Bible Inspired - Devotionals

One

1/19/2020

"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." -I Corinthians 8:6 (NIV)

There are many times in our lives when we may look for different options. We may look for the best price, the best selection, or just for something we prefer. While trying to find the best option can be beneficial, when it comes to God we need to remember that there is only one!

There is only one God. He has only one Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. We should only worship God and His Son. We should only seek redemption and salvation through the one pathway that God has established for us. Instead of searching for unfulfilling options offered by the world, we need trust and commit to the One!

There is only one God. Commit to and follow Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being the One. Help me to always follow You without concern about worldly options. In Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Careful Steps, but Steps!

1/18/2020

"Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways." -Proverbs 4:26 (NIV)

When we look around the world, we probably see lots of things we would like to see changed. As we recognize what needs to be changed, we can either choose to sit and hope someone makes the change or we can take steps to help foster change. The steps that we take should follow God's guidance!

God has called us as His followers to make a positive impact on the world. We live in the world, but we need to not conform to the world. To make change happen in the world around us, we need to take steps. We cannot sit on the sidelines. However, we need to be careful and sure that our steps are set in God's ways. When our steps are aligned with God's, we can be sure that we can make an impact and leave the world a better place!

Don't just sit and watch, take careful steps aligned with God to help make the world a better place!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your strength and guidance. Help me to take steps, the right steps, to help further Your Kingdom and to make the world a better place. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Be a Delight!

1/17/2020

"For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory." -Psalm 149:4 (NIV)

Sometimes we are a delight to be around, but there are other times when we may not be such a delight! Our actions and words can draw people closer or push them away. However, we are called to work for God so He can take delight in us!

When working for God, we can and should be a delight for others. By helping others to see God's work in our lives, He can take delight in us. As we humbly work for God, He will bless our work and allow others to see Him through the love that we show. We can humbly spread God's love, be victorious in spreading the Good News, and be a delight to others and to God!

Show God's love and compassion to others so you can be a delight!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your support in helping me be victorious for You and Your Kingdom. Help me to continue to delight You by allowing others to see You in my words and actions. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Blessed for the Work!

1/16/2020

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." -II Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

I have many ideas and projects. I have my vision of what I would like to accomplish, but I don't always have what I need. As I take time to gather resources, to learn and reflect on my goals, I also realize that I need help. When we realize and are ready to accept help, we can find blessings from God that can help in our work!

When we work for the Lord, we can be assured that He is there to help us. We can find blessings that will strengthen, sustain, and guide us. We can know that in all things and at all times, God is all we need. Whether it is in our own projects or in helping others, we are blessed and prepared for our work for God. We need to be willing to accept His blessings and help in all we do!

Accept God's blessings and preparation for your work for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings. Help me to always work for You and Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Committed to Completed!

1/15/2020

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." -Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

I have several projects around the house that are started, but not finished. Whether we start a project with demolition or following the first of many steps, we don't see the result unless we stay focused and committed. Our lives are projects, too. Are we ready to stay committed?

We are works in progress. God is working to complete and perfect us. In order for us to be complete, we need to follow all of the steps. More importantly, we need to allow God to work in and on our lives. It is only when we commit to Him and listen to His teaching that we can know and follow the steps that lead us to completion in Jesus Christ!

Commit to following God's steps and allow God to work in completing you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your teaching and work in my life. Help me to follow You and Your steps for completing my life in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him I pray, amen.

Fight, Finish, Faith

1/14/2020

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." -II Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

It is nice when things go "according to the plan." We also know, maybe all too well, that things often do not go as we hope. As we approach our plans and the other things that life gives us, we need to be prepared to fight the good fight, to finish the race, and to keep our faith!

It is by keeping our faith that we can be ready to fight the good fights that are before us. We can trust in God and allow Him to give us the strength to fight and the endurance to finish the race. It is through our faith that we can stand tall, even when we are faced with unfavorable odds or daunting tasks. With our faith, we can fight and finish the missions that God gives us!

Have faith so you can fight the good fights and finish the races that God sets before you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength and endurance to finish the fights and races that You have given me. Help me to always rely on and grow in my faith. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Prepared!

1/13/2020

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." -Psalm 19:14 (ESV)

All of our journeys require us to be prepared. We may need to know where we are going, what we need for our journey, and direction in how to get there. We can try to figure out all of these things for ourselves, but it is often best if we can get advice from someone that has completed a similar journey.

We need to be prepared for our spiritual journeys, too. We can try to figure things out on our own, but there is a better way to prepare. God is with us. Jesus has lived on earth. They know us and what we need for our journey. Instead of trying to on our own, we can call on them for help. We can ask for God - our Rock and Redeemer - to prepare our hearts and minds and to help our words be appropriate and acceptable!

Get ready for the journey by allowing God to prepare your words, heart, and mind!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your willingness to prepare me. Help me to accept Your direction and preparation. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Learn the Secret!

1/12/2020

"I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." -Philippians 4:12 (ESV)

Life is full of highs and lows. We know that some days of our lives will be better than others. We can celebrate our successes, but we also need to be prepared to survive our "lower" days. There is a secret to both celebrating and surviving. That secret is God!

While we may talk about searching for the "secret of life," God has already provided it to us. Through our highs and lows, we simply need to have faith, trust in God, and continually communicate with Him. He has provided for our salvation and redemption. He has shared with us His love and strength. He is happy with our praises and celebrations. We know the secret, we just need to use it!

God is the secret of life! Talk to Him, have faith, and accept all that He gives to help you through the highs and lows!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You give to me. Help me to know You and to know Your "secret" to life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Take Time to Hear

1/11/2020

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." -James 1:19-20 (ESV)

It seems that media and social media showcase the reactions that we have to events and to each other. Various platforms allow for the sharing of ideas, but can also be areas that are filled with anger and vitriol. Whether we are posting on social media or replying in person, we need to take time to hear and think before we act!

God has standards. He wants us to live up to these standards and to share His Word with others. However, we cannot be effective in growing God's Kingdom if we continually act or react out of anger. James provides an outline for our actions. He suggests that we be quick to hear. We need to truly listen so we can hear what others are saying. We can then be slow to speak, taking time to think about what we have heard. Finally, James says to be slow to anger so we do not interfere with the love God intends to show. Beginning by taking time to listen and hear can help us respond without anger and with God's love!

Take time to listen and hear so you don't lose sight of acting in God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and for always listening. Help me to listen and then to respond with Your love and compassion. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Answer the Call!

1/10/2020

"Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am He." -Isaiah 41:4 (NIV)

There was a time when we were not constantly connected to our phones and incoming calls. Before answering machines, voicemail, and caller ID, we could "miss" calls and never even know they happened! Now, many of us carry cell phones and have other features that allow us to always know when we get a call. Even without our cell phones, there is one call that has been happening since the beginning!

God is calling us! He does not call on a phone, but His "voicemail" is printed on our hearts and minds. We can feel His presence. We can know right from wrong. Since we know God is calling, we need to answer the call! We can accept God's blessings and presence in our lives. We can accept the forgiveness and redemption He provides. After we accept and answer the call, we need to go out and allow others to see and hear the Good News!

Answer God's call for your life by accepting Him and telling others about Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings and calling in my life. Help me to hear and respond to Your call. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

One Call!

1/9/2020

"The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." -Psalm 145:18 (NIV)

As we rely more on cell phones, there is the risk of running out of battery. Many of my students experience this concern every day as they look for places to plug in and recharge their phones. If your battery starts to die, where would you plug in or who would you call?

Our lives may sometimes feel like our batteries are dying. We feel run down, too busy, or rushing from place to place. As we get wrapped up in our lives and our "batteries" lose their charge, we need to be sure we are not neglecting to make the most important call. We need to be sure we are always calling on and communicating with God. It is through God that we can be recharged and ready to work for His Kingdom!

Call on God and allow Him to recharge you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me and for being ready to recharge my life. Help me to listen to You and to allow You to work in my life. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Not "If"!

1/8/2020

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

Potential. We all have potential. It may not be expressed in the same way, but we all have potential. Even though we have potential, there are times we may recognize our limits. Even if we know our limits, we can go beyond our limits with faith. We don't have to stop with "if"!

Jesus calls us to believe. When we believe and trust in His power, we can experience things that go beyond our potential. We shouldn't be discouraged by our limits. We don't need to stop with "If we can." Instead of stopping with "if", we should pray and trust in the power of God and Jesus Christ to overcome earthly limitations. When we have faith and communicate with God, we can say, "Not if, but with God!"

Don't stop with your limitations when you have God's power on your side!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping me overcome all of the "if's" in my life. Help me to always trust in You and Your power in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Take Time to Worship!

1/7/2020

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." -Psalm 95:6 (NIV)

In our lives, we may come to the point where we realize we need to slow down. Some people like meditation or yoga or other ways to be mindful. As we consider slowing down and centering our lives, we need to remember to take time to worship!

God is great and deserves our worship and praise. However, worshipping God can also impact our lives. When we take time to worship, to bow down, to pray, and to praise God, we can center our lives on Him. With our lives centered on God, we can find purpose and fulfillment. We can be guided in how to love and live a life for God as long as we take time to worship!

Take time to worship and center your life on God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your role in my life. Help me to keep my life centered on You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Who Else?

1/6/2020

"Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other." -Deuteronomy 4:39 (NIV)

Many of us have unique people in our lives. Some people seem to be lucky. Some are more likely to be silly. Others that we know may be either positive or negative. Certain situations cause us to think, "Who else?" as we remember the qualities of those in our lives.

When we think about today, we should think of the Creator. Who else? Who else can provide us the love and forgiveness that we desire and need? Who else can provide a pathway to eternal life? Who else can give us the confidence we need to face each day? There is only one: God! There is no other and we should acknowledge and praise Him!

Praise to God, because who else can do what He does?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all You are and all You do in my life. Praise to You as the one and only God! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

He's Listening!

1/5/2020

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." -I Peter 3:12 (NIV)

Listening can be hard. Even when we are talking to someone, we may not be giving our full attention. At the end, we may wonder what was actually said! Fortunately, God is always ready to listen to us!

Whether we call out in need or in praise, we can be assured that God hears us! He listens to our prayers. When we strive to follow His way, He helps to prepare our way. God will offer us protection against evil and will help us to achieve more with Him than we can on our own. We just need to talk to God, trust He is listening, and then listen to God's reply!

God is listening. Talk to Him and listen for His response!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always listening. Help me to continually talk with You and listen to You. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Be Afraid!

1/4/2020

"But when they saw Him walking on the lake, they thought He was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke to them and said, 'Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'" -Mark 6:49-50 (NIV)

Sometimes new opportunities can be scary. Trying something new usually doesn't come with a guarantee that everything will be alright. While we may hesitate to step out and take a risk, but if we call on Jesus, we should trust His response!

During those times we are afraid, we can call to Jesus. He is there walking with us. When He tells us to take courage and not be afraid, we need to trust Him. We can then move closer to Him and walk with Him. We can let go of our fears and focus on following the guidance that Jesus has to offer, trying new things and growing as He wants us to grow!

Don't be afraid! Move closer to Jesus, walk with and listen to Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being there for me and for helping to take away my fear. Help me to let go of my fear and to listen to Your guidance. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Changing/Unchanging

1/3/2020

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." -Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

I recently saw a news story about a physicist that has a theory that we could build a nuclear fusion engine that could push the Sun and actually move our Solar System. When sharing this with my students, many found it unbelievable, then they began asking questions. If we tried to move the Sun and Earth, how would everything change?

Change is a constant in our lives and in the world. Even without trying to move the Sun, Earth, or the Solar System, nothing in our lives stays the same. Sometimes change happens slowly and we barely notice. Other times it may happen very quickly and leave us in shock. As we deal with changes in our lives, it is good to have an "anchor" or something that doesn't change. When we turn to Jesus Christ, we are given the guarantee that He will not change. His love and the redemption offered to us through His death and resurrection will never change! We can always call on and trust in Him!

In a world full of change, find an anchor and strength in the unchanging Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love and forgiveness offered through Your Son. Help me to always turn to Him and rely on His unchanging, loving, and forgiving nature. In Him I pray, amen.

With a Smile!

1/2/2020

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

Albert Einstein said, "Peace begins with a smile." While a smile can send a calming peace to someone, our smiles need to originate in our hearts. When we have peace and love in our hearts, we can share it with others and give thanks!

Jesus Christ can provide us with a peace that goes beyond anything this world can offer to us. Inviting in the peace that Jesus offers allows us to fill our hearts with His peace and love. With our hearts filled, we can share this peace and love...beginning with a smile!

Allow Jesus to fill your heart with peace and then share it with a smile!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your peace and love. Please fill my heart and help me to share Your peace and love with others. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Nothing too Hard!

1/1/2020

"Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You." -Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)

Someone recently said, "If it was easy, it wouldn't be worth doing." We often face situations that challenge us. We may be challenged physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. As we face the new year, we know there will continue to be challenges. How will we choose to respond?

When we face hard times, we need to remember our Creator and Lord! God knows what we face. He holds the power to overcome all that we face. While things that are easy may or may not be worth doing, we can be assured that God can help us through those hard times. He created the heavens and earth. He created each of us. He is ready and waiting with an outstretched hand to help. We can take His hand and be reminded that nothing is too hard with Him!

Call on God and take His hand so nothing will be too hard!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for reaching out for me. Help me to take Your hand and trust in Your strength and power. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Strong, Courage, Waiting

12/31/2019

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" -Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

At the end of each year we wait with anticipation for the beginning of the next. We may count down to the "ball drop" or ring in the new year with other traditions. As we spend time waiting for the new year, we can also be waiting for the Lord!

Waiting on our own can be lonely and hopeless, but when we wait in God, we know that He is with us. The Lord gives us strength and in our faith we can have courage. We know that with Him, things will work for His purpose in our lives. Whether we are waiting on the promise of a new year or working through other issues in our lives, we can wait for the Lord and in the process find strength and courage!

Wait for the Lord and find strength and courage in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength and courage that only You can provide. Help me to wait on You and to find all the blessings You have in store for me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Looking Back & Looking Ahead!

12/30/2019

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" -Revelation 1:8 (ESV)

As one year ends and another begins, we may hear or see a lot of "best of" lists. We take the time to reflect on what has happened in the past year. At the same time, we may also look forward to expectations for the upcoming year. As we look back and ahead during the transition from one year to the next, we need to remember the true beginning and end!

God has always been and will always be. As the book of Revelation tells us, God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the "who is and who was and who is to come." Our reflections of the past year should include God's role in our lives - how His love, forgiveness, and guidance have helped us. Our expectations and looking forward should also include our plans for learning more and becoming closer to God. Our transition from one year to the next should look back and look ahead to all that God has done and will do in our lives!

Look back at the blessings from God and look ahead to all that He can and will do in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You have done and all that You will do in my life. Help me to always hear and follow You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Find Strength & Grow!

12/29/2019

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." -I Chronicles 16:11 (NIV)

Mr. (Fred) Rogers said, "There is no normal life that is free of pain. It is the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth." In order to wrestle with our problems, we need to have strength. God can be the source of that strength!

No matter what troubles we face or problems we wrestle with, we need to have strength. We need strength that is greater than anything we could do on our own. The only way to have strength greater than our problems is to call and rely on God. We can find strength in Him and then allow Him to help us grow!

Look to God for strength to overcome problems and to grow!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength that You provide and for helping me grow. Help me to continue to grow in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Making Plans...

12/28/2019

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." -Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

What plans are you making for the new year? Many set resolutions or plan for a new start in the new year. After the fun and festivities of the holidays, we look toward where we would like to be or what we would like to become. We may have many plans in mind, but do we have the purpose?

God gives us purpose in our lives. He knows our plans, but He wants us to align our plans with His. We can do this by studying His Word and praying to Him as we consider where we are and where we want to be now and in the future. As we communicate with God, including listening to His direction, we can be prepared and have a purpose for today, tomorrow, and the new year!

Communicate with God as you make your plans to be sure you follow His purpose!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance and purpose in life. Help me to hear and follow Your will now, in the new year, and forever. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Better!

12/27/2019

"Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands." -Psalm 63:3-4 (NIV)

The new year brings time to think about the ways we can become better. No matter where or what we are right now, we can grow and improve. As we consider our next steps to become better, we need to begin with God's love!

The Psalmist reminds us that God's love is better than life. Because God loves us, He will care for us. He will guide and protect us. When we want to grow, we can trust in the love that is greater than our lives. As we receive God's love, we can lift our voices and hands as we glorify and praise God for all that He is and does!

Become better through God's love and give all glory and praise to Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love that is better than life. Help me to trust and rely on Your love to become better. All praise and glory to You! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Begin the Journey!

12/26/2019

"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)

Getting started can sometimes be the most difficult part of a journey. We can often make a list of reasons why we should not start something. The new year gives us a chance to consider a new journey and ways to contribute to God's Kingdom. To grow and be contributors for God, we need to be ready to journey beyond our comfort zones and into the world!

When we begin a journey, we need to invite God to go with us. When we invite God and continually talk to Him. When we communicate with and rely on God, we do not have to be concerned with our fears. We can know that God will be with us, never leaving us, and helping to clear the way. With God, we can be strong and courageous as we begin a journey into a new year, beyond our comfort zones, and out into the world!

Invite God to join you on whatever journey you begin!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being with me in whatever journey I am on. Help me to communicate with You and to follow Your lead with courage. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.