Articles
Inspire Within Articles
Our articles cover a variety of topics to inspire you to grow in your relationship with God.
Spiritual Growth
We know that the Greatest Commandment is to Love God and Love others, but do you know what else Jesus mentions?
11 Bible verses to help you trust God more and worry less.
There are times when we’ve all said to ourselves, “ who can I call to help me pull through this? ” Sure we have relatives, friends, and even co-workers who are willing to help us. But there are many times when we just don’t want to bother them or some things are so personal that we don’t want to share it with anyone. It's a blessing to know that we can always rely on Jesus. The One who came to save us is also the One who will listen to us in our dear times of need. Jesus is always available to hear us talk to Him. “ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ” 1 Peter 5:7, NIV With social media and so many other interferences in life that occur from day to day, some of us may find it hard to seek Jesus. With work, school, businesses, and home duties, life can be pretty hectic. However, that is no excuse to not talk to Jesus. When we make time to talk to Him and share with Him what it may be that’s causing us distress, Jesus is sure to make all things right. We must learn to talk to Him, be patient, and let Him handle the rest. Without Jesus in my life, I’m sure that I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Throughout the years I’ve grown—and to be honest, I’m still growing—I know that I can literally call on Jesus at any time of the day, even on sleepless nights. It took me a long time to realize this fact. I wasn’t always close to Jesus, at least not as close as I wanted to be. It’s amazing how Jesus knows everything we need even before we ask. He’s just waiting to see if we trust Him. It’s imperative to develop a relationship with Jesus. Many believers of Christ have been walking with Him for a long time. They can attest to His unfailing love and constant reassurance. We all grow more into Christ overtime. It’s the beautiful fact that we are never too old to get to know Him. We’re never too far behind in developing a relationship with Jesus. And some may wonder, “ where do I start? ” Well, that’s the pretty easy part. You start by accepting Jesus as your personal savior. Jesus died for your sins, so that you may be saved. “ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us .” Romans 5:8, NIV Jesus doesn’t change. He is the same today, tomorrow, as well as yesterday. When we are in need, we can totally rely on Him. That includes all aspects of life. We don’t have to be shy when we approach Jesus. He wants it all. The good, the bad, the ugly, lay it all at His feet. I want to encourage you to keep trusting in Jesus because His words are true. His promises are real. When we think about where we could have ended up or where we can be, it’s only because of the goodness of Jesus. It’s only because He loves us. It’s important to keep that connection between you and Him strong. There’s no doubt in my mind that Jesus wants the best for us all. He’s rooting for us all to win. He is our biggest supporter. We must continue to be faithful servants. We must continue to point others toward Jesus. It’s a great thing to do the work of the Lord and to be obedient to His call. In closing, I want to remind you that Jesus is powerful. His power has the ability to change lives. May we never forget on our best days, we still need Him. And on our worst day, He is there with us. May we all continue to trust and call on Jesus.
Bible Study
Practical and helpful tips for finishing that Bible study that you still need to complete.
Are you wanting to read through the whole Bible? Do you want to read the Bible in a year, but can never make it through any yearly Bible plans? Read more to get 4 tips to read through the Bible.
Ever heard of the Inductive Bible Study Method? This method is an in-depth study of God's Word. Read this article to learn more about the importance of studying the Bible and how to use the Inductive study in your Bible study time.
Christian Living
God does expect us to be patient. He expects us to not act or react in a hasty manner especially in certain situations. When we react without exhibiting patience, this often has negative repercussions. God included “patience” as a fruit of the Spirit which is meant to allow us to grow and walk in the Spirit of the Lord. “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ” Galatians 5:22, NIV I’m sure we all can think about a time when we were kids and were impatient. We wanted something right away but we had to be patient. From wanting to be first in line, the first one to see something, or simply wanting our parents to leave the grocery. Of course, our parents told us to be patient. Now we all either have kids or have interacted with kids at some point. We’ve seen them become impatient and we try to calm them down. We tell them to be patient and to sit still. This is how God wants us to be as well. God doesn’t want us to rush. He wants us to slow down while learning patience. Many of us want to rush the process. The “instant gratification” has become so popular. We can get food delivered, cars delivered, and charge our phones almost anywhere nowadays. We have gotten so used to getting what we want instantly that we often forget that sometimes patience is needed on this journey. The goal isn’t always being first. It’s about being patient and obedient to the will of God. If God is calling us to wait and to have patience, then that’s what we should do. To be completely honest, I sometimes get a little hasty myself. I want to do things my way. I don’t want to wait on God and see what He says. I recently realized that God will slow you down when you aren’t listening to Him and refusing to be patient. A quick story: I was at a certain place where it takes quite a while to get checked in. This was my first time going there, so I was a little anxious. By the time I had made it to the back of this establishment, I was tired and I wanted to simply rush the process. I went to have a seat and I thought to myself, that the exchange that this person and I had was a little short and quickened. That’s not the impression I want to leave at any place. In that moment, I asked God to calm me down. I asked Him to help me change my attitude and focus on what’s important. He told me to, “be patient”. I immediately sensed a calmness come over me. I knew that God saw, felt, and heard everything I had just experienced and that I didn’t like it. A complete shift in my attitude changed the trajectory of my day. I’ve been back to that certain place and I am mindful of the people who are there. I am mindful of my interactions because we’re all in need of something and me being patient can help them get me through the process a lot faster. “ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ” Romans 12:12, NIV God wants us all to be loving, kind, and patient individuals who lead others into positivity. There are going to be times when we don’t feel like being with others and even ourselves. That is why it’s important to become acquainted with Bible verses, so that when anxiety comes in, we can push it out with the word of God. We can always take our anxious thoughts to God in prayer. God is with us. He knows what we are feeling and what we are thinking. That alone shows us that we can be patient and trust in Him. “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God .” Philippians 4:6, NIV
True peace can only be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To be fully at peace in the Christian walk starts with having a relationship with Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus gives us some crucial tools to have peace in this life. Incorporating hope in Jesus, hearing what He has to say, and also allowing Him to heal our brokenness can bring us peace. As we explore these three topics and how they relate to peace, may you rest in Jesus and allow Him to work in our lives to bring about true peace. Hope in Jesus Can Bring Us Peace First, let’s take a moment to understand the definition of Hope . It is “ a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen .” This definition gives us assurance that if we are seeking something, we should be expecting it to happen. We lean on hope that better days are coming for us. We also may lean on hope for a miracle or a great change in our lives. That hope is placed in Jesus. Giving Jesus complete control and having hope in Him to do what’s best for us also calms our racing thoughts to usher peace into minds. “ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe ." 1 Timothy 4:10, NIV Hearing Jesus Speak to Us Can Bring Peace Secondly, peace can be found by simply hearing what Jesus is telling us. One of the ways we can hear what Jesus is saying to us is through prayer. He doesn’t use harshness when reacting to our prayers. Jesus hears us and shows us that He is truth and life. Not only do we have the opportunity to have an open conversation, but we have the honor of hearing what we need to have peace. The beauty of Jesus and walking Him, is that He doesn't leave us hanging. He gives the answers we need which will always lead us to peace of mind. “ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built .” Luke 6:47-48, NIV True Healing Can Bring Us Peace And lastly, in order to have peace in our lives, we must work on healing. Jesus gives the tools we need to heal. We must allow Him to help us work through our concerns. Healing allows us to have clear space in our minds, in order to think of all of the good things that Jesus has done for us. To be free from the trauma of the past, overthinking, and clutter, can bring us peace. Letting go of all the negative experiences brings us great, profound peace and hope. It all begins with taking the first step of letting Jesus have control over our lives to move toward peace. True healing is found in Jesus! “ You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you .” Isaiah 26:3, NIV In conclusion, these are a few ways that we can find peace in Jesus Christ. When it seems like all hope is lost, it can be found in Him. Peace isn’t something that any of us can borrow or buy. It can only be obtained through faith and also hope through Jesus. Surrendering to Jesus’ plans for our lives will always bring us peace. The peace that truly surpasses all understanding. May you open your heart and let Him fill it with an immense amount of peace.
There is a distinct difference between happy and being joyful. Being happy usually involves something that is acquired from outside of you. Being joyful is usually associated with feeling excitement on the inside. The feeling of joy isn’t necessarily dependent on what’s going on around you, but rather what’s going on inside of you. Joy will always bring you peace because being happy is often short-lived. Being joyful, especially as a Christian living in this world, can at times be challenging. These days it’s important to not become weary but to be joyful. We shouldn’t focus our attention on the negative aspects of life. We can’t sit in the things that are going on around us. We must focus on the good things in life that bring us great joy. It’s some of the simple things that can bring us joy. Waking up to another day that the Lord has made, thanking the Lord for that cup of coffee, and spending time with our loved ones that the Lord has blessed us with can bring us joy. Joy is Found in the Lord Joy is found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The One who shed his blood for our soul brings me great joy. Whenever I find myself feeling unhappy and in need of joy, I turn to the Word of God. I’m reminded of a timely Bible verse in the book of Psalms that often soothes my worries and anxieties. It’s an encouraging message from David to be glad, rejoice in the Lord and praise God. This is such an encouraging Bible verse because no matter what things may appear to be, we can always give glory to God in all circumstances. “ Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! ” Psalm 32:11, NIV Joy is Found in Serving Others If we ever lack the feeling of being joyful, we can take the emphasis off of ourselves to serve others. This not only brings comfort to the person you’re helping but this will also bring joy into your heart. You’re doing the work of God just by helping bring light into their life. The love and light you gave them will spread onto someone else. Being a cheerful giver pleases God and brings hope to the world. “ The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed .” Proverbs 11:25, NIV Joy is Found in Every Season Every moment in our life may not be happy moments, however, that doesn’t mean that we can’t find the simple joys in everyday living. During our times of despair, it may seem difficult to seek out joy. When we’re sad or brokenhearted, we can still find comfort in knowing that Jesus is with us always. We weren’t created to be hopeless but to be hopeful and joyful. In Romans, there is a very familiar Bible verse that echoes great encouragement to set our eyes on hope, to rejoice, and pray. This leads us to being joyful. I can’t stress enough how imperative it is to seek The One who gives us all that we need and more. If you ever lack joy in your life, seek Jesus. “ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer ." Romans 12:12, NIV
Sharing the Gospel
This article is a reminder to have courage in every season, every step you take, and every failure. God has equipped you to accomplish great plans!