all people

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.com1 Comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study God’s word today! 

“First of all, then, I urge that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings
be made for all people,“
1 Timothy 2:1

WRITE

  • Think about all the strangers you  come in contact with in a day. Now think of the impact you could make if you prayed for them. We are called to pray continually… so today, choose to pray for those who you are in line with, sitting at the light with, sitting in the waiting room with, who are in the houses you run by on your daily run. Write about your experience.

GROW

It is said of Jesus in Matthew 9, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” And that is how many people around us live. We don’t know how prayer works, but we do know that our prayers are powerful because God is powerful. Praying that as you keep your eyes focused on God and in prayer for those around you that you, too,  would be changed by His love, peace and compassion.

big mouth

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study God’s word today! 

Matthew 15:10-19

“‘Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.'”
Matthew 10b-11

 

WRITE

  • What does Matthew 15:18 reveal about what comes out of our mouths?
  • Think about what has been coming out of your mouth lately. Pray about it… what is God revealing to you about what is in your heart.
  • Take time to pray and ask God to do some heart surgery and change the way you think so that what comes out of your mouth will reflect your heart for Jesus.

GROW

You will be my witnesses… that’s what Jesus tells His disciples and us! What an honor to be called into His service and to have the opportunity to share the love of Christ! May we all honor God with our hearts and mouths as we seek to bring Him glory! Praying for you…

six things…

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study God’s word today! 

Proverbs 6:16-19

“There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
 a false witness who breathes out lies,
    and one who sows discord among brothers.”
Proverbs 6:16-19

WRITE

  • Write down the six (or seven) things the Lord hates.
  • Dig into the Bible to uncover more about what God thinks about life choices.
    • Haughty Eyes – Humility (Philippians 2:3)
    • Lying Tongue – Put on your new self (Colossians 3:9-10)
    • Hand that Sheds Innocent Blood – Reconcile (Matthew 5:21-26)
    • Heart that devises and runs to evil – Set your heart on the Spirit (Romans 8:5-6)
    • Bears False Witness – Put away falsehood (Ephesians 4:17-32)
    • Sow Discord Among Brothers – Build up (Ephesians 4:17-32, John 13:35)

GROW

It’s easy to set our hearts and minds on earthy things. And desire to get even, exact our revenge, or get ahead at any cost. But as we see in Proverbs – it’s not something the Lord encourages. Instead we are directed in Romans 12 that ““if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Remember you get to choose what you hold in your heart. You get to choose what you act on and what attitude that you have  – every day. If you know Jesus then you are a new creation and you have His Spirit renewing you day by day. Choose to set your mind on the things of the Spirit – so that you may live in light and peace! Praying for you!

read & pray

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Spirit to guide you as you seek the Lord today.

 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Ephesians 6:18 NLT

WRITE

  • We are commanded to pray in the Spirit all the time! So… look at a headline in today’s news and write a prayer. I challenge you to pray often for the events you see in the news and swirling around you every day. Prayer is powerful because God is powerful! Alleluia!

GROW

Ask the Lord to guide you with how and when to pray each day. Ask the Spirit to reveal to you what burdens Him, and seek God’s will in all circumstances. We may not even know what or how to pray, but we know that “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26. May we all be daily prayer warriors. Praying for you.

imperfect vessel

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PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study God’s word today! 

2 Corinthians 4NIV

“ For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6NIV

WRITE

  • What has God shone in our hearts?
  • In what do we carry this treasure?
  • What does the image of jars of clay speak about our state?
  • What does the idea of God using fragile, imperfect vessels to shine His light speak about God?
  • Paraphrase 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. How does this change your perspective on hope?
  • How does this hope apply to your life?

GROW

We are fragile, imperfect, easily crushed jars of clay. But we carry an amazing treasure… the gift of new life in Christ and the light of His saving Spirit! We have an eternal hope, may we shine the light of Christ through our cracked vessels that many will know His love and salvation! Praying for you

 

time machine

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PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study God’s word today! 

Explore the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

WRITE

  • If you could travel back in time and choose to be with Jesus at any point in His ministry, what event would you choose and why?
  • How can you apply this story to your life today?

GROW

We do not have the opportunity to travel back in person. But what a gift that we have God’s word so that we can read and grow from it each day. Take time to study God’s word…God will speak to you through the pages of the Bible (“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:10) Praying that the life and teachings of Jesus will speak to you today.

choose peace

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study God’s word today! 

“You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3

WRITE

Is it really that simple? My mind is constantly jumping around. Imagining “what if’s” and worst case scenarios. Planning weeks ahead and thinking about what might happen. But God gives us a formula for His peace in Isaiah – and reminds us constantly throughout His word that peace is possible when we choose Him.

  • God will keep us in peace – but what do we have to do?
  • We can keep our mind fixed on God by recalling His word. Write down some of your favorite verses – use them to keep your mind fixed on Him. (here are some of my favorites Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 3:6, Jeremiah 29:11, 1 Peter 5:7, John 16:33, Romans 8:28)
  • We can keep our mind fixed on Him when we pray continually. Do you have a burden that is weighing you down. Write it down – lay it down. Pray about it, and turn the scenario you have concocted in your mind into a prayer to our Almighty God!
  • Finally, reminds us that peace comes when we actively choose to do what?

GROW

When we trust God, when we keep our mind fixed on Him – he offers us His peace. Praying that the Lord would draw you close, and fill you with peace as you choose to keep your mind fixed on Him!

got gifts?

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you spend time in God’s word today.

READ

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 & 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Romans 12:3-8

Exodus 30:22

Ephesians 4:11-14

WRITE

In case you were wondering – the answer is YES! If you are a believer in Christ Jesus than you have a spiritual gift, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 2:7. And, as we can be certain that it is for the common good of the church – we can be sure you are supposed to use it! There are a myriad of books and websites which may help you discern what your spiritual gifts are, but let’s start by looking at what the Bible says God has distributed to His people.

  • Using the passages that we read make a list of spiritual gifts.
  • Pray and as the Lord to help you discern your gifts. Think about your natural talents – write them down.
  • Consider where God is working in your life and honing your skills – is there a place where you see God’s hand?
  • Do you have a certain passion for service or ministry. Where does your heart break – where is God moving you?
  •  Paul exhorts Timothy to, “fan into flame the gift of God” 2 Timothy 1:6. What can you do today to develop and use the gift that the Lord has given you?

GROW

You have been given gifts by God to serve Him and His church! It is your responsibility to seek His will, His growth, and with boldness walk forward in service to Him. Praying that you will grow and fan into flame the gift of God in your own life!