All The Days Of My Life

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50695217 – jesus written on desert road

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 (NIV)

Following Him

Who am I and what have I done for you? You are my Good Shepherd. You have led me through life. You have met all my needs. When did I become your Good Shepherd? I think you became my Good Shepherd even before I acknowledged and was ready to accept the fact that I was a lost sheep. I was wandering through life. I was getting beat up, bruised and battered by life.  I was living my life without you. I was walking on a path that led away from you. Yes, you were. You sought me out. You pursued me. There was no place that I could wander that you weren’t watching and waiting for me to turn to you. Yes, I was. 

You did turn to me. You did acknowledge me as your Good Shepherd. You did give your life to me. Yes, I did. What did you need when you turned your life over to me? I needed forgiveness and cleansing of my sin. I needed healing and restoration. Yes, you did. Where did I bring you so that your soul could be restored? You brought me into quiet places where I could meet with you in your word. You allowed me to rest in your presence. You allowed me to taste and see your goodness. You fed my hunger and satisfied my thirst for you. You refreshed, restored and filled my soul. Yes, I did.

What has happened to you as you have remained in my presence and met me in my word? You are changing my heart and transforming my mind. You have set on fire a flame of desire within me to want to do what pleases you. You have given me new thoughts to think and new feelings to feel. I want to know and love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to go where you guide me to do what you ask of me. That’s very good, isn’t it? Yes, it is my joy to know and love you.

Your life has not been all joy and sunshine since you have started following me. No, it hasn’t been. I’ve gone through many ups and downs and twists and turns in life. I have experienced pain and suffering, joy and sorrow. I have had powerful enemies and great friends. I have had amazing victories and devastating defeats. I walked in the light and through the darkness. Yes, you have. I have never been alone. You have always been with me. You have been my comforter and guide. You have given strength. You have been my fortress and deliverer. You have taught me to rely on you. You have shown me that I have nothing to fear. Yes, I have. 

What are you sure of as you follow me? I know that your hand is on me. You are blessing my life as I follow and serve you. Yes, I am. Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. Yes, it will. I can and will live in your presence both now and forever. Yes, you will.

Lord, thank you for being my Good Shepherd leading me through life. You have been with me in and through all the ups and down and twists and turns in life. You have shown me your love, restored my soul, protected me and met all my needs. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord led you to a quiet place where He could restore your soul?

Living It Out… Set aside a time and a place where and when you will meet with the Lord to allow Him to restore your soul.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is with you to help you in and through every up and down and twist and turn in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord restores your soul as you meet in quiet places with Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to be your Good Shepherd leading you through all that you will experience in life.

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

Life – Psalm 23-6 – All The Days Of My Life – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Life – Giving Rebuke

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Proverbs 15:31 - Life -Giving Rebuke - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Proverbs 15:31 – Life -Giving Rebuke – Growing As Disciples

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31 (NIV)

Listen

Those words are troubling to me. What words are those? Those first three words, “He who listens” are bothering me. Why is that? I’m pretty sure that I’m not a good listener. I’m a much better talker than a listener. Maybe, I’m not very good at either. But, I do know that I talk a lot when I should be listening more. You can learn much more by listening, than you can by talking. Thinking about what you are going to say rather than carefully listening is not a good habit. I know. That has been my standard operating procedure. Why do you think that is? Do you think what you want to say is more important than what others have to say? That must be it. My own pride has made me more of a talker than a listener. Sometimes, I talk so much I’m sure others must feel that they can’t get a word in edge wise. That’s not good. I know it’s not. Do you want to learn to listen better to others? Do you want to listen more attentively to me? Yes, I want to listen better to others. Yes, I want to listen more attentively to you. That’s good.

You can’t be a poor listener to others and a good listener to me. Those two don’t go together at all. I will remind you that I do often speak into your life through the voices of others. You need to listen very carefully to whatever is being said to you. Don’t be so full of yourself that you cannot hear others or me speaking to you. You need to remember that you don’t know it all. You need to know that you don’t see it all. Others will know and see what you don’t or can’t know or see. You have asked for my wisdom. You have sought my instruction. You want me to lead and guide your life. Yes, I want all these things from you. Then stop being defensive. Be open. Be receptive. Be humble. Be listening. Expect that I will use others to speak into your life. Considering deeply all that is being said to you.

Don’t think that everything you hear will be pleasant and easy to receive. Some of what you hear will be difficult and painful and challenging. Some of what you hear may cut you to the core. Don’t dismiss hard words and painful rebukes as not coming from me. Some of these words will be life giving rebukes that you must hear and receive if you want to grow wise. Will you listen to life giving rebukes so that you will grow wise? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I have not been receptive to life-giving rebukes. I have stubbornly refused to listen. I have thought that I was under attack and raised my defenses. I have resisted your speaking into my life. Forgive me. Now, I will listen to all that you want to say to me. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord spoken into your life through a life-giving rebuke from another person?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to make you wise as you listen to life-giving rebukes.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will make you wise when you listen to life-giving rebukes.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are listening attentively to life-giving rebukes.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen attentively to life giving rebukes so that you can be made wise.

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

Wisdom – Proverbs 15-31 – Life – Giving Rebuke – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Whoever Serves Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Identity - John 12:25-26 - Whoever Serves Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Identity – John 12:25-26 – Whoever Serves Me – Growing As Disciples

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.  John 12:25-26

My Call

What does it mean to lose my life in this world?  Am I living for the pleasures of this life? Does all of life revolve around me and what I want?  Am I guided by comfort?  When have I set aside my will, plans, and desires to serve you, Lord? Those are good questions. Do you have any answers? Right now, I want to sit here and live with these questions. I think it would be a mistake to quickly answer and dismiss them all in my favor. I agree. Then, I feel like I’m on the right track. You are. I also sense a danger here as well. What’s that? I could sacrifice my life in complete service to others and yet not know you. What do you mean? Isn’t it possible to give up my life in service to the wrong purpose, plan, or person? Yes, it is. Tell me more of what you’re thinking.  You are calling me to give up my life to follow you. It isn’t a call to give up my life to become a serving maniac. As I give up my life to you, the only way I can serve correctly is to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. It’s not as if you’ll give me a huge “to do” list and check back with me at the end of my life, I know that. How do you know that? You said, “follow me” and where you are, that is where I will be. Yes, that’s true. How will that be possible? How will that happen? That will only happen as I follow you. I need to wait, watch, and listen for your guidance. Otherwise I will likely go off course and not do what you want me to do and waste a lot of time doing what is unnecessary. That is exactly right. 

I’m calling you right now.  Come follow me.  Don’t love the world.  Love me.  I will guide your life.  You will have real joy as you join me in the work I will give you to do.  Is this what you want to do?  Is this who you want to be?  Do you want to be my follower?  Do you want to serve me?  Yes Lord, I do.  Good, then come.  I am calling you right now.

Lord, today is the day I will stop living for myself. The things of this world no longer have me in their grip. I want to know and do your will. My eyes are on you. My ears are attentive to you. I have heard your call. I will follow you. I will do all that you ask of me. Amen

Key Question… How have you chosen to love Christ rather than the things of this world?

Living It Out… Respond to Christ’s call to come to Him so that you can follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ is calling you to come to Him so that you can follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have come to Christ to follow and serving Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow the Lord to where He leads you to do all that He asks of you.

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

Identity – John 12-25-26 – Whoever Serves Me – 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 Unswervingly

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Let Us - Hebrews 10:23 - Hold Unswervingly - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Let Us – Hebrews 10:23 – Hold Unswervingly – Growing As Disciples

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

Hold On

Life has it challenges. You will face difficulties and hard ships. You will experience pain and suffering. You will grow weary and feel worn out. Does any of what I am saying come as a surprise to you? No, I have experienced everything that you have stated. Yet, you have never quit. You have never walked away and said that you have had enough. No, I have not. Why is that? I will tell you a few things. Go ahead. I don’t possess great strength. I am not able to endure more than others. I feel pain and suffer from discouragement just like anyone else. Tell me then, why is it that some people become bitter and some become better as a result of the trials and difficulties that they have gone through in life. Why is it that some become stronger as they go through pain and suffering while others give up, quit and walk away? Those are good questions. You must know the answers. Why is that? You have neither grown bitter or given up, quit or walked away. I’m really curious about one thing. What’s that? Those that have given-up, quit and walked away, where have they gone? If I were to walk away from you, I have no idea where I could go. Walking away from you has not been nor will it ever be a choice for me. That’s good. In trials just the opposite has happened to me. What do you mean by that? In great difficulty some have walked away from you. In great difficulties, I have been drawn to you. You alone are my strength. You alone are my hope. In you alone, do I trust. You have led me through all the pain and suffering I have faced in life. The harder life has gotten the more I have held on to you. I don’t consider myself to have great virtue or outstanding wisdom because I have held on to you. If I have known one thing, it is this, there is no one or no thing worthy of holding on to other than you and your promises. There are a few more vitally important things that you know. Like what? You tell me. I am not just holding on to you. With a much stronger grip you are holding on to me. Yes, I am. Even if my grip were to weaken you would never let go of me. No, I would not. How do you know what you know about me? I know about you because you have been with me through all that I have experienced in life. What else? I know about you because of your precious and great promises. Yes, and where can my promises be found? Your promises can be found in your word. Yes, and what have you done with my promises? I have held on to you and your promises. Yes and as you have held on to me and my promises, you have become better rather than bitter and held on to me rather than walked away from me. Yes, that’s true. Keep on holding on to me and my promises. Yes Lord, I will. I will be holding on to you as we walk together through life. 

Lord, you have been faithful to me. You have blessed my life with your precious and great promises. Your promises have sustained and strengthened me through every difficulty in life. Thank you that I can hold on to you and your word. Amen

Key Question… What are some promises of God that strengthen and encourage you as you hold on to Him?

Living It Out… Spend time with God in His word so you can know, be encouraged by and take a firm hold of all His promises.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ and all His promises are worthy of your unwavering and unswerving trust?

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have held on to Jesus Christ through difficulties in life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you unwaveringly and unswervingly hold on to God and His promises as you follow Him today.

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

Let Us – Hebrews 10-23 – Hold Unswervingly – 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

You Love Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - John 14:15 - You Love Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – John 14:15 – You Love Me – Growing As Disciples

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.  John 14:15 (NIV)

Obey Me 

You do want to obey me. I can see that quite clearly. Do you know why you want to obey me? I haven’t always wanted to obey you. There were times when obeying you was the farthest thing from my heart and mind. I was more interested in obeying my own passions, lusts and desires. I lived solely for my own comfort and pleasure. I pursued my own thoughts and goals and dreams. I was so full of myself that I had no room for you in my heart and mind. Even the idea of obeying you was completely foreign to me. I didn’t think that I wanted or needed you in my life. I was completely self-reliant and self-sufficient. I felt so sure that I had all that I would ever want and need. What happened? I was wrong. The self-centered and sinful life that I was living can only end in brokenness. It didn’t take long for me to become bruised and battered and broken by the life I was living. Soon enough, I cried out to you for help. I asked you to rescue me from the life I was living. I turned myself over to you. I asked you to come into my life. I asked you to forgive my sin and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. I said that I would follow you as my Savior and Lord. Yes, you did. You rescued me from a life without you. Yes, I did.

You still haven’t fully answered my question. What’s that? Why do you want to obey me? You love me. You did not turn away from me when I cried out to you. You did not reject me. You did not shame me. You threw your arms around me and welcomed me into your family. You made me to be your child. You forgave me of all my sin. You cleansed me of all my unrighteousness. You healed my bruised, battered and broken life. You filled me with your Spirit and set me on the path of life following you as my Savior and Lord. Yes, I did. Now, I love you because you first love me. Day by day I am living in your love. Moment by moment my love for you grows stronger. My heart and mind are captivated of thoughts and filled with desires to do what pleases you. It is no inconvenience or burden for me to obey you. I want what you want. I take pleasure and have great joy in doing your will. In every way I want to become like you. I want to know you. I want to walk in your ways. I want to love you just as you have loved me. That is the desire of my heart and mind and soul. I want nothing else. I want nothing less. You have answered me well.

Lord, I do love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. My heart and mind are captivated by thoughts of doing what pleases you. It is my joy and pleasure to do whatever you desire. I will go where you guide me to do all that you ask of me. Amen

Key Question… How is your love for the Lord captivating your thoughts and motivating your desire to obey Him?

Living It Out… Allow your love for the Lord to captivate your thoughts and motivate your desire to obey Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your love for the Lord will captivate your thoughts and motivate your desire to obey Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your love for the Lord is motivating your desire to obey Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your love for the Lord always motivate your desire to obey Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional study guide click here:

If – John 14-15 – You Love Me – 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

If We Confess Our Sins

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Identity - 1 John 1:8-10 - If We Confess Our Sins - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Identity – 1 John 1:8-10 – If We Confess Our Sins – Growing As Disciples

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10 (NIV) 

Confession

Are you a sinner? Have you sinned against me in your thoughts, words and deeds? Have you done what you should not have done? Have you left undone what you should have done? Have you missed the mark? Have you fallen short? Have you done what is not pleasing in my sight? You know the answers to all your questions. I know the answers to all your questions. You will get no disagreement from me. I have sinned against you in my thoughts and words and deeds. I have done what I should not have done. I have left undone what I should have done. I have missed the mark. I have fallen short. I have done what is not pleasing in your sight. I admit my sin. I am confessing my sin. I am turning away from sin. I am asking for your forgiveness and cleansing. I know that you can and will forgive me of all my sin and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. I have no doubt about that. That’s right. You are forgiven of all your sin. You are cleansed of all your unrighteousness.

But, you have done even more than forgive me of all my sin and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. You have broken the power of sin over my life. You have made me dead to sin and alive to you. You have set me free to live a completely new life with and for you. I now want to know and do your will. I now want to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. It is now my desire to do what is pleasing in your sight.  You have shown me your kindness, mercy and love. You have allowed me to taste your goodness. Your love has drawn me into your presence. I now hunger and thirst for you. I now want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to follow you to wherever you lead me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. I now love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is my joy to walk with you. It is my pleasure to serve you. You are my Lord. You are my Savior. You are my God and King. Yes, I am. I am all yours. Yes, you are. For that I am so very thankful. That is very good.

Lord, I am a sinner. I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. I have done what I should not have done and left undone what I should have done. I admit all my sins to you. Thank you for forgiving my sins and cleansing me of my unrighteousness. Amen

Key Question… When have you foolishly attempted to hide and cover up your own sinfulness?

Living It Out… Make it your regular practice to be specific in admitting and confessing your sins to the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ will forgive your sins and cleanse you of all your unrighteousness.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you regularly and specifically confess your sins to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you confess your sins to the Lord so you can receive His forgiveness.

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

Identity – 1 John 1-8-10 – If We Confess Our Sins – 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

Glad

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Matthew 5:11-12 - Glad - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Matthew 5:11-12 – Glad – Growing As Disciples

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV)

Persecution

Don’t be surprised. The world hated me. The world will hate you. The world insulted me. The world will insult you. The world persecuted me. The world will persecute you. The world spoke every evil against me. The world will speak every evil against you. You are in good company with me. You are in good company with my followers that have gone before you. You have been given the privilege to believe in me. You have also been given the privilege to suffer for me. Everyone who desires to live a Godly life will be persecuted. I’m telling you this now so that you will not fall away from me. You will not become discouraged. You will not give up. You will not quit. You will be encouraged. You will be strengthened. You will be lifted-up. You will keep on loving, following and serving me. You will shine brightly for me as a witness in the world. Yes, I will, with all your help. 

What will you do? How will you respond when times of hate, insult and persecution come against you? I will remember your words of warning to me. I will remember the kind of life you lived. I will keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. You will be my strength. You will be my encouragement. You will be my support. I will live like you lived. I will do what you did. What did I do? How did I live? You kept on loving others even when they hated, insulted and persecuted you. You did not harbor hate. You did not seek revenge. You did not pay back evil with evil. You kept on doing your Father’s will. You drew near to your Father as He drew near to you. He sustained you. He helped you. You relied on Him. That is what I will do. I will draw near to you as you draw near to me. I know that you will bring me through every difficulty in life. You will be with me to help me. I will rely on you completely Yes, I will be with you to help you. Yes, I will bring you through every difficulty in life. Yes, you can and will rely on me every step of your way through life. You will be my witness. Your life will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name.

Lord, I know I am in good company with you and your followers when I am insulted, persecuted and falsely spoken of, because of my faith in you. I will be glad because I know that a great reward awaits me in heaven. Help me now to be your witness in the world. Amen

Key Question… Why is it important to not retaliate against mistreatment if you want to be a witness for Christ?

Living It Out…Remain joyful while being mistreated for your faith because you know that a great reward awaits you in heaven.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can be glad while being mistreated because you know a great reward is waiting for you in heaven.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are remaining joyful while being mistreated for your faith.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rejoice and glad when you are being mistreated as a follower of Jesus Christ.

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

Be – Matthew 5-11-12 – Glad – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

Revealed It To Us

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Discipleship Study - Wisdom - 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 - Revealed It To Us- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – Wisdom – 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 – Revealed It To Us- Growing As Disciples

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”– but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 (NIV)

Walk In Wisdom

Do you want to know me? Do you want to know my will and walk in my ways? Do want to live and walk in my wisdom? Do you want to receive my wisdom and live out all that I have prepared for you? Yes, I want to know you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want nothing more than to know your will and walk in your ways. In every way, I want to live and walk in your wisdom. I want to receive your wisdom and live out all that you have prepared for me. I don’t want to miss out on anything that you have planned and prepared for me.

How can I know your will? How can I receive your wisdom? How can I walk in your ways? Those are good questions. It is very good that you are passionately asking me these questions. Why is that? You must want to know my will. You must want to receive my wisdom. You must want to walk in my ways. Your questions are filled with passionate desire. You are passionately asking me these questions because you love me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. You are filled with desire to know and do my will. You are fully devoted to loving, following and serving me. You are seeking me with all your heart. You are giving yourself fully to me. You are holding nothing back. You are keeping nothing in reserve. You are pouring yourself out in service to me. That is very good.

You will not be denied. Your request has been heard and will be answered. I will help you to know and respond to my wisdom. My wisdom will guide you. My wisdom will guard you. My wisdom will lead you to where I want you to go. My wisdom will make you able to do what I ask you to do. You will fulfill my purposes and accomplishes my plans. My wisdom will make you able to will live and walk in all the good things I have prepared for you. You will not miss out. You will not fall short. You will have no regrets as you continue to follow and serve me. That will be great. That will be fantastic. That will be beyond what I could have ever hoped for or even imagined. Yes, it will.

Lord, I love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I want to know and understand and respond to all your wisdom. Show me what I could not begin to know or understand about your wisdom. Help me to live and walk in what you have prepared for me. Amen

Key Question… How does the wisdom from God differ from the wisdom that comes from the world?

Living It Out… Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to know and respond to wisdom from God.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you what you could not know or understand about God’s wisdom.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has revealed God’s wisdom to you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Holy Spirit to show you what you could not know or understand.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship study guide click here:

Wisdom – 1 Corinthians 2-6-10 – Revealed It To Us – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

A Mocker

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Proverbs 15:12 - A Mocker - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Proverbs 15:12 – A Mocker – Growing As Disciples

A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise. Proverbs 15:12 (NIV) 

Receptive

How receptive are you to receiving my correction? That sounds like an easy question to answer. Really? You might want to think a little more deeply, if you think that this is an easy question for you to answer. Why is that? Would you like me to ask you some related questions? I’m not sure, but go ahead, I’m listening. That’s good. How much of a risk would it be for some to give you some strong words of correction? Before you answer let me also ask you how often has someone taken the risk to offer you some strong words of correction. To your second question, I would say that it has been seldom, if ever, that someone has given me some strong words of correction. Why is that? Is it because you have never needed any strong words of correction? I doubt that. I’m sure that there have been many times that I could have used some strong words of correction in my life. That’s true. How do you think you might react if someone were to give you some strong words of correction? I might react negatively. I might become defensive. I might even become combative. Are you sure? No, I am not sure. Why is that? Recently, I have found myself inviting others to give me words of correction if they felt that I needed them. That’s good. You will never receive needful and helpful words of correction if you give off signals that you would react negatively and probably wouldn’t receive them anyway. Be unwilling to receive correction and wisdom is a very foolish and dangerous position to be in.  It is a very wise person that gives permission to others to give them words of correction whenever they need them. So, keep on asking others to speak words of wisdom and correction into your life. Yes Lord, I will.

How will you receive correction and wisdom from me? It is the desire of my heart to know and do your will. I want to do what is pleasing in your sight. So, I will listen attentively to all that you want to say to me. I will ask for your wisdom. I will hear your instructions and follow your direction. I will welcome your correction in my life. I will allow you to mold and shape me into the person you want me to become. I will follow you to wherever you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will allow you to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life as I follow you. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not be stubborn and proud. I will allow myself to receive correction. I will listen to whatever you say to me. I need wisdom from you. I need wisdom from those you place in my life. I will change my thoughts, words and deeds as you give me wisdom. Amen

Key Question… How much of a risk is it for others to speak words of correction and wisdom into your life?

Living It Out… Be ready and willing to receive correction and wisdom from the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you correction and wisdom as you follow Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group you are receiving correction and wisdom from the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you willing receive correction and wisdom from the Lord.

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

Character – Proverbs 15-12 – A Mocker – 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

Building Others Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - Ephesians 4:29 - Building Others Up - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – Ephesians 4:29 – Building Others Up – Growing As Disciples

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Your Words

Your words have power. The words that come out of your mouth can tear others down or build them up. Your words can be a tool that will be used either for good or for evil. You can speak valuable life-giving words or you can speak deathly words that cause discouragement, defeat and even death. Those are very strong words. Yes, I want you to carefully consider every word that you allow to come out of your mouth. Have you ever deeply regretted words that have come out of your mouth? Yes, I have deeply regretted words that have come out of my mouth. Why is that? As you have said, words have power. Once words are spoken they cannot be taken back. Words cannot be unheard. I can recall very negative life-taking words that were spoken to me long ago. It’s hard to forget negative, life-taking and hurtful words. Yes, it is. You remember many other words that have been spoken to you. Yes, I do. Tell me about some living-giving words that you have heard. I have heard marvelous, life-giving words that encouraged me and spurred me on to bigger and better and greater things. I can recall people who believed in me when I did not believe in myself. Those people spoke hope and healing and possibilities into my life that I would have never considered on my own. Do you think they spoke solely out of their own thoughts? I’m not sure what you are asking me. Did their life-giving words originate out of their own hearts and minds? You are asking me where their life-giving words came from? Yes, I am. I haven’t thought about that before now. Think about it now. You were behind their life-giving words. You gave them thoughts to think. You gave them words to speak. You used the words of their mouths to speak life-giving words into in my life. Yes, I did. 

Do you want me to use your words to encourage others and spur them on to bigger and better and greater things? Do you want to be able to speak life-giving words that will encourage and lift others up? Yes, I do. What must I do to be able to speak life-giving encouraging words into the lives of other people? You must do two things. You must listen carefully to the people in your life. You must really hear what others are saying to you. Hear their needs through the words they are speaking. Become a student of the people in your life. Know them. Know their needs. Will you do that? Yes, I will. What else must I do? You must listen to me. Don’t think that you know what to say. Ask me to give you life-giving words you can to speak into the lives of others. Will you also do that? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I have not been gifted at using my words to encourage and build others up. That is probably a dramatic understatement. Forgive me. Help me to listen carefully to others so I will know how to encourage and build them up in their faith. Speak through me. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord been teaching you how to encourage and build others up with your words?

Living It Out… Use the words that come out of your mouth to build others up according to their needs.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use your words to build others up according to their needs.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is using your words to build others up.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you use your words to build others up according to their needs.

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

Discipleship – Ephesians 4-29 – Building Others Up – 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