Tag Archives: spoken word

HOPE IN THE WORD Poem Devotional

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May 9________________________________________
I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
-Psalm 130:5(NLT)
HOPE IN THE WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you feel overwhelmed by things in this world?
Distractions are everywhere to keep us out of God’s word
No wonder we feel lost, hopeless and always struggling
We don’t focus on God, yet we keep on demanding.
Seek the Lord and you will find comfort in his truth
Abide in his words, meditate on it so it can take root
Sow seeds of goodness for it will bear fruit
Expose the enemy’s lies and believe only what is true.
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Today, our world faces so much chaos and pain. Technology and social media has turned our lives into a world of many choices. We have become very distracted people. We lost our sense of priorities and value. We have focused on ourselves because we are enticed to acquire things and wealth so we can look better or feel powerful. It is such a sad thing to watch how people get blinded by what the world offers and discard what God promises. We get consumed by all these noise around us which diminishes our time to connect with God. We disconnect ourselves from God by choosing all the things the world offers. Run to his word and you’ll find hope. Don’t turn your back on the Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me peace and wisdom to always choose you.
REFLECTION
When was the last time God’s word popped out of the pages to stir you?

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

HUMILITY BRINGS HONOR Poem Devotional

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May 8________________________________________
Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. – Proverbs 29:23(NLT)
HUMILITY BRINGS HONOR
A poem and essay by ILMA
When we acknowledge the source of our life
We are giving him honor and living in his light
When our heart is full of pride and haughtiness
We will end up in humiliation and become a mess.
The act of lowering yourself to your Maker
It is a manifestation of your love to your creator
Follow the example of Jesus so you can be humble
It will help you overcome temptation and not stumble.
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A while back I had an experience when my pride and arrogance had me fall flat on my face. It happened about seven years ago. I was a victim of a group of people who discriminated me and openly scolded me in public and twisted my intentions. The filters of complex traumas I experienced led me to think that they were rejecting me. My suspicion became real because I lived in that fear that they would reject me. Sure enough, my fears turned into reality. An envious administrator of that group, twisted my words because she was jealous of the attention that her husband was giving on my prominence in the art world. I was bold to expose that the group was more of a social club rather than helping marriages to survive. Because of my tactless judgment, they twisted my words and humiliated me publicly.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from pride and haughtiness.
REFLECTION
How can an act of humility change you and others?
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

REQUESTING GOD FAVORS Poem Devotional

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May 7________________________________________
O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. -Proverbs 30:7-8(NLT)
REQUESTING GOD FAVORS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, I plead you to grant me favors in my life
Bless and guide me to constantly walk in your light
Help me never to tell a lie or long for things
Give me wisdom so I can always avoid sin.
Grant me a pure heart and keep me away from poverty
Just provide for me what will satisfy all my needs
Show me a life full of joy, faithfulness and peace
Help me to walk in love and to enjoy being free.
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How often do you ask God for favors? I grew up thinking that God was a genie who can give me all that I want. I wasn’t taught how to ask though. I expected God to do miracles for me without me requesting it. As I reached puberty, I got discouraged and felt into a deep depression that made me turned my back to the Lord. When I became born again, I learned that never really asked, no wonder I wasn’t getting. Now, I want to request the Lord to keep me from lying and to give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
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PRAYER
Lord, please grant me favors that will keep me close to you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think we should ask for just enough to satisfy our needs? Why not more?
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’S WORD IS A SHIELD

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May 6________________________________________
Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
– Proverbs 30:5-6(NLT)
GOD’S WORD IS A SHIELD
A poem and essay by ILMA
In this world of chaos and confusion
We need a shield from all kinds of temptations
Every word of God proves true
It teaches, convicts and rebukes.
When you read his word and ask the Holy Spirit
It comes to life and shortly, wisdom is released
Do not add to his words or he may reprove you
Allow the Lord to transform and let your mind be renewed.
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As a trauma survivor, I learned to manage the anxiety, helplessness and emotional pain that sometimes debilitates me. Complex trauma is an accumulation of various exposure to repeated abuse which can be emotional, physical or sexual or even neglect. Diane Langberg a trauma specialist from the Global Trauma Recovery Institute, used a term that really struck me. She said that people with complex trauma is like being “marinated in pain and confusion.” This is an accurate description of what I experienced. When I became a born again Christian, I was freed from so many lies and learned God’s truth. In his word, I found comfort, relief and freedom. The word shields me from all temptations and trauma memories and taught me how to forgive and let go.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving us your word that shields us from evil.
REFLECTION
Share an experience how God’s word shielded you from evil.
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

UNBRIDLED TONGUE Poem Devotional

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May 5________________________________________
There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
-Proverbs 29:20(NLT)
UNBRIDLED TONGUE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever a thought starts hovering in your mind
Do you filter it so that you won’t sound harsh or unkind?
Do you guard your heart so that nothing impure will be spoken?
Do you say encouraging words to release others from being broken?
There is more hope for a fool than an unbridled tongue
When your speech is unfiltered, is sounds like a grunt
When you think first before saying something,
You allow the Lord to prevent you from sinning.
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How many times have you released a word without even thinking? We usually do this when we are reacting to something said or insinuated. I learned for many years that when I don’t filter my thoughts, words can just sneak out of our mouths. Sometimes, people may miss the uncalled statements but other times, it could compromise your friendships or relationships. The bible tells us to guard our mouths and our lips in Proverbs 141:3. It also tells us to guard what we think in Philippians 4:8 Only these thoughts should be entertained: whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. So if our thoughts are these, then your tongue will be bridled.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me to think first before I speak. Let my thoughts only be what you want it to be.
REFLECTION
How can we avoid an unbridled tongue?
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

MESSENGERS APPROVED BY GOD Poem Devotional

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May 4________________________________________
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:4(NLT)
MESSENGERS APPROVED BY GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
We are all instructed to spread the Good News
Do you realize that you are part of his crew?
We must speak as messengers of the Most High
Our purpose is to bring the gospel and spread his light.
The Lord watches over his faithful believers
Rest assured that he knows each of his follower
Preach the good news all over the world
Evangelize to all by using his word.
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A messenger is a person who carries a message or is employed to carry messages. Before the boom of social media, the mailman is usually the bringer of letters and correspondences. They played a very vital role in small towns. Now, the messages we get are mostly through social media like cell phones, facebook, gmail, twitter, and many more.
The bible instructs us to be messengers approved by God and he entrusts us with the Good News that Christ died to save us from sins. Are you doing your commission to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth? Isn’t it a privilege to be part of his camp? Be bold and spread to everyone how much God loves us.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be able to carry your Good News to many people.
REFLECTION
Why is God’s approval essential in carrying out his good news?
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

JEALOUSY IS LIKE CANCER Poem Devotional

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May 2________________________________________
A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
-Proverbs 14:30(NLT)
JEALOUSY IS LIKE CANCER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever your heart desires what others have
Be careful! That is not totally walking in love
When you fail to give the Lord thanksgiving
You are going to miss out on many blessings.
Jealousy is like cancer in the bones
Selfishness and Pride is where it comes from
If you think the world owes you something
You lose peace opens the door to continuously sin.
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Jealousy is defined as an unhappy or angry feeling of wanting to have what someone else has. Notice the presence of unhappiness and anger in the definition. The origin of jealousy dates back to our first parents, Adam and Eve. The fall of man was an offshoot of jealousy of Adam and Eve. They want to have the all-knowing character of God. Their desire to want to be like him led them to disobey his command not to eat from the fruit from the tree of good and evil. Prior to their sin, they had everything they could ever want. They were well provided for and had no need to toil. After the fall, all sins came about. The mother of all sins is pride. It centers on the “self” rather than others. A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body but jealousy is like cancer. It poisons and kills.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from jealous people.
REFLECTION
How do you know that you or someone you know manifests jealousy or envy?
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

PRAYER FOR STUBBORN HEARTS Poem Devotional

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May 1

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart – Ezekiel 36:26(NLT)

PRAYER FOR STUBBORN HEARTS

A poem and essay by ILMA

Lord, we lift up to you all those hearts are stubborn

Give them someone who can lead them to the right direction

Let them know that they can run to you and not be condemned

Provide a repentant heart so they’ll stop the tendency to blame.

Replace their hearts of stone to one that is responsive and tender

Change the way they look at things so they’ll know your character

Heal them from past hurts and abuse they have gone through

Release them from the enemy and help them discern your truth.

The world is full of hearts that have turned into stone. This epidemic has caused many failed relationships and even physical death to many people. When hearts are stubborn, people fail to see God’s goodness and faithfulness. Pride is the root cause of a hard heart. Hurts and abuses can usually turn a person’s heart into stone. The bible tells us about God’s promise to change our stony stubborn hearts and replace it with a tender and responsive hearts. Before he can do that, we need to let him in and do his job. He is the only one who can change it.

PRAYER

Lord, show me how to seek your heart always.

REFLECTION

What blocks people God’s invitation to have a relationship with him?

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

PRAISE TO A GREAT KING Poem Devotional

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April 30________________________________________
Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. -Psalm 95:1-3(NLT)
PRAISE TO A GREAT KING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lift up your hands and shout joyfully to Jesus, our great king
Let us come with a humble heart and much thanksgiving
Let us sing psalms and hymns for he is worthy of all praise
He is faithful grant us forgiveness and constantly give us grace.
The Lord is a great God who looks after his own people
He grants us mercy and never wants us to be crippled
The Lord is all-powerful, all-knowing and full of wisdom
Praise to a great king, who redeems and grants us freedom.
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Praise means to express admiration or approval of the achievements or characteristics of a person or thing. It has seven Hebrew words for praise.
1. “Halal” means to rave or celebrate
2. “Yadah” means worshiping with extended hands
3. “Towdah” means acceptance
4. “Shabach” means to shout out
5. “Barak” means to kneel down
6. “Zamar” means to sing or pluck an instrument
7. “Tehillah” means to involve music and hymns
Doesn’t it amaze you how much depth of meaning is into this word? We are asked to praise a great king, Jesus Christ.
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PRAYER
Lord, I praise and glorify your most precious name.
REFLECTION
What is your preferred form of praising the Lord?
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 HUNGER TO KNOW THE LORD Poem Devotional

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April 29________________________________________
I want you to show love not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. – Hosea 6:6(NLT)
A HUNGER TO KNOW THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you desire to have a deep relationship with Christ?
Does your life become a reflection of God’s light?
Do you hunger and thirst for a spiritual intimacy?
Do you crave to know him more daily?
Do you show love not just by burnt offerings?
He wants you to love more than anything
The Lord reveals himself to those who hunger for him
He will fulfill his promises to them who are free from sin.
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King David was someone who has a heart for seeking God. He, among all the bible characters have a hunger to know the Lord longed much to be intimate with him. God chose this man because he cried out to him. Though he sinned much and was weak, God still chose him to be part of Jesus’ lineage. David’s honesty, humility and dependence on God is clearly depicted in the book of Psalms. He bares his whole heart just so he can understand the Lord’s plan when things do not go the way he thinks it should go. God didn’t choose a perfect person, but an ordinary man, who have an extraordinary hunger for him. God requires us to love much rather than burnt offerings and sacrifices.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never stop hungering for you.
REFLECTION
What benefits can you gain when you are constantly hungry to know the Lord?
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