Monthly Archives: March 2020

Mary Has Chosen What Is Better

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises - Day 3 - Luke 10:38-42 - Mary Has Chosen What Is Better- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 3 – Luke 10:38-42 – Mary Has Chosen What Is Better- Growing As Disciples

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “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 10:38-42 (NIV)

Choices

Life is full of choices. Nothing probably could be more important than critically evaluating the choices I make. Why is that? Choosing one thing often eliminates another thing. If I make unwise choices of how to spend my time and energy and resources, someday I will no doubt live with regret. Give me an example. If I allow my life to become all about completing an urgent, but largely unimportant, “to do” list, I will most likely misspend my life on what wasn’t really important. What is really important to you? Knowing and loving and following and serving you is really important to me. In fact, nothing is more important or of higher priority to me than meeting with you in prayer. Why is that? As I meet with you in prayer I come to know. As I come to know you, I come to love you. As I know and love you, the desire to live a life following and serving you burns hotly within me. I want to do what is good and right and pleasing to you because I have come to know and love you. That is very good.

So, what choice will you make? I will make it my choice to meet with you daily in prayer.  I will set a time and a place to meet with you in prayer. You will not receive my left-over time. Is there such a thing? I doubt it. In fact, that is the danger of an unprioritized, task orientated life. How so? “To do” lists never end. If I were to say to myself, “I will meet with you sometime during my day, when my schedule opens up”, that sometime will most often never come. In that scenario, all I hope for and dream and desire in my relationship with you would never materialize. Why is that? We will have remained largely strangers. That won’t happen to me. That won’t happen to us. That is why I have and will continue to make meeting with you in prayer the priority of my life. That will be very good. Keep on coming to me. Keep on learning from me. Keep on receiving from me. Yes Lord, I will. You have chosen what is better. 

Lord, often times I have raced through life trying to accomplish a never ending “to do” list. What a waste of time and energy. My life is not the sum total of a completed “to do” list. Help me to choose what is far better by daily spending time with you in prayer. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making choosing what is better, by meeting in prayer with the Lord, the priority of your life?

Living It Out…  Choose what is better by making spending time with the Lord the priority of your life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you cannot chose anything better than spending time in prayer with the Lord.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how spending time with the Lord is part of your daily life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you choose what is better by spending time with the Lord so you can learn from Him.

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

Promises – Day 3 – Luke 10-38-42 – 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

A Way Out

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises - Day 2 - 1 Corinthians 10:13 - A Way Out - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 2 – 1 Corinthians 10:13 – A Way Out – Growing As Disciples

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Way Out 

I have no doubt that you will provide a way out for me. I will provide what kind of way out for you? You will provide a way out of temptation for me to take. Yes, I will. Tell me what you know about temptation. You went through temptation. I will go through temptation. Temptation and evil are part of this sin broken world. Keep going. I will never experience a temptation that is unique to me. So, I will never need to have a “poor me” attitude toward temptations. Others will experience temptations that I have or will go through. That’s true. What else? You will never let me be tempted beyond my ability to resist. You will always provide a way out of temptation for me to take. Let’s talk more about that. What might the way out of temptation look like for you? I like that question. Why is that? I have discovered that often your way out of temptation is to not let myself get into tempting situations in the first place. Say more. I have learned the most likely ways in which I might be tempted. I can take action ahead of time to avoid situations that would give the devil and all his evil ripe opportunities to tempt me. Avoiding tempting situations is very wise of you. You must never come to think that you are above being tempted. If you proudly think you are standing, you will likely fall into temptation. Don’t I know that. That’s good.

You know that I will provide a way out of temptation. Yes, I do. We have discussed avoiding tempting situations in the first place. You will still, at times, find yourself in the middle of tempting situations. What will you do? I will look for the way out. I will take the way out. How quickly will you take the way out of temptation? I will immediately take the way out that you provide. Why is that critically important? If I linger around evil, I will no doubt succumb to it. I believe that it is your plan that I quickly run away from temptation and evil. Yes, it is. Indecision within myself will lead nowhere good. I cannot debate with myself about giving in or not giving into temptation. That is the road to certain defeat. That’s true.

I have not left you defenseless against temptation. What do you mean? How did I battle temptation? You used God’s word to fight against temptations from the devil. Yes, I did. God’s word is like a sword that the Holy Spirit will use to fight in you, with you, for you and through you. With that in mind, what will you do with God’s word? I will take God’s word deep into my heart and mind and life. How so? I will meditate on and memorize God’s word. I will let God’s word dwell in me richly. I will allow God’s word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. That is another way out of temptation that you have provided for me. Yes, it is.

Heavenly Father, thank you for not letting me be tempted beyond what I am able to resist. Thank you for always providing a way out of temptation for me. Help me to avoid all known tempting situations. I will immediately take your way out of every temptation. Amen

Key Question…  Why must you immediately take God’s way out of temptation in order to not succumb to it?

Living It Out…  Immediately take the way out of temptation that God will always provide to you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will always provide a way out of temptation so that you will not succumb to it.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has provided ways out of temptation to you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you take the way out of temptation that God provides.

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

Promises – Day 2 – 1 Corinthians 10-13 – A Way Out – 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

Consider It Pure Joy

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Promises - Day 1 - James 1:2-8 - Consider It Pure Joy - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Promises – Day 1 – James 1:2-8 – Consider It Pure Joy – Growing As Disciples

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:2-8 (NIV)

Joy

This life is filled with trials, of that I am sure. Sometimes, it seems like I have just left a trial, or I am about to enter another one. Yes, I know that I have been the cause of many of my own trials. I have made many dumb decisions and stupid mistakes that have brought trials into the heart and center of my life. But there are many trials that I did not cause. There are many trials I have not brought on myself. Trials are part of life. Trials are rampant in this sin broken world. Trials come in an almost unlimited variety of shape and sizes. Yes, they do. Did I mention, I am not a fan of trials. No, you did not. I would rather not go through them. If I can go around or pass by a trial that is fine with me. Yet, you say that I can have joy as I go through trials. It almost sounds like you are almost saying that I could welcome trials into my life as friends. Why is that? You tell me. I don’t know. What has happened to you as you have gone through trials?  I’m not sure what you are asking me. Has your faith grown stronger as you have persevered through trials? Yes, my faith has grown stronger as I have persevered through trials. Why is that? As I have gone through trials, I have cried out to you. I have asked you for your help. Would you know and rely on me less if you had not gone through trials? I’m sure that’s true. So, trials have helped you to come to know and rely on me more fully? Yes, that is true. There is no doubt about that. That’s right.

What have you learned about yourself as you have gone through trials? I have learned that I need wisdom, especially when I am going through trials. On my own, I am not likely to think or speak or act wisely when I am in the midst of trials. That sounds like an understatement to me. It is. I have thought and spoken and acted very foolishly when I have been in the midst of trials. What have your learned about me as you have gone through trials? You are the giver of wisdom. You are wise. You are all knowing. I can ask you for wisdom. You will not turn me away when I ask you for wisdom. You will generously give me all the wisdom I need when I ask you for it. Yes, I will.

Let’s recap this. I’m listening. Trials have caused your faith to grow. Trials have helped you to rely on me. Trials have led you to ask for and receive wisdom from me. Through trials you have come to know me better and follow me more closely. Is this all true? Yes, it is. Can you have joy in knowing all this about trials? Yes, I can. That is very good. 

Lord, I know trials will test my perseverance and strengthen my faith. I will let trials do their work in me so I will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Help me through trials. With faith, I’m asking for all your wisdom as I go through various trials. Amen

Key Question…  What do you know that will help you to remain joyful even in the midst of trials?

Living It Out…  Ask God to give you wisdom as you go through trials in life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will give you wisdom as you go through trails in life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has given you wisdom as you have gone through trials in life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you your faith grow strong as you are tested by trials.

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

Promises – Day 1 – James 1-2-8- Consider It Pure Joy – 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

God Intended It For Good

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life - Genesis 50:20 - God Intended It For Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Genesis 50:20 – God Intended It For Good – Growing As Disciples

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

A Dream

You have a dream don’t you? Yes, I do.  Where do you think that your dream came from? It certainly didn’t come from me. Why do you say that? I’m sure that the dream that I have came from you. Why is that? The dream that I have is to bear an abundance of fruit for you. I want you to use me for your kingdom and your glory. That dream could have never started with me. Why is that? I would have never dreamed up something like that on my own. I would never have desired that without you placing it in my heart. You have a very good point. I understand why you are so certain about the origin of your dream. You are right, by the way, that dream of yours did originate with me. I’m very glad that you have embraced it as your own. Yes, I have embraced it as my own. That dream burns in my heart to be fulfilled. I ache with desire for you to use me in your service. Aren’t I using you right now? Yes, you are, but I sense that there is more. What I have been experiencing has seemed like preparation for something more. I think you want to use me more fully in some larger way. Yes, I do, you can be sure of that.

You’re anxious aren’t you? Yes, I am. You are a little discouraged? Yes, I am. Why is that? I have had so many twists and turns and ups and downs in life. I have had one trial and setback after another. I have begun to wonder if the dream that you have given to me will ever be fulfilled. Are you beginning to doubt me? No, I don’t doubt you. I think I am beginning to doubt myself. I have been wondering if I have heard you correctly. I have been wondering if you really will be able to use me for your purposes and in your plans. Do you think my ability to use you depends on you? Now, that’s an attention getter of a question. No, your ability to use me depends on you, not me. That’s right don’t ever forget that. You have been waiting for me to use you is that right? Not really. What have you been doing? I have been going wherever you have directed me. I have been doing whatever you have asked of me. So, you haven’t been sitting around waiting for me to use you, is that right? No, I have been busy doing whatever you have given me to do. Yes, that’s right and that’s very good. Have I have been using you everyday? Yes, you have been using me everyday. But, you sense that I have much more for you. You know that I have some larger purpose and plan for your life, is that right? Yes, that’s right.

You said that you have gone through twists, turns, ups, downs, trials and setbacks, is that right? Yes, that’s right. What have all those detours, trials and setbacks felt like to you? They have felt like preparation. It feels like you have been teaching me to rely on you so that I can persevere through every difficulty. When you look back over your life up to this point what do you see? I see that your hand has been on me. You have used every twist, turn, up, down, trial and setback to teach and strengthen me. Do you want me to stop teaching you? No, I don’t. Do you want me to stop preparing you for the work that I have for you? No, I don’t. Can you be thankful for every twist, turn, up, down, trial and setback that I have been able to use for good in your life? Yes, I can. Do you believe that I will accomplish my purposes and plans in your life? Yes Lord, I do. That’s very good, because I will.

Lord, thank you that you can even use evil that people have done to me to accomplish your purposes and plans in my life. Help me to persevere through every setback in life on the way to you accomplishing your plans in my life. Amen

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

Life – Genesis 50-20 – God Intended It For Good – 4 Page Discipleship 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

The One Who Is In You

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises - 1 John 4:4-6 - The One Who Is In You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – 1 John 4:4-6 – The One Who Is In You – Growing As Disciples

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:4-6 (NIV) 

Overcoming Evil

There is evil in this world, are you watching and on guard against it? Yes, I’m watching and on guard. What do I need to be on guard against? What do I need to be watching out for? Those are good questions. You need to have an attitude of watchfulness. You need to have ears that are attentive to my voice. You need to be listening to all that I want to say to you. You need to be watching for all that I want to show to you. Does this sound like something that will be hard for you to accomplish? It sounds easy. But, I’m not foolish enough to think that it will be easy. Why is that? It’s easy to be absorbed in all the activities of life. It’s easy to race through life and forget to listen to all that you want to say to me or to fail to watch all that you want to show to me. It’s easy to become conformed to all the patterns, practices and values of the world. If I am not very careful, I could become unaware of how the world is continually trying to shape me into its mold. It’s much harder to be attentive and watchful to all that you want me to hear and see. Yes, it is.

Let’s talk about the focus of your attention. Alright, go ahead. You have my full attention. Good, that’s what I want. You have mentioned two possibilities. You can either focus your attention on the world or you can focus your attention on me. If I focus my attention on the world I will have a very difficult time listening to what you want me to hear or watching what you want me to see. Yes, that’s exactly right. I will have a very difficult time identifying what is true and what is false. Does that sound like an understatement to you? I will have an impossible time identifying what is true and what is false. That’s more like it. If I have the focus of my attention on you, I will be able to know what is true and what is false because my eyes and ears will be open to you. That is also correct. As I continue to have my focus on you I will grow in my ability to listen to what you want me to hear and to watch what you want me to see. How do you know that? That has been my experience as I have had my focus on you. That is very good.

Let’s talk about overcoming evil that is in the world. To overcome evil in the world I must be able to identify it. I also must have the strength and desire to resist it. Can you identify or overcome evil if your focus is on the world? Certainly not, if my focus is on the world then I will be wrapped up and enticed by evil. That is not my will for you. It is my will that my Spirit living in you will make you able to overcome evil that is in the world. Do you believe that my Spirit living in you will make you able to overcome evil in the world? Yes, I do. Why do you believe? You have changed the desires of my heart as I have had my focus on you. You have given me both the desire and strength to do your will. You have made me able to overcome evil in the world. Yes, I have.

Holy Spirit, thank you that you live inside of me. You have made me able to know what is true and what is false. You have made me able to recognize and overcome evil that is in the world. Help me to hear and really listen to you. Amen

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

Promises – 1 John 4-4-6 – The One Who Is In You – 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

Pray Earnestly To The Lord

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore - Matthew 9:37-38 - Pray Earnestly To The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore – Matthew 9:37-38 – Pray Earnestly To The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)

Your Harvest

I have called you. I have sent you. You are now working as one of my laborers in my harvest. You will go where I guide you. You will do what I ask of you. Yes Lord, I heard your call. It gives me great joy to be sent to do work that you have given me to do for you. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will go wherever you guide me. That is very good.

Have you noticed that the harvest is plentiful? Have you noticed that the laborers in my harvest are few? Yes, there have been many times that I have felt overwhelmed by the work that needed to be done. I have been discouraged by the so few that have stepped forward to do your work. Don’t be discouraged. I am with you to help you. I will strengthen you. I will revive and refresh your life. I will work in and through you. Your work for me will never be in vain. I will make you able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You can come to rely on me. I will come to you for all the help that I will need. That is very good.

What help do you need right now? I need you to send out more laborers into your harvest. That is a good prayer. That is a prayer that is according to my will. I am glad that you are asking this of me. Why is that? You tell me. You want me to acknowledge that you are in charge of the harvest. You will help me to work in your harvest. Yes, I will. But it is still your harvest. Yes, it is my harvest. You will guide the work of my hands in your harvest. Yes, I will. But it is you who will make me to be fruitful working in your harvest. Yes, I will. Apart from you I can do nothing. That’s right. My working harder would never bear the amount of fruit that more of your workers can accomplish. That’s true. You want me to acknowledge not only that it is your harvest and also that it is your workers that you will bring into your harvest. As I pray, I will be dependent on you to make me fruitful and to bring other workers alongside me to labor together in your harvest. So, I will pray earnestly for you to send more workers into you harvest. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will pray earnestly to you to send out more workers into your harvest. Just as you called me, I know that you will call others. Just as you sent me, I know that you will send others. Use us all to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

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

Therefore – Matthew 9-37-38 – Pray Earnestly To The Lord – 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

Perseveres Under Trial

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Blessing - James 1:12 - Perseveres Under Trial - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Blessing – James 1:12 – Perseveres Under Trial – Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV)

Persevere Through Trials 

You are the only one that can make me able to persevere the trials of life. I don’t want to be one bit self-reliant or self-sufficient in the trials of life. I don’t want to allow myself to think that I can fend for myself through even the smaller trials in life. Why is that? Smaller trials have a way of becoming larger trials. I lack wisdom, especially when I am going through trials. I react. I make mistakes. I take missteps. I have often thought or said or done what was helpful when I have been in the midst of trials. I have regretted my thoughts and words and actions. I have had to go back and retrace my steps. I have had to try to unsay or undo what I have unwisely said or done. That isn’t easily said or done. Besides, going through smaller trials seems like a training ground for the larger trials in life that are sure to come. That’s true. So, I would rather rely on you upfront in every small and large trial in life. That sounds good to me. It sounds good to me too.

What will you ask me for when you are going through trials in life? I will ask you for wisdom. I will ask you for strength. I will ask you to give me all I will need to go through the trials of life. I will ask you to guide my life. I will ask you to guard my path. I will ask you to lead me to where I should go. I will ask you to give me what I should do. I will ask you to help me to form the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and actions of my life. Those are all very good requests that I will hear and answer as you come to rely on me.

How will you ask me for all that you need as you go through the trials of life? With a heart full of faith, I will ask you for your help. I will believe and not doubt. I will draw near to you and know with certainty that you will draw near to me. That is very good. I will hold on to you as I am certain that you will hold on to me. I will trust that you will guard and guide and protect my life as I keep on following you. I know that you will be with me every step of the way as I walk through the trials of life. You will help me in every way. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have not always understood trials in life. Sometimes, I have wondered what was going on and where you were when I was in the midst of a trial. Looking back, I can see you were with me to help me. Thank you for helping me to persevere through trials. Amen

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

Blessing – James 1-12 – Perseveres Under Trial – 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