Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

What We're Living For...

6/30/2015

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." -Romans 8:11 (NASB)

It can be easy to lose our ways. There are many voices and distractions vying for our attention, trying to give us the reason for life. Even though the world claims to have all the answers, there is one reason that we can get up each day. There is one reason we are living!

God has created each of us. We are unique, but we are also created in His image. When we trust Him and believe in Him and His Son, He gives us life. He can help us through our physical lives, but more importantly He gives us the spiritual purpose and reason to live. We can attempt to live "good" lives on our own, but we can't reach our true potential on our own. Trusting in God makes our lives worthwhile. Believing in Him gives purpose to our actions!

Don't wonder what you're living for...turn to God and allow Him to give you purpose!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being present in my life and giving me direction. Please continue to guide my life so that I can fulfill the purpose that You have given me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Rested and Ready!

6/29/2015

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." -Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

With the arrival of summer comes longer days and summer vacations. Each summer I set a goal to take time to enjoy the sun, to have fun, and to rest and relax. In the midst of spending time caring for the yard, vacationing, and working, the times for rest soon seem to be filled with activity. When we are weary and in need of rest, we can turn to Jesus. He has already invited us!

When we are worn out and tired, we can turn to Jesus. He can help us. He can calm and restore our tired souls. He can also take away our worries so that we can physically rest and sleep. We just have to be willing to let go of our burdens and place them on Jesus. Once we accept Jesus' invitation to trade burdens with Him, He will help our souls rest and heal!

When your soul is weary, trade burdens with Jesus so you can be rested and ready!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and sending Jesus to help me with my burdens. Please help me to let go of my burdens so my soul can be rested and ready. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

All Dressed Up...

6/28/2015

"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." -Isaiah 61:10 (NASB)

I had several students this year worried about their shoes or clothing. To a middle schooler, the right outfit can be more important than homework! Sometimes we find ourselves looking for that perfect outfit. When we want to make a good impression, we try to look our best. When celebrating or mourning, there is appropriate attire for each occasion. What would you wear if you had a meeting with God?

God knows us inside and out. We can't impress God by what we wear. The best thing we can wear for God are the spiritual clothes that He as given us - "garments of salvation" and the "robe of righteousness". God has provided us with all we need. Through the redemptive sacrifice of His Son, God has given us the perfect garments to wear when we meet with Him. Our spiritual clothing is more glorious than any physical adornments we can find here on earth!

Get all dressed up by putting on the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son and providing me with the spiritual clothing of salvation and righteousness. Help me to never be ashamed to put them on and help me to allow others to see the glorious gifts You provide. Through Your Son, my Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Suffering for Right

6/27/2015

"For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit." -I Peter 3:17-18 (NASB)

We have probably all come across people in our lives that seem to be rewarded for doing the wrong thing. Maybe it's a boss that has been promoted, even though he or she has not demonstrated a competency. Maybe it's an acquaintance or "celebrity" that seems to make money and live comfortably in less than honest ways. We may feel be frustrated by what we see, but we must remember that the rewards of this world are nothing when compared to the rewards of God!

We are reminded (I Peter 3:17-18) that we may suffer for doing what is right. Many people of the world may turn their backs on God's principles. The world may persecute us for holding onto God's principles. However, even though we may suffer now for doing what is right, God has not abandoned us. God has sent His Son to redeem us. Through belief in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can be reassured that our suffering now will turn to the greatest glory in the arms of God!

We may suffer now for doing what is right, but God will reward us!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for Your redemptive plan for my life. Help me to hold tight to what is right, even if the face of suffering, and allow me to experience Your eternal glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Not Defeated!

6/26/2015

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." -Psalms 34:18-19 (NASB)

People and situations can frustrate us. They can break our hearts and make us feel defeated. When we are frustrated and feel broken, we shouldn't give up! God is ready to help us!

There are many times and reasons that we get knocked down. When we get knocked down, we should be encouraged that God is by our side ready to help us back up. Whenever defeat starts to set in, we should call on God to help us. When we trust in Him, He will deliver us from whatever we are facing!

Don't get defeated! Turn to God and allow Him to help you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and being willing to pull me back up whenever I fall or get knocked down. Help me to remember to call on You in everything. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Silence?

6/25/2015

"Teach me, and I will be silent; and show me how I have erred." -Job 6:24 (NASB)

Experiencing silence this morning reminded me that we have a lot of noise in our lives. The technologies that keep us connected also keep many of us from experiencing times of silence. I recently heard a statistic on the radio that the younger generation check their phones and technology an average of over 100 times a day! Whether talking, texting, listening to music, watching T.V., or surfing the internet, we have a lot of outside noise in our lives!

The noise we experience in our lives isn't all bad. We can benefit from being connected to others and learning as long as we don't allow the technology to take over our lives. We also need to realize that it is in times of silence that we can clear our minds and our hearts to allow us to hear and experience God. As Job (6:24) reminds us, when we are silent, God can teach us and show us how we have gone away from His plan for our lives. As part of our daily routine, we should find time to be silent so we can experience the teachings of God!

Take time out to be silent and ready to learn from God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You provide for me. Help me to remember to take a step away from the noise in my life so that I can hear You and Your teachings for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be Molded!

6/24/2015

"But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand." -Isaiah 64:8 (NASB)

We recently welcomed a rescue dog into our family. It is hard to tell what he experienced before we adopted him. It is also hard to tell what commands he knows or what and how he was taught. As we get to know our new dog, we are helping him adjust and learn how to behave in our family. We are working with our dog to help him learn our commands.

The Bible uses the example of a potter with clay when describing our relationship with God. We often go astray and need to remember that God has "adopted" us. He is ready to shape us and mold us. He has the tools to make us better people, but we have to allow Him to be part of our lives. Once we learn God's expectations, we can be His beautiful creations, showing His love to all those around us!

God is the potter and ready to mold you. Let Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being willing mold me and make me a beautiful work of Your hands. Help me to listen to You and allow You to complete Your work in me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Help Others

6/23/2015

"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." -I Corinthians 10:24 (ESV)

It can be easy to look out for ourselves and our own well-being. We know what we want or need for our own good, but that shouldn't be our focus. We should be concerned about those around us, too.

If we are not helpful, we are not truly showing God's love to those around us. God provides for our needs and expects us to assist others with what He has given us. Even when we may want or think we need more, we have enough to share. As we share, we can bring people together in God's love!

Don't focus just on your needs. Take time to help others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing for me. Help me to use what you have given me to help others. Allow them to see Your love in all I do. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Dig Deeper

6/22/2015

"However, as it is written: 'What no eye has seen, what no ear as heard, and what no human mind has conceived' - the things God has prepared for those who love Him - these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." -I Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)

One of the teachers at my school is remembered by most students for telling them to "dig deeper!" It is easy to find the answers that are at the surface, but true understanding involves going deeper, thinking more, and knowing more. While our students sometimes resist "digging deeper" in their thinking and learning, they are grateful for their deeper learning in the end.

Just as teachers guide students in digging deeper, God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us dig deeper. God is much greater than what we know and understand, but that shouldn't stop us from continuing to dig deeper to learn more about Him. With the assistance of the Holy Spirit, we can learn and have wonderful things revealed to us. In the end, we will be grateful for everything that God provides for us in our learning and relationship with Him!

Allow the Holy Spirit to help guide you in digging deeper and building your relationship with God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to guide me and encourage me in digging deeper to learn more about You and to help me build a closer relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Radiance

6/21/2015

"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." -Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)

Today was an overcast day. The clouds hid the sun for most of the day, but it did peek through the clouds. Standing outside during the burst of sunshine reminds us of the radiance - the light - that it provides for us. Even when the clouds block our view, the sun is still there.

In the same way, God's Son provides the radiance or the light for our spiritual lives. Even when we allow the activities of our lives to cloud our view, the radiance of Jesus continues. He has provided purification of our sins. He is love. He is the way to God. We should acknowledge His sacrifice for our sins, so that all of our days are bright with the promises of God!

Accept Jesus so that all of your days are filled with the radiance of the Son!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son purifying my sins. Help me to reflect His radiance so that others can know You as well. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be Repentant, Teach Repentance

6/20/2015

"They went out and preached that men should repent." -Mark 6:12 (NASB)

Sometimes is seems as though the world around us is teaching us that there is no need for repentance. It may seem as if nearly every behavior can be justified or excused in some way. That is not the way things should be!

God has established morals and given us His expectations. He knows that we cannot be perfect. However, when we fall short of living up to His expectations, we should repent! Living repentant lives can bring us closer to God and it can allow others to see that there are truths, expectations, and standards that should define our lives. We can preach repentance, but we can also model repentance and living redeemed lives through Jesus!

Don't just preach repentance, model it in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your expectations and purposes for my life. Help me to be repentant and to model repentance so others can see Your divine and perfect standards for our lives. Through Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Shrewd and Innocent

6/19/2015

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." -Matthew 10:16 (NASB)

Trying to find balance in our lives can be difficult. Some situations put us in a position of needing to be cautious, but also loving. As Jesus reminds us, when surrounded by the wolves, we need to be shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves!

God knows that living in a world of wolves is challenging and even dangerous. That is why He gave us Jesus as our Redeemer and Shepherd to guide us through whatever we are facing. When the wolves are circling, we can pray and communicate with God and Jesus. They will help us be wise and harmless as we deal with the wolves in our lives!

Don't get eaten by the wolves. Pray and listen for guidance to be wise and harmless in your actions!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and being willing to help me be both wise and innocent as I deal with the wolves in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Acceptable Reactions

6/18/2015

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

When we are faced with criticism and lies, we have a choice in how we respond. It is easy to be angry and to lash out in anger based on our emotions. Whether in a positive or negative situation, we need to react in a way that is consistent with our faith and with God's expectations.

To know that we are acting or reacting in a way that is acceptable to God, we need to stop and pray. A simple prayer is given to us at the end of Psalm 19. We just need to stop and ask God to give us the right, gracious words to say and the right heart to guide our actions. When we rely on God's grace and mercy, He will provide us with the way to react in an acceptable way consistent with our faith and with His teachings!

When life causes you to react, stop and pray for God's guidance!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your grace and mercy and Your willingness to guide me through any situation I face. Help me to draw closer to You so that my words and actions are acceptable to You. Through Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Righteous Path

6/17/2015

"For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." -Psalms 1:6 (NASB)

Sometimes we worry about the approval of others. Whether it is at work, at home, at church, or in the community, we are concerned when others do not see us as they think they should. Even though the approval of others can make us feel good, it is not what is most important.

As we move through life, we should try to follow the path that God has set for us. We should strive to be righteous, living for God and following His way. When we are living for God, we only need to worry about our relationship with Him and not with the approval of those around us. The opinions of the wicked will fade away, but our relationship with the one, righteous God will last forever!

Follow God's righteous path and don't let others get you down!

Prayer:

Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for establishing a path for me to follow. Help me to follow Your path without letting others get me off track. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Speaking

6/16/2015

"Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and with a double heart they speak." -Psalms 12:1-2 (NASB)

I recently read a quote that said, "More problems would be solved if we talked to each other instead of about each other." A lot of times we find it hard to talk to each other about the problems we have with each other, but it often comes easy to talk about others.

Even as Christians, we can appear to be ungodly men and women when we do not watch what we are saying. Speaking with a deceitful heart and lies can keep us from truly experiencing God's grace and mercy. It can also keep us from spreading God's love to those around us. When we are speaking to and about others, we need to stop, pray, and allow God to guide our speaking!

Be Godly by following Him and speaking His truth!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me warnings about how to speak and examples of speaking for You. Help my words and actions reflect my faith in You and Your love in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Using Our Anger

6/15/2015

"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger; and do not give the devil an opportunity." -Ephesians 4:26-27 (NASB)

I admit that it can be easy to hold a grudge. Sometimes we may get hurt and become angry. We may see injustice and get angry. Anger itself isn't always bad, but it can be when we allow it to be an open door for the devil.

When we get angry, we shouldn't let it turn into sin. We need to take our anger to God so that He can help us use our anger productively without it becoming a sin. Our anger may provide motivation to get something done. Our anger may help us realize changes that we need to make in our lives. Our anger may help us draw nearer to God as we allow Him to help us. As we use our anger, we must be sure that it does not take control of our lives. We should avoid going to bed angry and we should avoid our anger becoming an open door that allows the devil to enter our hearts and minds. We can use our anger for good when we turn to God!

You can get angry, but don't let your anger be an inviting open door to the devil!

Prayer:
Dear God-
You know I get angry. Please help me to use my anger for good and not as an invitation to the devil. Thank You for being patient with me and for being willing to help me through every situation. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Call and Listen

6/14/2015

"Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name, 'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'" -Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NASB)

As the temperatures climb and the school year winds down, students still have questions, but when I attempt to answer them, they aren't always listening for the answers. Whether it's the heat or the upcoming summer vacation, my students are distracted. When we have questions, God is present and ready to provide answers, but we have to be ready to listen!

Jeremiah (33:2-3) reminds us that one true God, the Creator, will answer us when we call on Him. God knows more than we can imagine. His might and power can conquer anything we encounter. When life starts to distract us, we need to remember that after we call on God or ask Him a question, we need to be ready to listen and trust all that He tells us!

Don't be distracted. Call on God and listen to and trust His answers!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and being willing to listen when I call on You. Help me to call on You and then listen to Your response. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

His Justice

6/13/2015

"But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." -Amos 5:24 (NASB)

Sometimes we can think that life is unfair. We question and ask for explanations and justice. There are times that life doesn't go the way we think it should, but there may be reasons that we don't see for the events that occur around us.

When looking at the bigger picture, we can be reassured that God is a just God. He is always righteous and He loves justice. His justice will reign supreme in His perfect time. If we think our life is unfair, we may need to consider God's plans. Through prayerful conversation with God and reading His Word, we can better understand our lives, the events we face, and God's plan to protect and prosper us through it all!

Let God's justice roll over you and protect and prosper you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being an loving and just God. Help me to talk with You and understand Your plan for my life. Protect me and allow me to prosper in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Strength and Power

6/12/2015

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." -Ephesians 6:10 (NASB)

We all have challenges and struggles that we face in our lives. When we face a challenge, we can choice to rise and meet the challenge or we can shrink away and be defeated. We don't have to make the choice alone. God is with us and can help us!

When there are challenges before us, we need to prepare. The first step in preparation is knowing that the strength and power of God is there for us. God reassures us that He is there for us. God also gives us the "armor" of His Word, His love, and His guidance. Once we believe in His strength and dress in the armor that He provides, we can conquer all of our challenges!

Pray, believe, and receive the strength and power to conquer challenges!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping me prepare for the challenges and triumphs that I face in my life. Help me to rely on Your strength and might to rise to and overcome all my challenges. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Looking Up

6/11/2015

"Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth'; and it was so." -Genesis 1:14-15 (NASB)

Sometimes we don't stop and look up at all that is out there beyond earth. We get caught up in what we have to do or the technology that we can hold in our hand. We can loose our connection to everything that is around us, but sometimes we have experiences that remind us of the greatness that lies outside of our world.

Recently, I was able to view Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn through a telescope at an astronomy event. Through the telescope the clouds of Jupiter and rings of Saturn are visible! When looking beyond earth, we can a small slice of God's glory and majesty. God created the entire universe. God set the planets in motion. He gave us the sun for light. We may feel small and insignificant when we stop and look up, but we should feel privileged that God also chose to create us and to redeem us through the sacrifice of His Son. We may be small in the universe, but we can be powerful when we live in Him!

Take time to look up and appreciate God's power and His love for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the opportunities to observe Your creation. Thank You for loving me, caring for me, and making me more than a speck in the universe. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Keep Watching and Praying

6/10/2015

"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." -Matthew 26:41 (NASB)

As technology has increased so has the speed of life. Being continually connected to work, family, and interests can be beneficial, but also has its drawbacks. We need to keep watch in order to keep our priorities straight.

It seems that when Jesus was talking to Peter, He was talking about physically staying awake and keeping watch. However, we are also like Peter in needing to keep watching and praying that we stay awake and committed spiritually. There are many temptations present in the world around us. Even when we have the best of intentions, we sometimes fall asleep or become unaware of our participation in actions or our lack of actions that lure us into sin through temptation. We need to stay awake, connected to God by watching and praying, so we keep our priorities in line with the one and only Truth shown to us by God, the Father, and His Son!

Keep watching and praying so your priorities are in line with God's will!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the reminder to always be watching and praying. Help me to remember to talk to You and to listen to Your guidance. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Always Seeking

6/9/2015

"Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually." -Psalm 105:4 (NASB)

There are certain things that we always have to do. Biologically, we have to eat, sleep, and breathe. Other things we may have to do are pay bills, go to work, and care for loved ones. In all of the things we have to do in our lives, we can't forget that we should always be seeking God and His will in our lives.

The Psalmist reminds us that we should seek the strength of our Heavenly Father. We are reminded that we should seek Him continually. Seeking God and His will for our lives isn't something we should squeeze in when we have time or when we are faced with challenges, it's something that we should always be doing. Through prayer, fellowship, and study of His Word, we can always seek and find Him and His will and strength to help us in our lives.

Always seek God and His will for your life.

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your strength and Your willingness to help me whenever I seek You. Please continue to show me Your will for my life and to provide for me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Dependable

6/8/2015

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5 (NASB)

It's always nice to have someone that is dependable, that is there when we need a helping hand. Friends and family may help us out in different situations, but for some things we need someone even more dependable. Our redemption, the healing of our souls depends on someone greater than our earthly family and friends!

Even our closest friends on earth may not be willing to lay down their lives for us, let alone be tortured and mocked throughout the process. Fortunately for us, Jesus isn't an ordinary human or an ordinary friend. Jesus died so that we can all be healed and forgiven through His sacrifice on the cross. Isaiah spoke of our Savior in and God sent His Son for the redemption of each and every one of us. When we are looking for someone dependable to be there for eternity, we should turn to the one who died for our sins - Jesus, the Son of God!

When you need someone dependable, turn to Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being dependable and for sending Jesus to be our one true, dependable way of Salvation. Please guide me and help me to remember that Jesus is dependable through everything. In His name I pray, amen.

Rescue

6/7/2015

"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." -I Timothy 2:3-4 (NIV)

A shelter dog recently joined our family. The operator of the rescue organization said the dog was found malnourished and abandoned under a porch. She said our family saved the dog. Thinking about our new, gentle family member made me think of our lives and our need for a Savior.

When the devil and sin take hold in our lives, we can find ourselves abandoned and malnourished. Things may seem good at first, but the sin slowly erodes our lives. God doesn't want us to be abandoned and malnourished. He is ready to "adopt" and rescue each of us. He wants all of us to be saved. He wants us to know the truth and a loving family. God can and wants to rescue us from sin and provide for all of our needs, all we need to do is accept the redeeming sacrifice of His Son, our Savior!

Allow God to rescue and nourish you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for rescuing me from my sin. Help me to show Your love to others so all people can be saved. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Peacemaker's Harvest

6/6/2015

"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." -James 3:18 (NIV)

Some people seem like they enjoy stirring up trouble. They go through life stirring the pot and causing trouble rather than sowing seeds of peace. In the end, the harvest of peacemakers and pot stirrers will be different!

In James (3:18) we are reminded that peacemakers sow seeds of peace. Seeds of peace will produce righteousness. As we move through life, we will encounter those that thrive on trouble and discord. In all situations, even when others are stirring up trouble, we need to plant seeds of peace by being peacemakers. We shouldn't compromise our beliefs and faith in God, but we should use our faith to help us. God can guide us and give us strength to be peaceful in order to reap the harvest of righteousness!

Make sure you are planting seeds of peace so you harvest righteousness!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being righteous and peaceful. Help me to show love and to promote peace in all situations while still being strong in Your Way. Through Jesus I pray, amen.