Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Rejoice, even in the Dark!

11/30/2014

"Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, through the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, through the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation." -Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NASB)

There are periods in our lives that sometimes seem darker than other times. We may feel trapped and helpless, but even in these dark times there is hope! Even in these dark times, we have things to be thankful for and reasons to rejoice!

In times when we feel we are lacking what we need, God is still with us. He has provided a path for salvation that is always open to us. When we feel we are in the midst of dark times, that is when we need to stop and look to God, then we will have reason to rejoice!

Take time to look to God and rejoice for your salvation!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing a path for my salvation. Help me to remember You and rejoice even when I feel that I am in the midst of dark times. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Giving Socks?

11/29/2014

"A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow put more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.'"
-Mark 12:42-44 (NASB)

A student was absent from school for an extended time due to surgery. As a "get well" or "we miss you" message, her teacher bought a special pair of socks to send home to the student. Unfortunately, the socks were stolen from the teacher's desk before she could put them in an envelope to send to the student recovering at home.

Needless to say, the teacher was upset and word soon spread about the missing socks. The next day a student that didn't have a pair of socks to spare brought a pair of socks to replace the missing ones. He had taken time and care to decorate the socks with stickers to make them special for the absent student. He wasn't looking for a reward or repayment. He wasn't giving because he had too many socks. He simply wanted to do something nice put of concern for a fellow student.

This brings to mind the story of the widow. While others had plenty and gave out of their extra, the widow gave all she had to give. She wasn't looking for an earthly reward, she was giving out of faith. When God calls on us to give, whether time, talents, or money, we need to give out of faith. No matter how small or insignificant our offerings may seem, even if it is a penny or pair of socks from our drawer, God can do great things with them!

God provides for you, respond in faith by giving back to God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You provide for me. Please use all of my offerings, whether time, talent, or money, to do great things in Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Shelf Life

11/27/2014

"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality."
-I Corinthians 15:51-53 (NASB)

Throughout holiday seasons we often see food drives asking for non-perishable food donations. For the food to do the most good, it needs to have a longer shelf life. When helping others with food donations, we need to keep in mind our shelf lives!

As we prepare for every season of life, we need to be sure that our souls are imperishable, ready to withstand the tests of time. We can preserve our souls through our belief in Jesus and commitment to God. Once we have welcomed God and Jesus into our lives, our souls will have an eternal shelf life!

Increase your shelf life by accepting Jesus and becoming imperishable!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son so that I can spend eternity with You. Help my life be an example of Your power. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Consideration for All

11/27/2014

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another." -Titus 3:1-3 (NASB)

Whether it is a discourteous driver, a rude shopper at the store, or something greater, the words and actions of others can sometimes anger us. In these times, we sometimes may respond with words or actions that are inappropriate or unloving. When we are faced with such a situation, we should remember to be patient, good, and peaceable to all those we me meet.

We are called to be obedient to authority, to be courteous, and to show consideration for all people. We don't need to agree with or condone others' behaviors. We may still get upset or frustrated, but we need respond in appropriate ways. We need to remember that we, too, are sinners, then we can share through our words and actions that we have been redeemed through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Show that you are redeemed by God through loving, peaceable actions that show consideration for all people!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for redeeming me. Please allow Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to show through my words and actions. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Man-made gods

11/26/2014

"O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of distress, to You the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, 'Our fathers have inherited nothing but falsehood, futility and things of no profit.' Can man make gods for himself? Yet they are not gods!" -Jeremiah 16:19-20 (NASB)

Sometimes we become devoted to causes that are near and dear to us. Sometimes we get distracted by things we want or think we need. It is good to serve others and the greater good by giving of our time and talents and there are things we need to survive. As we are devoting our resources to a cause or getting what we "need", we need to be aware of what or who we are serving. We shouldn't look to these causes or look at these things as gods, because there is only one true, powerful God!

We can make gods for ourselves, but eventually each of these gods will crumble and fail. When that happens, we may find ourselves staring at the remains of man-made gods wondering what went wrong. All the while, there is only one true and powerful God who loves us and is ready to forgive us. We can't make Him. He has existed since before the beginning of time and He will continue to exist beyond the end of time. This is the God that is with us to all ends of the earth and deserves our devotion and worship!

Join those coming from all ends of the earth to worship the one, true God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for revealing Yourself to us and for sending Your Son so that we can have a relationship with You. Help me to always remember that You are the one true God and it is only through You that I can truly serve others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Free Credit Offer

11/25/2014

"For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness." -Romans 4:3-5 (NASB)

Much of the "junk mail" that arrives in the mailbox are pre-approved offers for credit cards, loans, and other special offers. Companies offer credit based on their screening processes and the work they believe we will do to repay the debt. The Bible also offers us a "pre-approved" credit offer, but it is one that does not require works or repayment!

The credit offer in the Bible is one of righteousness and redemption through our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This offer is not based on our works or what is due to us. The offer of righteousness credited to us is based on God's grace and mercy and our acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We cannot earn this redemption. We cannot repay this cost. The good news is that God doesn't expect us to earn our redemption. All we have to do is believe and our faith will be counted as righteousness!

Accept the free credit offer of the Bible: Have faith and be counted as righteous!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your grace and mercy that have provided for my salvation. Help me to be faithful so that I can be counted as righteous in Your sight. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Judgment Free Zone

11/24/2014

"Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." -Romans 2:1 (NASB)

There is a gym that advertises itself as a "judgment free zone." It promises to be welcoming and allow everyone to use their facilities no matter what shape you are in. The idea of judgment free zone is important and not just in the gym!

Each of us is guilty of sinning against God. When we feel that we have the right or authority to judge and condemn others, the Bible reminds us that we do so at our own risk. When we judge others, we are putting ourselves in a position to be judged with the same criteria.

God has a plan. He will forgive our sins through the sacrifice of His Son. Once we are forgiven, we do not have the right to judge others. We can be concerned for others' well-being. We can lovingly try to help others find God's way. However, we should always remember to offer love and to share the pathway to Salvation, not judgment and condemnation.

Don't judge others, instead share the saving grace of God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the plan of Salvation that you have provided for me. Help me to refrain from judging others and to instead share Your grace and Salvation. Through Jesus, whose sacrifice saved me from judgment, I pray, amen.

Words for Then and Now!

11/23/2014

"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." -Romans 15:4 (NASB)

I am attracted to old books. Whether at a library or a used book sale, I like to pick up an old book and gently turn through the antique pages. When I look at an old science book, I am intrigued by how some of our thinking has changed over the last several decades. As humans, our incomplete understandings can be traced through the writings in our books, but there is a book that was true, is true, and will always be true...the Bible!

The Bible is not an antique. It was not written just for people long ago. The Bible is just as relevant today as when it was written. The Bible is full of God's words. It is filled with His advice and instruction for the challenges that we face in our lives each and every day. No matter the circumstance we find ourselves in, we can turn to the Bible for encouragement and for celebration! Reading the Bible is one part of a balanced spiritual diet and it is and always will be good for the soul!

Stay committed throughout your life with a daily dose of the joyful, hopeful, guiding, and loving words of God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Thank You for providing me with the Bible - Your Word - to guide me, give me hope, and encourage me in challenges and celebrations. Help me to keep Your Word in my heart so that I live my life for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

All the Answers

11/22/2014

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

As a teacher, one of my responsibilities is to teach students how to think independently to discover and apply concepts and ideas. Students often appreciate challenges that cause them to think, but there are times when they rely on me, their teacher, to guide them and provide new knowledge. Whether we are actively searching or struggling to make sense of information we have found, there are some things that we cannot discover on our own, but we can still know and experience them!

When we call to God, He will answer us. There are things in life and beyond life that we cannot know without Him. Even if we devote all of our time to searching for knowledge on our own, we need to call to God to reveal to us things we would not learn on our own. God will give us answers when we ask, but we are also responsible for studying His word and taking the initiative to learn more about Him. Like students in school, we can find all the answers when we take the initiative to study and learn and when we draw on the knowledge of the most excellent teacher!

Find all the answers by studying God's word, calling on Him, and accepting what is revealed to you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sharing Your infinite knowledge. Please give me the knowledge that I need to live the best life for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Never Separated

11/21/2014

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Living away from family and old friends can cause one to miss the closeness of being together. My daughter reminded me of this today when she asked if I miss living near my parents. While our journey may take us away from friends and family for a period of time, we are never separated from God and His love.

Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from God and His love. Time cannot separate us. We were together in the past, we are together now, and we will be together in the future. Living and dying cannot separate us. Geography cannot separate us. There is no place we can go on earth to away from God, no matter how high or how low. Power, angels, and demons cannot separate us from God. While we may miss family and friends when we are away from them, we should always remember that God is always near! We can never be separated from God and His love is always surrounding us!

Don't miss God! You are never separated from Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and always being near to me. Help me to rely on You and feel Your presence in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Righting Wrongs

11/20/2014

"If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother." -Matthew 18:15 (AMP)

Whether at work, at home, or in church, we may encounter people that may say or do things that hurt us. When we experience those times, it is up to each of us to decide how we respond to those that hurt us. Jesus reminds us how we should act in these situations.

Jesus' advice is that we deal with others directly and lovingly. While we may try to deal with our hurt by avoiding others, acting like it doesn't matter, or talking about it behind another person's back, we should take our concerns directly to the person that hurt us. Starting with a private conversation, we can approach the person with love and sincerity, hoping to right the wrong and regain a friend!

Hurt by someone? Deal with it in a direct and loving way to right the wrong and regain a friend!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always loving me and being willing to forgive me. Help me to deal with others directly and lovingly so that healing and friendships are the end results. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Feet on God's Trail

11/19/2014

"When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him. 'But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside.'"
-Job 23:9-11 (NASB)

My daughter likes to go on hikes with me at the nature center. As she has gotten older, she has learned that the color markings show different trails. She now knows that to get from the beginning to the end, we need to follow the same color markings. We need to keep our feet on the right colored trail to make it to our destination.

Job experienced more hardship than many of us could imagine. Through it all, he remained committed to God. When we face hardships in life, they can threaten to overtake us and derail our relationships. In the midst of everything, we need to remember that God is with us, even if we do not see Him. When we are committed to God's way, then we will come forth as gold! If we keep our feet on God's trail, then we will reach our ultimate destination: eternity with God!

Keep your feet on God's path in order to withstand any hardship!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for caring for me, even when I do not notice You in my life. Guide me and keep my feet on Your path so I can endure any hardship. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have His Mindset!

11/18/2014

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

Recent research in education by Carol Dweck has pointed to two types of mindsets. One mindset, called fixed mindset, is when we don't believe that our intelligence can grow or change, no matter how hard we work. The opposing type is the growth mindset, which is based on the idea that our intelligence can grow and change with the right attitude and work. Paul reminds us that above all, we need to remember to have a Christ-like mindset.

When we approach relationships with others, we should follow the example that Jesus set for us. We should not consider ourselves better than anyone else. We should humble ourselves. We should be obedient to God. When we embrace these qualities, then our mindset will be like that of Christ Jesus and God will help us to grow!

Build better relationships with a Christ-like mindset!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your willingness to have a relationship with me. As I build relationships with others, please help me to model my mindset after that of Jesus. In His name I pray, amen.

Restoration Project

11/17/2014

"O Lord God of hosts, restore us; cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved," -Psalms 80:19 (NASB)

I enjoy watching programs like "This Old House" or "Rehab Addict". I appreciate the time and care that goes into taking an older, often run-down home and bringing it back, with its character intact. No matter the history, with some work and dedication, the original glory can shine through.

Each of us are restoration projects for God. Our past doesn't matter. With God's grace and mercy, we can be restored to be even better than anything we can imagine. The restoration may require some work, but it is always worth it! To get the restoration started, we need to ask God to start the work, then we need to be committed to Him!

Ask God to begin your restoration and remain committed to His process!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and being willing to restore me, regardless of my past. Help me to remain committed to You as You restore me for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen

Crossing Over

11/16/2014

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."
-John 5:24 (NIV)

We often plan for the events of our lives, whether the big moments or the routine tasks. We may keep track of dates on our calendars, computers, or phones. We look forward to celebrations and ask for help in facing challenges. When we are planning, the first item on our list should be our eternal well-being.

Jesus provides the plan for our eternal future, we just need to accept it. Jesus' death on the cross lays out the pathway that helps us cross over from death to life! We can be forgiven and assured of a future living in God's glory. All we have to do is take a break from our plans so we can hear God's word, accept salvation through Jesus, and draw closer to Him!

Take a break from making your daily plans and cross over to eternal plans with God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for caring about my eternal well-being. Please forgive my sins and help me to always include You in my plans. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Permanent "Heart Guests"

11/15/2014

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.'" -John 14:23 (NASB)

Preparing for house guests can be a lot of work. We may give the house an extra thorough cleaning or even prepare the guest room. Sometimes we are exhausted before our guests arrive!

When we express our love of Jesus and keep His word, we are inviting Him to be a permanent guest in our heart. Just like preparing for house guests, we should try to clean our hearts. The good news about God and Jesus as our guests is that they know we cannot make our hearts clean on our own. They come prepared to help us do the cleaning! We just have to begin by loving Them, trying to keep Their word, and accepting forgiveness through Jesus.

Prepare for the greatest guests: Jesus and His Father!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being willing to forgive my sins and to help clean my heart. Guide me as I try to live a better life for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Walk in It!

11/14/2014

"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.' But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'" -Jeremiah 6:16 (NASB)

There are times when our life's journey ends up at a crossroads. Just like when driving, we need to stop at the crossroads, look both ways, and proceed with caution. We may rely on directions, a map, or GPS to get us to our destination. In our life's decisions we have tools to help us make the right choice!

Jeremiah (6:16) gives us both guidance and warning when we are making decisions. We are called to find the good way and walk in it. We can find the good way by talking to God and learning from those that came before us. Jeremiah also warns against making our own way and rejecting the good way. Once we know the way to go, we should walk in it and find rest for our souls!

Talk to God to find His way, then walk in it with a rested soul!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for guiding me though my life's journey. When I reach a crossroads in my life, help me to know when to stop and help me to hear Your guiding voice. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Great in God's Kingdom

11/13/2014

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." -Genesis 50:20 (NASB)

We encounter many people throughout our lives. It is impossible to know the motives behind the actions of each of those people. Sometimes we may even question what is behind the actions of friends and family!

Joseph had good reason to question the motives of his brothers. Their jealousy caused them to sell Joseph into slavery and then tell their father that Joseph had been killed. Regardless of his brothers' actions, God was working in Joseph's life by protecting him, causing him to prosper in less than ideal conditions, and making him great and powerful.

We may not always know what is causing someone to behave the way they are, but we may spend too much time trying to figure it out. We can be sure that God can and will use whatever circumstance we face for good. We need to remember to be faithful to Him and trust Him with our well-being. God will surely bless us beyond our expectations!

Don't worry about others' motives. Rely on God to make you great in His Kingdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for protecting me and always looking out for me. Help me to rely on You in all situations so that I can prosper and be a witness for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Do Good to Everyone!

11/12/2014

"If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." -Luke 6:33 (NASB)

Sometimes people are not nice. It's a lesson that my daughter is learning. From preschool to family, she is learning that she needs to get along with people, even when they are not the nicest. As adults, we need to remember that we should do good to everyone, too, not just those that are nice to us.

It is easy to be nice to those that are nice to us, but the challenge comes when we need to be nice to those that are not always nice. In society, it is often the norm to repay good with good and insult with insult. Jesus challenges us to live above the norm. We are called to love everyone. We are to do good in the name of God, regardless of what has been presented to us.

Do good to everyone, no matter what they do to you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a good and gracious God. Help me to follow Your example so that I can be loving and good, even when society says otherwise. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Build Yourself Up!

11/11/2014

"But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in our most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." -Jude 1:20-21 (NASB)

Our physical bodies require care. We know that exercise and eating properly can help our bodies function at their highest levels. While we often hear of the virtues of caring for and building our physical bodies, we also need to be aware of building ourselves up spiritually!

Some people recruit the best personal trainers to help guide their physical conditioning and growth. Fortunately, we also have a personal trainer to help guide us through our spiritual conditioning and growth. The Holy Spirit can help us in our faith and in our prayers, helping to build ourselves in our knowledge of and relationship with God. We need to embrace the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we learn about, build a relationship with, and draw nearer to God!

Follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit to build yourself up in God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the guidance You provide through the Holy Spirit, my spiritual personal trainer. Help me to hear the guidance and encouragement of the Holy Spirit as I grow, learn, and become closer to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Not Shaken!

11/10/2014

"For David says of Him, 'I saw the Lord always in my presence; for He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.'" -Acts 2:25 (NASB)

One of the beauties of the fall season are the changing and brilliant colors of the leaves on the trees. As brilliant as the colors are, we know that after the color change comes falling leaves. The wind, rain, and snow will bring the leaves to the ground, even though the oak leaves may try to hang on! Sometimes our lives seem to face challenges and opportunities that threaten to cause us to fall, but we can be reassured that through it all God is with us.

David spoke of God's presence in his Psalm and Luke quoted it in the book of Acts (2:25). Through all of the ups and downs of life, God is with us. Even when we feel weak, God will not expose us to harm. When we put our faith and trust in Him, He will keep us from being shaken and He will not let us fall! Even in the face of life's wind, rain, and changing seasons, we can cling to the Tree of Life, the love of God and the sacrifice of His Son, and continue to prosper!

Be a leaf clinging to God's love and salvation and you will not be shaken!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for protecting me and guiding me. Thank You for sending Jesus to show Your love and to be the sacrifice that allows me to be saved. Help me to cling to Jesus so that I will always be in Your presence and not be shaken. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Just Say No!

11/9/2014

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." -Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)

It can be hard to say, "No." There are many options that may seem appealing, but we need to know when to say, "Yes." and when to say, "No."

God gives us different ways to hear His truth. We can read His Word in the Bible. We can learn at church, by studying the Bible, and through fellowship with other believers. We can have conversations with God through prayer. Once we know God and hear His way, we can be confident in saying "No" to the temptations of the world and "Yes" to redemption through our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Just say "No" to wrong and "Yes" to redemption through Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for salvation and redemption through Your Son, Jesus. Help me to say "No" to temptations and ungodliness and "Yes" to Your love and guidance in my life. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Walk like the wise!

11/8/2014

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." -Ephesians 5:15-17 (NASB)

Making decisions can be a very large undertaking. Weighing pros and cons, figuring out which way is best, and then taking a step can all be intimidating and scary. It can be hard knowing how a wise person might walk!

When we are faced with large decisions, it is important to gather information in order to make an informed and wise decision. It is also important to understand what God wants for our lives. The decision making process should include time talking to God through prayer so that we can know how God wants us to walk!

Walk like the wise by consulting God and following His will!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your willingness to help me and guide me. Help me to know Your will so that I make the right decisions and walk like the wise man. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

What next?

11/7/2014

"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." -Matthew 6:6 (NASB)

Sometimes we know what we are called to do and it is easy for us to follow that calling. Other times we may struggle with knowing exactly what we should do next. When we reach these times of indecision, it is especially important to talk to God in prayer and then to take the time to listen!

When we pray, it should be an intimate conversation with God. We don't need to memorize a long prayer or talk in the most sophisticated way. We shouldn't pray as a way of showing off for others to see. We need to be honest. God already knows what is in our hearts! Once we start the conversation with God, we need also need to be willing to stop talking and be ready to listen. Jesus reminds us to go to our inner room, away from the distractions of the world. It is there, in the quiet moments of conversation with God that we can hear Him and know what comes next!

Find your inner room, pray to God, and be ready to listen for what comes next!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the privilege of talking with You. Please hear my prayers and help me to hear Your response. Allow me to know Your will for my life and help me to follow it. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Just Owe Love

11/6/2014

"Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." -Romans 13:8 (NASB)

Most of the time we view our debts as negative things. Whether credit cards, mortgages, or other "bills", we are reminded of the burdens of debt when it comes time to make the payments. Paul reminds us that there is one thing that is worthwhile owing: love for one another!

We can get caught up in accumulating debt or owing for the stuff that we want or think we need. In the end, all that we owe and all that we accumulate won't do us any good. One thing that can improve life for ourselves and others is love! We can learn ways to show this love by talking to God and studying His Word. We shouldn't focus on owing hatred or revenge, but we should focus on loving one another. Loving God and loving our neighbors can improve life here and now...and for eternity!

Rely on God and owe nothing but love to all that you meet!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and showing me how to love. Help me to live for You and to spread Your love to all I meet. Through Jesus I pray, amen.