Monthly Archives: August 2018

Heard My Voice In Prayer

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - Psalm 66:16-20 - Heard My Voice In Prayer - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – Psalm 66:16-20 – Heard My Voice In Prayer – Growing As Disciples

Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Psalm 66:16-20 (NIV)  

Let Me Tell You

What have I done for you? How, can I answer that? Where should I begin? I could start answering that question and never stop. Why is that? You never stop doing things for me. You could begin at the beginning. Yes, that is a good idea. I will start at the beginning. You rescued me from a life without you. You made it so I could be forgiven of all my sins and cleansed of all my unrighteousness. You broke the power of sin over my life. You set me free to live my life with and for you. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You have made it possible for me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You hear and answer my prayers. You are guarding and guiding my life. You are molding and shaping me into the person you have called me to be. In every way on every day you are showing me your kindness, mercy and love. You have withheld no good thing from me. You are giving and granting the desires of my heart. What are the desires of your heart? The desire of my heart is to know and love you. The desire of my heart is to follow and serve you. The desire of my heart is to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I have no higher or better desires than these. If you were to hear and answer only these prayers, that would be enough for me. But, in your kindness, mercy and love, you hear and answer far more than these prayers. There is no prayer that is too small or too large to pray. That’s true.

Do you want to keep what I have done for you a secret? No, I do not. It is my pleasure and joy to tell others all that you have done for me. Why is that? I want everyone to come to know you. I want everyone to know your kindness, mercy and love. I want everyone to come to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want others to receive what I have received from you. Will you keep on telling others all that I have done for you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for all that you have done for me. You have heard and answered my prayers. You have not withheld your love for me. I will give thanks and praise to you by telling others all the good things you have done for me. Amen

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

Gratitude – Psalm 66-16-20 – Heard My Voice In Prayer – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Group

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

New Every Morning

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - Lamentations 3:21-26 - New Every Morning - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – Lamentations 3:21-26 – New Every Morning – Growing As Disciples

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;  it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:21-26 (NIV)

Wait

Here I am. It is morning. I am waiting for you. I have set apart this time and place to meet with you. At one time, this would have been a struggle to get up in the morning to meet with you. Why is that? As you know, I am not much of a morning person. What has changed? Why is it no longer a struggle for you to find time to meet with me? Now, there is no place I would rather be than in your presence. Pick a spot anywhere on this earth. It is not better than being in your presence. Pick a spot anywhere in the universe. I would rather be in your presence. Pick something else to do. I would rather meet with you. Pick something else to hear. I would rather hear from you. Your words refresh me. You words revive me. I am given encouragement and hope and strength as I meet with you. I am given guidance and direction as I hear from you. That is very good.

I have this hunger and thirst within me that only you can satisfy. I could have everything the world has to offer and yet I would hunger for more than it could possibly provide. You fill me up. You feed my hunger. You satisfy my thirst. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. There is something I know for certain. What’s that? I will find you. I will find you right here, right now, in the morning as I meet with you. Why are you so certain? Your word is sure. Your word is trustworthy. I can hold on to the promises of your word. What promises? You have said that I will find you when I seek you with all my heart. You have said that you will draw near to me as I draw near to you. I am seeking you. I am drawing near to you. Here I am, right here, right now. I know that you are here to help me. I know that you are here to feed and sustain and strengthen me. I know that you are to here to guard and guide me. I know that you are here to give me hope and encouragement as I love you with all my heart and soul and strength. You are all I need. You are all I want. I am yours. You are my God and Father. Yes, I am. I am here with you. In me, you will have all you need. Yes, you will find me when you seek me with all your heart. Yes, I will draw near to you as you draw near to me. Yes, I will meet with you in the morning. Wait for me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to meet with you. Each day you show me something new. Your love and compassion for me never fails. You are so good to me. I will seek you and wait quietly in your presence so that I am able to hear from you. Amen

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

Gratitude – Lamentations 3-21-26 – New Every Morning – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Fool Says

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Psalm 14:1-3 - The Fool Says - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Psalm 14:1-3 – The Fool Says – Growing As Disciples

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:1-3 (NIV)

No Fool

Do you ever do that? Do I ever do what? Do you ever say in your heart that I don’t exist? Give that question some very careful thought. Don’t rush to give me an answer? I’m guessing that I should not say that I never say in my heart that you don’t exist. Why is that? I’m not sure. I know that you do exist. Only a fool thinks that you don’t exist. I’m not that kind of fool, at least I don’t think so.  I have been foolish in many ways. But, I hope that I have not been foolish in that way. Can you ask me some more questions. I’m not really sure what you are asking me. I don’t have a clear idea how you want me to think more deeply about your question. I would be happy to ask you more questions.

Have you ever held thoughts in your mind as if I did not exist. Have you ever spoken words from your mouth as if I did not exist? Have you ever taken action in your life as if I did not exist? Now, I am better understanding your question. How so? I might think that I am not a fool. I might think that I always think and speak and act as if you did exist. If I am not a fool then all my thoughts, words and deeds would be consistent with knowing that you exist. Say more about that. If I am thinking and speaking and acting as if you exist then I will guard the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and deeds of my life. I will think thoughts, speak words and do deeds that are pleasing to you. Unless, I was extra foolish then I might think and speak and act in ways that displease you even though I know that you exist. Have you ever been, as you call it, extra foolish? Yes, many times. For that I am very sorry. My life has not always been consistently and wisely lived out with the knowledge I have that you do exist. I’ve noticed.

How would you like to live differently? Because you do exist, I want to seek you. I want to follow you. I want to love you, and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want my life to center around an intimate relationship with you. I want all my thoughts and words and deeds to express that I know you and love you. I want to think, speak and do whatever is pleasing to you. I want to live my life fully and completely with and for you. That is very good. That is very wise. That is very pleasing to me. You are no fool. 

Heavenly Father, I have lived many days as if you did not exist. I have not drawn near you or sought you out. I have not followed you. I have not done what you have asked of me. No more of that. Now, I want to live every day in an intimate relationship with you. Amen

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

Wisdom – Psalm 14-1-3 – The Fool Says – 4 Page 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

You Will Recognize Them

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Matthew 7:15-20 - You Will Recognize Them - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Matthew 7:15-20 – You Will Recognize Them – Growing As Disciples

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV) 

Good Fruit 

What does good fruit look like? I’m not sure what you mean by good fruit. That is why we are going to have this conversation. You know that I have said, “apart from me you can do nothing” and that if you want to bear fruit for me you must abide in me. Yes, I member those statements quite well. Have you ever wondered about those statements? How so? Have you ever thought that you have done some good things when you weren’t abiding in me. Yes, I have had that exact thought. I know your thoughts, my asking you about them should not surprise you. Will those good things you have done, without abiding in me, last for all eternity? At the end of time, will those good efforts of yours have made an eternal difference? No, they will amount to nothing, in light of all eternity. So, they are not real and true examples of bearing eternally good fruit are they? No, they are not. You will need to ask yourself a question. What’s that? If your good efforts will not last for all eternity are they really good at all? It is my plan that you will bear fruit that will last for all eternity. If your good efforts have kept you from doing my will, are they truly good? No, they are not. 

You have also done something things that you regret. You have gone and done things that were not pleasing to me. You have done some things that were sinful. What can you call these things that you have done? I can call them bad fruit. Bad fruit will always reveal a life that is not being lived for you. That’s true. What can I call things that appear to be good fruit but really are not of any lasting or eternal value? You tell me. I could call them false fruit. Yes, you could. What type of fruit is most dangerous to you? Both are dangerous. Both are to be avoided. That’s true. But, false fruit that is of no lasting and eternal value seems most dangerous to me. How so? I could waste my entire life doing what will have been of no lasting and eternal value by doing simply what seemed to be good to me. That would be tragic. Yes, it would. 

How do you want to be recognized? I want to be recognized as one of your followers. I want to be recognized as someone who is bearing an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. One day, I want to be able to look back, with you, over my life to see all the fruit that you have enabled me to bear. That is my prayer. That is my hope. That is my desire. This is what I am asking from you. That is what you will have from me. I have been and will be hearing and answering this prayer of yours. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, help me to be on guard against what is true and false and good and bad fruit. Use your word and your Holy Spirit to teach and me what is of you and what is not. May I and your people bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Matthew 7-15-20 – You Will Recognize Them – 4 Page Discipleship Study Devotional 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

Be Like God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Genesis 3:2-6 - Be Like God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Genesis 3:2-6 – Be Like God – Growing As Disciples

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:2-6 (NIV)

Enticed And Allured

What looks good to you? That is quite a broad question. I’m sure that you know what I have in mind. There is no reason to play dumb with me. I will ask you the same question a little less broadly.  How are you most likely to be enticed by evil and allured into sinning. Don’t think that is an unimportant question. It is a vitally important question. Why is that? You tell me. I do know my own vulnerabilities. I do know when and where and how I am most likely to be enticed and allured into sinning. Only an unthinking fool would not know when and where and why and how they are most likely to be enticed and allured into temptations to sin. Tell me more about that. First of all, I know that enticing and alluring temptations will come through my senses. Something evil may look or sound or feel good. Next, enticing and alluring temptations will try to enter into my heart and mind. Once enticing and alluring temptations have been able to enter into my heart and mind the battle is mostly over. How so? I don’t have the power and strength to hang around temptation. It will never be wise for me to engage in an enticing and alluring conversation with evil. Why is that? It is very unlikely that I will ever be able to walk away from alluring and enticing conversations with evil. Once the conversation and debate has been allowed to grow in my heart and mind I‘m done. I will have been taken captive by evil. I will have given into temptation. I will have entered into sin. Temptation is that powerful? Evil is that enticing and alluring? It is a deadly mistake to think otherwise. That sounds like your voice of experience. It is.

What will you do instead of entering into a conversation with evil? First, I will not knowingly allow myself to be in obviously tempting situations. I won’t go where evil is poised and ready to attack me. Next, I will run away from evil when I see it approaching. I will not give evil one second to check it out. Where will you run? That’s a good question. Why is that? It is simply not enough to run from evil. Evil can run to. Evil can fine me. So, I will run to you. I will run to you, so I can come under your protection. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. As I do, I will resist evil and it will flee from me. Yes, it will. You can be very sure of that. For that, I am very thankful. That is very good.

Lord, I know that if I hang around and engage in a conversation with evil and temptation I won’t win. Something alluring about the temptation will entice and trap me. Instead of hanging around evil, I will run away from it. I will run to you for your protection Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Genesis 3-2-6 – Be Like God – 4 Page 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

Endure Hardship

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - 2 Timothy 2:3-7 - Endure Hardship - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – 2 Timothy 2:3-7 – Endure Hardship – Growing As Disciples

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:3-7 

All That You Ask Of Me

What does a good soldier look like to you? A good soldier is well trained. Have I been training you? Yes, you have. What else? A good soldier is strong and determined to complete his mission. He has a singular focus and is not distracted by civilian affairs. His desire is to please his commanding officer by following the orders that he has been given. No amount of adversity or hardship will cause him to withdraw from what he has been called upon to do. He will never give up. How about you? Are you this good soldier? Will you follow me with that kind of determination? Don’t answer me yet. I have more to ask of you.

What does an elite athlete look like to you? An elite athlete has a vigorous and balanced training regime that includes exercise, rest and healthy nutrition. How balanced has your training schedule been as you have followed me? I have had a hard time staying in balance. What do you mean by that? There have been many times when I have over trained and allowed myself to become weary and worn out. That’s where you are right now isn’t it? Yes, I suppose that it is. There have been plenty of other times when I have not trained hard enough. I’ve been pretty lax about my growing, following and serving you. But, not now? No, not now.  Aren’t you missing something that almost all elite athlete’s have? What’s that? Don’t they all have a coach to help guide them in their training? Yes, they do. Who is your coach? You are my coach. Yes, I am. Will you allow me to guide your training as you follow me? Yes, I will. Are you sure? Yes, I am. You won’t try to take control of your own training? No, not anymore. I’ve tried that and it doesn’t work out very well.

What does a diligent farmer look like to you? A diligent farmer labors with great perseverance until he receives a crop. He keeps patiently working until he sees the fruit of his labors. He is patient because he knows that he will reap what he sows in due time. Do you have the patience of a diligent farmer? I’m afraid that I don’t. So often I want more immediate results. It’s hard for me to wait until the time of reaping. Do you believe that one day I will reward you for all the labor that you have done for me in this life?  Yes Lord, I do.

So let me ask you these questions. Go ahead. Will you serve me with the singleness of mind of a good soldier so that you will be able to fight the good fight of faith? Will you allow me to coach and train you so that you will be able to run the race I have laid out for you? Will you persevere as a diligent farmer so that you will be able to reap a rich harvest and enjoy the fruit of your labors? Yes Lord, I will. I know that I can rely on you to help me to be and do all that you are asking of me. Yes, you can.

Lord, it is you that gives me strength to endure hardship. Help me to keep moving forward with you like a focused soldier, a committed athlete and a hard working farmer. I want to live a life bearing an abundance of fruit for you. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – 2 Timothy 2-3-7 – Endure Hardship – 4 Page 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

Knowledge Of His Will

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Colossians 1:9-10 - Knowledge Of His Will - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Colossians 1:9-10 – Knowledge Of His Will – Growing As Disciples

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  Colossians 1:9-10 (NIV)

Know His Will

How will I ever be able to live a life that is worthy of you? That seems like an impossible goal. On your own it would be impossible for you to live a life that is worthy of me. Your even trying to live a life that is worthy of me on your own power and strength would be offensive to me. You will never impress me by your efforts. You cannot earn my favor. You do not deserve my merit. If you could live a life that is worthy of me by yourself it would have been a mistake for me to send my Son into the world to die for your sins. Do you think I made a mistake by allowing my Son to be a sacrifice for your sins? No, certainly not. You don’t make mistakes. No, I do not.

You have turned away from your sin. You have received my Son into your life as your Savior and Lord. I have given you a new heart. I have given you a new mind. It is now your desire to live your life with and for me. Yes, this is all true. It is now your calling to live a life that is worthy of me. That is my desire. That is my plan. That is my goal. You have a good desire, plan and goal. 

Yet, you are not sure how you will ever be able to live a life that is worthy of me. That’s true. You are not able to live a life that is worthy of me. No, I am not. It is impossible for you to live a life that is worthy of me. Yes, it is. Do you know that I can do what is impossible? Yes, I do. Do you believe that I can make you able to live a life that is worthy of me? Yes, I do. How do you think I will change you? I think you will show yourself to me. I think you will let me know your will. I believe that you will show me your ways. You will give me spiritual wisdom and understanding. In your presence you will change my heart and transform my mind. You will make me able to think your thoughts and walk in your ways. You will make it my passionate desire to live a life that is worthy of you. Yes, I will. It will become my joy to do what is pleasing to you. That will be very good.

Father, it is my desire to know you and to live a life worthy of Christ, pleasing Him in every way. Fill me with the knowledge of your will by your spiritual wisdom and understanding so that I will bear fruit in every good work. Amen

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

The Mind – Colossians 1-9-10 – Knowledge Of His Will – 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