Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Train Hard, Pray Hard!

1/31/2018

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." -Jude 1:20-21 (ESV)

We train for many different things in our lives. We can train for physical challenges, whether for enjoyment or to recover from setbacks. We can also train for mental challenges. We can study and prepare for tests and other learning tasks. We may think of these things as common sense or ordinary routines. We also need to think about building our spiritual lives!

We can build ourselves up in our faith. We can do this through studying God's Word, through learning with and from other believers, and through prayer. When we call on God and continue to communicate with Him through prayer, we can draw near to Him. We can keep ourselves protected in His love and we can find our Savior and eternal life in His plans for us. We can train ourselves in the ways of God, we can continue to talk to Him through prayer, and we can allow others to see the presence and power of God through our training and living!

Train hard by learning from God and praying hard, then allow others to see the results!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for teaching me and helping me to grow. Please continue to guide me and use my life as an example of Your presence and power. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Irons in the Fire

1/30/2018

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

Adam Clarke said that, "The old proverb about having too many irons in the fire is an abominable old lie. Have all in, shovel, tongs, and poker." Many of us probably have more than one iron in the fire. Even though we make lots of plans, are they the right plans and when God calls are we all in?

God makes plans for our lives. He has a direction or path for us, but it is up to each of us to follow His way. We need to make sure our plans line up with His plans before we put our irons in the fire. When we listen to and follow God's plans, He will help us prosper and protect us from evil. We can have hope in His plans!

We also need to be prepared when we hear God's call. When we hear His call and His plans, we need to be ready to put all of our irons in the fire. We need to be all in for God! When we heed His call and follow His plans, we can find hope and protection in God!

Make sure you hear God's plans when you put your irons in the fire!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the plans that You have for my life. Help me to hear and follow these plans as You protect and guide me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Confidence and Giving Life

1/29/2018

"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 made us competent to be ministers of the 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)

There are different types of people. Some are full of confidence and ready to take on the world. Others may be more reluctant to step out on their own, lacking confidence. When searching for confidence, we may look within ourselves or we may look to others for support and encouragement. For our confidence, we should not rely on ourselves, but we should look to God!

We can have confidence through Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we can be redeemed and made competent and confident. The confidence that we have in God through Jesus Christ is not just for the here and now. This confidence can sustain us through what we are facing now and help us live for eternity. With our confidence, we know that we have eternal life and we can share the Spirit and the life giving new covenant that is available through Jesus Christ.

Have confidence through Jesus Christ and embrace the life giving new covenant that He provides!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for the confidence I can have through Him. Help me to share my confidence so others can find eternal life through Jesus, too. Through Him I pray, amen.

Make Standing Plans!

1/28/2018

"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)

I admit that I have lots of ideas. Even though I have lots of ideas, not all of these ideas actually work. Whether it be lack of time, lack of resources, or any other number of reasons. However, there are some ideas that just seem to find the environment that helps them grow. This is what we find when our ideas align with the purposes of the Lord!

When we stop and talk to God about our plans, we can listen to Him and be sure that our efforts are in line with His purpose. Once we are working according to God's will, we can benefit from His guidance. We can experience doors opening and things coming together that support us and further our efforts. Plans made with God will not only stand, but will prosper and even grow beyond our expectations and dreams!

Make plans that stand by making them with God for His purpose!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance and assistance in all I do. Help my plans to be aligned to Your purpose. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Separating Silence

1/27/2018

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

I recently read a quote that said, "Distance doesn't separate people, silence does." Even though we have so many ways to stay connected, there are times of silence. There are times when we lose touch and allow that "silence" to separate us. Even within our churches, homes, and workplaces, if we let it, silence can separate us from each other.

Fortunately, we cannot be separated from God. If we ever feel that we are drifting away from Him, we need to remember that nothing can separate us. However, we shouldn't be silent. We can never be separated from His love and we should not allow our own silence and choices to make us feel as though we have been separated. We should always call out to God and ask Him to draw us near to Him!

Don't separate yourself from God by being silent. Always talk and draw near to Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me. Help me to always talk and listen to You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Peace and Love

1/26/2018

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

No matter how hard we try to avoid it, there are bound to be times when we run into conflict in our lives. We may stop and ask, but what can we do? Ronald Reagan was said that, "Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means." As followers of God, we have access to peaceful means!

God is the source of righteousness and a source of love and peace. We know we will encounter conflict, but we can control our response. By calling on God for wisdom and guidance, we can respond in righteousness that will result in peace, quietness, and trust. We can overcome conflict through the peaceful means offered through God's direction. Conflict can be quieted through God's righteousness so we can live in peace and love!

When faced with conflict, trust in God's righteousness to overcome with His peace and love.

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being righteous and ready to guide me in dealing with conflict and living in peace. Please help me to hear and follow Your wisdom in all the situations that I face. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Investments and Savings

1/25/2018

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." -Acts 4:12 (NIV)

There are many ways in which we can invest money and there are many people who share advice on how to invest. If we have money to save or invest, we are likely to research and find the best ways to get a return on our investment. Depending on our goals, we may have different options. However, when we think about investing and saving our souls, we don't have to do a lot of research!

There is only one place where we can find salvation. We can only be saved from sin and be given eternal life is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's Son. We don't have to spend time looking for better or other ways of redemption. God has outlined His plan. He has provided it to us, no matter who we are, what we have, or what we have done in our lives. The best investment we can make in our lives is accepting the saving grace of God offered through His Son!

Make an eternal investment in your soul by accepting Jesus as your Savior!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to always follow You and to share Your amazing grace with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Victory for Everyone!

1/24/2018

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -I Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

Whether we're playing games or cheering for our favorite team, we often like the feeling of winning. We want to be victorious, to overcome the odds and win. While we like to win, we also realize that games here on earth are just temporary joys. What we really need to focus on is winning an eternal victory!

The Good News is that we can have eternal victory! Each and every one of us can be winners. We just have to turn our lives over to God. We can accept the forgiveness He provides through the sacrifice of His Son. We can then trust in His will, learn from and draw near to Him, and follow Him to victory forever!

Be a winner with eternal victory through Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Forgive me and allow me to have eternal victory in You. Through Your Son, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Word Choices

1/23/2018

"Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness." -Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 (NASB)

Words are important, but they can also be tricky. In researching different approaches for teaching reading, it is noted that words can have their literal meaning, but they can also have a derived or interpreted meaning depending on the context. As we choose our words, we need to be aware of what our words mean as well as how they be interpreted by those around us, then we need to choose our words as a wise person!

We can think before we speak and we can pray before we speak. Certain situations require thoughtful responses. When we are faced with those times, we can ask God for guidance and direction as we choose our words. He can give us the wisdom we need to be gracious. When we trust in God, He can direct us away from words and actions that are foolish. We can make wise word choices as we trust in and listen to God!

When making word choices, ask God for guidance in choosing wise words!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the wisdom and guidance You provide. Help my words to be wise and rooted in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Blessings and Thankfulness!

1/22/2018

"I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.'" -Psalm 16:2 (NIV)

In a recent program on television, the main character struggled with being charitable. He wanted to do good, but he wanted to be anonymous. He felt that recognition would diminish the impact of his efforts. However, as he became involved in charity, he realized that being involved and recognized helped him both better understand those he was helping and appreciate the blessings in his life.

God blesses our lives more than we may sometimes realize. Even though we may feel we need to rush through our lives to accomplish everything we want or need to do, we should take time to appreciate and acknowledge all that God does in our lives. Beyond just recognizing God's goodness, we need to let Him know we appreciate His active presence in our lives. We need to praise Him and to say to Him, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

Acknowledge God's blessings and let Him know you are thankful for His presence!

Dear God-
Thank You for being active in my life and for the blessings You provide. I praise Your name for all that I have and all that I am. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Let it Flow!

1/21/2018

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." -John 7:38 (NIV)

Rivers are usually powerful forces. The movement of water can wear away rock and alter the landscape. The movement of water can even work against the formation of ice. However, the recent cold temperatures followed by warmer, rainy days have created ice jams that have impeded the normal flow of local rivers. When the flow is impeded, the consequences can be destructive!

Sometimes, we make choices that impede the flow of God's living water. When we go against God's will, we open ourselves up to consequences that can damage our lives. Instead of creating jams in our lives, we need to choose to believe in and follow God. As we seek His will, His living water will flow from us. God's living water can then create opportunities for us and for those around us. We can allow His river of love and forgiveness to change lives for good!

Follow God and allow His river of living water flow from you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to know and follow Your will, so Your living water can flow from me and make a positive impact in the world. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Promises without Disappointment!

1/20/2018

"I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." -Genesis 9:11 (NIV)

When we hear promises, they often give us hope. Promises are things we can expect, look forward to, and count on in our lives. Unfortunately, many promises we hear end in disappointment instead of hope and joy. God's promises, though, are greater than any earthly promises!

We can count on God's promises. We can be confident and have hope in His Word. God will always follow through on His promises. From the promise to never flood the entire earth to His promise for redemption through His Son, we are never disappointed. As we follow God, we can live in His blessings and promises without the fear of disappointment and broken promises!

Take heart in God's promises and never be disappointed!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your promises and the hope I have in You. Please continue to bless me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Not Fake!

1/19/2018

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." -Romans 12:9 (NIV)

Most of us search for or welcome authenticity in our lives. We want to be surrounded by people that are not just putting on an act, but are honest and sincere. Beyond wanting people that are "real," we also want people that are good. When we turn to God, we can find both sincerity and goodness. It is then up to us to reflect this love and sincerity!

God gives us love. God shows us that He is trustworthy and sincere. As His followers, we need to be sincere as we embrace and embody God's love. As we do this, we need to reject what is evil and take hold of what is good. We need to become the "real deal" in spreading God's love, spreading His goodness, and fighting back against the evil that we see around us. We cannot be fake, we need to be real for God and His Kingdom!

Be honest and sincere, not fake, as you show others the love, sincerity, and goodness of God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and goodness. Help me be loving and kind in building Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a Taste!

1/18/2018

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" -Psalm 34:8 (ESV)

There are some foods we like and some we don't like. We probably have learned these likes and dislikes by trying or tasting new or different things. After we learn what tastes good, we may develop our go-to favorites. Beyond our physical tastes, we also need to feed our souls tried and true spiritual food!

When we look for spiritual food to sustain us, we need to be sure the food is good for us - both in "taste" and "nutrition." We can be reassured that God is always good and He always wants what is best for us. When we "taste" the blessings from God, we can know that He is good and He can become our tried and true go-to spiritual food!

Have a taste of God's greatness and glory, then stick with Him as a tried and true favorite!

Dear God-
Thank You for being good and true. Help me to always find spiritual food and refuge in You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Holding It Together!

1/17/2018

"And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent." -Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV)

There are times in our lives when we may feel that we are barely holding everything together. We balance different priorities and different responsibilities in our lives. We may feel obligated to others, but we also have to hold ourselves together. When we are looking for the glue that helps us stick together, we can look to Jesus Christ!

Jesus has experienced life on earth. He has overcome death and offers us life, but He can also help us hold it all together. When we feel that we are being stretched thing or pulled in too many directions, we need to re-center our lives on Jesus Christ. When He is at the center, then other pieces of our lives can fall into place. With God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son, at the center of our lives, we can know God's will in each of our lives and then allow Him to help hold it all together!

Keep Jesus at the center of your life and allow Him to help hold it all together!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son and salvation through Him. Help me to keep my life centered on You and Your Son and allow all of the pieces to fall into place according to Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Getting Older, but Renewed!

1/16/2018

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." -II Corinthians 4:16 (ESV)

While I may not be wasting away, getting older brings aches and pains and I'm told to expect even more! Over time we may feel the effects of age, but we can't be active and keep in shape. Even more important, we can can continue to renew our souls for ever and ever!

We have choices to make in life that can help us prepare for getting older. We can also choose how to treat our souls or inner self. We can choose to keep our lives centered on God. As we build our relationship with Him and become closer to Him, we can become renewed. While our bodies may get older, our souls can be renewed each and every day for all of eternity!

Keep your inner self renewed by keeping your heart centered on God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your renewing presence in my life. Help me to always focus on You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Where is Your Power?

1/15/2018

"For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." -I Corinthians 4:20 (ESV)

There is a lot of talk in the media about having power in your live and to change your life. While we may be encouraged to take control and have power, we need to find a source of that power. What is the power and from where does it come? If we cannot identify a source of power, then all we have is talk and wishful thinking!

Fortunately, we have a source of power right at our finger tips! God fills His Kingdom with examples of His power. God is willing to share that power with us as long as we commit our lives to Him. Once we are committed to God, talking to Him through prayer, reading His Word, and following His will in our lives, then we can call on His power to help us stand tall and to take control of our lives and the circumstances around us. We can have power as members of God's eternal kingdom!

Need a power source? Turn to God and find power in His promises and as a member of His Kingdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sharing Your power in my life. Help me to continually seek You and Your guidance, power, and wisdom in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Stir Up Love!

1/14/2018

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." -Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

It seems that all around us, people are trying to stir up controversy, disagreement, distrust, and even hatred. There are times when we may get caught up in the controversy, but our focus should not be on making controversy. Instead of stirring up controversy and hatred, we should put our energy into following God and stirring up His love!

With God as our guide, we can engage in good works that reflect His love. As we come together to worship and work for Him, we can stir up love in one another. As we reach out as the body of Christ, we can allow others to see God's love and encourage them to join us as members of God's family. By focusing on God and encouraging one another, we can stir up love that allows His Kingdom to grow as others join Tod's family!

Stir up love, not controversy, by following God, doing good works, and sharing Him with others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love in my life. Help me to share this love with others so they can become members of Your family, too. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Seek and Follow

1/13/2018

"I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands." -Psalm 119:10 (NIV)

There are lots of things that we pursue or search for in our lives. Many of the earthly things that we seek are only temporary, whether money, status, or other things. While these things may seem to make our lives comfortable now, we need to focus on stability for eternity!

The most important seeking we should do is seeking the will of God in our lives. He doesn't make it difficult for us. We can read His Word and talk to Him through prayer. He will reveal His will to us, but we need to be ready and willing to listen and then follow. God may not always lead us through the easiest paths in our lives, but He will be there to provide what we need as long as we seek and follow Him!

Seek and follow God as the most important priority in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your will in my life. Help me to listen and follow You always. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Allow People to Change!

1/12/2018

"But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die." -Ezekiel 18:21 (NIV)

There is a saying that goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Once someone fools or hurts us, to protect ourselves we may only see them in one way. While we do not need to continually make ourselves vulnerable to the wicked ways of others, we should realize that people can change!

God allows for us to change. We are sinners, but He allows us to be changed and redeemed through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Through God's power, we can become new! God's redemption is open to everyone. If someone truly accepts forgiveness and commits to following God, we cannot allow our judgments to stand in the way. We must acknowledge that, through God's power, people, including us, can be changed. We need to encourage and allow them to change!

Acknowledge God's power and role in your life and then allow people to change!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a life-changing presence in the world. Help me to encourage others and to allow them to change into Your new creations. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Build in Him!

1/11/2018

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain." -Psalm 127:1 (NIV)

There are many things we build in our lives. We build our houses, we build families and friendships, we build our reputation and legacies. As we think about building all of these things, we need to be sure they have a purpose and a foundation. As Warren Buffett has been quoted as saying, "Predicting rain doesn't count. Building arks does."

Whether building the physical, social, or spiritual things in our lives, we need to be sure we have included God in our planning and building. If we want the things we build to be lasting, we need to put our faith and trust in God. We need to seek and follow His will in our lives. As we allow God to build our lives, we can be sure that we will have a life that is everlasting. By building in God, we can have an eternal legacy!

Build an eternal life by allowing God to build you up!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for building my life. Help me to always follow Your will and to trust in Your construction of my life! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Humble, Gentle, Patient, Love

1/10/2018

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." -Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

Sometimes on my way home from work I listen to the local talk radio station. I know that it is the host's job to stir up controversy during the afternoon drive to keep people tuned in and listening, but he is often brash and impatient with callers - especially those that disagree with him. While he claims to be looking for solutions to local, state, and national issues, the focus does not seem to be on listening and understanding.

As we move through life, we can't just focus on our own arrogance or on starting and winning arguments. God worked out a plan for our salvation and sent His Son for us even while we were still sinners. God doesn't look to stir up hatred or argument. God looks to build His family through love that is demonstrated in the sacrifice of His Son. As we live as followers of God, we do not have to blindly accept or agree with everyone we meet, but we should find ways to share our beliefs in humility, gentleness, patience, and love. It is through being humble and gentle that we can assist in building God's Kingdom with patience and love!

Be a follower of God that looks to build His Kingdom with humility, gentleness, patience, and love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me, even at my worst. Help me to show others Your love in ways that are humble, gentle, patient, and loving. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

No Slip Sliding Away!

1/9/2018

"He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber." -Psalm 121:3 (NIV)

After walking the dog in today's cold temperatures, I took the salt bucket and headed outside to salt a couple of slick spots on the sidewalk in front of our house. Considering what I was doing, my daughter began asking questions about why I was spreading the salt and what it was doing to make the ice melt. She was glad that there was a way to make the sidewalk less slippery when we later left the house on some errands.

It is good that we can avoid slipping on ice. It is also good that we have a way to prevent slipping in our spiritual lives. If we are careless and not paying attention to the icy spots in our spiritual lives, we may begin slip sliding away from God. This sliding can lead us to a point that endangers our joy and happiness in God now and for eternity. We need to be cautious about the things that can cause us to spiritually slip and slide, but we do have hope! God is watching over us. He can be the "salt" that melts away or guides us through the slippery patches of our lives. We need to be alert and cautious, but we also need to be ready to call on God for His protection and guidance. With God watching over us, we can be on solid footing for all of eternity!

Do not let your soul slip slide away from God. Call on Him and allow Him to help you through the slippery spots of your spiritual journey!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always watching over me. Help me to call and rely on You to help me through those slippery times in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Second Chances!

1/8/2018

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." -I Peter 1:3 (NIV)

A local store just opened. Along with its advertised deals, it has the mission of giving second chances. The owner is committed to helping people get back on their feet, whether they have fallen on hard times financially or are in need of employment after getting out of legal trouble. We all need second chances. Fortunately, God has is also in the business of arranging second chances!

God sent His Son with the purpose of giving each and every one of us a second chance! We all need second chances. None of us has hope without the second chances offered by God through the death and resurrection of His Son. It is through Jesus that we can be born again, that we can have new life. Once we accept God's offer of a second chance, we can commit to living a life that is full of His grace, love, and mercy!

Accept God's offer of a second chance and live a new life for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me a second chance. Help me to live a new and productive life in Your grace and mercy. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Be Helping Hands

1/7/2018

"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)

When we stop and look around, we can see a lot of work that needs to be done. There are people in our communities that need help. Sometimes we may even be in need of help. As we see those in need of help, we shouldn't turn our backs. We need to work and to show love in all we do!

As we show God's love and work to help others, God is by our side. He is working to multiply our efforts and He is noticing the work in which we engage. As we work, God will not forget our efforts. He will remember the love we show by reaching out to help others, but we also need to be sure our hearts are set on God. With God in our hearts, we can be the helping hands that build stronger communities and God's Kingdom!

Set your heart on God and then be helping hands in this world!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings in my life. Help me to always be focused on You and willing to reach out and help build Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.