Bible Inspired - Devotionals

Repay with Love!

7/3/2020

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." -Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)

There seems to be a divide between groups of people, even people within the church. We could debate the reason for these divides. However, we cannot get along if we continue to escalate the fight or deepen these divides. We need to turn to God to bring us together!

Jesus reminds us that we will have enemies. People will hate us or curse us. We may not be treated with respect. However, we cannot repay our enemies with the same behavior and expect things to change. We need to begin from a place of love and only God can give us that love. While it may not be easy, we need to show the presence of God in our lives to everyone...even our enemies!

Show God's love and blessing to everyone, even those that hate you or are your enemies!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love that You give to me. Help me to share this love, even with those that are not nice to me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Push Back!

7/2/2020

"Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident." -Psalm 27:3 (NIV)

There are many conditions that affect our lives. We know that right does not always prevail when faced with the sin of the world. When we see injustice and evil, we are called to respond. We are called to not fear, but to be confident and push back in accordance with God's will!

The conditions of our lives may feel like they are pressing in and besieging us. We may feel that we are at war. Even if we are not personally attacked, we may empathize with others and be aware of the pressure and pain they feel. When it seems like the walls are closing in, we need to be prepared to take action. We need to rely on God and to push back and fight for His love and redemption in this world. When we go with God, He allows us to fight for Him with confidence and without fear!

Push back against the evil in this world with the confidence and fearlessness that only God can provide!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength and redemption that can be found in You. Help me to hold on to You as I push back against the evil of this world. In Jesus I pray, amen.

With Us!

7/1/2020

"May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You." -Psalm 33:22 (NIV)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "Only in the darkness can you see the stars." When we look around, we may see despair. However, we cannot remain focused on all that troubles us. We need to have hope and look for the stars!

When we search for the stars, we can be reassured by God's love. We can have hope that God is beside us and supporting us. Even in the darkest times, God is the light, the stars, that guide us. His love and hope are with us and can sustain us!

Follow the light of God's love and the hope we can have in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being with me, even in the darkest times. Help me to embrace Your love and to hold on to hte hope I have in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Brave with Him!

6/30/2020

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." -Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

A lot of what we do in the world requires a certain amount of courage or bravery. Even though our actions may be difficult, we need to keep moving forward. As Emilie Autumn says, "Being brave means knowing something is scary, difficult, and dangerous, and doing it anyway, because the possibility of winning the fight is worth the chance of losing it."

If we enter a fight or try to make a change on our own, there is a distinct possibility that we could lose the fight. However, we do have an advantage that can help us overcome the issues we face. We can call on God. When we call on God, we can be brave, no matter how scary, difficult, or dangerous things may seem. With God on our side, we can rest assured in His power. We can be brave and win the fight as long as God is on our side!

Call on God and be brave as He helps you win the fight!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sharing Your power and strength. Help me to follow Your will and to be brave as I face the world. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Not On Your Own!

6/29/2020

"Who can say, 'I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin'?" -Proverbs 20:9 (ESV)

Drew Houston said, "If you start your own thing, you can learn a lot really fast from doing things wrong." We may think we can do our own thing and purify our own hearts. However, no matter how hard we try, we cannot clean our sin our own!

We cannot save ourselves from sin. We can try to do our own thing, to try to be better based on our will and actions. While we should try to be better, we need to be sure we don't continue to do the wrong things. To accomplish this, we need to be sure we have a relationship with God and have accepted His forgiveness and will in our lives. With God, we can be assured that we will get better. He will cleanse us from our sin and purify our hearts!

We cannot become pure on our own. We need the salvation that only God can give!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for the salvation and purification that can only come through Him. Help me to live a better life in You. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Hate Evil. Love Good!

6/28/2020

"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." -Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)

Maxwell Struthers Burt said, "If you cannot hate evil, you cannot love good." We see both good and evil in the world around us. We need to recognize what is evil and what is good, so we can hate what is evil and love what is good. This process starts with fearing the Lord!

Hate is a harsh word that we sometimes avoid saying. However, we need to hate evil to love good. We also need to know evil in order to hate it. We can know what is evil by knowing what is good. God is good. To know Him and His goodness, we need to accept the salvation that God provides. Once we know God and choose to follow Him, we much hate evil and love good!

Know God so you can hate evil and love good!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your salvation and for showing me what is good. Help me to hate evil and love good. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Content and Happy!

6/27/2020

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" -Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Leo Babauta reminds us that, "What's important is being content with life, not stuff, and thereby reducing your needs." While we have certain needs to survive, we can reduce what is required to be happy to having God in our lives and being content with what He has given us!

God is with us and promises to never leave or forsake us. Even when we start to move away from God, He is there for us. He provides for us, giving us what we need. Because God knows what we need, we can depend on Him. We can feel His presence in our lives. We can find rest and peace in Him. We can be content and happy in Him!

Be content and happy, not because of your stuff, but because you have God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for knowing me and providing for me. Help me to be content and happy with all that You have given me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Get Dressed!

6/26/2020

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." -Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Working and learning from home for several months disrupted the "normal" routines of life. There were reminders to be "camera ready" for online meetings, which may have been interpreted as needing to be dressed. We can put on different clothes for different situations or events, but we always need to be dressed as God's people!

When we get dressed to do God's work, we need to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. When we follow God, we can prepare to work for Him in the world. These "clothes" provided by God will always fit and will be appropriate for all situations. When we clothe oursevles in these attributes, we will not only be "camera ready", we will be dressed and ready for all things as we work for and bring glory to God's name!

Get dressed for God and be ready to work for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the "clothes" that You provide. Help me to put on and use these attributes to bring glory to You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Rich Heart!

6/25/2020

"Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf." -Proverbs 11:28 (ESV)

Each of us has different riches, whether we measure them in talents, health, or wealth. However, Ralph Waldo Emerson reminds us that, "Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar." If we choose to trust in these riches or hide them and not use them, then we will fail. We need to use what God has given us!

God blesses each and every one of us. We are not all blessed in the same way, but we are blessed. When we consider our blessings from God, we should be sure that we are not relying on these talents and riches, but are relying on the One that provides them for us. We should also decide to use our riches to glorify God and to be a source of positive change in the world. When we have faith and trust in God and use the riches that He has given us for good according to His will, we can be sure that we will flourish!

Rely on God and not on your riches, then use them with a rich heart for God's glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings that You have provided in my life! Help me to rely on You and to use my blessings for Your glory! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Perfection and Refuge

6/24/2020

"As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him." -II Samuel 22:31 (NIV)

Several years ago I was concerned with some school decisions being made in my town. I expressed these concerns and was told that the focus was only on doing what was "good enough" for the students. Speaking up left me vulnerable to the insults and motivations of those in power to silence my voice and diminish my influence. While I understand we can never reach perfection here on earth, that doesn't mean we should not strive to be better. As we speak up and try to do better, we may also need a place of refuge!

The world around us is set in its ways, some of which are oppressive and evil. The devil is constantly trying to gain control and broaden his influence over people and the systems that they create. As followers of God, we cannot allow ourselves to be swallowed up by the evil that is around us. We need to recognize the perfection of God and do our best to live up to His expectations. This is not an easy task and not something we can do on our own. However, God is ready to help! We can follow His Word, His guidance, and His voice in our lives. Additionally, we can find comfort, rest, safety in the refuge that He provides. Living for God will not always be easy, but it is possible when we strive for His perfect, loving nature and are protected as we take refuge in Him!

God is perfect! Strive to live out God's perfection by relying on His salvation and finding refuge in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for redeeming me, leading me, and providing refuge. Help me to live for You and not be overcome by evil. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Happiness & Success

6/23/2020

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." -I Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

Albert Schweitzer said, "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." Sometimes we pay a lot of time and attention to achieving success. If we want to be successful, we need to start with happiness and contentment!

To gain happiness and success, we can start with godliness and contentment that can only be found in God. We can build our lives around the presence and guidance of God in our lives. When our foundation is God and our focus is on Him, He will help us lead godly lives that have a purpose and contentment. We can gain success both in this life and throughout eternity by being content in Him!

Find happiness and success by finding godliness and contentment in the one true God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the contentment and happiness that can only be found in You. Help me to be godly and to follow Your guidance. In Jesus I pray, amen.

When All Else Fails?

6/22/2020

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." -Psalm 54:4 (NIV)

Throughout life, we face challenges and triumphs. We like to think that we can make it on our own; that we can solve our own problems and reap the rewards. Because we want to do things on our own, we sometimes try on our own, then, when all else fails, we turn to God!

God shouldn't be a last resort. We should not wait until we have exhausted our other options or failed on our own. Instead, God should be first. Whether the challenges we face are large or small, we should start by going to God in prayer. When we have reason to celebrate, we should praise God and include Him in our joy. God is our help. He will sustain us. We should go to Him first, not when all else fails!

Go to God first and allow Him to sustain You!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being in my life and sustaining me. Help me to always go to You first. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Get Away!

6/21/2020

"You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." -Psalm 32:7 (NIV)

As we deal with the routines of life and the events of the world, we are bombarded with non-stop demands on our time, energy, and resources. In the midst of everything, we might feel that we just need to get away! When we feel pressured, stressed, or overwhelmed, we can get away. We can turn to God!

God is always with us and He always wants what is best for us. When we need a break or a chance to get away from the world around us, we can find a hiding place or refuge in Him. We can take a moment or an extended period to sit with God, to talk to Him, and to listen to and feel His comfort. We can be protected and restored when we "get away" to God!

Turn to God's refuge, comfort, and protection to help you take a break and get away from the stress of the world!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me and giving me a place to find refuge. Help me to listen to and feel Your comfort and protection. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Reflect & Shine!

6/20/2020

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." -John 1:5 (NIV)

Sometimes the world around us seems dark. We may have experiences that reinforce this feeling. Even when we feel that we are surrounded by the deepest, darkest events, we have a choice. We can choose to participate in the darkness or we can let our light shine!

When our light comes from God, no darkness can overcome it! As we feel the world getting darker, we don't have to let the darkness encroach on our lives. We can start with even the smallest of lights and ask God to help it grow. In the darkest times, we can rely on God and have faith that He will help our light shine even brighter! When we are reflecting God's light, no darkness can overcome it!

Know God and His light so that you can shine in the darkness!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your light! Help me to reflect Your light so others can see Your glory. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Keep Learning!

6/19/2020

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." -Proverbs 4:7 (NIV)

When we look at the world around us, we can see that it is a complex place. There are many different perspectives and events that overlap and can impact the future for years to come. As we interact with others and the world around us, we need to realize that we don't know everything, but we also need to keep on learning!

The beginning of wisdom may sound easy: get wisdom. However, learning, growing, and gaining wisdom is a process. When we commit to learning, it will cost us time and effort. It may even cost us the comfort of living as we currently do. God is calling us to gain wisdom. He is presenting us with ways to learn and grow. As we keep on learning, we need to talk and listen to Him, then reflect on and grow from the lessons we learn!

Turn to God and keep on learning and growing!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the lessons and wisdom that You provide. Help me to continually learn and grow, even if it pushes me beyond my current comfort zone. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Do Good!

6/18/2020

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." -Galatians 6:10 (ESV)

One of my favorite quotes comes from Roberto Clemente. He said, "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth." Each day we have an opportunity to do good in some way, but do we take advantage of our opportunities?

God calls us to serve. As we follow God, we are to serve Him and to serve others. We do this by doing good to everyone. We should embrace the love and compassion that God shows us. We can look to the example that Jesus set for us. Then, we should show this love and compassion as we do good and serve others. We should do good with every opportunity we have so we do not waste our time on earth!

Take the opportunities in your life to do good to everyone!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the good in my life. Help me to share Your love and compassion as I do good in the world around me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hear and Do!

6/17/2020

"He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'" -Luke 11:28 (NIV)

When I give my daughter directions, I want her to follow them. I expect her to both listen and then to act. We are God's children. We should listen and then act!

God has given us His Word and we can talk to Him through prayer. We need to be sure we are listening. However, we need to do more than just listen. We need to take in all that God is telling and teaching us and then put it into action. When we obey God, we act as He calls us! We need to hear and then do!

Hear what God has to say and then obey Him through your actions!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for talking to me and teaching me. Help me to put Your teaching into action. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Proclaim His Name!

6/16/2020

"Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done." -Psalm 105:1 (NIV)

When we have good news, we usually want to share it! We want others to share in our happiness. We may call or text someone, post on social media, or visit someone in person. We have good news about all that God has done. We need to share it!

Our words and actions can show others God's presence in our lives. We can tell them about all that God has done. However, we need to go beyond just telling others. We need to praise God and let Him know that we are thankful for all He has done. We can praise God on our own or we can join others in praising God. We can proclaim His name and all that He has done!

Share the good that God has done as you proclaim His name and praise Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You have done in my life. Help me to proclaim and praise Your name so others can know You, too. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Silence?

6/15/2020

"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." -Exodus 14:14 (ESV)

There are times when we may feel like we need to have the last word. That "last word" may be in person, through text, or a social media post. We can get caught up in all the chatter and the need to be heard. However, we may need to listen. As the poet Rumi wrote, "Listen to silence. It has so much to say."

Sometimes when we feel we need to be heard by the world, we need ot reassess our approach. God is ready to hear us. We may only need to be heard by Him. We can pray and talk to God. We can ask Him for guidance. As we hear God's will, we can know how to respond. There are times when we may be called to speak out and to support those that are often silenced. However, there are other times when we need ot be silent so God can fight for us. Talking to God can help us to know when we only have to be silent!

Talk to God and know what He is calling you to do - speak out or be silent and let Him fight!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always listening to me. Help me to listen to You and to know if I need to speak out or be silent to let You fight. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Restoration!

6/14/2020

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." -Galatians 6:1 (ESV)

We all have times when we fall and are less than what we want to be. Just because we stumble doesn't mean that we are not good people. However, we may need guidance and support to get back on track. When we realize this about ourselves, we also need to extend the same grace, compassion, and restoration to others!

God has caught us in transgressions. He knows our sin, but He does not stop loving us. He prepared a path to redemption so we could draw near to Him. We can accept salvation through Jesus and we can learn from this example in our lives. We should prepare ourselves to help one another. We need to remain in God so we are protected, but we should work to restore each other. With God's love and gentleness, we can help each other to be better...to be restored!

Help each other up and restore each other through God's love, compassion, grace, and mercy!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the restoration that You offer through Jesus Christ. Help me to practice Your love and compassion so I can help bring restoration in my life and in the lives of others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hold On Tight!

6/13/2020

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." -Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

For many of us, this year has been a roller coaster. Life has its ups and downs. Sometimes it may seem as if we are just holding on for the ride! When we hold on, we need to be sure that we hold on tight to the right things!

We need to be sure we have a solid foundation or are holding tight tot something that is firm and unwavering. We do not want to get swept up with the ways of the world. We need to be sure we are standing for what is right and true, no matter the ups and downs of the world. We can hold on tight to the promises and hope that we have in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. When we hold on tight, we can find eternal glory with God!

Hold on tight to God and His promises now and for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your promises and the hope and faith that I can have in You. Help me to always hold on tight to You! In Jesus I pray, amen.

Joy, Patience, Faith

6/12/2020

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12 (NIV)

As the end of the school year approaches, there is always a lot to do. While this year is no exception, the work looks different as we finish the school year from home. As we move through this new territory, there may be some levels of anxiety. Even if you are not in school, there still may be anxiety or nervousness about other events in our lives. In the midst of it all, we can find joy, patience, and faith to help us!

First, we know that God is always with us, so we have a source of strength. We can find joy in the hope that God provides in our lives. Second, we need to have patience. Whether we are anxious or suffering from some other affliction, God is with us. We can wait on God's timing and action in our lives. Finally, we can be reassured by our faith and continually have a conversation with God through prayer. We can know God, find hope, and have patience through our faith in Him!

Find joy in God's hope. Be patient to wait on Him through all afflictions. Have faith and continually communicate with God through prayer!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the hope You provide and for actively communicating with me. Help my patience and faith to grow as I rely on You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

It Is Impossible...Until It Is Done!

6/11/2020

"'If you can?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who believes.'" -Mark 9:23 (NIV)

A friend recently shared a favorite quote from Nelson Mandela. He said, "It always seems impossible until it is done." If we want to spread God's love and leave the world a better place, it may seem impossible. Even in the midst of struggle and strife, we can succeed! Jesus reminds us that everything is possible!

As we follow God, we can know His love and seek His will. Knowing God allows us to see and feel His presence in our lives. We can then take His presence in our lives and share it with others. As we face the struggles and evil of this world, we can fall back on God's presence, knowing that He will turn "we can't" to "we can!" When we align our lives with God, we don't have to worry about our limitations, we can rely on God for strength and wisdom. We can believe and change our way of thinking from "impossible" to "possible!"

Rely on God's presence and move from impossible to possible!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the power and wisdom that You provide in my life. Help me to always believe and to overcome the impossible for Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

A Lot to Learn!

6/10/2020

"I will praise You with an upright heart as I learn Your righteous laws." -Psalm 119:7 (NIV)

Each day I am reminded that I have a lot to learn about many things. Each day I am also grateful for everything that I learn. No matter where we are or what we are doing, there are opportunities for us to learn. We need to embrace those opportunities and then praise God!

God is all-knowing and He is a great teacher. He provides us with opportunities and experiences that help us grow in many different ways. Each time we are able to learn something new, we can look to God as the source of knowledge and of the opportunities provided to us. Because God is great and a wonderful teacher, we should praise Him! We have a lot to learn, but a great teacher to help along the way!

There is a lot to learn, but God is willing and able to help us learn it! Praise Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being the greatest teacher. Help me to learn the lessons that You have prepared for me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

The Power of a Gathering

6/9/2020

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” -Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

Recently, we have seen many people gathering. Most of these people are gathering to promote justice. As we watch people coming together, we can be reminded about the power of a gathering. We need to remember that our gatherings are the most powerful when they are in God's name!

Jesus promises that if two or three are gathered in His name, He will be there. When we are gathered with God and Jesus, our efforts can be magnified. With God's power, we can make a bigger impact. Our actions can have more power than just adding together the individuals gathered. We have power when we gather. We have even more power when we gather with God!

Make your gathering more powerful when you gather with God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being with me and gathering with us. Help me to always include You in my gathering so as a gathering, we can have more power and make a bigger impact for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.