Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Strong, Courage, Waiting

12/31/2019

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" -Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

At the end of each year we wait with anticipation for the beginning of the next. We may count down to the "ball drop" or ring in the new year with other traditions. As we spend time waiting for the new year, we can also be waiting for the Lord!

Waiting on our own can be lonely and hopeless, but when we wait in God, we know that He is with us. The Lord gives us strength and in our faith we can have courage. We know that with Him, things will work for His purpose in our lives. Whether we are waiting on the promise of a new year or working through other issues in our lives, we can wait for the Lord and in the process find strength and courage!

Wait for the Lord and find strength and courage in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength and courage that only You can provide. Help me to wait on You and to find all the blessings You have in store for me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Looking Back & Looking Ahead!

12/30/2019

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" -Revelation 1:8 (ESV)

As one year ends and another begins, we may hear or see a lot of "best of" lists. We take the time to reflect on what has happened in the past year. At the same time, we may also look forward to expectations for the upcoming year. As we look back and ahead during the transition from one year to the next, we need to remember the true beginning and end!

God has always been and will always be. As the book of Revelation tells us, God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the "who is and who was and who is to come." Our reflections of the past year should include God's role in our lives - how His love, forgiveness, and guidance have helped us. Our expectations and looking forward should also include our plans for learning more and becoming closer to God. Our transition from one year to the next should look back and look ahead to all that God has done and will do in our lives!

Look back at the blessings from God and look ahead to all that He can and will do in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You have done and all that You will do in my life. Help me to always hear and follow You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Find Strength & Grow!

12/29/2019

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." -I Chronicles 16:11 (NIV)

Mr. (Fred) Rogers said, "There is no normal life that is free of pain. It is the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth." In order to wrestle with our problems, we need to have strength. God can be the source of that strength!

No matter what troubles we face or problems we wrestle with, we need to have strength. We need strength that is greater than anything we could do on our own. The only way to have strength greater than our problems is to call and rely on God. We can find strength in Him and then allow Him to help us grow!

Look to God for strength to overcome problems and to grow!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength that You provide and for helping me grow. Help me to continue to grow in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Making Plans...

12/28/2019

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." -Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

What plans are you making for the new year? Many set resolutions or plan for a new start in the new year. After the fun and festivities of the holidays, we look toward where we would like to be or what we would like to become. We may have many plans in mind, but do we have the purpose?

God gives us purpose in our lives. He knows our plans, but He wants us to align our plans with His. We can do this by studying His Word and praying to Him as we consider where we are and where we want to be now and in the future. As we communicate with God, including listening to His direction, we can be prepared and have a purpose for today, tomorrow, and the new year!

Communicate with God as you make your plans to be sure you follow His purpose!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance and purpose in life. Help me to hear and follow Your will now, in the new year, and forever. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Better!

12/27/2019

"Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands." -Psalm 63:3-4 (NIV)

The new year brings time to think about the ways we can become better. No matter where or what we are right now, we can grow and improve. As we consider our next steps to become better, we need to begin with God's love!

The Psalmist reminds us that God's love is better than life. Because God loves us, He will care for us. He will guide and protect us. When we want to grow, we can trust in the love that is greater than our lives. As we receive God's love, we can lift our voices and hands as we glorify and praise God for all that He is and does!

Become better through God's love and give all glory and praise to Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love that is better than life. Help me to trust and rely on Your love to become better. All praise and glory to You! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Begin the Journey!

12/26/2019

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." -Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Getting started can sometimes be the most difficult part of a journey. We can often make a list of reasons why we should not start something. The new year gives us a chance to consider a new journey and ways to contribute to God's Kingdom. To grow and be contributors for God, we need to be ready to journey beyond our comfort zones and into the world!

When we begin a journey, we need to invite God to go with us. When we invite God and continually talk to Him. When we communicate with and rely on God, we do not have to be concerned with our fears. We can know that God will be with us, never leaving us, and helping to clear the way. With God, we can be strong and courageous as we begin a journey into a new year, beyond our comfort zones, and out into the world!

Invite God to join you on whatever journey you begin!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being with me in whatever journey I am on. Help me to communicate with You and to follow Your lead with courage. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Hold On To the Feeling!

12/25/2019

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." -Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

Christmas brings reminders of the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior. With our celebrations come feelings of joy, love, and peace. As we attend special services, spend time together, exchange gifts, or share meals, we can have faith in promises fulfilled!

The faith and hope that we find in the Christmas season should continue all year We need to not only hold on to the feelings and hope of Christmas, we need share the events that unfolded from that first Christmas. We need to profess our hope and faith in God and His Son. We need to hold onto this hope and share it with others as we hold on to the feelings of Christmas all year long!

Hold on to the joy, hope, and excitement of Christmas and share it with others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to treasure and share the Good News all year long. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Comprehend?

12/24/2019

"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." -John 1:5 (NASB)

Sometimes situations in life are all about perspective. Different perspectives can give us different understanding. Events in our lives can remind us that we may see things differently, but, in the end, we need to comprehend the true meaning for understanding. As we approach Christmas and the Light that is Jesus Christ entering the world, we can take time to reflect, pray, and ask God to help us comprehend those events from long ago that still impact us today!

God sent Jesus to bring the Light into the world. Even though Jesus became human and lived on earth, there are times when we do not understand His Light. As humans, our "vision" is not perfect. The darkness of sin in our hearts keeps us from understanding the Light. This is not because we do not want to understand or even because we are trying to overcome the Light. We simply cannot comprehend the majesty, grace, mercy, and sacrifice that began with Jesus coming to earth on Christmas. So, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, we need to ask God for understanding so our hearts can truly comprehend His plan for our lives and for all of humanity!

Jesus came to show you the way. Ask for understanding to comprehend His plan for your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and His sacrifice for me. Help me to understand Your plan in my life and help me to live accordingly. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be a Child!

12/23/2019

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." -Romans 8:14 (NIV)

Christmas often brings memories of childhood or creating memories for and with our children. The story of Christmas begins with the birth of a special child - God's Son. As the story unfolds, Jesus becomes a leader and our ultimate sacrifice. As we prepare for Christmas, we need to be led and follow as God's children!

Jesus called children to come to Him. God wants us to believe and follow Him as His children. We should come to God as children come to Christmas - filled with excitement, joy, and anticipation. We should be ready to hear what God is telling us and ready to put His words into action. God has given us His Son to redeem us. He provides His Holy Spirit to guide us. We can choose to be led by God and to be His children!

Be a child of God by listening to and following Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and Your Holy Spirit. Help me to hear, listen, and follow, so I can be one of Your children. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Get Ready to Celebrate!

12/22/2019

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." -Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)

As the end of the year approaches, we may prepare for New Year's celebrations. We like to countdown the end of one year as we prepare for the fresh start of another year. While we may be getting ready to ring in the new year, the real "fresh start" and "new beginning" begins with the celebration of Christmas!

The new beginnings in our lives don't begin with the end or start of a new year. Instead, we can start anew through God's gift of Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus that we can find forgiveness! We can be redeemed! We can start fresh! We have sinned throughout the year and we will sin in the new year, but, with Jesus, we can accept God's grace and mercy. We can celebrate God's gift at Christmas and for eternity!

Get ready to celebrate your new beginning in Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to always celebrate the redemption that You have provided. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Deflated?

12/21/2019

“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.” - Habakkuk 2:4 (NIV)

No matter how hard we try to live in peace and show God's love, there are times when we are bound to run into resistance. There will be people that do not understand our motivation. They may question us and even attack us. While these enemies may puff themselves up, we shouldn't become deflated!

God is with us. When we are living and striving to follow Him, He will protect us, He will fight for us, and He will strengthen us. Our enemies may appear to be making progress against us, but we can have faith. We can know that if our enemies are "puffed up," it is only temporary. Our victories in God will be eternal and we will never be deflated!

Stand with God and have faith that He will provide eternal victories!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping me to stand all, even in the face of "puffed up" enemies. Help me to always have faith and rely on Your eternal strength and power. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Live at Peace

12/20/2019

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." -Romans 12:18 (NIV)

There are times when a misunderstanding can lead to conflict and unrest. As Ernest Hemingway said, "When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen." As we truly listen to each other, we may find we are trying to say the same thing or that we have more in common than we originally thought. Once we start to truly listen, we can do what we can to live at peace!

God calls us to live at peace. In the process, we may need to listen completely to each other. We can continually learn from God and rely on Him as He guides us. While we may not agree with everyone, we can live in ways that show God's love, compassion, and forgiveness. We can depend on God to help us, whenever possible, to live in peace with everyone!

Follow God, show His love, and try to live at peace with everyone!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and guidance in helping me show Your love to live in peace. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

The Last Word?

12/19/2019

"The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." -Psalm 34:19 (NIV)

Several events recently reminded me that we do not always need to have the last word. There are times when a situation has been resolved, whether we know it or not, and adding one more word could cause more damage. When we have troubles and call on God, we need to allow Him to work without us needing the last word!

God promises to be with us, to teach us, to guide us, to comfort us, and to protect us. When we have troubles, which we will have, we need to call on God and trust in Him. We need to allow Him to work and we need to have faith in His resolution. Even if we feel the urge to have the last word, we need to allow God to have the final say!

Resist the need to have the last word and allow God to have it instead!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for protecting me and delivering me from the troubles I face. Help me to grow in my faith and trust so I allow You to have the last word. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Have You Not Heard?

12/18/2019

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom." -Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)

There are events in our lives that remind us that we have limited time on earth. While we may plan and prepare for the future, only God knows what is in store. We need o be prepared for when we leave this earth and we need to be sure others are prepared. We need to be sure that everyone has heard the Good News!

We need to be sure that we hear and know the one true Lord. We also need to be sure tha others have heard the Good News and have the opportunity ot know God. As we prepare and plan for the future, nothing is more important than knowing God, accepting Jesus Christt, and living as God calls us. Both our words and our actions can show and tell about God's presence in our lives. As we live, we do not want to be the reason that someone says, "I do not know. I have not heard!"

Be sure that You know and hear God and that your life shows others the power of the One, True Lord of All!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being part of my life. Help me to live so others can hear of You and know You. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Freedom in the One

12/17/2019

"For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." -Romans 5:17 (ESV)

Embarking on a journey to freedom can take a lifetime. There are many things in the world that can trip us up and cause us to take more time to be truly free and happy. However, the Christmas season reminds us that we don't have to journey alone. We only need to turn to the One that can truly free us: Jesus!

Sin entered the world through Adam, but the birth of Jesus Christ brought a series of events that would change the world and can change each of our lives! When we accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, we can find redemption and freedom. We can be cleansed of our sin and we can learn how to move away from sin in our lives. As we celebrate Christmas, we can remember to celebrate our fresh, free start because of Jesus Christ!

Find freedom in Jesus Christ, the One that can take away your sin!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Please forgive my sin and help me to be free in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Praise & Splendor!

12/16/2019

"My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long." -Psalm 71:8 (NIV)

As Christmas approaches, it is fun to see the lights and decorations. No matter how simple the display, there is splendor in the lights glowing in the night. Christmas lights can bring joy, especially as we remember the reason for the celebration!

While Christmas lights illuminate the darkness, we can remember a brighter, more important light came into the world. Jesus Christ came as a baby, but also as the Son of God and King of Kings. When we see Christmas lights and think of Jesus, our mouths should be filled with praise. We should tell others of the splendor of our God and our Savior. We should be lights that shine each day, all year long!

See the Light of the World, praise God, and share His splendor!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to the be Light of the World. Help me to show and tell others of Your splendor and glory. In His name I pray, amen.

Insults?

12/15/2019

"Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult." -Proverbs 12:16 (NIV)

As I have gotten older, it has become a little bit easier to ignore or overlook some insults. People may say things because they are having a bad day, are frustrated and don't know what to do, they misspeak, or they just don't know us or know any better. When we hear an insult directed at us, we can choose how to react!

Our reaction can be one that is strong and possibly "over the top" or it can be a calm approach that ignores or overlooks what is said. We can become annoyed and escalate the situation or we continue doing what we know we need to do. While it may not be beneficial to overlook every insult, we can be discerning so we know how to react. We can also call on God and trust His guidance in how to respond and in His power to overcome whatever has been said. When we hear insults, we can talk to God before we respond!

If you hear an insult, talk to God and respond according to His guidance!

Dear God-
Thank You for the power and guidance that You display in my life. Help me to hear You and know how to respond to insults. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Allow the Healing

12/14/2019

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." -Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

The world is full of things that can hurt us and break our hearts. In response, Leon Brown said, "Healing is not an overnight process; it is a daily cleansing of pain, it is a daily healing of your life." Healing can be a process, but we have the Healer to help us!

No matter what breaks our hearts or hurts us, we can turn to God. God offers us a path to Salvation. He provides for us. He will comfort us and offer us love and compassion. God can see and bind up the wounds that many others cannot see. We can rely on God and allow Him to guide the process of healing our broken hearts and binding up our wounds. We can allow God to cleanse the pain from our lives and heal our lives each and every day!

Allow God to guide the healing that fixes your broken heart and binds up the wounds that only He can see!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your healing. Help me to accept Your work in my life and to embrace the healing that only You can provide. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Find Happiness!

12/13/2019

"Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God." -Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NIV)

We have become accustomed to all of the messages that encourage us to want more. As we approach Christmas, we need to remember that happiness is not found in wanting more. Instead of making a list of our wants, we can make a list of our blessings and gifts from God.

God gives us all we have and all we need. Instead of wanting more, we need to take inventory of all we have been given. It is through God that we are given life. It is God that can provide us with true happiness. We need to accept God's gifts. From our earthly possessions to eternal life with Him, God continues to give and provide so we can find happiness!

Accept God's gifts, be thankful, and find happiness!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all the gifts that You give. Help me to accept these gifts and to find happiness in all that You provide. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Walk in Truth!

12/12/2019

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." -III John 1:4 (NIV)

We can claim to know the truth. We can say that we have the power of truth on our side. However, none of our talk means anything if we don't walk in the truth. As Matthew Henry said, "The best evidence of our having truth is walking in the truth."

God gives us the Truth. He tells us in His Word and shows us through our experiences. The people God places in our lives can also help to show His Truth. We can learn in these many different ways. As we learn, we need to walk in the Truth. When we do, we bring joy to God!

Walk in God's Truth and bring joy to Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the ways You show me Your Truth. Help me to learn and live in Your Truth. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Grumble and Argue

12/11/2019

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life." -Philippians 2:14-16a (NIV)

There are things that need to be done, even if I don't always enjoy doing them. Sometimes, it seems as if grumbling or arguing may change that fact, but, in the end, the work remains. Instead of grumbling and arguing, we can look for the value in the work and in the future payoff!

Even though grumbling and arguing may make us temporarily feel better, there are times when we should accept the direction and task we are given. This is true when we consider God's Word and His guidance in our lives. God shows us the right path, which may not always be the easy or convenient way, but it is the right way. We need to accept what God is telling us and calling us to do. We need to work for Him with a joyful heart and without grumbling or arguing. When we follow God and work for Him, we can take our eternal place with Him!

Do God's work without grumbling and arguing, following Him now and for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the direction in my life. Help me to know Your will and to follow You, both now and for eternity. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be Loved and Love!

12/10/2019

"We love because He first loved us." -I John 4:19 (NIV)

It can be difficult to spread love and joy if we do not feel loved or experience joy in our lives. Even if we put on a happy face, we will not truly show love. While the world may seem to focus and thrive on negativity, we know where to find love and joy!

God loves us. However, before we can show love to others, we must accept the love that God gives us. Once we accept His love, we can experience the joy, compassion, and peace that comes with it. We can begin to live in ways that allow others to experience the fullness of God. We are loved, so we can show love!

Be loved by God and show His love to others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love. Help me to fully accept Your love and to show love to others. In Jesus I pray, amen.

The Company You Keep!

12/9/2019

"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" -I Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

General Colin Powell once said, "A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses." While we may work to be a certain kind of person, our choice of friends tells others a lot about us. Whether people look at your social media friends list or the friends you spend time with in person, what will people learn about you?

We may think that we can rise above the company that we keep, but we are reminded that bad company can corrupt good character. Even if we try to be better, our silent tolerance of bad company does not improve the situations around us. However, the opposite is also true. By surrounding ourselves with good people, we can help lift each other up. We are not perfect. We all have weaknesses and will make mistakes, but we can be better and do better if we follow God and surround ourselves with company that will help us be accountable!

Be sure to follow God and keep good company that will hold you accountable and lift you up!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the people in my life that help to teach me, hold me accountable, and lift me up. Help me to continue to follow You and to be surrounded by company of good character. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

In His Eyes

12/8/2019

"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love." -Psalm 33:18 (NIV)

A friend recently reminded me of the importance to check in with each other. When we feel someone isn't quite themselves, we can be prepared to lend a hand or even just an ear to listen. If we cannot offer a solution, we can assist others in getting help. While we need to keep an eye on each other, we also need to remember the One that always keeps His eyes on each of us!

God keeps His eyes on us. As God's followers, we can have hope and be reassured by His presence in our lives. God will always love us, no matter what we are going through. God will always be willing to help us, even if we think we have moved too far away from Him. We are never out of God's sight. We are never out of His love. We are never out of the reach of His power. We can have hope that we are worthy in God's eyes!

Have hope in God's love and know that you are worthy in His eyes!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always keeping Your eyes on me and for allowing me to be worthy in You sight. Help me to grow in my faith in You. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Accountable!

12/7/2019

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." -Romans 14:12 (KJV)

Accountability is often the glue that helps us stick to our commitments and achieve our goals. For example, research tells us that we are more likely to stick to health, exercise, and nutrition goals if we are accountable to either a friend or trainer. When we are accountable, we have both the motivation and support to achieve our goals!

As we live our lives, we must remember that we are accountable to God. He is loving and compassionate, but, when we choose to follow Him, He expects us to strive to live according to His teaching. Just like an "exercise buddy" may help us stay on track, God is there for us. He sent His Son to redeem us. He has given us the Holy Spirit to help guide us. He allows us to call on Him at any time through prayer. We have the support, we have the motivation, we need to be prepared to be accountable!

God is always ready to support you. You need to be ready to be accountable!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being ready to offer support, guidance, and motivation. Help me to follow You so that I can be accountable in my journey through this life and for eternity. Through Jesus I pray, amen.