Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Boast in the Lord!

9/30/2019

"'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." -II Corinthians 10:17-18 (ESV)

There may be times when we want to boast, to tell others about something great in our lives. We can find many reasons to boast, but we don't want to spend our time focused on ourselves. We need to boast in the Lord!

Whatever we have and can do is thanks to the Lord. It is through Him and His blessings that we can accomplish all things. Whether we are working on small projects or larger endeavors, we should work for God. As we see the results of our work, we should praise God and boast in Him because we know He is the One to be commended!

Boast in the Lord from whom all blessings flow!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings in my life and the guidance that You provide. Help me to always boast in You so others can see Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Ask for Wisdom, then Listen!

9/29/2019

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." -James 1:5-6 (ESV)

I recently had dinner with friends that I hadn't seen in several years. While we were talking, one friend mentioned that it is good to spend time with people that are "smarter" than you because it gives you the opportunity to learn. He also recalled Solomon asking God for the gift of wisdom. If we want to be smarter and wiser, we can start by spending time with God and asking for His wisdom!

We need to make smart decisions and have wisdom to understand and navigate the world around us. We can learn in a variety of ways and from different people. To be sure we are learning and growing in wisdom, we should ask God. When we ask God for wisdom, we know He will respond. Therefore, we shouldn't doubt, but wait patiently and listen to God's work in our lives. Through His Word, talking with Him through prayer, and interacting with the people and experiences in our lives, we can learn and apply the wisdom that could only come from God!

Ask for wisdom from God, then be patient and listen to God's teaching in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the wisdom You give and the lessons You teach. Help me to hear and learn the lessons and wisdom that You have for me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

I Know Someone...

9/28/2019

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." -Matthew 7:15 (NIV)

We will meet many people throughout our lives. I recently saw a statistic that we may meet as many as 80,000 people in a lifetime! While the majority of these people will pass in and out of our lives without much of a notice, others may impact our lives, whether in a positive or negative way. We often are looking to know someone and their true intentions!

With thousands of people in our lives, we know that some will not have the best of intentions. Even if they appear to be "good", we may find out otherwise. In order to know who to trust, we need a reliable source that knows each and every person that we will encounter. God knows everyone. He knows what is truly in each person's heart. We can turn to God and He will guide us. When we talk to Him, we can know who to trust and of whom to be wary. We always know someone that will help us see the sheep and the wolves!

Rely on God to help you truly know someone!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being trustworthy and pure. Help me to listen to You as You help me to know others and their intentions. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Praise, Trust, No Fear!

9/27/2019

"In God, whose word I praise--in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" -Psalm 56:4 (NIV)

We will undoubtedly meet people that don't understand us. They may struggle to understand both our intentions and our calling by God. Because of this, the people around us may try to disrupt our progress or hold us down. Even though these times are not comfortable, we can respond with praise and trust!

When we feel that the world is against us, we can still trust in God. It is through God that we are protected. We should respond by praising God and allowing others to see God's presence in our lives. Praise and trust can take away our fear. We can stand tall knowing that God will not waver and we are protected by Him!

Praise and trust in God and then do not fear what people may do or say!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for protecting me and always being with me. Help me to live unwavering in my faith and trust in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Be Devoured!

9/26/2019

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." -I Peter 5:8 (NIV)

There may be times when we feel like life is chewing us up. If we allow ourselves to be pushed by the ways of the world, we may be devoured by the evil around us. We cannot let ourselves be pushed down by the evil in the world. We need to find strength and power!

While the devil may prowl, either quietly lurking or roaring like a lion, we know that we have a stronger power on our side! No matter the form or tactic the devil takes, God recognizes him and can help us see him, too. When we rely on God, we can call out the devil and we can stand up to the prowling and roaring lion. We can find strength and power in God so we will not be devoured!

Abide in God and allow Him to keep you from getting devoured!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for keeping and protecting me. Help me to always turn to You for strength, power, and protection. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Giving Back!

9/25/2019

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand." -I Chronicles 29:14 (NIV)

Sometimes it may feel as if we have given all that we have to give. When we feel "tapped out," we can remember that God gives generously to us. As we reflect on the generous blessings in our lives, we can be refreshed and ready to give!

When we prepare to give, we need to remember that all of our blessings come from God. All that we have to give to God comes from Him! God gives generously, so we can generously give back to Him. As God gives to us, we should give back to God by using His blessings in our service to others!

Receive blessings from God and then give back by sharing blessings with others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the blessings in my life. Help me to use what You have given me to serve in Your name. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Free to Serve!

9/24/2019

"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)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said that, "Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve." We have the freedom to make our own choices, but the consequences of these choices are not equal. We can be great and have a bigger impact when we choose to serve others in love!

When we choose to humbly serve others in love, we can experience the fulfillment of God's calling. Instead of focusing on ourselves and indulging our desires, we can look to help others through sharing God's love and compassion. Giving of ourselves to help others gives us purpose. In God's calling and purpose, we can find a freedom that is better and more rewarding than any indulgence we think we need!

Respond to God's calling and be free as you humbly serve others in God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for calling me and supporing me in serving others. Help me to hear You and to show Your love and compassion to others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

No Doubt, Just Wait!

9/23/2019

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." -Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

Sometimes I get impatient. I want to see the results of my efforts right away. The same is true when I am experiencing challenges. I want to see the solution to problems "right now" or I may become frustrated. Instead of needing immediate answers, I need to remember that God is present!

God is present in all of our lives and He is ready to help us. We just need to turn to Him and allow Him to help. Instead of trying to create immediate results for ourselves, we need to find refuge in God and be patient in His timing. He will make a path for us, but we need to listen to and follow Him. We do not need to doubt, we just need to wait on the Lord!

Have patience, don't doubt, and wait on the refuge and strength of the Lord to help you in times of trouble!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being present and a source of refuge, strength, and help. Help me to hear You and to wait on Your plan. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Worn Out?

9/22/2019

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." -Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)

Living life can take its toll. We can become weary and worn out. Events in life can drain us physically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. Even though life can ear us out, we do have a source of refreshment and restoration!

When we feel worn out, we need to remember to take care of ourselves. The first step in taking care of ourselves is turning to God. When we turn to Him, we can find the spiritual fulfillment and restoration that is necessary. We can find emotional support and physical healing in God. We can make the choices to allow God to refresh, restore, and satisfy our weary bodies and souls!

Worn out? God can restore you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being the source of restoration for my body and soul. Help me to take time and allow You to restore me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Perfected in Trials!

9/21/2019

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." -James 1:2-4 (ESV)

Lucius Annaeus Seneca said that, "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials." While trying times can be uncomfortable, they may be necessary for promoting our growth. When we encounter trials, we need to maintain our faith in God and allow Him to work!

Although it may not feel good in the moment, we can take heart and be joyful in knowing that the pains we feel are growing pains. God will be faithful to us. We need to be faithful to Him. We need to allow Him to work in our lives and to shape us. It is only by allowing God to work in our lives that we can be perfected and made complete!

God can use your trials to form you into His perfected, complete being!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and care in shaping and forming me into what You want me to be. Help me to hear You in the midst of my trials and to remain faithful through everything. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Do Good, Be Humble

9/20/2019

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" -Micah 6:8 (ESV)

In a recent conversation with a friend, we were talking about different projects in which we are involved and some of the successes we have experienced. My friend talked about being humble and working to serve others in our actions. I was reminded of this conversation by the words of Harold B. Lee when he said, "Stay true in the dark and humble in the spotlight."

God tells us what is good and He calls us to do good in the world. We need to listen to Him and follow His model for our lives. As we serve others with the talents that God has given us, we can fight for justice, show love and kindness, and be humble. We can then walk with God, staying true to Him in the dark times and humble when He turns the spotlight on us. With God, we can do good and be humble!

Follow God, do good, and be humble, through both the dark and bright times!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me how to live and for guiding me each and every day. Help me to always do good in Your name, to be humble, and to walk with You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Not Puffed Up!

9/19/2019

“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright--but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.” -Habakkuk 2:4 (NIV)

We have probably all encountered people that are "puffed up" or full of themselves. There may even have been moments when we were a little puffed up ourselves. It can be hard to deal with others (or ourselves) when we are too reliant on what we can or think we can do on our own. We need to remember to live for and with God!

Those that are puffed up and full of themselves will eventually experience a fall. We cannot keep ourselves puffed up. However, if we turn to God and strive to live a faithful, righteous life, we do not have to be concerned with "puffing" up ourselves. We will be supported by God and truly filled with His presence, grace, and power. With God in our lives, we will be filled forever!

Instead of being "puffed up," allow God to fill you now and forever!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for filling me and supporting me throughout my life. Help me to rely on You and to not be puffed up by what I try to do. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Wait to Prevail!

9/18/2019

"'No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,' declares the Lord." -Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)

In life, we will experience moments that may discourage us. In these times, we may want to "fight back" against the things that people say about and to us. When we want to fight back, we need to be patient. God will prevail as long as we give Him a chance!

Even though we may want to see results right away, we need to be patient and wait on the Lord. He has a plan. He has the power to defend each of us. No matter what is said or the plans that are made against us, we need to allow God to defend us in His time. God has a plan, we just need to have faith and wait on Him to help us prevail!

Have faith in God's plan and wait on Him to help you prevail!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for defending me and wanting me to prevail. Help me to have faith and to wait on Your time. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Constructive Responsibility

9/17/2019

"'I have the right to do anything,' you say—but not everything is beneficial. 'I have the right to do anything'—but not everything is constructive." -I Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)

As a teacher, I sometimes have those students who believe they have the "right" to do certain things. While we may feel we have the "right" to do anything, we also have to recognize our responsibilities. We cannot be constructive if we are not responsible!

We are reminded of this lesson in I Corinthians. Not everything we have the "right" to do is beneficial. We need to be responsible. This responsibility starts by following God and being responsive to His call. We also need to be responsible by following God's direction to love our neighbors. When we consider our right to do things, we also need to consider our responsibility to others and to God's Kingdom. By following God, we can be responsible and constructive in building His eternal church!

Be responsive to God and become responsible and constructive for His Kingdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me the right to choose and the responsibility to be responsive to You. Help me to hear and follow You so I can be constructive now and forever. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Mission of Peace

9/16/2019

"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'" -John 20:21 (NIV)

Alan Hirsch said, "Every Christian is a sent one. There is no such thing as an unsent Christian." As Christians, we are given a mission. We have a purpose and a calling from God. We need to accept our mission with peace and love!

Jesus gave us a mission and sent us. We are called, as His followers, to go into the world to spread the Good News! However, we need to approach the Good News with the love, compassion, and peace that Jesus Christ exhibited during His time on earth. When we go into the world with God's love and a peace that only He can provide, others can see God. We can be beacons of God's light that help others see the glory of God's Kingdom now and for eternity!

Embark on a mission of peace and love that allows others to know God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love and peace that only You can give. Help this love and peace to shine through all that I say and do. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Answer the Call!

9/15/2019

"The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." -I Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)

When the phone rings, it seems as if most of the calls are not ones I want to answer. Telemarketers, surveys, and political "robocalls" dominate the types of calls. While I may not want to answer these calls, we need to be ready to answer the spiritual call!

God has created each of us for a purpose and He will call us to take action in some way. When God calls us, we can be sure that He will faithfully support us. Instead of ignoring the call or allowing it to "go to voicemail," we need to answer God's call. We need to step out and follow the path He is creating for us. When we answer the call, He will be faithful and we can depend on Him!

When God calls, answer it and trust in His faithfulness!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for creating me for a purpose. Help me to hear Your call and to answer it. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Our Advocate

9/14/2019

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." -John 14:26 (NIV)

Mister Rogers said, "There is no normal life that is free of pain. It's the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth." As we live life, we will wrestle with difficult situations. We will struggle and face challenges. However, we do not need to face these on our own. We have an advocate!

Jesus Christ came to live as an example for each of us. He has experienced life on earth. He knows that we will have challenges and struggles. He also came to be a sacrifice for our sin. As He left earth, He told us about our Advocate, the Holy Spirit. Even though we will wrestle with problems, we have an Advocate that will help us to grow and overcome this world. We don't have to struggle and wrestle on our own, we can turn to God, to Jesus Christ, and to our Advocate, the Holy Spirit. With them we can grow!

When wrestling with struggles and challenges, turn to your Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to teach and help you grow!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending an Advocate. Help me to not wrestle and struggle on my own, but to turn to You and the Advocate You provide. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Foolishness or Power?

9/13/2019

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." -I Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

We may all have those times when our actions may look foolish to others. What we are do or say may not be understood. While what we do may cause others to think, we just need to be sure we are aligned with God!

God sent Jesus Christ to die for our sin. He is our path to redemption and eternal life with God. As we worship and follow God, some people may wonder about what we are doing. They may think our actions are foolish. However, as we are enveloped in God's love and redemption, we feel His power and know that He is present. Our actions can reflect God's power in our lives and allow others to move away from foolishness to embracing God's saving grace!

Embrace the power of the cross and allow it to overcome the foolishness that others see!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the power of redemption through Jesus Christ. Help my actions to reflect Your power so others can move away foolishness and to a relationship with You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Grace & Knowledge

9/12/2019

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." -II Peter 3:18 (NIV)

When talking to a group of teachers about their work, you will likely hear about how they want all of their students to grow and become more knowledgeable. Something else you may begin hearing is how they also want their students to develop into good, kind, and caring people. Those with children in their lives want to see their children grow in grace and knowledge...and to apply what they learn!

God is the same way. He wants each of us, each of His children, to grow in His grace and in our knowledge of Him. Each day of our earthly journey provides experiences for us to know God better. We can learn about His grace and then offer grace to those around us. We can feel God's love and share it with others. We can become knowledgeable about God and share this knowledge, too. As God's children, we can grow in our grace and knowledge and then share it now and forever!

Know God, grow in His grace and knowledge, and then share it with others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for wanting me to grow in many different ways. Help me to know Your grace and to deeply know You so I can share You with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Allow in the Light!

9/11/2019

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." -Genesis 1:3 (NIV)

We all have dark times in our lives. Aristotle Onassis said, "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." No matter how dark our situation may seem, we know that God can create light!

Out of nothing, God created everything. He created light in the beginning. He then sent His Son to be the Light and to provide a path to redemption. Even in the darkest times in our lives, we can focus on God's light. When we allow in His light, we can find our way through the darkness and reach the destination that He has in store for each and every one of us!

In the dark times and all the time, turn to God and allow in His light!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your light in my life. Help me to always focus on You and Your light. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Celebrate!

9/10/2019

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

Sometimes we don't even notice, but we are surrounded by victories worthy of our celebration! No matter how small or large, we need to consider the small changes or steps in our lives that help lead to better results. By taking time to stop and recognize the victories in our lives, we can appreciate the blessings we receive from God!

God wants to celebrate with us. He loves us and wants us to be successful as we follow His path. As we receive His blessings, we need to be aware of His actions, both the small and large changes. Acknowledging His presence and blessings in our lives, we can then celebrate! However, we don't celebrate alone, we celebrate with God and with others as we tell them about His wonderful deeds!

Recognize and thank God for the blessings in your life and then celebrate as you tell others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of my blessings, from small to large. Help me to celebrate each of them as I share Your wonderful acts with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Peace, Love, & Support

9/9/2019

"Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." -Psalm 119:165 (NIV)

I recently saw a quote that said, "Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God." Sometimes we think we need to change our situation in order to find peace. We put too much energy into things that, ultimately, don't impact our peace. We need to turn to God and embrace His peace!

God provides us with a pathway to peace. He has given us the Bible with His law, redemption through His Son, and examples of how to apply these lessons to our lives. We need to take the time to learn from the resources that God has given us. We need to talk to God in prayer and listen to His response. When we keep our eyes on God and receive His blessings, we can find peace. Beyond peace, we can find the love and support that will allow us to thrive!

Learn from God, accept His blessings, and find the love and support that will keep you from stumbling!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love, support, and strength. Help me to not stumble, but to listen to You and thrive for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Patience & Vindication

9/8/2019

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

Abraham Lincoln said that, "Truth is generally the best vindication against slander." When we feel attacked or put down, we may want to fight to set the record straight. However, there are times when we cannot do this on our own. We need to be patient and wait on God!

God is always near us and ready to defend us as long as we call on and trust in Him. When we need to be vindicated, God knows and has the power to reveal the truth. As we wait on and draw near to God, we will experience His love and truth. God's truth will also become apparent to those around us. In God's time, His Truth will vindicate us and we can find redemption in Him!

Have patience and allow God to vindicate you in His time!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being there for me and being ready to defend and vindicate me. Help me to be patient and to wait on You to reveal the truth. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Stumbling Block or Step Up?

9/7/2019

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister." -Romans 14:13 (NIV)

We encounter many different people and many different situations in the course of a day and throughout our lives. Each time we are faced with a different situation, we can choose to be a stumbling block that causes others to trip or a step up that helps others through a struggle. We need to make up our mind to help, to be a step up and over the challenges in life!

When we think about removing stumbling blocks, we need to turn to God. It is through God's love that we can experience forgiveness and redemption. We then need to show this love by not passing judgment and tripping up others. We can offer our support, whether it be through our time, talents, or resources. We can take the time to build relationships that can lead to positive change in our lives and the lives of others. Instead of being stumbling blocks, we can be the step up and the supports that grow God's Kingdom!

Draw on God's love and choose to be a step up that helps others through their challenges!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being the "step up" and the support that helps me through life. Help me to show Your love and to help others see Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Ask for Shine!

9/6/2019

"Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love." -Psalm 31:16 (NIV)

We all have moments in our lives when we feel darkness around us. Sometimes we need this darkness to help us see light. As Bryant McGill said, "Life has dark moments and it is out of our darkness that we often find our greatest beauties and strengths." When surrounded by darkness, we can ask for the Light!

God is with us, even in dark times. When we feel that the darkness is overtaking us, we need to call on God. We can ask for Him to shine on us. His shine can show us a path that we may not have seen. He can be the light in the darkness that shines on us and allows others to see our talents. He is the love and light that can save us from evil in the world. In those dark moments of life, we can ask for God's shine and discover the beauty and strength God has lovingly given to each of us!

Ask God to shine on you to reveal the beauty and strength He has given through His love for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for shining on me when I need it most. Help me to see Your gifts in my life so I can use them for Your glory. In Jesus I pray, amen.