Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Be Still!

11/30/2016

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." -Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

Sometimes it can just be hard to sit still! Whether faced with excitement or anxiety, we may feel the need to move. When faced with challenges, we may also be ready to start moving, to start fighting for what we strongly believe in or want to see happen in our lives or in the world around us. We can prepare for a fight or to face challenges and injustices, but we shouldn't think we can face things on our own!

God is with us and will provide us with strength and wisdom. Sometimes we need to step back from situations we are facing to allow God to intervene. We know that as long as we are following God's will, He will fight for us. We need to communicate with God through prayer. As we pray and communicate, we need to be willing to listen. Sometimes we need to stop and be still. We need to stop interfering with God's actions. We need to clear distractions and focus on God, then we can allow Him to fight for us!

Be still. Listen. Allow God to fight for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for fighting for me. Help me to be still and allow You to work in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Patience and Perseverance

11/29/2016

"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." -Proverbs 16:32 (NIV)

There are times in our lives when we may feel that we need to be warriors. We may feel that we need to fight for what is right and just. While we need to work to show love and to give voice to those that are usually marginalized or quieted, we may need to find different ways to reach our goals. We may need patience!

We are called to be warriors for God, but our idea of being a warrior may need to change. Getting God's message of love to others through force does not show God's true nature. Instead, we need to rely on His love and guidance. We can trust in God's power and timing. Through all of this, we need to have patience and faith in God's Word and in His Promise. We can prepare to be warriors for God by preparing to stand in our faith with patience and perseverance!

Show your commitment to God through patience, perseverance, and faith in His plans!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for having a plan for my life. Help me to be patient and faithful as I follow Your will and timing in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Overcome

11/28/2016

"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." -I John 5:5 (NIV)

There are lots of things in life that can be overwhelming. Sometimes we feel that it is impossible to overcome challenges or negativity that we face. We know that we cannot conquer the evil of the world on our own, but do we remember how to deal with it? Whenever we get stressed or worried, we need to realize that we are not following through on our beliefs and faith!

Stress and worry are parts of life, but they do not need to rule our lives. We know that we will experience challenges and even hardship, but these are temporary circumstances of the world. This doesn't mean we should give up on being active in the world, but it means we need to maintain our focus on the one way to overcome the situations we face in the world. The only way to overcome is to believe in, rely on, and listen to God. It is through Him that we can have the wisdom to know how to act and react in the face of challenge, hardship, and evil in the world. God knows us and with faith in Him, we can hear His guidance to overcome challenges in our lives!

Listen to God and believe in Him, then you can be sure that you will overcome!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Jesus and for Your plan to redeem me. Help me to have faith in You, knowing that You have helped me overcome sin and that You will continue to help me overcome the challenges in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Want to Get Away?

11/27/2016

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." -Psalm 32:7 (NIV)

A few years ago there was an airline commercial that featured embarrassing situations followed by the question, "Want to get away?" We all have times when we would like to get away or hide. There are many different reasons that could lead us to such feelings, but there is only one place to hide or get away to and be restored!

The Lord is our hiding place. He is our safe place where we can be restored and made whole. When we face a situation in which we need protection, understanding, and guidance, we don't have to run away, we just have to turn to God. When we trust in God and listen to His guidance, He can protect us, comfort us, and show us the way to a better life! We don't have to search for an escape or get away, we just need to give our problems to God and allow Him to care for us!

You don't have to get away, you just have to turn to God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for wanting to protect and care for me. Help me to always seek answers and protection in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Pray and Trust

11/26/2016

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

Sometimes we look back with regret or look around and start to worry. We may try to control the situation on our own. However, we don't have to do it all on our own!

Whenever we find ourselves trying to control things on our own, we need to remember that God is always by our side. God is reliable and trustworthy. We need to take everything to Him through prayer and then trust in His faithfulness to work in each of our lives.

Find God in prayer and trust in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and being prepared to help me through everything I face in life. Help me to remember to seek You and to trust in Your will for my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Repent and Refresh

11/25/2016

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." -Acts 3:19 (NIV)

The holidays often bring many temptations and an abundance of food and goodies. After indulging (or overindulging), we may feel the effects of eating too much. We may feel like we need to nap and recharge to get rid of the sluggishness and feel ready to face what comes next!

Our lives can also become filled with temptations and sluggishness that comes with sin. In our spiritual lives, we need to get rid of sin and the only way to do that is to repent to God and accept forgiveness that is offered through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Once we have done that, we can be refreshed and ready to face life with a new awareness, energy, and freshness that can only come from God. God can refresh and prepare us for life now and eternally!

Repent so that you can be refreshed by God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and being willing to forgive my sins and refresh my life. Help me to be filled with Your love, energy, and wisdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Freedom and Thanksgiving

11/24/2016

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." -Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

The time around Thanksgiving and Christmas allows us to reflect on our blessings. One of our blessings is found in our freedom. We may think of our freedom as something protected by laws or government, but our freedom actually comes through a higher power!

The death and resurrection of Jesus allows us to have our greatest freedom - forgiveness of our sin and a relationship with God! When we accept Jesus as our Savior, our redemption is guaranteed by God. Our sin is washed away and we become new beings. We are free from the sin that binds us. We are given the strength to stand firm in God's Word and power. Once we have been freed, we should be thankful for new beginnings and strength to stand up for ourselves and for our God!

Accept salvation and be freed from sin, then be thankful!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me from sin and help me to stand in Your strength and power. Through Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Get Out of the Way!

11/23/2016

"He must become greater; I must become less." -John 3:30 (NIV)

Whenever we are faced with struggles and challenges we may be likely to call on God to take over and guide us, but that shouldn't be the only time that we call on God. In every situation within our lives, we should call on God and then we should allow Him to guide us. We shouldn't stand in the way of His plans!

Sometimes it can be hard for us to get our ego out of the way and allow Jesus to take over. We may want credit for our efforts or we may just be trying to fix things. Either way, we need to have faith and trust in Jesus, then we need to follow His will. We need to become less of the focus so the greatness and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ can be shown. Once we allow Jesus to become the center of our efforts, they will be multiplied and become greater!

Get your ego out of the way and allow the glory of Jesus and God to shine through in every situation!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your lessons for my life. Help me to follow Your will and to allow Your power and glory to be seen in all situations. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Training!

11/22/2016

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." -I Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

It has been almost a year since I decided that I needed to start exercising regularly. While I didn't have a goal to compete in any athletic event, I knew that I needed to do something to feel better, to be healthier. I have not been perfect in my exercise routines, but I have made progress and the results of my training are visible. When we decide that we need to train, we shouldn't focus just on physical training!

Our training should be more than keeping ourselves healthy through physical activity. We also need to train and prepare spiritually. The good news is that we have a training manual - the Bible - and a personal trainer - Jesus Christ - ready to guide us! We need to make time in our schedules for time in prayer, reflection, and training with God. It is through our training that we can become closer with God. As we get closer to God, we will see the results of our spiritual training throughout our lives!

Take time to train in God's Word and through prayer, then prepare for results!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing resources that I can use to train both physically and spiritually. Help me to stick to a training plan that includes time In Your Word and in communication with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Confessions and the Power of Prayer!

11/21/2016

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." -James 5:16 (NIV)

There are times when it can be hard to admit we are wrong. We sometimes become so committed to a wrong idea that we risk embarrassment or criticism when we admit our mistakes. However, not admitting our when we are wrong can keep us from making progress.

While it may be difficult, we need to be willing to confess our mistakes and wrongdoing. We need to take our concerns and the concerns of others to the Lord in prayer. It is through prayer that we can become closer to God and be healed. Prayer and communication with God is powerful and effective and can help to put us on the path to healing and restoration. It is God's healing that is effective at helping us to make progress in our lives and in our relationships with Him!

Admit your wrongdoing, communicate with God through prayer, and follow His will for healing and restoration!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for listening to me, for healing me through Your power, and for leading me in Your will. Help me to be open to confessing my sin and to listening to Your will in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hearing and Sharing

11/20/2016

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

Why do we do the things we do? Our actions and behaviors are often because of things we have learned, heard, or experienced. We have different people in our lives that serve as teachers that tell us things or that provide situations that allow us to grow and develop. While we can learn on our own, we often benefit from the guidance of others.

We have faith in God because we have heard His Word and accepted the forgiveness and salvation that He offers. If we did not have the opportunity to hear His Word or experience Him, would we still have faith? Would we have a relationship with Him? As we consider our faith and the path that has lead us to our faith, we should also consider that there are others that need to hear God's Word. We can be the ones to share God's Word. We can share our faith and allow others to experience the redemptive power and glory of God!

Have faith because of God's Word, then share it!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me Your Word. Help me to continue to have faith and to share my faith with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Start with Love, Let go of Worry!

11/19/2016

"My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves." -I John 3:18-20 (MSG)

It is easy to sit and talk about problems and even solutions, but it can be harder to actually stand up and move forward to put solutions into practice. Whenever we want to solve a problem, we are often met with roadblocks. We may be up against others that do not agree with us. We may worry that we will fail. As we prepare ourselves to move from talk to action, we need to remember that God is in control!

God is love and through His love we can learn about and know how to love. God is also an active God that is involved in each of our lives and in all that He created. We are living in a reality that includes God. In that reality we may begin to doubt ourselves and our abilities, but we should remember that God is greater than us. He is able to accomplish more through our lives than we could ever imagine possible. When we are looking to move from talk to action, we can begin with God's love and then let go of our worry and trust that God will use us for more than we think possible!

Start with love, let go of your worry and then allow God to use you for His plan!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me Your love and for Your willingness to take away my worry. Please guide me and use me for Your plans and for Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Justice

11/18/2016

"This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’" -Zechariah 7:9-10 (NIV)

Discussions of justice in education or society may focus on laws and socially accepted behaviors, but some experts focus on people's capabilities when defining justice. How can society help people use their skills or talents? In other words, how can society focus on removing barriers in order to allow people to use their capabilities to live lives that contribute to the well-being of themselves and others?

The first step in knowing and practicing justice is knowing God, His love, and His justice. We also must show mercy and compassion. We need to focus on the talents and capabilities that people have. We need to let others know that they can become members of God's family. Instead of plotting evil, we need to remove the barriers that keep people from getting closer to God and to His saving grace.

Know God, know justice, and show others that God wants them to be part of His family!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for being a just God. Help me to show Your love and mercy to others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Do What You Do in the Lord!

11/17/2016

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." -Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

My daughter's school like many others has a color code system that rates behavior each day. My daughter know the expectations and does her best to meet them. Sometimes my daughter worries about the behaviors of her friends or classmates. She feels bad when others don't succeed or get hurt by actions and words of others. As my daughter is learning, it is good to be empathetic, but we also have to remember to control our own behaviors!

When we look at our own lives, we cannot spend so much time worrying about the actions of others that we do not truthfully reflect on our own actions and flaws. We should address the injustices that we see around us, but we should also address areas of weakness in our own lives. In order to know how to act or react, we need to know God and His will for each of our lives. God has a plan for us, we just need to be ready to be patient and listening. We can't let success of wicked schemes distract us from doing what we are called to do as service to God. It is through patience and communication with God that we can learn to not worry and to trust that God has a plan that will prevail!

Do what you are called to do in the love and grace of the Lord!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me Your will. Please continue to show me and guide me in Your ways to support Your Kingdom here on earth and for eternity. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Know It and Show It!

11/16/2016

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." -Philippians 4:9 (NIV)

As I am teaching my students, I look for signs that they understand what we are learning about or doing in class. I like to assign questions that challenge their thinking to see if my students can do more than just repeat what they have heard. I want them to be able to apply what they have learned in different ways to show that they have truly learned it!

God teaches us. We have lessons in the Bible. We can learn from experiences - whether our own or those of others that we have observed. We hear about God through sermons and fellowship. We can know lots of things about God and about His Word, but how do we respond? As we learn about God, we also have to show what we have learned. We need to apply our learning and reflect through our actions all that God has taught and shown us. It is through showing God's love that we demonstrate our learning and express our commitment to God!

Know God and show His love through your actions!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me Your love and for teaching me. Help me to show all that I have learned through my words and actions. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Harmony

11/15/2016

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." -Romans 12:16 (NIV)

It seems that sometimes we allow differences to separate us from each other. It is true that we are all different. We don't all agree. Even though we are different, we have a lot in common and we can get along with each other even if we have differences, even if we disagree!

When we put our faith in God and live in His love, we can be willing to lovingly associate with and reach out to everyone! With God's love, we can live in harmony with one another. We can look at each other with respect. We can consider each other as unique and worthy creations of God. When we see the value in each other, we can see our commonalities rather than simply differences. We can then live in God's love and harmony with God and each other!

Don't focus on differences, but live in the harmony of God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love in my life. Help me to show others Your love and to live in harmony through Your love and grace. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Stronghold

11/14/2016

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him." -Nahum 1:7 (ESV)

Sometimes I feel that I am falling behind. Chores around the house and homework from classes that I am taking must be balanced with family time and work responsibilities. When I feel that I am falling behind, I get stressed, but I shouldn't worry!

Whenever we face challenges or feel that we are falling behind or losing control, we need to remember that God is our stronghold! We can find strength in God. He is our refuge. He will protect and guide us. If we let Him, God can calm our anxious hearts and minds. Instead of panic, we should call out and take refuge in our stronghold!

Don't get stressed, find support in God, your refuge and stronghold!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me. Help me to never stress or panic, but to find refuge, strength, and renewal in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Never Give Up!

11/13/2016

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" -Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV)

We have likely all experienced times when we felt like giving up. The challenges in front of us may have seemed to be impossible to overcome. It may have seemed like we were trying to accomplish too much. When we face challenges, we don't have to give up. We can call for help!

When we call on God, we know that nothing is too much for God. God is the Creator. He oversees everything. He is all-powerful and all-knowing. God's timing and outcome may be different than what we expect, but we can rest assured that everything is in His control and within His power. We should not give up when things get tough. Instead, we should call on God and allow Him to take over and lead us through whatever challenges we face!

Don't give up! Call on God and follow His power and wisdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sharing Your power with me. Please help me overcome challenges and to recognize and follow Your power and wisdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Investments

11/12/2016

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." -I Timothy 6:17 (NIV)

While watching the news one day, the reporter made a comment that the stock market and investors do not like uncertainty. Uncertainty may spring from market reports or politics within our country or from across the world. Those that put their faith into building wealth from this system often experience stress due to the uncertainty of their work. Stable, guaranteed investments may be an exception in the stock market, but we can find a sure thing in God!

Investing in earthly riches or wealth gives us uncertain returns on our investments, but we do know that the investments cannot last for eternity! When we are looking for riches that will last for eternity, we should put our faith and hope in God. God can provide for us now and for eternity. He will provide the joys and blessings that will fill our lives, give us meaning and hope, and sustain us. Whenever we are looking to invest our time and talents in order to prepare for an eternal future, we need to turn to God!

Invest in God to prepare for an eternal future of glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You provide in my life. Help me to always invest in You and to follow Your will for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Love and Hospitality

11/11/2016

"Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." -Hebrews 13:1-2 (NASB)

Each and every day we are presented with choices of how to act or react. As we meet different people, we can choose to ignore them, to react negatively, or to react in ways that show God's love. When we know God, we should choose to and try to show His love to everyone!

We are reminded in the Bible to love and to show hospitality. In order to show love and hospitality, we need to draw close to God and understand His love and hospitality. God has given us the offer of salvation through His Son while we were still sinners. His love transcends sin and shows us that we can offer His love to everyone, even strangers whose background we may not know. Everyone deserves God's love and hospitality and it is up to each of us to share it with all those we meet!

Know God's love and hospitality so you can show God's love and hospitality!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love and hospitality that You show to me. Help me to always show Your love and hospitality to others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hope, Patience, and Prayer

11/10/2016

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12 (NIV)

Life is full of joys. It is also filled with disappointments and challenges. Sometimes it may seem as if the world changes overnight, flipping between challenge and opportunity or between joy and disappointment. Whenever we begin to be discouraged by the events of our lives, we should reflect on God's enduring presence in our lives and in the ways in which we can connect with Him!

God promises to be with us. He knows what is in our hearts, both individually and collectively. When we are celebrating or when we are searching for answers, we can turn to God. We can call on Him through prayer. We can hope in His promises to us. We can have patience, knowing that God is acting in His time. Through whatever we are facing, God is with us and will bring us through it. We can have faith in God's promises and be comforted by His presence in our lives, then, through hope, patience, and prayer, we can follow Him to eternal glory!

Be hopeful. Be patient. Be in constant prayer to God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me, giving me hope and patience. Please continue to accompany me and guide me through all that I face. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Time to Get to Work!

11/9/2016

"Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor." -Proverbs 12:24 (NIV)

Elections can bring out the best and worst in people, regardless of which "side" or candidate you favor. We can put faith in candidates and we can be disappointed when results are not what we hoped for or anticipated. However we should realize that elected officials make up a small part of a community, state, or nation. If we want to see a change or support a goal, we need to be ready to work!

If we choose to sit idly by, then we will end up being ruled by those willing to get busy and involved. We all have talents given to us by God that we can choose to use to better the world in which we live. No matter who may be elected in our states and nations or whether we agree or disagree with the vote of the majority, we can choose to follow and work for God. We can all follow God and make a difference. We can allow Him to bless us and lead us to His glory!

Don't sit by, it's time to get to work for God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for leading me. Help me to know and follow Your will. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

All for Us!

11/8/2016

"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

During an election season there are many promises of what candidates will do for each of us and for all of us. While we may like a particular candidate, we need to realize that they are all human, have sinned, and will make mistakes. If we are looking for someone to govern us with our best interests in mind, we should turn to Jesus!

Jesus took our punishment in our place. Because of His love for us, He gave up His life to fulfill God's plan of salvation. Jesus didn't offer false promises. Jesus was not simply a human. Jesus is God and He spoke the truth. He allows us to be healed and made whole. He is the one that can lead us to a relationship with God, to full life, and to eternal life!

Jesus died for all of us so that we can have a full, eternal life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son to die for my sin. Please forgive me, help me to become closer to You, and to live a life that shows Your glory to others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Created for Purpose!

11/7/2016

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." -Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

The main character in a television show I was recently watching was searching for purpose. She weighed different options. She dealt with different consequences and even questioned if there was a purpose for her life. When considering our lives and our purpose, we can know that we have a purpose. As we feel the need to search for our purpose, we don't have to search aimlessly, we just have to turn to God!

We can know that we have a purpose because God has created us for a purpose. We are works of God which He created and then redeemed through His Son, Jesus Christ. God prepares us for our purposes. He creates us with talents. He refines us through our experiences. He plans for our salvation and invites us to have relationships with Him. When searching for our purpose, we need to include talking to God in our search as He knows our purpose!

God created you for a purpose. Talk to Him and learn what it is!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for creating me and for giving me purpose. Help me to follow Your will and to live with the purpose You have given me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Listening and Responsive!

11/6/2016

"Then he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.'" -Luke 9:48 (NIV)

We can look at the world and see a lot of things that need some attention. We can also make choices to get involved or to remain on the sidelines watching events and situations unfold. Sometimes it may seem easier to stand by and watch, but we also want things to get better. How do we choose to respond?

I recently heard a presentation from a speaker that has built an organization that helps youth and young adults address environmental problems. He seems to follow the advice that Jesus has given us. One step is to welcome children and welcome God, the One that sends them. When we are welcoming and listening to children, we also learn to humble ourselves. When we stop to listen to those in our lives sent by God, we are also stopping to listen to God. When we hear God's messages, we can be ready to respond out of humility and out of God's love! We can be ready to respond and take action!

Listen to those that God sends into your life and then respond accordingly!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the opportunities that You have presented to me and that allow me to learn and grow. Help me to use what You teach me to respond accordingly out of humility and love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.