Monthly Archives: December 2020

Reflect On What I Am Saying

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 270 - 2 Timothy 2:3-7 - Reflect On What I Am Saying - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 270 – 2 Timothy 2:3-7 – Reflect On What I Am Saying – Growing As Disciples

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer.  Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:3-7 (NIV)

Reflect On

Those are two very important words. What are two very important words? I want you to “reflect on” all that I am saying to you. I don’t want my word to go in one of your ears and out the other. I want you to take my word deep into your heart and mind and life. I want my word to dwell in you richly. I want my word to abide in you. I want you to abide in my word. I want my word to change your heart. I want my word to transform your mind. I want my word to guide your life. My word will mold and shape you. My word will guard and guide you. My word will teach and train you. My word will make able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. My word will do all these things in, for, and through you, only if you reflect on my word and then do what it says. You must hear, follow, and obey my word if you want to live as one of my followers. So, I will say it again, “reflect on”, are two very important words. Have I made myself clear? Yes, you have made yourself very clear. That’s good.

So, how will you “reflect on” my word? I will start by setting a daily time and place to meet with you in your word. I will listen intently, careful consider, and reflect deeply, on your word. I will hear and obey you, that is for sure. In my hearing and obeying your word I will be like a good soldier being trained in your service. I won’t let myself be caught in civilian pursuits. My heart and mind and life will be focused on you. I will be like a finely tuned athlete wanting to be trained and prepared, by your word, to compete well and finish strong so that I will win the prize. I will be like a hardworking farmer patiently waiting for a crop of fruit to be born in and through my life as I allow your word to do its work. I can see that you truly have heard from me. You will reflect on my word. You will put my word into practice. Yes, I will. That will be very good. 

Heavenly Father, I will not let your word go in one ear and out the other. I will listen intently, carefully consider, and reflect deeply on all that you have to say to me. I will take your words deep into my heart and mind and life so I can hear, follow, and obey you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you listening intently and carefully considering all that the Lord wants to teach you?

Living It Out…  Listen deeply, carefully consider, and reflect on all the Lord wants to teach you so you can hear, follow, and obey Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be able to be a faithful and fruitful follower of Christ as you hear and obey Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are hearing and obeying all the Lord wants to teach you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  Heavenly Father, what do you want me to hear and obey as I reflect on your word?

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

Promises – Day 270 – 2 Timothy 2-3-7 – Reflect On What I Am Saying – 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

Just As He Had Done Before

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 269 - Daniel 6:10-12 - Just As He Had Done Before - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 269 – Daniel 6:10-12 – Just As He Had Done Before – Growing As Disciples

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.  Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.  So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands–in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” Daniel 6:10-12 (NIV)

A Pattern

That is exactly what I need. What is it that you need? I need to develop a pattern of meeting with you in prayer. Why do you need to develop a pattern of meeting with me in prayer? My prayers will be occasional and hit or miss if I don’t develop a regular daily pattern of meeting with you in prayer. If I don’t set a daily time and place to meet with you in prayer it may never happen. Life is busy and hurried. Life is demanding and distracting. Life can cause me to place what might seem urgent over what is ultimately more important. I can think of nothing that is more important than setting aside a time and place to meet with you in prayer. What is your hope? What is your dream? What is your desire? What do you want to happen as you meet with me in prayer? I want to come to know you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to live my life in a constant and ongoing dialogue of prayer, as I walk through life with you. So, setting a specific time and place to meet with you in prayer is just a starting point. I want that daily, specific time of prayer, to carry on throughout each of my days. Those are very good hopes, and dreams, and desires. I’m not finished. I’m just getting warmed up. Go on, I’m listening. I want to bow down and worship you. I want to give you thanks and praise for your kindness and mercy and love. I want to be able to hear your voice guarding and guiding me through life. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to be able to pray prayers that you will hear and answer not only for my needs, but also for the needs of others. I want your kingdom to come down to earth. I want to hear and see you doing miracles that draw a multitude of people to you. I want your life to be living in and through me. I want to shine brightly for you like a star in the universe. You weren’t kidding, you were just getting warmed up. Yes, and if I have missed something, if I have left something out, I want you to show me and teach me how to pray. Finally, I want to store up treasure in heaven with you, as I bear fruit for your kingdom, and bring glory to your name. That is why I need to develop a pattern of meeting with you in prayer. Very well then, are you ready to start right now? Yes, I am. That is very good.

Lord, thank you for your kindness and mercy and love. You have been with me to help though all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life. You have sustained and strengthened and protected me. It is my joy and delight to meet with you daily in prayer. Amen

Key Question…  What pattern of prayer would you like to be a regular part of your life going forward from today?

Living It Out…  Develop a regular daily pattern of meeting with the Lord in prayer.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will sustain, strengthen, and protect you as you live a life of prayer with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are developing a regular pattern of prayer with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you develop a daily pattern of meeting with the Lord in prayer.

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

Promises – Day 269 – Daniel 6-10-12 – Just As He Had Done Before – 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

I Have Refined You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 268 - Isaiah 48:10 - I Have Refined You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 268 – Isaiah 48:10 – I Have Refined You – Growing As Disciples

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. Isaiah 48:10 (NLT)

Whatever It Takes

Whatever it takes. What do you mean by saying, “Whatever it takes?” I want to come to know and love and follow and serve you. I want to become like you.  I want to think like you think. I want to speak like you speak. I want to act like you act. I want your thoughts and words and actions to be mine. I want to give like you gave. I want to serve like you served. I want to love like you loved. With that in mind, I will freely admit that I am quite distant from those desires becoming a reality in my life. How so? I have rough spots, imperfections, and impurities in my life that hinder me from becoming like you. So, I am giving you permission to rub off the rough spots or burn off the imperfections and impurities in my life. I want you to mold and shape me to make me to be more like you. That is what I mean by saying, “Whatever it takes?” I see. I know.

Let me be clear here, I am not the author of pain and suffering and loss. I will not shower you with hardships. I will not bring evil against you. You live in a sin broken world. You live in a world that comes full of pain and suffering, hardship, and loss. These were not unfamiliar to me. They will not be unfamiliar to you. I suffered. You will suffer. Having said that, you are correct in your thinking, I can and will use the heat of pain and suffering and hardship and loss to burn off impurities and imperfections in your life. I will rub off the rough spots in your life. I will mold and shape you according to my purposes and plans. Why would I do this? I love you with an everlasting love. You are my child. So, you can be sure that I can and will bring good out of the bad that happens in your life. I can and will redeem and use even the darkest of your days. Your attitude is good and that is very important. Why is that? You and I have both seen people that have grown bitter and not better as they have gone through pain and suffering and hardship and loss in life. Instead of drawing nearer to me in these moments, they have withdrawn from me. Instead of relying on me in these moments, they have turned away from me to rely on themselves. Instead of their relationship growing deeper and more intimate with me in these moments, they have separated themselves from me entirely. You will not let this be true of you. You will allow me to do my work in you, for you, and through you when go through great difficulties in life. Why is that? Because you will allow me to use whatever it takes to do my best work in you. Yes, I will, whatever it takes. That is very good.

Lord, use whatever it takes to refine my character. May it be pain or suffering or hardship or loss, use whatever it takes to make me to be more like you. Use whatever it takes to grow my faith and deepen my relationship with you. All my hope and trust is in you. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord made you more like Him as you have gone through hardship and suffering?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to use hardship and suffering to refine your character to make you more like Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord can use hardship and suffering to make you more like Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used suffering to make you more like Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the Lord to use hardship and suffering to make you more like Him.

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

Promises – Day 268 – Isaiah 48-10 – I Have Refined 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

He Who Walks With The Wise

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 267 - Proverbs 13:20 - Walks With The Wise- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 267 – Proverbs 13:20 – Walks With The Wise- Growing As Disciples

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) 

Grow Wise

Do you want to grow wise? Who would say no to that? Who wouldn’t want to grow wise? You would be surprised. How so? There is a cost to growing wise. Growing wise will require some diligent effort. Growing wise does not come naturally. Growing wise does not happen automatically. How then does one grow wise? That is a very good question. That is the starting point. The first step in growing wise is to admit that you are not wise. I have no problem admitting my lack of wisdom. You will also need to come to understand that you have blind spots. I have no doubt that I have many blind spots. There are countless times that you have thought and spoken and acted foolishly without knowing it. It will be rare that you will clearly recognize your own blind spots and acts of foolishness. Oh, you will recognize your own blinds spots and acts of foolishness once you have suffered because of them. That is a painful process. I know that painful process quite well. Yes, you do. You also know how slow and painful that way is to grow wise. That is not my plan for you. That is not how I want you to grow wise. For that, I am thankful and grateful. The second step in growing wise is choosing your companions. How so? You can choose to be a companion of fools. That would be a very bad choice. A companion of fools suffers harm in two ways. First, whatever harm a fool brings into their life, will certainly spill over into your life, if you allow them to be your close companion. That is bad enough, but you will become a fool just by being a close companion of a fool. Their foolishness will rub off on you. Does this sound familiar? Too familiar, I need no convincing. Well then, who must you make your companions? I will choose to make wise people to be my companions. Good answer. Here is where the real effort is needed. You must work hard to build and maintain close relationships with wise companions. Not only will you need to work hard on these relationships, but you must be willing to practice what you hear and see and receive from these wise people, I will bring into your life. Will you do both? Will you build long and lasting relationships with wise companions? Will you hear and see and receive wisdom from wise people that I bring into your life? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know that I will never grow wise by living in isolation and remaining distant from other people. I also know that I will grow foolish if I allow myself to be a companion of fools. Help me to build relationships with wise people so that I can also grow wise. Amen

Key Question…  When has a wise person told you what you didn’t want to hear but needed to hear?

Living It Out…  Take time to cultivate lasting relationships with wise people so you will also be able to grow wise.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use wise people to help you to become wise in your thoughts, words, and actions.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how a wise person has helped you to think, and speak, and act wisely.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you walk with the wise so you can grow wise.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you take a day a week to rest so the Lord can revive, refresh, and restore your soul.

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

Promises – Day 267 – Proverbs 13-20 – He Who Walks With The Wise – 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

Turn Darkness Into Light

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 266 - Isaiah 42:16-17 - Turn Darkness Into Light - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 266 – Isaiah 42:16-17 – Turn Darkness Into Light – Growing As Disciples

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.  But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame. Isaiah 42:16-17 (NIV)

Lead You

What can you be sure of about where I will lead you? Where am I likely to take you? What will I do for you as I lead you? I will take that last question first. Go right ahead. You will open my eyes. Without you I was like a blind person. I was stumbling around in the darkness. I was groping my way through life. I was bouncing around from one thing to another, accomplishing nothing, and going nowhere. I had no direction and purpose or meaning to my life. But following you has changed all that. Now, my life has hope and meaning and purpose. Now, my life has direction, I am following you to wherever you lead me, to do whatever you ask of me. I will answer your first and second questions next.  I’m listening. You will guide me along unfamiliar paths of that I am certain. Is that a bad thing? No, it is a very good thing. I can’t say that it will be easy. I can’t say that it won’t be challenging. The way that you guide me will cause me to rely on you. That is a very good thing. Yes, it is. Relying on anyone or anything other than you would be a tragic mistake. Why is that? There is no blessing or fruit or hope or success in relying on an idol. And that’s exactly what relying on or following or trusting in anyone or anything other than you is; it is an idol. Neither you nor I want any of that. That’s right. So, I will keep on following you. That’s good. I know that as you guide me through life, my faith in you will grow. I know that as you guide me through life, I will live in a more intimate relationship with you. I will keep on drawing near to you, and you will keep drawing near to me. I know that you will help me every step of my way as I keep on allowing you to guide me. You will turn my darkness into light. You will smooth out rough places for me. That is true. That is right. That is sure. Trust in me, I will lead you through life. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I am no fan of darkness, rough places, and unfamiliar paths. But I know you will be my light. You will smooth put rough places before me. I will trust you because I know it is you who will lead me along unfamiliar path. And that makes all the difference. Amen

Key Question…  May you allow the Lord to give you light in darkness and lead you over rough places.

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to give you light and lead you over rough places as you follow Him along unfamiliar paths.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will give you light and help you over rough places as you follow Him along unfamiliar paths.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has led you along unfamiliar paths.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the Lord to give you light in darkness and lead you over rough places.

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

Promises – Day 266 – Isaiah 42-16-17 – Turn Darkness Into Light – 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 Carefully What You Hear

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Mark 4:24-25 - Consider Carefully What You Hear - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Mark 4:24-25 – Consider Carefully What You Hear – Growing As Disciples

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” Mark 4:24-25 (NIV) 

Hearing

What do you hear? That sounds like an unusual question to me. I will rephrase my question. What are you allowing yourself to hear? That doesn’t help me much. Do you think I have control of what my ears hear? That’s exactly my point. You do have control over what you allow your ears to hear. I want you to carefully consider what you allow your ears to hear. I want you to monitor everything that comes into your heart and mind through your ears. I want you to place a guard over your ears. Why is that important? That’s a very good question that I will let you answer.

What I hear will either help or hinder me. The words that come into my mind will either build me up or tear me down. The words that I listen to will either strengthen or weaken me. The words that I consider will either increase my faith or cause me to doubt. I am facing a battle over my heart and mind. That battle over my heart and mind will be won or lost based on the words that I allow myself to think. I can listen to all that the world wants to say to me. I can live my life according to the principles, patterns and practices of the world or I can live my life according to your will and your ways. If it is my hope and desire to live my life according to your will and ways, then I must carefully consider your word. That’s right. Only as I carefully consider your word will I grow in the understanding that you want to give to me. That is also right.

How will you place a guard over your mind? I will closely monitor all that I am allowing my ears to hear. I will withdraw my heart and mind from all that the world wants to say to me. I will not accept the principles, patterns and practices the world has to offer to me. Will that be enough to protect your heart and mind? No, I must also to meet with you in your word. I must listen carefully to all that you have to say to me. Then I will grow in understanding. Then I will come to know you. Then I will be able to know your will and walk in your ways. Yes, you will.

Lord, for too long I have allowed junk filled words to come into my heart and mind. Help me to guard what I hear. Instead, I will listen attentively to your word so you can change my heart and transform my mind as you give me understanding. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making yourself available to hear what will help you in your walk with the Lord?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to God’s word so you will be able to hear and apply what He is saying to you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be given more understanding as you hear and apply God’s word to your life?

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has given you understanding as you have listened to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen carefully to the Lord so you can understand all that He is saying to you.

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

The Mind – Mark 4-24-25 – Consider Carefully What You Hear – 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

Sabbath Rest

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 265 - Hebrews 4:9-11 - Sabbath Rest - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 265 – Hebrews 4:9-11 – Sabbath Rest – Growing As Disciples

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.  Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11 (NIV)

Rest

Is that what I need? Is that been missing from my life? What are you talking about? I’m talking about rest. Do I not have enough rest in my life? Do I not have good balance in my life between work and rest? Seriously, you are asking these questions? Look, if you are weary and worn out isn’t the answer obvious? If your body is often forcing you to take a rest despite your plans, what is that telling you? If you feel stressed out, frazzled, and burned out, what must be missing in your life? If you are having difficulty hearing my voice, receiving my instruction, and following my guidance what is amiss? My life is out of balance. I can see that now. I have been running fast and furious. I don’t have a heathy work and rest balance in my life. I have allowed myself to be caught up in the frantic pace of life. The busyness and noisiness of my life is no doubt making it very hard for me to hear from you. So, no, I am not hearing your voice, receiving your instruction, or following your guidance. That is not good. No, it is not. Let me ask you a few questions. I’m listening. That’s good. How high of a priority do you think I place on your need to carve out one day a week for you to rest from your labors? How important do you think it is to quiet yourself and rest in my presence, so you can hear from me? What example have I given you of resting from your labors? Where did I place my command that you take a day week of Sabbath rest? Well, you worked six days and rested on the seventh day of creation. That is a powerful example, wouldn’t you say? Yes, it is. Keep answering my questions. You placed your command that I take a weekly Sabbath day of rest in your ten commandments. That is high placement isn’t it? Yes, it is. What does that tell you? Don’t overlook or skip this command, with the foolish thought that it isn’t that important. You got that right. Tell me more. Developing my ability to hear from you, so I can receive your instruction, and follow your guidance, is critically important to the entire course of my life. Yes, it is. Where will that ability to hear from me be most strongly developed? I will learn to hear from you as I rest in your presence. The best starting place for me to learn to hear from you is as I rest in your presence when I take a Sabbath day of rest, with you, each week. That’s right. We have talked enough on this topic. Now I will ask you one final question. Will you take one day of Sabbath rest each week so you can rest in my presence? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have not consistently taken a day a week to rest. I have not seen the value of resting. Now I know how foolish I have been. From now on, I will carve a day a week to rest with you. I know you will use that day to revive and refresh and restore my soul. Amen

Key Question…  How has your relationship with God grown more intimate as you have rested in His presence?

Living It Out…  Take a day of rest with the Lord each week so He can revive, refresh, and restore your soul.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will revive, refresh, and restore your soul as you rest with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are taking a weekly day of rest.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you take a day a week to rest so the Lord can revive, refresh, and restore your soul.

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

Promises – Day 265 – Hebrews 4-9-11 – Sabbath Rest – 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

But Overcome Evil With Good

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Romans 12:19-21 - But Overcome Evil With Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Romans 12:19-21 – But Overcome Evil With Good – Growing As Disciples

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21 (NIV)

Your Enemy

How have you responded to your enemies? What have you done for those who have done evil against you? Well, I have often brainstormed how I might get even with them. I have considered how I might repay them for every evil that they have done against me. Have you spent a lot of time thinking these kinds of thoughts? I am embarrassed to admit how much time I have wasted imagining what do to those who have hurt me. Have you found thoughts of payback and revenge to be helpful and healthy? Thinking thoughts of payback and revenge have been nothing more than a large waste of time. Why is that? I can’t think of one time that I actually paid someone back or took revenge against them. You just day dreamed about payback and taking revenge against evil that was done against you? That’s right. That is a big waste of time. 

I want you to take a far different approach to those who have done evil against you. What’s that? You are going to like this, I think. I can’t imagine that. You like to brainstorm. You like to day dream. You like to think through scenarios. You like to think about future possibilities of your actions. Yes, I do like to do all those things. Well, I want you to do all those things toward an enemy that has done something to hurt you. I’m already doing that. Yes, I know. But, you are doing all those things with an evil intent of paying them back and seeking revenge. That’s true. I want you to do just the opposite. Like what?

Imagine that one of your strongest enemies became your best friend. That’s hard to imagine. Stay with me. How would you try to turn one of your strongest enemies into one of your best friends? I would begin to brainstorm how I could do good things for them. Then I would look for any and every opportunity to follow through and actually do good things for them. That’s good. What else? I would pray for them continually. That’s also very good. Why would you be willing to do good things toward your enemy? Why would you be willing to continually pray for them? I would do good things for my enemy and pray for them because that is what you are asking of me. That’s right. If you do what I am asking of you, then you may not only have an enemy as a best friend but you might have them as a brother of sister. Wouldn’t it be amazing if your enemy joined you in heaven because of the way that you allowed me to work in and through your life? That would be amazing. Start doing good things for your enemy as you pray for them. Yes, Lord, I will.

Lord, I have sought revenge. I have wanted to pay back others for evil done against me. Forgive me. I will make every effort to overcome evil by doing good. I will seek to turn enemies into friends by doing good things for them. Use me as your witness. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional study guide click here:

God’s Will – Romans 12-19-21 – Overcome Evil With Good – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Whose Confidence Is In Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Trust - Jeremiah 17:7-8 - Whose Confidence Is In Him- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Trust – Jeremiah 17:7-8 – Whose Confidence Is In Him- Growing As Disciples

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)                                                                         

No Worries

You have a choice to make. What are my options? You can choose to rely on yourself. You can struggle and strive to solve all your troubles. You can attempt to work through every detail of all your difficulties. You can consider every possibility in each of your problems. You can try to tough it out, on your own, in every one of your trials and tribulations. You can live a life filled full with worry and anxiety over real and imagined troubles, difficulties, and problems. How is all this sounding to you so far? Not good. I have gone this route. I have walked this path. I have relied on myself. I have worried about every conceivable real and imaginary problem. I have experienced stress. I have lived with worry. I am tired. I am worn out. I am ready to give up. I want none of this kind of life, not now, not anymore.

Then you are ready for your second option. What’s that? You can choose to rely on me. You can ask for my help. You can trust that I will hear your prayers. You can believe that I will meet your needs. You can turn every one of your worries into a prayer to me. Imagine that. If you turned every one of your worries into a prayer to me, you would become quite a prayer. We would have an ongoing never-ending prayer filled conversation with each other. I would like to become quite a prayer. I would like to live my life in a constant dialogue of prayer with you. Then we both want the same thing.

How will you know if you are relying on yourself or trusting me? If I am living a life filled with worry, I will know that I am trusting in myself. If I am living a life filled with prayer, I will know that I am trusting in you. If I am praying instead of worrying, I will do what you and I both want. That’s right. Will you turn every one of your worries into a prayer to me? Yes, Lord, I will. Then you will have nothing to worry about because you will be trusting in me. 

Lord, you are worthy of all my confidence and trust. In the heat of difficulty, I will rely completely on you. You have always been with me. There is nothing that you have not brought me through. So, I will not fear as I hold on to you through the difficulties of life. Amen

Key Question…  How are you placing your trust and confidence in the Lord rather than relying on yourself?

Living It Out…  Place your confidence and trust in the Lord so that you can rely on Him in and through the difficulties of life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord is worthy of all your confidence and trust as you go through difficulties in life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you have trusted the Lord in the difficulties of life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you trust in the Lord and not worry as you go through difficulties in life.

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

Trust – Jeremiah 17-7-8 – Whose Confidence Is 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 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

Love Does

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 264 - 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 - Love Does - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 264 – 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 – Love Does – Growing As Disciples

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NIV)

Love Is

This is a very high bar. What is a very high bar? This description of what love is, that is a very high bar. I don’t measure up. These words do not describe my thoughts and words and actions. My behavior is far below this standard of love. These words simply tell me that I am unloving and sinful person. That I freely admit, without one word of denial. Furthermore, If I have any hope whatsoever of being loving as is described here than I am going to desperately need your help. There is no doubt about that. For me to love in this way would require a miracle.  I will say one more thing, however. What’s that? I very much would like to be a loving person. I would like all these thoughts and words to describe my life. Well, you have a very good starting point. Really, how so? You recognize your shortcomings. You are acknowledging your sin. You are not living in denial. You are telling me that you need my help. You have the desire to be a loving person deep within you. Tell me, why is it that you want to be a loving person? Why do you care? Why is it even a desire in your heart? I know one thing for sure. What’s that? The desire to be a loving person did not originate with me. Where did this desire to be a loving person come from? It came from you. You placed this desire in my heart. How so? You loved me first. You loved me when I was unlovable. You loved me when I was living as if I was your enemy. You came into this world to live and die for me. You drew me to yourself. You rescued me from a life without you. You forgave my sin. You cleansed my unrighteousness. You gave me a completely new life to live. Now, I want to know and love and follow and serve you. Now, I want to become like you. I want to think like you think. I want to speak lie you speak. I want to act like you act. So, I want to love others just like you have loved me. I have one question for you. You have my full attention. If I placed this desire to love others within you, will I not also do a miracle in and through you, by making it a reality? Can I and will I accomplish this miracle in and through you? Yes, you can. Yes, you will. Of that, I have no doubt. That is good. That is right. That is true. Thank you, Lord! 

Lord, I know that I need your help. I am not loving; not like you are loving. I want to follow your example. I want to think, speak, and act like you do. I want to love like you loved. Mold and shape my life. Develop your love in me. Allow your love to flow through. Amen

Key Question…  How are you always protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering in demonstrating love to others?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to mold and shape your life so that you love others in all that you think, say, and do.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will mold and shape your life so that you are loving in all that you think, say, and do.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is making you able to love others with His love.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May all your thoughts and words and actions be guided by the love of God in you.

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

Promises – Day 264 – 1 Corinthians 13-1-7 – Love Does – 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