Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Strength for the New Year!

12/31/2015

"Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." -Isaiah 40:30-31 (NASB)

Several weeks ago I was sitting on the couch one evening and was fighting to stay awake. I knew I hadn't been exercising regularly and my eating habits weren't the best. I decided to take advantage of an opportunity offered by a friend to join a fitness group to help change my bad habits and I have been pleased with the results!

In our spiritual lives, we need support, too. We can grow tired on our own. Our motivation and resolve can fade as we run into challenges. Just as many resolve to exercise more and eat better in the new year, we need to resolve to wait on the Lord. With God's power, He can renew us and strengthen our souls. He can fortify our resolve to help us resist the devil's temptations and to move through the new year without growing tired. We can mount up with wings like eagles and run without tiring because God is on our side!

Call on God to renew your strength and to sustain you throughout the new year!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength and wisdom that You provide for me. Help me to always call on You and to trust in Your wisdom and power. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Resolve with God!

12/30/2015

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen." -Philippians 4:19-20 (NASB)

As we look forward to the new year, we could probably list many things that we want and need. We may set goals for ourselves in the new year or make resolutions about how we plan to get our needs. As we resolve to be better next year, need should remember to include God in all of our resolutions!

God is ready, willing, and able to supply our needs. He has given us His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us. Our first step should be to believe in Jesus and be forgiven of our sin. We can recommit our lives to God, talk to Him through prayer, and ask Him to help our goals align with His plan for our lives. With God on our side, we can be sure that He will provide for all of our needs now and forever!

Include God in your resolutions and He will provide for your needs!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for wanting me to succeed. Please guide me in the new year and continue to provide for my needs. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Filled Up!

12/29/2015

"And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness." -Acts 4:31 (NASB)

While traveling over the Christmas holiday, I was reminded of a lesson my grandfather taught me many years ago when I traveled with my grandparents to a job interview. The interview was 8 hours from my home and required travel on the highway. As we were driving, my grandfather told me to always be prepared for unexpected detours or delays by knowing of how much fuel I have in the car and not letting it get too far below half a tank on the highway.

This advice applies to our spiritual lives as well. There are times when we are moving along in our lives, seeming to have plenty of fuel in our tanks. However, unexpected delays or detours can cause worry to creep into our minds. If we are running low on spiritual fuel, then we are easy targets for the devil. The good news is that God is always by our side, ready to refuel us and prepare us for whatever we need to get through. When we pray, God will fill us with His Holy Spirit and prepare us for bold action against the devil!

Don't let yourself get low on spiritual fuel. Pray to God and get fueled with the Holy Spirit!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being by my side and ready to refuel me. Help me to remember to call on You so I am prepared for bold action against the devil. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Instigate

12/28/2015

"And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities." -Hebrews 10:24 (AMP)

Many of us know people that like to "stir the pot" or get people worked up. Some of may get annoyed by these antics and others may join in. We may be instigators, participants, or bystanders. No matter our roles, we need to be aware of the impact of our actions!

Often, identifying someone as an instigator is not a compliment. However, we can instigate or inspire positive outcomes! We can stir up or incite good deeds rooted in God's love. We can be instigators and role models, watching out for each other, sharing God's love, and trying to live as He has called us. It is good when we stir people up with God's love, causing good deeds and love to be spread to all those around us!

Stir up love and good deeds in yourself and others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me Your love. Please help my actions to stir up love and good deeds in myself and others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

New Year's Prayer

12/27/2015

"May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests." -Psalm 20:4-5

As we prepare for the upcoming year, we often reflect on the past and set goals for our future. We decide on resolutions that we think will improve our lives, but we sometimes struggle to keep them. Before we set our goals for the upcoming year, we should examine our hearts.

We should examine our hearts to be sure that they match with God's will. If our hearts are in the right places, then we can pray that God will grant the desires or our hearts and help our plans succeed. We should also give God the credit for our success, raising His banner and praising Him for all of His work in our lives!

Make sure your heart is in line with God and then pray that He grants your desire and gives you success!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for wanting me to succeed. Please help the desires of my heart to align with Your desires and grant me success. To You be all glory! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Called and Confirmed

12/26/2015

"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." -I Peter 5:10 (NASB)

Many of us have experienced hard times and made it through by the grace of God. The birth of Jesus was just the beginning for Mary and Joseph, Jesus' earthly parents. The beginning of their journey as a family was also important to God's plan for our salvation.

Christmas is the beginning of a chain of events that change human history, that can change our personal life stories. God calls to us with an offer of forgiveness and salvation through His Son. The road of belief will not always be smooth, but God's grace will restore us. God's power and wisdom will confirm, strengthen, and perfect us!

Believe in Christmas and salvation through Jesus and allow God to confirm and protect you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for wanting to save me. I believe in Your Son and in Your transforming power and grace. In Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Let Christ Dwell in You!

12/25/2015

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." -Colossians 3:16-17 (NASB)

The stress of preparation leading up to the Christmas holiday can sometimes dampen the spirit of the day. When celebrating Christmas, we should not lose sight of the reason for the day. The day is about the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Christmas is the time we celebrate the arrival of God as a human, a baby. Jesus grew from that baby into a perfect man. When we are planning and celebrating Christmas, we shouldn't be concerned about the gifts, the food, or other traditions. We should be sure that we are honoring Christ. To honor Christ, we should embrace His Word and allow Him and His teachings to dwell within our hearts. We can sing praises to Him and act out His love in all we do for those around us!

Honor the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior, by allowing Him and His teaching to dwell in your heart and overflow in praise and acts rooted in His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Please help my Christmas celebrations to honor Jesus through my words and actions. In His name I pray, amen.

Hands Up!

12/24/2015

"Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name." -Psalms 63:3-4 (NASB)

Life can sometimes seem to drag us down. We experience challenges that can tire our minds and bodies. Throughout life, we also experience triumphs. Through our highs and lows, we should acknowledge God's presence and work in our lives. We should put our hands up in praise!

God is always working in our lives. His wisdom and power in our lives deserves our praise and thanksgiving. He loves us more than we can imagine. We can show God that we love Him, too, by praising His name each and every day. We can lift our hands up to praise God for all of His support and works in our lives!

Put your hands up and praise God each and every day!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for working in my life. Please guide me and continue to bless me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Trust in Him

12/23/2015

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

In life, we often try to figure out what we should do next. Sometimes we are faced with situations in our family that we can't solve on our own. We may act or react to others around us. We may try to act in ways that solve problems based on our understanding, but we really need to ask God for His guidance.

Our wisdom and understanding cannot compare to God's wisdom and understanding. When we are facing situations in our lives, we need to remember to rely on God. We can talk to God. After we talk to God we need to listen to His reply and not try to lean on our own understanding. In all we do, even when we think we understand the situation, we should acknowledge God's work in our lives, His infinite wisdom, and His guidance. We should then allow God to be present in our lives as we follow the path that He sets out before each of us!

Don't try to solve your problems alone. Call on God and acknowledge His presence in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being part of my life. Help me to remember to rely on Your guidance and not on what I think I understand. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Wait for Him!

12/22/2015

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord." -Psalms 27:14 (NASB)

Waiting can be difficult. It can be especially difficult when waiting on the unknown. Sometimes we face challenges in our lives that do not have clear answers. Even though we may not know the answer, we can trust that God does and we can wait on Him!

No matter what we are facing in our life, we need to wait for God to work in our lives. Our timeline may not match God's timeline, but that doesn't mean that we should give up. God gives us the strength and courage to face whatever challenges us. God is there to see us through, we just have to trust in and wait for Him!

Wait for God and allow Him to provide you with strength and courage!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me strength and courage. Please continue to work in my life and grant me the strength and courage to meet every challenge that is placed before me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

As Advertised...

12/21/2015

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." -John 6:47 (NASB)

We often see or hear many advertisements, especially at this time of year. These advertisements may look good, but they don't always live up to the hype. Fortunately, the true gift this season is exactly as advertised: Our Savior is born!

This is the season to celebrate the birth of our Savior. It is through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that allows us to have eternal life. We can see the love of God in Jesus as an infant and as a perfect human being. Just as it the Bible "advertises" it and God promises, as long as we believe in Jesus and His sacrifice and repent and accept forgiveness for our sin, we can be redeemed and have eternal life!

Just "as advertised" in the Bible, believe in Jesus and have eternal life!

Prayer
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son o save me from my sin. Please guide me here on earth until I join You in Heaven. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Dwelling

12/20/2015

"Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." -Psalm 84:10 (NIV)

As the weather turns colder in some areas, people start packing up and heading to warmer weather. Whether for a short vacation or an extended stay, the warm weather can be a welcomed change from cold, snowy conditions. Even though time away in warmer weather is enticing, most people return to their homes at the end of their stay.

When we consider our spiritual dwelling, there are times when the ways of the world may try to distract us from our calling. Even when the devil tries to lure us away, we should remember the love and rewards that God provides for us. One day with God is always better than any other option. We can be sure we dwell with God by talking to Him morning, noon, and night. If we stumble and move away from God, He is always willing to welcome us back to Him. When we draw close to and dwell with God, we do not have to worry about the devil and his ways!

Draw close to God and dwell with Him today and every day!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for giving me the option to dwell with You. Please guide me and help me to make the choices that keep me with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Eager Anticipation

12/19/2015

"Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls." -Isaiah 26:8 (NASB)

The advent season is a time of eager anticipation. My daughter enjoys counting down the days with her advent calendar. In church we count down as well, waiting for the day of celebration of the birth of our Savior. Advent isn't the only time when we can eagerly await God.

This time of anticipation is exciting and comforting as we remember God becoming man, but it isn't the only time we can eagerly wait on the Lord. Whenever we are following God's path, we should be eager for His work in our lives. God's power, wisdom, and love go far beyond anything we could imagine. We should always eagerly anticipate God's love and guidance in our lives, knowing that He wants us to prosper!

Follow God and eagerly wait for what He has in store for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the blessings in my life. Please continue to guide me and cause me to prosper. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Rough Spot?

12/18/2015

"But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You." -Psalms 5:11 (NASB)

There are times when we experience rough spots in our lives. Things might not go as we had planned. Sadness and grief may strike us unexpectedly. No matter what we are facing, we should never turn away from God, we should praise Him!

God is our refuge, our source of strength. God is always near us, ready and willing to offer us protection and comfort. No matter how we feel or what we experience, God is more powerful than anyone or anything. When we feel that we are in a rough spot, we need to make the choice to cast our cares on God and then allow Him to work in our lives. Through the good times and rough times, we can talk to and trust in God. His faithfulness gives us reason to praise Him for His power, wisdom, and refuge from all that we face on earth.

In a rough spot? Turn to God for refuge and praise Him for His faithfulness in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being near, through good times and bad times. Please guide me and give me refuge. All praise and glory to You! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Shelter and Empower

12/17/2015

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!' For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence." -Psalms 91:1-3 (NASB)

There are many times when I don't want my daughter to see or know too much. Certain situations in life are better kept from young eyes, ears, hearts, and minds. I want to shelter her or provide her with a safe place to learn and grow until she is ready to experience more of the world. Just like I want my daughter to be protected now and still growing stronger, God is concerned with the well-being of each of us!

God, our Father, wants to protect us, too. He will be our shelter. He will protect us. We can always trust in God to look out for our well-being. There are times when God will pull us away and shelter us from the rest of the world. There are other times when God knows we are ready to face challenges and He allows us to face them, all the while remaining at our side. In His infinite wisdom, God knows when to shelter and protect us and when to empower us to face the challenges before us!

Allow God to shelter and empower you throughout your journey!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being my Heavenly Father and for being concerned about my well-being. Please protect and shelter me and please remain by my side and empower me, depending on the situation I face. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Lesson: Gentle and Humble

12/16/2015

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29 (NASB)

The middle school age group has an innate ability to keep a person humble. They can also teach the value of gentleness and patience. Teaching middle schoolers has often reminded me of the need to be humble, gentle, and patient. Student reactions can be very different to different teachers and different approaches. Sometimes we forget that others will respond more positively to a humble and gentle approach.

Jesus was humble and gentle. He didn't walk around proclaiming Himself to be God. Instead, He let His actions back up His message of love so that others could see His majesty. Jesus asks us to learn from Him. By following His ways and relying on His guidance, we can learn to be more humble and gentle in our hearts and actions. When interacting with others, we need to show God's love with humble and gentle actions that can support others, building them up and allowing them to see the majesty of Jesus and the glory of God!

Follow the lesson that Jesus modeled for you. Learn to be humble and gentle in your heart!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for sending Jesus to teach me. Help me to follow His ways and be more humble in gentle in all that I do. Through Jesus, the Great Teacher, I pray, amen.

Spirit and Life

12/15/2015

"'It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him." -John 6:63-64 (NASB)

The Christmas season can easily become a season of wants. The consumer culture of the world can convince us that we need to give and receive the best things. In the end, these material things will not satisfy the desires of our souls.

To satisfy our souls and improve our lives, we don't have to go in search of material things. Jesus taught us that the Spirit gives us life. Loving God and finding salvation through His Son are gifts that are so much greater than anything we could buy or every hope to buy! We just need to believe in the words that Jesus spoke and are preserved for us in the Bible. These words can satisfy our souls and give us life now and for eternity!

Read Jesus' words that are spirit and life and believe in all that He can do for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son and for preserving Your Word in the Bible. Help me to read, understand, embrace, and follow Your guidance. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Ask and Trust

12/14/2015

"You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God." -James 4:2 (NIV)

There's a lot of fighting in the world. We often see it on the news. We may experience it in our lives. Many ask what can be done to stop the violence and fighting we witness and experience. The best answer is to turn to God!

While the initial intention may not be to harm anyone, ego and desire can take control, driving people to hurt others. Whenever we are witnessing or experiencing such desires, we need to remain calm and call on God. We need to ask God and we need to be patient and trust in His wisdom. God will answer our prayers, but may not answer them in the time and way we want. We can learn to be satisfied in what God provides in our lives and we can reach out and help others do the same. By asking God to control our desires and provide for us, we can avoid fighting, quarreling, and killing!

Don't fight, quarrel, and kill. Instead, ask God and be satisfied by trusting in His wisdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and protecting me. Help me to always remember to ask You, trust Your wisdom, and avoid fights that are spurred by my earthly desires. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Prayers and Forgiveness

12/13/2015

"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions." -Mark 11:25 (NASB)

It can be difficult for us to truly forgive others. Whether it is our ego or a broken heart, we can resist forgiving others. Whatever the reason we hold on to the transgressions of others, we need to begin taking steps to let go and forgive others.

God forgives all of our sins or transgressions and He expects us to practice forgiveness, too. He knows that it is not always easy for us. God's love can help us to forgive others. We can pray for God to help us forgive others and to help us heal from the hurt. We shouldn't give up, but we should pray and continue to forgive ourselves and others.

Pray to God and practice to forgive those who have wronged you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving and forgiving me, even though I do not deserve it. Please heal my hurts and help me to truly forgive others. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Direct to God's Love

12/12/2015

"May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ." -II Thessalonians 3:5 (NASB)

Dealing with other people can be frustrating. There are days when it seems like adults just can't act like adults and are determined to get on our very last nerves. Sometimes a simple prayer can be the best response to a frustrating day.

When we have trouble dealing with people, we can ask God to guide all involved to His love. We can pray for direction for others and we can pray for direction for ourselves. Once we are surrounded by God's love, we can work through differences. We can be empathetic and sympathetic. We can understand. Even if we continue to disagree, we can do so lovingly. With God's love, our frustrations can be overcome!

When you get frustrated, pray that everyone involved can be directed to God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and always being understanding. Help me not be frustrated, but instead pray for Your love and guidance in every situation. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

What's Next?

12/10/2015

"Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." -Romans 3:20 (NASB)

One evening as I sat on the couch trying to keep my eyes open, I realized that I needed to get back in a routine of exercising. I knew I felt better when I was active, but there are always disruptions to the routine that make it difficult to get on track and stay on track. Realizing something is only the first step. We have to follow it up with action!

When we look at our lives, there are many things that may cause us to realize something and push us to action. The Bible gives us God's Law. We cannot be saved by the Law, but it can help us realize that we have fallen short of God's glory. Once we realize that we are sinners, we need to take the next steps. The next steps include asking God for forgiveness, believing in the sacrifice of His Son for our forgiveness, and then striving to live each and every moment for God. We need to and can move from realizing our shortfall to taking action! We are not and will not be perfect, but we can take the next steps to join God's family and live through, with, and for Him.

God's Law shows us that we need redemption. Will you take the next steps to Salvation?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me Your Law and the Bible that show me how much I need You and how to receive Your gift of Salvation. Help me to always life with and for You so that others can see Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Adopted!

12/10/2015

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." -John 14:18 (NASB)

A friend recently shared a video with me that showed several children's reactions as they were adopted. The reactions were priceless as the kids realized they are truly loved, appreciated, and wanted. The world can be a cruel place without family support. We may need physical, emotional, and spiritual support.

Fortunately, we are not alone, abandoned, or orphaned. We have been adopted by God, the Father! If we believe in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us on the cross, then He promises to never forget us. Just as He promised His disciples, He will come back for us! Like orphans that have been adopted by a loving family, we can rejoice and celebrate the never ending love of God and Jesus!

You are not orphaned, you have been adopted by God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for adopting me into Your family and for loving me. I praise and celebrate Your eternal love! Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Weakness?

12/9/2015

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." -II Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)

I was recently reminded that starting a new exercise program can be difficult. New exercises can show how we are physically weak in certain areas. While this weakness could be reason to "give up", it can also be a source of motivation to grow stronger!

In our lives, we all have times or areas of weakness. If we had to face our weakness on our own, it could be reason to give up. Fortunately, we don't have to face weakness on our own! Jesus is ready to give us the power and strength to compensate for our weakness. Our weakness can become a way for others to see the power of God and His Son, Jesus Christ!

Allow Jesus Christ to use your weakness to glorify God, the Father!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for granting me power in the face of my weakness. Please give me the strength I need and use my weakness for Your glory. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray, amen.

Where's my reward?

12/8/2015

"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." -Matthew 6:2 (NASB)

At my school we have a reward program where students can be given stickers and earn rewards for being "good citizens" and lending a hand to other students. When students are "caught" lending a hand or doing a good deed and immediately ask for a sticker, they are not given one. The intent is to foster motivation to do good that is not simply based on recognition and prizes.

Jesus reminds us of a similar principle. When we help others, we should not announce our good deeds and look for the recognition of those around us. This recognition from the people around us will not last. Instead, we should continue to do good, to share our blessings, and to show God's love. As we follow God, we can be assured that we have already found our reward in His love, forgiveness, and blessings in our lives! These are rewards that will last for eternity!

Don't ask, "Where's my reward?" Follow God and be confident in all that He has promised!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and for blessing me. Help me to always share Your love and blessings with others, knowing that I have already found my reward in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Reach for the Rock!

12/7/2015

"The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He." -Deuteronomy 32:4 (NASB)

There are times when we may feel we are sinking. The news may remind us that the devil is present and attacking goodness in the world. We may feel overwhelmed or trapped by the ways of the world that either attack or attempt to compromise our values. When we feel stuck or sinking, we need to reach for solid ground, for the Rock!

God can be the Rock in our lives. When we feel stuck and sinking, we can call out to God for help in our lives. He is faithful and just. We do not have to worry that God will change His ways or compromise. God is perfect and powerful, so we can always depend on Him. When we call on God, our Rock, we can know that He will help us, even if the world seems against us!

If you feel stuck or sinking, reach for the Rock!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being the Rock that I can reach for and depend on, no matter what I am facing. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.