Dan Gould

Tag: Bible Challenge

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 7

    I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. Romans 7:21 (NLT)

    Have you been here? It’s almost as if Paul was watching my life and talking about himself so I would see the reality of who I really am.  Let’s face it, sometimes its easier to hide behind our good stuff and not deal with the things that are sinful and causing us to stumble.  I have good intentions and desire to be more like Christ and but seem to get tripped up with certain things over and over again.   Thank goodness my relationship with God is not dependent on what I do, but dependent on what Christ has done for me, past present and future. Now, this doesn’t give me an excuse to keep on sinning, but gives me the confidence that when I do mess up, I can seek God, ask for forgiveness, repent of that sin, and have a fresh start.

    This also shows me how much I need a Savior. Because I have a sinful nature, I have to remember it is natural for us to sin. This is why the Bible talks so much about the fight that is going on over every thought, action, and re-action you make.  There is a spiritual battle going on that I feel, but may never physically see. When I listen to the Spirit, I am able to fight against these desires more effectively.  This is why it is so important to know God’s Word. When I know God’s Word, I have a better chance of standing my ground when temptation comes my way. It’s not a matter of if temptation comes, it’s a matter of when temptation comes, the real question is, will I be ready?

    Father today, let me have a deeper understanding of the work that you are doing in my life. Help me to know you in a deeper way, help me to appreciate what you have done for me in a way that reflects how I live. Let me not take the Cross for-granted. Help me to stay in your Word, so I can know Your Word, and Your Word can change me from the inside out. By doing this, I will be more prepared to stand my ground the next time the enemy tries to tempt in the areas that I seem to fall victim to over and over again. I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

    When you read Romans 7 what speaks to you?

     

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 6

    “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” Romans 6:16 (NLT)

    Let’s be honest, we all surrender to something or someone! I have seen this in my own life! I’ve been controlled in negative ways by relationships, my attitude, addictions, friends, pride, selfishness, and the list goes on.  When you look at this list it’s easy to ask, what’s wrong with …? That’s a great question! My answer is simple, when I allow those things to dominate my thoughts, influence my actions toward sin, or have to worry that I don’t get caught … that’s a sign that things aren’t going the way they should and that I am choosing to let sin control me more than I want to admit.

    However, when I make the choice to obey God, it puts things in perspective.  I begin to look at things differently, because now I am trying to live in the newness of life that God has given me through what Christ has done on the Cross.  This impacts my relationships, changes my attitude, convicts, corrects, and begins to cure my addictions, filters my friendships, humbles my pride, and encourages me to be selfless instead of being selfish.

    Now, to be honest, this sounds real pretty in a blog post, but this process is very messy in my life.  Some things are easier than others to grow past!!! But sometimes old habits, attitudes, thoughts, and temptations come like a raging wind hoping to take me out.  Sometimes I get caught in the moment and have to confess the sin. The good news is that God forgives me, cleans me up, and reminds me of His love.

    Father, Today, I am thankful for your love, grace, and forgiveness.  Today I choose to live for you! When temptations come, let me be reminded of your love and your way, so I don’t get caught in the moment, and do the things that are unpleasing to you. Today, I surrender all of me for all of YOU, may you be glorified by the way I live today!  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

    When you read Romans 6 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 5

    “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:2 (NLT)

    I have much of Romans chapter 5 highlighted in my Bible. The contrast of Adams life when compared to the life of Christ and how each of their lives have impacted me for eternity, it gives me a great understanding of sin and my need for a Savior. I’m so thankful that my relationship with God is based on what God has done through Jesus and not on what I can try to do for myself.  We’ve all had situations where we do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, and not long after-wards wish we could press pause, hit the rewind button, so we could do it all over again differently. However, because of faith and personal relationship with Jesus, I can have confidence.

    I can have confidence that GOD LOVES ME!
    “For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (v5)

    I can have confidence that GOD FORGIVES ME!
    “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” (v6;8-9)

    I can have confidence that GOD RECEIVE ME!
    “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (v10-11)

    Confidence is a powerful thing.  It allows us to engage instead of retreat.  For a believer, it allows us to live fully, give deeply, and engage passionately!

    Father today, remind me of the things you have done for me, from the least to the greatest so that I can stand with confidence as I live, love, and lead! It’s all for you and in your Son, Jesus Christ’s Name I pray these things, Amen!

    When you read Romans 5 what speaks to you?

     

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 4

    “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” Romans 4:20 (NLT)

    What rocks you? What makes you doubt? What test your faith? Let’s be honest, sometimes things happen and we are left with a lot of questions.  We hear and sing songs that have lines like “And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us, and if our God is with us, than who could stand against.” We sing these songs and want to believe them, but then, we look at the things going on around us and say, “Where is God in this.”

    Just so you know, I have been there also! I have questioned my faith. I have had doubts. I have even been angry at God. But, in these times, instead of focusing on the things going on, no matter how big or small they are, I focused on knowing Gods Word. His promises carried me through my darkest day/s. The more I focused on God’s Word and His Promises, the smaller the problems/questions/circumstances seemed.  In these times instead of living in fear of what going to happen, I was able to have faith that God was still in control, and that He was walking with me through the situation.  Now when I sing, “And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us, and if our God is with us, than who could stand against.” I sing it with an understanding that God can and will use every situation to refine me and give me the opportunity to see Him in greater ways.

    Father today, help me to live by faith and faith alone.  When circumstances that I don’t understand come my way, give me the strength I need to grow through them trusting you with all the details.  It’s in Christ Name I pray, Amen.

    When you read Romans 4 what speaks to you?

    This is one of the songs that help me grow through some of my darkest days where I questioned much. I hope it can inspire and encourage you as it has me.

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 3

    “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.” Romans 3:22 (NLT)

    We are MADE right with God! What a statement! It’s human nature to think that we aren’t good enough, or that we have to do something in-order for us to have a relationship with God.  It the old work harder and faster idea. But thank goodness God isn’t like us.  If we had to earn our way to Heaven, or change before we could have a relationship with God, many of us would give up in the pursuit. For those of us that could achieve the ‘good enough’ we’d live in fear of making a mistake and having to start all over again. But God chose a different way!

    God makes us right not based on what we have done or can do, but its based on what He has done for us.  How do we know this … because of these words: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.”

    Because God MAKES us right, all we have to do is believe! We put our Faith in Jesus Christ, we spend time with him in  prayer, meditation, worship, and reading His Word, we surrender our way to His Way and wha la, the transformation begins. God begins to transform us into the person He created us to be. It all starts with Faith!

    Father, thank you that you made things right! This allows me to live with confidence that if/when I choose to do things that are sinful, you still love me and are willing to forgive me when I confess and turn from that sin.  Today, may I be reminded of all you have done for me and live with thankfulness and urgency for your grace, mercy, and salvation. It’s In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

    When you read Romans 3 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 2

    “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” Romans 2:4 (NLT)

    “Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?” Romans 2:21 (NLT)

    “No wonder the Scriptures say, ‘The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.” Romans 2:24 (NLT)

    Wow, talk about bringing out the big guns!  These three verses kicked my butt today! First, When I think about how sinful I am in my thoughts, attitudes, and actions, it put into perspective how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with me. The sad reality is this, When I choose my sin over Gods Way, I take His kindness, tolerance, and patients for granted.  To be honest, there will be a day when God will no longer be patient and tolerant of sin. On this day, God will judge everything I’ve thought and/or done. This should cause me to live in a way that pleases Him 24/7.

    Over the last couple of weeks I have seen how fragile life is. None of us are given a guarantee that we will live to see our next minute.  None of us know the exact time that Jesus will come back and Gods judgment will begin.  But we all have the same opportunity to surrender our way for His Way. One of the thoughts that has been going though my head when temptation tries to get the best of me is this, Would I were to die while I gave into this temptation would God be disappointed? Would I be embarrassed or ashamed of how I spent my dieing moments? Would my dieing moments cause others to question my character or challenge theirs? I want my life to count! I don’t want to be a person that says one thing but does another.  I want to be consistent.  I want what I say and teach to match how I live so that others can’t say, “That’s why I don’t want to be a Christian.”

    Father today, help me not take your Grace, Kindness, Tolerance, and Patients for granted.  Let me live each moment as if it were the last.  Let me love big, give big, dream big, talk big, serve big, live big, and lead big. Let my life be an example to many of how Great you are and how much you love us!

    When you read Romans 2 what speaks to you?

  • Bible Challenge – Romans 1

    “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

    I’m always encouraged and challenged when I read this passage of Scripture.  It’s as if Paul is giving his team a pep talk before a big game reminding them of the power of God that’s at work in us and through us.  Personally, I could almost see these words after this verse, “Now get out there and live like it!” That’s in the (DGV – Dan Gould Version) I truly believe if I and other Christians lived out this verse, things would be different in our world today.

    Living this out doesn’t mean we wearing shirts that have Chistianese on them, or becoming legalistic and judgmental.  Living this out means that we talk and live what we believe so others can see Christ in us.  Living this out means that when opportunities come to share about Christ, we step forward in faith instead of shrinking back in fear. Living this out means that we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and not our own knowledge and power. Living this out simply means expressing on the outside what we believe on the inside. It’s our opportunity to live for Christ so others can see Christ!

    Father today, help me live in away that please you and reveals Christ to others. Let me take advantage of the opportunities you give me! Let me live out loud so others can see you in me. I pray these things in Jesus Name, Amen!

    When you read Romans 1 what speaks to you?


  • Bible Challenge – Colossians 4

    “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.” Colossians 4:5

    One of my greatest regrets as a teenager, is the fact that my double lifestyle didn’t influence anyone for the Kingdom.  Yes I had friends and many of them were just like me, good kids that didn’t get in any serious trouble. But when I look back on that now, I have to confess I didn’t live wisely among them.  Though I was a Christian, they would have never known it by watching my life.  Now I’m not saying that I wish I would have taken my family Bible to School and beat people to death with it, or stood up on a lunchroom table and shouted ‘turn or burn!’ (that’s weird to me!) I simply wish I would have taken the opportunity to be a light in the everyday hustle and bustle of High School.

    Now fast forward 15 years to today. One of the reasons I work with teenagers is because I want them to take advantage of some of the opportunities that I never took advantage of.  The reason I post scripture and random thoughts or experiences on  Facebook, Twitter, and this Blog, are all done with the hope of taking advantage of every opportunity I have to live wisely and encourage others with the Hope and Forgiveness I have found in Christ Jesus. Am I perfect …. NO WAY!!! But I try to live everyday in a way that first please God, and second, can inspire others.

    I don’t know about you, but I want to maximize my influence by living wisely so others can find Christ, or be encouraged in their journey with Him.  At the end of this life, I want to hear, “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant!” not, I wish you would have …!  What about you? How will you use the opportunity you have to influence others?

    Father, I am excited about the opportunities you give me, but help me see the opportunities I am not seeing.  Let me be a light even if no-one else is watching.  Help me to live wisely in all areas of my life, not just the ones where I think I need to. Help me to be authentic and real whether I am in private or in public, so you are glorified and pleased by the way that I live. May my life be an example to many! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

    When you read Colossians 4 what speaks to you?

     

  • Bible Challenge – Colossians 3

    Put on the new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:10

    I have most of chapter 3 highlighted in my Bible.  The battle between the old nature and new nature rages on with every thought, action, and situation.  Someday are better than others! On these days I feel like I am making real advances in becoming Christ like.  But if I am real honest, I am at this point in my journey with Christ that I don’t want to just be good enough.  I don’t want to just go through the motions because I should or because I have learned its what I am supposed to do as a Christ Follower.  I want everyday to be fresh, new, inspiring, and challenging in the sense that I am learning to be WITH Him.  These two words BE RENEWED, are words that I need to hear today.

    Many times I am so busy with the next thing, that I don’t take time to be renewed.  I’m sure I am not the only one.  Today I am praying that God would …

    1. Renew my Love for Him.
    2. Renew my Mind.
    3. Renew my Passion for the Gospel.
    4. Renew my Calling.

    Father these are the things that are dear to my heart today.  Would you do a work in me that renews and restores even the deepest darkest parts of who I am .  May I learn to take time to seek renewal and restoration.  Let me learn, love, live, and lead in the overflow of your grace and forgiveness. In Christ Name I pray, Amen!

    When you read Colossians 3 what speaks to you?


  • Bible Challenge – Colossians 2

    “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord,  you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. THEN your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

    It is said that the strength of a tree is found in the strength of it’s roots.  The bigger the tree, the deeper and wider the roots of that tree have to be to support that tree.  For this tree to have fully developed roots, it’s important that the tree get the right amount of water and be planted in the right spot for maximum growth.  A tree can look healthy from an outward appearance, but sometimes all it takes is one good storm to reveal how weak the roots were, by blowing the tree over.

    Just like the tree, it’s important that I have strong roots also.  Accepting Christ is just the beginning process of my growth as a Christ follower. For me to have fully developed roots, these 2 things are very important:

    • That I am feeding on the right thing!

    What do I think about? What do I read? What do I listen too? What do I watch? What do I talk about?  All of these impact what I become.  If I want to have strong roots, I have to begin feeding on the right things.  If I am not reading Gods Word, meditating (thinking) about how to apply what it says, listening to the right voices, looking at the right things, and talking about the right stuff, I’m not allowing my roots to develop in a way that can sustain my life when a storm comes. I am not saying this to be legalistic, I am simply stating that these things are important for your growth.  They impact you in ways you may not realize, and lets be honest, sometimes they impact us in ways we try to hide or deny!

    • That I am being planted in the right spot!

    Who do you hang out with? Where do you spend your time? I’m sure the list can go on! But for me, I’ve learned that these to things have the greatest impact on me.  When I am around negative people, I become negative. When I am around positive people, I can be positive. Because my surroundings impact me so much I have to make sure my surroundings enhance my growth not inhibit my growth.  This is difficult, but very important. Think about how many times you’ve been caught in the moment, or in the wrong place at the wrong time. If it wasn’t your idea, then it was someones idea and they convinced you to go a long with it!  So don’t overlook this! Being planted in the right spot is vitally important and gives your roots the ability to grow to the depth and width needed in order for you to sustain and endure the storms of life.

    Father today, help me to follow you WHEREVER you lead.  I want to focus on the right things and make sure I am being planted in the right spots.  Give me the confidence and the power to do the hard things so that I continue to grow in the things that are seen and in the things that are unseen!  It’s in Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

    When you read Colossians 2 what speaks to you?