Monthly Archives: August 2016

Careful To Follow

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Deuteronomy 8:1-2 - Careful To Follow - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Deuteronomy 8:1-2 – Careful To Follow – Growing As Disciples

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.  Deuteronomy 8:1-2 (NIV)

It’s A Test

You have been through many trials and troubles in life. You have experienced great difficulty. You have faced difficult challenges. You aren’t telling me anything new, that’s for sure. It doesn’t sound like you have enjoyed going through trials and troubles. It doesn’t seem like you are a fan of difficult challenges. No, I am not, not at all. Do you know anyone that is? No, I don’t.

You may not have realized it, but your trials, troubles and difficult challenges in life have tested you. How so? You and I have been able to see what was in your heart as you have gone through trials, troubles and difficult challenges in life. What is in my heart? You tell me. I don’t know if I can tell you. I will help you by asking you some questions. That would be great. Have trials, troubles and difficult challenges caused you to give up? Have you quit following me? Have you become bitter or better? Has your faith grown weaker or stronger? Do you trust me more or less? Have you relied on yourself or have you come to rely more on me? Are you thankful for what trials, troubles and difficult challenges have accomplished in your life? Have you come to see trials, troubles and difficult challenges as your bitter enemies or your best friends? Do you deeply regret what you have gone through or are you especially thankful for every test that you have faced in life? That’s a lot of questions. Do you have some answers? Yes, I do.

I haven’t given up. I haven’t quit following you. I haven’t grown bitter. My faith hasn’t grown weaker. I trust you more and rely on myself far less. I wouldn’t sign up to take any of these tests of mine again. I wouldn’t ever wish that my tests had never come my way. You have used every trial, trouble and difficult challenge to draw me close to you. You have never left me. You have never forsaken me. You have taught me to hold on to you as you have held on to me. You have shown me that I have a heart to follow you. I want to go wherever you lead me to do whatever you ask of me. I am thankful for how you have tested me. You have given me a hunger to know you and a desire to walk in your ways. I will love you and follow you and serve you with all my heart. That is very good.

Lord, I am not a big fan of wilderness journeys in life. I don’t like the trials, and troubles that have come my way. I am thankful that you have been with me to help me through every difficulty. You have humbled my heart and caused me to come to rely on you. Amen

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

Guidance – Deuteronomy 8-1-2 – Careful To Follow – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Opened The Scriptures To Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Luke 24:32 - Opened The Scriptures To Us - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Luke 24:32 – Opened The Scriptures To Us – Growing As Disciples

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 (NIV)

Set My Heart On Fire

Open up your word to me. Show me what you want me to see. Walk with me. Talk with me. Stay with me. Use your word to mold and shape my life. Help me to hear your voice. Help me to know your thoughts. Help me to walk in your ways. Set my heart on fire by your word. I will follow you.

Help me to understand what I do not know or cannot see. Give me insight. Give me knowledge. Give me wisdom and understanding from out of your word. Guard and guide my life according to your word. I’m here. I’m waiting. I’m listening. I will do all that you ask of me. Set my heart on fire by your word. I will obey you.

Open my eyes to see. Open my ears to hear. You have my full attention. You have all of me. There is nothing I would rather do than live my life for you. There is no place I would rather be than right here with you. Use me according to your purposes and plans. Set my heart on fire by your word. I will serve you.

Draw near to me as I draw near to you. This special time and secret place is ours together. The door is closed. The volume is down. The crowds are gone. I am still. I am waiting. I am attentive. Quiet me so I can listen. Speak to me so I can hear. Set my heart on fire by your word. I will hear you.

My heart aches. My body cries out. I hunger and thirst for you. I want you in my heart. I want you in my mind. I want you in my life. I am fully devoted to you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul. Set my heart on fire by your word. I am all yours.

Will you do what I ask? Will you open your word to me? Will you speak to me so that I can  hear? Will you help me to follow and obey? Will you guard and guide my life by your word? Will you set my heart on fire for you? Yes, I will do all that you have asked of me. Yes, I will do far beyond even what you could have asked for or imagined. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you for your word. You are teaching and training me with your word. You are guiding and guarding my life with your word. Your word is changing my heart and transforming my mind. Your word has put a fire in my heart to love, follow and serve you.  Amen

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

Knowing God – Luke 24-32 – Opened The Scriptures To Us – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide 9.20.51 AM

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

Comes From Hearing

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith- Romans 10:17 - Comes From Hearing - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith- Romans 10:17 – Comes From Hearing – Growing As Disciples

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  Romans 10:17 (NIV)

Hear And Do

Do you want to grow in your faith? Do you want to have a strong and vibrant faith? Do you want to have the kind of faith in me that will allow you to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Do you want to have the kind of faith that will make you a bold and courageous witness for me? Do you want to have the kind of faith that will make you able to stand against temptation and evil? I want this kind of faith. I want my faith in you to be able to accomplish all that you have described. How can I grow strong in my faith? How can I have the kind of faith that you will powerfully use to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name? Those are very good questions. 

If you want to have the kind of faith that I have described you must do two things. You have my full attention. I’m listening very carefully to what you are about to say to me. What I am about to say to you is not complicated and hard to understand. What I am about to say to you is actually quite simple. First you must hear my word. You must listen attentively to all that I have to say to you. Hearing my word is not something you can do casually. Hearing my word is not something you can do occasionally. If you want to hear my word you must let it dwell in you richly. My word will teach you. My word will train you. My word will mold and shape you. My word will change your heart and transform your mind. My word will make you able to know my will and walk in my ways. My word will strengthen you as you meditate on it day and night. Your faith will grow strong as you meet with me in my word. Think of a body builder. A body builder lifts great weight to strengthen their muscles. A body builder would never become strong by lifting light weights here and there and now and then. Just as a body builder allows himself to be trained by lifting heavy weights, you also must allow yourself to be trained by my word. Do understand what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I understand.

What else must I do for my faith to grow strong? In addition to hearing my word you must also put my word into practice. Imagine a body builder who read everything they could about lifting weights. How much stronger would he be if after studying bodybuilding he never actually lifted any weights? He would be no stronger. All of his studying of bodybuilding would have not benefited his life at all. If you only hear my word and do not put my word into practice you will never grow stronger in your faith. Will you hear and do my word? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you for helping me to grow in my faith as I have met with you in your word. I will make it my daily pattern to set aside time to hear your word. Mold and shape my life with your word. Help me to put your word into action as I follow and serve you. Amen 

Key Question… How has hearing and putting God’s word into practice caused your faith in Him to grow?

Living It Out… Make it your daily pattern to set aside time to hear and put God’s word into practice so you can grow in your faith.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will grow in your faith as you make it your daily habit to hear and put God’s word into practice.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your faith in God has grown as a result of hearing God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your faith in God continue to grow as you hear His word.

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

Faith – Romans 10-17 – Comes From Hearing – 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

Your Ears Will Hear A Voice

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Isaiah 30:21 - Your Ears Will Hear A Voice - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Isaiah 30:21 – Your Ears Will Hear A Voice – Growing As Disciples

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)  

The Way

Are you expecting that I will speak to you? Are you listening attentively to my voice? Are you waiting for my instructions? Are you trusting in my guidance? Do you believe that I will lead you on your journey through life? I know that you will speak to me. I know that you will guide me on my journey through life. I am counting on your guidance and waiting for your instruction. You have said that you will draw near to me as I draw near to you. That’s right. You want me to come to you in prayer. You want me to be taught by you. You want me to receive your guidance. These things are also true.

Why do you expect to hear from me? Why are you so certain that I will speak to you? Prayer to you is a dialogue, not a monologue. That’s right. Prayer is just as much listening as it is talking to you. Yes, it is. You want me to talk to you. Yes, I do. You also want me to listen to you. Yes, I do. I can’t receive your instruction or follow your guidance if you do not speak to me. That’s pretty obvious isn’t it? Yes, it is.

Why are you so willing to come to meet with me? Why are you so determined to hear from me? Nothing brings me greater joy than to be in your presence. Nothing is more encouraging than to hear you speaking to me. Nothing is more certain than your desire for me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. So, I come and sit at your feet. I come to wait in your presence. I come to listen attentively to your voice. I am reminded of times when I have searched for something with the certainty that I am looking in the right place. The intensity of my search is strongest when I am certain that I will find what I am looking for if I don’t give up. I know with certainty that you will speak to me if I keep on listening and don’t give up. Yes, I will.

What do you want to hear from me right now? I want to hear whatever you have to say to me. You can tell me where to go. You can tell me what to do. You can tell me what you want to do in and through my life. You can tell me how you want to use me for your purposes. You can teach me. You can guide me. You can correct me. You can encourage and strengthen me. You know what I need to hear. You know that I am listening attentively to you. Yes, I do.

Lord, I will patiently wait, watch, and listen for your guidance and direction. Teach me Lord to walk and live according to your will and ways. It is my desire to live my life fully for you. Use me according to your purposes and plans. Amen

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

Guidance – Isaiah 30-21 – Your Ears Will Hear A Voice – 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 Give Up Meeting Together

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Let Us - Hebrews 10:25 - Not Give Up Meeting Together - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Let Us – Hebrews 10:25 – Not Give Up Meeting Together – Growing As Disciples

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 10:25 (NIV)

Meeting Together

You’ve heard and made a lot of excuses for not gathering together with other believers to meet with me in worship. Yes, I have heard and made most all of them. I doubt that. You would be surprised at how many you haven’t used. But, let me hear some of your reasons now. What are some good and acceptable reasons for you to skip out on gathering to meet with me in worship? I didn’t say that I had any good and acceptable reasons for not gathering together to meet with you in worship. No, you didn’t say that. I just said that I had made plenty of excuses and had reasons for not gathering together with other believers to meet with you in worship. I think you’re stalling. Are your reasons kind of weak and embarrassing? Yes, they are both weak and embarrassing. I think it will help you to hear them said out loud. So, go ahead and give me your reasons. I will apologize and ask for your forgiveness in advance. You are forgiven. I’m not trying to shame you. I want you to hear what you have told yourself about not meeting with me. I’m listening. Here goes. I have said that I was too busy. So, what has been more important and valuable than meeting with me? There is nothing more important than meeting with you. I also have said that I was too tired. Why were you too tired? I stayed out too late the night before. How do you feel about those choices now? I think I have made some bad choices and poor uses of my time based on misplaced priorities. If I make attending worship celebrations my priority I will prepare myself by going to bed earlier the night before. That sounds like a good plan. It will do me no good to come to worship exhausted. No, It will not. Oh, I have said that I needed “me” time. What’s that? I’m not sure. I heard someone else say it and it sounded good to me. What happened when you devoted yourself to your “me” time? Not, much. I would have been better off by receiving the encouragement I do when I gather with others to worship you. Yes, that’s true. Go on. I have said that I can worship you anywhere all by myself. I have thought that I really don’t need to gather with others to worship you. It’s very hard to receive encouragement from others when you are all alone, isn’t it? Yes, it is. I have really reached by saying that traveling conditions weren’t safe. On those days you probably stayed home all day then, didn’t you? No, I ventured out shortly after the worship celebrations were over. Was the weather a lot better then? No, it wasn’t. Then that was an exceptionally weak reason for not attending the worship celebration, wasn’t it? Yes, it was. 

I’m sure that you can go on and on with reasons why you haven’t attended worship celebrations. Yes, I can. But, I have heard enough. I have some statements that I want you to respond to. I’m listening. You know that I love you. Yes, I do. You know that I created and designed you. Yes, I do. You believe that what I say is true and right. Yes, I do. If my word conflicts with your behavior what will you do? I will change my behavior. Why is that? I believe that you know what is best for me. Yes, I do. You know that I want to encourage your faith as you draw near to me. Yes, I do. You know that I want you to encourage others when you gather together in worship with them. Yes, I do. What does my word say about you gathering together with others to worship me? Your word says that I should not skip out on worship celebrations. Your word says that I can give receive and give encouragement, as I gather with other believers to worship you. Yes, it does. Will you make it your unwavering commitment to gather with other believers to worship me? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you that you have placed me in a body of believers where I can receive and give encouragement. I am making it my advance decision to be unwavering and consistent in my worship attendance. Draw near to me as I draw near to you in worship. Amen

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

Let Us – Hebrews 10-25 – Not Give Up Meeting Together – 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

Minds For Action

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 1 Peter 1:13 - Minds For Action - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 1 Peter 1:13 – Minds For Action – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

 Prepare Your Mind

Prepare your mind for action. That’s quite a thought. How will you prepare your mind for action? How will you prepare your mind so you will be able to go where I guide you to do what I ask of you? What will help you to hear my voice? What will help you to answer my call? What will make you unprepared and not ready to take on an assignment from me? I need to set my mind on you. I need to set my mind on loving, following and serving you. If my mind is focused on you and all the hope that I have in you I will be prepared and ready to go wherever you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. That’s right.

What might distract you from setting your mind on me? What will make it hard for you to hear my voice? What will prevent you from answering my call? I need to be very careful about what I allow my mind to think. I need to be very cautious about where I go and what I do in life. How so? The world and all that is in it is clamoring for my attention. It would be easy for me to become distracted by the allure of all that is in the world. Why is that? The world shouts for my attention. The world and all its evil offer powerful and sinful enticements. Every day I will be faced with a choice. What choice is that? Will I listen to the appeals from the world? Will I chase after all that it offers. Will I pursue all the comfort and pleasure of the world? Will I get lost in all its noise and busyness? Will I allow my life to become a frantic pursuit of more? Will I be led to pursue the latest and greatest thing that the world tells me I must have if I want to be happy? All those questions are part of one choice. Will I follow the world? Following the world will make me unprepared, unwilling and unready to follow you. I will not be prepared for action. I certainly will not have a heart and mind and life that are ready to follow and serve you. No, in this case you would not. But, this is not your choice. No, this is not my choice. My choice is to listen attentively to you. My choice is to draw near to you. I want to hear your voice. I want to answer your call. I will be watching and waiting and listening for you to speak to me. My mind will be ready for action so I will be able to go wherever you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. Yes, it will.

Lord, I will guard my thoughts. I will not allow my mind to be conformed to the evil that is in this world. I will set my thoughts fully on the hope that I have in you. Help me to be self-controlled. Prepare my mind for the action you want me to take. Amen

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

The Mind – 1 Peter 1-13 – Minds For Action – 4 Pages Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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