THE PROUD VERSUS THE RIGHTEOUS Poem Devotional

Posted on July 30, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 30 The Power of God’s Word
Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. – Habakkuk 2:4 (NLT)
THE PROUD VERSUS THE RIGHTEOUS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who trust their own selves and put down others
They are never concerned with their sisters and brothers
They will do anything to please themselves and satisfy their desires
Their hearts are corrupted; they live in darkness and in all kinds of lies.
The righteous are humble and seek the Lord’s truth
They sow good deeds and so they reap the Spirit’s fruits
Even at the greatest temptation, they endure and stay faithful
At the most trying situations, they stay peaceful and hopeful.
Can you recognize an authentic believer? Their greatest virtue is humility and faithfulness. You will never hear them boast about themselves or flaunt their gifts, skills or prowess in something. They are gentle, calm and peaceful at all situations. They have learned to live in the Spirit and die to the old self.
The bible tells us to be wary of those who are proud. They only trust in themselves and live crooked lives. The righteous on the other hand are faithful to God. They trust God and do everything to follow him and please him only. They have the peace that comes from their faith.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from arrogance.
REFLECTION
Why is humility essential in a Christian’s life?

GOD’S PROMISE TO HIS PEOPLE Poem Devotional

Posted on July 29, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 29 The Power of God’s Word
I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.
–Isaiah 44:3 (NLT)
GOD’S PROMISE TO HIS PEOPLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Believe in God and he will bless your life
Not only will he pour out his spirit on you and bring light
He will pour out water to quench your longing
He will help you in your difficulties and suffering.
God blesses his people and give them provisions
Those who are faithful will be granted revelations
The descendants of the people of God will be blessed
They will reap the promises God made and will have the best.
Do you realize that every blessing you have comes from God? Many people think that it is their own effort that led them to have good paying jobs or wealth. Unbelievers tend to focus on glorifying their abilities, skills, talents, gifts and wealth. They do not know the truth and they believe in lies that keep their lives away from God. The people of God on the other hand are granted discernment and revelations from his truth. The bible says that God will pour out water to quench the thirst of his people and give them his spirit and blessings.
PRAYER
I thank you Lord for all your provisions.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to know God’s promises to the faithful?

THE REWARD FOR TRUSTING GOD

Posted on July 28, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 28 The Power of God’s Word
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NLT)
THE REWARD FOR TRUSTING GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you love God with all your heart, soul and mind?
Will you trust him now that you can’t see answers or find?
Will you continually love him even though you have never seen him?
The reward for being faithful is that your soul will be redeemed.
Trust is the foundation of all relationships
Without it, there will always be conflicts
Whenever you trust in the name of Jesus Christ
Your life will be peaceful and be illumined by his light.
Do you find it hard to believe something or someone you can’t actually see? Human nature wants to visually experience something before they believe. Even the apostle Thomas had to see and hold Christ’s hands before he believed that Jesus Christ was actually resurrected. It shows how limited our minds and hearts are. It takes practice to actually grow one’s faith. If we continue to make a choice to believe and trust God, we will gain inexplicable joy and enjoy have eternal life.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to totally trust you in everything.
REFLECTION
Why do you think “trust” is an essential ingredient in relationships?

LIKE THE PAIN OF CHILDBIRTH Poem Devotional

Posted on July 24, 2014 by ilmaarts

July 24 The Power of God’s Word
Pain has come to the people like the pain of childbirth, but they are like a child, who resists being born. The moment of birth has arrived, but they stay in the womb. – Hosea 13:13 (NLT)
LIKE THE PAIN OF CHILDBIRTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
When people disobey and turn their backs to Christ
Their lives become unproductive and they lose sight
Life becomes difficult like the pain of childbirth
They become irrational, emotional, easily offended and hurt.
Like a baby about to be born, they choose to stay in the womb
They fear that their comfort zone is better than facing the world
Their resistance to change becomes a hindrance to their progress
They become paralyzed, choose to stay in fear and continually digress.
There are a lot of people who continually live in fear and wonder why their lives never produce fruits. When someone is fearful, opportunities are. God wants us to walk in love and fear is the opposite of love. When we fear, we lose discernment and insight. We become paralyzed and unproductive.
The bible tells us that pain will come to us like the pain of childbirth if we resist being renewed in Christ. When we are called to do something to glorify God and we resist, our lives become unbearable and full of obstacles and challenges.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from fear.
REFLECTION
How can we stop resisting the progress God promised us?

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?

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