Greater Love

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Love - John 15:12-14 - Greater Love - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Love – John 15:12-14 – Greater Love – Growing As Disciples

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:12-14 (ESV) 

Loved You 

How have I loved you? What have I been willing to do for you? How have I demonstrated my love to you in all my thoughts, words and deeds? You laid down your life for me. You poured yourself out for me. You humbled yourself and came into this world for me. You gave up all your rights and privileges for me. You gave the ultimate sacrifice of your life, for me, by dying for my sins. You made it so I could be forgiven of my sins. You made it so I could be cleansed of all my unrighteousness. You broke the power of sin over my life. You rescued me from darkness. You pulled my life up from out of the muck and mire. You set me on a firm foundation. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You filled me with your Holy Spirit. You gave me your word. You are now using your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. You are now leading me through life. You have given my life hope and meaning and purpose. You are allowing me to accomplish your purposes. You are making me able to fulfill your plans. You made it so I could love you with all my heart and mind and soul. You are helping me to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. Now, there is no place I would not go for you. Now there is nothing I would not do for you. That is very good.

What do you think I want you to do for me? There are a lot of possible answers to your question. I’m looking for a broad, more general answer to my question. I get it. You want me to lay down my life for others just like you laid down your life for me. You want me to love others just like you loved me. You want me to serve others just like you served me. You want me to be willing to do anything and go anywhere as an act of love for others. You want me to pour myself out in loving service to others. Am I right? Have I answered your question correctly? Yes, you have answered my question correctly. Go now and love others with all that is within you. Love others with all your thoughts, words and deeds. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for loving me and laying your life down for me. Help me to love others with your love so I will also lay down my life in service to others. Let your love flow through me so that I will be a witness for you in the world. Amen

Key Question… How is Christ’s love for you an example of how you are meant to love others?

Living It Out… Follow Jesus Christ as your example by laying down your life in service and ministry to others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ will help you to lay down your life for others just as He laid down His life for you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your obedience to Christ demonstrates your friendship with Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love others just as Christ loved you as you lay down your life in service and ministry to them.

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

Love – John 15-12-14 – Greater Love – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Confess Your Sins

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Therefore - James 5:16 - Confess Your Sins - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore – James 5:16 – Confess Your Sins – Growing As Disciples

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)

Powerful Prayers

Are you willing to admit your faults? What do you do when you know that have done something wrong? Do you try to hide what you have done? Do you live in denial that you have a fault that you must admit? Do you ignore me when I am prompting you to confess your sin to someone else? I have had a hard time admitting my faults. I have pretended that I haven’t done anything wrong. I have ignored your prompting to confess my sin to another person. Do you know why this is not good? I can think of a few reasons why it is mistake to fail to admit my faults and confess my sins. I’m listening.

You want me to live in close relationships with others. Yes, I do. As I live in close relationships with others I will have an opportunity to minister to them. Yes, you will. If I sin against someone and don’t admit my faults and confess my sins I will lose any opportunity I might have had to minister to others. That’s right. As I live in close relationships with others we will be able to keep each other accountable and spur each other on as we confess and admit our faults and sins to each other. Yes, that’s also true. Hiding my faults and failing to confess my sins will hinder my ability to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, it will.

What else? You expect me to admit my faults and confess my sins. Yes, I do. It is your command. Yes, it is. You paid for my sins on the cross. You made it possible so I could be forgiven of my sin and cleansed of all my unrighteousness. Yes, I did. Failing to admit my faults and confess my sins seems like a rejection of all that you have done for me. You are not pleased when I hide my faults and fail to confess my sins. That’s right. I will have very little desire to draw near to you in prayer when I am living with unconfessed sin. You want me to draw near to you to admit my faults and confess my sin as part of my prayers to you. Yes, I do. Living forgiven of my sin and cleansed of all my unrighteousness is the ground on which powerful prayers can be prayed and heard and answered. Yes, It is.  

What else? You want me to receive all that you have for me. You want me to receive your healing. Yes, I do. Your healing will come into my life as I admit my faults and confess my sin to you and others. Yes, it will. Will you make admitting your faults and confessing your sin a regular everyday practice in your life? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I am a sinner. I have sinned. I will sin. I will make it my common everyday practice to admit my faults and confess my sins both to you and to others. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Heal me. Make me able to pray powerful prayers that you will hear and answer. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your common everyday practice to confess your sins to others?

Living It Out… Make it your common everyday practice to confess your sins to others so that your prayers will be heard and answered.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will make you able to pray powerful prayers that are heard and answered.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has made you able to pray powerful prayers.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you admit your faults and confess your sins so you can pray prayers that God will hear and answer.

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

Therefore – James 5-16 – Confess Your Sins – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Meditates Day And Night

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life- Psalm 1:1-3 - Meditates Day And Night - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life- Psalm 1:1-3 – Meditates Day And Night – Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

Instead

Do you want to live a blessed and happy life? Yes, of course, who wouldn’t want that kind of life? There really isn’t some big hidden secret about how you can have a blessed and happy life. I would like to know more. How can I live a blessed and happy life? What does my word tell you? I think your word really says don’t do one thing but do something else instead. What’s that? Your word basically says don’t hang out with evil. Don’t walk with evil. Don’t stand with evil. Don’t take a seat with evil. Yes it says all of that. What does not walking, standing or sitting with evil mean to you? I need to be on guard against evil. I can’t allow myself to become comfortable around evil. I must separate myself from evil. How will you do that? I know evil situations, circumstances and influences when I see them. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what doesn’t please you and isn’t helpful to me. I need to remove me from everything that might try to steal, kill and destroy the life you have given me to live. Life stealers can be situations, circumstance and influences from ungodly and wicked people that will try to lead me on a path away from you. I need to run away from all of these. Why is that? Evil can be very tempting and alluring. It’s better to quickly run away than to hang around and succumb to evil. Yes it is.

A happy and blessed life doesn’t just include running away from evil. No, it does not. That’s why I said you want me to run from evil and then do something else instead. Tell me about what I want you to do instead. You want me to meditate on your word day and night. Yes, I do. What will happen to you as you meditate on my word day and night? Meditating on your word day and night will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, it will. Your word will help me to think your thoughts and do your will. Your word will strengthen me against evil and it’s temptations. Yes, it will. Your word will help me to run from evil even more quickly. Why is that? Your word will help me to more clearly recognize evil in all its many forms. Your word will increase my desire to live my life for you. Yes, it will. In desiring to live my life for you I will not hang around evil to let it entice me. No, you will not.

A happy and blessed life doesn’t just include running from evil and meditating on my word. No, it does not. Your word feeds and sustains me. Your word refreshes my life and makes me alive in you. Your word helps me to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. Yes, it does. Al three of these; running from evil, meditating on your word, and bearing fruit for your kingdom and your glory are what constitute a happy and blessed life. I can think of no greater joy than being changed and transformed by your word and bearing fruit for your kingdom and your glory. That exactly what I want. That is my prayer to you. This is the desire of my heart.  This is what I will give to you.

Lord, I will not walk in the counsel of the wicked. I will not stand around with sinners. I will not sit down with mockers. I will meditate on your word day and night. Feed, sustain and refresh my life by your word so that I can bear and abundance of fruit for you. Amen

Key Question… When do you really chew on God’s word so that you can digest all that He wants to say to you?

Living It Out… Separate yourself from evil and meditate on God’s word so that He can refresh your life and make you fruitful for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will change your heart, transform your mind and refresh your life as you meditate on His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how meditating on God’s word has helped you to bear fruit for Him?

Prayer To Bless Others… May you separate yourself from evil and meditate on God’s word so He can feed, refresh and sustain your life.

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

Life – Psalm 1-1-3 – Meditates Day And Night – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Teach Others

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - 2 Timothy 2:1-2 - Teach Others - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – 2 Timothy 2:1-2 – Teach Others – Growing As Disciples

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)

Heard

What have you heard from me? How have I spoken into your life? How have you been able to hear all that I have wanted to teach you? Who have I used to speak into your life? What have you done with all that I have taught you? That’s a lot of questions. Yes, it is. I would like to hear your answers. I have heard about the new life I now have in you. You helped me to turn away from my old life of sin so that I could live a completely new life in you. As I walk with you in this new life it seems like you never stop speaking to me. For that I am very thankful. That’s good. You speak to me through your word. I have set apart a daily time to meet with you in your word, so I can hear from you. You speak to me by your Holy Spirit. Your Holy Spirit applies your word to my life as I take one step after another with you. You speak to me through the body of Christ. As I gather together with fellow believers, I hear things that you want me to hear. Many times, you have spoken into my life by the words of one of your followers. That’s right. You speak to me through the circumstances of life. As I pray to you, in all my circumstances, you hear and answer my prayers. You guide and direct my life. You are always with me. You will never leave me. You always have something to say to me. Yes, I do. I always need to be prepared to hear from you. Yes, you do.

What have you done with my teaching? That’s a good question. I have taken your teaching into my heart and mind. I have allowed your teaching to guide my life. I have put your teaching into practice. Am I doing all these things perfectly? Certainly not. What has helped you to put my teaching into practice? It has always helped me to teach others what you have been teaching me. As I teach others, what you have taught me, your word becomes more firmly established in my heart and mind and life. That’s right. As I teach others ,what you have taught me, I am filled with joy because your word has borne fruit in and through my life. I have been able to bear fruit for your Kingdom and bring glory to your name. That’s true, What else? As I teach others what you have taught me, others will do likewise. They will teach others what I have taught them. Your word will go forth and a multitude will come to know and love and follow and serve you. Yes, they will. That’s what I want. That’s what I want to be part of. That is very good.

Lord, help me to grow strong in your grace. Help me to hear all that you want to teach me. Help me to be faithful to pass on to others all that I have heard and received from you. Use my life to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… Who has the Lord used to speak into your life so you could hear His teaching?

Living It Out… Make sure that you are hearing and passing on what Jesus Christ has been teaching you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will teach you what He wants you to teach others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your are passing on what you have been taught in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hear and pass on to others what Jesus Christ has been teaching you.

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

Discipleship – 2 Timothy 2-1-2 – Teach Others – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

Not Be Carried Away

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - So That - 2 Peter 3:17-18 - Not Be Carried Away - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – So That – 2 Peter 3:17-18 – Not Be Carried Away – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)

On Guard

How will you remain on guard ago against false teaching? How will you be able to stand against evil that is in the world? Where will all your strength and stability come from? How will you bring glory to my name? Those are all very good questions. To stand guard against false teaching I must first know the truth. Where will you find the truth? The truth is in your word. You will show me the truth when I meet with you in your word. You are the way, the truth and the life. Yes, I am. You will guide me into all the truth. You will guard me by the truth. You will keep me in the truth. Yes, I will.

Knowing the truth will never be enough. I must choose to remain in the truth. I must keep on coming to you. You will help me to know the truth and put it into practice. Yes, I will. As I grow in knowing you and keep on putting the truth into practice I will be strengthened to stand against evil in the world. As I draw near to you, you will draw near to me. You will make me able to resist the devil and all his evil. He will flee from me. Yes, he will. You will guard and keep me in the secure position that I have in you. Yes, I will.

Knowing you and living in the truth will cause me to bring glory to your name. I will live the life that you have given me to live. I will do what you ask of me. I will fulfill the plans that you have had for my life. I will do the good works that you have prepared for me to do for you. You will use me as your instrument. I will be a tool in your hands. I will shine brightly for you in the world. Yes, you will.

As best I can tell, being on guard against false teaching and evil will require four things. What’s that? First, being on guard will require that I know the truth that is found in you. Second, being on guard will require that I live in a close and intimate relationship with you. Third, being on guard will require that I resist evil with all the strength that you will give to me. Finally, as I allow you to use me for your kingdom and glory, I will be strengthened even more to live my life for you. Yes, you will.

Lord, I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to follow you. Help me to grow in knowing, loving and following you. Keep me on guard against false teachers. Help me to stand against evil in the world. May my life glorify you in all that I think, say and do. Amen

Key Question… When has God’s word strengthened you to stand against evil that is in the world?

Living It Out… Keep growing in knowing, loving and following Jesus Christ so you will be on guard against false teaching and evil.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that living in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ will keep you on guard against evil in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are on guard against false teaching and evil in the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be on guard against false teaching and evil so that you are swept off your feet.

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

So That – 2 Peter 3-17-18 – Not Be Carried Away – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

Hold On To My Teaching

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - John 8:31-32 - Hold On To My Teaching - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – John 8:31-32 – Hold On To My Teaching – Growing As Disciples

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NIV) 

Know The Truth

What is the truth? How will you know what is true and what is false? How will you evaluate what you hear? Are you the final arbitrator of what is true and what is false? Do you know that your heart and mind and life are under constant bombardment, of what is false, from the world? Will you adopt what the world wants to teach you? Will you accept all the thoughts and values and principles of the world? You have asked me a lot of questions. I’m not sure where to begin. Do you expect that I will answer every one of your questions? No, but I do want you to think deeply about every question that I have asked you. That, I will do.

I know that you are the truth. Everything you teach me is true. Your word is truth. I know that the world stands in direct opposition to your truth. I will not accept the thoughts and values and principles of the world as my own. If the world is applauding my thinking, then I will know that something has gone terribly wrong with my thoughts. How will you come to know the truth? Every day, I will come to meet with you in your word. Your word will be by defense against the constant bombardment of my heart and mind and life from the world. I will listen very carefully to everything you teach me. I will hold on tightly to your word. What will happen when there is conflict between your commonly held thoughts and values and opinions and my word? What will you do when you think one thing and my word says another? I will know that I have gotten off track with my thinking. I will know that I have veered away from the truth of your word. I will change my thinking. I will continually allow your word to speak into my life. That will be very good.

What has my word done for you as you have held on to it? Your word has broken the power of the world and all its evil over my life. Your word has set me free. Your word has changed my heart, transformed my mind and guided my life. Your word has made me able to think your thoughts and walk in your ways. Your word has helped me to do what is pleasing in your sight. Your word has helped me to live my life with and for you. That is very good.

Lord, I will meet with you daily in your word. I want to know everything you want to teach me. I will listen carefully to your teaching. I will hold on to and put into practice whatever you teach me. Use your word to set me free, so I can live my life with and for you. Amen

Key Question… How has holding on to Christ’s teaching set you free to live your life with and for Him?

Living It Out… Make sure that you are holding on to Christ’s teachings so that you truly can be His disciple.

Seeing It Happen…Have faith that you truly will be Christ’s disciple as you hold on to His teaching.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are holding on to Christ’s teaching so you can be His disciple.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hold on to Christ’s teaching so you can truly be His disciple.

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

Discipleship – John 8-31-32 – Hold On To My Teaching – 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

Love Only Those Who Love You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Luke 6:32-34 - Love Only Those Who Love You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Luke 6:32-34 – Love Only Those Who Love You – Growing As Disciples

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Luke 6:32-34 (NLT)

Pay Back

I loved you knowing that you did not love me. I gave myself for you knowing that you could never ever pay me back. Yes, you demonstrated your love for me by dying on the cross as payment for my sins. You gave yourself so that I could be forgiven of all my unrighteousness. You went far out of your way and gave all that you had so that I could live in a new relationship with you. Your love for me drew me to you. You loved me first before I ever loved you. Yes, I did. 

Your love is changing me. How so? You are changing my heart and transforming my mind. At one time, I only loved those who loved me. I would only give to those who would be able to pay me back. My love and my giving were nothing like your love and your giving. You have become my role model. I want to become like you in every way. I want to think like you think. I want to feel what you feel. I want to give like you gave. I want to do what you have done. I want to do what pleases you. I want to do all that you ask of me. I want you to love like I loved. I want you to give like I gave. I am asking you to love others who may never love you. I am asking you to give to others without the hope or expectation that you will ever be paid back. Will you love like I loved? Will you give like I gave? Yes Lord, I will.

What will happen to you when you love and give like I loved and gave? I’m not sure. Take a guess. I know that I will stand out. I will seem odd to others, in a good way. Why is that? Your kind of love and giving is uncommon in the world. Yes, it is. Do you know that I want you to stand out? I want you to be noticed. I want your life to shine brightly like a star in the universe. You will shine brightly for me when you do what I ask of you. Do you want to shine brightly for me? Yes Lord, more than anything else, I want to be a bright and shining witness for you. Then you will love like I loved. Then you will give like I gave. Yes, I will. 

Lets talk about pay back. Was there no pay back for loving the way that I loved? Was there no pay back for giving the way that I gave? You were paid back in joy knowing that you did your Father’s will. You were paid back in joy knowing that you accomplished all that your Father asked you to do for Him. You were paid back in joy knowing that your life bore an abundance of fruit in restoring a multitude to a new relationship with your Father in Heaven. Yes, I was. Do you believe that you will one day be paid back in similar ways as you love and give like I loved and gave? Yes, I know that you will one day pay me back for the good I have done for you in this life. Yes, I will.

Lord, thank you for going far out of your way to demonstrate your love for me even when I was not loving you back. You gave your life for me knowing that I could never possibly pay you back. Help me to love others just like you loved and gave yourself to me. Amen

Key Question… How far out of the way did the Lord go to love you even when you did not love Him?

Living It Out… Go out of your way and give your best effort to loving others who most likely will not love you back.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to love people who most likely will not love you back.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when you have loved someone, knowing they would not love you back.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love even those who do not love you back.

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

If – Luke 6-32-34 – Love Only Those Who Love You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

Heart Reflects

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Proverbs 27:19 - Heart Reflects - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Proverbs 27:19 – Heart Reflects – Growing As Disciples

As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

Your Heart

Lord, what do I look like? How can I know? Is that a hard question? You have looked down into water many times. Yes, I have done that many times. What have you seen? I have seen my reflection looking back at me. That’s right. Does your reflection give you a good or poor picture of what you look like? My reflection gives me a very precise picture of what I look like. Yes, it does. You can trust what your reflection from the water is showing you about what you look like. Yes, I can. I doubt that you were wondering what you looked like physically. No, I wasn’t. I want to know what look like as a person. What do you mean by that? I want to know about who I am. I want to know more about my character.  Do you want to know the condition of your heart? Yes, that’s exactly what I want to know. Are you sure? Yes, I’m sure.

Just as water reflects your face, your thoughts, words, and deeds will reflect the condition of your heart. You can know the condition of your heart by the thoughts that you think. You can know the condition of your heart through the words that you speak. You can know the condition of your heart through the actions that you take. Your thoughts, words and deeds will give you a very clear picture of the condition of your heart. Just as you trusted your reflection on the water to give you a physical picture, you can also trust that your thoughts, words and actions will give you a spiritual picture of the condition of your heart. Oh, that’s great. You don’t sound too excited. I’m not. Why not? 

If my thoughts, words and actions are giving me an accurate picture of the spiritual condition of my heart then I am in desperate need of your help. Why is that? I am not entirely happy with the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and actions of my life. I have thought, said and done things that I deeply regret. You say to me that you have sinned in your thoughts, words and actions? Yes, without a doubt. Have you confessed these sins to me? Yes, I have confessed these sins to you. Then you are forgiven and cleansed of all your sins. I have made you clean.  I have given you a clean heart. You have a fresh start. You have a new life to live. Don’t ever think that you will be able to live a perfect life. You have and will sin in your thoughts, words and actions. Keep on confessing your sins to me. Keep on allowing me to cleanse your heart and mind and life. Keep on following me to where I lead you. Keep on doing what I ask of you. I will be changing your heart, transforming your mind and guiding your life every day as you love, follow and serve me. You will live the life that I have called you to live. Your heart will reflect that I am working in you, for you and though you. Now that, is exciting! Yes, it is.

Lord, I know all my thoughts, words and actions reflect the condition of my heart. Thank you, for forgiving my sin and cleansing me of all my unrighteousness. Keep changing my heart and mind. Let my heart reflect that you are working in, for and through me. Amen

Key Question… What do your thoughts, words and actions tell you about the condition of your heart?

Living It Out… Allow the seed of God’s word to take root in your life and grow so that you will bear abundant fruit for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your heart will reflect that the Lord is working in, for and through you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is changing your heart as you love, follow and serve Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your heart reflect that the Lord is working in you, for you and through you.

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

Character – Proverbs 27-19 – Heart Reflects – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

We Know

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Romans 5:3-5- We Know - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Romans 5:3-5- We Know – Growing As Disciples

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)  

Know What?

What do you know? What do I know about what? What do you know about difficult trials and painful suffering? I know that I would like to avoid difficult trials and painful suffering as much as possible. How about a more serious answer? I am serious. I don’t like difficult trials and painful suffering. I get that. How about a more realistic answer? You do know that you will go through difficult trials and painful suffering in life? I went through difficult trials and painful suffering. You will too. Difficult trials and painful suffering are part of life in this sin broken world that you live in. Yes, I know. That doesn’t mean that I must like or enjoy difficult trials and painful suffering, does it? That is a very good question. You didn’t think it was a good question when you asked it, did you? No, I did not.

What has happened to you when you have gone through difficult trials and painful suffering? I have drawn near to you. I have relied on you to help me through difficult trials and painful suffering. Have I helped you? Yes, you have been very near to me when I have gone through trials and suffering. Have you come to know me in a deeper way during your trials and suffering in life? Yes, I have come to know your love for me in a deeper way. Is that something to rejoice about? Can you give thanks because you have come to know me in a deeper way through trials and suffering? Yes, I can. Then trials and suffering are not all bad? I can bring great good even out of trials and suffering? Yes, you can. I’m glad that you know that.

What else have I developed in you as you have gone through difficult trials and painful suffering? You have made me stronger as I have faced resistance. You have developed perseverance within me. As you have developed perseverance in me you have also strengthened my character. What has grown in you as your perseverance has developed and your character has been strengthened? Hope has grown in me. Why is that? I have had hope grow in me, because I have known that you were working in my life to make me into the person you have called me to be. To do that, what have I been using? You have been using my trials and suffering to mold and shape my life. Yes, I have. Why would I do that? You are molding and shaping my life because you love me. Yes, I do. You can rejoice in that, can’t you. Yes, I can. Yes, I will. Yes, I am. That is very good. 

Lord, I am not a fan of trials and suffering. Help me to endure every one of them. Develop perseverance, character and hope in me as I rely on you. I will rejoice in the work you will do in me, through every difficulty. Make me into the person you want me to be. Amen

Key Question… How have you drawn closer to God through difficult trials and painful suffering in life?

Living It Out… Rely on the Lord to help you through every difficult trial and painful suffering in life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be with you to help you through every difficult trial and painful suffering in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has developed your character through trials in life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord through every difficult trial and painful suffering you go through in life.

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

Character – Romans 5-3-5 – We Know – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

With All Your Heart

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Colossians 3:23-24 - With All Your Heart - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Colossians 3:23-24 – With All Your Heart – Growing As Disciples

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Serving Me 

Do you want to serve me? Yes, I want to serve you. Who would say otherwise? You would be very surprised who would say otherwise by the inaction of their lives. Many do not really want to serve me. They may say otherwise but not back up their words with action. Many are sitting on their hands, with no idea of how to serve me. How will you serve me? I’m not sure what you mean? Will you pick and choose how you will serve me? No, I will go wherever you guide me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will be ready to go where you guide me to do whatever you ask of me, at a moment’s notice. You won’t find me passively sitting on my hands, resting on my laurels. That’s good.

How will you know how where I am leading you? How will you know what I am asking of you? That’s a good question. I will need to be watching and waiting for my opportunities to go and serve you. I will need to be expectant rather than reluctant. What do you mean by that? I will need to be predisposed to action rather than sitting passively, on my hands. I know that you will have a much easier time guiding me if I’m ready to be put in motion. You may only give me a quiet whisper or a soft nudge to go and serve you. That’s true. If I’m not expectantly watching and waiting, I may miss your guidance to go and serve you. That’s right.

What kind of effort will you give when you go and serve me? I will give you my very best effort. I know that all my labor in this life is for you. How hard and well I work will either be a good or bad testimony to others in this world. I want others to clearly see that you are working in and through my life. I want my service to you to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. I want the way that I go about my work to bring glory to your name. I want to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. So, I will always be ready to go and serve you with everything that is within me. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not sit around doing nothing. I will not give half-hearted efforts in serving you. I will go and do all that you ask of me with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Bear eternal, lasting fruit through my life. Use me to accomplish your purposes. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord shown you the work He has given you to do for Him?

Living It Out… Make sure that you are serving the Lord with all your heart in the work that He has given you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will receive an inheritance as a reward for serving the Lord with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are serving the Lord with all your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you wholeheartedly go and serve the Lord in whatever He gives you to do.

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

Character – Colossians 3-23-24 – With All Your Heart – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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