CLEANSED BY CHRIST’S BLOOD Poem Devotional

Posted on June 9, 2014 by ilmaarts

June 9 The Power of God’s Word
Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean and our bodies have been washed with pure water.–Hebrews 10:22 (NLT)
CLEANSED BY CHRIST’S BLOOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do your sins make you remorseful and wallow in guilt?
All you need to do is confess them and let Christ clean it
Because of grace, mercy and the love of God
Our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood.
Let us go right into his presence with sincere hearts
As we believe, he renews our mind to have a fresh start
Our bodies have been washed with pure water
We will be redeemed and join his kingdom that lasts forever.
Are you guilt ridden most of the time? Are you hard on yourself and others? Are you critical and judgmental of yourself and others? If you say yes to these three questions, you must be living in guilt. One of the devil’s tactics is to make you stay guilty and not confess your sins. He likes to steal our peace and joy.
The bible tells us that Christ’s blood have been sprinkled on us when we believe. There is no reason for us to stay in guilt because Christ paid for our sins at the cross.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me free from guilt.
REFLECTION
How can guilt be an invitation to the enemy?

GOD PRUNES US Poem Devotional

Posted on June 6, 2014 by ilmaarts

June 6 The Power of God’s Word
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
–John 15:2 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Are your activities geared on God’s kingdom?
Does your life exhibit peace, love and freedom?
Whenever we are unproductive in life
God wants you to believe in him and sit tight.
He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce
He wants you to acknowledge his gifts and use
God prunes the branches that do not bear fruit
His words make us grow; it is our soul’s food.
Pruning is cutting undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; it is to rid or clear of anything superfluous or undesirable. It is an important aspect of gardening. If you want your trees, shrubs or plants to bear fruit and be healthy, pruning is essential.
The bible likens God to a gardener who cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit in our lives. He prunes those areas in our lives that already bear fruits so that they will produce more. He removes things in our lives that is unproductive and trims our excesses so that we can be fruitful even more. He allows only what will be good for our lives and cuts off anything that will hurt us or disconnect us with him.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for pruning me.
REFLECTION
What has God pruned in your life?

SIN WHISPERS TO THE WICKED Poem Devotional

Posted on June 5, 2014 by ilmaarts

June 5 The Power of God’s Word
Sin whispers to the wicked deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are.
–Psalm 36:1-2 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Are your thoughts pure or awful?
Is your heart clean and faithful?
Sin whispers to the wicked deep inside
They do not follow God and abide.
They have no fear of the Lord
They only care to give themselves applaud
They cannot see how wicked they really are
Sin has allowed them to be isolated and far.
Have you ever experienced the cruelty of wicked people? They can easily hurt someone so pure. They have no reverence for the Lord. All they care about is to cater to their desires and cave in to sin. They have no idea that they are sinning because they have totally been blinded by the enemy to live in the lie that they are their own gods. Pride had been deeply indoctrinated in their hearts to give an objective evaluation of their evil ways.
The bible tells us that sin whispers to the wicked within their hearts. They have no fear of God. In their blind conceit, they cannot even see how wicked they really are. They have been blinded by their pride.
PRAYER
Lord, give me a pure and humble heart that seeks you.
REFLECTION
Why is humility our greatest tool to combat sin?

WALK IN FREEDOM Poem Devotional

Posted on June 4, 2014 by ilmaarts

June 4 The Power of God’s Word
I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
–Psalm 119:45(NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you walk in love or in fear?
Is your mind constantly stirred?
Do you allow the Spirit to bring you wisdom?
Are you faithful to walk in love to gain freedom?
The commandments will release you from bondage to sin
Obedience to his commands keeps you strong and empowers you within
Walk in freedom by devoting yourself to God’s truth
It frees you from slavery to anything that has taken root.
Generational sins, curses and patterns are attitudes, actions, beliefs, behaviors, and/or habits that we have inherited from our family or relatives. We then “enter into” the same sin pattern and make it our own. It is usually repeated throughout our life as well as by individuals in successive generations. It took many decades before I was released from generational sins passed on in my family of origin. I am thankful to God for breaking the patterns in my family through me. It didn’t exempt me from the effects of these generation sins, but God used it to reclaim me and my entire clan. The bible tells us that freedom is the result of devoting our lives to following God’s commands. Obedience will protect us from the bondage to sin.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to obey you always.
REFLECTION
Why is obedience an integral part in our salvation?

JESUS’ FRIENDS Poem Devotional

Posted on June 3, 2014 by ilmaarts

June 3 The Power of God’s Word
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. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.–John 15:14-15 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you live your life following his commands?
Do you constantly ask and demand?
Do you know God intimately?
Do you seek his word daily?
You are a friend of Jesus when you abide in him
He confides his father’s will so you can be redeemed
You are his friend when you align your life in his will
You’ll hear his voice when you are constantly still.
Have you ever had friends that lasted for a very long time? What did it take to last that long? Friendships take time and effort. You do not just have them and keep them without investing your time and care for them. It takes love, patience and kindness to be able to sustain friendships.
The bible says that we are called Jesus’ friends if we follow his commands. God confides everything to us through his son Jesus, who shared God’s word and his will. What are you going to do with what Jesus intimately shared with you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am honored that you call me a friend.
REFLECTION
How do we nurture the friendship we have with Jesus?

A PLEA FOR ANSWERS Poem Devotional

Posted on June 3, 2014 by ilmaarts

June 2 The Power of God’s Word
Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me for your mercy is plentiful– Psalm 69:16 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, where are you when I am in need?
How long will my heart bleed?
I am surrounded by people who don’t show affection
How long will you heal them from their deep affliction?
Oh, how I long to be heard and be seen
Why do unbelievers reject love and chose sin?
Please renew my mind and cease my exhaustion?
Will you show me mercy in all my tribulations?
Have you ever prayed for a long time for someone or something to happen and yet see no answers to your incessant requests? The hardest thing to visually see is the change of heart of people. Only God can see someone’s heart and intentions. We will never be able to know or sense if someone’s heart and mind is being renewed by God. Their actions or circumstances may give us a clue as to what God has done to them. We can never really see or know what is in their hearts.
The bible tells us that God’s love is unfailing and that he takes care of us because he is full of mercy. He lavishes us with mercy and grace always.
PRAYER
Lord, give me wisdom to know when you have answered my prayers.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to never lose hope?

EXAMINE YOUR WAYS

Posted on May 28, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 27 The Power of God’s Word
Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven. –Lamentations 3:40-41 (NLT)
When things don’t go well in your life
Do you examine your ways or continually fight?
Do you resort to blaming and pitying yourself?
Why not confess instead and ask God for help.
When rebellion and disobedience dominate your heart
Everything is a struggle no matter where you start
Lift your heart and hands to God in heaven
He will protect and provide you with a haven.
Do you examine your ways on a daily basis? Many people do not reflect on what they think and do. Actions speak out our minds and hearts. Our decisions and reactions are greatly influenced by what preoccupy our minds. If we constantly think of negative things, the results will be destructive choices. On the other hand, if we renew our minds and feed it with the truth that comes from God, we will reap all the promises he has made to us. We will harvest the fruits of the spirit and have peace and joy.
In Lamentations, we are summoned to examine and test our ways and turn back to the Lord. We must lift our hearts and hands to God in prayer and supplication.
PRAYER
Lord, hold captive my heart and mind.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to examine our thoughts and ways regularly?

WISDOM BUILDS, FOOLISHNESS DESTROYS Poem Devotional

Posted on May 26, 2014 by ilmaarts

GOD IN NATURE Poem Devotional

Posted on May 24, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 24 The Power of God’s Word
Only fools say in their hearts, ”There is no God.” They are corrupt and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! Psalm 53:1(NLT)
GOD IN NATURE
Tulips gracefully rising, cupping the sun’s light coming out
What a beautiful spring sunny day where birds come about
Leaves sprouting out from the branches of some trees
They finally come to life and survive the severe winter freeze.
Only fools say “There is no God”
The trees, birds and flowers give him laud
God cares and nourishes all his creatures
He manifests himself in all of nature.
Many unbelievers claim that there is no god. They make all kinds of theories of how the universe and everything came about. They concoct all kinds of stories to disprove the existence of God. The enemy has blinded them with lies that appear like truth to them. Their choice to believe these lies deprive them to see that there is a God who is magnificent and has created everything we can’t explain and understand.
Psalm 53 talks about fools that claim there is no God. They are corrupt and choose evil deeds. What will it take for people to believe that there is a higher being who made everything? Just watch the birds, the trees, the flowers, the river, the seas, and the skies. Who can create such magnificence?
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your presence in nature!
REFLECTION
Soak yourself in nature and feel God’s presence.

WALK IN LOVE Poem Devotional

Posted on May 16, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 16 The Power of God’s Word
The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
–Micah 6:8 (NLT)
WALK IN LOVE
A poem by ILMA
Whenever you show impartiality
You are walking rightly
Whenever you forgive quickly
You are choosing to give mercy.
Walking in love and humility
Wipes out all conflicts and hostility
It breaks all forms of sins and strongholds
It makes us access God’s promises and grow.
The Mechanicsville paper published an article on the statistics of the effects of broken homes. “Did you know that more than three in ten children grow up in broken homes and children from broken homes account for 70% of those in juvenile detention; 57% of all prison inmates; 63 % of teen suicides; 71% of teen pregnancies; 90% of homeless juveniles and runaways; 71% of high school dropouts; 75% of all drug users; and 85% of behavioral disorders. This is the sad truth about the lack of love in our society.
The bible tells us through the prophet Micah what God requires of us. The message is for all of us to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with him. If we follow these guidelines, we can avoid social diseases in our society.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to walk in your love.
REFLECTION
How can walking in love contribute to a healthy society?

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