today

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
Psalm 118:24

 “This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24

WRITE

Even though each day may seem haphazard, or insignificant, difficult or down right awful … we can be certain that it was planned by our almighty and loving God. He prepared it for us for a purpose and we are called to be thankful for it! To rejoice, even! So no matter if you are battling a storm, fighting the mundane, or wading through uncertain waters – take time today to rejoice! Not because you feel like it or because it makes sense, but because He made today – and for that reason alone we can be glad!

  • Today is the day! Take time now to rejoice and be glad.

GROW

May our lives be a song of worship to our amazing & loving God! May we take time each day to rejoice and be glad!

If You’re Gonna’ Brag

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

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!

Power & Wisdom

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25

 “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength..”
1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV

WRITE

We sometimes forget the power in the message of the Cross – in the love of God and the work of our Savior! I love this passage because it reminds us of what faith, wisdom and power mean… and why it looks different than what the world values!

  • Why do you think that the cross could be considered foolish or a stumbling block to non-believers?
  • To we who believe why is it the power of God (see also Ephesians 1:3-14)?
  • What does v.21 tell us about how we can or can not come to a saving faith (see also Ephesians 2:8-9)?
  • Paraphrase 1 Corinthians 1:23-25.
  • In our culture today much emphasis is put on human wisdom. How does this passage establish your thinking about true wisdom and power?

Love this Song – Just the name of Jesus is powerful!
Lincoln Brewster. “There is Power”

GROW

Praying that your faith would grow as you trust in the power and wisdom of Christ and His cross. May we continually rely on His power, and may we seek to know Him more each day as we pursue Him tirelessly. Praying for you!

In His Body

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
1 Peter 2:24

 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:24

WRITE

This whole chapter of 2 Peter is amazing. But as we  near the celebration of our risen Savior, I wanted to focus on this verse. It is so powerful… the image of Christ physically carrying our sins on the cross.

  • We often think of the physical torture, the physical pain of the crucifixion. But what do you think it may have felt like to bear all of the sins of the entire world – for all time – in his body on the cross?
  •  Consider the spiritual pain of the cross, the emotional pain of the cross, as well as the physical manifestation of  these as Jesus hung on that cross for you.
  • Write a prayer of thanksgiving to your Savior!

Praise Jesus with this song by Chris Tomlin – “At the Cross”

GROW

Praying that the complete, eternal, sacrificial love of Jesus would be new to you today! He is an awesome Savior!!! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Purpose

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
1 Timothy 1:12-17

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.  All honor and glory to God forever and ever!
1 Timothy 1:15-17NLT

WRITE

  • In Paul’s letter to Timothy  how does he describe himself before he knew Christ?
  • This passage tells us simply… why did Christ come?
  • Why does Paul say God showed him mercy?
  • Isn’t that kind of the way it is with all of us? We are eternally changed and become an example of the love of Christ and mercy of God! Does this make you think of your purpose differently.

I love this song… As we look forward to the celebration of our risen Savior may we cultivate thankful hearts for we are made alive in Him! Thank you for saving us!

 

GROW

Praying that the Lord would continue to work in your hearts that you would be examples of His great love and mercy! 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?

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

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!