Ruthie's Inspirations

2 Samuel 5, 1 Chronicles 11-12 Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of a double heart.   1 Chronicles 12:33 The thing that stands out about the men of Zebulun is that they didn't have a double heart. How can you expect to accomplish anything if your heart is in two places at one time? If you are supposed to focus on your walk with God and on what He wants you to do, then you cannot love the world at the same time. You won't accomplish what you need to for God if He is not your sole focus. To have your heart, your love and affection, split between God and the world, or the Holy Spirit and your flesh, you cannot concentrate on what God has for you. You will become mediocre at best. God wants all of you focused on all of Him. Will you be willing to give up your desires to live all in for Him?

Psalm 102-104 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.     But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.   Psalm 102:12,27 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.   Psalm 104:34 The Lord is eternal and He never changes. We will never run out of things to learn about the Lord. His word is alive and there are new things you can learn every time you read it! With all the information that you have available to you about God in His word, how much time do you spend getting to know Him and then meditating on His word and about Him and how good He is? He will never end and because He has given us His word, there will never be a time where we can't learn about Him! Will you take the time to learn more about the Lord and purposefully meditate on Him and be glad in Him? He is the only one that can give you true joy and you can be filled with His joy when you meditate on Him an...

1 Chronicles 7-10 And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.   1 Chronicles 10:7 When the going gets tough, and those that you look up to are gone, what do you do? Will you run away and give place for the enemy to move into your life? The further away you run from what God wants you to do, the more you open yourself up to the devil and the things he wants you to do. Will you stick with what is right, even when you have to do it alone? Will you stand your ground and not let the devil sneak in? Sometimes, the devil just doesn't want you to do what's right, or to not be completely invested in what God wants you to do. Will you take up the torch and continue to live for God no matter if you have your leaders to follow or you become the leader?

Psalm 81,88,92-93 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.   Psalm 81:10 Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Are you empty? Do you have unmet needs? God extends the offer of help if we want it! If you’re not getting what you need, you’re not asking for it. God promises to fill our needs if we go to Him and are ready to receive it. If you doubt His ability you can go back into the Bible and read all the examples He has given of all that He has done for other people. God is more than capable and more than willing to impart wisdom, give help in trouble, or just be there when you need a friend. He has loads of blessings waiting for you if you will but ask. Will you ask?

1 Chronicles 6 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.    And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.    1 Chronicles 6:31-32 Music is important to God. It has always been incorporated into the worship in God's house. It came before the main service, or in the Old Testament, the offerings, and it was considered it's own service. Today we have a song service before we hear the message that God has given our Pastor and it is often considered as inferior to the message but it is equally as important to God. It sets the tone of the service and it gives us time to meditate on the words in worship to God. Music speaks in a way that words sometimes cannot. That is why it is important to be careful what music you allow to in...

Psalm 73,77-78 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.      I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.      I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.    Psalm 77:10-12 In sickness, the tendency is to talk about our symptoms and what we went through so people can commiserate with us. But David says that when he was sick He remembered, meditated on, and talked about what God had done for Him in the past and what He was doing right then. What an example he has left for us to follow. How easy it is to complain when you’re in pain but the Bible says you’re supposed to keep your mind on Christ even in sickness! Easy to say, hard to do. What would happen if you practiced this? Would your sickness seem easier to get through with God's joy in your heart and His praise on your lips?  To pretend the sickness isn't there is...

1 Chronicles 3-5 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.   1 Chronicles 5:20 God helped some of the tribes of the children of Israel because they cried to God and put their trust in Him in the day of battle. We may or may not see physical war, but there is always a spiritual war going on and we will face battles. What do you do when you face a battle you must fight? You can do nothing apart from God, so to depend on your own strength would ensure failure. Will you cry to God in your battles? Asking Him for His help and strength and putting your trust in Him? Only He can win your battles and He will fight for you if you allow Him to. But, He leaves the choice up to you. Will you choose to take on the battle yourself or will you cry to God and allow Him to fight for you? 

Psalm 43-45,49,84-85,87 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.      Psalm 43:3 David wanted to be lead by the Lord's light and truth. Jesus said that He is the Light of the world, and that His word is truth. What are you being led by? So many people quote and live by the phrase, "Follow your heart". But the Bible has much to say about the heart and that we shouldn't follow it because it is wicked and can't be trusted. Your desire should be like David: To be led by the Lord and His word to bring you closer to Him. He has given you His word, Himself, and a church that is comprised of a family of God's children. All things that God uses to lead you in the way He wants you to go. Are you faithful in reading your Bible, and praying every day? Are you a faithful member of your church and growing from the preaching that you hear? Only when you are led by the Holy Spirit will you be led i...

1 Chronicles 1-2 And the son of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children.      And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonatham: and Jether died without children.    1 Chronicles 2:30,32 When you see families in the Bible that are childless, it was a big deal to them. In the entire lists that are found in these two chapters these were the only two that didn't have children. It doesn't say why they were childless but it causes thought as to why. Did they desire children? Were they even married in the first place? Was it difficult to not have anyone to pass on the family name? Sometimes God allows, or in this case, doesn't allow things that we don't always understand. Children are a heritage from the Lord, the Bible says, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. It is His choice to give or withhold children, or any other thing that is in His perfect will. A spouse, health, friends, etc. Even when you don't understand, you...

Psalm 6,8-10,14,16,19,21 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.    Psalm 9:9 God doesn't promise that life will be easy. Quite the opposite. He said that all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Although He chooses to allow things in your life that are hard, He promises that He will always be your refuge in times of trouble and when you are oppressed. The offer is available any time, any where. Do you take Him up on it? Do you run to Him for refuge? He never promised to execute immediate justice on those that wrong you. He is patient and kind, and longsuffering. And there are times you deserved His immediate judgment and He had mercy on you. But, no matter what trials you may face, God will always be your refuge. You can find more strength and help in the Lord as your refuge than you can any other person or place you may go to for help.

2 Samuel 1-4 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?                2 Samuel 1:14 This Amalekite thought he was doing David a favor by killing Saul but David responded with a rebuke, then had him killed even though Saul was after David to kill him. Though Saul was in the wrong, David still respected and honored Saul's position of authority that he was placed in by God. How many times do you get offended by something your Pastor says or does and then feel justified in your gossip, or anger, and though you might not physically kill him, you end up killing his reputation? Though you may not always agree with him, you still need to respect the office in which God has placed him and act respectfully toward him. If you do have issues with him, you need to be careful and prayerful in how you approach it, making sure to never lose that respect and honor...

Psalm 121,123-125,128-130 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.      My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.    Psalm 121:1-2 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.    Psalm 124:8 Today there are so many sources to which people go for help. Self help books, podcasts, therapists. Any of these can be helpful at times and in certain situations, along with other means of help, but your first and main source of help should come from the Lord. In Matthew it says that if you seek the kingdom of God first, that God will take care of you and your needs will be met. You can acquire knowledge about various topics and you can gain information but only the Holy Spirit can guide you in the way you should go and what you should do. You are created by God and He knows every part of you better than anyone ever will. He knows your body, your soul, and your spirit in detail and even if ...

1 Samuel 28-31, Psalm 18 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.    1 Samuel 30:6 Sometimes the rug gets pulled out from under us and all we're left with is God. What happens when life hits hard not only for you but for everyone else around you? When everyone is under stress and it seems like no one can get along but rather is just snippy and crabby at one another, does your contentment disappear? Do you start to become discouraged and depressed because no one is being nice to you or acknowledging your hardships? If so, your focus is on the wrong things and your contentment was placed in the wrong people. Only God can truly satisfy and when everything is going crazy around you, you can still get encouragement from Him. He is the only source of encouragement that will last forever and is always availab...

Psalm 17,35,54,63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;      To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.    Psalm 63:1-2 David had such a desire and a longing for God that he was willing to do anything to see God's power and glory as he had experienced in times past. Do you have any desire for the Lord? How great is your desire? Would you be willing to seek Him early? To sacrifice pleasures just to know God more and draw closer to Him? To know and to love God should be your life's goal. You can never be too close to God. Where do your desires lie? If they are not for Christ, then they need to be changed. You should have such a consuming passion for God and the things of God that everything else in life comes second. With seeking God with everything comes the ability to experience His power and glory and an intimate r...

  1 Samuel 25-27 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:      And blessed be thy advice and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.                                  1 Samuel 25:32-33 Nabal was a wicked man and by our human reasoning, David had every right to kill Nabal for the treatment of David's men and God. But Abigail interceded for Nabal and David knowing that it is God that is in charge of revenge and not man no matter how justified they may be. What is your attitude towards those who have done you wrong? Do you try and get revenge or will you choose to leave them in God's hands and let God take care of the problem as He sees fit? Just because others hurt you and are...

Psalm 56,120,140-142 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence.    Psalm 140:13 As a child of God you should be righteous and upright. How do you know if you are? God gives two things to look for in this verse. If you’re righteous, you give thanks to God's name and if you’re upright, you dwell in His presence. How much of your speech is spent thanking and praising God? How much time do you spend with Him each day reading and studying your Bible and praying? If you want to be like Christ, you have to spend time with Christ. If you’re not righteous and upright, and you don't look like Christ that tells you that you need to spend more time with Him and thank Him more. He deserves your praise and your fellowship. Will you give it to Him? Are you righteous and upright?

Psalm 7,27,31,34,52 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take me up.      I had fainted, Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.                 Psalm 27:10,13 Sometimes in life, bad things happen. Family and friends won't always be there to support you. When it seems that there is no one to turn to, Jesus will always be there. You can always count on Him to be there for you and to help you, even when others fail. And when life gets tough, and it is easier to quit than to keep going, God's goodness is everywhere for you to see and if You'll keep your eyes on God and His goodness, God will help you through anything and everything. God is the only one that will never fail you and never leave you, so your satisfaction and your dependence should be solely on Him and not on people. He can keep you going and living for Him even on your m...

1 Samuel 21-24 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.   1 Samuel 22:3 David brought his parents to a place where they would be safe because he didn't know what was going to happen but he did expect God to work. How do you prepare yourself and others in certain situations? Do you give up or react in fear? Or do you act expecting God to work? If you walk around defeated in every uncertain thing, you are more likely to miss seeing God working in your life. When you expect God to work, you'll see it every time! God wants to do great things in your life and show himself to you but if you doubt Him and start taking things into your own hands, you could miss the awesome work of God and the chance to praise Him for it and give Him the glory! You need to expect God to work in every area of your life, and He will show you great and mighty t...

1 Samuel 18-20, Psalm 11,59 In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?     For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.     If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?     The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.   Psalm 11:1-4 What is your response when hard or scary things come into your life? Do you flee to your safe space or do you trust in the Lord? There is nothing you can do to stop bad things from happening, but God can! He is always in control! God is watching us from heaven and there isn't anything He doesn't see. Sometimes it seems we have no hope, but God's word tells us not to fear. If you are living by sight, you are the only one you can trust and it appears to you that you can co...

1 Samuel 15-17 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.      For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.    1 Samuel 15:22-23 There is nothing we can do to cover up our disobedience or to pay for it. And much quoted is the first part of verse twenty three which says that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. The latter half is rarely if ever remembered that says that stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Stubbornness and who the most stubborn is, is usually something that is bragged about. When you’re being stubborn, one of the things that it's equated to is being idolatrous. When you’re being stubborn, you are putting emphasis and importance on you and your...

1 Samuel 13-14 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.    And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.    But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.      1 Samuel 13:12-14   In a moment of fear and desperation, Saul disobeyed God and it cost him his kingdom. Sometimes when fear comes, it is hard to trust God and to rest in Him knowing He has all things under control but that is when your trust truly gets put to the test. Will you patiently wait on the Lord instead of giving in to...

1 Samuel 9-12 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:     Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.                                1 Samuel 12:23-24 Israel had sinned by asking for a king, but regardless, Samuel chose to keep his focus on the Lord and to do what's right despite what those around him were doing. He did however encourage them to do what's right and to serve God with all of their heart and their motivation was to be out of love and awe of the great things that God had done for them! Your life should be the same. To always do what's right even if others choose not to and to fear the Lord and serve Him with all your heart bec...

1 Samuel 4-8 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.             1 Samuel 7:10 The Philistines were a problem for Israel because Israel once again had turned to other gods. When they realized that they could not defeat the Philistines they went to Samuel for help and they fasted and prayed and asked God for the victory and Samuel offered a burnt offering. It was then that God thundered from heaven and gave them the victory. Who do you go to for victory in your life? You have three enemies: The world, the flesh, and the devil. You cannot overcome any of those in your own strength but God is bigger than yourself and all those. Do you depend on God for victory over your sin and struggles? Do you struggle through trying to be and do bett...

1 Samuel 1-3 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.      And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with men.                           1 Samuel 2:18,26 Samuel was just a small child when his mother brought him to the temple to live and serve there. Despite being a child, he grew and was in favor with the Lord and with men. Samuel didn't choose his calling, but he wasn't bitter about it either. He served faithfully where he was placed. Do you let your age get in the way of serving God? God can use anyone young or old. Sometimes it feels that we are too young for a specific task or set of tasks but if God wants to use us to accomplish it, He will! If you are willing and available, God can and will use you to accomplish His will. What is it that God is asking you to do? Are you ...

Ruth 1-4 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.      The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.    Ruth 2:11-12 Ruth had gained the reputation of being loyal to her mother in law at all costs though the cost was very great. She left her family, her country, her home, just to go with her mother in law. Because of that Boaz blessed her by saying that the God who she had come to trust would reward her for her work. Are you loyal to those around you? Are you loyal to God? Would you give of yourself to bless those that God has put in your life to care for or to befriend? What are you known for? Are you loyal only when your fe...

Judges 19-21 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 Can this be said of you? Who or what is King in your life? Is it God or what you think is right? Often what we think is right is not what God thinks is right. You are not to lean on your own understanding but trust in the Lord with all your heart. He is the one that can guide you and show you the right way to go. But when you dethrone Him as King and put yourself there instead, you will go astray. What's right in your own eyes will lead you away from God. From the protection of His wings, the gentle guidance as the Great Shepherd, the satisfaction He gives as the Living Water and the Bread of Life, and the light that He gives as the Light of the world and so much more! You can never live this life on your own and expect the blessings and protection of God. Will you choose to stay close to Christ and to keep Him King of your life and let Him show you what is ri...

Judges 16-18 And she said, They Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.    Judges 16:20 God gave Samson a great gift and instructions on how to use it. Samson was given immense strength, but there were certain rules he had to follow to keep it. Samson got so focused on his strength and what he could do and get with it, that he forgot that it was the Lord that gave it to him and was with him that allowed him to use it. He didn't even know that the Lord had departed from him when he woke up because he thought to himself that he would go as at other times and win the victory with his strength. Like Samson, God gives each one of us gifts. A spouse, a home, physical things, grace, mercy, love, etc. Every good gift comes from God and there's nothing wrong with any of those things. The problem begin...

Judges 13-15 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.      But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.    Judges 14:3-4 Sometimes people make seemingly stupid decisions. Whether or not they are, we are not the judge of their lives, God is. Sometimes there are decisions people make that look like bad decisions but God has a plan in it. Do you try to meddle with God's will in other people's lives? Do you pray over whether or not to say something to someone, or how or when to say it or do you rush in thinking you know what's best for them? Do you understand the whole situation? Sometimes, the best and o...

Judges 10-12 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.      And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.    Judges 10:15-16 Throughout the book of judges the children of Israel turn to serve other gods, then God punishes them by sending captors or enemies, the children of Israel put away their gods and beg God to have mercy, God is compassionate and sends them a deliverer. Then it starts all over again. The children of Israel weren't sorry for there sin as much as they were sorry they got caught and were being punished for their sin evidenced by the fact they went right back to it when there was peace. Does your life compare to the book of judges? Is there sin in your life that you’re only sorry for if it seems you’re being punished for it? Do you go back to sin af...

Judges 8-9 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.   Judges 8:27 After leading the children of Israel to victory, Gideon refused to rule them but requested all their gold and ended up using it to create an ephod that the children of Israel ended up worshipping instead of God. It doesn't matter how spiritual you or someone else is, it doesn't remove the possibility of falling or leading someone astray. Where is your trust? Do you depend on others for your learning or spirituality? Do you blindly follow people or do you search out the truth? You need to be firm in the foundation of Christ. It is only then that the likelihood of being led astray or leading others astray will be less. Not impossible because you are human but with Christ leading you and a thorough knowledge of the truth, you are less likely to be deceived by the lies all ar...

Judges 6-7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.    Judges 7:2 Sometimes, as God did to the children of Israel, God puts us in what seems like an impossible position. How many times do you willingly want to do what God wants you to do, but you try to do it in your own strength? When God gives you something to do, He will also direct you in how He wants you to do it. Sometimes God's instructions can seem absurd or impossible but He wants things done in such a way that it gives Him the glory rather than us taking the glory for ourselves. Our life goal should be to honor and glorify God. What is your attitude when doing something for God? Or anything really. Is it so people think that you did such a good job, or is it to honor and glorify God? God will give you the strength and ability needed to accomplish the task H...

Judges 3-5 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.    Judges 3:4 God allowed some enemies into the lives of the children of Israel to prove them, whether or not they were going to obey the commandments that God had given them to follow. Sometimes in our lives God allows the same thing. Whether it be trials of people, sickness, or whatever the trial may be, sometimes it's to test and to prove our loyalty and obedience to God. God allowed Satan to touch Job's life just to prove that Job would still be faithful to God even in the midst of hardship. He hadn't done anything wrong, but God wanted to prove him. What is your response to the trials God allows in your life? Will you handle them with grace and trust that He'll help you through? Will you choose to be faithful and obedient to God, no matter what? Will you choose to accept the comfort and pe...