Monthly Archives: June 2019

Transformed Into His Likeness

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 122 - 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 - Transformed Into His Likeness- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 122 – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 – Transformed Into His Likeness- Growing As Disciples

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NIV)

In Your Presence

I know that you are changing me. You are doing a work in me that I couldn’t do for myself. What kind of work am I doing in you? I know day by day you are making me to be more like you. You think so? I know so. That’s good. You are right, I am making you to be more and more like me.  How am I making you to be more like me? You are drawing me to yourself. You are giving me this insatiable hunger for more of you. I want to draw near to you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There is nothing I would rather do than give praise and honor and glory and worship to you. I have learned one thing, What’s that? I cannot be in your presence and remain unchanged. In your presence you are changing my heart. In your presence you are transforming my mind. You are giving me thoughts to think. You are giving me new words to speak. You are giving me new deeds to do. I am not the person I was yesterday. I am not the person I will be tomorrow. You are molding and shaping my life every day as I continue to remain in your presence. Yes, I am. You have learned a very important lesson. I am so grateful. I am so thankful. I am so humbled. I don’t know how to thank you enough for all the work have been, are doing and will do in and through me as I continue to remain in your presence. I am thankful beyond what my words can express. That is very good.

There is one thing else I have learned. What’s that? As I remain in your presence you are allowing me to bring glory to your name. You are making me able to shine brightly as a witness for you in the world. You are allowing me to bear fruit for your kingdom. How so? Others are being drawn to you because your life is being lived out in and through me. This is not to my credit. This is not some work that I have done. No, it is you that are using me as your instrument. I said that there is no place I would rather be than in your presence. Yes, you did. I can also say that there is nothing I would rather do than serve you. Use my life to fulfill your purposes and accomplish your plans. Yes, I will. You can be certain of that. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, thank you for drawing me to yourself. You have turned my life around. It is now my joy to live my life with and for you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. Keep on making me more like you as I continue to remain in your presence. Amen

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 122 – 2 Corinthians 3-16-18 – Transformed Into His Likeness – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Slave Of All

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 121 - Mark 10:43-45 - Slave Of All - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 121 – Mark 10:43-45 – Slave Of All – Growing As Disciples

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45 (NIV)

True Greatness

My whole understanding of what constitutes true greatness has changed. How so? At one time I thought a great person had power and authority over others. What else? A great person was the recipient of praise and adoration. A great person won the highest of honors. A great person had the most noteworthy of accomplishments. A great person was seated in the highest of positions. A great person would be remembered throughout all history. Monuments would be constructed to celebrate the life of a great person. People would fawn over a great person. People would live to serve a great person. A great person would live in comfort and experience unlimited pleasure. Is that about it? I could go on and on. No need. That is what you thought about greatness. That is how the world might evaluate greatness. How has your understanding changed? What do you now think constitutes true greatness? You are my example of true greatness. You lived a life of true greatness. How so? You came into this world with a mission. Which was? It was your mission to go and do your Heavenly Father’s will. You lived your life to do what was good and right and pleasing to your Heavenly Father. You emptied yourself of all your rights and privileges. You took on the form of a servant. You gave yourself in service to others. You did not live to be served, but to serve. You did nothing for selfish motives. You were not filled with vain ambition. You did not seek honor and glory. There was nothing you tried to win for yourself. There was no place you would not go to serve your Heavenly Father. There was nothing you would not do to serve your Heavenly Father. You gave yourself fully and completely in His service. Your service ending up costing you your life. You died on the cross so that you could accomplish the purpose for which you came into this world. Which was? Your death on the cross secured the forgiveness and cleansing of sin for all who would come to believe in you. You restored a multitude of humanity into a new and living relationship with their Heavenly Father. No greater life has ever been lived, than yours. No greater accomplishment has ever been achieved, than yours. So, I want to follow your example. I want to live like you lived. I want to serve like you served. I want to give like you gave. That is greatness. That is what I now understand. That is very good.

Lord, I want to live the same kind of life that you lived. You became a servant. You gave your life in service to others. A servant is who I want to be. Serving is what I want to do. Help me to live a great life of following your example. Use me for your purposes. Amen

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

Day 121 – Becoming Like Christ – Mark 10-43-45 – Slave Of All – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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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

Works For The Good

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 120 - Romans 8:28-30 - Works For The Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 120 – Romans 8:28-30 – Works For The Good – Growing As Disciples

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)

Purpose 

I know the purpose of my life. The purpose of my life is no mystery to me.  Really, you are that clear on your purpose in life? You have not one bit of doubt about your purpose in life? You have unwavering confidence about the purpose of your life? That’s right. I have no doubts about my purpose in life. I have unwavering confidence that I know my purpose in life. Well then, tell me what is your purpose in life. Before I do that, I must say a couple things. I’m listening. I only know my purpose in life because you have shown it to me. I am only confident about my purpose in life because you have given it to me. In fact, it would have been more accurate and proper to say that I know your purpose for my life. I can only say that I know my purpose in life because I have made your purpose my purpose. My passionate desire has taken hold of your purpose of my life. This desire clearly could have only come from you. Are you done qualifying your statements? Yes, I am. My purpose in life is to become like your son, Jesus Christ.  Yes, it is. It pleases me that you know and have made this purpose your very own. Becoming like your son is defining and directing my purpose and the entire course of my life. That is very good.

There is more. There is something else that I am supremely confident about. What’s that? I am confident about you. That’s good. You will use all of life to mold and shape my life so I will keep on being conformed into the likeness of your son. You will take the good and bad things that happen in my life to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans for my life. I know that you are not the author of trials and suffering and difficulty. I know that you weep with me as I go through pain in life. In every trial, suffering and difficultly, you will draw near me as I draw near to you. You will hear my prayers as I cry out to you. Yes, I will. I will have no doubts that you will keep on taking all of life to use it to mold and shape me into the likeness of your Son. I welcome all your good work in me. That is very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me to come to you. Through your son, Jesus Christ, you made it so I could be righteous in your sight. Use everything I go through in life for your purposes. Mold and shape my life so I will be conformed to Christ’s likeness. Amen

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 120 – Romans 8-28-30 – Works For The Good – 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

Mary Has Chosen What Is Better

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 119 - Luke 10:41-42 - Mary Has Chosen What Is Better - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 119 – Luke 10:41-42 – Mary Has Chosen What Is Better – Growing As Disciples

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

Sit Still

That is what I will do. What is it that you will do? I will come to sit still in your presence. Why will you come to sit still in my presence? I want to hear from you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice speaking to me. I want to receive your instruction. I want to follow your guidance. I want you to teach and train me. I want you to guard and guide me. I want you to mold and shape me. I know that I cannot live a fruitful life, apart from you. You have very good desires in your heart and on your mind. It sounds like you have plenty of experience not coming to sit in my presence. You know me. Yes, I know you. Yes, I am very experienced at not living in an intimate relationship with you. I have fruitlessly wandered from one thing to another. I have powerlessly tried to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans with my own strength. I have been slow to hear your instruction or follow your guidance. I want no more of that kind of life. Your mind is made up? Yes, my mind is made up. I will come to sit still in your presence. I want to receive everything that you have for me. That is very good.

When will you come to sit in my presence? Let me say this very clearly and emphatically, “There is not one day that I don’t need to come to sit still in your presence.” Why is that? There is not one day that I don’t need to hear from you. There is not one day that I can afford to rely on my own instruction, guidance, power or protection. I need your help every day. Yes, you do. So, I will come to sit in your presence. I will set a schedule. I will make a plan. I will carve out time. I will make coming to sit still in your presence the priority of my life. That will be very good. Why are you being so specific about when and where you will meet with me? I know that if I don’t have a very specific plan in place, I will never live out my desire to live in an intimate relationship with you. Life will get busy. I will become distracted. I will let every task and duty that cries out for my attention, crowd my time with you out of my life. I will guarantee you one thing. What’s that? I will not let anything crowd coming to sit in your presence out of my life. Hearing from you is and will continue to be the first and foremost priority of my life. That is very good. I look forward to all our times together. I do too. That is very good. 

Lord, I will make sitting still before you my daily practice. I want to be able to hear from you. I want you to teach me. I want you to train me. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. Guard and guide my life as I quietly listen to you speaking to me. Amen

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 119 – Luke 10-41-42 – Mary Has Chosen What Is Better – 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

Think About Such Things

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 118 - Philippians 4:8-9 - Think About Such Things- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 118 – Philippians 4:8-9 – Think About Such Things- Growing As Disciples

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV) 

An Example

I am thankful that I have had good examples to follow. How so? I have had many people speak good things into my life. I am who I am today because of what I have learned or received or heard or seen from you and those who you have strategically placed in my life. That’s true. You have shown me how to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. How have I shown you how to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me? You and others have spoken your word into my heart and mind and life. What has my word done for you? Your word has changed the thoughts of my mind, the words of my mouth and the deeds of my life. How so? As I have let your word dwell in me richly you have changed my heart and transformed my mind. As I have hidden your word in my heart you have helped me to not sin against you. How have you let my word dwell richly in you? How have you hidden my word in your heart? I have meditated on your word. I have memorized your word. I have studied your word. I have prayed your word. I have grabbed a hold of your word so that it could grab a hold of me. What has happened to you as you have grabbed a hold of my word? I have put your word into practice. I have lived the life that you have called me to live. I have come to know you. I have come to think your thoughts and walk in your ways. I have been made able to live in your peace. That is very good. Yes, it is.

What do you want? You know me. Yes, I know you. You know what is on my mind. Yes, I know what is on your mind. I want you to be able to use me. How do you want me to use you? I want you to use me as an example that others can follow. I want you to speak through my life. I want others to learn and receive and hear and see good things coming out of my life that they can put onto practice. I want others to live in the same peace that you have given to me. That is a bold request. It is a request that I believe you will hear and answer. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I want to be a good example for others to follow. I want to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. I will put into practice all that I have learned, received, heard or seen from you. Fill me with your peace as I love, follow and serve you. Amen

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 118 – Philippians 4-8-9 – Think About Such Things – 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