Ruthie's Inspirations

Judges 1-2 And the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.      And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?      And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.      And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.      And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.           Jud...

Joshua 22-24 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.    Joshua 22:5 We should love, serve and obey God. But not only that, we are to do so with everything in us. We are to cleave to Him which is to cling to Him as part of the definition says. The Lord should be your all, your everything! You should love Him with every fiber of your being, serve Him with great zeal and obey out of a spirit of love and humility. He's done so much for us that there is nothing you can do to ever repay Him so out of love and gratitude you should give Him your life. A life fully lived for Christ with all that you have, is a fulfilling and satisfying life. Will you choose to give your all in everything you do for Christ? Will you cleave to Him, and love Him? Will...

Joshua 19-21 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.         Joshua 21:45 Why do we doubt God's word when he has proven over and over and over again that it is true, that it never fails, and it always comes to pass? Why do we think we know better than God? The best understanding, the wisest wisdom, the most knowledge that you can acquire will never compare to God's word! You will always have flaws in your logic unless it's based in the facts and the truth of God's word! God is always good and right and He knows what's best for us! There should be no doubt in your mind that God is worth following and you should whole heartedly give your trust and affection to Him and His word! He will never fail and his word is always good and true! You can count on God's word and trust Him for anything and everything!

Joshua 16-18 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?    Joshua 18:3 Some of the children complained about not having enough room to live. Joshua told them to cut down the woods, destroy the people and claim another part of land for themselves if they wanted to which they made excuses. They had the available resources and the ability to get what they needed, but they were too lazy to get it themselves. God had already promised it to them, they just had to do the work to go claim it. How many times do you have a similar train of thought? You want to know God more, you want to claim His promises and teach others His word, you want to study and spend more time with Him. You have the ability and resources necessary but will you put in the work it takes to achieve those things? God already promised you could know as much about Him and spend as much time with Him as you want, ...

Joshua 12-15 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.   Joshua 14:12 Caleb was eighty five when he made this request. It is rare for an eighty five year old man to go to war and claim land for themselves. In fact, most eighty five year olds can't do much unless they've kept themselves in shape. But Caleb claimed God's promises and trusted God for the strength to accomplish what God had given him to do! How many times do you rely on your own strength and then fail with what God has given you to do? How many times do you make excuses for why you can't do something? Do you let your fear get in the way? What about your insecurities? Do problems discourage you away from doing God's will? Or will you rely on God's strength, knowing He will be...

Joshua 9-11 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.      Joshua 9:14 The Gibeonites had heard of the victory God had given Joshua and the children of Israel so they decided to dress as if they had come from far away so the Israelites wouldn't kill them all as God had commanded them. Unfortunately they fell for their disguises and made an agreement with them not to kill them instead of going to God and asking what He wanted them to do. How quick are you to rely on your judgment and what you see instead of instead of asking God what you should do? There are so many things that appear to be truth but are really lies. Only God knows all things and you need to go to Him for wisdom and discernment. How well do you know the word of God? Having a thorough knowledge of God's word is what will keep you from falling for false doctrine and lies that others try and convince you of because it is absolute truth. The more familiar you ...

Joshua 5-8 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.    Joshua 7:11 When the children of Israel destroyed Jericho they were commanded to destroy everything and everyone in it except Rahab and her family, and certain things they were supposed to take for the tabernacle. When Achin thought no one was looking, he took a bar of gold and a Babylonian garment. One thing he forgot was, although you can hide things from those around you, you can never hide anything from God. He's always watching and He knows if you've done something you shouldn't. Do you try and get away with things thinking that you won't get caught because no one is around? Do you think about the fact that God is always with you and He sees everything you do? You need to have integrity because even if no one else catches y...

Joshua 1-4 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.    Joshua 1:5 As God told Joshua that He would be with him like He was with Moses, we too have the same God! If God has done it for someone else, He will do the same for us! The God that was with Moses and Joshua, is also with you, every day and forever! The same God that said He wouldn't fail or forsake Joshua likewise will not fail or forsake you! If God promised to protect Joshua, God will also protect you! There are so many things that get overlooked or skipped past in the Old Testament but there's so much to be learned about God and who He is! When you learn what God has done, you can be assured that He can do the same for you because you serve the same God that the Israelites did. He never changes! Isn't God good?!

Deuteronomy 32-34, Psalm 91 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.    Deuteronomy 32:3 Moses in the previous verses called everyone and everything to listen to what he had to say because he was going to talk about the Lord and the greatness of God. How often do you talk about God in your conversations with others? Do you purposely try and get people's attention so you can tell them how good God is? What are your normal topics of conversation? When you talk about God, do you ascribe greatness to Him? Do you treat His name with great reverence or do you use it flippantly as if it's just another name? Do you praise Him in front of others? Do you tell everyone about God? Do you publicly speak of Him? God's name is to be published to all and His greatness made known! Will you make an effort to talk about and praise the Lord at all times and to everyone?

Deuteronomy 30-31 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.      It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it and do it?      Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?      But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.    Deuteronomy 30:11-14 God made it clear that there has never been an excuse to not know God's word. Even back then when there was little to none written, He said that it was very nigh them and in their mouth and heart that they may do it. Today we have even less excuse as we have the entire written word of God readily and easily available! How well do you know the word of God? Do you obey what you know? Do you seek t...

Deuteronomy 28-29 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:            Deuteronomy 28:45 Just as there are blessings for obedience, there is also curses for disobedience. When talking to the children of Israel, God takes up the majority of chapter twenty eight telling them the curses that will come upon them for being disobedient. Disobedience is not neutral while obedience is blessed. Even now disobedience has consequences. There are so many things that you are not to do or things you are to stay away from. Do you use laziness or some other excuse to try and worm your way out of obeying what you know God has asked you to do? You would be wise to remember that your disobedience will have consequences and to choose to follow God and live a life...

Deuteronomy 24-27 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.    Deuteronomy 26:11 Every good thing which we have is from God. It is easy to get used to good things and even to expect good things because God delights to give us good things. But do you take them for granted? Do you become so accustomed to the goodness of God to you and to those around you that you forget to rejoice in them and give thanks to the one who has given them to you? God doesn't just give good things as in stuff. The blessings of daily life such as air to breathe, eyes to see, ears to hear, etc. are all good things from God! A house to live in, a car to drive, electricity, running water, family and friends, a good church and church family. The best of all things only God can give are salvation and His word and His Holy Spirit! As a child of God, you can't live a good life for ...

Deuteronomy 21-23   Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.      And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.      In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother's, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.      Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.    Deuteronomy 22:1-4 We are supposed to help our brethren out any way we can whether we know them or not. The New Testament says that one of the ways that people k...

Deuteronomy 17-20 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.   Deuteronomy 17:16 God gave specific ramifications to the children of Israel if they wanted to set up a king. One of the requirements was they were not to cause the children of Israel to return back to Egypt which is often a picture of the world for us. When someone gets saved, they are now to be separated from the world. We should not encourage in any way others to go back to the world or to go back ourselves. There is nothing there for a child of God. Do you turn back to the world for what is familiar and comfortable? Do you try to multiply things and stuff instead of working towards accumulating spiritual things? Where do your desires lie? Do you long for the things of the world or for the things of God? You will find much more satisfactio...

Deuteronomy 14-16 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.                   Deuteronomy 16:19 The children of Israel were instructed to set up judges in their gates but with these parameters as to how they were to judge. You may not be an official judge in the court system but how often do you make judgment calls? Whether they are about a person by observation or if a decision is brought to you. How do you make your decisions in tough situations? Especially if it's between two people such as solving a problem or even voting in the elections. Do you wrest, or twist, or judgment based on your feelings, or whether or not you like the people involved? Do you allow gifts to sway your thinking? No matter how wise or righteous you may be, a gift is able to blind and pervert your wisdom and ...

Deuteronomy 11-13 Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;   Deuteronomy 11:8 These chapters talk a lot about the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. One of the blessings it mentions is strength! Most people don't like rules. Some say that those that do are weak. But it's quite the opposite according to God. We can only make it through this life with God's strength and the way to get it is to obey His commands. There are so many things that we do to make ourselves strong, to give ourselves courage to do what God wants us to do but there is no way to accomplish God's will for our lives without His strength. What are you relying on to get you through each day and carry out God's commands? What you can do?  Your natural ability? Or will you choose to rely on God's strength and allow Him to do great things through you? 

Deuteronomy 8-10 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.      Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine hear, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.    Deuteronomy 9:4-5 God knew the tendencies and pride of the children of Israel, just as He knows the tendencies and pride of us today. The common denominator? We're all human. We would like to think we get special treatment for one reason or another. Especially if we feel like we've been extra good...especially compared to someone else. But God doesn't compare us with other people. I...

Deuteronomy 5-7 O that there were such an hear in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, and it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!    Deuteronomy 5:29 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.    Deuteronomy 6:24 God made it clear, and the children of Israel understood that all the commandments that God had given them were for their good and because God loved them. When there are things that God convicts you of, or rules applicable to you from His word, what is your response? Do you understand that He loves you and wants only the best for you? Or do you choose to think He doesn't know what He's doing and wants to keep you from having fun or enjoying life? The rules and the commandments God gives us and the guidelines and boundaries He puts in place is for our good. Will you choose just to trust and ...

Deuteronomy 3-4 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb our of the midst of the fire:      Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,      The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,      The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:      And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.    Deuteronomy 4:15-19 It is so easy in this world to make an idol out of someone or something. It doesn't...

Deuteronomy 1-2 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.      The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;    Deuteronomy 1:21, 30 Over and over again in these two chapters, God tells the children of Israel that He has prepared the people and the land that they're in for them to possess. Not only that, but here Moses says that God goes before them and will fight for them too! How many times does God prepare the way for us to do something but it seems so impossible or scary that we forget that God is on our side. Where He calls us and what He gives us to do, He will be right there with us and He will provide everything that we need to accomplish the task at hand! If God gives you something big to do, will you do it? Will you trust Him to provide the ...

Numbers 35-36 This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry.      So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.    Numbers 36:6-7 The daughters of Zelophehad inherited their father's inheritance because he had no sons. And in order to keep the inheritance in the same tribe, they had to marry someone in that tribe. We are told to not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. One of those ways is to not marry someone who is not a child of God. They can lead you astray from God and cause you to lose rewards in heaven. If you're single, are you staying close to God and asking Him to bring you a godly husband? If you're married, are you thankful for the godly hus...

Numbers 33-34 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.   Numbers 33:55 In order to claim the promised land, the children of Israel had to drive out those that already lived there. If not, they would become a problem for them. Are there things in your life that need driven out? What are some things that God has pointed out to you that are a problem and will continue to vex you if you don't get rid of them? There are so many things that are easy to hang on to such as pride, anger, bitterness, etc. But if you don't drive them out of your life, they become pricks in your eyes, thorns in your sides, and they vex you. They hurt you more than they hurt those that you are upset with. Or maybe there's music you listen to, movies you watch, books you read, thoughts that you think...

Numbers 31-32 And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?    Numbers 32:7 The children of Gad and Reuben wanted to build on their land and not go over Jordan to fight with the rest of the children of Israel for their inheritance. Moses rebuked them and reminded them that they were discouraging their brethren just like the spies that spied out the promise land when they gave an evil report. After Moses was done, they asked to build their cities and such for their children and flocks and then go and fight with the rest of their brethren. We are to be encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ. Are your words and actions doing that? Or are you causing discouragement in those around you? Will you choose to follow the Lord and be a good example? Or will you leave others questioning and discouraged about God and discourage them from following God's will for their lives?

Numbers 28-30 These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house.    Numbers 30:16 Numbers chapter thirty goes through the process of making a vow to God. We are commanded to keep our vows to God unless as a woman our father (if we're in his house in our youth), or our husband makes it null. Do you keep your word? When you make a promise to God or to someone else, can they count on you to see it through? Are you trustworthy? As a child of God, it ought not to be said of you that you are not dependable or that you are a liar. Your testimony ought to be one of good report. People should be able to count on you when you say that you will do something. Your word should be good enough. Is it?

Numbers 26-27 And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,     Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,     Which may go out before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.   Numbers 27:15-17 Moses wasn't allowed to enter into the promised land because he disobeyed God. But before he died, he asked God to pick a replacement to lead the children of Israel. When he was no longer able to carry on his responsibility, he made sure it was taken care of by someone else. When you've been given a responsibility, do you take it seriously? If you need to be gone during a time that would conflict with your responsibility, do you make sure it's still taken care of? Are you faithful to fulfill your responsibilities? If God calls you to do something else, do you make sure that there's someone else to take your place ...

Numbers 23-25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,      Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.      Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:      And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.    Numbers 25:10-13 Phineas was rewarded for his zeal for the Lord in getting rid of sin out of the camp. And he spared the children of Israel from God's wrath. How is your zeal for the Lord? Are you known for your zeal for God? What is stopping you from going all in for God and what He wants you to do? We are to be bold and stand against sin, and stand up for what's right while still loving other...

Numbers 21-22 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.    Numbers 22:18 Although Balaam wasn't a good guy for the most part, and at times directly disobeyed God, this statement that he made here is one we should all remember and apply. At times we treat God's word as optional. And the part most talked about is doing less than what God has told us to do. Whether that be not trusting God, not having faith, not witnessing or passing out a tract when the Holy Spirit prompts us to. The thing that is intriguing about this verse is that Balaam says that going beyond the word of God would be to do less or more. The doing more part is often not thought about. It seems people are always trying to do more, to be more, to be busier, etc. But does God want that? How many times have I decided I needed to do something great for God, which isn't ...

Numbers 18-20 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.    Numbers 20:6 The children of Israel were complaining to Aaron and Moses again. Their first response was to walk away from the people and go ask God what to do. What is your response when people are being difficult? Do you start getting frustrated and yelling? What about passively listening while rolling your eyes? Do you walk away and go tell someone else? The proper response is to go to God for the answers. When you’re dealing with people, especially those that are the most difficult for you to deal with, you need to make sure you get the answers and the solutions from God, and not yourself. When someone comes to you complaining about their problems and expecting you to fix them, you should bring it to God and ask Him to give you the answers you need to give them. And ...

Numbers 16-17 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?      And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.      If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.      But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.       And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: ...