knitting

Published on January 21, 2019January 20, 2019 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

As we start this new year, God has put it on my heart to pray scripture in the coming days. There will be a slight change to my format, but I hope you will join me in raising our voices in prayer.

PRAY

Dear God, may we, like Paul, struggle on behalf of others. May we have a heart for those we know and those we don’t know and may we grow to know you more of you each day.

WRITE

READ Colossains 2:1-3

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.“

What does Paul tell us about what he has been doing, and what does that tell you about what we should be doing?
What does Paul want believers to “be”?
What does the image of hearts knit together tell you about how we are connected to our fellow believers?
What does he want them to reach?
He wants them to be fully assured of and understand God’s mystery – Christ – in whom are what?

GROW

Take time to pray this for the people in your church, pastors, believers across our nation and around the world.

Dear Father God, we praise you that you have given us the example of Paul. A man that was completely transformed and made new in Christ. Lord give us hearts like his. Give us hearts that desire to struggle with and for those we know and those we don’t. We pray today that our hearts may be encouraged, and that you would knit together the hearts of all believers everywhere. That we would see the image of God in each one and love the way that you have loved us. Lord help each believer grown to truly know Christ that we may have godly wisdom and knowledge so as to minister to one another and all. In Jesus Name… Amen

Photo by Imani on Unsplash

Tired? Just Keep Going

Published on May 5, 2017May 5, 2017 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
2 Thessalonians 3:13

“…do not grow weary in doing good.”
2 Thessalonians

WRITE

When I moved to the Washington D.C. area about 20 years ago. I was a fresh faced 20 something. I had recently graduated from college and was a transplant from the mid-west. I smiled and said “hi” to everyone. I held doors and waved at neighbors. I went out of my way to greet people and engaged in conversations with the cashiers. Sadly, many of my efforts were not reciprocated, ignored or rebuffed. It got tiring, and I even began to feel foolish. Slowly my kindness to strangers dwindled, and I was the one tooting my horn, and walking with my head down. But I soon realized that instead of shining the light of Christ into the world, I was allowing the world to cover my light with a bushel basket. It’s still hard when I walk past a stranger and greet them with a cheery “hello” and I’m ignored. But, I just say a prayer and look forward to my next opportunity to shine some light into this dark world.

Do you ever feel weary in doing good?
It could be the service you provide at church, the hard work you do in the office, or the tireless job of parenting, but remember… it is not man you are serving, but your heavenly Father (see Colossians 3:23). How does this change your perspective?
It is so cliche, but we may be the only opportunity to meet Jesus some people may have. Write a prayer asking God to use you and your daily interaction for His glory and His kingdom.

GROW

Praying for you today, that you will not grow weary, but will continue to do good as you serve our Almighty Father! May His strength, His wisdom, His love, His patience & His joy be yours today! Praying for you!

Power & Wisdom

Published on April 19, 2017April 19, 2017 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!

Be an Overcomer

Published on January 27, 2017January 27, 2017 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

PRAY

Make sure you take time to read the passage and pray about it before you begin.

Read
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

WRITE

Short passage today… and jumping back to Romans 12, but I’m really struck by this verse! Good v. Evil. It is a battle that we know is constantly swirling around us. Ephesians 6:12 tells us “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” First He commands us to not allow this evil to overcome us! And yet… He gives us a way to overcome it! Good! Good overcomes evil! Sometimes it is hard. Sometimes it is hard to do the good thing… to say the right thing… to stand up for the moral thing… to do the Jesus thing! But, what happens when we do? We overcome evil. And remember – we are not doing this on our own – we have a helper – a counselor – the very Spirit of God that will empower, enlighten and guide us along our path. (Luke 12:2, John 14:25-26, Acts 4:31). Praying that the Lord would guide each of us where we need to be the good today!

What does this verse mean to you?
So I ask… where is God revealing evil to you? Pray about it!
What is God calling you to do to shine the light of Christ into this situation? Write down the ways that God is encouraging you to overcome this evil with good.

GROW

Love this song… a Call to Action – Thank you Matthew West!

I hope that you will continue to pray Romans 12:9-21 for yourself and for others. May we grasp what it means to live as a light to others and to shine Christ’s love into the darkness. Praying for you!

Paul’s Secret

Published on June 7, 2016 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

Philippians 4:12-13

“ I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.“
Philippians 4:12b-13 NLT

What is Paul’s secret to living?
He points out here that it doesn’t matter our circumstance, how can we accomplish whatever is set before us each day?
Does Paul tell us that we can do some things, or every-other thing, or almost all things. No… what does he tell us here?
So, when life seems like a waterfall, overwhelming or uncertain. Who can we rely on?
Write down Philippians 4:13.
Now insert whatever is weighing on your heart. I can ……. through Christ, who gives me strength. Pray it… ask Him for His strength. Then trust Him!

As you may know. This verse has taken the country by storm… Steph Curry one of the NBA’s best players lives by it. He writes it on his shoes before every game as a reminder of who he plays for and who enables him to play. May we all write it on our hearts as a reminder of who we live for and who enables us to live. And keep Steph Curry in your prayers as he is an amazing role model to kids (and adults).

May the Lord provide His strength for you in every way! And may you know Paul’s secret to living as you trust in Christ. Praying for you!

Just Reject It

Published on June 9, 2015June 8, 2015 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

How to Act Like a True Christian – Digging Deep Into Romans 12:9-21

“Abhor what is evil.”
Romans 12:9b

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12

When did evil make it’s first appearance (see Genesis 3. Especially 3:21-24)?
Who initiated it’s entrance?
Ephesians 6:12 reflects on exactly that. Rejecting evil is rejecting who?
Ephesians 6 goes on to remind us how to combat this spiritual darkness. What are the pieces of armor.
Romans 1:18-32 gives us a glimpse of evil in our world. Yet…we are told instead how to live our lives (1 Peter 1:14)?
We can live transformed lives through the blood of Jesus. He allows us to overcome evil by the power of the cross. I try to use Philippians 4:8 as a benchmark in regards to what I watch, listen to, say. Write down the things we are called to think about.

We are called to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. May Jesus guide and protect you as you seek to reject evil and follow the way of the truth! Praying for you…

True Love

Published on June 8, 2015June 5, 2015 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

Digging Deep Into Romans 12:9-21

“Let love be genuine.”
Romans 12:9a

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage.

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love,
love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again,
not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God”
1 Peter 1:22-23

What is Truth (to find out what Jesus said look up John 8:31, John 14:6, John 18:37) ?
How do we purify our soul (see 1 John 3:3)?
What is the result of our transformed life… our souls have become pure through Christ for a reason. What is it?
Who are we to love (see John 15:12)?
How are we to love?
The definition of “earnest” is – showing a sincere & intense conviction. Rewrite 1 Peter 3:22b inserting that definition in place of the word earnest. Love one another…
Still, earnest love will mean nothing unless we have what heart condition?
What does the word pure mean to you?
This pure, earnest love pours out of us as a result of what?
Respond… is there anything you need to change? What does “Genuine Love” look like to you?

He has poured out Himself for you! Jesus is the Way the Truth & the Life. You have been eternally transformed by Christ.
– SO –
Love with a heart made new by the Spirit that lives within you!

Bring Him Back… James 5

Published on February 25, 2014February 24, 2014 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage

James 5:19-20

“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
James 5:19-20

How do these verses shed new light on your call to bring your friends and loved ones back to the truth of Jesus Christ?

Seek the lost… I will be praying for you!

Your Gift to God – A Living Sacrifice

Published on January 24, 2014January 23, 2014 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage

Romans 12:1-2

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 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.”
Romans 12:1-2

Here Paul pleads with the Romans – and you – to present God with what kind of sacrifice?
Do you think of yourself as a living sacrifice? What does that look like to you (Mark 12:31-32)?
What is the purpose of this kind of sacrifice?
You are warned not to conform to the ways of this world, what are you called to do instead?
What are the results of this transformation?
REMEMBER: God can not transform you unless you are willing to begin by putting your sweet sacrifice on His altar. Will you do it now?

God wants you as a holy & acceptable sacrifice! Lay yourself down for Him now – it will bring amazing changes. I will be praying for you!

Your Gift to God – Encourage One Another

Published on January 22, 2014January 22, 2014 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

Ask the Spirit to guide you as you read God’s word for today. Remember to read the entire passage

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior you obtain what?
Through whom did you obtain your salvation?
Because Christ died for you…what is your ultimate destiny?
Define the word therefore…
This passages tells us….that because God has saved us from wrath & given us salvation through Christ so that we might live with Christ forever we should___________.
Based on this passage where should our source of encouragement come from?
When you encourage others, does it ever occur to you to encourage them by reminding them of their eternal destiny? Is there really any better encouragement?
So often we get caught up in our worldly circumstances. We give encouragement based on what people have or have done. But, here God tells us to encourage one another based on what Christ did for us! A reminder of our ETERNAL destiny.
Who can you encourage today?!

Encourage one another. Build up the Body of Christ! I will be praying for you!