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?

ACTIONS MANIFEST THE FRUIT Poem Devotional

Posted on July 14, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 14 The Power of God’s Word
Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.
–Matthew 7:15,16 (NLT)
ACTIONS MANIFEST THE FRUIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Beware of false prophets who disguise themselves as sheep
They will deceive you and pull you down deep
The only way to know is to be in the word
It exposes the evil ways of the world.
Anyone can façade their intentions fluently
They can say anything and persuade you powerfully
Their authenticity can be gauged only by God’s truth
Their actions reveal if they have the fruit.
There is a rise in teachers, preachers and prophets in these present days. Believers must be careful of false prophets. The only way to identify them is by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. The bible says in Matthew 7:17-20 that a good tree can’t produce bad fruit and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.
You can identify people by their actions. If their actions do not jive with what they say then they are counterfeit. That’s why Christians must show by example what they believe just as Christ did while he was among us.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to live what I believe.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to walk your talk?

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?

THE FOLLY OF WICKEDNESS Poem Devotional

Posted on July 8, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 8 The Power of God’s Word
The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a deep pit to trap others then fall into it themselves.
–Psalm 7: 14-15(NLT)
THE FOLLY OF WICKEDNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you conceive things that are evil or pure?
Are you easily trapped by the tactics of the devil and lured?
Those who are sinful conceive wickedness and are full of trouble
They give birth to lies which lead them to the rubbles.
Those who choose to turn away from righteousness
They dig a trap when they opt for wickedness
If you stay in God’s word and believe in him
You will avoid the folly of iniquity and be redeemed.
Have you ever experienced trouble after trouble? When you do, think carefully what your mind has been preoccupied with. Likely, selfishness and evil lurk inside you. This is why we have been cautioned to guard our hearts and choose only thoughts that are pure, lovely and beautiful. Once your mind swings to the negative realm and dwells on the self, the door opens for the enemy to consume you with wickedness. The bible says that the wicked conceive evil. They are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. The folly of wickedness is that they dig a deep pit which they themselves fall into.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me aligned with your truth.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to avoid evil always?

MANAGING ANGER Poem Devotional

Posted on July 3, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 3 The Power of God’s Word
Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.– Psalm 4:4 (NLT)
MANAGING ANGER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Anger is an emotion created for a reason
It can protect you from the enemy’s treason
It can make you defend those who are oppressed
It can drive you to do something for the depressed.
Don’t sin by letting anger control you
Instead, control it by thinking it through
Remain silent until you reach tranquility
Then you will have victory over the enemy.
I was a slave of many generational sins before I became a born again. Among the list would be: seeking approval, perfectionism, performance, reasoning, judgment and anger. Each of these sins leads to the other. Because of rejection, it was a big deal for me to seek approval and attention which brought me to always perform. I reason and argue to prove my point and that I am right. When I don’t persuade others or they don’t live up to my expectations, I judge and then get angry. Sometimes this anger is manifests in many ways like irritations, sarcasms, jokes or confrontations and outbursts.
The bible tells us to manage our anger and not let it control us. Thinking about it overnight and remaining silent helps us calm down and win the battle.
PRAYER
Lord, give me strength to manage anger.
REFLECTION
How can awareness of anger and its source help us manage it?

LIVE AS LONG AS TREES Poem Devotional

Posted on July 2, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 2 The Power of God’s Word
For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. Isaiah 65:22(NLT)
LIVE AS LONG AS TREES
A poem and essay by ILMA
A tree that has grown deep roots will live long
No one can kill it without being so strong
Dig it up from its core or they’ll come again
Leaves come back with the sun and rain.
Like trees, believers will have time to flourish
Take pleasure from how much you are nourished
Despite all the hard work you put into your life
Enjoy your harvest and give up the fight.
Since I was a child, I have always basked in the beauty of various trees around me. I wrote a song when I was fourteen, describing a tree that was very thick. I love trees. Trees have many uses but mainly as lumber. Houses are made from mostly lumber.
Trees are mentioned many times in many books of the bible. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was surrounded by trees. Zaccheus the tax collector, who wasn’t tall enough had to climb a tree to watch Jesus as he taught. Isaiah likens a believer’s life to trees. They will live as long as trees. They are deeply rooted in the truth and promises of God. They will be given time to enjoy their hard-won gains.
PRAYER
Lord, nourish me with your truth.
REFLECTION
How deep is your foundation in Christ?

THE BRIDE OF GOD Poem Devotional

Posted on July 1, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 1 The Power of God’s Word
Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride.–Isaiah 62:4 (NLT)
THE BRIDE OF GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you believed in God, he claimed you as his bride
Are you ecstatic and delighted to be by his side?
Are you wearing the wedding gown of purity?
Does your head have the tiara of security?
The covenant to submit to his authority will be your ring
All the cherubs, seraphs and angels will sing
God will honor you with love and faithfulness
He will take care of you and your needs with kindness.
Over two decades ago, I made a vow to be Jesus’ bride and the father of my son. I was raising my child alone and I was in my late twenties. Somehow, there was a voice inside my mind that told me to marry Jesus and give my son the perfect father. I read the bible then but didn’t really study it. I didn’t come across Isaiah’s and Hosea’s verses about the bride of God when I made this vow. Now, I know that it was God’s spirit who whispered to me that I am his bride. All believers are brides of God.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be faithful to you as you are to me.
REFLECTION
How can you be the most beautiful bride of God?

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