Monthly Archives: May 2020

Let Nothing Move You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 52 -1 Corinthians 15:58 - Let Nothing Move You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 52 -1 Corinthians 15:58 – Let Nothing Move You – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) 

Is It Worth It?

It is worth it? Is what worth what? Is all your faithful and hard work for me worth it? I would have never expected you to ask me that kind of question. Why do you think I’m asking you that question right now? It’s a good question to think about when I’m not weary and worn out or going through great difficulty. Why is that? I think it’s important to have an answer to that question in advance before I’m at one of my weakest points in life. Yes, it is. There will be days that your advance decision-making will help you through temptations and trials.

Are you thinking about your answer? Yes, I am. What’s on your mind? I’m sure that every second, minute and hour of service to you is worth it. I want my life to be one long act of continual service to you. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and your glory. I want to be well used by you. I don’t want any gift, talent, ability or resource that you have given me to go to waste. I want to better know your will and your ways as I serve you. There is a “but” coming isn’t there? Yes and no, kind of sort of, I suppose. Tell me what you are thinking. I can’t answer your question completely. The worth of my serving you can’t be completely known or fully measured in this life. I can only partially know the value of my service until the day I look back with you in the light of eternity. On that day I so want to hear you say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” I’m serving you now with that hope in mind. Hearing those words from you would make every day of my work for you worth it, of that I am sure. Yes, it will. 

Looking forward to your eternal life with me in heaven motivates your service to me today, is that right? Yes, my eyes are fixed on heaven. My focus is on you. I know my future is securely in your hands. I know that you have a place prepared for me. Knowing this has given me strength. Knowing this has given me hope. Knowing this has given me courage to stand firm, allowing nothing to move me. It is the desire of my heart to give myself fully to the work that you have given me to do. You have prepared good works for me to do and I am going to do them with all the power that you have given me. I know that all my labor will never be in vain. Yes, it is worth it! Yes, it is.

Lord, thank you that my future in heaven is secure and awaits me. Help me now to stand firm, letting nothing move me, as I give myself fully to the work that you have called me to do for you. I know my labor will not be in vain. Amen

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

Promises – Day 52 – 1 Corinthians 15-58 – Let Nothing Move You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Refuge In Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 48 - Psalm 34:4-8 - Refuge In Him- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 48 – Psalm 34:4-8 – Refuge In Him- Growing As Disciples

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.  Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:4-8 (NIV)

Refuge In Me 

Will you take refuge in me? Will you seek me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Will you cry out to me? Will you make your needs known to me? Will you allow me to calm all your fears? Why would I not? What would hinder me from crying out to you? Why would I not make my needs known to you? Why would I not allow you to calm all my fears? Why would I not seek you with all that is within me? You tell me. You have answered my questions with your own questions? What answer do you have to give? I have an answer. My answer is the truth. But my answer is not a good one. The only reason I can see for not coming to rely on you completely is if I have chosen to rely on myself. Would that be a good choice? Prideful, self-reliance and stubborn, self-sufficiency are never good choices. Nothing could be more foolish. Nothing could be more unwise. Why is that? You stand ready to hear my prayers. You are ready, willing and able to meet my needs and deliver me from all my fears. Yes, I am. It is my joy to hear and answer your prayers. I delight in calming your fears. I will save you from your troubles. I will encamp around you. I will deliver you. Thank you, Lord. I will rely on you. I will place all my faith in you. You will hear my prayers. I will make my needs known to you. That will be very good.

What will happen to you as you draw near to me? What will you experience as you live in an intimate relationship with me? How will you be changed as you come to take refuge in me? I will come to know you. I will come to love you. I will come to follow and serve you. It will be my joy to live my life with and for you. You will make me radiant. Joy and hope and peace and love will show up on my face. Why is that? I will have tasted of your goodness. I will have known that your blessing has been on my life. I will have known that you have been with me to help me on every step I take in life. Yes, I will be with you. Yes, my blessing will be on you as you take refuge in me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, thank you for answering me, when I seek you. Thank you for calming my fears as you save me from trouble. Help me to look to you and be radiant. Help me to taste and see your goodness; bless my life as I take refuge in you. Amen

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

Promises – Day 48 – Psalm 34-4-8 – Refuge In Him – 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

An Ever Present Help

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 39- Psalm 46:1-3 - An Ever Present Help - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 39 – Psalm 46:1-3 – An Ever Present Help – Growing As Disciples

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah               Psalm 46:1-3 NIV

Help In Trouble

What do you fear? What makes you afraid? I fear failure more than anything. Sometime I am almost paralyzed by my fear of failure. It is no small thing. I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t moved forward on something because I was afraid that I might fail. You can tell me. It wouldn’t come as news to me. Yes, I know that fear of failure is a big issue in your life. It fills you with anxiety. Yes, it does.

Would you like to free of this fear of yours? Would you like to leave fear, worry and anxiety behind you? Yes, I would. Do you believe that I have the power to set you free? Yes Lord, I believe. If there is any doubt in me, then I also believe that you will help me with my unbelief. Yes, I will. Is there any reason why you might think that you are unworthy of my setting you free from fear, worry and anxiety? No, there is none. I know you are my Heavenly Father. I am your beloved child. You have already gone to great lengths to show me the depths of your love. Yes, I have. Is there any reason why you might think that I might be unable to set you free from fear, worry and anxiety. No, there is none. You have already set me free from sin. You broke the power of sin over my life and have enabled me to live a new life in you. Yes, I have. Being free from fear, worry and anxiety is part of the new life I want you to live. 

There is a battle going on related to your fear, worry and anxiety. Do you know where that battle is being fought? Yes, I do, the battle is being fought in my heart and mind. That is exactly right. Are you winning or losing the battle of fear, worry and anxiety that is going on in your mind? So far, I would say that I am losing. I’m glad that you said, “so far” because the battle isn’t over. It doesn’t work to tell yourself to just stop being fearful, worrisome, or anxious does it? No, it doesn’t. The more I tell myself to stop, the less able I am to stop. We have been through this together before related to another issue, isn’t that true? Yes, it is. You were in bondage to something else that you couldn’t stop isn’t that true? Yes, it is. Do you have any difficulty anymore with that issue that had so ensnared you? No, I don’t.

How have I set you free in the past? Your word has set me free. Your word has changed my heart and transformed my mind. Your word has cleansed my life. Your word has given me the strength to obey you. The Holy Spirit has used your word to fight in me, with me and for me. Just as my word has set you free in other areas so will it also set you free from fear, worry and anxiety. Does my word have anything to say about fear, worry and anxiety? Yes, it does. Feast on those words of mine. Take them into your heart and mind. Meditate on these words of mine day and night. Let them dwell in you richly. Let my word change your heart and transform your mind in regard to fear, worry and anxiety. Yes Lord, I will. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. I am your refuge and strength. I am here to help you. Rely on me. Yes Lord, I will. 

Lord, I have often relied on myself in fearful situations in life. What a mistake that has been. You are my refuge and strength. You are worthy of all my trust. I will rely on you to lead me through every fearful circumstance in life. Amen

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

Promises – Day 39 – Psalm 46 -1-3 – An Ever Present Help – 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

Reap Generously

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 37 - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - Reap Generously - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 37 – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – Reap Generously – Growing As Disciples

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.              2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

A Cheerful Giver 

That is what I want to be. What do you want to be? I want to be a cheerful giver. Why do you want to be a cheerful giver? I want to follow your example. I want to do what you did. I want to live the kind of life you lived. What did I do? What kind of life did I live? You gave of yourself freely and completely. You emptied yourself of all your rights and privileges. You left heaven to come into this broken and sinful world. You were determined to do the will of your Heavenly Father. You had a mission and purpose. You did what you came into this world to do. Which was? You died on the cross as payment for my sins. You made it so I could be forgiven of my sin and cleansed of all my unrighteousness. You secured a new life for me. You made it possible for me to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Now, it is my desire to live my life with and for you. It is my desire to love others just as you have loved me. Now, I want your light and love living in and shining through me so others can be drawn to you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That will be very good. 

How will you bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? How will my light and love be in you so that others will be drawn to me? I will use whatever you have given me to love and serve others. I will use all the gifts and talents and abilities and resources you have given me to sow generously the good news of the Gospel. I will tell others about the forgiveness and new life they can have in you.  I will not hold back. I will not retreat. I will not keep anything in reserve. I will pour myself out in your service. I will be a generous and cheerful giver as I live my life with and for you. What will happen, not immediately, but over time, as you continue to sow generously? I will reap a rich harvest for your kingdom and glory. I will have done what you asked me to do. I will have accomplished your mission and purposes for my life. Yes, you will, and that will be very good. Yes, it will. Thank you, Lord, for helping me to be a generous giver. 

Lord, often times I have made the mistake of holding on tightly to what I have been given. I know that you want me to be a cheerful giver. Help me to freely give to others. Help me to use what I have been given to sow generously so that I will reap generously. Amen

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

Promises – Day 37 – 2 Corinthians 9-6-7 – Reap Generously – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

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

Do Immeasurably More

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 36 - Ephesians 3:20-21 - Do Immeasurably More - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 36 – Ephesians 3:20-21 – Do Immeasurably More – Growing As Disciples

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) 

Imagine That?

I have no doubt about that. You have no doubt about what? You have done in, for, and through me what I could have never thought of, or even imagined. Not in a million years could I have dreamed of being where my life is today. Where is your life today? My life is right here with you. I delight to be in your presence. I want to draw near to you. You have my full attention. My heart and mind and life are focused on you. I want to know you. It is my joy to think and speak and act in ways that please you. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. Could I have pictured myself as one of your followers? Could I have dreamed up the desire to be fully devoted to loving and following and serving you? Would your plans ever be more important than my plans?  Not, a chance. But that’s what I want. That is who I am. I am your child. I am your follower. You are my Savior and Lord. You are my God and King. You turned my life around. You changed my direction. You altered my course. There is no doubt that you have been at work in me. You have been molding and shaping my life. I am the work of your hands. You are making me into your masterpiece. Now, I want what you want. Yes, that is exactly the work I am doing in you, for you, and through you.

Do you have any idea of what I will do in you, for you, and through you, in the future? Do I have any idea of what I might look like in the future? Yes, you could rephrase my question in that way. Generally, yes, specifically no. That is an interesting answer, can you say more? Generally, I know that you will be making me to be more and more like you. You will help me to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. You will help me to know and do your will. Others will be drawn to you, because they will see you living and shining brightly through me. You want me to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Yes, I do. Is this what you want? Yes, it is. You have no idea of what I will specifically do in, and for, and through you? No, I do not. I do know one thing, however. What’s that? You will do in, and for, and through me, what I could never ask for, think or dream of, or even imagine. Why is that? Your thoughts and plans and ways, are far higher and far better than mine. Yes, they are. For that, I am grateful and thankful. That is very good.

Lord, thank you for working in, for, and through me. You have done far more than I could have ever asked for, thought or dreamed of, or even imagined. I have learned a lesson. I will no longer be timid, or reluctant to ask you to work in, for, or through me. Amen

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

Promises – Day 36 – Ephesians 3-20-21 – Do Immeasurably More – 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