Monthly Archives: September 2021

Tell God What You Need

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 81 - Philippians 4-4-7 - Tell God What You Need - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 81 – Philippians 4-4-7 – Tell God What You Need – Growing As Disciples

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT)

Your Peace

 That is what I want. That is what I want to live in? What is it that you want to have and live in? I want to live in your peace. Then we both want the same thing. Tell me why you want to live in my peace. First and foremost, I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to walk with you. I want to talk to you. I want to listen to you. I want to hear your voice guiding me through life. I want to know you. I want you to know me. I want to know and do your will. I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I do know that this kind of life leads to peace even in the most adverse of trying and troubling circumstances. I know that living in an intimate relationship with you will give me a peace within me that will far exceed anything that I can understand or comprehend. That is true. You have very good desires within you. Well, there is a reason for that. What is that reason? You have given me these good desires as a gift. They did not come from or originate in me. It is good that you know the source of these desires that are in you.

I have more to say. Go ahead, I am listening. As you know, I have been a worrier. I have lived a life filled with anxiety. I have noticed. What does that signal to you? Worry and anxiety in me is a signal that I have not or am not turning all my worries into prayers to you. What have you been doing instead of turning your worries into prayers to me? I have been trying to solve my own problems. I have been trying to live by my own strength and abilities. I could ask you how that has been going for you, but I won’t. We both know that this has filled your life with worry and anxiety. That is true. What will you do differently? I will meet with you in prayer every day. I will turn all my worries into prayers to you. I will let you know what is in my heart and on my mind. I will lay all my worries at your feet. I will ask for your help. I will rely on you. This will be very good. I know that you will hear and answer my prayers. Yes, I will. You can count on me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will not allow my life to be filled with worry and anxiety. Instead, I will live a life of prayer with you. I will make all my needs know to you. Thank you that no prayer is too small or large to pray. Thank you for hearing all my prayers and giving me peace. Amen

Key Question…  How have you been learning to turn all your worries into prayers to the Lord?

Living It Out…  Make all your needs known to God so that He can fill your heart and mind and life with His peace.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your heart and mind and life will be filled with peace as you make your needs known to God.

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

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you turn all your worries into prayers to the Lord.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 81 – Philippians 4-4-7 – Tell God What You Need – 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

Pursue Righteousness

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The Virtuous Life - Day 207 - 2 Timothy 2-22 - Pursue Righteousness - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 207 – 2 Timothy 2-22 – Pursue Righteousness – Growing As Disciples

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)

Flee, Pursue, Call

Do you want to flee evil? Do you want to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace? Do you want to be able to call on me out of a pure heart? Yes, I want all these things. I will flee evil and pursue you. I want to live a life that is filled with faith and love and peace. I want to call on you out of a pure heart. How can I do all these things? How can I be successful? Is there some secret? Is there a proper approach? What technique must I employ? Those are good questions. And yes, there is a secret and proper approach, that involves some technique. You didn’t expect me to say that did you? No, not really. But you have my full attention, I’m listening carefully. That’s good.  Here goes. You must react quickly. Your fleeing evil must be immediate. You will never have the strength to linger around evil. You must run with all your effort, at top speed, as if a gun has gone off to start a race. Run forward. Run straight and do not look back. Got it? I got it. That is only the first part of what you must do if you want to live a life that is pleasing to me. Next as you are fleeing evil, you must pursue righteousness, faith and love, and peace. You will run away from evil to what is good. You will leave the world and all its evil far behind you. You will pursue the new life that I have for you. You will pursue things of the Spirit rather than the things of the flesh. Do you understand? Yes, I understand. Finally, after you have fled evil and are now pursuing righteousness, you must call on me. You must draw near to me. You must come into my presence. You must live in an intimate relationship with me. You must hold on to me as I hold on to you. Am I being clear? Yes, you are being quite clear. I will flee evil, pursue righteousness, and call on you. All these, I must do at the same time. All these, I must do continually throughout my entire life. Then I will be able to live a life that is pleasing to you. Yes, you will. This is what I will do. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will flee the evil desires of youth. Instead, I will pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with all those who call upon you out of pure heart. Help me to fully live the life that you have called me to live. Help me to be the person you want me to be. Amen

Key Question…  Why must fleeing evil, pursuing righteousness, and calling on the Lord, be joined together in one effort?

Living It Out…  Immediately flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace as you call on the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to flee evil and pursue righteousness as you love, follow, and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are feeling evil and pursuing righteousness.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you flee evil and pursue righteousness as you call upon the Lord.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 207 – 2 Timothy 2-22 – Pursue Righteousness – 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

Wait In Expectation

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 80 - Psalm 5-1-3 - Wait In Expectation - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 80 – Psalm 5-1-3 – Wait In Expectation – Growing As Disciples

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.  Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.  In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)

In The Morning

When will you meet with me? When will you turn your heart felt sighs into prayers to me? When will you cry out to me for help? When will I hear your voice? When will you come into my house? When will you enter my temple? When will you bow down before me? When will you take refuge in me? When will you be glad and sing joyfully to me? When will you allow me to guide you on a straight path? When will you allow me to bless you? When will you allow my favor to surround you like a shield? When will you allow me to hear and answer your prayers? You want to do all these things for me? If I did not want to do these things for you, would I bother to ask you these questions? No. I’m sure not. Do you believe that I want to do these things for you? Yes, I do. Then do you have an answer for my questions? In the morning I will meet with you. Then and there and throughout all the moments of my day, I will turn my sighs into prayers to you. You will hear my crying out to you. You will hear me asking for your help. I will come to rely on you. I will place all my faith and hope and trust in you. I will humbly come into your presence. I will bow down before you. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. I will have no need to worry. I will not be filled with anxiety. You will be my refuge. You will be my shelter in every storm. I will be filled with joy and gladness because I know that you will be with me to help me. You will help me to walk a straight path as I love and follow and serve you. You will help me to live a life that is pleasing to you. You will help me to know and do what is right so I can be a bright and bold witness for you in the darkness of this world. You will bless my life with your kindness and mercy and love. Your favor will rest on me and surround me like a shield. You will hear and answer my prayers. Yes, I will do all these things for you. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will meet with you in the morning. I will humbly bow down in prayer to you. I will turn the sighs into prayers to you. I will expectantly wait for you to answer my prayers. Help me to walk a straight path with you. Be a shield of protection around me. Amen

Key Question…  When have you expectantly waited for the Lord to hear and answer your prayers?

Living It Out…  Meet with the Lord in the morning to humbly bow down in prayer before Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers as you wait expectantly before Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you making your prayers know to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you wait in expectation for the Lord to hear and answer your prayers.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 80 – Psalm 5-1-3 – Wait In Expectation – 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

Written For Our Instruction

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The Word Centered Life - Day 16 - Romans 15-1-4 - Written For Our Instruction - Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 16 – Romans 15-1-4 – Written For Our Instruction – Growing As Disciples

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”  For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:1-4 (ESV)

Instruct Me

Here I am. I am ready to receive your instruction. I am willing to follow your guidance. Teach me, so that I can know how to fully live my life with and for you. I will listen attentively to your word. I will mediate on your word day and night.  I will take your word deeply into my heart and mind and life. I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. I am at your feet. I have quieted myself before you. You have my full attention. Use your word to change my heart. Use your word to transform my mind. Use your word to guide my life. Instruct me Lord, I am listening. That is very good. 

You have chosen what is better. You have made your heart and mind and life available to me. You have withdrawn from the noise and busyness of life. You have slowed down and stopped to listen to me. You are making it your daily pattern and practice to meet with me in my word. Yes, there is no place I would rather be. There is nothing that I would rather do. I can see that in you. That is very good. In my presence, you will be changed. In my presence, you will be transformed. In my presence, I will mold and shape you. You will follow my example. You will live as I lived. You will think like I thought. You will act like I acted. No longer will you live to please yourself. Rather, you will live to do good. You will bear with the failings of the weak. You will build up your neighbor, according to their needs. My word will give you strength. My word will give you encouragement, as you go and do whatever I ask of you. My hand will be on you. My favor will be with you. You will bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. You will store up treasure in heaven with me. Thank you, Lord, I am at your service. I am listening to you. That is very good. 

Lord, thank you that your word is powerfully instructing me on how to live my life with and for you. I will follow your example. I bear with the failings of the weak. I will serve others according to their needs. I will do good by building up my neighbor. Amen

Key Question…  How are you daily allowing God’s word to dwell in you richly so it can teach and instruct you?

Living It Out…  Take God’s word deeply into your heart and mind and life so you can be instructed on how to live your life for Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God’s word will instruct you on how to live your life for Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are building up your neighbors according to their needs.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow God’s word to instruct you on how to live your life with and for Him.

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

The Word Centered Life – Day 16 – Romans 15-1-4 – Written For Our Instruction – 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

Whoever Claims To Live In Him Must Walk As Jesus Did

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The Sacramental Life - Day 334 - 1 John 2-3-6 - Whoever Claims To Live In Him Must Walk As Jesus Did - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 334 – 1 John 2-3-6 – Whoever Claims To Live In Him Must Walk As Jesus Did – Growing As Disciples

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)

Know Me

How is it that you thank that you will come to know me? I know that is the desire of your heart. That is not a secret to me. Of that, I am certain. What makes you certain? You have placed this passionate desire in my heart to want to know you.  I also know that what desires you give, you will also grant. But you have asked me how I will come to know you. That’s right. You will allow me to come to know you. It is also your desire that I come to know you. So, our desires are in alignment. I want what you want. That is also correct. Still, I have not answered your question. No, you have not. I do know this, you love me. Yes, I do love you. You have gone to great lengths to demonstrate your love for me. You came into this world to live and die for me. You broke the power of sin over my life. You rescued me from a life without you. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You filled me with your Spirit. You are now guarding and guiding my life. You have lavished me with your love. I now love you because you first loved me. You have filled me with a passionate desire to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. You put a fire in me to live my life with and for you. There is now nowhere I would rather be than in your presence. There is now nothing I would rather do than follow and serve you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask me. I will live my life in an intimate relationship with you. I will walk through life with you. I will think as you thought. I will speak as you spoke. I will live as you lived. This is how I will come to know you. You have answered well. Yes, you will come to know me as you live your life with and for me. Live as I lived. Walk as I walked. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I love you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Your love for me, and my love for you, is motivating my passionate desire to think, and speak, and act like you. Help me to walk like you walked. Help me to live like you lived. Bear fruit through my life. Amen

Key Question…  How is your love for the Lord motivating your desire to think and speak and act like Him?

Living It Out…  Walk as Jesus walked and live your life as He lived His life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to walk as he walked and live as He lived.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are walking as Jesus walked and living as He lived.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you walk as Jesus walked and live your life as He lived His Life.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 334 – 1 John 2-3-6 – Whoever Claims To Live In Him Must Walk As Jesus Did – 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

Ask Our Generous God

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The Virtuous Life - Day 206 - James 1-2-8 - Ask Our Generous God - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 206 – James 1-2-8 – Ask Our Generous God – Growing As Disciples

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.  If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:2-8 (NLT)

Be Filled With Joy

If I need anything, I need wisdom. Why do you say that? On my own, I am not wise. I make dumb mistakes. I make foolish decisions. I take missteps from which I must stop, go back, and retrace my steps and start over. I can’t tell you how many times I have thought, or spoken, or acted unwisely. My foolish ways have cost me time, wasted resources, and worn me out. At no time do I need your wisdom more than when I am going through trials. On those occasions, I need to cry out to you in prayer to ask you for wisdom. Maybe that is one of the blessings of going through trials. How so? Trials show you that you need wisdom, Trials cause you to ask for my help. Trials make you come to rely on me. If you never went through trials or if you never needed my help, would you cry out to me and ask for my help? Let me ask you another question. I’m listening. When has your faith grown stronger? Has your faith grown stronger when the water is calm, and everything is smooth sailing or has your faith grown stronger in the storms of life when you have taken refuge in me? My faith has grown stronger when I have been forced to take refuge in you. Then maybe, you should consider giving thanks for the trails have come your way. I could ask you a few more questions. Go ahead. Has your endurance, as one of my followers, strengthened as you have gone through trials in life? Have you developed a more intimate relationship with me as you have suffered trials? Has your prayer life grown deeper as you have prayed faith filled prayers when storms swirled all around you? Have you learned to hold on to me more tightly as you have gone through all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life? Yes, my endurance has strengthened, my relationship with you become more intimate, my prayer life grown deeper and my hold on you stronger as I have gone through trials in life. Then, for that rejoice. Then, for that give thanks. Then, for that be filled with joy for how trails have performed a good work in your life. That I will do. That will be very good. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, there is no doubt, I need your wisdom, especially when I am going through trials in life. I will, with a heart filled with faith, cry out to you for help. I will rely on you to give me wisdom, grow my faith, and strengthen my endurance as I follow you. Amen

Key Question…  What wisdom has God generously given to you when you asked Him for His help?

Living It Out…  Rely on your Heavenly Father to give you wisdom, grow your faith, and strengthen your endurance as you pray to Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your Heavenly Father will generously give you wisdom as you faithfully ask Him for it.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your Heavenly Father has given you wisdom in the trials of life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you ask God for wisdom as you go through trials in life.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 206 – James 1-2-8 – Ask Our Generous 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

Do You Not Perceive It?

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 79 - Isaiah 43-18-19 - Do You Not Perceive It? - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 79 – Isaiah 43-18-19 – Do You Not Perceive It? – Growing As Disciples

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Being Perceptive

That is not my strongest gift. What is not your strongest gift? I have not been very perceptive in life. Why is that true? What has prevented you from being perceptive? That is a question without an easy answer. That is a question that has multiple answers that might offer an explanation as to why I have not been very perceptive in life. Let me hear your answers. I should start by being clear. That is a good place to start. Generally, I have not been very perceptive in life in many regards. But in this case, I am thinking and talking about not being perceptive to your activity in and around me. Maybe what generally causes you to lack perception to other things also negatively impacts your being perceptive to me. I am sure there is some overlap. I suppose I should just start describing my lack of perception and see where we end up. That sounds good to me. Alright then, I tend to be very busy. Busyness has often blinded me to what is going on around me. Focusing narrowly on the task at hand has blinded me to the larger picture. It’s like I can see the individual trees but not the whole forest. How is that for a metaphor? That is a pretty good description of one of your problems. You seldom pause and step back to look around at the larger perspective. Yes, that is true. You would do well to live with a couple questions. What questions would those be? Ask me, “What am I doing in and around you today?” Ask me, “How can I join you in what you are doing today?”

But we have jumped ahead and left your main problem too soon, haven’t we? Yes, I think so. Tell me what is your main problem? What most hinders you from perceiving the new thing I am doing in and around you? I’m often stuck in the past. Many times, I have allowed myself to be dragged down, discouraged, and depressed by my own sins. Frequently, I have failed to fully accept your forgiveness and cleansing. When I am in this mode, it is hard to see anything but myself, and how I have taken missteps, made mistakes, and sinned against you. How will you ever be able to move forward with me if your heart and mind and eyes are not on me? How will you ever be able to perceive and join me in the new thing I am doing if you can’t forget the past, receive your forgiveness, and cleansing, and move forward with me? That is the point, isn’t it? Yes, it is. I want you to live the new life I have given to you. Forget the past. It is gone. It is forgiven. It is forgotten. Keep your heart and mind and life focused me. Perceive and join me in what I am doing. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I have allowed former things to drag me down, discourage and depress me. This is, no doubt, a trick of the devil. I will no longer dwell on the past. I will focus my heart, mind, and life on you. Help me to perceive and join you in the new thing you are doing. Amen

Key Question…  When have you perceived and joined the Lord in the new thing that He was doing?

Living It Out…  Keep your heart and mind and life focused on the Lord so you can perceive and join Him in the new thing He is doing.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to perceive and join Him in the new thing He is doing.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are perceiving and joining the Lord in what He is doing.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you forget the things of the past so you can perceive what God is doing now.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 79 – Isaiah 43-18-19 – Do You Not Perceive It? – 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

Overflow With Confident Hope

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 143 - Romans 15-13 - Overflow With Confident Hope - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 143 – Romans 15-13 – Overflow With Confident Hope – Growing As Disciples

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)

Place Your Trust

Where will you place your trust? I’m not exactly sure what you mean. You know that you live in a broken world. Nothing of this world, in this life, has been left untouched by sin. You live in a fallen world that does not function according to my original design. This life is filled with troubles and trials and challenges. In all the difficulties of life, where you will place your trust? Will you rely on yourself or someone or something else? Will you rely on me? Will you place all your trust in me? Now, I am better understanding your questions. That’s good. I could give you the quick and easy answer. That would be fine if it is the true answer. That is the problem. I know the correct answer to your questions. What is the correct answer to my questions? I will place all my trust in you. The problem is that I haven’t not always placed all my trust in you. That sounds like a dramatic misstatement on your part. It is. How about restating the truth? I have seldom placed all my trust in you. How do you know that to be true? I have lived a life filled with doubt and worry and anxiety. Would this be present in my life if I had placed all my trust in you? You can answer that question. No, I am quite sure that my life would be filled with hope and peace and joy if I fully placed all my trust in you. That is correct. That is right. That is true.

Is there something you would like to say? Is there something different you would like to do? Is there a new way that you would like to live? Yes, to all three of your questions. I would like to ask your forgiveness for my not placing all my trust in you. You alone are worthy of all my trust. You are the only real, eternal and lasting, source of trust. So, I want to live my life by placing all my trust in you. When any doubt or worry or anxiety starts to creep into my life, I will know that it is once again time to reaffirm that I have and will continue to place all my trust in you. That will be very good. What will happen to you when you keep on placing all your trust in me? You will fill my life with hope and peace and joy, by the power of your Holy Spirit, living inside of me. Yes, I will. Will you keep on placing all your trust in me? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, this life is filled with troubles and trials and challenges. If I were to trust in myself, I would be filled with doubt and worry and anxiety. Help me to keep on continually placing all my trust in you so that I will be filled with all your hope and peace and joy. Amen

Key Question…  When has trusting in unreliable sources filled your life with doubt and worry and anxiety?

Living It Out…  Keep on continually placing your trust in God throughout your life so that He can fill you with hope and peace and joy.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your life will overflow with hope and peace and joy as you place your trust in God.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are continually placing your trust in God.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your life overflow with hope and peace and joy as you place all your trust in God.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 143 – Romans 15-13 – Overflow With Confident Hope – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The More You Grow Like This

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The Virtuous Life - Day 205 - 2 Peter 1-5-9 - The More You Grow Like This - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 205 – 2 Peter 1-5-9 – The More You Grow Like This – Growing As Disciples

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.  The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NLT)

Effective And Productive

That is what I want to be for you. What do you want to be for me? I want to be more effective and productive for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. I want to be like salt and light in the world. I want the life you have given me to live to bring your flavor into the world. I want people to be able to see and taste your goodness by how you are working in and through my life. I want to shed your light on the darkness of this world. I want to shine like a star in the universe for you. You have good desires within you. Well, I know where the desires of my heart come from, they come from you. You have planted your word deeply in my heart and mind and life. As I have come to know and love and follow and serve you, it has become my passionate desire to live a godly life for you. It has become my great goal to be able to know and do your will. Your divine power and the promises of your word are helping me to escape the corruption that is in the world. Yes, my word is doing this work in you.  

So, to be effective and productive for me remain in my presence. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Keep on meeting with me in my world. Continue to allow my word to change your heart. Continue to allow my word to transform your mind. Continue to allow my word to guard and guide your life. Then you will bear fruit for my kingdom. Then you will bring glory to my name. Then you will continue to be more effective and productive in my service. Yes, I will do all these things. I will live in an intimate relationship with you. I will keep on meeting you in your word. I will keep on holding on to your promises. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, thank you for giving me everything I need to live a godly life. I will hold on tightly to all your promises. I will take them deep in my heart and mind and life so I will be able to escape all the corruption in the world. Make me effective and productive for you. Amen

Key Question…  How is coming to know and love God changing everything about your character?

Living It Out…  Hold on to all the promises of God so you will be able to escape corruption that is in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God’s divine power is giving you all you need to live a godly, effective, and productive life for Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how living a godly life is making you effective and productive for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you grow in godly character so you can be more effective and productive for the Lord.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 205 – 2 Peter 1-5-9 – The More You Grow Like This – 4 Page Discipleship Study Devotional Guide

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

And Now Compelled By The Spirit

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 141 - Acts 20-22-24 - Compelled By The Spirit - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 141 – Acts 20-22-24 – Compelled By The Spirit – Growing As Disciples

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Acts 20:22-24 (NIV)

Finish The Race

That is what I want to do. What do you want to do? I want to finish the race and complete the task you have given to me. I want to go wherever you lead me to do whatever you ask of me. I want to run well and finish strong. That is a great desire that you have in you. This desire does not originate with me. You have placed this desire within me. Yes, that is true.

What spurs you on? What is your motivation? I am compelled by your love for me and my love for you to go and do whatever you ask of me. I am not at your service out of some sense of obligation. I am not begrudgingly following and serving you. I am not hesitant, nor am I reluctant. Nothing gives me more pleasure and joy than to be used by you. It is my hope and prayer that you will powerfully work in and through me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I will hear and answer these prayers of yours. I have been and will continue to work in and through you. I will use your life to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans.

What lies ahead? What can you expect? Those are difficult questions. How am I to know? You can know by listening to my voice. What do you already know? I know that you will lead me over treacherous terrain to do difficult ministry. Following and serving you will not always be easy. The greater the difficulty, the more, I will rely on you for your help. That will be good. That is wise. I will be with you to help you. I will sustain and strengthen you. I will empower you. I will help you to know and do my will.  

What will the outcome be of your life? What do you most want? I want to know and love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to live my life in an intimate relationship with you. I want others to be drawn to you through the testimony of my life. I want my thoughts and words and actions to draw others to you. One day, when I am in heaven with you, I would like to know that a multitude of people are there because they saw you shining brightly in and through my life. In other words, I will be happy and blessed if I have born fruit for your kingdom and brought glory to your name. Make that the outcome of my life. Answer that prayer for me. That, I will do. You can count on me. Thank you, Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, I will listen to you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do what you ask of me. Sustain and strengthen me when the road ahead becomes treacherous and the ministry difficult. Empower me to do what you ask of me. Fully use me in your service. Amen

Key Question…  How is your life focused on going where the Holy Spirit leads you to do what He asks of you?

Living It Out…  Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you to where He wants you to be and empower you to do what He asks of you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will guide you to where He wants you to be and give you what He wants you to do.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on the Holy Spirit to guide your life and ministry.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you follow the Holy Spirit to where He guides you to do what He asks of you.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 141 – Acts 20-22-24 – And Now Compelled By The 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com