Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Hungry?

1/31/2017

"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." -John 6:27 (NASB)

My daughter is always hungry. No matter the time of day, if you ask her, she will tell you that she is ready to eat. Sometimes I attribute it to growth spurts...and she is growing! As she is eating and growing, we have to be sure to make healthy choices that will have lasting benefits!

We should always be hungry in our spiritual lives. When given opportunities to grow in and closer to God, we should always be ready. We should long for continued growth spurts that are nourished by spiritual food from God and Jesus. Just as we care for our earthly bodies with nutritious food, we should long for nutritious food for our souls. We should look to God and work for the spiritual food from God that will last...forever!

When your soul is hungry, search for the nutritious spiritual food that only God can provide!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the spiritual food that You provide for me. Continue to feed me so that I can grow closer to You for eternity. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Need to Change?

1/30/2017

"I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’" -Acts 22:7 (NIV)

Life is full of actions and reactions. We all act in certain ways. We have habits. Sometimes we don't recognize the impact of our actions until we have a "moment of reckoning", a time when we realize that we need to make changes in our lives. Once we understand the consequences of our actions and the need for change, we should be prepared to respond to what we have learned!

There are times in our lives when we need to change. We may not hear God's voice as loudly as Saul did, but we can hear God's voice and see signs from Him. After we come to realizations about changes in our lives, we need to follow God's will for our lives. We have to be willing to change when necessary, even if it means leaving behind our past and reinventing ourselves. When we change for God, we can be assured that He will be with us, He will strengthen us, and He will multiply our efforts!

When you hear God, be willing to change for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for guiding me and calling me. Help me to know when You are calling me to change and leading me in a different direction. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Get Help from Above!

1/29/2017

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." -Psalm 124:8 (NIV)

There are a lot of people that seem to be struggling and looking for help. When we need help, we often turn to those that we think we can rely on to help us out. We may turn to those that are like-minded with ourselves. It may give us comfort to turn to those that we know or those that think like us, but our true help is in God!

Our true help comes from God. He has the wisdom and power to handle any situation. He has love and compassion for each and every one of us. We can approach God with any question or problem that we may be facing. When we call on Him, we can trust that He will guide us and help us to overcome what lies ahead of us. We can be confident that the God who created everything can help us through anything!

When you need help, call on God and trust in His power!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for being willing to help me. When I need help, remind me to call on and trust in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Take Refuge and Have Confidence!

1/28/2017

"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." -Proverbs 27:12 (NIV)

Sometimes we run into people who have to have the last word. I've had students and co-workers like that and I'm sure I've been guilty of such behavior, too. When we keep pushing forward or keep talking without thinking, we keep digging ourselves a bigger hole. We don't see the damage we are doing to our cause or the consequences we may face.

Instead of moving recklessly forward, we should take notice of the situation and possible dangers that we face. We can take time to talk to God and seek His refuge. While we are in the refuge of God, we can listen to His guidance and know how to proceed. We can emerge with God's armor on and God by our side, then we can move forward with confidence!

Take a look around, take refuge in God, and follow God's direction to move forward with confidence!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for giving me refuge. Continue to guide me and give me confidence in Your plan. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Get Faith!

1/27/2017

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." -Romans 10:17 (ESV)

in spite of the bad news we see and hear on a regular basis, there are often reminders that we need to have hope. The actions of people in the world may have self-centered motives, but there are also good forces at work. When working for good, we cannot get discouraged. We need to have faith!

As we face the realities around us, we may have times that we struggle to have faith. We are humans and we are susceptible to doubt. Whenever we begin to doubt or lose faith, we need to know where to turn to be restored and to rebuild our faith. Romans (10:17) reminds us that we can have faith by hearing. We can hear the word of Jesus Christ. We can hear direction for our lives from God. One source of hearing is to turn to the Bible. By reading God's Word, we can learn of God's power, glory, love, and active presence in our lives. As we hear God's Word and guidance in our lives, we can get faith!

Don't get discouraged. Get your faith strengthened by spending time reading God's Word!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Word. Help me to hear You, to know You, and to have my faith strengthened through spending time in Your Word. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

This Too Shall Pass?

1/26/2017

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." -Mark 13:31 (ESV)

We all have times that we would rather forget. When we are in the midst of these times, we may remind ourselves that, "This too shall pass." While that is true about our earthly experiences, there are some things in our lives that will not pass. For those things, we can be thankful and rejoice!

During His time on earth, Jesus reminded us that some of the earthly things we value are temporary. Earth and Heaven will pass away, but the love and redemption offered to us through Jesus will not pass away. We can be thankful that the "not so good" times in our lives will pass and we can rejoice in the presence, love, and forgiveness of God that will never pass!

Have faith that even when earthly things shall pass, God's love and presence in your life will never pass!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being eternally present in my life. Please continue to guide me and remind me of what is truly everlasting and important. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Half-full or Half-empty?

1/25/2017

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." -I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

The world is full of different circumstances and different interpretations. As we look at the world, we can choose to be optimistic or pessimistic. We can choose to see the glass as half-empty and focus on the gloom in the world or we can choose to see the glass as half-full and focus on the love and goodness in the world.

When things are bright and going our way, we may feel more like celebrating and rejoicing. It is good to rejoice in the good times, but even when things seem dark, Jesus Christ gives us reason to rejoice and give thanks. It is through Jesus that we can be forgiven and redeemed. We can have faith that the dark times we experience will pass and that we will be surrounded in eternal glory. Through the bright and dark times of life, we can stay focused on God and then rejoice in His presence in our lives!

No matter what you face, pray and rejoice that Jesus is with you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption given to me through Your Son. Help me to have faith in Your presence and to always rejoice in the blessings in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Fake News?

1/24/2017

"Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues." -Psalm 120:2 (NIV)

There has been a lot of talk lately about "fake news" and "alternative facts". There are lots of sources for news and information, but not everything we read, hear, and see is true. As we become educated about how to tell "fake" news from "real" news, we can always turn to the one constant source of truth!

When we need to know the truth, we can turn to God. God is truth. He has given us truth in His word. We can talk to Him and He can guide us and show us truth in the world in which we live. When we are struggling to discern the fake from the true, God is our constant source of truth and knowledge. We can call out and ask God to save us from the fake of this world and keep us in His everlasting truth!

God is never fake. He is always truth!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being real and never fake. Help me to know You and Your truth

Values without Fear!

1/23/2017

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." -Psalm 34:4 (NIV)

In some recent reading on education, I read one researcher that stated behaviors in education are often the result of two factors: values and fear. Policies are driven by fear of not reaching goals. Practices are chosen based on the values held by institutions, teachers, and students. When we think of our lives, we may also see behaviors driven by values and fears, but we don't have to let fear control us!

The actions in our lives may be the result of our values and of our fears. When we seek God, we can know His values and we can apply them in our life. Our actions will reflect the morality and love demonstrated by God. When facing fear, we can trust that God will help. God is present and can help us overcome our fears. While actions may tend to be a result of values and fear, with God in our lives we can focus on His values, love, power, and glory and not worry about fear!

Don't fear! Seek God and His values and follow His direction.

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the values and for the strength that You provide to help me overcome my fears. Please continue to be present in my life and help me to continue to follow Your direction in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Recovery!

1/22/2017

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." -Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)

There are stores and companies dedicated to helping people stay fit and perform their best. While exercise can be strenuous, there are different products available to help with post-workout recovery. As we move through life, we face spiritual workouts, but we don't have to shop around for a source of recovery!

God can be a source of refreshment and recovery. He can strengthen us when we feel that we cannot push onward. When we feel down and out, God will give us the hand to pull us back up. We just need to be willing to call on God and to accept His helping hand. We need to take time to be in prayer, talking to and resting in God so we can recover and be ready to go!

Talk to God and allow Him to help you recover!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your strength and power. Please refresh and restore me so that I can move forward in Your name. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Face of God

1/21/2017

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." -I John 4:12 (NIV)

When we stop and look at the world around us, we are told we will see deep divides that keep us from coming together. It may seem like it is impossible to see God in the midst of struggle, turmoil, and disagreement. Even though we may not always disagree, we can see God when we show each other love!

God is love. Knowing God can help us know and understand love. In a world searching for answers, we can help each other see God by showing and sharing His love. Whether in small acts or larger demonstrations, we can help others see the love that God has for us and for everyone. As we continue to focus on and orient our lives toward God, our demonstrations of God's love can continue to grow and reach throughout the world!

Help others see the face of God by showing His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me. Help me to show Your love so that others can see You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Go-Giver!

1/20/2017

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." -Proverbs 3:9 (NIV)

The world often tells us that we need to be a go-getter. We need to get more money, more fame or prestige, more "stuff" in general. The focus may be to work up the ladder or to find short-cuts for getting to the top to get more, even if it is at the expense of others. While getting more can be one focus in our lives, fitness expert Sagi Kalev offers another approach. Kalev has said, "Don't be a go-getter, be a go-giver!"

We can change the focus in life from getting to giving. We are reminded in Proverbs that we all have wealth that we can give. We may have money or material wealth. We may have talents and time. Instead of keeping these talents and gifts to ourselves, we should first consider how we can share them. By sharing from our wealth, we can show God's love and we can make the world around us a better place in His name. We can learn to focus on giving rather than getting!

Be a go-giver, not a go-getter!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You have given me. Help me to focus on giving and not on getting. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Directions

1/19/2017

"Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me." -Psalm 119:133 (NIV)

Several years ago I chaperoned a field trip. While the destination was 15 minutes from school, the bus driver took a convoluted route that ended up taking nearly double the time to get there. Even though technology can provide the shortest route to a destination, we have to be willing to pay attention, to listen and follow the directions, in order to get where we are going. The same is true for our spiritual journeys!

As we grow and travel through life, we have different experiences. Our journeys are our own, unique paths to follow. While we have choice in the directions we take, the best paths are those provided by God. We can choose to take the long, round about way to get to our destinations or we can talk to God and listen to the directions He provides. We can avoid temptation and resist sin whenever we allow God to direct our feet, to clear our path, and to guide us to our destination. After talking to God and listening to Him, we can trust the directions that He will always provide!

Ask God for directions and then follow His plan for your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the direction that You provide in my life. Help me to listen to Your plans and to follow the paths that You place before me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Ask without Doubt!

1/18/2017

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." -James 1:5 (NIV)

While recently watching a game show on television, there was a contestant answering trivia questions. As he reasoned through the possible answers, he often doubted his initial thoughts. In the end, the doubt got the better of him and he changed his answers to incorrect ones. The contestant allowed doubt to toss him around and to change his mind. As we approach God with questions or seeking answers, we need to leave all doubt behind and be firm in our faith!

God loves us and we should be confident in His love. We should strive to live according to His will for our lives. If we live for Him, then we should not doubt His commitment to us and to providing for our needs. When we approach God in prayer, we can ask with confidence, without doubt, and then trust in His timing. As we move away from doubt in our lives, we can avoid being tossed about by the uncertainties and challenges that we are bound to face in life. We can remained anchored in our faith and follow God without doubt!

Be confident in God's love and will for your life and ask God without doubt!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being present in my life and guiding me through each day. Help me to be confident and ask You for guidance and assistance without doubt. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Significance & Strength from God!

1/17/2017

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." -Philippians 2:3 (ESV)

We could all probably name examples of people that act out of selfish interests. With advances in technology and the changes in how we share and react to information, we see "digital" acts that persist even after they have been "deleted." We may be guilty of such actions or reactions. We may call it self-preservation. We may say that such actions result because others are just getting what they deserve. The different actions and reactions experienced may be common human reactions, but we can choose to react and to treat people differently!

God calls us to show His love. We can model this love by being humble, by considering ourselves less significant than those around us. Instead of acting or reacting in ways that promote ourselves or our own interests, we can act and react in love, treating others love and respect. Being humble and showing love is not a sign of weakness because we don't have to put down others to show our strength. We know that our significance and strength in life come from God and the best way to show them is through humility, love, and respect for all those around us!

Show God's strength in you by being humble and spreading His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the significance and purpose of my life. Help me to always show Your love and to avoid being selfish and self-centered in my actions and reactions. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Into the World with Abandon!

1/16/2017

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." -Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)

The news is often filled with tragedy, disaster, and evil. Even watching the previews for the news broadcast can cause us concern in venturing out into the world. There is a song by the Newsboys that reminds us to "live with abandon" for God. God is calling us to venture out for Him. We are to live in the world for God. What will we do?

We can choose to live cautiously or we can choose to live a life of adventure in God. When we choose to live with abandon, we choose to completely turn our lives over to God. He calls us to be bold and to go into the world for Him. He also promises to be by our side and to protect us in whatever we face. As we enter the world, we can be reassured that as long as we are living for Him, He will protect us!

Live with abandon for God and be reassured that He is with you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being with me. Please help me to trust You more and to turn control over to You so that I can live with abandon for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

No Need to Worry!

1/15/2017

"He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" -Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

In life we are bound to experience things that are unexpected. Sometimes these experiences cause us to be anxious or to worry. If we worry long enough, we can become depressed by the conditions that we face. Experiences and situations that cause us to worry can "snowball", becoming bigger and bigger parts of our lives. There are different ways to break the cycle and refocus our lives and we should always include God!

God reminds us that we do not need to worry. When we start to get anxious or worried, we need to take time and be still. We can meditate. We can breathe. Most importantly, we can clear our minds of earthly concerns and talk to God through prayer. As we take time to be still and to listen, we can be reassured that God is worthy of all glory, praise, and honor. He will one day be exalted in all the earth. We can begin by taking time to realize His presence and exalt Him in our lives!

Take time to be still and then praise and exalt God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your presence in my life and Your willingness to take away my worry. Help me to take time to be still and to listen to You. All praise and glory to You! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Climb the Mountain and Share the News!

1/14/2017

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" -Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Go Tell it on the Mountain!" While it is a song usually related to the Christmas season and the birth of Jesus, it is a message that should be spread year-round. Our lives have mountain tops and valleys, but God is with us each step of the way. Throughout our lives, we should continue to climb and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ!

"Go Tell it on the Mountain" reminds us that we should spread the news about the birth of Jesus, but we can tell the whole story! We can bring the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ. We can bring news of God's love, glory and care for each and every one of us. We can tell others that God's answers can be found in His word and through talking to Him. It may not always be easy climbing the mountains of life or reaching points where others are receptive to what we are saying, but we should strive to have the beautiful feet that carry God's message throughout our lives so that others can know Him as we know Him!

Climb the mountains of life and proclaim the glory of God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Salvation through Your Son. Help me to climb every mountain and to share the Good News to all those willing to hear. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Keep Looking Up!

1/13/2017

"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." -Romans 8:6 (NIV)

In life, we have many choices. There are many paths that we should follow. Sometimes it seems like it would be easiest to take the low road instead of attempting to climb the mountain to the higher road. While the lower road may seem easier or "more fun" for the time being, it will not lead to true happiness or a full life!

One way to be sure we are either heading toward or traveling on the high road is to maintain our focus on God. Being forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we need to keep looking up to God and living in His Spirit of love and peace. This may mean we have to pass on short-term pleasures of the flesh so we can experience the everlasting glory, joy, and fulfilled life with God!

Keep looking up to God to experience all that His Spirit has to offer your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for forgiveness and for eternal life. Help me to follow You and Your plan for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Go Confidently!

1/12/2017

"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." -Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

One of the things I want both my students and my daughter to learn is confidence. Confidence can help when approaching difficulties and challenges in life. When searching for answers or believing that it is possible to overcome different situations, attitude and confidence can have an impact. Confidence is also important in our spiritual lives.

God is with us and He is on our side. Whether in need or in praise, we should seek Him. We can be confident that He will listen to us and respond in mercy and grace. As we grow, we need to continue learning to have confidence and to always be confident in our approach to God and then allow Him to support us in our confident approach to the world!

Go confidently to God and then into the world!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being there for me. Help me to have confidence as I talk to You and as I go into the world to spread Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Choose Your Response!

1/11/2017

"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else." -Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)

Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying, "I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." As we go through life there will always be disagreements about something. Sometimes these disagreements can turn into slights or offenses. When we are faced with disagreements or offenses, we can choose how to respond.

Disagreements and offenses can be escalated if we continue to respond with wrongs for wrongs. Instead of lashing out or continuing a series of wrongs, we need to choose to respond with God's love and grace. When there is a disagreement or cause for offense, we can choose to do good and to show love. If we show love, then we can find ways to find and maintain friends and we can experience God's goodness, grace, and mercy throughout our lives!

Choose to respond by doing good!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me goodness and love. Help me to continue to follow You and to spread Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Eternal Victory!

1/10/2017

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and his is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." -I John 5:4 (NASB)

There are many circumstances in the world that can challenge us and even threaten to hold us down. We may struggle with different aspects of life, but we don't need to give up. We have to have faith and patience as we find a way to overcome.

The first step to overcoming the challenges of earthly life is to have faith in God. God has given us His Son. With faith and belief in Him, we can overcome sin and find victory in God. The victory given to us through our faith is not a short-term triumph, but an everlasting victory! We will overcome this world and be able to experience the glory of victory through God!

Have faith and claim eternal victory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the victory that You provide for me. Help me to help others see Your glory and work in their lives. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Step Back and Fight!

1/9/2017

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." -Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

Sometimes there seem to be too many battles to fight in life. We have personal challenges that we face. We see others struggling in their lives. We look across our cities, states, countries, and world and see injustices that hold people down, destroy our environment, and cause pain and suffering. It can be easy to pick a fight, but it can also be easy to be overwhelmed by all the work to do both locally and globally.

There are many fights across the world. Fortunately, we do not have to fight any of them alone. We can unite with fellow believers to work for God on earth. This power is only truly realized when we call on and trust in God's presence and ability in our lives. When we are choosing a fight and contemplating strategy, we need to include God. Sometimes God will need us to be still so that He can work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. It can be hard to take a step back from our idea of fighting, but if God calls us to be still and step back, that step will be the most powerful weapon we have in any fight!

Fight for love and justice as God guides you, even if it means taking time to be still!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and guidance. Help me to know the steps that I should take as I fight for justice and love in Your name. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Triple Filtered!

1/8/2017

"Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." -Proverbs 17:9 (NIV)

A friend recently shared a story of Socrates, the philosopher in ancient Greece, and an acquaintance that wanted to gossip with him. Socrates is reported to have asked the acquaintance if the "information" could pass the test of three filters. Socrates asked if the information was true, if it was good, and if it was useful. If it could not pass through one of these filters, then why would he want to hear it?

There are times when it might feel good to be part of the "in crowd" that gets the latest information, but we would be wise to consider the teaching of Socrates and the lesson from Proverbs. If we cannot find truth, goodness, or usefulness in information, then we should not carelessly spread it around. Further, if we cannot respond with love, compassion, and helpfulness, then we become part of the problem. Our actions can make the situation worse, even if the original information is untrue! Whenever we are tempted to engage in either listening or sharing gossip, we should consider the information and how we will respond. If we cannot act in love to improve the situation, maybe we shouldn't listen to words that may not be true, good, or useful!

Ask if the information is true, good, or useful and then decide how to act out of God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for allowing me to e forgiven when I make a mistake. Help me to know when what I am hearing is true, good, and useful and then guide my actions through Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Prayer for Overflowing

1/7/2017

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." -I Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)

The holiday season can be a time of abundance and of good will. Beginning with Thanksgiving and following through Christmas and the New Year, we tend to be especially generous to one another. The thoughts and feelings of these times of year shouldn't be seasonal. We should pray for and demonstrate increasing love throughout the year!

We can pray for love in our lives and we can pray for love in the lives of others. God's love knows no end and we can each have an overflowing abundance of love! God is love and can give us love in our lives. As love overflows from our lives, it should positively impact others. We can pray for and show God's love every day of the year for ever!

Pray for and show increasing and overflowing love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love that You have shown me and given me. Allow love to overflow in my life and in the lives of others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.