Monthly Archives: August 2021

Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You

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The Virtuous Life - Day 200 - James 4:7-10 - Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 200 – James 4:7-10 – Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You – Growing As Disciples

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.  James 4:7-10 (ESV)

Victory Over Evil

That is what you want. That is the life you would like to live. You would like to live a life that is pleasing to me. You would like to be able to resist temptation and stand against evil. You want to have victory over evil. Is everything that I have said about you true? Yes, I want everything that you have stated. How can I live such a life? You tell me. I was sure that you were going to say that. Then you are prepared to answer me. If that is true, it would only be because you have made me able to answer you. I’m listening. What do you have to say? Victory over evil will never come to me by my own efforts. I will never be able to overcome evil with my own strength. There is only one first and best step to securing victory over evil. That step is submitting myself to you. In taking that step toward you, I am taking a step away from evil. And it really isn’t just a step at all. It is fleeing evil as soon it approaches and running to you as fast as I can. Lingering around evil is the surest route to defeat. I must not hang around evil, its allure and enticement are too powerful for me, or anyone else, for that matter. So, immediately flee, I must. But that is only half the equation. Fleeing alone will never be enough. I must have somewhere safe to flee. It is to you I will flee. It is to you that I will submit myself. As I flee evil and run to you, the allure and enticement and power of evil over my life is broken. In your presence, you change my heart. In your presence, you transform my mind. In your presence, you guard and guide my life. That is true. That is what I will do for you.

I do want to say more. Go ahead, I’m listening. I will not only flee to you when evil is approaching. That is not all I want. That is not all I need. I want to live a life continually drawing near to you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. So, what will you do? Daily, I will draw near to you. Daily, I will confess my sins to you. Daily, I will humbly live my life with and for you. Then I know that you will help me to live the life you have called me to live. Then I will live a life that is pleasing to you. You are quite sure? Yes, I am quite sure. Yes, you are quite right. I will help you to love and follow and serve me with all that is within you. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I know the first and only best step to victory over evil is to submit myself to you. That I will do as I resist evil. Day by day, I will humbly confess my sins to you as I draw near to you. Cleans me. Purify me. Help me to live the life you have called me to live. Amen

Key Question…  How has submitting yourself to God removed the allure of evil from your heart and mind?

Living It Out…  Submit yourself to God and draw near to Him so you will be able to resist temptation and stand against evil.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that submitting yourself to God will make you able to resist temptation and stand against evil.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how day by day you are submitting yourself to God.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you submit yourself to God and resist the devil so that He will flee from you.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 200 – James 4-7-10 – Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You – 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Making New Life

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 136 - Making New Life - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 136 – Making New Life – Growing As Disciples

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.  These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.  There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)

Finish Strong

I know that my body is wasting away. Nothing works quite as well as it once did. I have aches and pains like never before. The snap, crackle, and pop of my body reveals something about my age. Who is that old guy looking back at me in the mirror? That could not be me. Well, guess what? It is me. With this realization I could become discouraged. I could give up. That won’t happen. Why is that? Why will you not become discouraged? Why will you not give up and quit? I know what is true. What’s that? What is true? As my body wastes away and basically falls apart on the outside, you are renewing me on the inside. Day by day, your Holy Spirit is doing a work inside me. You are renewing my spirit. You are making me fresh and alive in you. You are filling my life with joy and peace and hope. You are continually changing my perspective. How so? I am no longer captivated by the world and all I see. I know all that is seen today will be gone tomorrow. This life is like a mirage on a sun scorched road just ahead. It’s only here for moment. What will last forever is what I cannot see. What can’t you see? I can’t yet see the life I will have forever in heaven with you. I can’t see the celebration awaiting my arrival in heaven. I can’t see the new and glorious body you have prepared for me. I can’t imagine that my life in heaven, with you, will never end. That thought, makes my head spin. I can’t comprehend all your goodness. The best of this life will not compare with what you have waiting for me in heaven. You are correct. You are right to be encouraged. Keep your heart and mind and eyes focused on me. Keep on living your life fully for me. Run the face of faith with me. Finish strong. Sprint to the end. Cross the finish line with a flourish. Everything that has been difficult or trying or challenging for you in this life will be forgotten in an instant, once you are with me. Heavenly Father, thank you for kindness and mercy and love. I will run the race of faith. I will finish strong. I will sprint to the end until I am with you. That will be very good. 

Heavenly Father, even though my outward body is falling apart I will not become discouraged and give up. I know that day by day you are renewing me on the inside. Keep doing your good work in me. Help me to run fast and finish strong in my life of faith in you. Amen

Key Question…  Why should you never become discouraged as you age, and your body starts to fall apart?

Living It Out…  Keep on moving forward with the Lord so you will finish strong in your life of faith with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will renew you on the inside even as your body falls apart on the outside.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how day by day God has been renewing you on the inside.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you never give up because God is renewing you inside day by day as you love, follow, and serve Him.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 136 – 2 Corinthians 4-16-18 – Making New Life  – 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Thoughts Are Fixed On You

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 73 - Thoughts Are Fixed On You - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 73 – Thoughts Are Fixed On You – Growing As Disciples

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)  

Fix Your Thoughts

I get it. I understand. You get what? What do you understand? There is a double meaning here. Tell me what you get. Tell me what you understand. My thoughts are a mess. My thoughts need fixing. How so? I am filled with turmoil. I am living with trouble and worry and anxiety. Why is that true? I am trying to control my own circumstances. I am trying to solve my own problems. How is that going? How is that working out for you? What is your track record of success? It is not going well for me. It is not working out well for me. I do not have a great track record of success. I guess that should come as no great surprise to you or to me. It is not surprising to me. It should come as no surprise to you either. Why is that? Did I create you to be self-reliant? Did I make you to be self-sufficient? No, you did not. You want to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to rely on you. You want me to place all my faith and hope and trust in you. Doing otherwise is what filled me with turmoil. Doing otherwise has filled me with trouble and worry and anxiety. So, my thoughts really do need fixing. Yes, they do need fixing, there is no doubt about that. That is a very important acknowledgement.

How will your thoughts be fixed? What must you do if you want your thoughts to be fixed? I must fix my thoughts on you. I must place all my faith and hope and trust in you. I must look to you for help. I must come to rely on you. You are my rock. You are my fortress. You are my strength and my deliverer. I must turn all my turmoil and worries, and troubles and anxieties, into prayers to you. As I turn my focus away the world and all its worries and turn to fix my thoughts on you, I will be filled with perfect peace. You will help me. You will come to my aid. You will give me peace beyond my comprehension. You will help me beyond what I could imagine.  As I fix my thoughts on you, my thoughts will be fixed. Of that, you can be certain. Of that, there is no doubt. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, there has been times of great turmoil in my life. I have lived with trouble, worry and anxiety.  I have tried to control my own circumstances and solve my own problems, without success. No more. I will fix my thoughts on you as I place my trust in you. Amen

Key Question…  When has refocusing your thoughts on the Lord helped you to have peace rather than turmoil?

Living It Out…  Fix your thoughts on the Lord so you can live in perfect peace.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will have perfect peace as you fix your thoughts on the Lord.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how fixing your thoughts on the Lord has given you perfect peace.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live in perfect peace as you fix your thoughts on the Lord.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 73 – Isaiah 26-3-4 – Thoughts Are Fixed On You – 4 Page Study Discipleship Devotional 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Present Yourself To God

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The Word Centered Life - Day 10 - Present Yourself To God -Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 10 – Present Yourself To God – Growing As Disciples

Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.                                      2 Timothy 2:15 (AMP)

Teach Others

I know that is what you are looking for from me. What am I looking for from you? You are looking for me to meet with you in your word. You want me to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. You want to change my heart. You want to transform my mind. You want to guide the entire course of my life. You want me to come to know and love and follow and serve you. You want me to be able to know and do your will. You want to fan the flame of eagerness in me to study your word. All of what you have said is true. I want to do all these things in your heart and mind and life. I want to use my word to mold and shape your life. I want you to make you into the person I have called you to become. I want you to be able to live the life I have given you to live. I want to set you on fire to serve me. How do you feel about what I have said? I am excited. I am thankful. I am grateful. I welcome your good work in me. That is very good.

I know there is something more. I know that there is something you have not yet said. What is it? I am waiting. I am attentive. I am listening. You are correct, I do have more to say to you. I have placed in you an eagerness to study my word. You are correct in thinking that you must make meeting with me in my word the priority of your life. You are right in thinking that my word will change your heart, transform your mind, and guide your life. My word will surely accomplish these purposes in you. I do have another vitally important and larger purpose to accomplish in and through you as you study my word. What is that? I will use my word to make you able to teach others. I want others to allow my word to do its work in their lives. Will you allow me to prepare you to teach my word to others? Will you go out into the world to teach my word to others? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. You can be certain that I will do this work in and through you. Thank you, Lord. I am at your service. Yes, I know that to be true.

Lord, thank you for giving me an eager desire to meet daily with you in your word. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Help to teach your word to others so the entire course of their lives will also be guided by your word. Amen

Key Question…  When are you scheduling regular daily time with God to study His word?

Living It Out…  Eagerly meet daily with God in His word so you will be able to teach it to others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will give you an eagerness to study and teach His word to others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group when you are meeting with God in His word.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you eagerly meet with God in His word so you will be able to teach it to others.

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

The Word Centered Life – Day 10 – 2 Timothy 2-15 – Present Yourself To God – 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Being United With Christ

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The Sacramental Life - Day 327 - Philippians 2:1-4 - Being United With Christ - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 327 – Philippians 2:1-4 – Being United With Christ – Growing As Disciples

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)

Motivation

What is your motivation? I’m not sure that I know what you are asking me. What motivates the way that you think and speak and act toward others? That is a very good question that is causing me to evaluate my behavior. Do I think and speak and act out of my own self-interest?  I am living to please myself? Am I listening attentively to others? Am I aware of what those around me want and need? I strongly suspect that you want me to ask and answer those questions, am I correct? You are correct. I will say this, I want to follow your example. I want to think like you thought. I want to speak like you spoke. I want to act like you acted. In every way I want to live as you lived. I could also say that I want to be able to know and do your will. Do you know why you have these desires in you? You are my Savior and Lord. Your Holy Spirit lives and dwells inside of me. I am united with you in living the new life that you have given me to live. Day by day you are molding and shaping my life. It is your purpose and plan to make me to be like you in all that I think, say, and do. You have answered well. You do have a band new life to live in me. I am molding and shaping your life. You are like clay in my hand. Will you keep on welcoming my work in you? Will you continue to live as I lived? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

What will your new life that is united in me look like? I will do nothing out of vain conceit. Selfish ambition will not be the motivation of my life. I will treat others with tenderness and compassion. I will love others just as you have loved me. I will live in unity with others, being one in spirit with them, seeking to accomplish your common purposes. In humility, I will consider others as better than myself, so that I can serve them well. It could almost go without saying that I will look not only to my own interests but also to the interest of others. This is how living my new life in you will look. Living this new life in you will be my motivation. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for giving me a brand-new life to live. Keep on transforming the way I think, speak, and act toward others. I humbly consider others as better than myself. I will look not only to my interests but also to the interests of others so I can serve them. Amen

Key Question…  How has being united with Christ transformed your thoughts, words, and actions?

Living It Out…  Allow your being united with Christ to transform the way you think and speak and act towards others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that being united with Christ will transform the way you think and speak and act.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your being united with Christ is transforming your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be united with Christ and like-minded with Him.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 327 – Philippians 2-1-4 – Being United With Christ – 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                          

He Had Compassion On Them

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The Compassionate Life - Day 261 - Matthew 9:35-38 - He Had Compassion On Them - Growing As Disciples

The Compassionate Life – Day 261 – Matthew 9:35-38 – He Had Compassion On Them – Growing As Disciples

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

Use Me

That is my prayer. That is my request. What is your prayer? What is your request? I want you to use me. How do you want me to use you? I want you to use me to bear fruit for your Kingdom. I want you to use me for your glory. That is a very good prayer. That is an excellent request. Do you believe that I will use you to bear fruit for my Kingdom and bring glory to my name? Maybe an even better question would be, “Do you believe that I am now using you for my kingdom and glory?” Do you know that I am bearing fruit for my Kingdom through your life right now? I know why those are two very good questions for me to consider at this moment. Why is that? I sometimes have my doubts. I sometimes become discouraged. I know that I am impatient. I want to see more fruit born through my life for your kingdom. I want to bring more glory to your name. Those are not wrong desires within you. However, there is something that I must remind you. What’s that? Sowing and reaping do not occur in the same season. Sometimes reaping occurs quite a while after sowing. There will be some reaping and harvesting that you will never see. Some of your efforts will bear fruit of which you will only learn about once you are in heaven with me. I see, I understand. You must not become so impatient or discouraged that you give up and quit. That would be a tragic mistake. I will never become discouraged, give up, and quit. That is very good.

I need to point something else out toy you. What’s that? You are working hard in my harvest field. Yes, I am. Why would I also ask you to pray for more workers in my harvest field? Aren’t you busy enough? That thought has crossed my mind. Think hard, why am I also asking you to pray for more workers in my harvest field? There aren’t enough workers. That is true, what else? You want others to join me in the work. Yes, I want others to join you in the work. Will you be encouraged as others join you in the work? Will you be spurred on by others joining you in the work? Will you keep on serving me as others come to work side by side with you in the work? Yes, I will. I see your point. Will you pray for others to join you to work in my harvest field? Yes, I will. That will be very good. Together you will reap a rich harvest for my kingdom. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, use me to serve in your harvest field. Help me to also pray for others to serve in your harvest field. Let there be a rich harvest for your kingdom. May there be a multitude that come to know, love, follow, and serve you. Use us for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord been using you as a worker in His harvest field?

Living It Out…  Pray that the Lord will powerfully use you and a multitude of others to compassionately serve in His harvest field.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use you to serve and pray for others to serve in His harvest field.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are serving and praying for others to serve the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your compassion for others motivate your desire to serve the Lord in His harvest field.

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

The Compassionate Life – Day 261 – Matthew 9-35-38 – He Had Compassion On Them – 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                          

Therefore Honor God With Your Body

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The Virtuous Life - Day 199 - 1 Corinthians 6-18-20 - Therefore Honor God With Your Body - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 199 – 1 Corinthians 6-18-20 – Therefore Honor God With Your Body – Growing As Disciples

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NIV)                                                                                        

Honoring Me With Your Body

Will you honor me with your body? That is an interesting question. That question is causing me to think deeply. I have no hesitation in saying yes to you. It is the desire of my heart to honor you with my body. What are you thinking about regarding honoring me with your body? You know my thoughts. Yes, I know your thoughts. I want you to articulate your thoughts to me. When I ask you to share your thoughts with me, it is not for my benefit, it is for your benefit. Here then, are my thoughts. Obviously, if I want to honor you with my body, I will immediately flee sexual immorality when I see it approaching. Tell me more about why it is important for you to immediate flee sexual immorality. Sexual immorality is alluring and enticing and entrapping. The only time to effectively flee sexual immorality is immediately. Later or when I get around to it is far too late. I must immediately remove myself from sexual immorality if I want to have victory over it. That’s right. That’s true. Will fleeing sexual immorality be enough to give you victory over it? No, not at all. As I flee sexual immorality, I must pursue you and the righteous life you have called me to live. One activity, fleeing, is replaced by another activity, pursuing. Really, I can only honor you with my body as I flee evil and pursue you and your righteousness. That is also true. Do both and you will be honoring me with your body.

You have more thoughts about honoring me with your body. You are thinking more deeply on this subject. Let me hear those thoughts as well.  Those thoughts are not clearly formed in me. I’m wondering how I can honor you with my body in other ways. How so? Can I honor you with my body by taking good care of it? I only have one body with which I can serve you. If I don’t take care of my body, my service to you will be greatly diminished and shortened. You are thinking good thoughts. Can I honor you with my body with diet and exercise, sleep, and rest? Can I honor you with my body by how I feed my mind with study and learning? Can I honor you with my body by developing the gifts and talents and abilities you have given to me? Can I honor you with my body by turning all my worries into prayers to you? I know that you want me to live a full life of bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. Yes, I do. Honoring you with my body, maintaining a healthy body, is an important part of living out that desire. Yes, it is. I will keep on honoring your body in all these ways so I can serve you fully with my body, soul, and spirit. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not play around. I will not linger around sexual immorality. I will immediately flee sexual immorality when I see it approaching. As I flee, I will pursue you and the righteous life you have called me to live. Help me to honor you with my body. Amen

Key Question…  Why must you not allow yourself to linger around anything that is sexually immoral?

Living It Out…  Flee sexual immorality and pursue the Lord so you will be able to honor God with your body.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your body became a temple of The Holy Spirit when you became a follower of Christ.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group the varied ways you are honoring God with your body.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you flee sexual immorality so that you will be able to honor God with your body.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 199 – 1 Corinthians 6-18-20 – Therefore Honor God With Your Body – 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                          

Let Us Also Keep In Step With The Spirit

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 135 - Galatians 5:22-26 - Let Us Also Keep In Step With The Spirit - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 135 – Galatians 5:22-26 – Let Us Also Keep In Step With The Spirit – Growing As Disciples

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26 (ESV)

Keep In Step

I will keep in step with you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do what you ask of me. What have I asked of you? Where have I led you? You have asked me to leave my old and sinful life. You have asked me to crucify my flesh along with all its passions and desires because I now belong to Jesus Christ. He is my Savior and Lord. You have asked me to leave conceit and provocation and envy far behind me. That is correct. Where have I been leading you? I will answer that in a way that may be unexpected, at least by me. You have been leading me into a deeper relationship with you. You have been helping me to listen to your voice guiding me through life. You have been leading me into a life of intimacy with you. You have been helping me to rely on you. You have been helping me to place all my faith and hope and trust in you. That is also correct. That is exactly where I have been leading you.

How will you know if you are on track? How will you know if you are keeping in step with me? What will be the outcome of your living in an intimate relationship with me? Your fruit will develop in me. I and others will see that the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is growing in me. That is true. There are a few things I want you to know. What’s that? My fruit does not grow overnight. As you keep in step with me, my fruit will growly slowly, steadily, and surely. Don’t be impatient. Don’t become discouraged. Know also that it will always be far easier to see my fruit growing in others than in yourself. But as you keep in step with me, have no doubt that my fruit will be growing in you. I will mold you. I will shape you. I will help you to live a life that is pleasing to me. Thank you, Holy Spirit. I will keep in step with you. That will be very good. 

Holy Spirit, I am no longer living according to fleshly passions and desires of this world. Help me to keep in step with you. I want to live by your guidance. Mold and shape me. Develop your fruit within me. Help me to live a life that is fully pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question… What daily choices do you need to continue to make to keep in step with the Holy Spirit?

Living It Out… Keep in step with the Holy Spirit so He can develop His fruit in you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will develop His fruit in you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are keeping in step with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May the fruit of the Spirit develop in your life as you keep in step with Him.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 135 – Galatians 5-22-26 – Let Us Also Keep In Step With The Spirit – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

As He Had Always Done

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 72 - Daniel 6:10 - As He Had Always Done - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 72 – Daniel 6:10 – As He Had Always Done – Growing As Disciples

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Daniel 6:10 (NLT)

A Pattern

Is this what you want? Would you like this to be a pattern in your life? Would you like to be like Daniel? Would you like to meet with me in prayer? Would you like to live in an ongoing and intimate relationship with me? Would you like to be able to know and do my will? Would you like to know where I am leading you? Would you like to know what I am asking of you? Would you like to remain in me so that you can bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Would you like to be a bold and bright witness for me in the world? Would you like to be sustained and strengthened through the difficult days and trying times that are part of this life? Would you like to set aside times throughout your day for us to meet in prayer? That is the key isn’t it. What is the key? Meeting with you in prayer is the answer to all your questions. If I want to live in and ongoing and intimate relationship with you, I will meet with you in prayer. If I want to hear your voice guiding me through life, I will meet with you in prayer. If I want to know where you are guiding me and what you are asking of me, I will meet with you in prayer. If I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name, I will meet with you in prayer. If I want to be sustained and strengthened through all the difficult and trying times in life, I will meet with you in prayer. You understand your need to meet with me in prayer quite well. Yes, I guess, I do.

Will you meet with me in prayer, at times, throughout your day? Will you go deep with me in prayer? Will you become a prayer warrior? Will you allow me to teach and train you in prayer? Will you live a full life of prayer with me? There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There is nothing I would rather do than meet with you in prayer. There is no better choice I could make than to live in an intimate relationship with you. So yes, I will meet with you in prayer at times throughout my day. Let’s begin today. Let’s begin right now, at this very moment. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to abide in you. I want to rely on you. I want to hear your voice guiding and guarding me through life. I want to be able to know and do your will. I will set aside daily times to meet with you in prayer. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord sustained you through the difficulties of life as you have met with Him in prayer?

Living It Out…  Set aside daily times to meet in prayer with the Lord so you can have an intimate relationship with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that as you meet in prayer with Lord you will develop and intimate relationship with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are developing an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you have a daily prayer life with the Lord.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 72 – Daniel 6-10 – As He Had Always Done – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Rule In Your Hearts

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The Word Centered Life - Day 9 - Colossians 3:15-17 - Rule In Your Hearts - Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 9 – Colossians 3:15-17 – Rule In Your Hearts – Growing As Disciples

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)

Dwell Richly

How much is that? How much is what? How much is dwelling richly? I’m not following you. I’m not understanding your question. If you wanted my word to dwell in you richly, what would that look like in your life? How often would you meet with me in my word? What strategies would you employ so that my word would be dwelling richly in you? What would you expect to see happen in your life if my word was continually dwelling richly in you? Now, I understand your questions. Now. I know what you are asking of me. If I want your word to dwell in me richly, I will meet daily with you in your word. Is there a day that I don’t need to hear from you? Is there a day that I can rely on my own wisdom, follow my own guidance, or receive my own instruction? Is there a day that I don’t need your help? Certainly not! I will make meeting with you, in your word, a priority in my life. I will read your word. I will study your word. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will pray and proclaim your word. I will teach your word. I’m not much of a singer, but I will even sing your word. In every way that I can think of, I will take hold of your word, so that it can take hold of me. I will allow your word to dwell richly in me. That will be very good.

You have not yet answered one of my questions. Which one? What will happen to you as you allow my word to dwell in you richly? My heart will be changed, my mind will be transformed, and my life will be guided as your word dwells in me richly. I will come to know and love and follow and serve you with all that is within me as I continue to meet with you in your word. You will allow me to think your thoughts, speak your words, or take your actions, as your word dwells richly in me. Your word and the power of the Holy Spirit will make me able to resist temptation and fight against evil. Your word dwelling richly in me will make me able to live the life you have called me to live. I will live a life that is good and right and true, one that is pleasing to you. Yes, you will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will allow your word to dwell richly in me. I know your word will make it possible for your peace to rule in me. Teach and admonish me with your word. Your word has filled me with gratitude. Use your word to guide my thoughts, words, and actions. Amen

Key Question…  How significant of a commitment will be required of you if want God’s word to dwell richly in you?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily practice to allow God’s word to dwell richly in you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will change your heart, transform your mind, and guide your life as His word dwells richly in you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God’s word to continually dwell richly in you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the word of God to dwell richly in your heart and mind.

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

The Word Centered Life – Colossians 3-15-17 – Day 9 – Rule In Your Hearts – 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