Monthly Archives: June 2020

Spur One Another On

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 95 - Hebrews 10:24-25 - Spur One Another On - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 95 – Hebrews 10:24-25 – Spur One Another On – Growing As Disciples

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:24-25(NIV)

Gather Together

Do you want to grow strong in your faith? Do you want to be able to live the life I have called you to live? Do you want to shine brightly as a witness in the world for me? Do you want to be able to resist temptation? Do you want to be able to stand against evil? Do you want to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans? Do you want to go where I am leading you? Do you want to be able to do what I am asking of you? Do you want to be able to bear fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? You have asked me many questions for all of which, I have the same answer. What is your answer? Yes, I want all these things. That is a very good answer.

If you want all that I want for you then you will do one thing without fail. What is that? You will make it your regular and consistent pattern to gather together with fellow believers, in my body, the church. You will allow yourself to become deeply rooted in my body, the church. You will find a place where you can love and serve others in my body. You are very emphatic on this point. Yes, I am. I am glad you noticed. It would be nearly impossible to not hear what you are clearly asking of me. I am glad that your ears are open to hear me.

Why am I so emphatic about you regularly and consistently gathering together with others in my body? I am not sure how to answer your question. Tell me what your experience has been. I can tell you that I was not made to live alone. I can tell you that I was not made to live a solitary life, all by myself. That’s true. What would happen to you if you tried to live your life of faith all alone, by yourself? I would be easy prey for the devil. I would be leaving myself wide open to spiritual attack. I would not be able to resist temptation or stand against evil. That’s true. What else? I would certainly wander off course. I would drift away from you. There is no doubt about that. What else? I would not be spurred on and encouraged by fellow believers. I would not find my place to minister in your body. I would not be used to spur on and encourage fellow believes in their faith. So, gathering together in my body is not only for your benefit? No, it is also a place for me to love and care for others. It is a place for me to use all the gifts you have given to me. It is a place for me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, it is. Will you keep on gathering together in my body, the church? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will make it my regular and consistent pattern to gather together with others in your body, the church. I will both give and receive encouragement to love others and do many good deeds. I will spur others on in their faith as I am also spurred on in my faith. Amen

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

Promises – Day 95 – Hebrews 10-24-25 – Spur One Another On – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional 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

Renew Their Strength

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- Promises - Day 93 - Isaiah 40:30-31- Renew Their Strength - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 93 – Isaiah 40:30-31- Renew Their Strength – Growing As Disciples

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

Wait 

You look really worn out. I feel exhausted. I don’t think that I can take one more step. I hate being this weary. I don’t like seeing you like this either. You don’t? Of course not, it isn’t my plan for you to be unhappy, overworked and worn out. Can I ask you a question? Go right ahead. Why do you give me so much work to do if you don’t like seeing me weary and worn out? Are you sure that you aren’t doing more than I have asked you to do for me? Am I? Now, that’s a good question at the wrong time. Why is that? You tell me. It’s probably better to ask you if you want me to take on an assignment before I start rather then while I’m worn out trying to complete it. You got that right. So, what will you do differently in the future? I will ask you to help me to know if I should or shouldn’t take on a new assignment. That will be very good. Trying to do too much is not the only explanation for why you might be weary in your work. What might be another explanation?

You were right about one thing. What’s that? I will always give you more than you can accomplish. I thought you didn’t like seeing me weary and worn out. I don’t. Now, I’m confused. Why do you think I will always give you more than you can accomplish? I’m not sure. If I only gave you what you could accomplish, who would you rely on to accomplish it? I would rely on myself. That’s right and is that a good thing? No, it’s not. Why is that? You want me to come to rely on you for your strength to accomplish what you have given me to do. Yes, I do. Why do you think I want you to come to rely on me? I’m not sure. Think hard. You want to develop a relationship with me. Yes, I do. Do you think it is possible that I am more interested in developing a relationship with you than I am in seeing you accomplish great things for me? Is that true? Yes, it is. In fact I will not let you accomplish great things for me unless we have developed a close relationship with each other. My coming to rely on you is that important to you? Yes, it is. That makes me glad. Yes, I knew it would. There is another reason I will not give you my power and strength to accomplish things for me without us developing a close relationship with each other. What’s that?

Who would get the credit if I allowed you to accomplish great things with your own strength? I suppose that I would. Yes, you would. Would anyone be drawn to me through the great things you did with your own strength? Probably not. Would you have any sense that I was working in and through your life if you only accomplished what you could do with your own strength? No, I wouldn’t. Can you see the point? You want me to rely on you so I can come to know you. Yes, I do. You want others to be drawn to you through the work that you do in and through my life. Yes, I do. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, that’s exactly what I want. I will come to rely and wait on you. That will be very good.

Lord, I know I will never have enough of my own power and strength to follow and serve you. That’s a good thing. Otherwise I might be tempted to rely on myself. Instead I will rely on you and wait for you to renew me with your strength. Amen

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

Promises – Day 93 – Isaiah 26-3-4 – Perfect Peace – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional 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

Goes With You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Deuteronomy 31:6 - Goes With You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 92 – Deuteronomy 31:6 – Goes With You – Growing As Disciples

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) 

Courageous

You will face battles in life. You will be called upon to stand up and fight. You are sure to find yourself in fearful and terrifying situations. I don’t like the sound of this. That comes as no surprise to me. Why is that? Do you want me to work in and through your life? Yes, I want you to work in and through my life. Do you want to know me? Yes, I want to know you intimately. What does you working in and through my life and knowing you intimately have to do with facing and fighting battles in life? That’s a good question. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead. Have you come to know and rely on me more in and through the battles in life or when you were resting in your comfort zone? Obviously, I have come to know and rely on you more in and through the battles of life. I’ll ask you another question. I’m listening. Have you born more fruit for my kingdom and glory when you have been challenged beyond your gifts, talents and abilities or when the task at hand was very easy to accomplish? I have born more fruit when I have been challenged beyond my gifts, talents and abilities. Then would you say that a lot of good has happened, as you have had to stand up and fight battles in life? Yes, that’s true.

Let me ask these questions to you again. I want us to spend more time on them. Go right ahead. What’s good about battles in life? What’s good about going through fearful and terrifying situations? What’s good about having to stand up and fight? What have you learned? What have I taught you? You have taught me to cry out to you for help. Have I answered your prayers? Yes, you have answered my prayers. Have I brought you through fearful and terrifying situations? Yes, you have brought me through every trial and difficulty I have ever faced. Sometimes, I have had to look back with the perspective of time and distance to clearly see that you have always had a hold of me and were leading me through every battle I faced in life.

What has knowing that I am always with you done for you? Knowing that you are with me has given me courage and strength. Knowing that you are with me has helped me to stand up and fight. Knowing that you are with me has helped me to trust and rely on you. Knowing that you are with me has helped to leave my comfort zone to follow you to wherever you lead me to do whatever you have asked of me. Yes, these are all true. 

If you could choose a life of constant comfort or a life filled with battles that I led you through which would you choose? Without hesitation I would choose a life of following you even knowing that you will lead me through battles and challenges in life. You really do want to know me? You really do want to be used by me? Yes Lord, I do. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you that you are always with me to help me in and through the battles that I face in life. I will trust you for all my courage and strength as I rely on you to help me. It is my joy to know that you will never leave or forsake me. Amen

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

Promises – Day 92 – Deuteronomy 31-6 – Goes With 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

To Those He Loves

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 83 - Psalm 127:1-2 - To Those He Loves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 83 – Psalm 127:1-2 – To Those He Loves – Growing As Disciples

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat– for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV)

Unless

“Unless” is a very important word for you to hear and understand. Why is that? If you don’t hear and understand the word “unless” you could waste your entire life. How could that be possible, it’s such a small word? Have you ever wasted a day running around racing to do something that wasn’t all that important? I’ve wasted a lot of days doing just that. Have you ever evaluated your “to do” list and discovered that it had a bunch of meaningless tasks on it that won’t add up to anything of real value? I’ve noticed that far too often. Have you ever made your own plans without asking me what I thought? Yes, I’ve done that.  Have you ever relied solely on your own strength to accomplish your work? I’ve done that as well. Are you wondering how that little word “unless” relates to all my questions? Yes, I am. Are you still wondering how not understanding that little word “unless” could cause you to waste your life? Yes, I am.  But, I think I’m beginning to figure out where you have been headed. Let me hear your thoughts. I will give you a little clue. What’s that? Begin your thoughts with the word “unless”. All right, I will. Unless, I take time to know your will, I will be spinning my wheels in life. Unless, I understand what you want me to do, I may waste my life working on what was of little value. I may think that I have or I am accomplishing a lot. But, one day I may look back only to realize that my life has accomplished next to nothing of lasting and eternal value. My own thoughts and plans and accomplishments will amount to nothing without you. Apart from you, I can do nothing that will bear fruit for all eternity. Unless, I rely on your power and strength to work in and through me, I will never be able to accomplish the work that you have given me to do. No, you will not. You must rely on me. 

Do you have any more thoughts about this little word “unless”? Yes, I do. Unless, I rely on your power and strength I will work even harder because I will see how little I have accomplished in life. Unless, I rely on you to work in and through me I will get up early and stay up late working in vain. Unless, I know that I am bearing the fruit that you want me to bear, I will work myself weary and never get the sleep and rest you want to give to me. My life will have no rhythm or balance. No, it will not and why is that? It will be because I did not understand the value of the little word, “unless.” That’s right. I want you to guard and guide and bring balance to my life. I can see that. So, I will not fail to understand hear and understand all that you are saying to me through this little word “unless.” I will let you work in and through me. I will do the work that you have given me to do. I will rely on your power and strength. I will allow you to guard and guide my life. I will allow you to bring balance into my life. I will slow down and accept the sleep and rest that you want to give to me. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to know and do the work you have given me to do for you. I want my life to bear fruit for you that will last for eternity. Guide me to do your work. Bless my efforts as I rely on you. Guard, protect and balance my life according to your will and plan. Amen

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

Promises – Psalm 127-1-2 – To Those He Loves – 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

Can These Bones Live?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 71 - Ezekiel 37:1-3 - Can These Bones Live? - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 71 – Ezekiel 37:1-3 – Can These Bones Live? – Growing As Disciples

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.  He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.  He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Ezekiel 37:1-3 (NIV)

Giver Of Life

I am the giver of life. I make things live. I can make what was once dead come back to life. Do you believe what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I believe. How do you know this to be true? I was once dead in my trespasses and sins. You brought me back to life. You gave me a brand-new life to live in you. So, not by your own efforts did you come back to life. No amount of your own flurry of effort could have given you a new life. Is that correct? That is correct, my new life in you has come to me as a gift.

Have you encountered dead ends? Have you experienced defeats? Has one of your dreams, even one that you thought to be God given, appeared to be dead? Yes, I have come to dead ends. Yes, I have experienced defeats. I have had dreams that have been dead so long that I have forgotten that they were once dreams of mine. Can I bring long forgotten dreams to life? Can I make a dead end a place from which you can begin again? Can a defeat be the place from which I will bring you a victory? Only you know. You can say more than that. Yes, you can do all things. With you, nothing is impossible. That is correct. That is right. That is true.

What must happen for me to turn a defeat of yours into a victory? What must you do if a dead end is to become a place to begin again? What must happen for a long forgotten, seemingly dead dream, to live again? I must come to rely on you. I must place all my faith in you. I must be willing to go wherever you ask me. I must be willing be to do whatever you ask me. What must you not do? I must not rely on myself and my own flurry of activity to accomplish what you already want to do in, for and through me. Will you rely on me? Will you place all your faith in me? Will you follow and serve me? Yes Lord, I will. Then dreams will live again. Then you will walk in victories. I will work in, for and through you. Then what was dead will come back to life. Thank you, Lord. You are the giver of life. Yes, I am. 

Lord, you are the giver of life. You can make what is dead come back to life. That is what I want and will pray for. Lord, do a miracle. Do in, for and through me what only you can do. I will trust and rely fully on you. With your power, do your life-giving work. Amen

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

Promises – Day 71 – Ezekiel 37-1-3 – Can These Bones Live? – 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