Let Nothing Move You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 52 -1 Corinthians 15:58 - Let Nothing Move You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 52 -1 Corinthians 15:58 – Let Nothing Move You – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) 

Is It Worth It?

It is worth it? Is what worth what? Is all your faithful and hard work for me worth it? I would have never expected you to ask me that kind of question. Why do you think I’m asking you that question right now? It’s a good question to think about when I’m not weary and worn out or going through great difficulty. Why is that? I think it’s important to have an answer to that question in advance before I’m at one of my weakest points in life. Yes, it is. There will be days that your advance decision-making will help you through temptations and trials.

Are you thinking about your answer? Yes, I am. What’s on your mind? I’m sure that every second, minute and hour of service to you is worth it. I want my life to be one long act of continual service to you. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and your glory. I want to be well used by you. I don’t want any gift, talent, ability or resource that you have given me to go to waste. I want to better know your will and your ways as I serve you. There is a “but” coming isn’t there? Yes and no, kind of sort of, I suppose. Tell me what you are thinking. I can’t answer your question completely. The worth of my serving you can’t be completely known or fully measured in this life. I can only partially know the value of my service until the day I look back with you in the light of eternity. On that day I so want to hear you say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” I’m serving you now with that hope in mind. Hearing those words from you would make every day of my work for you worth it, of that I am sure. Yes, it will. 

Looking forward to your eternal life with me in heaven motivates your service to me today, is that right? Yes, my eyes are fixed on heaven. My focus is on you. I know my future is securely in your hands. I know that you have a place prepared for me. Knowing this has given me strength. Knowing this has given me hope. Knowing this has given me courage to stand firm, allowing nothing to move me. It is the desire of my heart to give myself fully to the work that you have given me to do. You have prepared good works for me to do and I am going to do them with all the power that you have given me. I know that all my labor will never be in vain. Yes, it is worth it! Yes, it is.

Lord, thank you that my future in heaven is secure and awaits me. Help me now to stand firm, letting nothing move me, as I give myself fully to the work that you have called me to do for you. I know my labor will not be in vain. Amen

Key Question… Why do you know for certain that your work for the Lord will never be in vain?

Living It Out… Stand firm, letting nothing move you, as you give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has work that He has given you to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what work the Lord has given you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you stand firm, letting nothing move you, as you give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 52 – 1 Corinthians 15-58 – Let Nothing Move You – 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

Can These Bones Live?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 71 - Ezekiel 37:1-3 - Can These Bones Live? - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 71 – Ezekiel 37:1-3 – Can These Bones Live? – Growing As Disciples

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.  He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.  He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Ezekiel 37:1-3 (NIV)

Giver Of Life

I am the giver of life. I make things live. I can make what was once dead come back to life. Do you believe what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I believe. How do you know this to be true? I was once dead in my trespasses and sins. You brought me back to life. You gave me a brand-new life to live in you. So, not by your own efforts did you come back to life. No amount of your own flurry of effort could have given you a new life. Is that correct? That is correct, my new life in you has come to me as a gift.

Have you encountered dead ends? Have you experienced defeats? Has one of your dreams, even one that you thought to be God given, appeared to be dead? Yes, I have come to dead ends. Yes, I have experienced defeats. I have had dreams that have been dead so long that I have forgotten that they were once dreams of mine. Can I bring long forgotten dreams to life? Can I make a dead end a place from which you can begin again? Can a defeat be the place from which I will bring you a victory? Only you know. You can say more than that. Yes, you can do all things. With you, nothing is impossible. That is correct. That is right. That is true.

What must happen for me to turn a defeat of yours into a victory? What must you do if a dead end is to become a place to begin again? What must happen for a long forgotten, seemingly dead dream, to live again? I must come to rely on you. I must place all my faith in you. I must be willing to go wherever you ask me. I must be willing be to do whatever you ask me. What must you not do? I must not rely on myself and my own flurry of activity to accomplish what you already want to do in, for and through me. Will you rely on me? Will you place all your faith in me? Will you follow and serve me? Yes Lord, I will. Then dreams will live again. Then you will walk in victories. I will work in, for and through you. Then what was dead will come back to life. Thank you, Lord. You are the giver of life. Yes, I am. 

Lord, you are the giver of life. You can make what is dead come back to life. That is what I want and will pray for. Lord, do a miracle. Do in, for and through me what only you can do. I will trust and rely fully on you. With your power, do your life-giving work. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord brought to life a dream that you thought was deader than a door nail?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to do in, for, and through you what only He can do.

Seeing It Happen…Have faith that the Lord will do in, for and through you what only He can do.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when the Lord brought something to life that was as clearly dead.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord to do His work in, for and through you.

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

Promises – Day 71 – Ezekiel 37-1-3 – Can These Bones Live? – 4 Page Discipleship 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

To Those He Loves

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 83 - Psalm 127:1-2 - To Those He Loves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 83 – Psalm 127:1-2 – To Those He Loves – Growing As Disciples

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat– for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV)

Unless

“Unless” is a very important word for you to hear and understand. Why is that? If you don’t hear and understand the word “unless” you could waste your entire life. How could that be possible, it’s such a small word? Have you ever wasted a day running around racing to do something that wasn’t all that important? I’ve wasted a lot of days doing just that. Have you ever evaluated your “to do” list and discovered that it had a bunch of meaningless tasks on it that won’t add up to anything of real value? I’ve noticed that far too often. Have you ever made your own plans without asking me what I thought? Yes, I’ve done that.  Have you ever relied solely on your own strength to accomplish your work? I’ve done that as well. Are you wondering how that little word “unless” relates to all my questions? Yes, I am. Are you still wondering how not understanding that little word “unless” could cause you to waste your life? Yes, I am.  But, I think I’m beginning to figure out where you have been headed. Let me hear your thoughts. I will give you a little clue. What’s that? Begin your thoughts with the word “unless”. All right, I will. Unless, I take time to know your will, I will be spinning my wheels in life. Unless, I understand what you want me to do, I may waste my life working on what was of little value. I may think that I have or I am accomplishing a lot. But, one day I may look back only to realize that my life has accomplished next to nothing of lasting and eternal value. My own thoughts and plans and accomplishments will amount to nothing without you. Apart from you, I can do nothing that will bear fruit for all eternity. Unless, I rely on your power and strength to work in and through me, I will never be able to accomplish the work that you have given me to do. No, you will not. You must rely on me. 

Do you have any more thoughts about this little word “unless”? Yes, I do. Unless, I rely on your power and strength I will work even harder because I will see how little I have accomplished in life. Unless, I rely on you to work in and through me I will get up early and stay up late working in vain. Unless, I know that I am bearing the fruit that you want me to bear, I will work myself weary and never get the sleep and rest you want to give to me. My life will have no rhythm or balance. No, it will not and why is that? It will be because I did not understand the value of the little word, “unless.” That’s right. I want you to guard and guide and bring balance to my life. I can see that. So, I will not fail to understand hear and understand all that you are saying to me through this little word “unless.” I will let you work in and through me. I will do the work that you have given me to do. I will rely on your power and strength. I will allow you to guard and guide my life. I will allow you to bring balance into my life. I will slow down and accept the sleep and rest that you want to give to me. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to know and do the work you have given me to do for you. I want my life to bear fruit for you that will last for eternity. Guide me to do your work. Bless my efforts as I rely on you. Guard, protect and balance my life according to your will and plan. Amen

Key Question… How are you relying on the Lord to direct, guide and bless your work in this life?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to help you to know and do the work that He wants you to do for Him in his life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will direct, guide and bless the work that He wants you to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your work is bearing fruit that will last for all eternity.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you know and do the work that the Lord has given you to do for Him.

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

Promises – Psalm 127-1-2 – To Those He Loves – 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

Goes With You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 92 - Deuteronomy 31:6 - Goes With You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 92 – Deuteronomy 31:6 – Goes With You – Growing As Disciples

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) 

Courageous

You will face battles in life. You will be called upon to stand up and fight. You are sure to find yourself in fearful and terrifying situations. I don’t like the sound of this. That comes as no surprise to me. Why is that? Do you want me to work in and through your life? Yes, I want you to work in and through my life. Do you want to know me? Yes, I want to know you intimately. What does you working in and through my life and knowing you intimately have to do with facing and fighting battles in life? That’s a good question. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead. Have you come to know and rely on me more in and through the battles in life or when you were resting in your comfort zone? Obviously, I have come to know and rely on you more in and through the battles of life. I’ll ask you another question. I’m listening. Have you born more fruit for my kingdom and glory when you have been challenged beyond your gifts, talents and abilities or when the task at hand was very easy to accomplish? I have born more fruit when I have been challenged beyond my gifts, talents and abilities. Then would you say that a lot of good has happened, as you have had to stand up and fight battles in life? Yes, that’s true.

Let me ask these questions to you again. I want us to spend more time on them. Go right ahead. What’s good about battles in life? What’s good about going through fearful and terrifying situations? What’s good about having to stand up and fight? What have you learned? What have I taught you? You have taught me to cry out to you for help. Have I answered your prayers? Yes, you have answered my prayers. Have I brought you through fearful and terrifying situations? Yes, you have brought me through every trial and difficulty I have ever faced. Sometimes, I have had to look back with the perspective of time and distance to clearly see that you have always had a hold of me and were leading me through every battle I faced in life.

What has knowing that I am always with you done for you? Knowing that you are with me has given me courage and strength. Knowing that you are with me has helped me to stand up and fight. Knowing that you are with me has helped me to trust and rely on you. Knowing that you are with me has helped to leave my comfort zone to follow you to wherever you lead me to do whatever you have asked of me. Yes, these are all true. 

If you could choose a life of constant comfort or a life filled with battles that I led you through which would you choose? Without hesitation I would choose a life of following you even knowing that you will lead me through battles and challenges in life. You really do want to know me? You really do want to be used by me? Yes Lord, I do. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you that you are always with me to help me in and through the battles that I face in life. I will trust you for all my courage and strength as I rely on you to help me. It is my joy to know that you will never leave or forsake me. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord been with you to help you through the battles you have faced in life?

Living It Out… Have courage and strength in the battles you face in life because you know that God is with you to help you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith, courage and strength in knowing that the Lord is with you to help you in all the battles you face in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God was with you to help you in a battle you faced in life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be strong and courageous in the battles of life because you know that God is with you in them.

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

Promises – Day 92 – Deuteronomy 31-6 – Goes With 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

Renew Their Strength

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 93 - Isaiah 40:30-31- Renew Their Strength - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 93 – Isaiah 40:30-31- Renew Their Strength – Growing As Disciples

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

Wait 

You look really worn out. I feel exhausted. I don’t think that I can take one more step. I hate being this weary. I don’t like seeing you like this either. You don’t? Of course not, it isn’t my plan for you to be unhappy, overworked and worn out. Can I ask you a question? Go right ahead. Why do you give me so much work to do if you don’t like seeing me weary and worn out? Are you sure that you aren’t doing more than I have asked you to do for me? Am I? Now, that’s a good question at the wrong time. Why is that? You tell me. It’s probably better to ask you if you want me to take on an assignment before I start rather then while I’m worn out trying to complete it. You got that right. So, what will you do differently in the future? I will ask you to help me to know if I should or shouldn’t take on a new assignment. That will be very good. Trying to do too much is not the only explanation for why you might be weary in your work. What might be another explanation?

You were right about one thing. What’s that? I will always give you more than you can accomplish. I thought you didn’t like seeing me weary and worn out. I don’t. Now, I’m confused. Why do you think I will always give you more than you can accomplish? I’m not sure. If I only gave you what you could accomplish, who would you rely on to accomplish it? I would rely on myself. That’s right and is that a good thing? No, it’s not. Why is that? You want me to come to rely on you for your strength to accomplish what you have given me to do. Yes, I do. Why do you think I want you to come to rely on me? I’m not sure. Think hard. You want to develop a relationship with me. Yes, I do. Do you think it is possible that I am more interested in developing a relationship with you than I am in seeing you accomplish great things for me? Is that true? Yes, it is. In fact I will not let you accomplish great things for me unless we have developed a close relationship with each other. My coming to rely on you is that important to you? Yes, it is. That makes me glad. Yes, I knew it would. There is another reason I will not give you my power and strength to accomplish things for me without us developing a close relationship with each other. What’s that?

Who would get the credit if I allowed you to accomplish great things with your own strength? I suppose that I would. Yes, you would. Would anyone be drawn to me through the great things you did with your own strength? Probably not. Would you have any sense that I was working in and through your life if you only accomplished what you could do with your own strength? No, I wouldn’t. Can you see the point? You want me to rely on you so I can come to know you. Yes, I do. You want others to be drawn to you through the work that you do in and through my life. Yes, I do. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, that’s exactly what I want. I will come to rely and wait on you. That will be very good.

Lord, I know I will never have enough of my own power and strength to follow and serve you. That’s a good thing. Otherwise I might be tempted to rely on myself. Instead I will rely on you and wait for you to renew me with your strength. Amen

Key Question… How has relying on the Lord and keeping your eyes focused on Him given you peace in life?

Living It Out… Place your complete trust in the Lord your eternal rock so that you will receive His perfect peace.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith to believe that you will have perfect peace as you place your complete trust in the Lord.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how placing your trust in the Lord has brought you His perfect peace.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you receive perfect peace from the Lord as you place your complete trust in Him.

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

Promises – Day 93 – Isaiah 26-3-4 – Perfect Peace – 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

Spur One Another On

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 95 - Hebrews 10:24-25 - Spur One Another On - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 95 – Hebrews 10:24-25 – Spur One Another On – Growing As Disciples

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Gather Together

Do you want to grow strong in your faith? Do you want to be able to live the life I have called you to live? Do you want to shine brightly as a witness in the world for me? Do you want to be able to resist temptation? Do you want to be able to stand against evil? Do you want to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans? Do you want to go where I am leading you? Do you want to be able to do what I am asking of you? Do you want to be able to bear fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? You have asked me many questions for all of which, I have the same answer. What is your answer? Yes, I want all these things. That is a very good answer.

If you want all that I want for you then you will do one thing without fail. What is that? You will make it your regular and consistent pattern to gather together with fellow believers, in my body, the church. You will allow yourself to become deeply rooted in my body, the church. You will find a place where you can love and serve others in my body. You are very emphatic on this point. Yes, I am. I am glad you noticed. It would be nearly impossible to not hear what you are clearly asking of me. I am glad that your ears are open to hear me.

Why am I so emphatic about you regularly and consistently gathering together with others in my body? I am not sure how to answer your question. Tell me what your experience has been. I can tell you that I was not made to live alone. I can tell you that I was not made to live a solitary life, all by myself. That’s true. What would happen to you if you tried to live your life of faith all alone, by yourself? I would be easy prey for the devil. I would be leaving myself wide open to spiritual attack. I would not be able to resist temptation or stand against evil. That’s true. What else? I would certainly wander off course. I would drift away from you. There is no doubt about that. What else? I would not be spurred on and encouraged by fellow believers. I would not find my place to minister in your body. I would not be used to spur on and encourage fellow believes in their faith. So, gathering together in my body is not only for your benefit? No, it is also a place for me to love and care for others. It is a place for me to use all the gifts you have given to me. It is a place for me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, it is. Will you keep on gathering together in my body, the church? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will make it my regular and consistent pattern to gather together with others in your body, the church. I will both give and receive encouragement to love others and do many good deeds. I will spur others on in their faith as I am also spurred on in my faith. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your regular and consistent practice to gather together in the body of Christ?

Living It Out…  Make it your regular and consistent pattern to gather together in the body of Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to spur others on to love and good deeds as you gather together.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to spur others on in their faith.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you spur others on as you continue to gather together to meet with them.

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

Promises – Day 95 – Hebrews 10-24-25 – Spur One Another On – 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

I Will Be With You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 117 - Isaiah 43:2 - I Will Be With You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 117 – Isaiah 43:2 – I Will Be With You – Growing As Disciples

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

Through 

That is a very important word. What is a very important word? “Through,” is a very important word. Why is that? You will pass through waters. You will pass through rivers. You will walk through fire. You will not drown. The rivers will not sweep over you. You will not be burned. You will not be set ablaze. The waters and rivers and fires are not a permanent condition. They will not endure. They will not last forever. You will endure. You will last forever. I have been and will continue to keep you in the palm of my hand. I will watch over you. I will take care of you. Soon enough, this sin broken life, that is yours to live, will one day be over. Then you will come to live forever in heaven with me. In heaven, there is no sickness or sadness or suffering. In heaven, you will regard your trials and troubles of this life as a momentary difficulty. They are painful and difficult and troubling now. Then, they will be insignificant, like the blink of an eye or a snap of the fingers and they will be gone. So, can you understand the importance of that momentary and temporary word, “through?” Yes, I can. That is very good.

Nevertheless, your trials and troubles of this life, as painful as they are, can bring you great benefit. How so? What have you done as you have gone through trials and troubles? I have cried out to you. I have asked for your help. I have placed all my faith and hope and trust in you. That is exactly what you have done. Would you say that your faith is stronger or weaker because you have gone through troubles and trials with me? My faith is stronger, because I have gone through troubles and trials, with you, without a doubt. Yes, it is. Would you say that your relationship with me has grown sweeter and more intimate as you have gone through troubles and trials with me or has it grown less sweet and more distant. My relationship with you has also grown sweeter and more intimate as I have gone through troubles and trials with you, there is no doubt about that either. Yes, that is also true. I will be with you through your every trouble and trial in life. Never forget this. Never stop relying on me. Never stop placing all your faith and hope and trust in me.  I will never stop relying on you. That is very good. 

Lord, I know I will certainly go through fiery trials in this sin broken life. I also know you will be with me to help me through whatever difficulty comes my way. I will rely on you. I will trust you fully. I will place all my faith in you. Lead with through every trial.  Amen

Key Question… How has your faith in the Lord grown stronger as you have gone through great difficulties with Him?

Living It Out…  Rely on the Lord to help you as you go through great difficulties in life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be with you when you go through great difficulties in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been with you as you have gone through difficulties.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord as you go through great difficulties in life.

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

Promises – Day 117 – Isaiah 43-2 – I Will Be With You – 4 Page Discipleship 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

Break Up Your Unplowed Ground

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 313 - Hosea 10:12 - Break Up Your Unplowed Ground - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 313 – Hosea 10:12 – Break Up Your Unplowed Ground – Growing As Disciples

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 (NIV)

Unplowed Ground

What does that mean? What does what mean? What does it mean to break up unplowed ground? This refers to your heart. What is the condition of your heart? Is your heart like hard, unplowed ground? Or is your heart like fertile soil that can produce a crop or bear fruit? Are you sowing to the righteous life that I have called you to live? Or are you planting wickedness in your heart and mind and life? Are there things in your heart that must be rooted out so that righteousness can grow and flourish in you? Think of your heart as a garden. How are you tending to your heart? Now, I understand what it means to break up unplowed ground in my heart. That’s good.

How will you break up the unplowed ground of your heart? Not on my own, that is for sure. Why is that? I need your help. Tending to my heart is not something I can do on my own, all by myself. I need your wisdom. I need your guidance. I need your direction. So, I will seek you with all my heart. That will be very good. I have no doubt that you will show me what needs to be rooted out of my heart and mind and life. What kinds of things might need to be rooted out of your heart? There is a long list of possibilities. Let me hear what comes to your mind. Fear and doubt need to be rooted out of my heart. Worry and anxiety need to be rooted out of my heart. Pride and arrogance need to be rooted out of my heart. What needs to be planted in your heart? Again, I have some ideas. Let me hear what comes to your mind. Faith and courage need to be planted in my heart. Hope and joy and love need to be planted in my heart. Humility and integrity need to be planted in my heart. Steadfastness and faithfulness need to be planted in my heart. You have some very good ideas about what needs to be rooted out and what needs to be planted in you.

Do you believe that I will help you? Do you believe that I will break up the unplowed ground of your heart so you can live the righteous life I have called you to live? Will I help you to root out wickedness and plant and nurture righteousness in you? Yes, I believe that you will make my life fruitful. You will do your work in my heart and mind and life as I seek you with all my heart. That I will, you can be sure of that. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I don’t want to have a hard heart like unplowed ground. I am choosing to sow to the righteous life you have called me to live. No longer will I plant to wickedness. Break up my unplowed ground as I seek you with all my heart. Bear fruit through all of my life. Amen

Key Question…  What spiritual disciplines are helping you to sow to the righteous life God has called you to live?

Living It Out…  Choose to sow to the righteous life God has called you to live as you seek Him with all your heart.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be sowing to righteousness and allowing your heart to be plowed as you seek the Lord.

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

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you break up the unplowed ground of your heart and seek the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 313 – Hosea 10-12 – Break Up Your Unplowed Ground – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

You Are The Potter

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 4 - Isaiah 64:8 - You Are The Potter - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 4 – Isaiah 64:8 – You Are The Potter – Growing As Disciples

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.  Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)

Clay

I am your Father. I am the potter. You are the clay. What does all this mean to you? What are your thoughts? You are my Heavenly Father. You love me perfectly. You know what’s best for me. You see what I cannot see. You know what I cannot know. You have a purpose and plan for my life. Your love designed me and is now continuing to shape me as I follow you. Why is it important for you to know and remember that I am your loving Heavenly Father? As I know and remember your love for me I will trust you. As I trust you I will allow you to mold and shape my life. Your molding and shaping of my life might not always feel pleasant or be comfortable. You will stretch me. You will remove from my life what is not pleasing to you. You will change me according to your purposes and plans. Yes, I will. 

Why is it important to know that you are clay? I am in rough shape. I am not a completed work. I will need molding and shaping now and up until the day I meet you face to face. Yes, you will. I am not wise or knowledgeable enough to know what you want me to look like. I don’t always know how you want to use me. As the clay, all I need to be is willing to be molded and shaped by you. That’s right. It’s very important that I willingly welcome all the molding and shaping you want to do in my life. If I am reluctant or unwilling to allow you to mold and shape me then your work will be hindered. Yes, it will.

Why is important for you to know that you are the work of my hands? I need to know and remember and expect that you will continually be molding and shaping my life according to your design. Your work will never stop. You will use your word to shape me. You will use circumstances to mold me. You will use other people to mold and shape me. You will use the ministry that you have called me to do for you to mold and shape me. You will use my participation in the body of Christ to mold and shape me. You will use all of life to mold and shape me into the person you want me to become. Yes, I will. I will not always understand how you are molding and shaping my life. No, you will not. I need to know and remember that I am a work in your hands. I need to have faith in you. I need to trust you. I need to be patient and let your work continue. Yes, you do. Will you? Yes Lord, I will.

Heavenly Father, thank you for molding and shaping my life according to your purposes and plans. I willingly welcome all your molding and shaping of my life. You are the potter. I am the clay. I trust you wholeheartedly. Amen

Key Question… How will your willingness or reluctance help or hinder God’s ability to mold and shape your life?

Living It Out… Willingly allow God to mold and shape your life according to His purposes and plans for your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God is molding and shaping your life according to His purposes and plans for you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are willingly allowing God to mold and shape your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you willingly welcome all the molding and shaping that your Heavenly Father wants to do in your life.

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

Promises – Day 4 – Isaiah 64-8 – You Are The Potter – 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

His Workmanship

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 9 - Ephesians 2:8-10 - His Workmanship - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 9 – Ephesians 2:8-10 – His Workmanship – Growing As Disciples

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

Good Works

I know a few things about those. You know a few things about what? I know a few things about good works. I’d like to hear what you know about good works. So, go ahead, I’m listening. Tell me what you know. First, I know only what I have been taught. I am not pridefully holding up what I know. I only know what I have heard and seen and learned and received from you. And even then, my knowing, is faulty. Understood, go ahead. Most importantly, I have learned, your salvation is a free gift. Nothing I have done or could ever do would earn or merit my salvation. Trying to earn or merit my salvation, by doing good works, would not be pleasing to you in any way, shape or form. No, it would not. What is pleasing to you, is receiving my salvation by faith in all that Jesus Christ has done for me on the cross. His death and resurrection secured my salvation and has given me a completely new life in Him. He is my Savior and Lord. You are my God and Father. I have been filled by your Holy Spirit, who is like a deposit, guaranteeing my inheritance in heaven. All this has come to me by faith, as a gift. Yes. None of what you have given to me has been earned. So, I have nothing to boast about. How am I doing so far? You have listened and learned well. Keep going.

So, I can confidently say that I have not been saved by good works. That is correct. But on the day, I turned my life over to you, a work was started in me. What sort of work? You have been molding and shaping my life. I am your workmanship. You are the potter. I am the clay. I am the work of your hands. Yes, you are, without a doubt. You have been preparing me to do good work for you. You have given me gifts and talents and abilities. You have been teaching and training me. You have been getting me ready. What have I been getting you ready for? You have good works already lined up and ready for me to do for you. You have a purpose and plan for my life. You have places you want me to go. You have things you want me to do. How do you feel about that? I feel excited. I feel grateful. I feel thankful. The idea that you want to use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans is incredibly amazing. The thought that I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name is astounding. To all of this I can only say, “Here I am Lord, use me!” That is very good. Yes, I will use you to do good works that I have prepared for you. You will bear fruit for my Kingdom and bring glory to my name. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the free gift of salvation I have in Jesus Christ. I know I have not been saved by any of my good works. Thank you for molding and shaping my life. I’m the work of your hands. Help me to do the good works you have prepared for me. Amen

Key Question… How has your Heavenly Father been molding and shaping your life since the day you gave your life to Him?

Living It Out… Be ready and willing to go and do all the good works that your Heavenly Father has prepared you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father is making you ready and able to go and do good works for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what good works your Heavenly Father has given you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you do the good work that God created you to do.

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

Promises – Day 9 – Ephesians 2-8-10 – His Workmanship – 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