Monthly Archives: October 2020

At Work In You Who Believe

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 220 - 1 Thessalonians 2:13- At Work In You Who Believe - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 220 – 1 Thessalonians 2:13- At Work In You Who Believe – Growing As Disciples

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV)

Receive The Word 

Are you receiving my word?  I’m not positive that I know exactly what you mean. But I think that I am. Tell me what it means for you to receive my word? I had a feeling that you were going to ask me that question. Receiving your word begins with an attitude in my heart and mind. My attitude toward your word demonstrates the value I place on it in my life. To me, your word is more valuable than silver or gold. What do you mean by that? I spend a lot of time taking your word into my life. I meditate on it. I memorize it. I pray it. I think about your word all the time. The value of silver or gold or money does not rival or remotely come close to the value I place on your word. Why do you place such a high value on my word? Your word is how you speak into my life. I want to hear from you. I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to follow and serve you. None of this would be possible without your word. No, it would not. Can you say more? Your word is what you use to change my heart and transform my mind. I know that my thoughts are not your thoughts. I know that my ways are not your ways. Your thoughts and ways are so much higher and better than mine. As I meditate on your word you are using it to work in me. How so? Your word changes my thoughts. Your word brings my heart and mind into alignment with you. If I discover that one of my thoughts or ways is not consistent with yours then I know that it is time for me to change my thought or way. Is that all? No, there is much more. Not only does your word show me your thoughts and your ways, it also gives me the power and strength to follow and obey you. Your word helps me to withstand temptation. Your word gives me strength in trials. Do you know why my word is able to strengthen you against temptations and makes you able to stand in trials? Yes, I do. Your Holy Spirit takes your word and uses it to fight in me, with me, and for me. Your word is like a sword in the hand of the Holy Spirit. Yes, it is. 

What am I doing in you with my word right now? You are using your word to bear fruit in and through my life for your kingdom and your glory. How am I doing that? You are allowing me to tell others about you and your word. You are using me to proclaim your word. Just as you have allowed me to hear your word, so also do you want others to be able to hear your word. Yes, I do. Keep on hearing, receiving and accepting my word as you proclaim it to others. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you for allowing me to hear, accept and believe in your word. Continue to do your work in me with your word. Keep on changing my heart and transforming my mind with your word. Mold and shape my life according to your word. Amen

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

Promises – Day 220 – 1 Thessalonians 2-13 – At Work In You Who Believe – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Humility Procedes Honor

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 219 - Proverbs 15:31-33 - Humility Goes Before Honor - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 219 – Proverbs 15:31-33 – Humility Goes Before Honor – Growing As Disciples

If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.  If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.  Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.        Proverbs 15:31-33 (NLT)  

Will You Listen?

Will you listen?  Will I listen to who? Will I listen to what? Those are two very good questions. Let me ask you two more questions. Go ahead, I’m listening. Who would you be unwilling to listen to? What would you be unwilling to hear? Those seem like harder questions. Why is that? I might start off by saying that I am willing to listen to anyone and everyone. I might also continue to say that there is nothing that I would be unwilling to hear. But those statements might not be true. You’ve noticed? Yes, I have noticed. I suppose that there are some people that don’t have my ear. Yes, there are people that I have been unwilling to listen to. What else? I have not always been willing to hear and receive and accept what others have had to say to me. Like what? I have not always accepted constructive criticism or what you might call a “life giving” rebuke. Has that been wise? What has sometimes happened to you because you failed to hear constructive criticism or a “life giving” rebuke? What have been the consequences of failing to listen to those who have had something important to say to you? I have suffered some pain and suffering and loss because I have pridefully and foolishly rejected wise counsel from others. So, you are willing to admit that wisdom often comes to you as constructive criticism or a “life giving” rebuke? Yes, I am. So, are you now much more willing to listen and hear what others have to say to you? Yes, I am. That’s good. I will tell you a little secret. What’s that? You can’t be a prideful and foolish and stubborn in your listening to others and be a wise listener to me. What will prevent you from receiving wisdom from others will prevent you from receiving wisdom from me. I’m starting to get that. I am beginning to understand. I will tell you another little secret. What’s that? I will often send people your way to speak into your life so that you can receive wisdom from me. So, be ready and willing and able to hear and receive and accept what others have to say to you. In pridefully and foolishly rejecting constructive criticism or a “life giving” rebuke from others, you may be rejecting an important word from me. So, I will ask you again, “Will you listen?” Yes Lord, I will listen attentively to you and to others you bring into my life. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will humbly accept constructive criticism. I will also welcome your corrective discipline in my life. I will not be proud. I will not be stubborn.  I will walk in humble awe of you throughout my life. Teach me your wisdom. Give me understanding. Lead my life. Amen

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

Promises – Day 219 – Proverbs 15-31-33 – Humility Precedes Honor – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Pray And Never Give Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 218 - Luke 18:1-8 - Pray And Never Give Up - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 218 – Luke 18:1-8 – Pray And Never Give Up – Growing As Disciples

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.  “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.  A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’  The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,  but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”  Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.  Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”  Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)  

Persistent In Prayer

Will you do that? Will I do what? Will you be persistent in prayer? Will you keep on praying until you have an answer from me? Yes, I will be persistent in prayer. Yes, I will keep on praying until I have an answer from you? You do have a few questions about prayer, don’t you? Yes, I do. Go ahead, ask me. Why are not all my prayers answered immediately? Why must I sometimes wait a great deal of time before a prayer of mine is answered? Let me ask you a few questions. I’m listening. Is “no” an answer to prayer? Yes, “no” is an answer to prayer. Why might I say “no” to one of your prayers? I may be asking for something that is not helpful or healthy for me. I may be asking for something far less than what you want to give me. You might have something completely different or better in mind for me. So, a “no” from me is not just an answer to your prayer, but it is a very good answer to some of your prayers. I get that, I understand. That’s good. I have another question for you. Is “not yet” or “wait” an answer to prayer? Yes, “not yet” and “wait” are both answers to prayer. Why might I say, “not yet” or “wait” to one of your prayers? The timing is not right. I may not be ready to receive what I am asking of you. Other circumstances may need to come into alignment to make it to be the right time for my prayer to be answered. Yes, those are real and true reasons why I haven’t answered some of your prayers immediately. Have I ever answered one of your prayers in a way that you could have never dreamed of, asked for, or even imagined? There is no doubt about that. Has it sometimes taken you quite a while to realize that I had in fact answered your prayer without you even noticing it right away? There is no doubt about that either. Now, for the hardest questions. Have I ever asked you to keep praying because I wanted to grow your faith and develop your persistence in prayer? Has waiting and being persistent in prayer caused you to rely more fully on me? Has waiting and be persistent in prayer caused you to draw nearer to me and made our relationship more intimate? Yes, and that is no doubt better and more important that what I was praying for anyhow. It pleases me that you know this to be true. Thank you, Heavenly Father for all your varied answers to my prayers. I will keep on being persistent in prayer. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, with a heart filled with faith, I will be persistent in my prayers. I will not lose heart. I will not give up and quit. Help me to be persistent in my prayers. Do your good work in me so that you will find me full of faith when I meet you face to face. Amen

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

Promises – Day 203 – Luke 18-1-8 – Pray And Never Give Up – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

I Will Bless You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 217 - Genesis 12:1-3 - I Will Bless You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 217 – Genesis 12:1-3 – I Will Bless You – Growing As Disciples

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)

Go And Do What I Ask 

Will you listen to me? Will you go and do what I ask of you? Will you leave the comfortable and familiar to go and do what I ask of you, even it is uncomfortable and unfamiliar? Don’t answer me too quickly. Know that I will not unfold a complete and detailed road map before you. You will need to follow me. You will need to trust me. You will need to rely on me. I will take you along a path on which you have never traveled. I will have you do what you have never done. You will not have an opportunity to reason with me, to weigh the pros and cons of following and obeying me. You will have to decide if you are willing to place all your faith and hope and trust in me without your fully understanding where I am taking you or what I am asking of you. Now, let’s talk. How does all this sound to you? Do you want my honest answer? Yes, I want your honest answer. All of this sounds scary to me. This sounds difficult and demanding and challenging. Yes, it is all of that, and more. But I need to ask myself some questions. Like what?  Where would I go and what would I do if I decided not to follow and serve you? Where would my life end up if I stopped following and serving you? Wouldn’t my life be filled with regret if I didn’t keep moving forward with you? Aren’t you about to do something significant in and through my life if I say yes to going and doing what you ask of me? Won’t my faith grow stronger as I follow and serve you? Won’t you help me to go and do what you ask of me? Won’t my life be blessed as I allow you to use me? Won’t I be a blessing to others as you work in and through me? You are asking a lot of very good questions. Yes, and there is no doubt about what I will do. What’s that? I will go and do all that you ask of me. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord, for calling me to go and do what you ask of me.

Lord, help me to go and do what you ask of me. I will rely on you. Work in and through me. Bless my life so that I can be a blessing to others. Use me to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I am at your service ready for your use. Amen

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

Promises – Day 217 – Genesis 12-1-3 – I Will Bless 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

Listen Carefully To My Words

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 215 - Proverbs 4:20-27 - Listen Carefully To My Words - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 215 – Proverbs 4:20-27 – Listen Carefully To My Words – Growing As Disciples

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.  Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.  Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.  Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.  Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:20-27 (NLT) 

Penetrate Deeply Into Your Heart 

Will you pay attention to what I say? Will you listen carefully to my words? Will you keep your eyes focused intently on my word? Will you allow my word to penetrate deeply into your heart? Will you allow my word to bring life and healing to your entire being? Do you know why I am asking you all these questions? Do you understand the importance of my word?  I think I do know why you are asking me all these questions. I think I do know the importance of your word. I do know why your word is of utmost importance in my life. Let me hear your thoughts. Say what you are thinking out loud. My entire being is under attack. This world is full of temptation and evil. This world and all the evil in it would like nothing better than to sidetrack my life. This world and all the evil in it would like to divert my attention and take me off course, far away from your purpose and plan for my life. The battleground and where I am under attack, is in my heart and mind. I need to take the utmost care in guarding my heart and mind and life from the evil that is in the world. What I allow my heart and mind to feel and think will certainly determine the entire course of my life. What I allow my heart and mind to feel and think will determine the health of my entire being. It will not be nearly enough to guard my heart and mind and steer clear of evil. That is a very good first step. That step alone, however, will not bring me victory. I must also allow your word to deeply penetrate my heart.  I must allow your word to continually change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. My full attention and entire focus need to be on you and your word. Only then, will I be able to walk a straight and safe path. Only then, will I be able to know and do your will, without being sidetracked. Then I will be able to hear and follow and obey you. Then my life will be filled with the health and wholeness you have for me. You have answered my questions well. Keep on allowing my word to penetrate deeply into your heart. Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I will allow your word to penetrate deeply into my heart. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Keep me on a straight and safe path so I don’t get sidetracked by evil. I will hear and follow and obey your word. Amen

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

Promises – Day 201 – Proverbs 4-20-27 – Listen Carefully To My Words – 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

You Answered Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 215 - Psalm 138:3-6 - You Answered Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 215 – Psalm 138:3-6 – You Answered Me – Growing As Disciples

When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great. Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.  Psalm 138:3-6 (NIV)

When I Called

Will you come and cry out to me? Will you ask me for all that you need? Why would I not come and cry out to you? Why would I fail to ask you for all that I need? That’s a very good question that you need to think about long and hard. Why is that? Haven’t you been reluctant to come and ask me for all that you need? Yes, that is true. Do you have any thoughts on the subject? There are a variety of possible reasons why I have not come and asked you for all that I need. Let me hear them. I’m not saying that I have any good reasons. I understand. Some of my reasons are so bad that I don’t really want to repeat them out loud. Go ahead anyway. I have not always come and asked for your help because my pride has told me that I don’t need your help. I have foolishly thought that I could rely on myself to handle all of my problems. How has that worked out for you? Without your help I have been weak and faint hearted in many of my efforts. I have been unable to accomplish all that you have given me to do for you. There is a reason for that. What’s that? It is my plan that you will rely on me to accomplish what I have given you to do in life. There is no way that you will ever feel strong and bold and confident without me. Would it serve you well if I allowed you to live your life confidently and boldly without me? No, it would not. Your weakness is meant to cause you to come to rely on my strength. I will be your strength. I will be your boldness. I will be your confidence. Would you like that? Yes, I would. Let me hear one more of your reasons for not asking for all that you need from me. I’m sorry to say that I have wondered if you would hear and answer my prayer. Wondered? I have doubted that you would hear and answer my prayer. How does that sound to you? It sounds terrible. I ask you to forgive me for not coming to you with faith to ask you for all that I need. You have been and are forgiven. What do you want instead? I would like my faith in you to be strong. I would like to pray bold prayers. I would like to ask for all that I need from you. There is only one way for that to happen. How is that? Start praying those prayers right now. Do you sense that there may be a relationship between your power in life and your power in prayer? I have never thought about prayer that way, until now. Now, is a good time to know that this is true, isn’t it? Yes, it is. What do you want to do differently as a result of hearing from me? I want to give you thanks and praise to you for speaking to me. I want to rejoice in knowing that you are watching over me and caring for my life. I want to begin to come and make known to you all that I need. I want to rely fully on you. I want to pray bold and confident prayers with the knowledge that you will hear and answer me. You will make me bold and confident and strong. You will make me able to do all that you have given me to do for you. Yes, I will as you come to rely on me.

Lord, thank you that I can humbly come and cry out to you. That is exactly what I will do. I will not rely on my own strength and abilities. Instead, I will rely on you. You hear and answer my prayer. You make be strong and bold as I follow and serve you. Amen

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

Promises – Day 215 – Psalm 138-3-6 – You Answered Me – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

God Who Chose You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 214 - 1 Peter 1:13-16 - God Who Chose You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 214 – 1 Peter 1:13-16 – God Who Chose You – Growing As Disciples

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.  So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)  

Become Like Me

I want that for you. What do you want for me? I want you to become like me. I want you to think and speak and act like me. I chose you. You are my child. I am your Heavenly Father. What father does not want his child to become like him? I am Holy. I chose you to become holy like me. That is a high calling. That seems like an impossible task. I am thankful and grateful that you chose me. I want nothing more than to be like you in all I think and say and do. But with my own strength, under my own power, I don’t know how I could possibly live such a life. Who said you could think and speak and act like me with your own efforts, under your own power and by your own strength? Certainly not me. No doubt, living your life with and for me with require your full attention and all-out effort. But your full attention and all-out efforts will never enable you to live a life of thinking and speaking and acting like me. You will never be able to make yourself holy. To think otherwise would be foolish. I’m confused. How then will I ever be able to live the life you have called me to live? First, you must know and believe and accept that you have been made holy in my sight by my Son’s payment of your sins. His sacrifice made it so you could be forgiven of your sins and cleansed of your unrighteousness. When He became your Savior and Lord you left your old sinful life behind you. You are now dead to sin and alive to me and the holy life I have called you to live. Second, you must keep your heart and mind and life focused on me. I will mold and shape you. I will change your heart and transform your mind. I will guard and guide you. I will protect and strengthen you. I will make you able to live the life I have called you to live. I will give you my thoughts to think. I will give you my words to speak. I will give you my deeds to do. Will you keep your heart and mind and life focused on me? Will you live the life of salvation you have been given to live? Will you rely on me? Yes, I will rely on you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That will be very good. Then you will be able to live the life I have called you to live.

Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me. It is my desire to become like you in all I think, say and do. Mold and shape me so I can become like you. I will not slip back into living my old sinful life. Instead, I will keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. Amen

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

Promises – Day 214 – 1 Peter 1-13-16 – God Who Chose You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

To Teach Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 213 - Romans 15:1-4 - To Teach Us - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 213 – Romans 15:1-4 – To Teach Us – Growing As Disciples

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.  We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”  Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:1-4 (NLT)  

Fill My Life With Hope

Why have I given you my word? What will my word accomplish in your life? Why is it important that you listen attentively to my word? How are you making it your daily practice to meet with me in my word? Those are all very important questions. I need to carefully consider all that you are asking of me. Why is that? If I don’t carefully consider your questions and adequately answer them, I might fail to meet with you in your word. Meeting with you in your word might become a random and infrequent activity if I fail to understand the value of your word working in my life. Meeting with you in your word is not one more good idea among many other possible good ideas. Meeting in your word needs to be the number one priority of my life. Why is that? You speak to me through your word. You mold and shape my life by your word. You guard and guide me by your word. You encourage and build me up and strengthen me by your word. You fill my life with hope and joy and peace by your word. If I were to fail to meet with you in your word, it would be as if I were saying that I need none of these things from you. That would be a very foolish mistake. As it is, there is no place I would rather be than in your word. There is nothing I would rather do than to receive your instruction and follow your guidance. I want to hear from you. I welcome you to use your word to keep on doing your work in and for and through me. Those last couple words bring another thought to my mind. What’s that? You not only want to use your word to work in me. You want to use your word to work through me. Yes, I do. Whatever you do in, or for me, by your word, you want me to share with others what I have received form you. Like what? You want me to share hope and peace and joy. You want me to share instruction and guidance. You want me to share encouragement and strength and protection. You even want me to share the molding and shaping I have received from you, by your word. Yes, I do. There is nothing that I have received from your word that you don’t want to share with others. That is correct. So, you will continue to meet with me daily in my word? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will allow you to teach me. I will receive your instruction and follow your guidance. Use your word to fill me with hope. Use your word to encourage me. Build me up with your word so I can build up and encourage others with all I have receive from you. Amen

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

Promises – Day 198 – Romans 15-1-4 – To Teach Us – 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

He Hears Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 212 - 1 John 5:13-15 - He Hears Us - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 212 – 1 John 5:13-15 – He Hears Us – Growing As Disciples

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.  And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.  And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:13-15 (NLT)  

I Will Hear You 

Do you know that to be true? Do I know what to be true? Do you believe that I will hear you? Do you believe that I will answer your prayers? Yes, I believe that you will hear me. Yes, I believe that you will answer my prayers. Will I answer every prayer that you pray? No, I’m sure that you will not answer every prayer that I pray. What prayers will I not hear and answer for you? You will not hear and answer prayers that are not pleasing to you. What kind of prayers are not pleasing to me? You will not hear and answer prayers that are outside of your will. You will not hear and answer prayers that are not according to your purposes and plans. You will not hear and answer prayers that are outside of your timing. You will not hear and answer prayers that would ultimately be unhelpful or unhealthy for me. You will not hear and answer prayers that are self-centered, self-indulgent and self-sufficient. You will not hear and answer my prayers if they are filled with my own sin. That is true. But I should stop here for a moment and clarify my thinking and response to your question. Go right ahead. “No”, is an answer to prayer. Sometimes, “no” is your very best answer to my prayer. I can think of many prayers that I am now glad that you did not answer. So, you often hear and answer my prayers, that are not pleasing to you, with a “no” because you have something more or something else or something better for me. That is true. “Not yet”, is also an answer to prayer. I am often impatient. I hate to wait. There have been many times that you have heard and answered my prayers with a different timing or in a different way than I could have ever anticipated. You have often delayed hearing and answering my prayers until I was ready to receive what I wanted to give me. That is also true.

What kinds of prayers are pleasing to me? Before I answer that question, I need to clarify one more thing. What’s that? I need you to guide my prayers. I need you to teach me how to pray. I need you to help me to know what prayers would be pleasing to you. Yes, you do. So, prayers that are reliant on you are on the right track. Yes, they are. Prayers that bring you honor, and glory are pleasing to you. Prayers asking for your help are pleasing to you. Prayers asking for wisdom are pleasing to you. Prayers of adoration, confession and thanksgiving are pleasing to you. Prayers of intercession for others are pleasing to you. Prayers that are according to your will are pleasing to you. Prayers that will accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans are pleasing to you. Yes, all these prayers are pleasing to me. Yes, I will hear and answer these prayers. Will you keep on praying prayers that are pleasing to me? Yes, I will. That will be very good. Then I will hear you. Then I will answer your prayers. Thank you, Heavenly Father. 

Heavenly Father guide my prayers. Help me to pray prayers that are good and right and true. Help me to pray prayers that are according to your will and purposes and plans. Help me to pray prayers that are pleasing to you, that you will hear and answer. Amen

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

Promises – Day 197 – 1 John 5-13-15 – He Hears Us – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Given Us His Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 211 - 1 John 4:13-17 - Given Us His Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 211 – 1 John 4:13-17 – Given Us His Spirit – Growing As Disciples

 

And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.  Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 1 John 4:13-17 (NLT)

Live In Me

You should have no doubt that I live in you and you live in me. Why is that? You have made a good confession. You have acknowledged my Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior and Lord. You have welcomed Him into your life. You have left your old life behind. You have received His forgiveness of all your sins and cleansing of all your unrighteousness. You have been made clean. You have been filled with my Holy Spirit who is guiding the course of your life. You are now living the new life you have been given to live. You are allowing my word to change your heart and transform your mind. You are loving and following and serving me. You are thinking my thoughts. You are speaking my words. You are doing my deeds. It is your passion and joy to do what is good and right and pleasing to me. Do I need to say anymore? Do you have any doubts? Would you have chosen this way, would you have lived this kind of life, if it were not I leading and guiding you every step of your way? No, I could not have imagined or dreamed up the life I am now living. I am following you to where you lead me. I am going and doing all that you ask of me. And all of this I am doing willingly, under no compulsion, with joy overflowing my heart. It would be a true statement to say that I am placing all my hope and trust in your love. And day by day, you are changing me, you are molding and shaping me. You are making me to be like your Son. Do I wish my progress was quicker? Do I wish that I would be changed more instantly? Am I a little impatient with my progress? Without a doubt. But that does not diminish my trust in you. You are faithful. You will complete the work that you have started in me. I love you and look forward to the day that I will see you face to face. Then your work will be complete. Will that be a scary day? Do I fear judgment? Not in the least, because of all that your Son has done for me. He has made me righteous in your sight. He has helped me to become like Him. You do live in me and I live in you. Yes, I do. Yes, you do. Thank you, Heavenly Father. 

Heavenly Father, I have put all my trust in your love. You are my God. Your Son is my Savior and Lord. I will confess His name and all He has done for me. Thank you for giving me your Spirit and making to be like your Son as I love you with all that is within me. Amen

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

Promises – Day 211 – 1 John 4-13-17 – Given Us His Spirit – 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