Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Heads Up!

11/30/2017

"But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high." -Psalm 3:3 (NIV)

Some days things don't go our way. We can try our best, but we still encounter obstacles. When obstacles threaten to get us down, we need to find a way to keep our heads up and to keep making progress. We can turn to God!

God promises to protect us. He will shield us from the evil of the world as long as we believe in Him and follow Him. As we follow Him, we can experience His glory in our lives. We can hold our heads up high, knowing that we are on the same side as God. When the days threaten to get us down, we need to keep our eyes on God. By focusing on God, we can remember that with God all things are possible. He gives us reason to lift our heads high!

Keep your eyes on God and allow Him to help you keep your head up!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping me overcome obstacles in my life. Help me to keep my eyes on You and my head up! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Mirror, Mirror

11/29/2017

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

In the story of Snow White, the queen asks the "magic mirror" who is the fairest in the land. Each time she asks, she expects to see the answer as her own reflection. When she gets a different answer, the trouble starts! We don't have a "magic mirror" in our lives, but we can see the reflection of what is in our hearts through the words and actions of our lives!

We can hear God's Word and we can experience miracles in our lives, but those things lack meaning until we put them into action in our lives. God calls us to be more than just "hearers" of His Word, we are to be doers! Our lives are to be filled with and focused on God. Our actions - where we invest our time, talents, and money - should be a clear reflection of the goodness that comes from God and fills our hearts. When others look at our lives or when we step back and reflect ourselves, we should see a reflection of God's love and joy in our hearts. We can be the mirrors that allow others to see God's active presence in our hearts and lives!

Allow your heart to be filled with God's love and joy so you are a reflection of Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a part of my life. Please fill my heart so my words and actions reflect Your love and joy. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Leading the Way!

11/28/2017

"Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray." -Proverbs 10:17 (NIV)

Author and CEO Steve Pemberton wrote that, "stories helped me realize that, although tragedy and loss are regrettably commonplace, we aren't measured by what happens to us but rather by how we respond to it." Sometimes what we view as difficulty is teaching us discipline and preparing us to be leaders. We need to be prepared not only to lead others, but to lead in the right, true direction!

As God's followers, we are examples to the rest of the world. He calls us to a higher purpose and others are looking to see how we will act or react. God knows that we are human and that we will sin and fall short of His glory. However, God also knows that we can learn and do better. Because of this, God disciplines and corrects us. As we listen to and communicate with Him, we can grow and become leaders. We can lead the way when we follow God, helping others to see the right direction!

Follow God, respond to His discipline, and lead the way for His Kingdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your presence in my life. Please help me to heed Your discipline and be a leader for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Think Positive!

11/27/2017

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." -Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

I remember my driver education instructor's advice to look and focus on where you want to drive, then go there. Sometimes in life, we allow our focus to drift away from where we want to be. Instead of focusing on the positive, on God's presence and power, we focus on the lies of the world.

When we choose to follow God, we need to trust in His power and wisdom. We can trust that He can help us overcome lies and challenges of this world. Instead of being pulled down or distracted by the evil of the world, we can look to where we want to be. We can keep our eyes on God, on what is true, and then follow Him and His plan for our lives. As we think about such things, we can take the steps to where we want to go - growing God's Kingdom on earth and spending eternity with Him!

Think positive: Look to where you want to go - to God - and then follow Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me good things to look at and forward to in this life. Help me to keep my eyes on You and continue to move forward for Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Faithful Protection

11/26/2017

"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." -II Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)

Listening to the radio the other day, I heard many different advertisements that offered protection of some sort. There are companies to protect your identity. Other companies will monitor the security of your home. Still others offer insurance for your home, car, and life. These services are valuable, but the greatest protection includes our souls and eternity!

We can work to secure our earthly possessions, but these will pass away. Our concern should first be on protecting our souls for all of eternity. We can do this by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and then trusting in Him. We can be assured that He will protect us from the devil. We can have eternal life in God's glory. Once we have chosen to follow God and accepted salvation through His Son, we have His promised insurance for our souls!

Choose to insure your soul for all of eternity by accepting Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for eternal salvation. Help me to follow and trust in Your protection. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Watch in Hope!

11/25/2017

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." -Micah 7:7 (NIV)

As Christmas approaches, we begin to prepare for our traditions and celebrations. We may eagerly await decorating, time off from work, and family gatherings. The season is more than parties and gifts, it is about the hope we have through Jesus Christ. In all of our preparation, we should not lose sight of this hope and light!

We can prepare for Christmas during the season of advent as we wait, watch, and prepare for Jesus, but we shouldn't limit our preparations to one season or just to the physical parties and celebrations of the season. We should prepare our hearts to accept Jesus and this acceptance should go beyond a Christmas season and fill our entire lives. It is through God's plan and His Son, Jesus Christ, that we can continue to have hope and to watch in hope for the return of our Savior!

Prepare your heart and watch in hope for the Lord!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the hope that You have provided in my life. Help me to prepare my heart for Jesus. Through Him I pray, amen.

Seed Supplier

11/24/2017

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness." -II Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)

Great things can start as a small idea that is allowed to grow and spread. We may talk about sowing seeds that grow into organizations, events, or programs that impact our own lives or the lives of others in our communities or even across the world. It is true that an idea can be the seed needed to start something larger, but we also need to consider the supplier or the seeds!

God is the source of the seeds in our lives that can grow and impact our lives as well as the lives of many others. As we work to help nurture ideas into realities, we need to be sure we are focused on and in communication with God. He can continually supply the seeds that we can sow. He can provide the bread that will allow our souls to be nourished and to share in nourishing other souls. We can help enlarge the harvest as we return to God for our supplies of seeds and nourishment that we can then spread and sow throughout the world!

Talk to God, the supplier, and allow Him to guide you in enlarging the harvest!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings in my life. Please continue to provide the seeds and guide me as I sow them in Your Name. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

From Within!

11/23/2017

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

I was recently recalling a lesson that took me a little while to learn - many times change must come from patience and working within a system. Trying to change attitudes and minds by "storming the city" from the outside can turn people off to what we are trying to do. However, we can work within our places of employment or social establishments as examples that can lead positive changes that reflect God's will!

Learning to be patient can be challenging. We may have to wait to see the results of our efforts. We have to learn to trust in God and in His will and His plan. We can pray for God to help us develop patience and self-control as He leads us. Through God's time and direction, we can help make positive change that reflects God's love and allows others to see His offer of forgiveness and redemption. We can be examples of God's power to change us from within as we work from within different places and groups to make changes for God!

Allow God to change you from within and then work to lead change from within the places we spend our time!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the patience You have with me and for Your plans for my life. Help me to be patient and to have self-control as I lead changes for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

#1 Reason!

11/22/2017

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." -John 16:33 (NASB)

There is research that says being grateful leads to increased happiness. As we prepare for celebrations of Thanksgiving, it is common to reflect on all that we have and all for which we should be grateful. We should take time every day, not just during this season, to offer thanks, including the greatest gift that we have been given...forgiveness, peace, and eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Jesus came to earth as God's Son to live, die as a sacrifice for our sin, and then to conquer death by rising from the dead. Jesus has paid for our sin and provided a path to eternal life. For these things, we should be grateful each and every day. Whether we are celebrating Thanksgiving or going about our usual routines, we need to remember the promise of peace that Jesus gave and the number one reason to be thankful: forgiveness and eternal life in God's glory!

Take time to be thankful, especially for the life provided through the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for eternal life offered through Your Son. Help me to always be thankful and to share Your blessings with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

To Do: Praise, Prayer, & Thanks!

11/21/2017

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." -I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Like many people, it seems that I always have a "to do" list. It feels good being able to cross things off of my list, but there is always something else that is waiting to be done. As we make lists to help us prioritize and track our accomplishments, there are three things that should always be on our list: praise, prayer, and thanksgiving!

God is active in our lives. Sometimes we may be too busy or distracted to notice, but if we take a few moments of quiet reflection, we can see His work each and every day. As we hurry through our days, we can do more than find a few moments to reflect. We can live our lives in ways that praise and honor God. We can continually talk to Him and allow ourselves to acknowledge His presence in our lives. Lastly, we can always give thanks for all that God has done and will do in our lives. We can live in praise, prayer, and thanksgiving!

Live your life to acknowledge and honor God through praise, prayer, and giving thanks!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to always be connected to You as I pray and live a life of praise and thanksgiving. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Thankful Giving

11/20/2017

"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" -I John 3:17 (NIV)

The holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas are times when many of us reflect on our blessings. We know that we are blessed beyond these times of the year. God's presence in our lives is visible every day of the year, but we need to be sure that we are also sharing our blessings so others can see Him, too!

God works in each of our lives, but we are not to hide the light of God! As we reflect on our blessings, we need to look for ways to share His love. As God's followers, we need to be ready and willing to give to those in need. We can share from our blessings and, in the process, help others see God's love and presence in the world. During the upcoming holidays, we can and should be thankful, but we also need to be giving both now and every day of the year!

As you celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, be sure to thank God for your blessings and to share with others...now and all through the year!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for all of the blessings in my life. Help me to share with others so that they can see You, too. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Get Heavenly Wisdom!

11/19/2017

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." -James 3:17 (NIV)

We can learn through reading and listening to others, but we also learn by trial and error and experience. I try to remind my students that when we learn from experience, we don't only learn when we get things "right." We also learn by reflecting on what didn't work. Many times, we can gain wisdom by weathering the storm and emerging on the other side!

We can learn by reading God's Word, listening to Him, and through the experiences in our lives. In our lives, we can embrace God's wisdom. We can know God's wisdom by its nature. Like God, His wisdom is pure. It is filled with His love. When we embrace God's wisdom, we can exude His love. In being submissive to God, we can show His mercy through our interactions with others. Through our personal experiences and relationships with God, we can grow in His wisdom, then we can share God's wisdom as we help those around us!

Get wisdom from God and then share it through your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and wisdom. Help me to know Your wisdom and to share it with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

In Defense

11/18/2017

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." -Proverbs 31:9 (NIV)

One of the most important parts of my job as a teacher is to be sure that my classroom is a place where all students can learn. This depends on making the content understandable, but it also requires protecting the rights of all students, including those that may not normally have a voice within the system. As such, there are times, in fairness, that teachers need to speak up, to create a safe learning environment. This is true in all of our daily lives as well - we may need to speak up and defend those that do not always have a voice!

As followers of God, we are called to be part of His family, which includes welcoming all those that wish to join and be part of His Church. There are times when we need to be discerning, but we need to be careful of how we judge others. We need to speak up for what is right and, in doing so, defend others from unfair judgments or biases. Jesus has shown us that we should not ignore those that society or the church has deemed unacceptable. Instead, we need to reach out in God's love to bring all people into God's family. By learning about and from God, through prayer and reading His Word, we can learn how to help others defend their rights and grow as members of God's family!

Learn from God so you can have a voice and help defend the rights of those in need!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being part of my life and for welcoming me into Your family. Help me to know what to say as I speak up and take action in defense of the rights of those in need. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Think About What You Say!

11/17/2017

"The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit." -Proverbs 15:4 (NIV)

Sometimes the younger people in my life don't understand the consequences of words. They may think they are saying something as a joke or that words can't really matter that much. This line of thinking often applies until the roles are reversed and they are on the receiving end. It is easy to talk without thinking, but the consequences of words can be crushing, even if they are unintended!

As followers of God, we are called to live in God's love. This does not mean that we are to blindly accepting of everything we see around us, but it does mean we are to have a different approach. The words we say should help build a positive environment in which a fulfilling relationship with God and with each other can occur. We need to think about what we say. Choosing words that reflect God's grace, mercy, and love should be our first priority. When we feel the urge to react and speak without thinking and searching our hearts for God's will, we need to stop and think about what we are about to say!

Think and talk to God before saying something that goes against God's loving and redemptive nature!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and forgiving me. Help me to speak words that reflect You and Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Learning Experiences

11/16/2017

"Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way." -Psalm 25:8-9 (NIV)

While recently developing lessons for new science standards, I was talking with another teacher. We talked about how learning requires experiences. We, as teachers, could talk and talk, but without meaningful experiences, our students will take longer to learn. We are all students in life and God is ready to teach us, both by telling and through providing experiences to help us grow!

God, as our Teacher, has provided us with His Word. This set of instructions provides us with examples and lessons from which we can learn. However, God is also active in providing us experiences that help us to learn and grow. Through all that we face, God is ready and able to teach us. If we are willing to read God's Word, listen to Him, and reflect on the experiences He provides, we continue to learn and grow in the ways of the Lord!

God is ready to teach you, just listen and learn from His Word and the experiences He provides!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for teaching me. Help me to learn from Your Word and from the experiences in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

More than Here and Now!

11/15/2017

"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." -I John 5:4 (NIV)

I have been fortunate to experience many good times in my life. Tonight I had the opportunity to reflect on one honor I received several years ago. As we take time to reflect, we realize that the here and now goes away, often more quickly than we would like. We need to prepare ourselves for something more, something greater!

God has prepared eternity for us. We just have to accept His invitation for forgiveness through His Son. As we join God's family, we can overcome the here and now. Whether we face difficult times or times of joy, we can be assured that what God has in store is far greater than anything we experience on earth. With faith, we can be so much more than the here and now!

Enjoy the here and now, but prepare for much greater things with God for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You provide for me here and now. Help me to trust in You for eternity. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Who to Follow?

11/14/2017

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Social media has changed the ways we interact with each other. While some of us may still prefer face to face communication, much of what is said or communicated happens through our phones and computers and goes out to all of our "friends" or "followers." Like many things in life, we can use these new technologies for good or we can allow them to lead us away from our true purpose. We have to stop and think, "Who are we really following?"

We can allow social media to be a tool that keeps us in touch with others and even spreads the word about the good things in which we are involved. In any big situation, we need to be sure our influences and who we follow are reliable and trustworthy. We can do this by making sure we are following the One True Lord! He will go before us as He leads. He will also be beside us to help pick us up when we stumble. Through it all, He is the only one that will never leave or forsake us. It is by following Him that we can let go of fear and truly be loved and encouraged!

When considering who to follow, be sure that your first choice is the Lord!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for both leading me and walking with me. Help me to always turn to You first and to accept Your will and leadership in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Growing Pains and Joys!

11/13/2017

"I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing the praises of Your name, O Most High." -Psalm 9:2 (NIV)

My daughter enjoys learning and school, but every once in a while she gets frustrated. She is finding out that learning is not always easy. Sometimes there are things we don't understand, other times may just require us to slow down and take a second look. However, even the challenges, our growing pains, can be joys worthy of praise!

We know that things don't always come easy, but each experience presents a learning opportunity. As we learn and grow, we also need to reflect and acknowledge the blessings in our lives. Through our growing pains, we will experience joys and God's blessings. For each and every blessing, we should praise God, allowing others to know the source of our blessings and joys!

Reflect and acknowledge the blessings in your life and praise God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the joys and blessings in my life. All praise and glory to You! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be in Peace!

11/12/2017

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Life can be hectic. The turmoil of life can upset our routines and threaten to knock us off balance. As we move through our lives, we search for peace and balance that sustains and focuses us. As author Iyanla Vanzant reminds us, "When we have peace in our hearts and minds, we draw peace into our lives." We can find this peace in God!

When we fill our hearts and minds with God, we can be filled with His joy and peace. We can trust in His plan for and guidance in our lives. As we trust and confide in Him, He sends His Holy Spirit to comfort and sustain us. As we are filled with God and His Holy Spirit, we can not only draw peace into our lives, but allow it to overflow from our lives and to impact those around us!

Be in peace from God and spread it to others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your peace in my life. Help me to always trust in You, to be filled with peace, and to overflow and spread Your peace throughout the world. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Building Up!

11/11/2017

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." -I Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

It seems that, as humans, we often become entangled in trying to better ourselves by tearing others down. Sometimes we tear others down out of fear, but we don't have to make that choice. Novelist and playwright Frances Hodgson Burnett is quoted as saying, "You either build up or you tear down. You either keep in the light where you can see, or you stand in the dark and fight everything that comes near you, because you can't see and you think it's an enemy."

We have choices in our lives. We can choose to either build up or tear down, but we can also choose to live in the light or live in the darkness. When we are faced with these choices, we need to choose to live in God's light. He sent His Son into the world to bring light into a dark place. It is up to each of us to choose to follow and live in that light. Once we are in the light, we can focus on encouraging and building each other up. We can share God's love and encourage others to join God's family and in doing so build God's Kingdom now and for eternity!

Encourage each other up by sharing God's love and, in the process, building His Kingdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me Your love. Help me to share Your love in order to encourage others and build Your Kingdom. Through Jesus, the Light, I pray, amen.

Out and About!

11/10/2017

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

Many of our routines or errands take us out and about. Sometimes, as we are dealing with heavy traffic or crowds of people, we can become annoyed or frustrated. However, being out and about with others presents us with an opportunity. How do we choose to respond as we deal with others we encounter?

Jesus came to be the Savior for all people. In doing so, He entered the world and lived among us in human form. He was out and about, experiencing the challenges of life while also setting an example. Jesus also sent us, His followers, into the world. As we are out and about in our lives, we need to follow the lessons that Jesus taught and be lights in an otherwise dark world. Instead of getting annoyed or frustrated, we can live so others can see the love of our Heavenly Father!

As you go out and about, be a witness for God's love and glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving and leading me. Help me to be a witness for Your love, guidance, and glory. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Fed Up!

11/9/2017

"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." -Proverbs 30:8 (NIV)

There are certain times of the day when I get hungry and tempted to snack. During these times, I could choose healthy or unhealthy options, which will either be lasting or temporary. We may also experience temptations in our spiritual lives, choices that are either temporary or lasting!

In our lives, we should try to keep lies far from us. We shouldn't obsess over getting rich. Instead, we should focus on our "daily bread" that comes from God. Focusing on His Truth can keep away lies and falsehood. Communicating with God to know and follow His will can keep us from being distracted by worldly things. Reading God's Word and talking to God in prayer can fill us with the fruit of the Spirit and the living water that will be lasting. We can be fed by God's daily bread so we are filled or "fed up" and ready to live for Him!

Be fed by God's daily bread and living water so you are prepared for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to always follow You for eternity. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Rejoice!

11/8/2017

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" -Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

In life we need to stop and look around. When we do, we find that there are many joys to be uncovered in life. Maybe we get a smile from a stranger, an act of kindness, or some other gesture that reminds us of God's presence in the world. We can rejoice in each of these blessings from the Lord!

We know that the Lord blesses us. We know that we can see so much to be thankful for when we take a moment to look around. When we stop to appreciate our blessings, we also need to rejoice and praise God, the source of these blessings. In taking time to rejoice and praise God, we can allow others to see that He provides the good in our lives. We can be witnesses for God's glory by offering Him praise as we rejoice!

Rejoice always and allow others to see the glory of God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the blessings in my life.. Help me to share Your glory with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Following & Holding On!

11/7/2017

"It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him." -Deuteronomy 13:4 (NIV)

Life would be easier if we had a road map or GPS that guided us around the hazards or challenges. However, we know throughout life we experience triumphs and challenges. We can make it through everything we face whenever we keep ourselves on God's side!

Throughout our lives, we are called to follow God. We are to praise and worship Him, to obey and serve Him. As we follow God, we need to hold on to Him. We can hold on to Him by continually communicating with Him and keeping our lives centered on His commands. As we live centered on God, we can praise Him as He lifts us above the challenges of life!

Follow God, hold onto Him and His commands, and overcome life's challenges!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being my guide. Help me to keep Your commands and to hold onto You throughout life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

A Line in the Sand

11/6/2017

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

There are points in our lives when we feel like we can be pushed no further. We each arrive at these points in our lives at different times, in different ways, and for different reasons. I recently heard a story where the speaker said he drew a line when he was 5 years old. He decided he wanted a story different from the one his parents experienced.

When we look around us, at our lives and the situations of our communities, we may be compelled to draw a line in the sand. When drawing a line, we need to be sure our desires and actions align with those of God. As we talk to God and align ourselves with Him, then we can stand in strength and courage. We can know that we are standing with God, listening to His commandments and will for our lives, we can stand tall without fear, knowing He will always be with us!

Draw a line and stand strong in courage as God goes with you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being with me, for giving me strength and courage. Help me to always stand on Your side. Through Jesus I pray, amen.