Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Only Praise!

11/30/2020

"Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." -James 3:10 (NIV)

There are times when we don't say the right thing. This can happen when we get frustrated or let things slip without thinking. These words may come out quickly, but their impact can last!

When we speak, we should focus on God and be sure that our words are pleasing to Him. We should offer others words of love and encouragement and we should offer God words of praise and thanksgiving. We need to keep God in our hearts and minds so our words are only praise and not cursing!

Use your words for praise and not cursing!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the blessings in my life. Help me to always speak praise! In Jesus I pray, amen.

Dressed and Ready!

11/29/2020

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." -Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)

This year brought a lot of changes. One of those changes for many people was working from home and learning to "Zoom." As part of our work "norms", we were reminded to be dressed and camera ready.

As we prepare to head out into the world, whether in-person or virtually, we need to be sure that we are dressed for all that we will encounter. We need to be sure we put on the God's armor so we can withstand the devil's actions. With God and His armor, we can be prepared. We can have the courage and wisdom to know when and how to stand up and resist the devil's advances!

Dress in God's armor and stand up to the devil's schemes!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the armor that You provide. Help me to always turn to You and to be protected with Your full armor. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Time to Wait & Prepare!

11/28/2020

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope." -Psalm 130:5 (ESV)

Thanksgiving often kicks off the "holiday season." We may think of Thanksgiving as marking the time when we get the Christmas tree and bring out our decorations. We start to prepare for giving gifts and celebrating. While it may be fun to decorate and it can help put us in the "Christmas spirit", we need to also prepare our hearts and minds!

Advent reminds us of waiting for the birth of our Savior. We need to wait for the Lord. Our souls need to wait. As we wait, we need to be sure we are preparing ourselves for His arrival. We need to spend time in God's Word. We need to talk with God and open our hearts and minds to Him. This preparation should be a continual part of our lives. We may be waiting to celebrate the birth of our Savior now, but beyond Christmas we should be waiting on and preparing for Christ's return!

Take time today and every day to wait on and prepare for the Lord!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son and for being able to celebrate His birth. Help me to continually wait on and prepare for Your Son's return. Through Him I pray, amen.

Proper Submission

11/27/2020

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." -James 4:7 (ESV)

There are many forces in our lives that may try to take control of our lives. Sometimes we unknowingly let them into our lives through worry or by not paying close attention. We can be sure that our lives are headed in the right direction by submitting to God!

Submitting to the world will lead us down a path of darkness and eternal pain. The devil is intent on making this happen. However, we can fight against this by submitting ourselves to God. God will guide us through the forces in the world. He will help us resist the devil and God will make the devil flee from us. As long as we submit to God, we can overcome the forces of this world for eternity with Him!

Be sure to submit to God, resist the devil, and overcome this world for eternity with God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance in my life. Help me to submit to You and Your WIll so I can overcome the evil forces of this world and spend eternity with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Food for Body & Soul

11/26/2020

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'" -John 6:35 (ESV)

Thanksgiving is often celebrated with food, family, and friends. We give thanks, but the focus can sometimes be lost in the preparations, eating, and clean up. As we wind down from the day and reflect on our lives, we need to be sure give thanks not just for the food for our bodies, but also the food for our souls!

We may celebrate with food, but the most important food is the "bread of life" and living water that is Jesus Christ. We need to be sure we are nourishing our souls and praising God and thanking Him for saving us from our sin. Whether it is Thanksgiving day or any other day of the year, we need to give thanks for the nourishment of our bodies and the nourishment of our souls!

Give thanks for the food on your table and the bread of life and living water that nourishes the soul!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the food to nourish my body and for Your Son to save me and nourish my soul. Thank You for all You do in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Steadfast Minds

11/25/2020

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You." -Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Helen Keller said, "Doubts and mistrust are the mere panic of timid imagination, which the steadfast heart will conquer, and the large mind transcend." Doubts and mistrust can stir up anxiety and conflict. To overcome these challenges and find peace, we need a steadfast mind and a steadfast heart!

To find God's peace, we need to keep our minds focused on Him. With a steadfast mind, we can trust in God and allow Him to fill our hearts. We can be calmed by HIs love and compassion. We can talk to God, study His Word, and wait on Him. We can welcome His presence in our lives. With a mind steadfastly focused on God, we can have a mind that transcends our earthly problems!

Keep a steadfast mind focused on God, trust in Him, and embrace His peace!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the peace that You provide. Help me to always trust in You and to keep my mind focused on You. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Just a Number!

11/24/2020

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." -I Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

Many of us have probably heard the expression that age is just a number. This may be somewhat comforting as we get older. However, when we look around at those that are younger than us, can we see the lessons they have to teach us?

As we think about age, we often think of growing wisdom as we get older. However, we are reminded in first Timothy that we can learn lessons from all ages. We should not look down on those that are younger than us. We should not dismiss the experiences and wisdom of those that are older. Instead, we should embrace everyone and celebrate the gifts and experiences that God has given each of us. Together we do not need to worry about the number of age, but we can praise God in the number of believers united in Him!

Don't worry about the number that is age, but learn from people of all ages as God brings us together for His glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the experiences and lessons in my life. Help me to learn Your lessons from others as You use me to also teach them. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Firmer Steps

11/23/2020

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him." -Psalm 37:23 (NIV)

When describing schedules and plans, there have been many words used over the past several months. These descriptions include "fluid", the need to "pivot", and "being prepared for all possibilities." It is hard to take steps forward when the ground seems to be shifting and changing beneath our feet. There is a way to help us take firmer steps!

Even though the world challenges us with changing demands, we can be reassured when we walk on God's path. God can help us to take the right steps and to be sure those steps are firm. We can make progress in serving God and reaching our goals. We don't have to worry about pivoting, things being fluid, or many different possible plans of action. We only need to keep our focus on God and follow Him so we can have firmer steps!

Follow God and have firmer steps no matter what is changing in life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping me to have firmer steps. Help me to always follow Your plan. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Live Under Grace!

11/22/2020

"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." -Romans 6:14 (ESV)

There are times when we are sure to feel under pressure. When we are under pressure, we may look for an easy way out. Even when we see sin as a way to avoid pressure or make our lives "better" in the short-term, we need to remember that we should not live in sin. We are living under grace and we should show it!

God has given us His grace. He has shown us mercy. We should not take this for granted and we should not continue to live our lives in sin. When we feel pressure to conform to the desires and will of the world, we need to remember that God's grace prepares us to live differently than what we may see in the world. We should live in a way that shows we are living under His grace and strive to reflect His glory for others to see!

Do not live in sin, but act in ways that show you are living in His grace!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me from my sin and for extending Your grace and mercy to me. Help me to live so others can see Your grace in all I do. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Inward Renewal

11/21/2020

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." -II Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

Sometimes we may be having a rough day and it can show on the outside. We may be flustered, frustrated, or just about ready to give up. We may show outward signs of all these things, but we should have heart. We can be renewed from the inside!

We can have confidence even when things aren't going our way. We can take heart because we know that our God is powerful and everlasting. He is also loving and ready to help us. Instead of giving up, we can pray and place our faith and trust in God. We can follow His lead as He fills and renews us from the inside out!

Even if things seem to be falling apart on the outside, call on God and embrace His inward renewal!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the peace, strength, and renewal that You can provide. Help me to continue to rely on Your renewing grace. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Forever!

11/20/2020

"You, Lord, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation." -Lamentations 5:19 (NIV)

When studying space and space travel in science class, I have used a video about travel to Mars and the research into how to preserving food so there is a food supply that can last for the time to travel and establish a settlement on Mars. Most things in our life, whether food or tools, have a shelf-life. It is nice to know when something can last forever!

God is the one thing in our lives that we can be sure is forever. He has always been and always will be. He endures through the generations. When we feel like things around us are changing, we can find stability in knowing God and knowing that He will outlast and help us overcome anything we face. God will last forever and we can always depend on Him!

God is forever, so hold on to Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping me now and for the promise of eternity with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Peace & Thanks!

11/19/2020

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

This year has been unlike any other. There have been challenges throughout the year. There have been times of anxiety and sadness. However, we can still find peace and be thankful!

As the holiday season approaches, we take time to remember reasons to be thankful. We can also find peace in the promises that we celebrate. To find calm and peace, we can turn to Jesus and truly invite Him into our hearts and our lives. We can then be thankful for His presence and the redemption that He provides. In the midst of our lives, we can find peace and we can give thanks, not just this year but each and every day!

Find peace in Jesus Christ and give thanks for the blessings from God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Jesus and for redeeming me through Him. Thank You for Your peace and all of the blessings in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Unity!

11/18/2020

"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" -Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

There are lots of ways we categorize people. We may make judgments with very little information. When we do this, we continue to drive people apart. Our words and actions can create division and not unity!

As members of God's family, we are to be united in the grace and love of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ! We may not always agree. We can have different opinions. However, we should be joined together in the message and love of God. We should join in bringing people together to praise and worship Him. With God's glory and grace at the center, we can live in unity for Him!

Focus on unity and coming together through God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and redemption. Help me to bring people together through Your grace, glory, and love. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Go and Tell!

11/17/2020

"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" -Mark 16:15 (NIV)

Recently, many of us have spent more time than usual in our homes or being separated from others. We may find it difficult to "go into the world" and, if we do go out, we may find it hard to talk with others. However, we can still spread the Good News!

Like many things in our lives, we may need to find different ways to do things. We can find new ways to spread God's love and the Good News that He has given us. We can strive to live as an example of God's love and redemption. We can continue to communicate in many different ways, whether in-person, by offering a phone call, or using social media platforms. We can still "go out" into the world and spread the Good News!

Life may change, but we can still go out and tell the Good News!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Good News! Help me to find ways to continue to spread the Good News in all the world. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Give and Trust

11/16/2020

"Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it'—when you have it with you. Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you." -Proverbs 3:28-29 (ESV)

Oscar Wilde is credited with writing, "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than than the grandest intention." We all have the power to be kind, to give to others. What we give does not have to be "grand." We can show kindness and love in even our smallest actions.

As we go about our lives, we need to be kind to our neighbors - to all the people around us. If we can be helpful, we should offer our help. Even in our smallest acts, we can show love. We can be a light that does not plan evil, but offers love and compassion that reflects God's calling in our lives. When we have something to give, we should give it and trust that God will bless our interactions with the people around us!

Act in kindness, giving to those around you, and show God's love and compassion!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and kindness. Help me to give love and kindness to others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Make a Difference!

11/15/2020

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -Romans 12:21 (ESV)

I recently read a post that said, "Morning is God's way of saying go make a difference, touch a heart, encourage a mind, inspire a soul, and enjoy the day." Each day we are given allows us a choice. Each day we are challenged to overcome evil with good!

We know that evil lurks in the world. If we let our guard down, evil can easily overtake good. However, we also know that God is greater than any evil in the world. When we rely on God, call on Him, and follow HIm, we can be instruments of good. We can help overcome evil and show others the goodness of God. With God's help, we can all make a difference!

Make a difference by trusting in God and allowing Him to help you overcome evil with good!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of Your goodness. Help me to overcome evil with good. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Cast It on God!

11/14/2020

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." -I Peter 5:7 (NIV)

The world is a complicated place. While there is good in the world, it is the not so good parts that usually make the headlines. Whether we turn on the news, open the newspaper, or browse online, there are plenty of stories that can feed our anxiety. The real Good News is that we don't have to let these stories rule our lives!

We can choose how we respond to the world. We can allow it to drag us down, to pull us into a spiral of anxiety. However, we can also choose to stand up and make the world a better place. To improve the conditions in our lives and in the world around us, we need to begin by trusting in God. We need to believe that if we call on Him and cast our anxiety, worry, and fear on Him, that He will help us because He cares for us. It may not be easy to let go, but when we do, we can experience freedom and peace that only God can provide. We can then spread this love and peace to make the world a better place!

Let go of your worry and give your anxiety to God so He can help you make the world a better place!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for caring for me and wanting to help me. Remind me to cast my worry, fear, and anxiety on You so You can help me in my life and allow me to help the world. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Lost Sleep?

11/13/2020

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." -Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

We recently saw the end of Daylight Saving Time. As the time moved back an hour, we may have felt like we "lost sleep" due to the time change. Throughout this year we may have experienced a variety of things that have made us "lose sleep." However, we can still find peace!

In a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, we can find peace and we can welcome sleep when we trust in the Lord. We know that He is our protector and that He is looking out for us. As we prepare to face the challenges of life, we can find safety in God. We can allow Him to provide us with peace and we can welcome sleep or rest in when we dwell in Him!

Don't lose sleep over the uncertainty of this world. Instead find peace, safety, and rest in God's presence!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the peace, safety, and rest that You provide for my body, mind, and soul. Help me to always trust in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

No One!

11/12/2020

"There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God." -I Samuel 2:2 (NIV)

There are times when we may feel alone. We may feel that no one is listening, no one understands us, or no one is there to help. When we think that there is no one, we need to remember the One!

There is no one like our God. There is no one that is holy like Him. There is no one as powerful or as loving as the Lord. There is no one that can serve as a solid foundation for our lives. There is no one else that can help us stand up to this world and reach eternal life. When we feel that there is no one by our side, we need to remember that God is always there for us and no one can measure up to Him!

When you feel like you have no one, turn to God because He is like no one else in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being my Rock, my foundation. Help me to always turn to You and to wait on Your will. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Witness the Power!

11/11/2020

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." -Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Abraham Lincoln said, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." We may see many different displays of power throughout our lives. We may see power that corrupts, but power can also be used for good, especially when the source is God!

We know that God is all-powerful. God shares some of this power with us when we give our lives to Him. He sends His Holy Spirit on us. We can feel God's presence and be bolstered by the power that is shared through the Holy Spirit. As witnesses of God's power, it is up to us to use this power for His glory as we share it in ways that bring others into the family of believers!

Witness God's power given through the Holy Spirit and then share it with others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit and the power that it brings. Help me to use the power that You provide so others can become members of Your family. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Trust God's Process

11/10/2020

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." -Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

There is a quote that says, "Hold the vision. Trust the process." In our lives, we may have visions or goals in our lives. However, we may sometimes feel like others are holding us back or placing obstacles in our way. No matter what we are facing, we need to remember that God is in control!

God is in control and He has a purpose for our lives. The events in our lives may not always be easy, but we can find hope in God's process. We know that He is faithful and wants what is best for us. As we trust in His process, we can be reassured that all we face will be for good and for His glory.

Trust in God's process and prepare for His glorious outcomes in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your process working in my life. Help me to trust in You and allow Your glory to shine. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Great by Serving!

11/9/2020

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

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve." To make a lasting difference in this world, we need to be prepared to serve each other. We can listen, we can reach out, and we can follow the example that Jesus set for us.

Jesus came to save us, but He also came to teach us. He showed us compassion and how to be compassionate. He showed us love and how to love. He served and taught us to serve. We can accept Jesus in our lives and learn from His examples. We can then be great by serving Jesus and serving others for His glory!

Serve Jesus by serving others and helping them to know Him and see His glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You teach me. Help me to serve You by serving others and helping them to know You. In Him I pray, amen.

Healing

11/8/2020

"Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are the one I praise." -Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)

There will be a time in each of our lives when we need healing. We may need personal help physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We may need healing in relationships. No matter the type of healing we need, we can turn to God!

God can heal us. He can heal us physically through His touch or by providing us with the medical care we need. He can heal us emotionally through His comfort and compassion or through professionals here on earth. He can heal us spiritually by providing redemption, grace, mercy, and understanding. God can heal us, but we need to call on Him and trust the answers that He provides!

No matter the help you need, call on God and allow Him to provide healing!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing healing. Help me to call on You and to hear and follow Your healing guidance. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Weary and Weak?

11/7/2020

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." -Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)

We are currently dealing with circumstances that most of us have not experienced in our lifetimes. While I am fortunate to have a job and be able to work, that job has become different and a lot more work than ever before. It can make for long, tiring days and weeks. Each of our struggles can cause us to be weary and weak, but we do have a source of strength!

Even though we may feel weary and weak, we probably also need to keep moving and getting things done in our lives. Whether we are physically, emotionally, or spiritually weary, we can turn to the same source for power and strength! We can turn to God and trust that He will provide us with power, that He will strengthen us, and that He will comfort us. With God, we can overcome both in the moments we now face and for all of eternity!

When feeling weak and weary, turn to God and embrace the strength and comfort He provides!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength and comfort only You can give me. Help me to trust in and rely on You in all that I face. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Waiting is the Hardest Part!

11/6/2020

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." -Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Tom Petty sang that "waiting is the hardest part." In an age when we have seemingly instant access to information, we may not be used to waiting. We may grow impatient. However, there is a right time for everything.

Waiting may not be easy. We may have questions we want answered or needs that need satisfied. Even though we may not want to wait, we need to have faith and find patience in the Lord. We need to believe in Him and allow Him to work in the right time - His time. We need to wait on the Lord with faith in Him!

Waiting may be the hardest part, but it is worth it when you wait for the Lord!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for wanting the best for me. Help me to wait on You and to have faith in Your timing and process. In Jesus I pray, amen.