Spirit Power – pray write grow

You are Blessed! James 1

Published on February 6, 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 1:9-18

^“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,
for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life,
which God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12

Here James tells us that believers who are poor can boast because God has honored them, and the rich can boast because God has humbled them. But what does James point out is true of earthy standings?
When you remain steadfast in your trial you will receive what blessing?
God has promised the crown of life to those who love Him. So, you can be certain that He will never lead you astray. From this passage, how do you know that He will never tempt you?
Instead, how are you lead astray?
Where does it lead?
Paul exhorts you, “Do not be deceived.” Instead, what comes from our heavenly Father?
Will this change – does God change?
No, God love you (Jon 3:16), and He brought you forth by the word of truth. You are His firstfruits – a promise of what He has given you – Holy Spirit – and what is yet to come (Romans 8:23). Read Deuteronomy 26:10-11. What were the Israelites instructed to do with their firstfruits?
If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you too are His firstfruits. How does this change your thinking about your life and it’s purpose?

You are blessed! You have received the crown of life – you are His firstfruits! Live like it! I will be praying for you!

Just Ask! James 1

Published on February 5, 2014February 5, 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 1:2-8

^“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.”
James 1:5

James has a view of trials that it probably different from your own. How does he instruct you to view your tials?
When you are tested it develops what characteristic in you?
When you are steadfast you remain fixed in the Lord it brings about what change?
James instructs you exactly what to do if you are confused or uncertain as you go through life, what does he tell you to do?
Does God expect you to know and understand everything…how does He give to you?
With what mindset should you approach God?
Conversely, what does the man with the doubting mind receive?
God’s answer is not always what we want or expect, and sometimes it’s wait. But, Paul tells us in Romans 8:28 that ” we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose.” What is on your heart right now…write it down and ask God to bring you His wisdom.

God love you and wants you to come to Him! Just Ask! I will be praying for you!

Who are you? James 1:1

Published on February 4, 2014February 3, 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 1:1

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:”
James 1:1

Before we start…how would you label yourself?
Here James writes to Jewish Christians in the First Century, and to many throughout the ages, and it is obvious that he wants to portray himself in a certain way…How does he identify himself?
He calls himself a servant of God and of Jesus Christ. Is that how you labeled yourself?
I’m sure that, like us, James had many roles to fill. But, he doesn’t make a list – he says, simply, that he is God’s servant.
Envision the other labels you gave yourself and how they can change to reflect your defining characteristic of servant of God (Matthew 22:35-40, 1 Peter 4:8-11)
Ask the Spirit to change your heart and to make you a true servant of God. May He reveal to you just what you need to change so that the light of Christ can shine through you always. Write down where God is moving you to make changes.

Choose to be a servant of God! I will be praying for you!

Your Gift to God – Prayer

Published on February 1, 2014January 31, 2014 by kristen from praywritegrow.com2 Comments

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

Revelation 8:3-4

“And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.”
Revelation 8:3-4

Here the word saint is used to desribe every believer who accepts Jesus Christ as his or her savior. The picture of heaven given to John and shared in the book of Revelation reveals where your (and all saints) prayers go…from your heart to where?
Your prayers rise to heaven and are placed on the golden altar of God before the throne…Awesome! What prayer would you like to place now on the altar of the Almighty God? Allow the picture to form in your head…from your heart to God!

Place your prayer on the altar of the Almighty! I will be praying for you!

Your Gift to God -Honor Him with Your Body

Published on January 30, 2014January 30, 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 Corinthians 6:12-20

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you ever think about that? Do you think about your body as the temple of the Living God!?
You are! If you are a believer in Jesus Christ – you were purchased by His blood & your body is His dwelling place. Do you mistreat your body (food/sex /porn/exhaustion/sleeplessness)?
Pray on it. Is there something that you need to change in your life so that you are glorifying God in your body?

Honor God with your body – it brings Him glory! I will be praying for you!

Your Gift to God -Show Him You Love Him

Published on January 29, 2014January 28, 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 John 2:1-6

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
1 John 2:1-6 NLT

How can we be sure we know Him?
What does this reveal to the world?
If we desire to live in God who is our model?
God knows we are not perfect. Reread the verses 1 & 2. Besides your role model, what are the other roles of Jesus in your life given here?
We are not in this alone… (“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2Timothy1:7). He both desires our obedience and works in us to accomplish it. Pray and ask God to give you the power, love and self control to demonstrate how much you love Him.

Show the world you love God – it is your gift to Him! I will be praying for you!

Your Gift to God – Songs of Praise

Published on January 27, 2014January 27, 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

Psalm 59:16-17

“But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.”
Psalm 59:16-17

List the reasons given in this Psalm for you to sing praises to the almighty God.
Praise Him for His strength (see also John 16:33, Philippians 4:13, Romans 8:31b).
Praise Him for His steadfast love (see also 1 John 4:10, Romans 8:38-39).
Praise Him that He is your fortress and refuge (see also Matthew 11:28, and Deuteronomy 33:27).

Check out this song written and sung here by Michael Neal and Krissy Nordhoff
“Your Great Name”

SING IT!!!! AND PRAISE HIS GREAT NAME

this song was released by Natalie Grant on her album “Love Revolution”

Praise the name of the only one who is worthy of our praise! I will be praying for you!

Your Gift to God – A Light in the Darkness

Published on January 25, 2014January 25, 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

John 8:12
Matthew 5:14-16

‘”Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
John 8:12

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

In the John passage, Jesus presents two choices…light or darkness. If people choose not to follow Jesus they walk in darkness – what does that mean (see also Romans 12 & Ephesians 6:12)?
What does Jesus tell you will result if you follow Him?
Aren’t you so thankful that you have the light of life! Jesus tells you in the Matthew passage exactly what to do with that light. What is your call to action?
What is the result of your willingness to share the light of Christ?
You have the opportunity EVERY DAY to bring glory to God by sharing the light of Christ with others…are you? If not, pray about it & write down some changes you can make in your life that will let that light shine!

Check out this song by Addison Road

This Little Light of Mine

Praise the Lord that we have the light of life! Now show it to all you meet! 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!