Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Freedom in Forgiving and Being Forgiven!

2/28/2019

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” -Mark 11:25 (ESV)

If you search for quotes on forgiveness, you can find many different perspectives on the value of forgiving others. One common theme is that while we often view forgiveness as something we do for someone else, it really impacts the person offering forgiveness. When we forgive others, we can reap the benefits of less stress, moving on from the past, and drawing nearer to God!

Forgiveness is an act that can set us free. When we hold on to a wrong that has been done to us, we are controlled by that feeling. Instead of allowing ourselves to be controlled by a refusal to forgive, we can call on God. God forgives each of us while we are still sinners. When we ask God to help us forgive others, we can begin to truly experience the freedom of forgiveness. We can appreciate the forgiveness that God has offered to each of us and we can experience the freedom of forgiving others!

Experience freedom in forgiving others and being forgiven by God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the forgiveness and redemption that You give through Your Son. Help me to forgive others and to accept the forgiveness that You give me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Find Rest!

2/27/2019

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Many of us are involved in a variety of activities. Ranging from work to home to church and other volunteer activities, we may find ourselves going from one thing to the next. As we become involved, we need to be sure we take care of ourselves. When we begin to feel that our activities are laborious or burdensome, we need to seek rest!

Jesus knows that our activities can become draining. He also knows that we need to take time to rest and care for ourselves. Whether or not our activities wear on us, we need to take everything we do to God. When we go to God and His Son, we can find relief and rest! God will help carry our burdens. He will help lead us through whatever we set out to accomplish in life so we can bring glory to Him and lead others to His eternal family!

In all you do, seek God and find rest in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance and the rest that You provide. Please guide me and care for me so that I may serve You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Guarded!

2/26/2019

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." -II Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV)

There are many products that promise to help keep us safe. From medications and vitamins to home security and automobile safety systems, we are reminded about the need to be safe and to be kept safe. Though each of these things may have some value in protecting us now, none of them are eternal protections!

The only protection that lasts for eternity is the protection we get from God. God can protect us now, but He can also offer eternal protection through His Son. When we accept Jesus Christ, we can be confident that we are forgiven and guarded against evil. As we go through life, we should always be sure that we are guarded by the one, true God!

When you are looking for eternal protection, be sure you have accepted Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your protection now and for eternity. Help me to always trust in You. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Darkness

2/25/2019

"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'" -John 8:12 (NASB)

When studying earth's place in space, my students learn about rotation and revolution. We discuss the energy that we get from the sun and, inevitably, what would happen if there wasn't a sun or if the sun stopped shining on earth. Without the sun, we would experience nothing but cold and darkness!

Our spiritual lives are a lot like this model of the earth. If we turn away from the Son, from Jesus Christ, we will find ourselves in darkness. Jesus reminds us that He is our light. When we are in this world, we don't have to be left out in the cold or stumble through the darkness alone. We just need to call on Jesus and focus on the light that He provides in our lives!

Call on Jesus and move out of the darkness into the light of the Son!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your light in this world. Help me to always focus on Jesus' light and to share this light with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Talk Up!

2/24/2019

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." -Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

We can probably all agree that it is nice when we hear people say good things about us. We may feel encouraged, valued, and even proud of ourselves when we have others that support us. Unfortunately, we probably also have felt the opposite of hearing good things about us. We can learn from these experiences and decide how to act!

We are reminded in the Bible to watch the words that we say. We can tear people down with gossip or "corrupt" talk. Before we speak, we need to think about our intent. If we are following God, we should be trying to build each other up. We should be sharing the love and grace that God has shown us. In those moments when we do make mistakes, we can apologize and allow God to forgive us, always trying to build each other up!

Use your "talk" to build each other up in God's grace and love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the grace and love that You have shown me in my life. Help me to show Your grace and love to others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Purpose!

2/23/2019

"Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." -Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

There are things in our lives that don't always turn out the way we might have envisioned them. When we meet what we consider setbacks in our lives, we may want to look at them in a different ligth. When we keep our heart focused on God, He will help us see the purpose in our lives!

We each have a purpose. God has created us with a plan. We are unique and have a role that only we can fulfill. In order to be our best self and to accomplish our purpose, we need to look to God. By knowing God, we can allow Him to show us what He has in store. He can guide us through our lives and help us reach our purpose, our full potential!

Set your heart on God and allow Him to lead you to your fullest potential and purpose!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the purpose that You have given me and that You will continue to show me. Help me to always follow You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Give Cheer!

2/22/2019

"Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." -Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)

There are times when we may be anxious or even just having a bad day. When faced with a day that doesn't seem to be going our way, we can take it out on others or we can follow Mark Twain's advice when he said, "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."

We can allow the anxiety and problems of this world to weigh us down or we can choose to rise above this world. In order to rise above, we need to turn to God. With God in our hearts, we can show His love and help others. We can offer kind words cheer people up and in the process cheer ourselves up. As we go through each day, we can show others God's love through kind and cheerful words!

Give cheer by showing God's love through kind words and actions!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love You have shown me. Help me to spread kind words each and every day. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Wisdom to Know Him!

2/21/2019

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better." -Ephesians 1:17 (NIV)

One of the downsides to the use of technology is that it sometimes limits our face to face contact. Whenever we don't spend time talking and connecting with each other in person, we may not get to know each other as well. In our relationship with God, we also need to spend time getting to know Him!

God wants to have a relationship with each of us so we can get to know Him better. We can pray for God's Spirit of wisdom and revelation to guide us and help us know Him better. Through prayer and reading God's Word, we can hear God's direction in our lives. We can embrace the Spirit that He gives us and become closer to God!

Accept the Spirit and wisdom of God to get to know Him better!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Help me to become closer to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Assume the Best?

2/20/2019

"For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." -I John 3:11 (NIV)

There are times when we say things we don't mean or the things we say come out the wrong way. While it seems common to "attack" first and then figure out the intent, we may find ourselves better off if we start by assuming the best intentions. If we start from a place of love, where will it lead us?

God loves each and every one of us. Even when we may appear to be "unlovable," God is by our side. If we model our lives after His example, we can begin to show others God's love. We can allow His love to fill our words and actions. We can respond to others out of love and compassion. Building off of God's love, we can change our lives and the way that we view the world. We can assume the best and live with an attitude of love as long as we seek God and trust His guiding hand in our lives!

Assume the best and begin in a place that is filled with God's love, then wait to see where God leads you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for leading me and showing me Your love. Help me to always assume the best and to approach myself and others with an attitude of Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Slipping?

2/19/2019

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

Walking the dog during the winter can be challenging. Lately we have had a combination of ice and snow that caused both the sidewalk and yard to be slippery. Ice was both on top of the snow and hidden underneath. Just like our winter walk, life has dangerous places that could cause us to slip. How do we make it through these times?

When we find ourselves on these slippery patches of life, we need to be careful. We need to watch each step that we take. We should rely on God to show us the way. God knows all of the dangers that we face and He knows how to help us through them. Sometimes we may hear His voice guiding us. Other times He may provide others that know the way and can lend a helping hand. No matter how much we feel we may have slipped, if we call on God, He will be there to help!

If you feel you are slipping, call on God and listen for His response!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always watching over me. Help me to call on You and to listen to Your answer. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Keep Repeating!

2/18/2019

"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." -Acts 5:42 (NIV)

Whether talking to my students or my daughter at home, there are many times when I find myself repeating what I just said. While there are days when I find this frustrating, philosopher Plato is quoted as saying, "There is no harm in repeating a good thing." When it comes to helping others, we need to keep on repeating!

The Good News of God's grace, mercy, and redemption through His Son is definitely a good thing and worth repeating! Even if we don't think others are listening, we can continue to share God's glory. As we repeat the lessons we have learned from God, we can reach out to others. We can keep repeating the Good News and planting the seeds that will, with God's nurturing, continue to grow His Kingdom!

Keep repeating the God's Good News so others can hear of His glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the redemption You have provided through Your Son. Help me to continue repeating and sharing the Good News! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Walk in the Way...

2/17/2019

"And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." -Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)

I recently read a quote that said, "You can't please everyone, but you can walk in love." As we walk through our life, we may not always make others happy. However, we can walk in love. Jesus Christ serves as an example for each of us!

Jesus didn't come to earth so that everyone could like Him. Sometimes He spoke words or did things that upset even those that were to be the holiest of leaders. However, the acts that Jesus showed were always rooted in God's Truth and performed out of love. Jesus wanted what was best for each of us as He demonstrated on the cross! We can now follow the example that Jesus provided and walk in love, helping others to see God's glory!

Walk in love as Jesus has shown you so others can see God's glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sin. Help me to walk in love so that others can see Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Faith and Seek!

2/16/2019

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." -Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

We probably all know someone that seems difficult to please. No matter what we might try, we can't seem to win approval or maybe even get a smile! While there are those that are hard to please, we can please, but we need to have faith!

We cannot please God without faith. We should have faith in God and all that He can do. When we believe in Him, we should seek Him and His will in our lives. With our faith and seeking God, we will find more than we could ever expect or hope to find. God promises us reward now and forever as we live with faith and truly seek Him!

Have faith and seek God. He will reward you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a part of my life. Help my faith to continue to grow as I seek You and Your will for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Trust When Afraid!

2/15/2019

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." -Psalm 56:3 (NIV)

In a recent conversation at school, several teachers were discussing some of the situations that our students face. From medical issues to uncertain housing to family issues, there are many things that can spark fear. Even as adults, we face issues that may cause us to be afraid. However, when we are afraid, we can turn to God!

No matter what fears life may hold, we can overcome them! We can hold on to the promises of God. He has reassured us that He will walk with us each step of the way. He will strengthen and guide us through this life. He is also preparing a place for us with Him in eternity! We don't have to fear now or ever! We can trust in Him when we are afraid!

Trust in God when you are afraid and follow Him for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and guidance throughout this life. Help me to always turn away from fear and turn to Your reassuring embrace. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Empathy!

2/14/2019

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." -Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

There are times when we are simply looking for someone who understands! Whether we are facing struggles and challenges or moments of joy, we want someone who is willing to share in our highs and lows. Even though there may be times we feel on our own, we can know that we have a Savior that understands!

Jesus Christ came to earth and experienced life as a human being. He understands the challenges and temptations we face. He knows our weaknesses. He knows the feelings of pain and joy. When we need someone who understands, who has empathy, we can turn to Jesus. When we call on His name, we can be assured that He will meet us where we are with love, compassion, and empathy!

Call on Jesus and be assured that He will have empathy!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son to earth to live as a human. I ask that my sin be forgiven through Him. In His name I pray, amen.

Lots of Plans!

2/13/2019

"Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." -Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

I have a book where I keep what I think are lots of good ideas or plans. The list grows and there never seems to be enough time to accomplish what I hope to do. However, even if I don't get to the things on my list, I know that I am always in the right place, working on projects at just the right time!

God has a way of working in our lives whether we realize it or not. If we trust in Him, we can be sure that we are where we need to be and we are doing the work that needs to be done. Through God's guidance and direction, we can accomplish more than we could hope to do on our own. Even if we have lots of plans, it is His plan and purpose that will get the best results!

Even if you have lots of plans, trust in God's plan and purpose for your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me a purpose. Help me to always follow Your plans to accomplish Your will. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

In His Grip!

2/12/2019

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one." -John 10:28-30 (NIV)

When walking the dog, there are many times when he thinks he should be free to go explore and investigate. What he doesn't realize is that there are dangers involved in crossing the street or approaching a strange dog or animal. I need to a keep a grip on his leash to help guide him and keep him safe. We are fortunate that God also keeps us in His grip!

When we choose to allow God into our lives, we can live in the safety of His hands. He will not let the evils of this world steal our souls. God will guide us, as long as we are willing to listen to Him and accept His wisdom. Moving through life with Jesus Christ in our hearts and God on our side, we can be assured that He is with us now and forever!

Follow God and find safety in His grip!

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

Enthusiastic!

2/11/2019

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." -Romans 12:11 (NIV)

There are times in our lives that call for enthusiasm. We can be excited! We can be ready to go to get started or help make a situation better! Sometimes, though, our excitement isn't well received by others. But we can't give up!

When we have something as exciting as Jesus Christ in our lives, we shouldn't try to hide it! Instead, we should be enthusiastic and ready to share Jesus with others. We should have excitement in our faith and our desire to serve the Lord. Then, as we work for Him, we can allow others to join us and become enthusiastic in our lives with God!

Be excited and enthusiastic as you continue to serve God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for walking with me and giving me hope and excitement. Help me to always share my enthusiasm as I serve You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Stay Close!

2/10/2019

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

When out and about with my daughter, I want and expect her to stay close. We all likely want to keep our children safe. The easiest way to keep them safe is to keep them close long enough to teach them how to live and where to be cautious. Our Heavenly Father is the same way!

God knows that the world is full of temptation and danger. He also has created us to have free will. We can make our own choices, but we can learn to make the best choices possible. By seeking God, we can learn the lessons that He has prepared for us. When we stay close to Him, we can call on Him to help us by giving His guidance, wisdom, commands, and protection. As we journey through our lives, we just need to stay close to God and listen to Him!

Stay close to God, seeking Him with Your heart and listening to His commands!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me guidance and direction in my life. Help me to always seek You and listen to Your commands. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Just Love!

2/9/2019

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." -John 13:34 (NIV)

On a recent trip to the store, my daughter noted all of the decorations, candy, and Valentine themesd cards and gifts. Beginning in January and lasting through the middle of February, we can expect to see all of the love-themed items. While Valentine's day and the time leading up to it may remind us about love, we need to show love every day!

God has shown us His love. He sent His Son to die for our sins. As we live our lives as followers of God and Jesus Christ, we need to show love. We should love one another, even if we don't always agree. We can come together as God's family and express our love for each other, but we also need to show love to those that may not yet have chosen to follow God. By loving everyone, we can be lights in God's Kingdom. Remembering the command of Jesus, we can just love one another!

Live each day with love in your heart...for God and for each other!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me love. Help me to always love You and to share Your love with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Understanding, Not Opinion

2/8/2019

"Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." -Proverbs 18:2 (NIV)

When we are considering options, making choices, and living life, we can be impacted by both facts and opinions. Sometimes it may be difficult to distinguish the two. We don't want to be the fools acting on opinion without understanding, so we need to work on knowing the facts!

We need to focus on understanding and not simply accept the opinions of ourselves or others. We need to rely on God to provide us with the understanding that we need in order to be informed and choose wisely. As we seek God through His Word and through prayer, we can develop an understanding that exceeds anything we could find on earth. In the end, by moving toward God, we can overcome opinion with understanding!

Move from opinion to understanding by seeking God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the understanding that only You can provide. Help me to turn to You and follow You forever. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Learn & Follow!

2/7/2019

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." -Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

Today I had the privilege to attend a workshop on teacher leadership. Part of the training focused on different leadership domains, which each included the need for collaboration. Leadership includes being able to listen, take feedback, and collaborate in order to reach our end goals!

When we choose to follow God, we may at first be content learning about God and drawing closer to Him. However, as we learn more, we may be inspired to become leaders for God. To help us become leaders, God provides training. We need to be able to listen to God's teaching, to learn from it, and, ultimately, choose to take action on the lessons we have learned. With God as the master leader, we can learn and follow in His path to become leaders that lead others to HIm!

Know God, learn from and follow Him, and become a leader for His Kingdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the lessons and leadership that You have shown to me. Help me to continually learn from You and follow in the path You have prepared so I can lead others to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Gather With Him!

2/6/2019

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

There are times in our lives when we feel we are walking alone. During these times we may become cut off from others for a variety of reasons. Yet, we are better when we are connected with each other and with God!

Jesus reminds us that when we gather together in His name, God is there with us. We can spend time with Him, worshiping and praising His name! We can learn. We can grow. We can be united with each other through God and His will for our lives and for the world around us. We just need to take the time to gather with others and with Him!

Gather with others and with God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being with me. Help me to take time to gather with others and to welcome You into my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Guided by Integrity

2/5/2019

"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." -Proverbs 11:3 (NIV)

Sometimes we think we can rely on our own wits and wisdom. If we only rely on ourselves, we may get by in the short-term. However, we will eventually experience a time when we cannot do what we need to do alone!

When we set our sights on our journey through life, we need to be sure we have the right guides. We cannot rely only on ourselves, we must also depend on the integrity and guidance that only God can provide. When we rely on God, we can avoid self-destruction and reap the benefits of a loving and all-knowing God!

Allow God to be your guide so you are filled with integrity that avoids self-destruction!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your wisdom and guidance in my life. Help me to rely on You and to act with the integrity that only You can provide. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Love and Giving

2/4/2019

"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." -James 3:16 (NIV)

In our lives, we are often encouraged to want what others have or just to want more for ourselves. In a world that thrives on envy and selfish ambition, we are called to be more and do more. We need a different mindset to move closer to God!

When we look at our lives, we need to look at what's around us. We can live in an environment that breeds envy and selfishness or we can position ourselves in ways that promote love, giving, and helping one another. God can help us see our purpose beyond the "stuff" of this world, beyond the evil and disorder in our lives. When we seek God's will, we can find His goodness and order as we serve Him and those around us!

Instead of envy and selfishness, allow God to lead you in loving and giving!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and order in my life. Help me to always seek You and to follow Your examples so I can serve You and others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.