Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Praise Him for His Plan!

8/31/2018

"Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." -Amos 3:7 (NIV)

A co-worker recently reminded me that all things happen for a reason as part of God's plan. Sometimes we may lose sight of that as we focus on what we think we want or need. However, we should take time to look at our lives and God's work in them!

God is always working in our lives and He has a plan. Even if we don't notice, things in our lives are moving according to God's will. Eventually, we may see His plan revealed to us. Whether we are focused on the details of our lives or revelling in our understanding of His plan, we should rejoice and praise God! Thank Him for the plan that He has in our lives!

Be assured that God has a plan for your life and praise Him for it!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the plan that You have for my life. Help me to understand and follow Your will in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Back to School?

8/30/2018

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord." -Proverbs 16:20 (NIV)

In many places it is back to school time! Students prepare their materials and anxiously or excitedly head to school to reconnect with friends and make some new freinds. Students also prepare for instruction and activity that will provide many opportunities in future. We should also prepare for instruction in our spiritual lives!

Everyday provides us with an opportunity to heed God's instruction. We can receive instruction through God's Word, through prayer and communication with Him, and through the experiences that He provides. As we learn, we can trust in the Lord, receive God's blessings, and grow. We can be schooled in the ways of the Lord and apply His lessons in our lives!

Head "back to school" everyday as you learn from God and grow in your faith!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a great teacher. Help me to learn the lessons You have for me so that I can continue to grow. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Building Community

8/29/2018

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." -Romans 12:15 (NIV)

As I prepare for a new school year, one focus is on building a community to support each other. As we discuss, experiment, and communicate our ideas, everyone in the classroom has a role to support one another. Beyond the classroom, we also need to build community - including empathy and compassion - throughout our lives...even in our spiritual lives!

When we choose to follow God, we enter into a community of believers. We gain brothers and sisters in our faith in God and in the acceptance of redemption through His Son. As humans, we will not have a perfect community. We will experience highs and lows. As we rejoice or mourn, we should strive to support each other. As we rejoice together, mourn together, and keep our community focused on God, we can be build a community and support through love, empathy, and compassion!

Build a community focused on God and support each other whether rejoicing or mourning!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the community of believers that is united through Your Son. Help me to alway support this community. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Bad Connection?

8/28/2018

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." -Romans 10:17 (NIV)

While talking with a friend on the phone, the connection became a little fuzzy. It was hard to hear what she was saying, but she seemed to be able to hear me just fine. Sometimes we can't or don't hear the words that are being said. We need to be sure that we are not causing the bad connection!

There are times in our lives when we may get so busy that our connection with God may seem a little fuzzy. However, when our connection seems distant, it is because of our actions, how we have moved away from God. When we start to loose our connection, we need to check ourselves to be sure that we are hearing God's message. We need to turn to His Word and seek redemption through His Son Jesus Christ. Once we are reconnected to God, we can be sure to hear His guidance and feel His love!

If you feel disconnected from God, turn to His Word to hear His message and reconnect through Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me. Help me to turn to Your Word so that I can have a good connection with You through Your Son. In His name I pray, amen.

Overflowing

8/27/2018

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

We all have those times when it can be hard to get along with others. When we are in the midst of these times, we may not stop and think about love. However, it is in these moments that we should call on God!

God loves us. His love overflows and, through His Son, takes away our sin. When we are struggling to show love, we should call on God to increase our love. Focusing on the love of God in our lives, we can allow it to overflow from our hearts and to impact our actions. As we grow in God's love, we can spread His love to everyone around us, even when we are struggling to get along!

Call on God for a growing love that overflows and spreads to everyone!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your unending love. Please fill my heart with Your love and allow it to overflow and spread to all those around me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Strength to Wait

8/26/2018

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." -Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Living requires strength. The struggles and tests that we endure strengthen us and help to prepare us for what is to come. The strength that we need takes time to develop, but we can be reassured that God is working in our lives to build that strength!

We know that God is powerful and can strengthen us. We just need to be patient. We need to wait for the Lord. We need to embrace the strength that God gives us and allow that strength to grow through the experiences that God provides. Through what we may feel are struggles, God is building us up. With faith in Him, we can have the strength that we need now and we can wait on the strength that we need to move forward!

Have faith and wait for God to provide the strength you need!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing the experiences that I need in order to grow. Help me to continue to grow in my faith in You and strength through You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Hurry Up and Wait!

8/25/2018

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." -James 1:19 (NIV)

I am fortunated that I do not have a long commute as being stuck in traffic is frustrating. Sitting in traffic can remind us that there are times, even if we are in a hurry, that we are forced to wait. We may hurry to get prepared and on our way only to find that we are sitting and waiting!

While sitting in traffic may be frustrating, there are times in our lives that we need to "hurry up and wait." When it is time to listen, we should be quick to listen to each other, to truly engage in trying to understand reasons for thinking and actions. Even though we should be in a hurry to listen, we should not be so fast in making judgments, speaking, or getting angry. We should instead respond with the love that God has shown to each and every one of us!

Be quick to listen and show love, but slow to judgment and anger!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Help me to be quick to listen and slow to anger. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

All In!

8/24/2018

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

I have been told that when I am passionate about something, I am all in. This can be a good thing, but too much of something without balance can also have its drawbacks. However, when we are talking about God, we should always be all in!

When we seek God, we can find Him. We need to set our hearts on Him and allow Him to guide our lives. As we focus our hearts on God, we can go all in. We don't have to worry about drawbacks. With a heart set on God, we can experience His blessings, His love and compassion, and His will in our lives. When we are all in for God, we can know Him and share Him with all those around us!

Set your heart on God and go all in!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love and blessings You provide for me. Help me to keep my heart focused on You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Refresh

8/23/2018

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." -Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

There are times when we feel run down or stuck. During some of these times I feel refreshed by spending time outdoors, whether working in the garden and yard or just walking and taking in nature's beauty. While I like to spend time outdoors, I also like to share my love of the outdoors with others. God calls us to share with others to help refresh them and ourselves!

From giving us the opportunity for eternal life through His Son to the blessings we receive each and every day, God is active in our lives. He is generous with each of us. Because God shows us how to love and be generous, our hearts can be filled. It is then up to us to continue to spread His love, compassion, and generosity. We can share from the blessings that we receive and both refresh others and ourselves!

Share the blessings that God has given you to refresh others...and yourself!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings that You continually give to me. Help me to share from these blessings to refresh others through Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Vindicated and Not Abandoned!

8/22/2018

"The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever--do not abandon the works of your hands." -Psalm 138:8 (NIV)

Things happen in our lives for a reason. Sometimes things do not go as we planned or wanted. When things do not go as we want, we may view these events as setbacks or unfortunate situations. However, through it all, God is there with us and will vindicate us!

We can be certain that God is always with us, even when we feel things are not going our way. We are His creations and He loves each of us. Because of this, God has a plan for our lives. If we stick with God and His plan, we can be reassured that God will "vindicate" us. We, along with those around us, will know God's active hand in our lives. We will be vindicated and never abandoned!

Allow God to work in your life as He will vindicate you and not abandon you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being with me and for having a plan for my life. Help me to follow Your will and to be vindicated through You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Time to Rest!

8/21/2018

"Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done." -Genesis 2:3 (NIV)

We are all busy in our lives. There are different demands that pull us in many different directions. Even when we feel we cannot stop to take a breath, we need to rest. Our bodies, minds, and souls need to be able to recharge.

God reminds us that we need time to rest. He showed us that it is good to rest as He did after the work of creating. God knows what we need. Rest, whether time to relax, to sleep, or clear our minds, is essential for our well-being. We can take time to unplug from our busy schedules and to meditate on God and His Word. When we take time to rest and focus on God, we can recharge for our lives!

Follow the example that God has set and take time to rest!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me that I need rest. Help me to take time to rest and to meditate on You and Your Word. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Spiritual Mind

8/20/2018

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

Most of us probably have a lot of things on our minds. Many of these things probably have to do with all of our earthly duties and responsibilities, likes, wants, or needs. We often focus on what is important to us or what makes us feel good. Beyond our earthly concerns, we need to keep our mind focused on strengthening our spiritual selves!

Even on our busiest days when our minds are filled with things to do and things that may make us feel good in the hear and now, we need to be sure we are not allowing our minds to wander away from God. God is always with us. It is up to us to choose to focus our minds on Him and His will in our lives. When we focus on God, we can allow His Spirit to fill us. Through God's Spirit, we can have a spiritual mind that brings us peace now and joy for eternity!

Be sure to keep your mind focused on God and allow it to be filled with His Spirit!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being near to me. Help me to keep my mind focused on You so that You can fill me with Your Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

In a Minute...

8/19/2018

"I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands." -Psalm 119:60 (NIV)

When there are things that need to be done, we sometimes respond with, "In a minute..." Whether we are just busy or are trying to put off doing something, there are certain things that have to get done. After that "minute", the job still needs to get done!

There are things we need to do in our spiritual lives, too. God has given us His commands and He communicates with us. Sometimes we may hesitate or try to avoid God's call or His commands. When we read God's commands or hear His call, we shouldn't respond with, "In a minute." Instead, we should always try to follow God without delay, knowing that His plan is in our best interests!

When God calls, be prepared to follow instead of saying, "In a minute!"

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being patient with me. Help me to hear your call and to always follow You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

In the Shadows?

8/18/2018

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." -Matthew 6:2 (NIV)

My daughter likes watching the "ninja turtles" as they fight crime and save the people of the city. One thing that some of the turtles struggle with is doing their work and not receiving recognition. They feel they can only work in the shadows, but their teacher reminds them that if they were exposed, their work would suffer. The receive their reward by keeping the city safe.

When we are working for God, we may feel the same way. As we work, we should not be focused on earthly recognition or reward. If we help those in need only because we seek a reward or praise, then we are not doing the work for God or for the "right reasons." With our hearts set on God, we can have faith in working for God and in working "in the shadows" for Him. We can work as a team with fellow believers for the glory of God!

Don't be concerned with working "in the shadows" as long as your heart is following God's will!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for blessings and for preparing me to work for You. Please fill my heart and guide my actions in working for Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Take Care of It!

8/17/2018

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." -Psalm 24:1 (NIV)

A friend recently shared a video where the presenter was speaking about caring for the environment. However, caring for the environment wasn't limited or even focused on caring for plants and animals. The speaker presented her argument that caring for the environment as an issue of social justice to help people live healthier lives. It is an issue that requires all of us to care for all of God's creation!

Everything in the earth was made by and belongs to God. We have a calling to be stewards of His creation. While we can use the resources of the environment, God does not want us to abuse His creation, especially at the expense of our fellow human beings. God wants justice and He expects us, as His followers, to fight for what is just and right. When we take care of God's creation and all who live in it, we are following God's call for justice and stewardship!

Take care of the environment and all who live in it!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You have made. Help me to protect Your creation and seek justice for all that live in this world. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Healing

8/16/2018

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." -Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

There are times when we need healing. Whether that healing is physical, emotional, or spiritual, we can and should seek help. We can find help from professionals and trust in God to guide their thoughts and actions. We can also turn to God in prayer. Whether we need help as individuals or groups, God is there for us.

We know that God is with us and capable of healing. When we are sick or hurt, we can ask God to help heal us. He can comfort us and He can help our bodies, minds, and spirits to heal as individuals. God can also help to heal us as families, churches, or other groups. God can help to bring together the hearts and minds of groups of people. We just need to be willing to call on Him and then listen to Him and to those He places in our lives!

When healing is needed, call on God and listen to Him and His plan!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for wanting what is best for me and for healing me when I am hurt or broken. Please continue to help me heal when I am in need. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hungry and Thirsty?

8/15/2018

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." -Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

There are times when we get hungry or thirsty. Sometimes we have cravings for that one certain food or drink. We may go searching through the house or make a trip to the store to find what we need to satisfy our taste buds. Even though our physical bodies need food, we need more than physical food!

Beyond our physical hunger and thirst, our souls need nourishment. We need to have our spiritual hunger and thirst satisfied. We may search the whole world, but we will not find lasting satisfaction. The only place to satisfy and quench our spiritual hunger and thirst is through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. When we call on God, He will fill us with His Spirit. We will be satisfied not just now, but for eternity!

Call on God to fill you and stop your spiritual hunger and thirst!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for filling me with Your Spirit. Please fill my soul so my hunger and thirst are eternally satisfied. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

God and Others!

8/14/2018

"And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." -I John 4:21 (NIV)

We have many responsibilities in our lives. One responsibility revolves around love. We shouldn't let the attitudes or actions of others deter us from this responsibility. As Dave Willis stated, "Don't worry about other people's opinions of you. God never told you to impress people; only to love them."

We are called by God to share His love. We cannot impress God or earn salvation by our actions and we may not impress or live up to the expectations of those around us. However, we that doesn't mean we should give up on trying to live for God. Even though we cannot earn redemption, God has given it to us through His Son. Even though we may not impress those around us, we can still live in ways that show God's love. God shares His love and He expects us to love Him and to love others!

Live in ways that show your love for God and your love for others!

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

Busy Bees!

8/13/2018

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." -Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

It is amazing to watch a hive of bees working. Each bee has a job to do in order to help the whole hive function at peak efficiency. Without each bee doing the necessary work, the honeycomb, honey, and existence of the hive would not be possible. In life, we are like the bees of God's hive and we should be just as hard at work!

We are reminded in Proverbs that "gracious words" are like "honeycomb." Our words and actions should be sweetened with the love and grace that God provides for us. As we are working throughout the world, we should be spreading these words and actions that act as honeycomb with sweetness and healing properties. Through our work for God, others should see His love and feel His comfort and healing!

Be busy "bees" for God's Kingdom as you work to spread the sweetness and healing of His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being gracious and merciful. Help me to work for Your Kingdom in ways that spread the sweetness and healing of Your love, grace, and mercy. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Get Moving in Him!

8/12/2018

"‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’" -Acts 17:28 (NIV)

Some days are harder to get moving than others. Whether because of the exercises or activities I did yesterday or the fact of getting older, moving is not always as easy as it should be. Even though getting moving may be difficult, we need to keep moving!

When we are working for God, we can face challenges. Evil in the world may try to keep us from reaching our potential or from completing activities that show God's love and compassion. Even when we face challenges, we need to keep moving. We are God's children. As long as we are following Him and working for Him, God will give us the support to keep moving!

Keep moving in God and for God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for supporting me and for helping me to keep moving. Guide me in Your plan so others can see Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Go Hungry!

8/11/2018

"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." -John 6:27 (NIV)

Even though she is "always" hungry, we can tell when my daughter is going through a growth spurt. During these times she is hungry and eats everything. To grow in our spiritual lives, we may have growth spurts, too. We can get the energy for these through working for food that endures!

We work to provide our bodies with food, which we need, but we also know that earthly food will spoil. If we pursue earthly food for our spirits, that food will spoil as well. Chasing the riches of earth cannot provide eternal peace and happiness. The only food that nourishes our spirits for eternity is that provided through Jesus Christ. When we follow and learn from Jesus, we can feed our souls with food that leads to eternal life!

Don't let your soul go hungry, but find eternal nourishment through Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing what I need both here on earth and for eternity. Help me to follow You and to be with You for eternity. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Dressed Up?

8/10/2018

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." -II Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

We learn "looking our best" often means putting on nice clothes or getting "dressed up." We get dressed up to impress, show respect, or even gain respect. Putting on nice clothes doesn't change who we are or we what we know. When we get "dressed up" for God, we need to be sure we are showing who we truly are!

God knows each of us better than we know ourselves. He is our Creator and He knows the choices that we will make before we even make them! Since God knows us, we need to remember that we cannot "dress up" to impress or fool Him. God knows what is in our hearts. Once we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and are committed to following God, we don't have to "dress up." With our faith in and commitment to God, we can present our hearts as honest and truthful!

Don't try to "dress up" your heart to be presentable to God. Cleanse your heart through the sacrifice of Jesus and present your honest heart!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me a chance to cleanse my heart through Your Son. Help me to follow Your will and present an honest and truthful heart to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Stay Focused!

8/9/2018

"See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." -Hebrews 3:12 (NIV)

Many of us are busy with all of life's responsibilities. Even in the midst of all that we need to do, we need to maintain a focus on our priorities. As author Roy Bennett wrote, "What you stay focused on will grow." If we want to grow in our spiritual lives, we need to stay focused on God!

A focus on God includes having our hearts in the right place. We need to believe in God's Word and in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son. By accepting God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ, we can build a relationship with God. As we continue to talk to God through prayer, study His word, and learn from other believers and leaders, we can keep our hearts focused on God. With a focused heart, we can grow in our relationship with Him!

Keep your heart focused on God so you can grow in your relationship with Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being willing to build a relationship with me. Help me to keep my heart focused on You and becoming closer to You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Go Boldly!

8/8/2018

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." -II Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

There are commercials that say, "If you see something, say something!" It can be easy to see the problems around us and then "turn a blind eye" so we don't have to engage in what could be a "messy" situation. Whether we stay quiet because we are unsure of how to act or because we don't want or know how to get involved, we have the backing to act boldly!

God gives us the power to not be timid. Through God, we can find the strength to "say something." We can learn what and how to act through the people and resources that God provides. God prepares us, but we need to be willing to act. Whether through faith in God's plan or through the knowledge and wisdom He provides, we need to step our and go boldly spreading His love and Good News!

Trust in God and go boldly into the world for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing me wisdom and power. Help me to be bold for the right reasons and in ways that spread Your love, grace, and mercy. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Temples

8/7/2018

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" -I Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)

Throughout the world there are many elaborate temples that have been built. Some of these temples have survived in much of their original glory, while others have been worn down by time. We can find comfort in having a house of worship. We may even be awed by its beauty. However, the temples most precious to God are each and every one of us!

God has created each and every one of us as a temple for Him! God's Spirit dwells in us and among us. We do not have to build an extravagant building. We do not need gold, silver, or the finest fabrics and jewels. To be a temple for God, we just need to do some house cleaning. We first need to rid ourselves of sin by accepting the forgiveness that is offered through Jesus Christ. We can then open our hearts to welcome and serve God. We can become temples for Him!

Clean yourself with forgiveness from Jesus and then open your hearts as a temple for God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the forgiveness that You provide. Help my heart to be an acceptable temple for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.