Category: Godly life

to pray

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PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read, ponder and write.

Read Matthew 14:13-33

“And after he had dismissed the crowds,
he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone…”
Matthew14:23

WRITE

In Matthew Chapter 14 you will find two very familiar stories. Jesus feeds the 5000 and Jesus walks on water. But it is the little bit wedged between these two magnificent miracles that I want to focus on today. The story begins with Jesus trying to get some time alone. But, the people seek Him out and when He sees them – as only Jesus could amidst his exhaustion –  He has compassion on them. He ministers to them, heals them, feeds them, pours Himself out for them, and then…

  • According to Matthew 14:23 what does Jesus do next?
  • What does this reveal about the most essential part of the day?
  • Does this make you rethink your attitudes amidst your exhaustion?
  • What can you do today to take action or re-prioritize your time?

GROW

Praying that the example of Jesus will impact your heart today. May we all seek relationship with our heavenly Father the way that Jesus did. May each of us crave the fellowship that only our mighty God can provide. Praying for you!

What rock?

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

Read Matthew 7:24-27

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:25

WRITE

I really began this thinking about the words “in the Lord”. Our life should be rooted, reliant on, built in the Lord. From here the Lord guided me to this passage in Matthew. We often hear people speak of their loved ones saying, “he is my rock” or my “mom is my rock”. But here God tells us where our foundation should be… who we should trust to be our rock. Hear His words… do His words and you will establish a firm foundation.

  • Using an online Bible tool such as Bible Gateway, look up the words “in the Lord”.
  • Jot down some of the verses that come up that speak into your heart. (some of my favorites are: Philippians 4:4, Proverbs 3:5, Psalm 37:4, 1 Corinthians 1:31, Ephesians 6:10, 2 Chronicles 20:20)
  • What does this reveal about our thoughts, attitudes and goals?
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to come into your heart and mind and change the way you listen and do.

GROW

May you continue to build your life on the Rock that is Christ. May you seek Him, listen to Him and do as He has shown you. May your life be rooted in His love as you rejoice, trust, and delight in Him! Praying for you!

Mind – set

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PRAY

Take time to pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit.

Read Romans 8:5-6

“…to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 8:6

WRITE

Mindfulness is the new buzzword. It is supposed to help you focus, calm your mind, and help you put life into perspective. But, I know better. There is nothing in my own mind that will alone bring focus or calm.

God has a better way!

  • It does matter what you set your mind on! How does this passage direct us to focus our minds?
  • What is the result of a mind set on “the flesh”?
  • What is the result of a mind set on the Spirit?
  • Look up Philippians 4:8 – how are we directed to think?
  • Consider the list from the Philippians passage – are the things you are watching, reading or listening to that direct you to focus on the ways of the world?
  • Take time to ask the Spirit to refocus your mind to the ways of the Spirit, and continue to pursue a mind set on the Spirit.

GROW

Praying that the Lord would work in your hearts and minds to transform you and your life. May your mind be set on the Spirit and may He bring you life and peace!

Just Pray About It

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
1 Timothy 2:1-6

 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ”
1 Timothy 2:1

WRITE

  • According to verse 1, who does Paul implore us to pray for?
  • What are the three things he specifically asks us to pray for them?
  • Why does God want us to pray for all people (v. 3 & v.4)
  • Find a headline from today & write a prayer lifting it up to our mighty God!

Keep Praying…. Christ Tomlin reminds us in his beautiful song “God of  This City” that God has a beautiful plan…

GROW

Thanking God that He is love! Thanking God that He has a desire that all will be saved. Praying for you that you feel His love and direction today as you pray for this lost and lonely world. May all come to know our amazing Savior! Praying for you!

Wise Living

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
Colossians 4:5-6

 “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Colossians 4:5-6 NLT

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Colossians 4:5-6ESV

WRITE

  • How is it possible to live wisely in a world that does not know Christ (John 14:1)(Luke 12:12) (2 Timothy 3:10) (1 Corinthians 1:20-25)?
  • When you go through your day – are you making the most of every opportunity, or are there times when God has encouraged you to share (or not) and you have not been obedient?
  • Read Romans 12:9-21. Think of these verses in terms of a discussion. How does it help you understand what it means to have a conversation “seasoned with salt”?
  • Why is it important to be prepared for every opportunity?

GROW

Praying that the Lord would use you today. That your conversation would be perfectly seasoned, and full of God’s love, grace and truth. May we all seek to be prepared for every situation, and may the Lord provide us with His Spirit to guide and strengthen us. Praying for you!

Tired? Just Keep Going

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
2 Thessalonians 3:13

 “…do not grow weary in doing good.”
2 Thessalonians

WRITE

When I moved to the Washington D.C. area about 20 years ago. I was a fresh faced 20 something. I had recently graduated from college and was a transplant from the mid-west. I smiled and said “hi” to everyone. I held doors and waved at neighbors. I went out of my way to greet people and engaged in conversations with the cashiers. Sadly, many of my efforts were not reciprocated, ignored or rebuffed. It got tiring, and I even began to feel foolish. Slowly my kindness to strangers dwindled, and I was the one tooting my horn,  and walking with my head down. But I soon realized that instead of shining the light of Christ into the world, I was allowing the world to cover my light with a bushel basket. It’s still hard when I walk past a stranger and greet them with a cheery “hello” and I’m ignored. But, I just say a prayer and look  forward to my next opportunity to shine some light into this dark world.

  • Do you ever feel weary in doing good?
  • It could be the service you provide at church, the hard work you do in the office, or the tireless job of parenting, but remember… it is not man you are serving, but your heavenly Father (see Colossians 3:23). How does this change your perspective?
  • It is so cliche, but we may be the only opportunity to meet Jesus some people may have. Write a prayer asking God to use you and your daily interaction for His glory and His kingdom.

GROW

Praying for you today, that you will not grow weary, but will continue to do good as you serve our Almighty Father! May His strength, His wisdom, His love, His patience & His joy be yours today! Praying for you!

If You’re Gonna’ Brag

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31

 “ And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,”
1 Corinthians 1:30

WRITE

  • Write down the description that Paul uses to characterize what we once were.
  • But God had a greater purpose for our lives, what was it?
  • What was the result of taking the ordinary and using it for His divine purpose?
  • Because of Jesus’s death on the cross – what is your  new identity.
  • We are “in Christ” and how does Paul describe who Christ is?
  • What is Paul’s final reminder?
  • Why is this such an important reminder when we reflect on our own gifts and abilities?

GROW

As we look to the cross, we recognize that we are nothing without Christ. We sang the song “Great are you Lord” by One Sonic Society today in church. Every time we sing, “It’s your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to you”, I get a little teary! It is so true! Everything ability, every gift, every breath is from Him! May we all seek to recognize that we are nothing without Him & seek each day to boast in the Lord! Praying for you!

Heirs

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before you begin.

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Titus 3:4-7

WRITE

When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior our relationship with God changes. When we put our faith in Jesus –  we receive His Holy Spirit , and “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14. We are His children – what love… what mercy…what hope…

  • Why did God our Savior save us when He came?
  • What act of His Holy Spirit took place in us at that time?
  • How are we justified?
  • Then what do we become (see also Romans 8:14-17)?
  • What has been poured out on us (I love this image)?
  • What does it mean to you to be considered an heir  in God’s kingdom?
  • How does that renew your hope and change how you look at your circumstances today?

GROW

Praying that the reality of your identity in Christ will become more real to you today. May you hope in Him as he rejuvenates, and renews you through the work of His Spirit in your life. May your love of your Savior grow deeper and richer today as you look forward to your eternal hope! Praying for you!

Thy will

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Remember to take time to pray & read the entire passages before you begin.

“Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

WRITE

We are so human! We want what we want. Thinking of ourselves, our circumstances, our pleasure… and not trusting God for His perfect plan for our lives. He can do so much more than we can even imagine and our sight is so finite – while His vision for us is eternal!

  • When Jesus was asked how we should pray – He shared with us a prayer that should shape the way we lift up our prayers. (Matthew 6:9-13) At one point in the prayer, Jesus instructs us to say, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10. What does it mean that we would seek HIS will to be done in our lives?
  • What does it mean that we would live for Christ?
  • It is not always easy, but if we seek to do His will we can trust that we will walk in the center of His plan for us – which is the best place for us to be! We can trust that Jesus is with us always (Matthew 28:20), and that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). How do these verses bring comfort as we seek to walk according to His will?

Hillary Scott Says it so beautifully in her song, “Thy Will”

GROW

Praying that we can trust God completely with our lives. That we would say boldly “Thy will be done”  as we rely on Jesus who is always leading us. May we live every day for our risen Savior – Jesus Christ! Praying for you!

For who?

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PRAY

Remember to take time to pray & read the entire passages before you begin.

Colossians 3:23

WRITE

  • Who does this verse tell us that we need to be working for?
  • What word is used to describe where we are called to work for the Lord? Does this refer to some parts of our life – our Christian service maybe – or is there more?
  • How does it change your perspective to know that even the most mundane tasks can be done for God?

GROW

Praying that ALL the work we do would be unto the Lord. May we realize that honoring Him by doing our best work – bings Him glory. May we seek to please Him and Him alone as we serve Him in whatever we do! Praying for you!