Daily Inspirations
Scriptural “tidbits” and devotions to connect the Bible to our lives…
A Transformational Promise
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
Our fears, doubts and anxieties can weigh heavily on our hearts, and keep us from the abundant lives God desires us to have. In this transformational promise, Jesus reminds us that when we place our faith in Him and release our burdens to His care, our souls can truly find peace.
A Radical Perspective
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4:7 (ESV)
Jesus came to us with a completely radical perspective; He told us to love one another. In this bold statement from his first Epistle, John reminds us that when we allow love for others to flow from our hearts, we connect with our Heavenly Father in a very powerful way.
Be Still…
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
We live in a very noisy world. Between TV, radio, cell phones and computers, we’re constantly being deluged by a seemingly never-ending stream of information. In that din that surrounds our lives, sometimes our conversations with God can become muffled, leading us to feel disconnected and stressed. Finding time each day to simply “be still” and refresh the link to our Heavenly Father is an important part of our spiritual journey, and can make all the difference when dealing with uncertainties in our topsy-turvy lives.
All For God’s Glory
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV)
In this powerful passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against performing acts of charity strictly to obtain the recognition of others. While we’re certainly called to reach out to those in need, it’s important to do so with pure intentions, and in such a way that God’s glory is the recipient of those Blessings, not our own.
Dead Unto Sin
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” – Romans 6:1-2 (ESV)
When we are reborn in Christ Jesus, we are in effect “dead unto sin” through His sacrifice on the cross. This certainly doesn’t mean that we’ll be freed from the temptations that sin attempts to tyrannize our lives with, but it does give us the ability to gain victory over our broken natures and become the people that God desires us to be.
Stewards of God’s Varied Grace
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)
All gifts from God, be they temporal, tangible Blessings or endowments formed in the Spirit, are intended not only to Bless us, but are also to be used for the benefit of others in His name. For when we share the bounty of God’s grace with those around us, we truly glorify His desires for our lives.
Architected By God
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (ESV)
We live in a constantly changing world; architected by God to fill our days with wonder, and to temper our spirits as we journey to His side. We need to embrace all our seasons of life, and give thanks that God has woven us such a diverse and detailed fabric.
The Divine Responsibility
“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” – Ephesians 5:28-33 (ESV)
Men: As Christ provides for every need of the church, so we are called to provide for our wives; to love them, nourish them, and care for them as they are part of ourselves. When we truly embrace the divine responsibility and gift that our marriages are, we honor God’s design and intention of that special union.
A Matter of Integrity
“Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch,
so is he who gets riches but not by justice;
in the midst of his days they will leave him,
and at his end he will be a fool.” – Jeremiah 17:11 (ESV)
When we make the achievement of worldly success and material gain of a higher priority than conducting ourselves with godly disposition and integrity, we sacrifice building our eternal treasures for the lure of seeking worldly riches.
Anchored to the Rock
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2 (ESV)
Life is unpredictable. From one moment to the next, we never know exactly which way our paths will turn… But thankfully, God does. Instead of clinging to the constantly moving targets of this world, when we anchor ourselves firmly to our Rock, we gain His strength, His stability and His peace.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
