When you fast?

On August 21, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #Handicaps, death, good works, humility, Inspirational, power, prayer, sacrifice, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, August 21 (8/21), is Ezra 8:21a as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“There, by the Ahava Canal [from the Euphrates R.], I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God.”

In our modern society, does anyone fast anymore? Not drinking our food (juice) for a day and calling that a fast, but a true fast where we drink only water to stay hydrated, but that’s all? And we turn off all computers, phones, radios, and televisions for the day?

Jesus said in his sermon on the mount, “WHEN you fast….” (Matthew 6:16). He didn’t say, “IF you fast….” No, he assumed his followers would fast. Do we?

If you do, do you do it as a group? Jesus said we are to keep it a secret. Does anyone else know about your fast? They shouldn’t know unless they are the reason for our fast. Fasting is an act of self-restraint. It belongs to the sphere of humble self-discipline. It is strictly a personal and private matter.

All moral and bodily restraint, all humbleness of body and spirit are represented by fasting, and it is a complete failure of self-restraint to want to show the world our self-restraint. An unknown author wrote this:

Let us keep our fast within,
Till heaven and we are quite alone;
Then let the grief, the shame, the sin,
Before the mercy-seat be thrown.

Fasting is a way of starving yourself temporarily, a way of saying, “God, I would do this and more for you; I would die for you.” Or, “God, if it were possible, I would trade lives with this person I am fasting for to give them rest. I would even die for this person.” It is a deep expression to God that goes beyond words.

Also, when you fast, your mind is freed from guiding the digestion of food, so you can think clearer and deeper. And you can face yourself more honestly.

Just what are you deep down? Do you truly love God as much as you claim? Do you truly love your family as much as you claim? Your neighbors? Your fellow Christians? Your enemies? This is your time of self-reflection and self-honesty.

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With you my soul is at peace

On August 17, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn attitude, death, Enemies, faith, Inspirational, patience, persecution, power, praise, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

Lord God Almighty, as long as I walk with you, I am safe. Nothing others can say or do to me can harm me. They may insult me, threaten me, beat me, but all the while I will be safe. I will not hear their words because your words will echo through my mind ~ words of love and comfort. I will not notice their threats because I will be hiding under the shadow of your wings and only hear your breath of life. I will not feel the beatings they batter me with because I will feel only your loving arms around me. Lord, with you I am strong. With you my soul is at peace.

Ah, my Lord, I remember the day of my baptism. It was long ago, but I remember everything about it. I remember walking up and sitting on the front pew. I remember the preacher asking me if I believed Jesus is the Son of God. I said yes, but in my young heart I thought the question was so unnecessary because, of course he is the Son of God! I remember my mother and her friend helping me put on a white robe and stepping down into the baptistry. I remember the preacher’s words: “I now baptized you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of your sins.” I remember leaning back and going down into the water. Most vividly I remember coming up out of the water and telling myself, “I am sinless! I am pure!” Thank you for making all this possible and for the good memory of it.

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I am nothing and you have loved me

On August 1, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #ransom, death, forgiveness, Heaven, humility, Inspirational, power, praise, prayer, Satan, victory, worshipLeave a comment

Righteous God in heaven, so far and yet so near. You made the rules so I wouldn’t hurt myself. No matter how hard I wanted you to change them, you refused to change. You are forever the same. My rock. My foundation, My wall of salvation. My sword of truth. My rainbow of love. You have clothed me with your perfection because I can never attain it. You have clothed me with your purity; this I can never accomplish either. You have clothed me with your majesty to rule with you somewhere in your realm some day; I could never have the wisdom or patience you do. You have given the earth to me and all that is in it to rule with you. You have granted me a canopy of stars over my head and a rainbow of delight to encircle my heart. I love you, my God.

I lift up my thanks to you for offering yourself on the altar of the world. I could not give enough sacrifices for my sins in a lifetime. I was completely incapable of setting myself free from Satan. So, you, the Law Giver and Enforcer set up a loop-hole for me. You offered yourself as a sacrifice to appease Sin, Satan, and death to free my soul from their hold. How can I thank you? I fall at your feet in deep gratitude . For I am nothing and you have loved me.

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You can prepare the way for…

On July 27, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, #Handicaps, attitude, discouragement, Inspirational, patience, power, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 27 (7/27), is Luke 7:27 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ “

Jesus had a difficult task ahead of him. He had to prove to the world who he was while not scaring them to death with lightning strikes out of the sky or being a giant, or striking unbelievers dead. So, John the Baptizer announced his coming ahead of time, smoothing out the crooked roads in the hearts of people.

Do you know a dreamer who is struggling to accomplish something very important to them? Have they been in trying to overcome all the obstacles for weeks or months or years? Do you know anyone who is an obstacle for them? Can you say or do something to that obstacle in order to help smooth the way for the dreamer? Does this dreamer need something in their climb that you can provide for them? How about encouragement?

On the other hand, do you have a dream and sometimes slump into times of discouragement or depression? You can prepare “the way” for yourself. We all have our ups and downs. You know yourself better than anyone. You know best what you need to hear when you are down in order to lift you back up. Write yourself a letter. Tell yourself what you need to hear. Then put your letter away in preparation for one of your down times.

Life is hard. It is full of both promise and discouragement. Today, sit down and write yourself that letter. Then contact someone else for whom you can begin to prepare “the way.”

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Great beyond imagination

On July 19, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn #friendships, faith, family, good works, Heaven, Inspirational, love, power, praise, prayer, worshipLeave a comment

I adore you, God. I want to please you and spread your kingdom everywhere possible. Then greater and greater multitudes will rejoice in you and praise you. You are great beyond imagination. When my thoughts are about you, it is summer in my heart. There blossoms thoughts of your grace. There flow waters of life. There showers of blessings fall with gladness. There the gentle warm wind breathes wonder. There the sunshine of your love fills me with wonder.

Thank you for the church, that part of your kingdom that is on earth. When we, your family, get together, we are so full of joy. When we worship together, we are so full of kinship in our wonder of you. When we confess our sins to each other, we reach out and lift each other up. Your church is such a perfect way to keep us encouraged to stick with you all through life, no matter what Satan throws at us. Thank you for your church. You thought of everything. And so I worship you.

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He will not leave you or forsake you.

On July 14, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn discouragement, Enemies, faith, Fear, governments, healing, patience, persecution, power, prayer, truth, victoryLeave a comment

The scripture for today, July 14 (7/14), is 2nd Chronicles 7:14 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

There is always a little bit of turmoil in all nations of the world. Of course, there is more in some. The average person cannot make their own nation call on God. But the average person can do this: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone ~ for kings and all those in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2). Further, we should pray for them by name.

Even if you think some people in authority in your nation are against you, you must pray for them anyway. Then wait quietly for God to work things out. It may take Him a year, a decade or a lifetime to bring about your heart’s desire for your nation. But keep praying.

Your job, in the meantime, is to follow God’s ways yourself. Romans 13:1,3-4 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…For rulers hold no terror for those who do right….For he is God’s servant to do you good.”

God is aware of the suffering going on around you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

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The Boomerang Effect

On June 22, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn Enemies, faith, judging, Loss, patience, persecution, power, sin, victory, weaknessLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 23 (6/23), is 2nd Chronicles 6:23 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“Then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing down on his own head what he has done. Declare the innocent not guilty and so establish his innocence.”

Did you notice here that God brings down on our head what we do to others? It includes how we treat him too. If we don’t have time for God, God doesn’t have time for us. If we put God last, he puts us last. If we refuse to forgive others, he refuses to forgive us. This is the boomerang effect. Here are several scriptures that reflect God doing to people what they do.

“The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The Lord is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.” (Psalm 9:15-16)
“In his arrogance, the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.” (Psalm 10:2).
“The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts.” (Psalm 37:14-15)
“Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused.” (Psalm 140:9)
“He mocks proud mockers.” (Proverbs 3:34)
“Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” (Proverbs 6:27)
“If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.” (Proverbs 26:27)
“Woe to you, O destroyer, you have not been destroyed! Woe to you, O traitor, you have not been betrayed. When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed.” (Isaiah 33:1)
“According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes.” (Isaiah 59:18)
“I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices.” (Ezekiel 7:8)
“As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” (Obadiah 1:15)

In the meantime, we’re to leave punishment to God. And, if you are falsely accused of anything, God will declare you innocent. His is the important judgment.

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You stand in the universe among the worlds

On June 19, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, eternity, Inspirational, love, power, praise, Thanksgiving, truth, worshipLeave a comment

The stars join together in rapturous chords to sing your praises from galaxy to galaxy. The planets echo their song. It spirals down to the mountain tops. The mountains tremble and the song soars upward until it penetrates worlds and rests at last at your throne. Though there be hundreds of billions of galaxies, the worlds cannot praise you enough, nor can my heart.

I thank you, God, because you never change. No matter how much people change, you stay the same. You never allow anyone to pressure you to give in to us or become like us to ease our consciences. If you changed, there would be no such thing as truth. If you changed there would be no such thing as love. If you changed, we could not be saved from Satan and his world. Your love is stubborn, immovable, persevering. You will stand in the universe among the worlds tall and strong, exalted and majestic. Thank you for never changing. I worship you.

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You are my soul

On June 7, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn church, Death of Jesus Christ, eternity, faith, Fear, Heaven, Inspirational, love, patience, power, praise, prayer, Satan, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

I walk in your footsteps, my Lord, grateful to be as close as that to you. When I see you go in another direction, I try to stay with you but sometimes do not notice. When I get lost, you turn back, look for me, and bring me back to yourself. I walk in the shadow of your wings and you lift me up and let me soar with you. Oh, glorious moments when my soul flies with yours. Someday…yes, someday…you will fling open the gates of heaven and we will be together forever. Great God, you are my soul.

The cross. Oh, the cross you suffered on and died on. The cross made of wood. From it your soul cried out to the world, “Come to me. I look weak, but I am attacking Satan for you and will win.” And so, I crawl to your cross, dare to look up, then touch your bloody feet. The feet that once walked the earth, the feet that once walked on water, the feet that would rise up and walk out of a death cave. How can I thank you? It is so far above my ability. I will spend eternity ever looking for new ways to exalt you.

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Love like ocean tides

On June 2, 2020July 15, 2025 By Inspirations By KatherynIn blessings, Daily, forgiveness, healing, Inspirational, joy, Life of Christ, love, patience, power, prayer, Satan, sin, truth, victory, worshipLeave a comment

Your love, Oh God, is like the ocean. When I need you the most, the tide moves in closer and refreshes my soul. When it is time for me to work on an assignment from you to help people blaming you for their problems, the tide ebbs and moves out to tend to someone else. Then, when I need refreshed by you, here comes the tide flowing in again. Just like clockwork. You are never far away. I can always depend on you. You never change. You are from eternity to eternity.

Thank you for being my example. Your feet walked a thousand miles back and forth across Palestine looking for people who needed you. Your hands touched a thousand people with diseases and frailties and handicaps and you healed them all. Your lips parted a thousand times to speak words of hope to people in the clutches of Satan who convinced them they were happy. They weren’t. Satan convinced them they were safe with him when they really weren’t. Satan convinced them God hated them when you really loved them beyond understand. In some ways I am those people. Yet you kept right on walking and touching and speaking. Thank you, my Lord. And, Lord, may I walk and touch and speak as you did.

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