Keep On Praying

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Ephesians 6:18-20 - Keep On Praying - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 6:18-20 – Keep On Praying – Growing As Disciples

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:18-20 (NIV)

Alert And Praying 

Are you alert to me? What does that mean? Are you watching? Are you waiting? Are you listening? Are you praying? Are you expecting me to guide you? Do you want me to direct you? Those are all very good questions. You are obviously trying to get my attention right now. Yes, I am. You wouldn’t be asking me these questions if I were intently watching and waiting and listening. No, I would not.

What more do you want me to do? How do you want me to be more intently watching and waiting and listening to you? I am glad that you are asking me that question. I want you pay attention. I want you to be fully alert. I want you to expect that I will speak to you in and through the circumstances of life that are going on all around you. Sharpen your eyes. Incline your ears. Watch and listen intently. Keep your eyes and ears on what is happening all around you as you keep your eyes and ears on me. Expect that I will speak to you. Plan on my guiding you. I will shut doors that I don’t want you to go through. I will open doors of opportunity that I want you to seize with all the power and strength I will give to you. Do not think that you will be able to recognize an open or shut door with your own eyes and ears. You must rely on me. You must ask me to help you to see and hear what I want you to see and hear. You must keep on living in an intimate prayer filled relationship with me. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will.

How might I expect you to speak to me? What can I expect that you will show me? Expect that I will give you opportunities to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Expect that I will give you opportunities to share with others the reason for the hope that you have within you. Expect that I will guard and guide your life so you will be able to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. Expect that my hand will be on you. You will have my favor so you can go and do all that I ask of you. Thank you, Lord.

Holy Spirit, I will be alert and listening to you. Guide and give me the prayers that you want me to pray as I and others go through spiritual battles. Open my mouth so that I will be able to fearlessly declare the gospel to a lost world. Amen

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Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 6-18-20 – Keep On Praying – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Opportune Time

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Luke 4:13 - Opportune Time - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Luke 4:13 – Opportune Time – Growing As Disciples

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:13 (NIV)

 Opportune Time

When might there be a weak moment in your life? When would be the most opportune time for the devil to come to attack with evil temptations? Are there people or places or circumstances that you need to avoid? Is there anything for you to be on guard against? I almost don’t know where to begin. Yes, there are people and places and circumstances that I need to avoid. There is a lot for me to be on guard against. Let me hear more about this from you.

When are you weak and most likely to be open to an attack by the devil and all his evil? I am weak when I am worried or worn out. I am weak when I am tired and hungry. I am weak when I am discouraged and depressed. I could be weak after either a discouraging defeat or tremendous success. Anything that depletes me spiritually, emotional or physical could leave me wide open to attack. That’s not all. What else? I would be at my very weakest when I am self-reliant, self-centered, and self-absorbed. Anything that causes me to take my eyes off of you would set me up for failure when the devil and all his evil comes to attack me. That’s true.

What have I given you so that you will be able to stand up against the devil and all his evil attacks? You have given me your word. You have given me your Holy Spirit. What will you do with my word? I will take your word into my heart and mind and life. I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. I will read and study your word. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will pray your word as I put it into practice. I will take a hold of your word so it can take a hold of me. That will be very good.

How will my Holy Spirit use my word in your life? Your Holy Spirit will take your word and use it like a sword to fight in me, with me and for me. Your word will change my heart. Your word will transform my mind. You word will guide my life. That’s true. Your word will keep me out of trouble. Your word will help me to know where I should not go. Your word will help me to know what I should not do. Your word will feed my desire to passionately do what is pleasing to you. Yes, my word will do all these things for you. Will your allow my word and my Holy Spirit to fight in you, with you and for you? Will you allow my word to strengthen you in your weak moments so you will not leave yourself open to attack? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that attacks of temptation and evil will never end in this life. The devil will always be looking for an opportune time, when I am weakest, to launch an attack against me. Help me to rely on your strength so I can stand up against attacks at all times. Amen

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Spiritual Warfare – Luke 4-13 – Opportune Time – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Stand Your Ground

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Ephesians 6:13-14 - Stand Your Ground - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 6:13-14 – Stand Your Ground – Growing As Disciples

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, Ephesians 6:13-14 (NIV)

Stand

That’s exactly what I want to do. What do you want to do? I want to be able to stand my ground. I want to be able to stand against evil. I want to be able resist temptation. How will you be able to do that? Not with my own power and strength, that is for sure. That sounds like the voice of experience. It is. I have failed miserably trying to stand against evil and resist temptation. Why is that? I am weak. I desperately need your help. Yes, you do. Is that what you are asking for? Are you asking me to make you able to stand against evil and resist temptation? Yes, I am. That’s good. I do have a question for you. Go ahead, ask me, I’m listening.

Why do you want to stand against evil and resist temptation? That seems like an odd question, coming for you. Why is that? Don’t you want me to stand against evil and resist temptation? Yes, I most certainly do want you to stand against evil and resist temptation. But, I want to know what you want. That is a good question. Why do you think so? Well, at one time I think my heart and mind were divided. How so? If I were to be honest with you and with myself, I would say that a part of me enjoyed sinning. A part of me did not fully want to stand against evil and resist temptation. For a time it was fun to enjoy sin. It was pleasurable to give into temptation by engaging in evil. What changed your heart and mind? The pleasures of sin are for a very short time. The long term wages of sin is death. Sin and evil and temptation caught up with me. How so? I began to feel the painful sting of sin. A life that keeps on sinning becomes a bruised and battered and broken life. There is no joy in a life of giving into temptation by engaging in evil. No, there is not.  

So, the brokenness of your life is what caused you to completely change your mind about engaging in the short term pleasures of sin? No, I wouldn’t say so. What would you say? I would say that the sting of sin and the death it brought into my life got my attention. What really caused me to want to resist evil and stand against temptation was something else that I wanted. What was that? I wanted to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. You first loved me. I wanted to love you back. I have come to want what you want. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. So, you are asking me to help you to put on my full armor so you can stand against evil and resist temptation, so you can be used by me as my witness in the world. That’s right. That is very good. I will hear and answer your prayer.

Lord, I cannot stand against evil and resist temptation solely with my own power and strength. If I rely solely on myself, I will certainly fail. I need your help. I will put on your full armor. I will rely on you. Make me able to stand against evil and resist temptation. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 6-13-14 – Stand Your Ground – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Blinded The Minds Of Unbelievers

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 2 Corinthians 4:4-6- Blinded The Minds Of Unbelievers - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 2 Corinthians 4:4-6- Blinded The Minds Of Unbelievers – Growing As Disciples

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 (NIV)  

Bright Light

Do you want to shine as a light in the world for me? Do you want others to be drawn to me through my light shining in and through you? Yes, I want to shine as a light in the world for you. Yes, I want others to be drawn to you through your light shining in and through me. I know one thing for sure. What’s that? This cannot be about me. I am not a source of light. For me to shine, you must be shinning in and through me. That’s right.

What must you do if you want my light to shine in and through you? I must spend time in your presence. What will happen to you as you spend time in my presence? I will become more and more like you, as I draw near to you. I cannot spend time in your presence and remain unchanged. That’s true. In your presence you will change everything about me. How so? I will come to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. My heart will be changed. My mind will be transformed. You will guard and guide my life as I draw near to you. You will make me able to live the life you are calling me to live. You will make me able to live a life that is pleasing to you. You will accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans in and through my life, as I continue to spend time in your presence. I will bear fruit for your kingdom. I will bring glory to your name. I will shine brightly like a star in the universe, as I live my life with and for you. Yes, you will. 

Why do you want to spend time in my presence? Why do you want to become like me? Why do you want to shine brightly in this dark world for me? I love you because you first loved me. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is no burden or sacrifice to live my life with and for you. It is my passionate desire and desire of my heart to live a life that is pleasing to you. I will ask for only one thing. What’s that? I will ask for your help. Make me able to know and do your will. Make me to be a bright light that shines for you in this dark world. I will hear and answer your prayer beyond what you could ask for or even imagine. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, use my life as a light in this world to those who are walking in darkness. Show me who I can speak to on your behalf. Help me to tell them about your glory and goodness. Help me to explain to them your offer of salvation. Amen

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

The Mind – 2 Corinthians 4-4-6 – Blinded The Minds Of Unbelievers – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Trust In The Lord

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Proverbs 3:5-8 - Trust In The Lord- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust In The Lord- Growing As Disciples

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)  

Trust Me

The entire course of your life will be guided by how you answer one question. Are you ready to hear that one question? Yes, I am ready to hear the question that you want to ask me. Will you trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Let that question sink into your heart and mind before you give me your answer. Don’t rush to give me a quick answer. You answer must come from all that is within you. You must not say one thing and do another in answer to my question. What do you mean by that? You must not say that you will trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength and do just the opposite. That would not be good. No, it would not.

What would happen if you said you were going to trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength and then you did the opposite? Before I answer that question, I think I need to better understand what doing the opposite of trusting you would look like. If I don’t really trust you, who or what would I trust? That is a good question for you to think through and answer for yourself. Why is that? It will be important for you to recognize when you aren’t trusting me. So, go ahead and answer your question. If I don’t trust you I suppose I would start to trust everything and anyone other than you. I would trust myself most of all. I would pridefully rely on my own understanding. I would foolishly rely on the wisdom of others. How has relying on yourself and others worked out for you? Relying on myself and others has led me on a crooked path. I have foolishly wandered from one unproductive thing to another. I have suffered disastrous defeats and stunning setbacks. I have wasted a lot of time and effort on things that have not amounted to anything of value. I have worn myself out trying to live a self-indulgent, self-centered, and self-reliant life. I have gone nowhere and done nothing of lasting value as part of that life. That’s not good.

You have seen the error of your ways. You have turned away from the foolishness of your old life. You have turned away from evil. You are now loving, following and serving me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, I am. So, I can, will and have been answering your question with my thoughts, words and deeds. I am not saying one thing and doing another. I am trusting you with all that is within me. I am giving to you all that I am, all that I have and all that I hope to be. Living the life that you have given to me is bringing health to my body and healing to my bones. I am walking on the path of life with you. You are leading and guiding my life. Yes, I am. That is very good. Yes, it is. 

Lord, so often, I have relied on myself. My own understanding has led me on a crooked path. I have wasted time and wandered from one thing to another. I want you to guide my life. I will trust in you with all my heart. Make my path straight as I follow you. Amen

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

Character – Proverbs 3-5-8 – Trust In The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Doubts Rise In Your Minds

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Luke 24-36-39 - Doubts Rise In Your Minds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- The Mind – Luke 24-36-39 – Doubts Rise In Your Minds – Growing As Disciples

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” Luke 24:36-39 (NIV)

Stop Worrying

Don’t be surprised that I am with you. Don’t doubt that I am near to you. Have faith that I am working in and through your life. You should have no doubt about that. Do you know why this is so important? You want me to be watching and waiting for your activity in my life. You want me to expectantly look for your activity. You want me to join you in what you are doing. You want me to recognize that your hand is on me. You are with me to help me. I am not all alone by myself in this world. You have not left me to fend for myself. No, I have not. Rather, you will use me according to your purposes and plans. Yes, I will. You want me to rely on you for all your help. Yes, I do. 

What will happen to you as you recognize my activity in your life? I will stop worrying. My doubts will be replaced by faith and trust in you. I will come to rely on you rather than on myself. I will become bold as I know that you are working in and through my life. I will be able to do what you ask of me. I will not shrink back in fear or doubt. My timidity will be replaced with your boldness. I will be able to do what cannot be done because you will be using me. Yes, I will. You will enable me to do what you have planned for me to do for you. That’s right.

There is one thing that I want you to stop doing. What’s that? What do you think I’m going to ask of you? You want me to stop worrying. That’s right. What else? You want me to be filled with your peace. That’s also right. Why will you be able to live a life that is filled with my peace? You have given me your peace. Your peace lives and dwells in me by your Spirit. Your peace is a gift that you want me to take full possession of because you are in me, with me, and for me. I have nothing to fear. I have no reason to doubt. I have every reason to have faith in you. Yes, you do.

Lord, thank you that you are living and active in my life. Your presence gives me great peace. I welcome your activity in my life. Surprise me Lord. Do whatever you desire in me, to me and through me. I will joyfully follow you. Amen

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

The Mind – Luke 24-36-39 – Doubts Rise In Your Minds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Go On Your Way

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Proverbs 4:14-15 - Go On Your Way - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Proverbs 4:14-15 – Go On Your Way – Growing As Disciples

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. Proverbs 4:14-15 (NIV)

Path For You 

Be very careful where you set your feet.  I have a path I want you to walk.  Don’t look around and compare your path with the path of others.  You know that the path that I have for you is not the path of the wicked.  Do not do what other evil people do.  Do not justify your actions by what others have done to you.  Do not give yourself permission to do something just because others are doing it.  Don’t respond to others based on how they have treated you.  Do you understand all that I am saying to you?  Yes, you want to guide and direct my life.  You want me to follow you.  You want me to live the life you have called me to live.  That life will look nothing like what evil people are doing.  That path will be far away from the path of the wicked. Yes, it will.

There is more though that you understand, isn’t there?  Yes, there is.  Tell me what else you understand.  I need to be on guard against more than just the path of the wicked.  What do you have in your heart and mind?  It is wicked to not follow you.  I could do a lot of good deeds and nice things and still not be following you.  How is that possible?  I could be looking at what other good people are doing and assume that I should be doing exactly what they are doing in the same way that they are doing it.  What’s the problem with that?  That approach puts me in charge of all that I do based on what seems good to me as I observe what others are doing.  Why is that a problem?  You want me to follow you.  You have a path and plan for my life.  You want me to walk in and live out that plan.  Yes, I do.  For me to do something other than your plan is a sin that will cause me to miss out on all that you want to do in and through my life.  Yes, it is and yes, it will.

So, tell me what you must be on guard against?  I must not live and walk on the path of evil.  The evil path can look obviously evil or deceptively good.  The only righteous path to walk is the one that you are leading me on.  How will you know if you are on the right path with me?  I will rely on you to guide my life.  I will ask for your directions.  I will have faith that you will guide me to do whatever you ask of me.  Yes, I will keep you on the path I have for you as you follow me.  Of that I am certain.  It’s very good that you have placed all your faith and trust in me.

Lord, thank you for your word that keeps me from stepping near or walking on the path of the wicked. Guard my life according to your word so that I will walk straight on the path you have laid out for me as I follow and serve you. Amen

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

Wisdom – Proverbs 4-14-15 – Go On Your Way – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Submit Yourselves, Then, To God

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - James 4:7-10 - Submit Yourselves, Then, To God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – James 4:7-10 – Submit Yourselves, Then, To God – Growing As Disciples

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10 (NIV)

Submit and Resist

Do you want to be able to stand against evil? Do you want to be able to resist temptation? Do those two questions seem silly to even ask you? I think that is a trick question. Why is that? No question that you would ask me could ever be silly. The question may seem silly to me. The question may seem unnecessary to ask. But the question is not silly and not unnecessary to ask. Why is that? First of all, if I want to stand against evil and resist temptation that must be my firm desire. What do you mean by that? If I like doing evil and living in sin, then I will have no hope of standing against evil and resisting temptation. If my heart and mind are divided on the subject of standing against evil and resisting temptation, I will never have victory over them. Isn’t that obvious? Yes, it is, but not to everyone.

Where must you begin if it is your firm desire to stand against evil and resist temptation? Now, that is a very good and important question. It sounds like you are about to speak from the voice of experience. Yes, I am. I will tell you one thing. What’s that? Victory over evil and temptation does not begin with me. My own power and strength and efforts will never give me victory over evil and temptation. That’s true. If I want victory over evil and temptation I must submit myself to you. I must draw near to you. I must seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I must live in an intimate relationship with you. Your love for me and my love for you will make me want to live in victory over evil and temptation. Why is that? As I keep on drawing near to you, I will continually want to do what is pleasing to you. I will want what you want. I will want to live the life that you have called me to live. That’s true. When I am living in an intimate relationship with you standing against evil and resisting temptation will be the desire of my heart and mind and life. Yes, it will. 

What must you do when you see and feel that evil and temptation are attempting to ensnare you? I must run from them. I must run to you. I must keep on submitting to you. I must keep on drawing near to you. I must continue to live in an intimate relationship with you. Then evil will lose its’ power to draw me into temptation and sin. Will you keep on submitting yourself to me? Will you keep on drawing near to me? Will you continue to live in an intimate relationship with me? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will live in the victory I have secured for you. Thank you, Lord.

Heavenly Father, it is my joy and delight to draw near to you. Thank you that you also draw near to me. There is no place that I would rather be than in your presence. I submit myself to you. Guide, guard and protect my life so that the devil must flee from me.  Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – James 4-7-10 – Submit Yourselves, Then, To God – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Two Miles

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Justice - Matthew 5:38-42 - Two Miles- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Justice – Matthew 5:38-42 – Two Miles- Growing As Disciples

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV)

Extra Mile

This will be a major attitude adjustment for you. What’s that? You are a fighter. You like the heat of battle. You like to win, sometimes not matter what the cost. Dropping a matter does not come easily to you. You are not likely to let an evil person go unchallenged. You have been prone to consider how you might get even by seeking revenge. I have usually only thought about it. Rarely, have I ever taken steps to get even or seek revenge. I can’t even remember when I might have done that. Yes, I know. But you have certainly wasted a lot of time and energy by fantasizing about spectacular ways you could get even or seek revenge. That’s true, I must admit. How do you want me to adjust my attitude? How about thinking about spectacular ways that you can show my love and kindness to those who mistreat you? That would be a major attitude adjustment for me. Yes, it would be. But, let’s not stop there. What else? How about actually doing something loving and kind to those who mistreat you. Just thinking loving and kind thoughts toward those who mistreat you will not be nearly enough. Just praying for those who mistreat you, although a very good start, will not be enough either. I want you to take loving and kind action toward those who mistreat you. I want you to go way out of your way to do loving and kind things for those who mistreat you. How far out of my way? I want you to go the extra mile to show love and kindness toward those who mistreat you. What does that mean? It means I want you to do what is far beyond what you might normally consider doing. I want you to go way out of your way to show love and kindness to those who mistreat you. I want those who mistreat you to be completely astounded by your love and kindness toward them. Really? Yes, really. 

What will happen when you show love and kindness to those who mistreat you? Those who mistreat me will wonder why I am responding to their evil with love and kindness. Yes, they will. They will wonder where such love and kindness comes from. It will seem other worldly to them. They will be curious. They will ask questions. Their questions will give me an opportunity to tell them about your love and kindness. My responding to their evil with your love and kindness will allow me to be your witness in the world. They may even come to know you through your love and kindness being expressed in and though my life. That’s right. How much better is that than getting even or seeking revenge? Far better. That’s what I want. I will spectacularly show your love and kindness to those who mistreat me. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have often held grudges. I have often thought about seeking revenge. I have frequently resisted an evil person. Seldom have I gone the extra mile for someone who has mistreated. Help me to show others the love and kindness you have shown to me. Amen

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

Justice – Matthew 5-38-42 – Two Miles – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Meditate On It

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Joshua 1:8-9 - Meditate On It - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Joshua 1:8-9 – Meditate On It – Growing As Disciples

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 (NIV)  

Meditate  

Will you meditate on my word? That is a fairly straight forward and direct question. It requires a simple yes or no answer. Really, that’s it? Well no, that’s not it. Meditating on your word will require far more than a simple yes or no answer. Like what? A yes answer will require a lifetime of action. How so? You are asking me to meditate on your word day and night, are you not? Yes, I am. There will be nothing easy about that. That will require a significant commitment of my time and energy. That will require a concrete plan with actual actions steps. Yes, it will. What do you have in mind? I will set a part a special time and place to meet with you in your word. Without such a commitment, I doubt that I will ever come to meditate on your word. That’s true. What else? I will carry your word with me wherever I go. I will carry your word with me in whatever I do. That will be very good.

What is my word doing for you? I know that your word is changing my heart, transforming my mind and guiding my life. Your word is giving me new thoughts to think, words to speak and deeds to do. Your word is giving me wisdom and courage and strength so that I am able to both know and do your will. Your word is protecting me. How so? Your word is making me able to stand against evil and resist temptation. Yes, it is.

I would like to correct something that I have said. What’s that? I said that there would be nothing easy about meditating on your word. Yes, you did. Were you wrong? In a way, I was wrong. Meditating on your word does take significant discipline and effort. However, it has become my joy to meditate on your word. It is my delight to hear from you. It is has become my passionate and on-fire desire to come to know you. How can I know you apart from your words? How can I come to know you, if I don’t stop to take time to listen to you? How can I go and do your will, if I don’t listen to your instructions? So, here I am right now. I am meditating on your word in our time and place. I will carry your word with me wherever I go and in whatever I do today. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for your word. It is my delight to meditate on your word. I know that your word is changing my heart, transforming my mind and guiding my life. Your word gives me wisdom, courage and strength to do everything you ask me to go and do for you. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Joshua 1-8-9 – Meditate On It – 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