investment strategy

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PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Spirit to guide you today
as you read through the entire passage!

READ

“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3

“’Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’  And he 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

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33

WRITE

Recently I have been reading through the book of Ezekiel.  I have been thinking about the fickle hearts of the Israelites of long ago and about the people of God today.  We are no different than they were! We set our hearts on things other than God, we work for comfort, money and success. We desire the pleasures that this world has to offer seeking after happiness, and fulfillment and satisfaction in places other than our relationship with God through Christ. As Ezekiel prophesies about the fall of Jerusalem God instructs him to tell His people, “ Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins.  They will know that I alone am the Lord and that I was serious when I said I would bring this calamity on them.” Ezekiel 6:9NLT. All over the Old Testament God calls the act of unfaithfulness by His people “whoring.” It is a vivid picture of how God views us when we choose “things” before Him. And, though God has made a way to Him through our Savior Jesus Christ and He has given us grace upon grace – and abounding steadfast love.  Though, as Christians, He will judge us as redeemed citizen cleansed in the blood of Christ. I do not believe He views the act of unfaithfulness to Him any differently. He wants our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole mind. Does He have yours?

  • Where is your treasure?
  • Where is your heart?
  • Where is your mind?
  • Where are you investing your time, talents and money?
  • Write down some of the idols that you have set in your life. Destroy them!
  • Pray and ask the Lord to  change you so that you love Him with all your heart and soul and mind!

GROW

Praying that the Lord change you to seek Him first. May we all dedicate our lives and hearts to Him. Praying for you!

while you wait

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Spirit to guide you today
as you read through the entire passage!

READ
2 Peter 3:13-18

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18

WRITE

  • According to this passage, what are we looking forward to?
  • While we are waiting we are called to be found unblemished and in a state of peace. Both of these characteristics are completed in us through Christ. Look up 1 Corinthians 6:11 & Ephesians 2:14. Write down what stands out to you about these passages.
  • Peter then goes on to tell us about the wisdom of Paul’s letters. What does he tell us that the false teachers are doing?
  • What is the warning that he gives?
  • How can we be sure that we are not swept away by false teachers (1 John 4:1-6, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  • Peter gives one last piece of advice, write it down.
  • What do you need to be doing to grow this way?

GROW

Praying that the Lord would give you wisdom and discernment as you test the teaching of those around you. So that you can grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Praying for you!

connected & free

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PRAY

Take time to ask the Spirit to guide you as you spend time in God’s word today…

READ
John 8:31-32 & John 15:1-11

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
John 8:31-32

WRITE

  • What does it mean to abide in Jesus and in His word (See also John 15:1-11)?
  • It is pretty awesome to think that when we abide in Him – He abides in us! How does this truth affect your desire to seek Him?
  • The more our lives our intertwined with Christ the more we receive from the life-giving, freedom giving, joy giving vine. Where do you stand today in your life with Christ? Are you so connected to Him that your joy is complete? Are you working apart from Him and bearing no fruit? Or do you fall somewhere in between?
  • When we know Christ we know freedom. When we submit to Christ & abide in Christ we grow in Christ and bear His fruit. What can you change today to better root your life in Christ ?

GROW

Praying that the Lord would work to grow you and mold you and make you His disciple. May you know that in Christ you have freedom as you remain in a state of connectedness with Him. And, in turn will you bear much fruit and bring Him glory. Praying for you!

 

attitude adjustment

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Take time to pray and ask the Spirit to guide you today!

READ
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

WRITE

  • According to this passage, what is God’s will for you?
  • Is this the attitude that you carry with you each day?
  • Write down ways that you can incorporate this attitude into your day to day life!
  • Ask the Spirit to help you to change you so that you can rejoice, pray & give thanks at all times.

GROW

Praying that the Spirit would intercede so that you will stay connected with the Lord in prayer, be thankful no matter what & let His joy be yours always. Praying for you…

transformed

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through this time today

Read Romans 12:9-21

WRITE

Building on our thoughts from last week on transformation. I was thinking that we could pray this week for God to work on a specific attribute in us. As you read through Romans 12:9-21 choose an attribute and ask the Lord to cultivate it in you. Try to pray continually throughout the day. Ask the Spirit to show you where you need to change the way you think, speak & act. Then, pursue Him & allow Him to change you.

  • Take time to write each day about what the Lord is revealing to you as you continue to seek His transformation!

GROW

Praying that the Lord would guide you as He works in your heart and mind to transform your life! It is not always easy to think we need to change, and certainly it is not so easy to actually change! But, you can be certain that what the Lord will transform you into is far better than where you are now. Praying for you!

 

the problem with sin

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

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

Read Matthew 1 John 1:5 – 1 John 2:2

“ If we say we have fellowship with him
while we walk in darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth.”
1 John 1:6

WRITE

I’ve noticed something lately. We live in an age of moral relativism. Using this world-view we get to make up our own morality. We get to decide what is light and what is dark. What is sin and what is acceptable. I hear phrases like, “I’m not as bad as______” or “it’s not that bad…” or “it’s only a little lie”. Really?! Sin is sin! We have whitewashed sin and use others as our barometer of wrong-doing. But God’s word is pretty specific about both who we are as man (Romans 3:23) and who we are as believers in Christ (Romans 3:24-25, 1 Corinthians 5:17). It’s easy to disregard our sins, but as followers of Christ we are called to be “living sacrifices” and to change the way we think and live to be in tune with God’s word and His desire for our lives. I love what Romans 12:2 in the NLT tells us, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” He loves us so much… he desires to transform our lives for our benefit and His glory! Now let’s dig into 1  John to see what God says about our problem with sin…

  • Where does this message come from?
  • What does verse 5 make clear about the attributes of God.
  • Write down the 5 “IF” statements in this passage as well as their corresponding result. – what is your reaction?
  • God is faithful and full of love.What does 1 John 1:9 tell us about what God does with our sin when we confess?
  • I love 1 John 2:1 – What does the “But” tell us about the solution to our sin problem?
  • Jesus “is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2 – What does this tell you about the thoroughness of the forgiveness available to all who put their trust in Christ?
  • How does this passage make you reconsider the way that you look at your own sin? Ask the Spirit to guide you as you seek His will and His transformation…

GROW

Praying this for us all today…

“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

to pray

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

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!

Trust?

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PRAY

Take time now to ask the Spirit to guide you as you seek after the Lord.

WRITE

  • What has been dominating your mind today? Is there something that you just can’t stop thinking/worrying about?
  • Read Proverbs 3:5-6
  • Put it in His hands… Write a prayer laying it down and trusting in His plan.

This is my favorite new song. Thank you Tauren Wells for putting into song what is in my heart.

 

GROW

Praying that the Spirit would guide you as you lay your heart into the hands of our Almighty Lord! He will make your path straight, trust in Him…

Mind – set

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 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!