PRAY Lord we thank you that in Christ we are victorious. Help us to live our lives as the kingdom citizens that we are. Help us Lord to see your truth today. WRITE READ 1… More
delight
PRAY
Lord we thank you that when we delight in you, you give us the desires of our heart. May our heart be fully yours as we meditate on your word and seek your face. Lord may our delight be in you alone.
WRITE
READ PSALM 37:4
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” PSALM 37:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he (Jesus) said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.'" Matthew 22:36-38
- Take time to think about the word delight. Write down some synonyms.
- We do not often think of enjoying God. Think about when you meet a good friend for coffee – you delight in the time that you spend with this dear person. You look back on your conversation, you appreciate their thoughtfulness. Do you do the same with God?
- As Matthew 6:21 tells us -“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is your treasure – what do you delight in?
- Our delight in God is directly related to our heart. As we see God direct His people as they prepare to enter the promised land – “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” – Jesus then reiterates this in Matthew 22. Where is your heart?
- See – when our heart is delighting in God – God desires to give us what our heart desires. When our joy, treasure, satisfaction come from God… he desires to give us more of himself. What is one thing you can change or add to your daily routine to help you enjoy our loving heavenly Father?
I love to worship God and one of the ways that I enjoy God is through song. This is one of my favorite Psalms and it lead me to this song today… “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!'” Psalm 40:16
GROW
Lord as we meditate on you and your word. May we remember that we are called to delight in you. Help us today to enjoy your presence with us. Help us Lord to devote our hearts to you. May we love you Lord with our heart, soul, and mind. May we pour out our praise to you because our hearts are full of you. May our treasure be you! Alleluia! Amen!
rest
PRAY
Lord we thank you that you are our place of rest. Help us to see what that looks like in our lives.
WRITE
READ MATTHEW 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” -Jesus Matthew 11:28-30
- We are called to pursue (2 Timothy 4:22) – write about what we are called to pursue.
- We are called to strive (1 Timothy 4:6-10) – write about how we strive.
- We are called to seek (Matthew 6:33) – write down what we are called to seek
- But Jesus also tells us that we must rest in him. Take time to pray and ask God to shine a light on where you are doing your will and not His. Write down what you sense He is speaking to you.
- Take time to carve out time to rest. Jesus desires for you find rest for your soul – in Him! Write down one way you can do that this week.
GROW
Lord we are called to do your work. To strive to honor you and to seek your kingdom above all. But you also call us to rest in you. Help us Lord to not seek your will and not our own, help us Lord to rest in your grace remembering your love is steadfast and eternal. May we each take refuge in the shadow of your wings, feast on the abundance of your house, and drink from the river of your delights (Psalm 36:7-9)
sealed
PRAY
Lord open our eyes to the abundance of your grace. Lord help us see who we are In Christ…
WRITE
READ EPHESIANS 1:3-14
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places"... Ephesians 3:3
- Using verses 3 & 4 write down what God has done for us in Christ.
- What did God do for us in love?
- Using verses 7-14 write down what God has done for us in Christ.
- Who sealed you?
- When were you sealed?
- What does it guarantee?
- It is awesome to see all that God has done for us in Christ! He loves us so much and desires us to be in relationship with him – to unite all things to himself. Still – there is an additional purpose for the transformation he works in us. I would note that both the beginning and the end of this passage are praise. In fact verses 11& 12 tell us, “having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” Take time now to sing his praises – turn on your favorite praise song and give God glory! And spend time in prayer thanking Him for all that he has done for you!
GROW
Thank you Lord that in Christ we have been transformed. Thank you Lord that your grace is enough. Thank you Lord that “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:14 May our lives ever sing your glory.
strong
Read Psalm 18
WRITE
- Write down all the words that the Palmist uses to describe God.
- Take time in prayer to praise him using these words.
I love this song by Matt Maher… Deliverer
GROW
We praise you God that you alone our our strength. Help us today to trust you for who you are. May we always know your hand is upon us and no situation is hopeless. But that you are our refuge, support and our deliverer. Alleluia. Amen…
masterpiece
Thank you Lord that you have knit us together in our mothers womb. Thank you Lord that you have known us before the foundation of time and that you have numbered every hair on our head. Thank you that you know us and you see us and that when we come to know Jesus – that you never leave us. Alleluia!!!!
WRITE
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10NLT
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV
- What do you think of when you imagine a masterpiece?
- That’s you! You are God’s masterpiece! Write a prayer of thanksgiving to God for all the special ways he has gifted you.
- When God gave you a new life in Christ he did it for a purpose. According to this verse, what is that purpose?
- This verse tells us that God has already planned the good works for us – we just have to walk in them. Do you see God calling you to walk in any certain way? Write a prayer asking God to reveal where he wants you to walk – how your life can glorify Him!
GROW
Dear Father God! Thank you so much that you have created us to be unique and special. That you have gifted us in special ways and you have created good works for us to accomplish in your name. Guide us Lord so that we will honor you and bring you glory with our lives. We know that “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 – so lead us Lord that we may experience your joy as we walk in your ways.
good enough?
Thank you God that we do not ever have to ask this question? We praise you Jesus that you alone have made us sufficient! Alleluia
WRITE
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1John 4:10 NIV
- The Romans passage has several adjectives describing our condition when Christ died for us. Write them down.
- It is so easy for us to begin to believe that we are not good enough. Or maybe just that we aren’t enough. How does the 1 John passage change that thinking?
- God’s love doesn’t change (Numbers 23:19 & Psalm 86:15) – When you add them all up what does this show you about the relationship between your goodness and God’s relationship to you (see also Ephesians 2:8)?
- Stop trying to be good enough – and start seeking God and His goodness. Trust in Jesus for your salvation. Trust in God’s plan. Repent (what can you leave behind today) and seek God’s will and transformation in your life. Write a prayer
- His love is complete. His love is steadfast. His love is so great He sent his Son to die for us. The Bible is full of God’s love for us – and examples of His steadfast love and faithfulness. Jump in and look for some more.
GROW
Dear Father God, thank you ! Thank you that your love is not conditional, that it is steadfast and complete. Thank you that our salvation is not earned, but given as a gift to us. Help us lay down the lies that have plagued us, help us see only your truth and love. May this open our eyes to how we can seek and serve you each day. In Jesus Name… AMEN!
glorious
PRAY
Oh Lord! We come before you today thankful for the gift of your Spirit in our hearts. Thank you that you do not leave us where you find us. Thank you that you transform and use ordinary people to shine your glory in this dark world. Help us to pursue you and your glory in our lives.
WRITE
READ 2 Corinthians 3:4-18
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
- Thinking of our study yesterday, and knowing that the Spirit is in us and at work in our lives, why are we confident?
- As humans it is easy to believe that we don’t do enough or are not good enough. But what does this passage tell us about our sufficiency?
- Our sufficiency is from God! Alleluia! This is the beauty of the New Covenant in Christ. Let’s make two lists… Old Covenant & New Covenant. Using verses 7-17 write down the characteristics of the two covenants.
- Using 2 Corinthians 3:18 write down an “I” statement. Because of Christ I have an unveiled face…
GROW
What joy to know that God loves you so much that He has redeemed you and is working to transform you. Know that what Christ has done for your makes you sufficient & free! Now – live like it!
Dear Father God, thank you ! Thank you that you have lifted the veil from our eyes and hearts. Thank you that you have given us a New Covenant in the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ! Thank you for the freedom and life that gives us. Help us to live today in your sufficiency. Help us today to open our hearts as you to continue to transform us from one degree of glory to another. May our lives be evidence of you…
letters
PRAY
Father God we thank you that your Spirit is in us. Thank you that when we become a new creation that you put your Spirit in us and begin to guide and use us. Lord open our eyes to the reality of who you say we are, and work in our hearts to change us into who you see us to be…
WRITE
READ 2 Corinthians 3:1-3
“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our[a] hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
2 Corinthians 3:3
- As Paul writes to the Corinthian church, what does he call them?
- Who was the letter from?
- Who was the letter to?
- Who was used to write the letter?
- On what was the letter written?
- What story of transformation has the Spirit written on your heart?
- How can you be a letter from Christ today?
GROW
Dear Father God, you have put your Spirit in our hearts for a purpose. Yes – to reconcile us to you and to seal us for eternity – but also so that we can be your letter to the world. A letter from Christ and written by you. Lord work in our lives today so that we can be a witness to your love for us and for the world. May you use us as you used Paul to encourage others and to show them a picture of who you are. May we be open to your guiding today and every day so that our lives will be a living sacrifice and evidence of your glory. In Jesus name…amen!
New Year, New You
PRAY
Father God, in this new year may the love of Christ control us. Lord, help us to see ourselves as you see us, and help us to live & love as the new creations that we are.
WRITE
READ 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
- Why does Paul conclude that the love of Christ controls him?
- The next statement we see is a “therefore” – because we know that the love of Christ controls us & because Christ is no longer regarded in the flesh – we now know what fact about ourselves as Christians (v. 17)?
- What happened to the old?
- What has come?
- What did God complete through Christ?
- God has reconciled us through Christ – what does that mean (v. 19)?
- What does this make us – what has God entrusted to us?
- For our sake… (finish this sentence using verse 21)
- When God looks at you what does He see?
- Write about what it means to become the righteousness of God…
GROW
- This is the time of year that we often spend time making resolutions, setting goals and dedicating ourselves to living a better life. But the reality is – when we become Christians we already have a new life. Let’s set out this year to embrace who Christ has already made us to be. Let us live in His sufficiency seeking His will and His purpose for ourselves. Let’s start to look at who the Bible tells us that is!
Dear Father God, help us to realize who we are in Christ. Help us to see ourselves the way that you see us, and help us to make ourselves available so that you can continue transform us knowing that you who have begun a good work in us will see it though to completion.
folly
PRAY
Dear God, help us to open our eyes to the truth of your word and see only Christ!
WRITE
READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
“ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
- What does this passage tell us about the word of the cross (v.18)?
- What does verse 21 tell us about how we know God and are saved (see also Ephesians 2:8-9)?
- How does that present a problem to the world (v. 22)?
- What does Paul preach (v.23).
- And Christ is… (v.24)?
GROW
- It is easy to think that we need to have the perfect words, or know the Bible front to back in order to share about Jesus. But here, Paul breaks it down. They are not going to be convinced by wisdom or signs – it is only about Christ and Christ crucified. He IS the power and wisdom. Pray about with whom God would like you to the share the folly of the cross.
Dear Father God, we praise your for the mighty day on Calvary when Jesus took on our sin. Where he was crucified for our sake. Where he willingly gave up is life to save the lost. That he rose again and sits with you in heaven as our advocate. Thank you that you have revealed yourself to us. That by grace we have been saved through faith. Lord, may we have hearts to see the lost. May we have eyes to see those with whom you would like us to share the story of Christ – knowing that it is he who is power and wisdom. May you open the eyes of many to the truth of Christ. In Jesus name… Amen
Photo by Alexandra Mirgheș on Unsplash
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