Category: Journal Prompt

“I am the good shepherd”

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.com1 Comment

PRAY

Lord help us to see your love for us as we see this picture of you as our good Shepherd. 

READ

READ John 10:11-18

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” John 10:14

  • Make a list of how Jesus describes himself as shepherd.
  • How does this contrast with the hired hand?
  • What is the result of Jesus’s shepherding (v. 16)?
  • Jesus says repeatedly in this short passage that He will lay down His life for His sheep. Count how many times he says it.
  • After He lays down His life what does He do?  
  • Verse 18 brings a profound statement and a little revelation into the relationship between the Father and the Son. What does Jesus say?
  • Jesus says, I have been given the “charge” to lay down my life,  I have been given authority to do this and I do this because I choose to do it. Jesus loves you so much that He chose to lay down His life for you… His sheep. You are His. You are part of His flock. He cares for you as He cares for all of His sheep, with love, completely and sacrificially. What is your response?

GROW

  • “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20

“I am the door”

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Lord God, you have made clear in your word that you have offered us salvation by one name only. May we understand more clearly today the truth of the Messiah – the one deliverer.

READ

READ John 10:7-11

“‘I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.'” John 10:9

In the first part of Chapter 10 of the book of John, Jesus talks about himself and his sheep. We are going to break this down into a couple of different sections over today & tomorrow to look at what He reveals about himself.

  • Did Jesus say I am “a” door? No! He says He is _____door. What does that reveal about the way to the kingdom of God?
  • What happens when we choose to enter through Jesus (verse 9)?
  • What does Jesus say about the many false teachers who have tried to like like the savior? What do they offer?
  • In contrast, what kind of life does Jesus offer?

GROW

  • It is a common belief in this time of moral relativism and “spirituality” that we can earn our way to heaven or that there are many paths. But Jesus is very specific here about the way to salvation and abundant life. Take time today to focus on Christ and what He offers you.

Thank you Jesus that you have made a way for us. Thank you Jesus that you offer us salvation, freedom and provision – a truly abundant life. Lord may we  be as David in Psalm 18 and declare “I love you, O Lord, my strength. 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.” 

Servant

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.com1 Comment


PRAY

Lord God, help us to understand what it really means that you call yourself servant. Help us see you today in a new and fresh way. Lord, help us rest in you…

WRITE

READ Mark 10:35-45

“‘For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Mark 10:45

We looked at this passage in a different Gospel last week. This was the sermon at our church this Sunday, I encourage you to watch it. It gave me a fresh perspective on what it means when Jesus calls himself servant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5BQVmqrdeI

GROW

Jesus wants to be your servant. Go to Him in prayer and ask him where He can serve you.

Lord, so often we feel we are self sufficient. That we are called to serve you… which we are. But, we are reminded in this passage that you have come to be our servant. Help us to trust in you, to rest in you, and allow you to love us the way you have told us you will. In Jesus name…Amen


I AM

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PRAY

Father God, help us to understand the truth of who you are. Help us to understand the picture of you that you give us through the life of your Son – Jesus. Help us to understand His role in the beginning, His role here on earth and His role at your right hand in heaven. Lord may we come to love you more through what we study today.

READ

Again this passage holds such depth. It is one that we can only pray that we will come to understand. We are only brushing the surface of the breadth of what Jesus is sharing here.

READ  John 8:48-59

“Jesus answered, ‘I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.’”  John 8:49-51

  • Go through this passage and write down all of the statements that Jesus makes about Himself and His Father.
  • Of what do the Jews in this passage accuse Jesus?
  • What is Jesus’s response?
  • What promise does Jesus make in verse 51?
  • What profound statement is  Jesus making  verse 58 (see also Exodus 3:14)?
  • Read Colossians 1:15-20 to get a deeper picture of what this statement means- make a list of all of the characteristics of Christ.

GROW

  • What does it mean to you that Jesus is the image of the invisible God? 

Lord God you are amazing. You gave us a picture of who you are by sending Jesus, and an indescribable gift by reconciling all things through Him. Lord let us live in the truth that when we believe in you and trust your word that we will never see death. Alleluia! In Jesus name… Amen

He is light

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PRAY

Father God, help us to see Jesus as the Light of the World. Lord help us to see His words, accept His truth and know Him more intimately through our study today. Father, may we understand more deeply His relationship to you. May we understand more fully what He has done for us. 

WRITE

READ John 8:12-38

“So Jesus said to them, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.’ 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.”                   John 8:28-29

This passage offers so many details about who Jesus is,  His relationship to the Father and His relationship to us. We will only scratch the surface today of the depth of His message.

  • Write down all the statements Jesus makes about Himself and His relationship to His Father.
  • In this passage, Jesus had been teaching the people. To make a point, the Pharisees had attempted to trap Him with a moral dilemma (you can read more about this in 8:1-11). So, Jesus is addressing them specifically, but all people generally.
  • Write down what Jesus says to them.
  • Look at verse 30, what is the result of Jesus speaking the truth about who He is?
  • As Jesus adresses these believers, what is it that He says is an indication of being His disciple?
  • What does Jesus reveal about those who practice sin?
  • What does He reveal about the freedom He makes available?

GROW

  • In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he states, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). He is the light… but more than that He is the one who sets us free. What does it mean to you that you have been set free? 

Lord thank you that you have come into this world to seek and save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). May we abide in Your word, may we know the truth and may it set us free. Help us to live each day  in the light of that truth. 

Bread of Life

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.com1 Comment

PRAY

Father God, help us to see Jesus as the one who does your will. The one who offers us a life transforming gift when we choose to look on Him and believe.

WRITE

READ John 6:35-40

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’” John 6:35-40

  • What does Jesus claim to be and what does that satisfy?
  • What does verse 38 tell us about Jesus?
  • Using verses 39 & 40 write down what God’s will for His Son is.
  • When we choose to look on the Son and believe we are given eternal life – Alleluia! Looking at verses 37 and 40 what does Jesus tell us about that promise?

GROW

  • Jesus came to the will of the Father – to save those who look to Him in faith and trust Him for their salvation. Have you put your full faith and trust in Christ and His saving work on the cross?

Lord God you sent your Son to do your will. You sent your Son to be the propitiation for our sins. You have ordained that He would raise up His followers on the last day! Lord, help us to live according to this truth. Lord help us to have “the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18-19).

Servant

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.com1 Comment

PRAY

Lord God help us to grow to understand more of who you are by what we study in your word. Who we see of Jesus and the lessons He taught as those around Him struggled to fully understand just as we do. Lord transform our minds to be like yours.

WRITE

READ Luke 22:24-27

“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” Luke 22:24-27

  • What were Jesus’s disciples arguing about?
  • Seems a little crazy that they are seated with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and they are arguing about which one of them is the greatest. Jesus instead tells them what the greatest looks like in His kingdom – write it down.
  • Jesus then contrasts what the picture of greatness looks like from a worldly perspective. Write it down. 
  • How do these two world views differ? 
  • Even as Lord of all Jesus instead gives himself which title (read also Mark 10:42-45).

GROW

  • How is God calling you to serve Him today?

Lord serving you can look like many things. Help us to hear your call, see the need in our families and neighborhoods and offices. May we serve as Christ came to serve, may we love with the love that comes from you. In Jesus Name…

Living Water

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PRAY

Father God, you have created us with a spiritual thirst. One that will not be satisfied by anything but you. You have put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11), may we open our eyes to the truth of your love. May we open our hearts to your living water.

READ

Read all of John 4:1-26

“The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:11-14

  • Why was the woman surprised that Jesus asked her for a drink?
  • What is Jesus’s response to her?
  • This paints a beautiful picture of our spiritual thirst.  We can all relate to the idea of having physical thirst, but what Jesus is seeking to satiate is so much more. What does this tell you about your need for Christ?
  • As the passage concludes, Jesus shares some powerful truths about God the Father and God the Son. What does verse 24 tell you about God? What does Jesus reveal about himself in verses 25 & 26.
  • Jesus reveals himself as the Messiah to a struggling woman from a people with whom Jews never associated & what does that tell you about who he came to seek and save?
  • What is Jesus invitation to you?

GROW

  • God put eternity in our hearts for a reason –  he has put us here at this time in these circumstances in this place that we would seek him (Acts 17:26-27). He reveals himself in His creation, in His word, and through the gift of His Son. How does that help you look at your life in a different way?

Lord God  may  our attitude be as the psalmist writes…”As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Psalm 42:1-2) Lord may we look to Jesus to quench that thirst and may the springs of eternal life well up inside us so that we can pour out your love and life  to others. 

“I am gentle”

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.com1 Comment

PRAY

Dear God, you have revealed yourself through your Son and through the scriptures. Open our eyes to Christ this advent. May we know You more and more as we study the life of Christ and look toward His return. Soften our hearts to your truth that we may rest in the cover of your love.

READ

Matthew 11:25-30

“At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.  27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” H

  • Here little children is used to describe people who seek Jesus with simple faith. How does this picture contrast to the image of those who do not approach Jesus this way?
  • What authority does Jesus reveal in verse 27.
  • What details about the intimate relationship between the Father and Son is revealed in this passage?
  • What invitation does Jesus make to all who hear (read) of Him?
  • Two yoked oxen also share a very intimate relationship. One takes the heavy burden and leads – but unless both work together the cart will struggle to move easily or straight. What does Jesus demonstrate about the kind of relationship He desires to have with you?
  • Jesus proclaims that “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (vs. 30) What burden are you carrying around on your shoulders today? Give Jesus the heavy weight upon you and take His yoke upon you.

GROW

  • Jesus reveals who His Father is and who He is by what he shared throughout His life. What did you learn about the God today? 

Lord God you desire to be in relationship with us. Lord you desire to be our rest, and yet we carry around our burdens and struggle to accept your beautiful peace. Help us today to come. To come to you, lay down our burden at your feet and take up your yoke. Help us to experience your gentleness & love as you lead us. Knowing that when we come to you with faith like children we are bound together for eternity by your work on the cross. In Jesus name – Amen.