Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Plans, Steps, and Shining Examples!

5/31/2019

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." -Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

I have had the privilege of watching two friends receive different types of recognition this week. I respect and admire the courage and love that they show in all that they do. While they may plan, it is through God's direction that their steps allow them to shine!

In our journeys, we know we will have ups and downs. Some days things won't seem to go our way. Other days will lead us to happiness and accomplishments that are bigger than we could have ever imagined! We may plan a path for ourselves, but we need to include God in our plans. It is in God and through His power that our steps will lead us and allow us to be shining examples for Him!

Plan with God and allow Him to guide your steps, using you as an example for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the family, friends, and people that You put in my life. Help me to learn from You and from them and to follow Your guidance so I can be an example for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Target?

5/30/2019

"So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" -Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)

No matter what we do in life, there will be others that are not happy with our actions. Recently, it seems as if even the good things can cause people to feel threatened. When we are in a position where others begin to target us, we need to remember that we have a helper!

God puts us where we need to be in our journey. No matter what we are facing, we do not need to be afraid. We may be uncomfortable in what God is calling us to do, but we are safe in His sight. Knowing that we have God as our Heavenly Father and protector, we can continue in our work. We can be confident in doing His will, in allowing the gifts that He has given us to shine. Even if we have a "target on our back," God is there to help, comfort, and protect!

Keep working for the glory of God and He will help and protect you...even if you have a "target on your back"!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping and protecting me. Help me to always know Your will and to continue working for Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Pursuing Peace

5/29/2019

"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." -Psalm 34:14 (NIV)

Matthew Donnelly said that, "Love is the purest form of a soul at peace." Even when the world around us may seem evil and we see the bad happening around us, we can find love and peace. We can also be a source of love and peace, as long as we share our gifts from God!

God is the purest form of love and peace. As His followers, we can seek this love and peace and we can do good because of it. Evil will continue to haunt us, but we can move away from evil and toward God. We can ask God to help us avoid evil and to do good. We can learn from God and then practice sharing His love and, in the process, pursue peace!

Know God, then share His love and pursue peace!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and teaching. Help me to share Your love and to pursue peace. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Fruit!

5/28/2019

"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." -John 15:8 (NIV)

We are here for a purpose! We need to embrace our purpose. As Thomas Carlyle said, "Have a purpose in life, and having it, throw into your work such strength of mind and muscle as God has given you." We can fulfill our purpose and bear fruit for God!

While we might not always realize our purpose, we can be confident that God has a plan. We can call on God and ask for His guidance in leading us to our purpose. We can then follow God, as His disciples, and fulfill this purpose. When we follow God, we can bear fruit for Him. Even if the fruit we produce does not please others, we can please God by following Him and fulfilling our purpose!

Follow God, find your purpose, and bear fruit for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the purpose You give to my life. Help me to know my purpose and to follow You in fulfilling it. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

More Than "Good Enough"

5/27/2019

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You." -Psalm 86:5 (NIV)

We can choose to go on living a "good enough" life or we can choose to do more than just survive. If we want to become better people, we need to be willing to take a look at ourselves, to reflect on our experiences and actions. We also need to be willing to call for and accept help!

To become better than we currently are, we need to call on God. God will forgive us. He will improve us by erasing our sin and showing us how we should live. We can learn about goodness, grace, mercy, and love through God's examples. When we call on God, we can receive His guidance, wisdom, and blessings. We can be much more than "good enough" through the grace of God!

Call on God, accept His gifts, and be more than "good enough"!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You have given me. Help me to always trust in You as I call on Your supreme wisdom and guidance. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Call on Him!

5/26/2019

"Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you." -Psalm 118:25-26 (NIV)

There are times when others may not understand us. Whether our thought process, which may defy the "logic" of the world, or our success that comes even in the face of adversity, our actions and their outcomes may baffle others. Beyond just confusing them, we may unintentionally provoke anger or vindictive behavior from others!

When we choose to follow God, we know that we will be different from the world around us. We know that God has a higher calling for us and that we are living for eternity with Him. No matter what we might be facing, we just need to consistently call on Him! When we call on God, He will save us. He will grant us success. We will experience His blessings. Through our earthly journey, God will be with us each and every step of the way!

No matter what reactions your actions provoke, call on God and trust that He will save and bless you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me and providing success and blessings. Help me to always call on and trust in Your power and wisdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be of Service!

5/25/2019

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." -Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

We may often think of freedom as the opportunity to do anything we choose. While freedom does give us a choice, we need to use our freedom wisely. As Hunter S. Thompson said, "Freedom is something that dies unless it is used." We need to use our freedom to serve others and make the world a better place!

We can serve others by first becoming free of the sin that weighs us down. Turning to Jesus Christ allows us to move past our sinful nature and to be redeemed. We can then follow God's plan and use our freedom to show love and to serve each other. By building each other up, we can enhance our freedom and joy as we become closer with each other and with God!

Find freedom from sin in Jesus Christ and then use your freedom to serve!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for freeing me from my sin. Help me to follow Your plan and to use my freedom to serve others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Right Door, Right Time

5/24/2019

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." -Matthew 7:7 (NIV)

There are times when it feels like I am trying to pry open doors to opportunities. Often, it feels as if these doors are being held closed by other people. No matter why these doors are closed, we don't need to stop at a closed door. We need to ask, seek, and have faith!

Jesus reminds us that we will be faced with resistance and challenges in our lives. He faced them, too. Jesus doesn't give these reminders to quiet our spirit or dim our light. Instead, Jesus tells us that we just need to ask, seek, and wait for the doors to open. In our lives, we need to trust in God's timing and have faith that He is a champion for our best interests. With God, the right doors will open at the right times as long as we ask for His guidance, seek Him, and have faith!

The right doors will open at the right time as part of God's plan for your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your timing and work in my life. Help me to always seek Your will and to have faith that the right doors will be opened at the right time. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Lasting Change

5/23/2019

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 'by His wounds you have been healed.'” -I Peter 2:24 (NIV)

We may think that we can make meaningful change on our own. While we might find temporary improvement or success, we cannot make lasting change by ourselves. We need to look to a higher power!

Jesus came so that we can have permanent change and improvement. It is through God's gift of His Son that we can be redeemed, healed, and improved. With God and Jesus Christ, we can be supported as we make changes in our lives and in the world around us. God can provide the means for lasting change in our lives!

Accept forgiveness through Jesus Christ and allow Him to change your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the forgiveness given through Jesus Christ. Help me to allow You to change my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Dancing with the Shield

5/22/2019

"He holds success in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless." -Proverbs 2:7 (NIV)

In my experience, change can be difficult. I didn't like change as a kid growing up. While there are times when change is still difficult, I look around and see a need for change. Whenever we embark on changing the status quo to improve things around us, we will likely encounter resistance.

The resistance we encounter can be disheartening. In fact, those mounting the resistance can be downright cruel. Fortunately, we do not have to buy in to what others say or do. As I recently learned, "Don't push because there will always be an equal and opposite reaction. Instead, learn to dance!" If we try to puch on our own, the resistance will only push back stronger. However, if we rely on God, He will teach us to "dance" so we can move around the resistance toward success. He will also protect us behind His shield as we move in His direction. We can bring about positive change by following God's footsteps and relying on His protection!

Follow God as He teaches you to dance around the challenges and protects you from harm!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for teaching me and protecting me. Help me to hear, learn, and follow You each and every day. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Fueling Your Light!

5/21/2019

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." -John 1:5 (NIV)

We each have a light to shine in the world. It is up to each of us in how we choose to allow our light to shine. We also need to be aware that there are those who will try to keep our lights from shining. When we face darkness, we need to have fuel for our lights!

As followers of God, we know that He is the true light that can shine through any darkness and overcome any attempt to extinguish the light. When we align ourselves with God, He will help our lights to shine. With God fueling our lights, no one will be able to stop them from shining. God's light shining through us will overcome any darkness!

Allow God to fuel your light and watch it shine through anything!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for fueling Your light in me. Help me to always shine for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Count the Days & Gain Wisdom!

5/20/2019

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." -Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

There are days when time seems to drag on and take forever. There are also those instances when whole weeks, months, or even years seem to fly by in the blink of an eye. Either way, we know we have a limited time on the earth. We need to be wise!

During our time on earth, the wisest thing we can do is commit our lives to God. We need to accept forgiveness through Jesus Christ and then live in ways that serve and honor God. Whenever we live for God, we know that our efforts are worthwhile. No matter how many days we have, the wisdom that God gives can guide our actions and lead to glory for His eternal kingdom!

No matter how many days you have, seek the wisdom of God and live for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the days that You have given to me. Help me to gain wisdom and to use each day to its fullest for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Seek with Faith!

5/19/2019

"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)

When we set our minds to do something, we have to believe that it is doable. Whether our setting goals or completing our daily routines, we approach work that is realistic. The same is true when we approach God. We need to believe in Him!

God invites us to seek Him. It is when we have faith in God's presence that we can seek Him and find His glory. We can be assured that God will reveal Himself to us in the right time. He will help us according to our needs. We just need to continually have faith and seek God!

Seek God. Have faith and believe in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your presence. Help me to always believe and to seek You in all things. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Problems & Solutions!

5/18/2019

"The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." -Psalm 34:19 (NIV)

Sometimes we may wonder about the problems we encounter. While we long for an easy, trouble-free life, we know that the world doesn't work that way. When we experience problems, we need to remember that there are solutions!

God doesn't promise us that we will never encounter problems or challenges. What He does promise is that He will always be with us. He will be by our side, offering us guidance when we turn to Him. Even though we may have problems, we also have God offering solutions!

When you encounter problems, turn to God for solutions!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being by my side. Please help me to hear Your guidance and to find the solutions that You provide. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Just Give Thanks!

5/17/2019

"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." -Psalm 9:1 (NIV)

Some people never seem to have a good day. No matter what is happening around us, we can choose to look for the negatives or look for the positives. If we take the time to look for what is good in live, we will find it!

God is good and His goodness is on display in the world. While we may most often hear of the negatives, we know that there is more to life. When we accept Jesus, He provides a joy that the world cannot give to us. If for no other reason, we should give thanks for Jesus being in our lives and the redemption that He provides!

No matter what is happening in your life, look for the positives that God provides and just give thanks!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being good and gracious. Help me to always see the positives in life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Caution: Slippery When Wet!

5/16/2019

"When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' your unfailing love, Lord, supported me." -Psalm 94:18 (NIV)

Throughout the past several weeks, it has been raining a lot. The days have been gloomy and cool. With the rain comes another hazard, the roads and floors can become slippery. We need to use caution to safely reach our destination, but we can't stop moving!

The same is true in our spiritual lives. When Satan becomes involved, our path can become slippery. Even if we mean to keep moving forward, we may slip backward. When we find ourselves in these treacherous situations, we need to stop and remember that God is there with us. We just need to call on Him and allow Him to give us the firm footing we need. When conditions in our lives require caution, we can always count on God to keep us moving!

When your path is slippery and your foot is slipping, call on God and allow Him to give you a foothold!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the opportunities I have in life. Help me to always call and rely on You for the foothold that I need. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Rejoice!

5/15/2019

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" -Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

We do not know what life holds in store for us. Even the roads that may seem like trouble can lead us to great things! We have to be prepared to trust in God and have faith that we will learn from each experience. Through all of these experiences, we just need to rejoice!

God is always with us, always loves us, and always wants what is best for us. Even if we make choices that lead us away from Him, God will welcome us back. God gives us the strength to make it through whatever we face. Because He is always there, we need to say, "Thank you!" We need to praise Him. Again and again, we need to rejoice in His power and glory!

No matter what you are facing, rejoice that God is with you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do for me. I rejoice in the power and glory that You have shown through my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks!

5/14/2019

"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)

Life throws many things at us. Some of these things we welcome and others we dread. No matter what we face in life, our relationships can help sustain us. As we navigate the journey of life we need a good pilot!

The first relationship and only pilot in our lives should be God! He is the one that knows us and our every need. To continue to build our relationship with God, we need to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Through communication with God in all circumstances, we can be close to Him and allow Him to be part of our lives!

Rejoice, pray, give thanks, and build a relationship with God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for wanting to have a relationship with me. Help me to know You and to listen to You no matter what I face in life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Status

5/13/2019

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." -Romans 12:16 (NIV)

For some people, "status" matters. They may be more likely to help those that they perceive as "better." However, we are called to live with all people, to be humble and kind.

While status may matter to some people, it does not matter to God. We are fortunate that God meets us at our lowest point and lifts us up. God provides an example that we should follow. We should be kind and associate with all people to lift each other up and come together with the status of members of God's eternal family!

Associate with others regardless of "status" so we can lift each other up in God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for lifting me up. Help me to always associate with others and share Your Good News. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Glorious with God!

5/12/2019

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

After recently earning my degree, I have been asked a number of times, "What's next?" To be honest, I don't actually know what is coming next. However, as I go about my routines, I begin to see different opportunities in front of me and different doors that begin to crack open. Many of these things are intriguing, but are not things I would have come up with myself!

As we think about plans for the future, we can only be truly successful when we allow God to guide those plans. There is a wrestler that enters to a theme song that exclaims, "Glorious! No, I won't give in 'til I'm victorious and I will defend. I will defend!" As we think about planning for the future, we need to focus on the glory of God and not on ourselves. We cannot see success, glory, or victory without God's guiding hand. Without God's grace, mercy, and redemption, we have nothing that is worth defending. When we stop and listen to God's plans, we will be amazed at how glorious they are and how He will defend us and make us victorious!

Allow God's voice to guide your plans so you can be prosperous and defended for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your role in the opportunities that I have had in life. Help me to always listen and follow Your advice in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Lord and Rock!

5/11/2019

"For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?" -II Samuel 22:32 (NIV)

There will be times when we find ourselves in trouble. It may or may not be our fault. In the end, it probably doesn't matter whose fault it is as long as we find our way through. The process of surviving and thriving can teach us about calling and standing on the Lord God our Rock!

Life gives us highs and lows. No matter what we are facing in life, we need to be prepared. We can choose to worry and try to make things right on our own. While we may think we need to do things on our own, success often comes only when we acknowledge that we need help and then accept it! God is ready to be that helping hand. We need to remember that the Lord is our God and that only He can provide firm footing as our Rock. We need to call on Him and trust in His firm foundation for our lives!

There is no other God than our Lord, our Rock and Redeemer! Trust in Him no matter what you face in life.

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being my God and for being active in my life. Help me to always stand on the firm foundation that You have provided. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Only Need

5/10/2019

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

There are times in our lives when we must interact with others that may not have our best interests in mind. Even if we are trying to do what is right, we may meet resistance. During these times we may try to figure out those around us, but we don't need to figure anyone out. We just need to trust and be still!

God is with us. He knows all of the people in our lives. He knows those that will support us and those that will challenge us. Instead of trying to "fix" things or figure out other people, we need to trust in God's wisdom and have patience in our faith. Even though we may be tempted to act on our own, we only need to wait on God. He will fight for us. He will protect us. He will provide for us. We only need to be still and open to His power!

No matter how much you may want to fix things, you only need to be still and turn to God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being with me and wanting what is best for me. Help me to be still and listening for You in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Take His Hand!

5/9/2019

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." -Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

I was recently talking with a friend about being the best we can be at our jobs. We were talking about our work as service to God and allowing Him to guide that work. When we commit to God, we need to be willing to take His hand and accept His help!

When we work for God, we can't stop at "good enough." We need to be 100% committed to God. All of our work should be to honor and serve Him. No matter what job or task we are involved in, God is our focus, guide, and assistant. We may fear stepping out on our own, but God will guide our steps. We can have faith and rest assured that He will help!

Take God's hand, accept His help, and be the best you can be for His glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping me, guiding me, and teaching me. Help me to always take your hand and trust in Your wisdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Status Quo?

5/8/2019

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." -Proverbs 3:27 (NIV)

A friend recently gave me a book. We have been talking about making positive change in the world around us, so the book is a guide to disrupting the status quo to make things better. We can accept the state of the world as it is or we can begin to make a change. We all have the potential to do good and improve our world. We just need to get started!

We are reminded that we are not to withhold good from those who deserve it. We are also called to love everyone, even our enemies. When we choose to follow God, we are given great power that can accomplish all of these things and more. God is willing to share His power with us! With God and His power on our side, we can act and influence the world in positive ways. We can disrupt the status quo of the world and create a better, more loving place. Even if we start small in the spaces where we live and work, we can act and see results!

Call on God's power and then allow Him to put you into action to do good, change the status quo, and make the world a better place!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the power that You share with me. Guide me and help me to use this power to do good and improve the world. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

OK to Say No!

5/7/2019

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." -Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

There are temptations all around us. We each have our own weaknesses that can distract us from our goals. As Steve Jobs said, "Focusing is about saying no."

If we want to keep our focus on God, we sometimes need to say, "No!" We need to say no to the temptations of this world. We need to strive for self-control. With God's help, we can accomplish these goals. We can call on God and rely on Him and His salvation. God can show us when it is not only OK, but necessary, to say no!

Stay focused by turning to God and saying no to the temptations of this world!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being by my side. Help me to hear Your direction and to say no when I am tempted by the world. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.