PRAY

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

Jeremiah 29:13

WRITE

• God promises what when we seek Him wholeheartedly?
• What do you think that it means to follow God with your whole heart?
• Is your heart divided? Pray and ask the Lord to reveal anything that is distracting you from seeking God wholeheartedly.
  • Search me, O God, and know my heart!
        Try me and know my thoughts!
     And see if there be any grievous way in me,
        and lead me in the way everlasting!
    Psalm 139:23-24
• Record what God has revealed to you and ask Him to change your heart to seek Him completely.
• What are some practical changes you can make?

GROW

Praying that the you would seek the Lord with all your heart – knowing that you WILL find Him! Alleluia! Amen!

PRAY

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

For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life.
John 3:16

WRITE

• What are God’s motives?
• Who is included as the object of His love?
• As a result of His love what does God do for us (John 19, Romans 5:6-11)?
• Who has the option of salvation?
• What is the result?
• Write down a reaction to this amazing love.

We can be certain that we are included in that all encompassing love of God. Christ died for the WORLD and EVERYONE has the  invitation to accept His gift of grace and love of Jesus Christ. Christ died for each one of us while we were still sinners – we don’t have to get cleaned up or make ourselves “right”. We just have to be willing to believe in the saving work of Christ on the cross. The only exclusive part of that is your choice to include or exclude yourself.

GROW

May the all encompassing love of God be real to you today. May you be able to feel how long and wide and deep is His love for you and for the entire world.

PRAY

Take time to pray about the passage and read it through before beginning.
Genesis 1

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep,and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Genesis 1:2

WRITE

Creation by definition means to bring something into being & at that often through imaginative skill. It is hard to wrap our minds around what it must have looked like. Nothingness… an expanse of darkness…formless & empty. To create such beauty from nothing. It is a stark reminder of what Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us about God. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” A reminder as we consider His awesome creation!

• Re-read Genesis 1:2 and read John 1:1-5. Using these passages who was present at creation?
• Awesome to think that Father, Son & Holy Spirit were part of the creation. Write down what God created on each day. What stands out to you? Are there any new details? Why is this significant to you?
• Read Romans 1:20 – What does this verse tell you about what God reveals in His creation?
• Write down Genesis 1:1 & Write down Genesis 1:31 – From these two verses, what do you know?

God created the earth and everything in it and called it good! There are many theories and ideas about creation – even within the Christian Church. We may not know how He did it, if it was a literal 7 days or if God’s time took years. But, it is written in His word and so we can know one thing is certain…In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!

GROW

Praying for you as you trust in the truth of God’s word.  May you see His eternal power and divine nature in His beautiful creation. Take time now to praise Him for what he has created!

PRAY

Take time to pray about the passage and read it through before beginning.
Joshua 1:5-9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”
Joshua 1:9

WRITE

As I was reading through 2 Kings yesterday, there was one line that really stood out. The idea of not turning to the right or to the left. And it drew me back to Joshua. God has given us a path – His word – His promises – and He calls us not to turn from it. Look at the contrast between these two kings.

King Amon
“He abandoned the Lord, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord.
2 Kings 21:22

King Josiah
“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father,and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.”
2 Kings 22:2

• It is so easy to turn to the right or left, but going back to the Joshua passage – how do we keep on the path?
• What is God’s final directive to Joshua (and you)  in verse  9?
• We are not alone as we walk this sometimes challenging path and we may not understand why it’s taken the turn it has. Use the photo from this post to help you consider why it is important not to turn to the left or to the right.
• We sometimes make our path harder when we choose to step off. Write about how God revealed himself as He cared for you all the way back to His path.
• The picture also reveals a windy path… Even God’s path for us can be challenging at times. Write about how God used a challenging time in you life to strengthen your faith.

GROW

Praying for you as you meditate on His word, as you hold it in your heart and let it flow from your mouth. May His path be ever before you, may you trust him and know that He is with you wherever you go. What comfort, what purpose, what joy we have in Him!