Tag: 1 Peter 5:10

Honest Words, Cleansing Grace

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Honest Words, Cleansing Grace
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler | Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times
Scripture: 1 John 1:9 (ESV) — “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I was just a boy the first time I heard those words from 1 John.

I can still see the scene — metal folding chair, legs too short to touch the floor, Sunday School room smelling like coffee and old hymnals. My Bible was one of those red-letter editions with gold on the edges and my name in fake gold on the front. I didn’t know much theology back then, but I remember the old man teaching the class had a voice like worn leather and hands that trembled just a little when he turned the pages.

He read the verse slow — like it mattered.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just…”

I didn’t know then how many times I’d come to lean on that promise.
But I sure know now.

Let’s be honest…

Most of us don’t like confessing much.
Not to God. Not to others. Not even to ourselves.

We’d rather pretend we’re fine.
That it wasn’t our fault.
That we’ll do better next time, so no need to mention it now.

But confession — real confession — it ain’t about guilt trips.
It’s about getting honest.

It’s about standing in front of a mirror, spiritually speaking, and saying,
“Yep… that’s me. I did that. I thought that. I said that. I shouldn’t’ve.”

And right there — in that gut-level, bare-soul moment — grace shows up.

Confess. Forgive. Cleanse.

That’s the rhythm.

Not: clean up first, then you can pray.
Not: punish yourself for a while, then maybe you’ll earn back your spot.

Just: Confess.
Then He forgives.
And then, friend, He cleanses. Wipes it clean like it never was.

That’s not just mercy — that’s a miracle.

He’s Faithful. He’s Just.

Now those words used to confuse me.

I used to think justice meant punishment. Like a switch or a belt.
But justice, in God’s hands, looks like a Cross.

See, Jesus already paid what needed paying.
So now, it would be unjust for God not to forgive when we come to Him.

Let that sink in.

He forgives because it’s right.
Because He said He would.
Because He’s not in the business of holding grudges —
He’s in the business of setting people free.

Don’t Wait Till You Feel Worthy

I’ve heard folks say, “I’ll go back to church once I get my act together.”
Or, “I’ll start praying again once I feel a little less guilty.”

Friend, that’s like saying, “I’ll take a bath after I stop being dirty.”

God ain’t waiting for perfect people to show up.
He’s just waiting for honest ones.

If you’re carrying something heavy today…
a regret, a secret, a “wish I could take that back”…
you don’t have to carry it alone.

You can set it down.

You can hand it over to the One who already knows… and already paid.

Let This Be Your Reminder

No matter how far you’ve wandered,
no matter how long it’s been,
no matter how many times you’ve promised “never again” and didn’t mean it —

You are one honest prayer away
from forgiveness, from cleansing, from a brand-new start.

That’s grace.
That’s Gospel.
That’s Jesus.

And He’s faithful. Every time.

1 John 1:9 — One more time, just to let it settle:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

From my heart to yours,
— Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print.

#AncientWisdomForModernTimes #1John1v9 #ForgivenessStory #FaithfulAndJust

New Issue Alert: Refresh Bible Study Magazine – Spring 2025

Posted in @jimmiekepler, Bible, Bible Memes, Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Christian Living, Christian Writers, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, jimmiekepler.com, Poet, Poet's Life, Poets, US Military History, Writer's Life, WritingLeave a comment

New Issue Alert: Refresh Bible Study Magazine – Spring 2025

Discover timeless wisdom from the Old Testament, reimagined for today’s challenges. The Spring 2025 issue offers insightful articles perfect for personal growth, small group discussions, or ministry.

Note: I have an article on page 21 of this issue.

📖 Read the full issue here: https://mcusercontent.com/d56d783b628cb25e0234a8678/files/5db1c780-710e-6b76-f2cb-eeec0dc349d0/Refresh_Bible_Study_Magazine_Spring_2025.pdf

#BibleStudy #FaithLeadership #ChristianLiving #RefreshMagazine

Approach Each Day with Fearless Faith

Posted in @jimmiekepler, Bible, Bible Memes, Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Christian Living, Christian Writers, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, jimmiekepler.com, Poet, Poet's Life, Poets, US Military History, Writer's Life, Writing2 Comments

Mornings are holy ground for me.

There’s something sacred about the quiet before the coffee kicks in, when the sky’s still gray and the birds are just thinking about singing. It’s in those in-between moments—the hush before the world wakes up—that I whisper the kind of prayer that doesn’t have a lot of fancy words. Just a simple: “Lord, help me walk today with fearless faith.”

Because truth is, some days try to knock the courage right out of you before your feet even hit the floor.

We all know what it’s like. The phone call that changes everything. The doctor’s report. The bank account that’s a little too low. The headlines that make you wonder if anything’s steady anymore. Fear has a way of sneaking in the back door, even when we think we’ve locked it tight.

That’s why I come back again and again to Deuteronomy 31:6:

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

That verse reads like a letter from a Father who knows what you’re up against.

And it’s not just for warriors or prophets or preachers. It’s for folks like you and me—the ones trying to love our people well, keep the faith, and keep going even when the path’s not clear. That line “he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”—that’s what I hang my hat on. Because sometimes, all I’ve got is the next step.

But that’s the beauty of fearless faith. It doesn’t mean we never feel afraid. It just means we walk anyway—not because we’re strong, but because we’re not alone.

God goes with us. Into boardrooms. Into hospitals. Into classrooms. Into quiet living rooms and bustling kitchens and lonely waiting rooms.

Fearless faith is choosing trust over terror. It’s saying, “I don’t know how this ends, Lord, but I know who’s with me.”

So today, take that step. Make the phone call. Show up. Speak life. Be still if that’s what’s needed. Move forward if the Spirit nudges. But do it all knowing this: You’ve got company. You’re not walking into anything alone.

And friend, that changes everything.

Grace and Peace,
Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print.

Bad Doesn’t Last Forever

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After You Have Suffered for a Little While

By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Life’s got a way of wearing a body down sometimes, doesn’t it?
Some days it feels like you’re getting dragged through a barbed-wire fence — slow and painful — and just when you think you can’t take another step, something shifts.

This morning, sitting with my second cup of coffee, I found myself thumbing through 1 Peter. My worn old Bible practically falls open to the good parts by now, and sure enough, my eyes landed on this:

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
— 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

I must’ve read that verse a hundred times over the years, but today it hit a little different.
Maybe because lately, I’ve been feeling that “suffered a little while” part in my bones.

The Promise in the Pain

Peter doesn’t sugarcoat it, does he?
He doesn’t say if you suffer. He says after you suffer — meaning it’s a sure thing. Part of the journey. No shortcuts. No easy outs.

But here’s the part I don’t want us to miss: suffering isn’t the end of the story.
It’s just a page in the chapter, not the whole book.

God’s promises aren’t empty words stitched on a throw pillow. They’re blood-bought, tear-stained, Spirit-breathed assurances. And one of those promises is this:
After the suffering, comes the restoring.

God himself — not an angel, not a preacher, not some well-meaning friend — but God himself will step in and do what only He can do:

  • Restore what’s been broken.
  • Confirm what’s been wavering.
  • Strengthen what’s been weak.
  • Establish what’s been uncertain.

He doesn’t leave us bruised and limping.
He binds up the wounds and stands us back up on solid ground.

A Little While

I know sometimes a “little while” can feel like an eternity.

Waiting on healing. Waiting on answers. Waiting on a prodigal to come home.
There’s a heaviness in waiting that can wear you slick out.

But compared to forever, it’s just a blink.
God’s timing isn’t measured in microwave minutes — it’s measured in the slow, steady beat of eternity.

So hold on, friend.
Grip that plow a little tighter.
Trust the One who sees the end from the beginning.

What This Means for Today

If you’re walking through fire today, know this:

  • You are not forgotten.
  • You are not being punished.
  • You are not stuck forever.

You’re in the “little while” part.
And the restoring is already in motion — even if you can’t see it yet.

Maybe you just need a reminder today that God’s not finished.
He’s still in the business of putting broken folks back together better than before.

You’re not just going to survive.
By His grace, you’re going to stand tall again.

Final Thoughts

This old world can break your heart — but it can’t break the One who holds your heart.

Today, I’m leaning into the God of all grace.
Not the god of “second chances” (though He gives those),
Not the god of “do better and try harder,”
But the God who restores, confirms, strengthens, and establishes — when all my strength is gone.

Take heart, friends.
The same God who called you to glory is walking with you through the valley.
And after you’ve suffered a little while — just a little while —
He will make you whole again.

And that’s a promise you can count on.

Stay faithful, stay kind, and keep walking.

Grace and peace,
Jimmie

If this encouraged you today, feel free to share it with a friend who might be in their “little while” season.
You’re not alone — and neither are they.

More reflections like this at jimmiekepler.com and jimmiekepler.substack.com

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print.

God Will Restore You

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He Won’t Let You Down

Posted in Blog, Books I've Reviewed, Christian Writers, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Writer's Life, Writing3 Comments

Did You Know God is Faithful? 

Yes, God is faithful. He won’t let you down. God’s word says in 1 Corinthians 1:9 English Standard Version (ESV), “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Definition of Faithful

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives this definition of faithful. The definition of faithful:

  1. Steadfast in affection or allegiance: LOYAL a faithful friend
  2. Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty: CONSCIENTIOUS a faithful employee
  3. Given with strong assurance: BINDING a faithful promise
  4. True to the facts, to a standard, or to an original a faithful copy
  5. Obsolete definition of faithful: full of faith

What Does it Mean to be Faithful?

  • It means to be reliable.
  • It means to be trustworthy
  • It means to be dependable 
  • It means to be consistent.

Four Ways God is faithful.

1. God is Faithful To Protect

Psalm 34:4 ESV, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Takeaway: “I sought the Lord.” If you seek the Lord you will find that God is faithful.

Psalm 34:17-19 ESV, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Takeaway: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” If you cry to the Lord, he hears  and delivers. He is faithful.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Takeaway: God is faithful. When you are fearful remember he has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. He is faithful.

2. God is Faithful To Pardon

1 John 1:9 ESV, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Takeaway: “If we confess our sins …” God is faithful. God is faithful

3. God is Faithful To Provide

Philippians 4:18 ESV, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Takeaway: God will supply every need of yours” (not your greed). God is faithful.

4. God is Faithful To Preserve (that is to Keep Us Safe).

1 Peter 5:10 ESV, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Psalm 57:1 ESV, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.”

Takeaway: “I will take refuge” (in God). When you do he will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Yes, God is faithful.

I am reminded of a little acrostic I have heard many preachers use. It is GRACE. It stands for:

G – Gods

R – riches

A – at

C – Christ’s

E – expense.

Others may let you down but God promises to be faithful. Yes, God is faithful. 

Video Source: From YouTube. Fountainview Academy, British Columbia, Canada. Fountanview Academy is a Christian high school based in southern British Columbia, Canada, which holds Province of BC Ministry of Education accreditation. Students from all over the world are attracted to Fountainview because of its balanced approach to education. Each staff member is personally committed to the eternal success of every student, and together they strive for the highest standards in every respect.

Twenty Bible Verses to Help With Worry and Anxiety

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie KeplerLeave a comment

Twenty Bible Verses to Help With Worry and Anxiety

“And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”

Joshua 10:25 (KJV)

“Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;”

Ruth 1:12 (KJV)

“Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”

Psalm 3:2-6 (KJV)

“The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”

Psalm 147:11 (KJV)

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

Proverbs 13:12 (KJV)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.”

Romans 5:2-7 (KJV)

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:5 (KJV)

“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Romans 8:24-25 (KJV)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 8:28-29 (KJV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 (KJV)

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (KJV)

“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

Galatians 6:8 (KJV)

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Colossians 1:27 (KJV)

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Colossians 3:1-2 (KJV)

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while*, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)

“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age*, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

Hebrew 11:11 (KJV)

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Scripture: All Bible Verses are King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain
Photo Source: Pixabay

Twenty Bible Verses to Help With Worry and Anxiety

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie KeplerLeave a comment

Joshua 10:25 (KJV), “And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”

Ruth 1:12 (KJV), “Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;”

Psalm 3:2-6 (KJV), “Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”

Psalm 147:11 (KJV), “The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”

Proverbs 13:12 (KJV), “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV), “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV), “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Romans 5:2-7 (KJV), “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.”

Romans 5:5 (KJV), “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 8:24-25 (KJV), “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Romans 8:28-29 (KJV), “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 15:13 (KJV), “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (KJV), “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Galatians 6:8 (KJV), “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

Philippians 1:6 (KJV), “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV), “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 1:27 (KJV), “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Colossians 3:1-2 (KJV), “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

1 Peter 5:10 (KJV), “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while*, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Hebrew 11:11 (KJV), “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age*, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

Scripture Source: All Bible Verses are from the King James Version (KJV) by Public Domain
Photo Source: Pixabay