steps

Published on June 23, 2017December 1, 2017 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

Published on May 15, 2017May 17, 2017 by kristen from praywritegrow.comLeave a comment

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!

Thy will

Published on April 5, 2017May 11, 2017 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!

Live By Faith

Published on August 18, 2015 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.

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

When you choose to live as a follower of Christ how do you now identify with Christ’s crucifixion?
It is no longer about you, no longer about “your” life, instead it is about who lives in you! You live because of whom?
When you make the choice to follow Christ you are called not to live by our own wisdom but instead to live how?
As Christians we do not follow Christ just because he was wise, He was a prophet, or a great teacher – yes all those things are true. But we follow Christ because He chose to show His love for us in what way?
Jesus sacrificed Himself because He loves us, because He wants us to be with Him for eternity (John 3:16). You can trust Him with your life, you can put your faith in Him. Is there something that you are not willing to trust Jesus with? Confess it now, lay your life at His feet, and ask Him to help you trust Him as you walk with Him in faith trusting Him for your salvation and your life.

The more we trust, the more we allow our life and our will to be directed by Christ, the more He can use us for His glory. Awesome! Christ lives in you! Is there anything more that we could possibly desire? Praying for you!