Monthly Archives: August 2017

Live As Children Of Light

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Therefore - Ephesians 5:6-8 - Live As Children Of The Light - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore – Ephesians 5:6-8 – Live As Children Of The Light – Growing As Disciples

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light Ephesians 5:6-8 (NIV)

In The Light 

Be very careful where you walk. Keep a close watch over how you live your life. I’m not sure what you have in mind. Can you be more specific? Yes, I can be more specific. There are places you should not go. There are things you should not do. There are circumstances you should avoid. There are influences you should not allow into your life. There is counsel you should not accept. Why are you saying these things to me? Can you tell me more? You have left the life that you once lived. You have walked away from the darkness of your old life. You are no longer following the patterns, practices and values of the world. You are no longer living a sinful, self-centered and self-sufficient life. You are no longer living a self-indulgent and disobedience life. You want to know me. You want to live a life that is pleasing to me. You want to know and do my will. Instead of walking in the darkness, you want to live in the light with me. Is all of what I said true? Yes, I want to live and walk in the light with you. I want to know and do your will. In every way, I want to do what is pleasing to you. I want to live a life that is completely reliant on you. That is very good.

To keep on walking in the light, you must continue to make a clean break with the darkness. The darkness of the world is all around you. You must not let yourself become part of it. You must separate yourself from all the darkness that is in the world. You must not allow your heart or mind or life to be conformed to the world and all its evil. You must walk away from darkness and you keep on walking forward in the light with me. I get it. I understand.

You will be a light in the world. You will shine brightly for me. You will stand out from all the evil that is in the world. You will live your life in such a way that others will see my life being lived out in you. Others will be drawn to me through the testimony of your life. I will use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. I will help you to live this life that I am calling you to live. Will you rely on me? Will you do what I ask? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, at one time I was living in darkness. I followed all the values, patterns and practices of the world. I thought, and said and did what was evil. I have left that life behind me. Help me now to live and walk with you. Help me to live as your child of the light. Amen

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

Therefore – Ephesians 5-6-8 – Live As Children Of Light – 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do Not Be Like

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Psalm 32:8-9 - Do Not Be Like - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Psalm 32:8-9 – Do Not Be Like – Growing As Disciples

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Psalm 32:8-9 (NIV)  

Stubborn

Do you want me to instruct and teach in the way that you should go in life? That is a very important question that you should carefully consider. The quick and obvious answer might be “Yes, of course I want you to instruct and teach me in the way that I should go.” Yes, that is exactly what I would say to you. There is no doubt about that. I wouldn’t think so. Who wouldn’t want me to instruct and teach them in the way that they should go? Is that a question that you would like me to answer? Yes, it is. Many people might say that they want you to instruct and teach them in the way that they should go but not follow through with their responsibility. What is their responsibility? Their responsibility is to humbly come to you to be taught and counseled by you. Is that all? No, that is not all. After hearing your instruction and receiving your counsel it needs to be put into practice. Will you come to me to hear my instruction and receive my counsel? Will you put my instruction and counsel into practice? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

What will humbly hearing my instruction and receiving my counsel do for you as you put it into practice? Your instruction and counsel will guard and guide my life. Your instruction and counsel will watch over me. As I hear your instruction and receive your counsel I will know where to go and what to do as I follow and serve you. Yes, you will.

What must you never allow yourself to become? I must never become like a stubborn horse or mule that must be guided by a bit or bridle. If I allow myself to become stubborn I will never hear your instruction or receive your counsel. Your words will not guard and guide my life. Your words will not watch over me. I will have no idea where I should go or what I should do in life. I will be on my own. I will go my own way. I will do my own thing. That is not what I want. That is not what I will do. Instead, I will keep on humbly coming to you and put your words of instruction and counsel into practice. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not be proud and stubborn like a horse or mule that must be controlled by a bit or bridle. Instead, I will willingly come to you. I will humbly and attentively listen to all that you have to say to me. I will put all your instruction and counsel into practice. Amen

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

Wisdom – Psalm 32-8-9 – Do Not Be Like – 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