Bible Inspired - Devotionals

Live in Him!

2/24/2020

"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" -I Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

As kids, we need to learn how to act in different situations. If we didn't have adults to guide us and serve as role models, we may not understand the importance of everything from simple manners to other issues of decorum. As we grow in our spiritual lives, we need to follow our spiritual role models!

The Bible is filled with believers that we can look to as role models. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we have many people that can inspire and inform our lives and our choices. However, there is one that is the ultimate role model. Jesus came down to earth to live as we live and to provide us with an example of how to live our lives. We know that Jesus is holy, now it is up to us to live in Him so we can be holy, too!

Live in and through your Savior, Jesus Christ, so you can be holy, too!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the examples of how to live and to be holy. Help me to live in Jesus so I can be redeemed and holy. In Him I pray, amen.

Worn Out?

2/23/2020

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness." -Proverbs 23:4 (NIV)

Life isn't easy. We've probably all heard that or something similar. Whether we are trying to make money or are fighting to make the world a better place, we can wear ourselves out. To be effective in all we do, we need to be sure that we put our trust in and draw strength from the right source: God!

If we chase earthly riches and trust in our own ways to solve the injustices of the world, then we will get worn out. We will become tired and may even withdraw from doing what we like or need to do. Instead of letting ourselves get to the point of exhaustion, we need to rest and to find strength. God is the one that can provide strength. He can multiply our efforts. He is the only source of rest and true redemption. We don't have to be run down and worn out. We can find care and compassion in God!

Don't allow yourself to be run down and worn out. Turn to God to find rest and restoration!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being both a source of strength and a place of rest. Help me to trust in You and to be prepared to make a difference for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Rest & Restore!

2/22/2020

"Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved." -Psalm 80:19 (NIV)

The weekend brings many of us a time to rest, to recoup, and to prepare for the week ahead. When we have time off, we need to be sure we are allowing ourselves to be restored. However, this restoration needs to be more than just physical. We need to be emotionally and spiritually restored!

God is the source of our restoration. We need to take time to acknowledge God in our lives and to communicate with Him. When we release control and allow God to take over, He can shine on us, restore us, and save us. It is through God that our souls can be filled and our actions can be guided to make a difference in His Kingdom!

Pray to God and give Him control so you can be restored!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a source of rest and restoration. Help me to give You control so You can restore me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

More than Thinking...

2/21/2020

"Finally, brothers and sisters, 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." -Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

I was reminded today that we still need to make progress in building relationships, being respectful, and getting along with each other. We need to not only pay attention to our actions, but also to our words. If our words and actions are not rooted in God, we have work to do!

In Philippians, we are reminded to keep God as our focus and to think about things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It is good to think about things that will help us align ourselves with God. However, once we have the correct mindset, we need to get to work. We need to become active advocates that help spread God's love that brings people together and builds meaningful, lasting relationships. With God, we can do more than think, we can act!

Think about all of the goodness that is God and provided by God, then do more than thinking as you act out of God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and all the good that I can focus on in my life. Help me to build on Your goodness and to act in Your love. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Never Fails!

2/20/2020

"For no word from God will ever fail." -Luke 1:37 (NIV)

Whenever we try things, there is a chance that we may fail. Each time we take a risk or step out of our comfort zones, we need to consider how we will learn from our experience. To make learning these lessons easier, we need to be sure we are focused on God's will and presence in our lives!

God will not fail. When He speaks, all of creation takes notice, even if it struggles to reluctantly listen. If we choose to struggle and fight against God, we will fail. The good news is that we don't have to engage in struggles that will not succeed. We can talk to God and listen to His direction in our lives. We can side with God and experience the joy He provides. In those times when we struggle, we can learn the lessons from God that will help us get back to His unfailing way!

Listen to God and learn from Him because He never fails!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance. Help me to always listen to You and Your Word so I can experience joy and success that only You can provide. When I fail to follow You, help me to learn and reconnect with Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Committed!

2/19/2020

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." -Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

My daughter recently started practicing jiu-jitsu. As she is learning the sport, she is also learning some keys to life. She is learning that progress is tied to commitment and consistency. To get better at things, we need to be committed and consistent in our efforts!

Whatever we set out to do in life, it will require work. Whether we are trying to accomplish a small task or to address larger issues, we need to be prepared. We need to be ready for highs and lows so we can stay committed and consistent. In order to be prepared, we can start by talking and listening to God. When we commit our efforts to the Lord, we can be assured that He will guide us and lead us to success for Him!

Be committed to God and allow Him to guide you to consistency and success!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for leading me and helping me to find success. Help me to continually follow Your will and to help others see You. In Jesus I pray, amen.

All Talk?

2/18/2020

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." -Romans 10:10 (NIV)

Sometimes it is easy to "talk a good game." We can talk about things that we think we do well or that we intend to do. It is even possible to convince ourselves of certain beliefs or things we think are happening. While we may talk about things and even think we believe them, it is in our hearts that we can know our true beliefs.

When we talk about our relationship with God and with Jesus Christ, we need to do more than talk or think about our beliefs. Before we start talking to others, we need to believe in our hearts that God is King. We need to know God and in His redeeming power through Jesus Christ not just in our heads, but in our hearts. Once God is in our hearts, then we can truly tell and show others the saving power of God and His Son!

Don't be all talk. Believe in God and Jesus in your heart!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for filling my heart and saving my soul. Help me to not be all talk, but to speak meaningfully from my heart. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Love & Honor for Others

2/17/2020

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." -Romans 12:10 (NIV)

Most of us want to help others and do good in the world around us, but our approach matters. When we want to help, we need to be sure we act out of love and honor for others. As Molly Friedenfeld said, "A person can put up any kind of protective wall, but love and truth always find a way around it."

Even when we are at our lowest, God has love and respect for each of us. If we are committed to following God and helping others, we should be prepared to act out of love and honor that comes from God. We can devote ourselves to helping and honoring each other. When we are committed to love and honor, we can create a community that finds ways around the walls others may put up in order to them join us as part of God's loving family!

Help each other with love and honor to live as God has called you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and respect and Your redemption in my life. Help me to help others out of love and respect. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Be a Window!

2/16/2020

"How much more, then will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God!" -Hebrews 9:14 (NIV)

Today at church the Pastor said that we should be windows that allow others to see into our lives and to see how God is at work in our lives. However, windows get dirty. If they are not cleaned, the view from the window can become distorted or even blocked. Our lives can be windows for others to see God, but we need to be sure they are clean windows!

Our lives can become dirty or distorted when we try to do too much on our own. We may try to clean the windows or to put up window dressings that make things look good from the outside. If our lives are not in line with God's will, the view through our windows will not be true. We need to allow God to clean our windows - to redeem and renew us, to help us be what He wants us to be. Once we are cleansed, then we can serve as examples of the power of the living God!

Allow God to cleanse you so you can be a window for others to see His power, grace, and mercy!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your cleansing power in my life. Help me to live according to Your will so others can see Your power, grace, and mercy. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Show through Praise!

2/15/2020

"I will praise You, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples." -Psalm 108:3 (NIV)

When we have something good or exciting happening in our lives, we often want to tell others. It can be hard to keep quiet. We can go around telling others about the good things happening in our lives, but that is not the only way others can see our joy. Our actions can also let others know about our excitement!

As followers of God and Jesus Christ, we are called to tell others the Good News. While we may think about that call as talking to people about God and telling them of salvation through Jesus, we need to broaden this idea. Instead of focusing just on telling others, we also need to show them. One of the ways we can show others is through praise God openly and often. When we praise God, we can draw attention to all that He does in our lives. We can show all that God does for us through praise!

Praise God to show others His presence and action in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
All praise to You! Thank You for Your presence and action in my life. Help my actions and praise to allow others to see Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Brought Joy!

2/14/2020

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy." -Psalm 94:19 (NIV)

There are many things that may bring stress or anxiety to our lives. We can search for ways to destress or lessen our anxiety. From reading about tips to listening to advice, we can try to focus on what works for each of us. However, we need to be careful that we do not forget taht God is a source of strength and joy!

When we feel anxiety and stress creeping into our lives, we need to take a step back and turn to God. God is a source of strength. By turning to God and trusting in Him, we can allow Him to take on the sources of our stress and anxiety. Because of God's care, love, and power, He can help us overcome our anxiety. When we face anxiety with God, He will bring us joy!

When faced with anxiety and stress, turn to God and allow Him to take control and bring joy!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your strength and care in my life. Help me to overcome stress and anxiety to truly experience Your joy! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Cause and Effect

2/13/2020

"And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and security forever." -Isaiah 32:17 (ESV)

In my lessons, one of the skills we focus on building with students is the connections between causes and effects. While some causes may seem to be directly related to certain effects, others may be harder to see at first. Looking for causes and effects isn't limited to classes in school, we can see these in our own lives!

In Isaiah, we are reminded that there are effects and results of righteousness. Righteousness can bring peace. It can bring quietness and security. While these are effects of righteousness, we also need to look for the cause of righteousness. We can only find righteousness through the one, true God. By committing our lives to Him and following Him, we can be redeemed and made righteous, then we can find the peace, quietness, and security of God!

Find the cause of righteousness in God and then enjoy the effects of His peace, quietness, and eternal security!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for redeeming me and helping me to find Your righteousness. Help me to live in Your peace, quietness, and security now and forever. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Easier Journey

2/12/2020

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." -Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

When it is time to move, many people turn to friends and family to help them. From packing boxes to loading and unloading items, it is good to have help. Whether we are moving or not, we can help lift each other up in many other ways!

We can help each other by carrying each other's burdens. When we see others that are down, we can help lift them up. We can offer love and support. Most importantly, we can introduce them to or remind them of God's love and redemption. Through helping each other and turning to God, we can make our loads lighter and our journeys easier!

Help others with their burdens and help them to see God's never-ending love and support!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for making my burdens lighter. Help me to help others lighten their loads and to see all that You have in store for them. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Walk Humbly & Do Justice

2/11/2020

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." -Proverbs 31:9 (NIV)
"He has told you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" -Micah 6:8 (NASB)

There are many different ways of thinking in education today. While we seem to be searching for the right way to include all of our students, we look to ideas about equity and social justice. We need to think about these things beyond schools and in relation to our walk with God!

Throughout the Bible, we are called to love one another and to help each other. It is easier to do these things when we are walking with God. When we walk with God, we can experience His love that we can share with others. We can also find the strength we need to do justice in this world because we know that fighting injustice is a difficult and ongoing process. When we respond to God's call to do justice and love kindness, we won't get very far if we are not humbly walking with Him!

Prepare and then act to love kindness and do justice, but be sure to walk humbly with God and rely on His power and strength!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the power and strength that only You can provide. Help me to walk with You and to fight injustice with Your kindness, love, and strength. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Legacy?

2/10/2020

"God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." -Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)

Whether referring to a politician, professional athlete, or other figure, people sometimes talk about the legacy notable people will leave behind. We may even think about our own legacies and how we will be remembered. If we want to make an impact and leave a legacy, we need to start with God and a legacy rooted in eternity!

The things we have and do in this life are temporary. However, we can and should prepare for eternity! The work we do should not be focused on ourselves or the legacy that we may leave. We should focus on working for God. When we work for God, our legacy will be in Him. He will remember us and will multiply our work on earth to benefit others and His Kingdom. The legacy we build in God will be eternal!

Work for God and build an eternal legacy in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for guiding me and helping me. Allow my work here and now to be lasting and in line with Your will. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Always Found!

2/9/2020

"'Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?' declares the Lord. 'Do not I fill heaven and earth?' declares the Lord." -Jeremiah 23:24 (NIV)

When my daughter was younger, she loved playing hide and seek. There were limited places to hide, especially when she asked an adult to hide. As she learned these spots, it became more difficult to stay hidden. As we think about God, we do not have to worry about being hidden from or lost by God!

God fills the earth. He knows all of the crevices, the dark places, and the typical hiding spots. Even if we think we want to hide, we cannot hide from God. Instead of trying to do things on our own or trying to hide, we need to welcome God into our lives. He wants to help us. He wants to redeem us and make us whole. We need to invite God into our lives because we will always be found by Him!

Be found by God and allow Him to take control and transform your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for finding me and for working in my life. Help me to invite You into my life, to allow You to take control and continue Your work. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Empathy and Sharing

2/8/2020

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." -Romans 12:15 (NIV)

Henry David Thoreau posed the question, "Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?" In life, we have many experiences of our own. We know that those around us have their own experiences, too. As we prepare to care for one another through sharing God's love, we need to remember to have empathy.

Having empathy requires us to look through another's eyes or feel what they could be feeling. Empathy does not mean feeling bad or having sympathy for others. Instead, we need to know each other and to try to understand different situations and perspectives. Knowing others allows us to rejoice when they are rejoicing and mourn when they are mourning. Getting to know each other can then allow us to share God's love and the Good News!

Get to know each other, have empathy, and share the Good News!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love, understanding, and empathy. Help me to get to know others, to support them, and to share the Good News. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

What Are You Seeking?

2/7/2020

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." -Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)

Think about your daily schedule. The schedule probably has a list of places to go and things to do. When I am trying to accomplish things, I get frustrated if I cannot find something that I need. I do not like being distracted or held up as I search for tools or answers that I need to finish everything on my list!

There are a lot of distractions in life. The things around us, no matter how temporary, compete for our attention. Even when we are most tempted or distracted, God is still standing by our side. We just need to seek Him, to turn to Him. When we are seeking God, we can be reassured that we will find Him and He will fill our hearts and souls!

Seek God and allow Him to fill your heart and soul - now and for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me. Help me to always seek You and to allow You to fill my heart and soul. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Established

2/6/2020

"Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." -II Corinthians 3:4-6 (ESV)

Some of us work to establish ourselves in life. We may want to build a home for our families, establish our credibility or work ethic at work, or make an impact on the world around us. When we are trying to become established, we can take the advice of Joshua Lederberg when he said, "If it takes you 20 or 25 years to establish yourself in one field, you really ought to be careful not to stray too far."

No matter what area of life we want to "established" in, we need to start with a good foundation, which is God! We cannot build our lives by ourselves. We need the support of God. It is through God that we can have confidence. God calls us to build our lives on His Word and the Spirit He gives us. He also calls us to share this Good News and to help others experience Him. It is only through the Spirit of God that we can be established and follow God's calling.

Follow God and find the confidence to establish your life in Him and then respond to His call to share the Good News!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the confidence that only You can give. Help me to be established in You and to share Your Good News. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Advice

2/5/2020

"Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." -Proverbs 13:10 (NIV)

Will Rogers said, "Never miss a good chance to shut up." Sometimes we are so busy that we miss what others are trying to tell us. Because we self-absorbed or wrapped up in current situations, our pride overcomes us or we walk into strife and increase our stress. We may need to take a moment or two to be quiet!

In order to grow, we need to learn. We can learn from our experiences, but it always helps to gain insight from others that have been in similar situations. We can also get guidance from God. While wisdom can come from God and from those that He puts in our lives, we need to listen. We need to talk and ask questions, but then we need to listen to the advice that we receive. With the advice we have been given, we can prayerfully listen to God to truly gain wisdom!

Listen to advice, pray, and follow God to avoid strife and pride!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the advice, wisdom, and guidance that only You can provide. Help me to always listen to You and to understand Your wisdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Good Guide!

2/4/2020

"Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long." -Psalm 25:5 (NIV)

As I get older, it seems as if time is always rushing by. However, there are still those days that seem to take longer than others. As we move through our days, whether they are long or short, challenging or easy, full of action or laid back, we need to be sure we start with a good guide!

Through all of our days, God is our guide. He teaches us and allows us to know the truth. He provides hope all day long. We need to be sure we rely on Him. We need to continually talk with God, listening to His wisdom and guidance. No matter whether our days seem short or long, God is with us and will be our guide, now and for eternity!

God is a good guide, so talk to Him and listen to Him all day long!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance. Help me to listen all day long and for all of my days on earth and for eternity. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Teacher & Lord

2/3/2020

"You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am." -John 13:13 (NIV)

Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, said that "[Kids] don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are." Whether we are consciously trying to teach or just living our lives, we are teachers. To be effective, we need to model our lives after the Master Teacher, Jesus!

Jesus came to earth to experience life as a human but also to teach. He told stories that helped us to understand many different lessons. However, He also lived in a way that taught us. Even if we do not remember specific lessons, we can remember who Jesus is. We can remember that He is the Son of God, our Teacher and Lord! We can then strive to live as Jesus did, as teachers, so others can see Him and see the glory of God!

Remember what Jesus is and live so others can learn about Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus and for the lessons He provides. Help me to learn the lessons and then to live as a teacher that allows others to see Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Welcomed and Missed?

2/2/2020

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." -Revelation 3:20 (NASB)

It is nice to feel welcomed. While it feels good to be welcomed, we sometimes don't think about being "missed." When we look at our church family, we may welcome newcomers, but do we reach out to those that have missed church or seem to be no longer coming to worship? Do we notice when we are no longer welcoming God into our lives?

God is waiting to be welcomed into our lives and He is happy when we open our hearts to Him. Even after we open the door and welcome Him into our lives, we sometimes lose sight of Him because we are focused on trying to do things on our own. It is during these times that we should miss our conversations and walks with Him. We should feel that He is missing, not because He has changed but because we have not continued to welcome Him. Whether we think about welcoming God into our lives or welcoming and missing people in our church family, we need to open the door and welcome them!

Continue to welcome God into your life so He will not be missed and welcome people into God's family so they will not be missed!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for welcoming me. Help me to continually welcome You into my heart and to miss You when I focus on myself. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

More than Riches!

2/1/2020

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness." -Proverbs 23:4 (NIV)

Life can get busy. It can seem that we are moving faster, trying to do more in order to get more. We think we can work harder and through our own efforts we will earn more money and riches. In the process, we can wear ourselves out. While we want to make a good life for ourselves and our families, we need to be focused on more than riches!

We should not focus all of our time and energy on trying to increase the amount of money or stuff we have. We should not wear ourselves out in pursuit of things that will not last. Instead of trusting ourselves and trying to get ahead on our own, we need to rely on God. We can allow Him to fill our hearts, to guide us in His ways. When we commit ourselves to God, we can trust Him and find that life is more than riches!

Do not wear yourself out chasing temporary things. Follow God and find eternal riches in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your promises and path to eternity. Help me to put my faith and trust in You instead of trying to do things on my own. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Depend

1/31/2020

"My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge." -Psalm 62:7 (NIV)

Many of us like to be independent. We want to do things our way when we want to do them. Even though we may think we could be independent, we need God. We are dependent on Him!

Whether we willingly or unwillingly admit it, we are dependent. We can choose if we depend on the temporary things of this world or on the eternal God. God is everlasting. He can be our rock and our refuge. We just need to commit to God, our salvation and honor depend on it!

Depend on God because your salvation and honor depend on Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for salvation and honor that can only come through You. Help me to rely on You, my Rock and Refuge. Through Jesus I pray, amen.