Monthly Archives: July 2017

The One Who Is In You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God- 1 John 4:4-6 - The One Who Is In You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God- 1 John 4:4-6 – The One Who Is In You – Growing As Disciples

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:4-6 (NIV) 

Recognize And Reject

What will you believe? What will accept as true? You are living in the world. You are not of the world. My Spirit is living and dwelling in you. My Spirit has made you to be an overcomer. You will you overcome the world. You will overcome what the world attempts to teach you. You will not accept it. You will not take it in. You will not make it your own. I’m not sure what you mean. How will overcome the world? Let’s go back to my first two questions. What will I believe? What will I accept as true? Yes, that’s right. The world will attempt to teach you its values. The world will want you to think, speak and act according to its principles. How will be able to recognize and reject what is false? That is a very good question.

I have given you my word. I have filled you with my Holy Spirit. I have placed you in a body of believers. These are what will teach you. Accept my word. Take my word in. Make my word your own. What does that mean? Live your life according to my word. Let my word dwell in you richly. My Holy Spirit will help you to put my word into practice in your life. My Holy Spirit will bring my word into your remembrance and apply it to your life. My Holy Spirit will use my word to teach you and counsel you and guide you. As you study my word you will know the truth. As you study my word you will know what is false. I understand. Your Holy Spirit will use your word to teach me. I will be able to recognize false teaching and false teachers as I compare the content of what I have been taught by you with what the world and its false teachers attempt to teach me. Yes, that’s right. But there is more. On your own you might be led astray. On your own you might accept what is false. On your own you might not recognize a faIse teacher. I did not make you to live alone. I did not make you to live in isolation. I have placed you in a body of believers. In my body of believers you will teach others and also be taught by them. You will encourage and strengthen each other. You will watch out for each other. You will guard and protect each other from false teachers and their false teachings. Together you will overcome the world with my word and my Holy Spirit living and dwelling in you. Now do you understand? Yes Lord, I do. 

Lord, thank you that the Holy Spirit living inside of me has made me able to recognize and reject false teaching that is in the world. Help me to listen attentively to all you want to teach me. Help me to both know the truth and put it into practice as I follow you. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Knowing God – 1 John 4-4-6 – The One Who Is In You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Laid Down His Life For Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - 1 John 3:16 - Laid Down His Life For Us - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – 1 John 3:16 – Laid Down His Life For Us – Growing As Disciples

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  1 John 3:16 (NIV)

What Love Is

I have a mission that I want to send you on. I have a series of tasks that I want you to do for me. This will be a very difficult mission with tasks that will require everything from you. What do you mean by everything? If you are going to accept this mission and take on these tasks then you will not be able to withhold anything from me. I’m still not quite sure what you mean. Can you tell me more? What are you asking of me? I came into this world and laid down my life for you. I gave up my life so that you could be forgiven and cleansed of your sins. I sacrificed myself so that you could have a new life in me. Yes, you did and I’m so thankful. I now love you because you first loved me. You demonstrated to me what love really is. Yes, I did.  That’s exactly what I want you to do. Do what? I want you to demonstrate my love to the world. I want you to show others what love really is. How will I ever be able to demonstrate your love to the world? How can I possibly show others what love really is? Those are good questions. Would you like answers? Yes, I would, at least I think so now. You sound cautious. The mission sounds very difficult and the tasks God sized. Yes, the mission and tasks will be difficult. Let’s talk more about what I am asking of you. I’m listening.

I want you to lay down your life for others just like I laid down my life for you. What do you mean by that? Was there anything I was unwilling to do? No, you gave yourself fully. You held nothing back. There was nothing that was beneath you. You humbled yourself to take on any task. You did whatever was needed. Did I claim any special rights and privileges as I lived in the world? No, you took on the form of a servant. You set aside any and all rights that you could have rightfully demanded. Was there anyone that was unworthy of my love? No, you showed your love to everyone including all those who were living as your enemies. You loved and forgave even those who humiliated and hurt you. Have I set before you an example? You want me to live as you lived. You want me to do what you did. You want me to serve like you served. You want me to give like you gave. Now, you have the idea. You want to demonstrate your love to the world through me. You want others to see your love living and flowing out of my life. Yes, I do. Will you take on this mission? Will you do what I am asking you to do for me? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you for coming into this world to lay your life down for me. You gave up your life to pay for my sin. You made it possible so that I could come to know and love you. Help me now to demonstrate your love to the world as I lay down my life for others. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Knowing God – 1 John 3-16 – Laid Down His Life For Us – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Holy

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - 1 Peter 1:13-16 - Holy - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – 1 Peter 1:13-16 – Holy – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

Are You Ready?

Are you ready? Am I ready for what? Are you ready to be the person that I have called you to be? Are you ready to go where I guide you? Are you ready to do what I ask of you? Are you ready to leave your old life behind you? Are you ready to walk into the new life that I have for you? Will you walk through the doors that I open before you? You have me curious. I am intrigued. You have me yearning for more. I certainly don’t want to stay where I am. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. I want what you want. That’s very good. 

That’s half the battle. What is the other half of the battle? You tell me. What has held you back from walking through open doors that I have placed before you? When have you not gone where I guided you? When have you not done what I have asked of you? This is a very uncomfortable subject for me to talk about. I’m sure of that. Even having this discussion involves opening a door. This subject of this discussion, has been a closed door. A discussion on this topic, has been off limits. You have made it very clear to me that you don’t want to discuss this topic. Am I right or am I wrong about this? Who, am I to argue with you? There is nothing that can be hidden from you. That’s right. So, I will open the door to this discussion. I have not always gone where you have guided me or done what you have asked me because I have been afraid. What have you been afraid of? I have been afraid of the unknown. I have been afraid that I might fail. I have been afraid that I might face rejection and ridicule. I have felt inadequate and unprepared. I have felt unable to go and do what you might ask of me. There you said it. There were no big surprises to me. You have felt what everyone who loves, follows and serves me will feel. You are not unique. You are not alone. I will be with you every step of the way. As you feel fear, you will drawer closer to me as I draw closer to you. As you feel fear you will come to rely even more on me as I help you to do what I have given you to do for me. Will I be enough for you? You are infinitely more than enough for me. Are you ready? Yes Lord, I am ready.

You will leave your old life behind. You will no longer follow the patterns, practices and values of the world. You will no longer conform to the evil in which you once walked. You will set all your hope on me. You will follow me to where I lead you. You will do whatever I ask of you. You will live an obedient and faithful life before me. I will work in you, for you and through you. I will make you into the person I want you to become. You will learn from me. You will know my thoughts. You will walk in my ways. You will become like me. I will make you holy, just as I am holy. I welcome all your work in and through my life. That is very good.

Lord, I will set my heart, mind and life on you. I will no longer allow myself to conform to the evil desires in which I once lived. I have heard your call. I have come to you. I want what you want. Keep on making me to be like you as I love, follow and serve you. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Be – 1 Peter 1-13-16 – Holy – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

On God’s Power

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - So That- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - On God's Power - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – So That- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 – On God’s Power – Growing As Disciples

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NIV) 

Demonstrate Your Power

Are you weak or are you strong? Will you rely on me or will you rely on yourself? Don’t be so quick to answer these questions with your words. Is there any other way to answer these questions other than with my words? I want you to answer these questions with your life. I’m not sure what you mean. Really, are you sure? I might have some idea of what you mean. Take a guess at what I mean. You don’t want me to say I will rely on you with my words and not back them up with my life. Yes, that’s right. Have you ever said that you were going to rely on me and then kept right on relying on yourself? I am sorry to say that I have relied on myself far too often when I have said that I was going to rely on you.

What has happened when you have relied on yourself rather than on me? When I have relied on my own strength I have failed miserably. I have not been able to accomplish what you have given me to do. I have made gigantic missteps. I have gone backwards in retreat. I have wandered aimlessly from one thing to another to look for meaning and purpose in life. I have been frustrated.  I have been fearful. I have wondered where you were. I have questioned why haven’t you helped me. I have been discouraged and depressed. I have burned out. I have given up. I have quit.

Have you grown weary of trusting in your own strength? That is an understatement. Nothing is more tiring than trying to serve you without relying on your help. I want your power and strength. I desperately need your power and strength. I cannot and will not take one more step forward without your help. That’s very good. What will you do? I will ask for your help. I will wait for your help. How long will you wait? How long will you keep asking? I will keep waiting and keep asking for your help until you tell me its time to move forward with you. You will let me lead you? Yes, that’s it exactly. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. I will trust you to work in and through me to demonstrate your power and accomplish your purposes. I want you to do in and through me what only you can do. I want my life to be a witness for you. I want my faith to rest on you. I want others to place their faith in you because of what you have done in and through my weakness. In that way you will be lifted up and glorified as men and women are drawn to you. Use me for your kingdom and your glory. Yes, I will. You can count on it.

Lord, I am weak. You are strong. Without your power and strength I will be unable to do what you have given me to do for you. I am so thankful that you will work through my weaknesses so your power will demonstrated as your purposes are accomplished. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

So That – 1 Corinthians 2-4-5 – On God’s Power – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Now No Condemnation

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Therefore- Romans 8:1-2 - Now No Condemnation - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore- Romans 8:1-2 – Now No Condemnation – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) 

Condemnation

You have been completely forgiven of all your sins. You have been fully cleansed of all your righteousness. Sin no longer has any power over your life. It will not rule and reign over you. It will not control your life. You have been completely set free to live a new life in me. You will now live your with and for me. This new is all so wonderful. Sometimes it is hard to take it all in. Sometimes it has been hard for me to fully believe and completely accept all that you have done for me. I want to talk to you about that.

Confessing your sins is important. There are two words that I want you to completely understand. The first word is conviction. When you do sin, my Holy Spirit working in you will make you uneasy about it.  You will know that you have done something wrong. You will know that you have gone against my will and my ways. Your appropriate response to being convicted by my Holy Spirit is to confess your sin. Be very specific about the sin that you are confessing. Don’t ask for some form of general forgiveness of your sins. Let me know what you have done. Let me know exactly why you are asking for my forgiveness. You will receive my forgiveness. You will know that you have dealt with what you have done. You will know that you have been forgiven of your sin. Your confession and your forgiveness will be a settled matter. If however, you ask for some form of general forgiveness for you for your sin you will not know that you have dealt with what you have done. It will be harder for you to know that you are forgiven. It will be harder for you to accept and receive my forgiveness. Do understand? Yes Lord, I understand.

I also want you to understand condemnation. You have been completely forgiven of all your sins. You are no longer under any condemnation. I paid the penalty for your sin. I cleansed you of all your unrighteousness. My righteousness is now counted as your righteousness. Sometimes you might feel condemnation for sins that you have already confessed and been forgiven and cleansed of. You might wonder if you are really forgiven of all your sin and cleansed of all your unrighteousness. This condemnation does not come from me. This condemnation is meant to steal, kill and destroy life. This condemnation comes from the devil. He wants you to doubt that you have been forgiven. He wants to discourage and defeat you. He wants to drag you back into your old life of sin. Do you understand that? Yes Lord, I understand. What then will you do? When I am convicted of my sin I will confess it to you. I will ask for and receive your forgiveness and cleansing. Yes, you will. I will keep on following you and living the life that you have called me to live. Yes, you will.

Lord, I will confess all my sins to you. Thank you for forgiving and freeing me from condemnation over every one of them. Your righteousness is now my righteousness. You have broken the power of sin over my life and set me free to live my life for you.  Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Therefore – Romans 8-1-2 – Now No Condemnation – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guides

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Fear Not – Stand Firm

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - Exodus 14:13-14 - Fear Not - Stand Firm - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – Exodus 14:13-14 – Fear Not – Stand Firm – Growing As Disciples

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:13-14 (ESV)  

Fight For You

Where do I go from here? What do you mean by that? I can’t go forward. I can’t go backward. I can’t turn to the right or to the left. I am surrounded. I have no hope. This is going to be a disaster. I will certainly be defeated. I was worried about this happening to me. Now look at my situation. What do you expect me to do? Where do you think I should go? You led me here. I sure hope you have some answers for me. I’m in way over my head. I’m going down fast. I will drown without your help. That’s good. That’s right. That’s true. You have a very accurate understanding of your situation. There is nothing you can do. Great, that’s just great. Even you think I’m in a hopeless situation. I didn’t say that. You are jumping to conclusions. Just because I said there is nothing you can do does not mean you are in a hopeless situation. I don’t understand what you are saying to me. If I can’t do anything, where is my hope? Now, that is a very good question. Your hope is not in yourself, that is for sure. All your gifts, talents and abilities and strength will not get you out of this impossible situation. Then I have no hope at all. Again, I didn’t say that. If you have no hope in yourself, where might you have hope? I can have hope in you. Yes, you can.

You asked me, “Where should you go and what should you do? Yes, I did. You should go nowhere and you should do nothing. What, I don’t get that? What do you mean, “I should go nowhere and do nothing?” That sounds like giving up and quitting. Yes, you are going to give up, quit and do nothing with your own gifts, talents, abilities and strength. You are going to sit there and watch me fight for you. This is one of those times when I want you to sit there and see my hand work out a victory for you. I want you to know without a doubt that I am with you to help you. You are not on your own. Many times, I will fight with and through you. But today, I am going to fight for you. Can you sit there and rely on me? Can you sit there and trust me? Can you sit there, be quiet and watch me win a victory for you? Yes Lord, I can. That will be very good.

Lord, I have faced difficult and impossible situations in life. I have wanted to turn back. I have wanted to retreat. I have wanted to give up. Yet, you have been with me to help me. Thank you, for fighting for me and bringing me through every difficulty in life. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Rhythms – Exodus 14-13-14 – Fear Not – Stand Firm – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Any Man Builds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 - Any Man Builds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 – Any Man Builds – Growing As Disciples

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

Testing Your Work

One day your life’s work will be tested. I will examine how you have spent the life that you have been given to live. We will have the opportunity to see the fruit that you have born for my kingdom and the glory that you have brought to my name. I’m looking forward to that day. You seem quite confident. Yes, I am very confident. My confidence is in you. If my confidence were in myself I would have absolutely none. Tell me more about your confidence in me. You are the foundation of my life. All that I think and say and do is founded on you. I want to think your thoughts. I want to speak your words. I want to do your deeds. In everyway I want you to be guided by you. I know that you will use my life according to your purpose and plans as I follow you. I can’t go wrong if I go where you lead me and do all that you ask of me. So, I am listening attentively to you. I don’t want to miss out on one word that you have to say to me. I am following you closely. I don’t want to run ahead or lag behind you. If I keep in step with you I will certainly know and do your will Yes, that’s right. That’s why I can say that I have confidence in you.

There is more that I want to say on this subject. Go ahead, I’m listening. I don’t have a mild desire to know you and do your will. My heart aches within me to know you and do your will. I have no other desire in my life that comes remotely close to wanting to know you and do your will. Nothing gives me more joy than to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. It is my constant prayer that you will use me according to your purposes and plans. I want to do everything that you have prepared for me to do for you. If I do lag behind, if I do run ahead, I asking that you will help me to get to exactly where you want me to be to do exactly what you want me to do for you. When we look back over my life I want to be surprised by the joy that we can share together. I don’t want to regret something that I left undone. So, it is my prayer that you will fully use me. Do you believe that I will hear and answer this prayer of yours? Yes Lord, I believe with certainty that you will fully use me so that I can bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, I will hear and answer this prayer of yours.

Lord, you are the foundation of my life. I will follow, obey and serve you. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. Make my life’s work able to stand the test of time and bear abundant fruit for all eternity for your kingdom and glory. Amen 

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

If – 1 Corinthians 3-10-15 – Any Man Builds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

You Want To Enjoy Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 1 Peter 3:10-12 - You Want To Enjoy Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 1 Peter 3:10-12 – You Want To Enjoy Life – Growing As Disciples

For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do well. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12 (NLT)

Enjoy Life

I want you to be able to enjoy the life that I have given to you. That makes two of us. I want to enjoy the life that you have given to me. I also want you to see many good days. That sounds good to me as well. I especially want to be able to hear and answer your prayers as I watch over your life. I can’t imagine anything better than you hearing and answering my prayers as you watch over my life. Is there anything that I must do to enjoy life and see many good days? Is there anything that would make it so my prayers would not be heard and answered? It pleases me that you have asked these questions. Yes, there are several things you must do if you want to enjoy life and see good days. The quality of your life and the goodness of your days depend a lot on your own behavior. How so? What does my word say? If I want to enjoy life and see good days I will need to place a guard on the words that come out of my mouth. I must speak good words that will bless the lives of others. My words must also tell the whole and complete truth. Speaking evil and telling lies will rob me of joy and prevent me from enjoying my life and seeing many happy days. That’s exactly right. What else? I must turn away from every evil to do whatever is good in all my thoughts, words and deeds. In all my relationships I will need to seek and maintain peace. Nothing will rob my joy and ruin my days more quickly than living in continual conflict with others. You want me to be known as a peacemaker. Yes, I do. Thinking, speaking and doing evil will also hinder my prayers. Yes, it will. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to do what pleases you. I want to know and do your will at all times. I will do all the good things that you have asked me to do for you as I turn away from every evil. That will be very good.

Lord, I know the life you have called me to live. You want me to turn away from every evil thought, word and deed. You want me to bless others with all I think, say and do. You want me to seek and maintain peace in all my relationships. This is what I will do. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

If – 1 Peter 3-10-12 – You Want To Enjoy Life – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

An Instrument

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - 2 Timothy 2:20-21 - An Instrument - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – 2 Timothy 2:20-21 – An Instrument – Growing As Disciples

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NIV)

In Tune

Do you want to be a tool in my hand? Do you want to be a useful instrument that I can use? Do you want to be in tune and prepared and ready to do all the good works that I have prepared for you to do for me? Yes, I want to be used by you. I want to be a tool and instrument that you can use. Nothing would delight me more than to know that I am fulfilling your purposes and accomplishing your plans. I want to go and do all that you ask of me. How can I be in tune and prepared and ready to do the good works that you have prepared for me to do for you? How can I be an instrument in your hand? Those are very good questions.

I will make you ready to serve me. Follow me and I will prepare you. Follow me and I will teach you. Follow me and I will train you. Will you follow me to where I lead you to do all that I ask of you? Yes Lord, I will follow you. As you follow me what will you also being doing? I’m not sure what you mean. As you follow me, what will you be leaving behind? I will put off my old life and leave it behind as I move forward with you. I will receive your forgiveness and cleansing of all my sin.  I will no longer allow myself to become entangled in all the values, patterns and practices of the world. I will allow you to change my heart and transform my mind. I will think your thoughts. I will begin to know and do your will. Yes, you will. What else? I will put on the new life that you have given to me live. I will walk in your ways as I follow you. I will go and do your will. That’s right. 

So, answer your own question. How can I be an instrument in your hand? That’s it. I can be an instrument in your hand as I put off my old life, am renewed in my mind, and put on my new life. Then I will always be in tune and prepared and ready for your use. Yes, you will. With your help, this is what I will keep on doing as I love, follow and serve you. That will be very good.

Lord, help me to be in tune with you. Remove anything from my life that causes me to be out of tune with you. Make me ready for use as your instrument in the world. Use my life to do good works that bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Be – 2 Timothy 2-20-21 – An Instrument – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Wrong Motives

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - James 4:1-3 - Wrong Motives - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – James 4:1-3 – Wrong Motives – Growing As Disciples

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 (NIV)

Motive

I know that I have had plenty of wrong desires. I have wanted something that I did not get. I have often coveted what I could not have. I know that my wrong desires have created conflict within me. I have been discontent. I have been discouraged and disappointed. I have been upset and angry. I have not given thanks to you for all the good things you have given to me. I have been ungrateful. Forgive me. You are forgiven, you know that. Yes, I do. I am thankful for your forgiveness of all my sin. I am grateful for your cleansing of all my unrighteousness. That’s good.

How have your wrong desires motivated your prayers? I have prayed for the wrong things. Like what? I have asked for everything I wanted. I have prayed for everything that would bring comfort and pleasure to my life. I have asked that every burden would be lifted and every inconvenience would be removed. I have asked for smooth and happy sailing every day of my life. My prayers have revolved around me. I am tired and weary praying for me and my wants and needs and desires. It is not wrong to pray for your wants and needs and desires. It is my delight to meet your needs and wants and desires. Yes, I know. You have richly blessed my life. But, I want to pray prayers that will make a difference in the world. How so? I want to pray prayers that come from you. I want to know your will. I want to walk in your ways. I want to do what is pleasing to you. I want to ask for what you want. What do you want me to pray for? That is a very good question. Yes, I want that question to dwell richly in my heart and mind and life. Keep on coming to me. Keep on asking me that question. I will guide your motives and give you prayers to pray. Your prayers will make a difference in the world. Do you know why that is? I’m not positive. I will give you prayers to pray that I will hear and answer. I will give you prayers to pray that will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. That is what I want. That is my desire. That is the motive of my heart and mind and life. Yes, I know. That is very good.

Lord, I want to pray according to your will. I want to have right desires within me. I don’t want to covet what I can’t have. Help me to pray according to your will. Help me to ask for what you want to give to me. Help me to pray prayers you will hear and answer. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Prayer – James 4-1-3 – Wrong Motives – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com