Tag: Journal

masterpiece

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Thank you Lord that you have knit us together in our mothers womb. Thank you Lord that you have known us before the foundation of time and that you have numbered every hair on our head. Thank you that you know us and you see us and that when we come to know Jesus – that you never leave us. Alleluia!!!!

WRITE

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10NLT

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

  • What do you think of when you imagine a masterpiece?
  • That’s you! You are God’s masterpiece! Write a prayer of thanksgiving to God for all the special ways he has gifted you.
  • When God gave you a new life in Christ he did it for a purpose. According to this verse, what is that purpose?
  • This verse tells us that God has already planned the good works for us – we just have to walk in them. Do you see God calling you to walk in any certain way? Write a prayer asking God to reveal where he wants you to walk – how your life can glorify Him!

GROW

Dear Father God! Thank you so much that you have created us to be unique and special. That you have gifted us in special ways and you have created good works for us to accomplish in your name. Guide us Lord so that we will honor you and bring you glory with our lives. We know that “You make known to me the path of life;  in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 – so lead us Lord that we may experience your joy as we walk in your ways.

straight

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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 tune our hearts to you each and every step of each and every day.

WRITE

READ Proverbs 3:1-12“

“My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,
 for length of days and years of life
    and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:1-3

  • Take time to go through this Proverb and write down each command that we are given.
  • Go back through and write the result of each command.

GROW

  • Try to focus this week on taking everything to the Lord – trusting not in your own ways but His!

Dear Father God, we come before you humbled that you see and hear us. Thank you Lord that you promise that when we come before you that we can trust that you will guide our way. It is not that our way will be easy, or perfect or what we would choose, but that you promise that your steadfast love and faithfulness will be with us. Lord help us to bind them around our neck and write them on our heart – trusting you to make our path straight. In Jesus name… Amen

photo by Daniel Olah on Unsplash

steps

Published on by kristen from praywritegrow.com4 Comments

PRAY

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

READ

If you would like, you can read the entire stories from these passages in
Exodus 14 & Joshua 3

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”
Exodus 14:26-29

“So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,  and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.”
Joshua 3:14-17

WRITE

Thinking about our life’s journey today! I’m a planner. I like to know what is ahead of me, I like to plan and prepare for it. I like to think through every scenario, test my options and pick the most logical, time tested, safe one. Yet, often that is not the way God works. In both of these passages God is leading His people to the promised land. There are uncertain things in front of them (and in the case of the Exodus behind them, too). But, when God is with them, guiding them… they just need to keep moving forward. Isn’t that the same with us. Trust… it can be so hard. But, really it should be so easy – the Creator of the Universe has a plan for our lives that is so much better than any and every scenario that we can think up. How well are you trusting God?

  • In both of these stories what unique way did God provide for His people?
  • What did Moses  do just before God miraculously parted the Red Sea (Exodus)?
  • What did the Priests do before God helps His people cross the Jordan?
  • What is the main difference between these two stories?
  • Which do you think would have made it easier to trust, having the sea part first or taking the step first?
  • What was the end of both of these stories (Exodus 17:30-31) & Joshua 3:17)?
  • Our God is a mighty God – I can imagine that as the Israelites approached both of these bodies of water they might have been thinking, “Great, what do we do now?” But- God knew and He provided abundantly!  How does this change the way that you look at the uncertainties or roadblocks in your life?
  • God’s power is at work in us – and He is able to do far more than we can ever even ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Ask Him now to work in your life to transform your attitude into one of trust even when we can not see.

GROW

Love this song by Jeremy Camp… May we all “Walk By Faith”

Praying that the Spirit would work in your hearts and minds to help you to rely on our mighty God. May we trust in Him whether the path is clear or not. Praying for you.

Help

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
Psalm 63

 “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ”
Psalm 63:1

  • How does the psalmist characterize his relationship to God.
  • What is his reaction to God’s love and provision?
  • I absolutely love the picture drawn by verse 7. What does it mean to you that God is your help and you can rest in the shadow of His wings?
  • How does this Psalm shape the way that you live your life? How does this direct your focus, your desires, and how you pray to our Almighty God?

GROW

A friend began praying verse  over my children and shared with me how she had been praying. It often enters my prayers for my kids as I desire that they would earnestly seek God and their souls would thirst for Him. Praying for you today that you would hunger and thirst for the Lord as you rely on him for His steadfast love and help. Praying for you!

Just Pray About It

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PRAY

Remember to pray & read the entire passage before beginning.
1 Timothy 2:1-6

 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ”
1 Timothy 2:1

WRITE

  • According to verse 1, who does Paul implore us to pray for?
  • What are the three things he specifically asks us to pray for them?
  • Why does God want us to pray for all people (v. 3 & v.4)
  • Find a headline from today & write a prayer lifting it up to our mighty God!

Keep Praying…. Christ Tomlin reminds us in his beautiful song “God of  This City” that God has a beautiful plan…

GROW

Thanking God that He is love! Thanking God that He has a desire that all will be saved. Praying for you that you feel His love and direction today as you pray for this lost and lonely world. May all come to know our amazing Savior! Praying for you!

Tired? Just Keep Going

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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!

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!

For who?

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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!

so that…

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PRAY

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

John 20:30-31

WRITE

The book of John tells the story of Jesus’s Ministry. It contains many amazing and beautiful stories of Jesus’s love, grace, healing & of course the greatest story ever told. The story of the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. He conquered death so that we can have life. Here John tells us why he recorded these stories.

  • According to this passage, was this a complete account of Jesus’s life?
  • John wrote this “so that”…
  • He wants those who read the stories of Jesus’s life to believe in Him and to gain what?
  • Does it mean anything to you that John wrote for this purpose?
  • What does it mean to have life in His name (John 3:16, Ephesians 4:20-24, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)?
  • Write a reflection on how your life has changed since your life became new.

GROW

It is awesome to know Jesus Christ! Praying that God’s word would accomplish it’s purpose in your life & that His love & grace would continue to shape you & your new life. Praying for you!

My Portion

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PRAY

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

Psalm 73

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Psalm 73:28

WRITE

This Psalm holds a gem. One that we recite and hold on to in good times and bad. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26. And yet… this Psalm is so rich with struggle and understanding and trust in the Almighty – so much deeper than I could have imagined. 

  • From 73:1-14 What is the attitude of the Psalmist?
  • What was he trying to understand?
  • Ultimately, how did he gain the knowledge he was searching for?
  • In the end, what did the Psalmist learn about himself (v.21 & v.22)?
  • What do verses 21-24 reveal about our relationship with God – what will He do?
  • Read verse 25 – does this change your perspective on your circumstances or “things”?
  • When God brought His people into the promised land. He gave each tribe a portion of land… except the Levites. This tribe was special they became His priests – and he said to Aaron “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.” Numbers 18:20. How does help you see what it means to look to God as your portion?
  • Are there any “things” that you value more than your relationship with the Lord? Pray and ask the Lord to reveal them to you, and ask Him to guide you into a deeper relationship with Him.
  • The last line of this beautiful Psalm tells us how we should choose to live as a result of His constant provision for us. Write it down.
  • How can you live your life in a way that He is your portion and you give Him the glory!?

GROW

God loves you so much! When we are weak He is strong. Praying that you will lay your heart and life at His feet and trust him as your strength and your portion forever. May we live a life believing… there is nothing I desire on earth besides you. Praying for you…