Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

What is the plan?

10/31/2016

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

Trying to manage everything and "get things done", I find myself asking the question, "What's the plan?" Apparently I ask the question more often than I realize as my daughter has started to ask it as well. It can be helpful to have a plan, but we need to be sure that our plans align with God's plans and that we are ready for God's next steps!

We can plan in our hearts and minds, but our plans are meaningless until God intervenes and directs our next steps. It is God that can truly realize the full potential of a plan. As we plan, we need to include God. We can include Him by reading the Bible and learning about Him. We can also include God through prayer - talking with and listening to God. We should rely on God in our planning process and we should rely on God in implementing our plans and taking the next steps. When God is part of the plans and the next steps, we will be amazed by His work in our lives!

When it is time to plan and take the next steps, be sure to ask God, "What is the plan?"

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for being willing to direct my plans and next steps. Help me to follow Your will in all that I do. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Lovely!

10/30/2016

"How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" -Isaiah 52:7 (NASB)

When we ask people what it means to be lovely, we may hear various answers. Some people may focus on outward characteristics. Others may focus on the heart and soul of a person, the inward characteristics that may be reflected in words and actions. While being lovely can have many attributes, we can learn love and being lovely from God!

While the world around us may not always be lovely, we can add loveliness through actions guided by God. We can be bearers of good news. We can even bring the Good News to those around us. We can promote peace. We can share God's love and we can share the path to salvation through Jesus Christ. If we focus on peace, love, and salvation as given to us by God, we can be lovely and help others see that our God reigns!

Be lovely by showing the peace, love, and salvation that only God can provide!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me peace and love and for granting me salvation through Jesus Christ. Help me to be lovely and to share Your peace, love, and plan for salvation with others. Through Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

Why do you ask?

10/29/2016

"Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake." -Psalm 79:9 (NIV)

We all have wants and needs. We often have interests of our own when we ask for things, even if we are asking for someone else. In talking to God, we need to think beyond ourselves, our families, and our friends. Our requests to God may help us, but they can also glorify Him!

We definitely need to ask God for guidance, help, and forgiveness for our sin, but our requests shouldn't stop with ourselves. We can ask God to use our requests for the glory of His name. God can help us through our needs and He can use us to show others His glory. Along with praying to God and asking Him to use our requests for His glory, we can also tell others about all that God has done in our lives. When we ask, we can focus on bringing God glory through His actions in our lives!

Why do you ask? Ask to bring God glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for listening to me. Help my requests to bring glory to You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

What a Mouthful!

10/28/2016

"My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long." -Psalms 71:8 (NASB)

One lesson many of us learned as children was not to talk with our mouths full. It is polite to keep our mouths closed when full of food. It may also be good to bite our tongues when our mouths are full of unkind words. However, when we think of God, we should have a mouthful of praise and thanksgiving that we are ready to open our mouths to share!

When we think of all that God does for us, we should always have a mouthful of praise that we want to share with God and others! We should celebrate God's glory and active guidance in our lives. We should want others to know God's love, grace, and mercy, so they can join us in praising God. We shouldn't bite our tongues when our mouth is full of praise for God, but we should let it out so others can come to know Him, too!

When you have a mouthful of praise for God, open up and let it out!

Prayer:
Dear God-
I praise You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continually praise You and share Your greatness with others so they can praise You, too. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Confess and Find Mercy!

10/27/2016

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." -Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

We likely know someone that that doesn't like to admit mistakes. It can be frustrating and hard to make progress if time is spent denying a problem exists or placing blame instead of searching for solutions and moving on with progress. In our relationship with God, we need to think about how quickly we admit our sin and how we make progress.

God knows us inside and out. He knows our sin and shortcomings. We can fight admitting our sins, but God already knows them. In order to continue to get closer to God, we should admit our sins. It is only when we admit our sins that we can receive God's forgiveness and mercy. Once we confess our sin and trust in God's redeeming forgiveness, we can prosper and become even more than we could be on our own!

Confess your sin, find God's mercy, and get closer to Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Help me to always admit my sin and draw closer to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Hear and Do!

10/26/2016

"But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does." -James 1:25 (NASB)

We hear lots of things each and every day. Even though we hear lots of things, there are usually only a few things that really catch our attention and cause us to take action. One thing we should always strive to understand, remember, and cause action is the Word of God!

The Word of God presents us with His law and shows us how to live according to His will. As we listen to and follow God's law and will for our lives, we can be blessed by God. It is in God and through Him that we can be truly made whole and effective doers. As hearers and effective doers, we can make the world around us a better place through God's love!

Hear God and be an effective doer by following God's law and will in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and direction for my life. Help me to hear, understand, and then do in order to spread Your love and make the world a better place. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Let Me Introduce...

10/25/2016

"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." -Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

Many of us have heard that it's not always what you know, but who you know. We may have even experienced the good or bad of knowing the right or wrong person! When we think about who we know, we can also think about the ways we were introduced and came to know these different people. Often, an acquaintance, friendship, or relationship begins with an introduction.

When we think about who we know, God should be at the top of our list! The Psalmist reminds us that if we know God, we can trust God because He doesn't leave or forsake us. While we may know God and benefit from our relationship with Him, we also need to consider introducing God to others. In order to allow others to benefit from knowing God and the redemption He offers, we have to be willing to show His love and introduce His power, glory, and grace. Others may find God on their own, but why let them wait when we already know Him?

Once you know God, introduce Him to others, so they can know Him, too!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being part of my life. Help me to continue to draw closer to You and help me to introduce You to others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

No Fail!

10/24/2016

"For no word from God will ever fail." -Luke 1:37 (NIV)

We will all experience failures in our lives. We will also see things that we think are impossible. Even when failure seems like it is guaranteed, we shouldn't give up! God can work miracles!

When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth, Mary didn't think it was possible. She may have even thought the plan would fail. Yet, God had a plan for Mary's life and His word was a guarantee. Mary did give birth to Jesus who would live, die, and be resurrected for the redemption of all of us! When we trust in God's word, like Mary did, we can know that it will not end in failure!

Trust in God's word because it will not fail!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your unfailing word. Help me to always trust and have faith in Your word. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Live or Die?

10/23/2016

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." -I Corinthians 15:22 (NIV)

There are times in our lives when we may overreact and look at decisions as having life or death consequences. While the choices we make can impact our well being and could jeopardize our lives, there are few truly life or death decisions. One decision that is truly about life and death is the decision to accept salvation as God offers through His son!

Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. We can choose to continue living in sin, a choice that will ultimately lead to death, or we can choose to be forgiven and begin a new life, an eternal life, through Jesus. The good news is that this choice is open to everyone. It is not restricted to a chosen or privileged few! We can learn about God through His Word, through prayer, and through learning from others, but in the end the choice belongs to each of us. We can all choose to live eternally!

God is offering Salvation. Will you choose to live in God or to die in sin?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for saving me. Help me to always choose to live in You, with You, and for You for all of eternity. Through Jesus, the source of my Salvation, I pray, amen.

Learning and Knowing

10/22/2016

"Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." -Jeremiah 33:3 (NASB)

There are many different philosophies about learning. These philosophies range from different ways of defining truth and knowledge to different ways of discovering or constructing knowledge. As we think about figuring things out and learning, we should also recognize that God can show us and teach us even more than we can experience on our own!

As we live life we will encounter questions. We can try to work and figure things out on our own, but we have other options. God can teach us! We can call on God and trust in His answers. God may teach us through the experiences and opportunities He provides for us. He may teach us through His Word and through prayer. We just need to be open to hearing God and learning and knowing great new things from Him!

Learn and know by asking God and listening for His answers!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for always being ready to teach me great new things. Help me to listen to You so that I can continue to learn. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Day and Night

10/21/2016

"The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night. A prayer to the God of my life." -Psalms 42:8 (NASB)

The older I get, the faster time seems to pass. Days turn to nights, which quickly turn to weeks, months, and years. While each day is filled with responsibilities and expectations, we need to recognize God's presence in our lives.

God is present in our lives. It is His hand that guides each of our lives. We can live in His love and grace. We can be redeemed by His promises fulfilled through His Son. While we may be feel the rush of time passing us by each day, we can talk to God through prayer. We can feel Him and His love for each of us and we can listen to His will. We can rest assured each day and night that God's song will be in our hearts and guiding our lives!

Whether day or night, God is present and active in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your promises and Your guiding hand in my life. Help me to live my life for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

In the Mirror, In Life

10/20/2016

"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart." -Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

We often look in the mirror, but the mirror only shows us our outward appearance. We can spend time agonizing over how we look on the outside. While the outward physical appearances do not define us, the reflections of our heart can show who we truly are throughout our lives!

We are made up of more than just our outward appearance. Our inner thoughts and the actions of our lives are also important. Just as a mirror reflect our outward appearance, our lives should reflect the feelings and beliefs in our hearts. If we know God and have chosen to follow Him, then our hearts will be filled with His love and our lives will reflect His grace and glory!

Follow God and allow your life to be the mirror of what is in your heart!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Please fill my heart and show Your grace and glory through my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Not Just a Name...God is God!

10/19/2016

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments." -Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

Names of things can help us identify them, but, as Shakespeare wrote, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." We could call a rose something different, but it would still be a beautiful, sweet-smelling flower! To know something, we need to know more than just a name!

We can know God's name, but to truly know God, we need to know His power, beauty, and grace. By reading His Word, praying to Him, and learning more about Him, we can know that God isn't just a name. We can know that God is faithful and keeps His promises. We can know that God has existed in the past and will exist into the future...for eternity! Once we truly know God, we will know that He is so much more than just a name!

God isn't just a name...God is God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being faithful and present in my life. Help me to know You and to trust You in all areas of my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Know It and Show It!

10/18/2016

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” -John 13:35 (NIV)

In a recent conversation, a former colleague remarked that grades haven't been the focus of his child's success in school. He wasn't saying that failing grades are acceptable, but he wanted his child to know that what you know and can do with what you know are more important than the final grade. As we think about our spiritual lives, we, too, need to be focused on what we are doing!

We can say and talk about what we know about God. We can talk about how we follow Him. Our words may tell others what we know, but our lives should really show what we know! Both our words and actions should allow others to see God's love and our commitment to following Him in our lives. Our words can only tell part of the story. Once we know God, we need to show God...to everyone we meet!

Know God and show everyone you meet that you are following God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being part of my life. Please guide me and allow my words and actions to show others that I am following You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Without Love?

10/17/2016

"And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." -I Corinthians 13:3 (NASB)

The world around us is a complex place. Evil and good interact in the circumstances that we see and feel around us. Sometimes we act in ways that we think are "helping" to better the world we are living in. Though we may not intend to do harm, there are times when our actions are not as good as we first thought.

When our actions are focused on ourselves, we may be acting without love. We need to act out of love, a love that seeks to understand and not to judge. To make a difference in the world and in the lives of others, we need to focus on loving one another as God has shown us love. Only when we act with love and with an intent to understand will we be truly acting in ways that will benefit ourselves as well as others!

Don't act without love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for teaching me about love. Continue to guide my life and help me to show Your love in all I do. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Make a Difference!

10/16/2016

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." -Matthew 10:8 (NIV)

Many of us are blessed in different ways, but there doesn't mean that there isn't suffering or injustice in the world. As we look around and see injustice, we shouldn't make excuses for it or turn a blind eye toward it. We should act out of our love and learning from God and choose to make a difference!

As we receive blessings and learn from the examples God gives us, we are also called to help and serve others. We may not perform miracles like Jesus did, but we can work to make a difference. We can learn and educate others about the injustices that we see in the world, but we also need to be active in righting wrongs. We need to follow the examples that Jesus set for us and the lessons that are taught in the Bible. Even if our actions may not always be popular, we should choose to make a difference!

Follow the examples from Jesus and choose to make a difference!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings in my life. Help me to see the injustices around me and allow me to make a difference in the lives of others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Afraid?

10/15/2016

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

I recently traveled to a conference. The travel involved flying to my destination, something that I rarely do. I am not afraid of the actual time in the plane, but I do get nervous about getting where I need to be on time - making the connecting flights and navigating the unfamiliar airports, some large ones! Through it all, I made it to my destination and back...with God by my side!

God promises to always by our side. God has even provided us with a plan for Salvation to bring us closer to Him! Whenever we are afraid, we are able to trust in God. We are able to know that God is with us and will be with us all the time and forever. Beyond knowing that God is with us, we need to know that God is active in our lives. God has the power to comfort us, guide us, and change our lives. We don't need to be afraid because we can trust in God's presence, power, and acts in each of our lives!

Don't be afraid. God is present and has the power to change your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your presence and power in my life. Help me to rely on You and to not be afraid. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Learn and Serve

10/14/2016

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet." -John 13:14 (NIV)

I recently attended a conference that included professors, researchers, and teachers. The conference was organized in a way that allowed participants to talk to and learn from each other. Even the most experienced participants gladly engaged in conversation and sharing with lesser experienced participants. Even the president and officers of the organization were willing to listen, to share, and to offer guidance.

Our spiritual lives and interactions should be a lot like the conference. Jesus demonstrated the behaviors that He wants us to exhibit toward each other. He wants us to listen, to share, and to show love and concern for one another. As we engage with each other, we can learn from each other, regardless of where we are in our personal faith journey. When we model our lives after Jesus, we can help one another and in the process all become stronger in our faith and closer to God!

Listen to one another, learn from one another, and serve one another!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing Jesus as both an example of how to live and as Lord and Savior. Help me to follow Christ's example in all I do. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Pleasing

10/13/2016

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." -Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

In our lives we engage in different work or activity that we see as important. Whether in our careers, volunteer work, or work within the church, we work to improve our lives and often the lives of those around us. As we work, we may feel rewarded based on the approval of others. When we earn approval, we know that we our actions are pleasing to them, but is that what really matters?

When we consider our actions, we should not look at what the world around us will think, but what will God think? We cannot act in ways that save us without accepting redemption through Jesus Christ. However, we can act in ways that are consistent with God's teaching and His will for our lives. When we are God's servants, God will protect us and guide us. As long as we communicate with and listen to God, we can be pleasing to Him and helpful to those around us by acting in God's love!

Don't worry about the approval of people, but live and work to please God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and guidance in my life. Help me to follow Your will and to seek Your approval, not the approval of other people. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Admit It and Change!

10/12/2016

"We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws." -Daniel 9:5 (NIV)

I recently saw a quote that it is better to have friends that make mistakes and admit to them than to have a friends that do not think they make mistakes. All of us make mistakes. Part of being human is that we are not perfect. Sin is part of our lives, but it doesn't have to control our lives!

God knows that we are sinners, but He waits for us to realize and acknowledge that we are sinners. We cannot be saved from our sin without first admitting that we have sinned. The good news is that once we admit that we have sinned, God has a plan that offers us salvation through belief in His Son. In our lives, we can admit that we are sinners and then we can change our lives by asking for forgiveness and believing in the life-changing power of God!

Admit that you have sinned and then change your life through God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your salvation and life-changing power that are active in my life. Please continue to guide me and help me to change and grow according to Your plan. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

No Need to Look!

10/11/2016

"'Don’t be alarmed,' he said. 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.'" -Mark 16:6 (NIV)

No matter how organized I try to be, it seems as though I am always looking for something. Even when I leave something in a "safe place", I tend to forget about that place. After time spent looking and frustration, I usually end up finding what I need, but I often lament that life would be easier if I didn't need to search for things!

After Jesus' death, some of those close to Him went looking for His body in the tomb. When they arrived, Jesus wasn't there! Even though what they were looking for wasn't there, they didn't need to be upset or alarmed. Jesus had risen from the dead and was alive! We should be encouraged by the fact that we don't have to go searching for Jesus. He is alive and He is active in our lives. We can call on His name and He will come to us. We don't need to look for Him, because He is always with us!

You don't need to look for Jesus, your Savior, because He is always with you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus as my Savior. Help me to always know that I do not need to look for Him because He is with me and ready to help me. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Heavenly-Growth Mindset

10/10/2016

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." -Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

Educational researcher Carol Dweck identifies two mindsets or self-beliefs that are commonly held by students. Students can either have a growth mindset in thinking that they can learn and become smarter with effort or a fixed mindset in which they think that their ability to learn cannot be changed through effort. A growth mindset is good, but it can become even better when combined with a heavenly mindset!

We are reminded in the Bible to set our minds on "things above." When we work at building a relationship with God, God will ensure that our efforts are met with growth. As we put in effort to know God through reading His Word, talking with Him in prayer, and learning about Him through worship and fellowship with other believers, we can grow spiritually and intellectually. Embracing a mindset that allows us to grow gives us opportunities to see and experience God's glory. As we experience God's glory, we can help others grow and experience it, too!

Have a heavenly-oriented growth mindset and continue to grow in and experience God's glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for teaching me and allowing me to learn. Please continue to help me grow both spiritually and intellectually so that I can help others know Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Be A Fool!

10/9/2016

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

The internet and social media have given many people the opportunity to air their opinions. Celebrities and "regular" people have all experienced the repercussions from "posting" without thinking. While we are each entitled to our own opinion, we should strive for understanding!

Through understanding, we can have empathy for one another. We also have the opportunity to show God's love. We can talk to God and rely on Him to help us understand each other as well as His will. Understanding means that we don't find satisfaction in simply broadcasting or posting our own opinions, but includes a relationship with God. Following God leads us away from airing our own opinions and builds an understanding that promotes spreading His love!

Don't be a fool that posts your opinion, but strive to understand each other and spread God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me love and understanding. Help me to follow Your will to understand others so I can share Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Hold On Tight!

10/8/2016

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." -Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

Like a roller coaster, life has it's ups and downs, twists and turns, it's slow uphill climbs and quick downhill descents. In a roller coaster, we strap in and may hold on tight. As we live life, we will encounter challenges and triumphs. Time may drag on or it may fly by. Through it all we need to hold on tight...to our faith!

Through life's twists and turns, God is always by our side. We need to hold on to the promises that God has given us. No matter what we face, how big we think our challenges are, God will see us through. We just have to have faith in His goodness, blessings, and promises. As long as we are holding on to our faith in God, we can enjoy the ride of life and celebrate God's glory and life-changing power!

Hold on tight to your faith in God and enjoy the ride of life that God has given you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for your presence in my life. Help me to always hold on tight to my faith in You and in Your power. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Chosen to Bear Fruit!

10/7/2016

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." -John 15:16 (NASB)

Making choices can be difficult. When my daughter gets tired or hungry, she has trouble making decisions or choices. We may all recall situations when we have trouble making decisions or choices. Fortunately, God doesn't have difficulty making decisions. God chooses and calls each of us and He has a purpose for our lives!

We have all been chosen as children of God. Jesus has paid our debts and given us salvation. Now we can live through God and bear good fruit. We can be patient and show love. We can be gentle and kind. As we live committed to God, others can know God through the good fruit we produce because of our relationship with God...all because God has chosen each of us for a purpose!

God has chosen you. Follow Him and bear good fruit!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and for salvation through Your Son. Help me to follow Your will and to bear fruit that brings others to You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.