude, but back in my time, I was labelled the “black sheep.” I didn’t know how grieved and bitter I made my parents back then. Now, I am reaping the same thing I gave my parents from my own son. I am continually praying and breaking all the generational curses and soaking all our iniquities in the blood of Jesus. God instructs us to honor our parents so that life will go well with us. No wonder I struggled in life for many decades due to my foolishness and stubbornness.
PRAYER
Lord, break all forms of pride in me.
REFLECTION
What forms of rebellion do you need to surrender to God?
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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
LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARK Poem Devotional
April 24
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The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. – Isaiah 9:2 (NLT)
LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARK
A poem and essay by ILMA
How long have you been groping in the dark?
Would you want to be free and have a new start?
When you live a life full of darkness
It is not very hard to be hopeless.
Whenever you live in sin and confusion
You will be in constant desperation
You need to repent and confess
Light will shine in the dark if you profess.
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There are many people who live their whole lives in total darkness. They have no idea what the purpose of their lives are. They are like puppets to the dictates of the world. They are controlled by their sinful nature and are slaves of their own desires. They have been kept so much in the lies that the enemy had made them believe for many years. They do things without thinking of repercussions of their actions. They never consult God for anything in their lives. Then they wonder why their lives are all so messed up.
God promised to give light to those people who are walking in darkness. He gave us Jesus, the light that covers all darkness.
PRAYER
Lord, shine on all darkness in this world.
REFLECTION
What darkness in your life do you need to let God’s light in?
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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
FILLED WITH LOVE Poem Devotional
April 23
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The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. – 1 Timothy 1:5 (NLT)
FILLED WITH LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Is love the center and focus of your life?
Do you do everything under God’s light?
The word instructs us to be filled with love
It is a mandate that comes from God up above.
The purpose of Scriptures is to safeguard our hearts
It reminds us to have a clear conscience and to trust
The word teaches us to walk in love and faith
It protects us from ruining our lives and fate.
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Some believers do not realize the importance of staying in God’s word regularly. Because of the noisy and corrupted world we live, it is very challenging to stay focused on God. The enemy has used “busy” ness to distract and waste our time with trivial and worthless things.
The bible says that Scriptures’ purpose is to instruct us to guard our hearts, stay pure and build up our faith. What do we have to do as Christians to stay in a relationship with God? Think of someone you love deeply. Won’t you do anything to spend much time with them? Why would it be different with God?
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to walk in love daily.
REFLECTION
What unloving ways do you need to give up to walk in love faithfully?
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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
FAITH HEALS Poem Devotional
April 22
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“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over. Don’t be afraid. Just have faith. – Mark 5:34,36 (NLT)
FAITH HEALS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you sowing doubts and fear?
When you do, you’ll shed more tears
Believe strongly in God’s power
You will surely make the devil cower.
Your faith will surely bring healing
If you trust much, you finish suffering
Don’t be afraid, just believe in Christ
You will be transformed and see the light.
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My son almost died of asthma when he was four years old. I brought him on a healing crusade because I was so tired of going in and out of hospitals since he was born. I witnessed thousands of people being healed from cancer and those who are in stretchers are actually able to walk after the healing crusade. It was an amazing experience to witness so much people who put their trust in God. I would say that the amount of faith that people had was also the amount of healing they got. My son never had an asthma flare up since that day. He is now 28 years old.
There are so many stories in the bible that shows that faith heals. Abraham, Daniel, Mary, the woman bleeding, David and many more.
PRAYER
Lord, shower me with more faith in you.
REFLECTION
What miracles have you experienced because of your great faith?
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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 SAFE REFUGE Poem Devotional
April 21
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My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. – Psalm 62:7 (NLT)
A SAFE REFUGE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you feeling beaten with life’s challenges?
Are you able to endure the many changes?
There is a safe refuge that you can run to
God is a rock where no enemy can go through.
Your victory and honor come only from God alone
Repent and confess and he will forgive all wrongs
Take shelter in his great love and mercy
He faithfully comforts those who are weary.
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We live in a world full of noise and distractions. It stops us from really spending quality time with our loved ones and especially with God. Whenever we get overwhelmed by all the roles and responsibilities that we face in life, it opens the door for the enemy to tempt us. If we allow such open doors, we expose ourselves to vulnerability to sin.
The bible tells us that the only way we can have victory and honor is from God alone. He is our refuge and our rock, where no enemy can reach. In other words, if we do not rely on God for everything, we will never have triumph over the tactics of the enemy.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being my rock and refuge.
REFLECTION
Why should we always focus on God instead of the world?
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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 RESCUES Poem Devotional
April 20
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The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”
– Psalm 12:5 (NLT)
GOD RESCUES
A poem and essay by ILMA
What concerns do you have today?
Are you overwhelmed with what others say?
Is there someone who is doing you harm?
Pray and ask God help so you can be armed.
Put on God’s armor so you can stand firm against evil
God rescues his people to have victory over the devil
He will never allow anything to happen to his children
Have peace for he is reserving a place for you in heaven.
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There is so much violence in our world today. I am sure that not all those who are experiencing abuse are bold enough to admit that what they are going through especially when the abusers are someone they love or have authority over them. This is the perpetual cycle of abuse. The abusers isolate the victims so that they don’t get out of the circle of violence. Those victims who do not seek help and come out in the open will find themselves in the trap because they are so used to it and they get used to be the victim because of the fear of change. The Lord rescues us, let us run to him.
PRAYER
Lord, protect me from violence.
REFLECTION
Why should we run to God for protection?
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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
HEIRS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN Poem Devotional
April 19
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God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.
– Matthew 5:10 (NLT)
HEIRS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you being discriminated for believing in Jesus?
Are you marginalized because you are righteous?
Are your silenced to proclaim the Good News?
Are you stopped from giving testimony and being a witness?
Those who are persecuted for doing right will be blessed
Even if they are at the bottom now, they will be raised
They are promised a legacy to the kingdom of heaven
The Father will bring a breakthrough to make it even.
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Have you ever been discriminated or misunderstood because of your faith in Jesus? It is a form of oppression that can be very subtle or obvious. I am currently experiencing a form of persecution because of my love for the Lord and my desire to follow his word and live a righteous life. I am surrounded by people who are either religious, atheists or lost believers who only select what is convenient for them to practice. It is a very challenging battle. When they catch me at my most vulnerable time, I can get pulled down by the spirit of the enemy. The bible promises the kingdom of heaven to those who are persecuted to do what is right.
PRAYER
Lord, give me strength when I am persecuted.
REFLECTION
How should we respond to persecution or oppression to do good?
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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








