GIFT OF PEACE Poem Devotional

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June 23________________________________________
I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. – John 14:27(NLT)
GIFT OF PEACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
As soon as you declared Jesus as your Lord and Savior
His Spirit lives in you and he will help you in all troubles
You will have peace that surpasses all understanding
He will give you a life that will have much blessings.
Peace is not something you achieve or work for
It is a gift that comes from knowing God’s word
Do not be troubled or afraid for he is your Lord
Guard your heart; make sure you live by his word.
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There were many decades of my life that I didn’t experience peace. I was doing my best to achieve peace through works. It didn’t work that way because it is a gift from the Lord. I cannot force to get it. No wonder I lived a very troubled life for many years because I didn’t have the wisdom to know that I already have it when Jesus died for me. I just needed to access it. It is amazing how we go in circles not even recognizing that we already have all we need to live a righteous and blessed life. God gave us this gift when he sent his only Son to die for us.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your peace that exceeds all understanding.
REFLECTION
How can one access the gift of peace on a regular basis?
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

OBEDIENCE IS PROOF Poem Devotional

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June 22________________________________________
All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.
– John 14:23-24 (NLT)
OBEDIENCE IS PROOF
A poem and essay by ILMA
The best proof of your love for the Father is obedience
He loves it when you rely on him for providence
When you obey him, you are submitting to his will
When you agree to whatever he says, you’ll overcome sin.
Anyone who doesn’t love God doesn’t obey
They live in darkness and do not pray
All those who are obedient to his word get much blessings
God’s Spirit dwells in them so they are not prone to sinning.
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Obedience is key to a fruitful and blessed life. We are given many stories in the bible of people whom God used because they were obedient. Abraham obeyed the Lord to leave his native land Ur to the promised land and he became father of all nations. Mary obeyed the calling to bear Jesus’ despite her confusion at first. She became the mother of Jesus and was blessed among all women. Rahab, who despite being a prostitute followed the call to help the Israelites to conquer Jericho. Her family became part of the lineage of Jesus. The bible says that obedience is proof that you love the Lord and disobedience leads to destruction.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be able to constantly heed your words.
REFLECTION
What happens when people constantly disobey 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

HUMBLY ASK IN JESUS’ NAME Poem Devotional

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June 21________________________________________
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. -John 15:16(NLT)
HUMBLY ASK IN JESUS’ NAME
A poem and essay by ILMA
You are blessed because God chose you to be his child
Are you protecting your heart and living in his light?
God chose you and appointed you to produce fruits
He wants Scriptures and all his truth to take root.
Do you ask your needs in Jesus’ name?
You will be given, so ask and don’t be ashamed
He will give you fruits from his Spirit
Be sure to humbly ask and he will give it.
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Some people expect to have answered prayers but they never ask in the first place. In James 4:2-3 we are given the reason why we don’t get our prayers answered. We don’t ask and sometimes when we ask, we do so for the wrong reasons. I grew up thinking God knows already what I need and want, so I never bothered asking them using his powerful name. I didn’t read his word so I didn’t know the power of his name and that I can receive anything I ask by using his name. I just ask without giving his glorious name the credit. I am glad that his Spirit reminds me to ask because he has chosen me as his own child.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for your powerful name and for choosing me.
REFLECTION
Why do you think we are encouraged to ask the Lord using his name?
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

FRIENDS OF GOD Poem Devotional

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June 20________________________________________
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. -John 15:14-15(NLT)
FRIENDS OF GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you want to be friends with the most powerful being?
The only way you can be his friend is if you are obeying
He no longer calls you slave if you become a follower
God will confide in you if you continue to be a believer.
You are a friend of God when you hunger for him
He will be faithful to deliver you from all sins
If you constantly abide in him and live in his truth
He will be your best friend and deliver you from rue.
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Do you have many friends? Are they faithful and true to you? Human friends are good to have but sometimes they betray or let you down. Before I migrated to Canada, I had many friends from my country of origin. I don’t ever remember having arguments with any of my friends. They were there for me in good and bad times alike. I was confused when I moved to Canada because I can’t seem to have the kind of friends I had before. When I became a born again Christian, God overhauled my friendships. He gave me new friends who are believers. We become friends of God when we follow his commands.
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PRAYER
Thank you for considering me as your friend Lord.
REFLECTION
What are the benefits of being God’s friend?
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

OVERFLOWING JOY Poem Devotional

IMG_8723June 19________________________________________
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! – John 15:10-11(NLT)
OVERFLOWING JOY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Joy doesn’t come from good things happening in your life
It isn’t from getting what you want or being free from strife
When you obey God’s commands and remain in his love
You are going to experience overflowing joy from up above.
The joy that comes from the world is temporary and fleeting
To those whose faith is anchored on God, joy is overflowing
Remain in His love and you will have an abundance of joy
Depart from the Lord and you will be discontented then fall.
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Many people interchange happiness with joy. I think that they work equally together. How long the state of joy or the feeling of happiness last depends on their faith. It is easy to be happy when things go your way, but it is also possible to have joy despite all the trials and suffering you experience. Joy is one of the things that the enemy steals from us. He knows that if we don’t have it, it will be easy to get us in prison to discontent. The bible tells us to remain in the Lord so we will have joy overflowing.
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PRAYER
Thank you for the joy that you grant to all your people.
REFLECTION
How can we focus more on rejoicing rather than just being happy?
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

BECOME LIKE YOUR CREATOR Poem Devotional

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June 18________________________________________
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. -Colossians 3:10(NLT)
BECOME LIKE YOUR CREATOR
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are born again in Christ
You learn to live in your new life
Put on your new nature
Live on truth and you will mature.
Hunger for Jesus and you will know him
He will give you wisdom to overcome sin
Become like your creator who made you like him
Live a life that he planned for you so you can win.
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When I became born again, putting on my new life was a challenge. I pushed through by the grace of God. There were layers of bad habits that needed to be confronted and covered in Jesus’ blood. I didn’t know spiritual warfare until the third year of my conversion as a renewed Christian. In the first three years of my life, as I moved to a new life, the enemy kept on stealing the seeds sown in my heart through God’s word. He used my past pains to pull me back and also used the people I am in relations with as open doors where he could visit me from time to time. As I meditated on God’s word day in and day out, I started to walk in God’s Spirit. He taught me how to take authority over the enemy and put on my new nature in Christ.
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PRAYER
Thank you for your Spirit in me Lord.
REFLECTION
How can you become like your creator?
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 YOU SUFFER FOR CHRIST Poem Devotional

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June 17________________________________________
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. – 1 Peter 4:1(NLT)
WHEN YOU SUFFER FOR CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you accepted Jesus as your Savior
You ought to follow him and be ready to suffer
Your Lord suffered physical pain to save you
He gave you the chance to be born again and new.
When you suffer for Christ, you discern his great love
He gave up his own life so you can be above
Rejoice when you hurt for He will lift you up
Embrace endurance and you will be built up.
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Our world advocates comfort and quick fixes. We are not taught to endure. We do not know how to delay gratification. Media has bombarded us with advertisements that do not advocate patience. Every product has to deliver quick services. This is why our youth do not have the patience to wait or postpone enjoyment. We are all like children having a tantrum fit if we don’t get what we want right away.
The bible tells us the importance of suffering for Christ. Jesus died on the cross to clear us of sin and he suffered a great deal before he actually died on the cross. Suffering leads to endurance which brings growth.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you that you suffered for me.
REFLECTION
How can a believer rejoice when they are suffering?
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

THE OIL OF JOY

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June 16________________________________________
You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else. -Psalm 45:7(NLT)
THE OIL OF JOY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you treat others with love and kindness
God will bless you with the oil of joy; you’ll have gladness
When you choose love over wickedness, you will have peace
If you wallow in all kinds of evil, you’ll open doors to slavery.
When you love justice and hate evil, you have God’s anointing
He will pour out his joy on you and grant you all kinds of blessings
Let the oil of joy remain with you always the rest of your life
He chose you to shine for him; He will lead you to his light.
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I lived many years of my life in regret and never really knew how to enjoy life. I wallowed in self-pity and played over and over again the voices of those who treated me harshly and unjustly. As a result of this bad choice, I opened doors to the enemy to take over my entire life for over four decades. I was a prisoner of my emotions and pain. I let the “bad” in instead of the good. We can choose the life God wants for us. When we do,
God anoints us with the oil of joy and make us free.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your anointing.
REFLECTION
What things block people from experiencing the joy of 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

THE SOURCE OF COMFORT Poem Devotional

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June 13________________________________________
God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. -2 Corinthians 1:3(NLT)
THE SOURCE OF COMFORT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are troubled and not getting love
Do you ask your heavenly Father up above?
God is full of mercy and is the comfort source
Run to Him and He will immediately open doors.
No one can fully provide for your needs except Him
Ask Hand He will grant you more blessings
When you rely on His power, you are being humble
It will bring you satisfaction and lessen your stumbles.
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Our world capitalizes much on making a lot of us become comfort addicts. We love it when we can get everything we want just at the tip of our fingers. We shop online for commodities so we don’t have to go outside to shop. We research and read everything on the internet instead of manually reading a book or asking someone’s advice about something. We like to eat food that brings us comfort. We like to make our homes and relationships comfortable. We don’t like to be challenged to change the comfort zone. We take pride that we can make our own comfortable niches and ensure that nobody takes it away from us. Yet, oftentimes, despite all these plastic comfort bubble that we protect ourselves with, we still don’t feel fulfilled. Only God can give us true comfort and joy.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to run to you when I need to be comforted.
REFLECTION
When was the last time you ran to God to be comforted?
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

HANDLING TEMPTATIONS Poem Devotional

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June 12________________________________________
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. -1 Corinthians 10:13-14(NLT)
HANDLING TEMPTATIONS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are presented with temptations here and there
Be joyful, the Lord will always strengthen you to recover
He will not allow it to be more than you can stand
He will show you a way out so you can withstand.
When the enemy entices you, God may allow it
He knows his children will always have His Spirit
Be at peace for you will always have his direction
You have the power to win over any temptations.
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When we are being tempted, our natural tendencies are to succumb. It is supernatural to handle and overcome temptations. Only in God’s power and grace can we win over it. Many Christians make the mistake of conquering sin by themselves without God’s help. So, a lot of times, we fail. Sometimes we even brag and compare, which temptations are greater than what we are experiencing. We boast that we conquered it and won over sin but it only by God’s power we can do any of these. God will never allow temptations beyond what we can handle. He shows us a way to endure it.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for strengthening me when temptations come.
REFLECTION
What protects you from being defeated by temptations?
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