Monthly Archives: September 2021

Apart From Me

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The Sacramental Life - Day 333 - John 15-5-8 - Apart From Me - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 333 – John 15-5-8 – Apart From Me – Growing As Disciples

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8 (NIV)

Nothing

That is what I can do apart from you. What can you do apart from me? I can do nothing apart from you. It took you quite a while to come to that realization. You proudly protested and pointed to achievements you accomplished by yourself, without my help. Yes, I did. Let me ask you a few questions. I’m listening, ask away. What will your accomplishments, done without my help look like in light of eternity? Will they stand the test of time? Will they have value that will last forever? Forever is a very long time. No, I would say that it would be impossible for me to accomplish something of eternal significance without your help. The best trophies and highest accolades I have secured will amount to nothing, in light of eternity. Already in my short life my best trophies have quickly made their way to the dumpster. Most of my highest accolades are already mostly a distant and forgotten memory. It is very good that you have this understanding.

I have many more questions to ask you. You have my full attention. Will you be satisfied with living a life that accomplishes nothing of eternal value? Will you feel good about living a life that did not store up any treasure in heaven with me? One day, from heaven, wouldn’t you like to be able to look back over your life, with me, knowing that you remained vitally connected to me, so that you could bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Won’t you be exceedingly glad to know that there will be people in heaven because you allowed me to work in and through your life? Won’t you be filled with joy knowing that you stored up treasure in heaven with me? By treasure, do you mean people who have come to know and love and follow and serve you because you spoke to them through my life and ministry? That is exactly what I mean. I want nothing more than to live a life that is vitally connected to you. I want nothing more than to be powerfully used by you. I will rely on you to work in and though my life so I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. And so, you shall and that will be very good.

Lord, for years I lived a life that was self-sufficient and self-reliant. I pridefully relied on myself rather than on you. I lived separated and apart from you. What a dry and barren that life was. Now, I will remain vitally connected to you. Bear fruit through my life. Amen

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 333 – John 15-5-8 – Apart From Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Do Not Love The World Or Anything In The World

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The Virtuous Life - Day 222 - 1 John 2:15-17- Do Not Love The World Or Anything In The World - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 222 – 1 John 2:15-17- Do Not Love The World Or Anything In The World – Growing As Disciples

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)

I Love You

That is what I most want to say to you. What do you most want to say to me? I love you. How much do you love me? I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I love you with all that is within me. Having said that, I still have a powerful and passionate and persistent desire to ask you to fan the flames of my love for you. I want my love for you to completely overpower the love I once had for the things of this world. I want my love for you to guard and guide the entire course of my life. I want all my thoughts and words and actions to be rooted in my love for you. I want the priorities of my life to be formed by my love for you. I want my love for you to make me able to know you intimately. I want my love for you to help me to hear your voice as I walk through life with you. In other words, I don’t want to love you a little bit. In other words, I don’t to know you somewhat. In other words, I don’t want to half-heartedly live my life with and for you. I want to be fully devoted to you today, tomorrow, and forever. My life is at your disposal. I am at your service. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. This is how much I love you. This is how much more I want to love you. You have a very good prayer that you have been and will continue to pray, of that, I am sure. 

Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. Where did this love for me, that is now in you come from? You loved me. I now love you. Your love for me rescued me from a life without you. Your love for me drew me to yourself. Your love for me, placed within me, a love for you. My love for you came from you as a gift. That is correct. That is right. That is true. Do you have any doubts about my hearing and answering this prayer of yours? Will I fan the flames of your love for me? Will you come to know and love me more and more as you continue to live your life with and for me? Will your love for me continue to guard and guide the entire course of your life? Will Your love for me make you able to accomplish my purposes and plans for your life? Yes, I believe that you will fan the flames of my love for you. Yes, I believe that you will help me to come to know and love you more and more as I live my life with and for you. Yes, I believe that my love for you will make me able to accomplish the purposes and plans you have for my life. That is very good. Keep moving forward with me. Keep on loving and following and serving me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I have had misplaced priorities. I have pursued all that the world had to offer. I have often misspent my life on what will not last. Forgive me. Help my love for you to overpower any old desire to love things of this world. I am fully devoted to loving you. Amen

Key Question…  How is your love for God helping you to reprioritize how you spend your life?

Living It Out…  Let your love for God overpower your old desire to love the things of this world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your love for God will overpower your old desires to love the things of this world.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your love for God is overpowering your desires for worldly things.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your love for God replace the love you once had for the world.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 222 – 1 John 2-15-17 – Do Not Love The World Or Anything In The World – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Took Note That These Men Had Been With Jesus

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 78 - Acts 4-13 - Took Note That These Men Had Been With Jesus - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 78 – Acts 4-13 – Took Note That These Men Had Been With Jesus – Growing As Disciples

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NIV)

Take Note

That is what I want. What do you want? As I spend time with you, as I am in your presence I want to be changed. I want you to change me into a completely different person. I want no part of my life to be left untouched by you. I want you to mold and shape my life according to your will. I want you to work in and through me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want you to do in and through me what I could never do by myself. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. So, we want the same things. We do? Yes, we do. I want others to be astonished at how I have changed your heart, transformed your mind, and guided your life. I want others to know that I am powerfully working in and through you for my kingdom and glory. I want you to be a bold and bright witness for me. I want you to shine brightly in the darkness of this world. I want others to take note that you have been with me, that you are a constant companion of mine. So, we want the same things. That is what I told you.

So, what will you do if you want all these things to be true of you? As I have said, I will meet with you. I will be your constant companion. I will not only meet with you daily, but I will walk with you continually. My heart and mind and life will be focused on you. I will listen attentively to your voice. I will meet with you in your word. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask me. I will live to know and do your will. My heart and mind and life will be sharply focused on you. That will be very good. You will live the life I have given you to live. You will be the person I have called you to be. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will be your constant companion. I will make meeting with you, and walking with you, my priority. Change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life as I meet with you. Help me to accomplish your purposes and plans. Work in and through me. Amen 

Key Question…  How is the Lord making you to be a bold, bright, and powerful witness in the darkness of the world?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily pattern and practice to spend time with the Lord every day.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will powerfully work in and through you as you spend time with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are living as a constant companion of Jesus Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May others see your courage and take note that you have been with Jesus.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 78 – Acts 4-13 – Took Note That These Men Had Been With Jesus – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

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

To Work In You

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The Word Centered Life - Day 15 - 1 Thessalonians 2-13 - To Work In You - Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 15 – 1 Thessalonians 2-13 – To Work In You – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)

Work In You

Do you want me to work in you? Do you want me to change your heart? Do you want me to transform your mind? Do you want me to guide your life? Do you want me to mold and shape you into the person that I have called you to become? Do you want to be able to know and do my will? Do you want to be able to resist temptation and stand against evil? Do you want me to use you as a powerful witness in this world? Would you like to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? You have asked me many questions that all have the same answer from me. What is your answer? My answer is, “yes” to every one of your questions. I want all these things to be true in my life. I don’t want to miss the mark or fall short on any of these questions. That is very good.

What must I do? What is my part? What is my role? How can I be sure that all these things will be true in my life? Now, it is you that are asking good questions. It is good that you know that you will have a very important role in these things being true in your life. You will need to be a very active participant in my doing my work in your life. You can help or hinder or even thwart or reject my work in you. It is my desire and goal to welcome your work in me. That is where you need to start. Your desire for my work to continue in you is critically important. Even that desire in me has come from you to me as a gift. I can take no credit for the desire I have for you to do your work in me. That is true. You must allow that desire to take action. What action must I take?  You must accept and receive my word in you. You must take my word deeply into your heart and mind and life. You must hunger and thirst for my word. You must meditate on my word day and night. You must allow my word to dwell in you richly. You must grab ahold of my word and allow it to grab ahold of you. It is my word that will do its work in you. All you hope to be and all you hope to do in life, for me, will be empowered by my word. My word will mold and shape you. My word will guard and guide you. My word will help you to be able to know and do my will. All my purposes and plans for your life will be accomplished as you continue to allow my word to work in you. That I will do, I will allow your word to work in me. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for your word. I will continue to receive your word into my life. Keep on using your word to do your work in me.  Help me to share your word with others so that they also will come to know and love and follow and serve you with all their hearts. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making it your daily practice to receive the word of God into your life?

Living It Out…  Receive God’s word into your life so that it will continue to do its work in you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the word of God will continue to work in you as you accept it into your life.

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

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you continue to accept the word of God so it will work in you who believe.

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

The Word Centered Life – Day 15 – 1 Thessalonians 2-13 – To Work In 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Guide You Into All The Truth

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 140 - John 16-13-15 - Guide You Into All The Truth - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 140 – John 16-13-15 – Guide You Into All The Truth – Growing As Disciples

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-15 (ESV)

Guide Me Into All The Truth

That is what I want you to do for me. What do you want me to do for you? I want you to guide me into all the truth. That is a very good desire. That is an excellent request. That is something that I will gladly do for you. How will this happen? How will I know that you are guiding me? What must I do? Do I have any part or any role in your guiding me into all the truth? Those are very good questions. You are wise to have asked them. If you want me to guide you into all the truth you must do three things. What three things must I do? First, you must stop. You must stop to listen to my voice. You must quiet yourself before me. You must listen attentively to me. I can do that. I am not finished with this first step. I’m listening. Where you stop is critically important. You must stop to meet with me in my word. You must allow my word to dwell in you richly. You have said you want to hear from me. Yes, that is true. You will hear from me as we meet together in my word. I got it. I will set a daily time and place to meet with you in your word. That will be very good.

What’s the next step? Second, you must go. You must be willing to go where I guide you to do what I ask of you. Expect that you will be employed in my service. I will work in and through your life. You will bear fruit for the kingdom of God. You will bring glory to His name. I will use you in the harvest. Others will come to know and love and follow and serve me through the testimony of your life. A multitude will give their lives to me as their Savior and Lord through your ministry. You will store up treasure in heaven as you come to know and do my will. I am so excited. I can’t wait.

It is funny that you used that word wait. Why is that? Wait is another step. Although it is not first or second or third. Your life will not be “all stop.” Your life will not be “all go.” There will be plenty of moments of waiting. Waiting will occur in seasons of your life. Waiting will occur in the daily moments of your life. In waiting, you will learn to continually listen to my voice guiding you. In waiting, you will develop and intimate relationship with me. Will you stop and go and wait with me, so I can guard and guide your life? Yes, I will take these three steps with you. That will be very good.

Holy Spirit, I will stop. I will quiet myself before you. I will listen attentively to your voice speaking to me. I will allow you to boldly declare God’s word to me at just the right time and circumstance. Turn my life around. Guard me. Guide me in all that is true. Amen

Key Question…  When has the Holy Spirit amplified God’s word and boldly declared it to you at just the right time?

Living It Out…  Stop and be quiet and make yourself attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit so you can hear from Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will boldly declare God’s word to you in just the right time and circumstance.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are attentively listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide you into all the truth.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 140 – John 16-13-15 – Guide You Into All The Truth – 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

Work Together For Good

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The Sacramental Life - Day 332 - Romans 8-28-30 - Work Together For Good - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 332 – Romans 8-28-30 – Work Together For Good – Growing As Disciples

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)

Your Plan

I am thankful for your plan. What is my plan? Well, it was and still is your plan that I come to know and love and follow and serve you. How do you know that to be true? Well, you are allowing me to come to know and love and follow and serve you. You made a way for me to come to know and love and follow and serve you. What way did I make for you? You sent your Son into the world to die and pay for my sins. You helped me to receive your Son as my Savior and Lord. You helped me to turn away from my old and sinful life in the world. You have given me a brand-new life in you. There is now no barrier of sin separating me from you. You have justified me in your sight. This has all happened. Yes, it did. You have done all this for me. This was and still is your plan that has and is still unfolding for me. There is something else I could say. What is that? I could also say that I did not know about your plan. I did not seek out your plan. At one time, I am sad to admit, I would have said that I didn’t want or need your plan. I would have told you that I had my own plan, and it did not include you. What foolish, unwise, and tragic thoughts those would have been if I had lived them out my entire life. Yes, but you have not lived out those foolish, and unwise and tragic thoughts. Instead, it is your desire to know and love and follow and serve me with all your heart. You want to live in an intimate relationship with Me. You want to know and do my will. You want my purposes and plan to be fulfilled in your life. That is true. This is the desire of my heart. That is very good.

Tell me more about my plan for you. What else do you know about my plan for you?  It is your plan that I conform to the image of your Son. You want me to think and speak and act like Him. You want me to live as He lived. You want me to do what He did. You want others to see His life being lived out in me. You want others to be drawn to you through what they see of Him in my life. Yes, this is my plan for you. How will I accomplish this plan in your life? You will take all the circumstances of life, the good and the bad, and use them together to accomplish your plan in my life. And I welcome your plan into my life. Nothing could be better than being conformed to the image of your Son. Do your work in me. Accomplish your plan in my life. Yes, I will.

Lord, thank you for calling me to come to you. I have turned from my old life of sin and received your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Now, I am forgiven and justified in your sight. Use all things together for good. Conform me to the image of your Son. Amen

Key Question…  How has God worked all things together for good as you have loved, followed, and served Him?

Living It Out…  Live according to the purposes of God so you can be conformed to the image of His Son.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will work all things together for good as you love, follow, and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has been working things together for good in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your love for God cause you to live your life according to His purposes.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 332 – Romans 8-28-30 – Work Together For Good – 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

Give And It Will Be Given

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The Compassionate Life - Day 266 - Luke 6-37-42 - Give And It Will Be Given - Growing As Disciples

The Compassionate Life – Day 266 – Luke 6-37-42 – Give And It Will Be Given – Growing As Disciples

 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;  give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”  He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. Luke 6:37-42 (ESV)

Be A Blessing

That is what I want you to be. What do you want me to be? I want you to be a blessing to others. How can I be a blessing to others? That is a very good question. Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. What won’t you do if you want to be a blessing to others? I won’t judge or condemn others. Why is that? I am completely unqualified to judge others. More than likely, if I were to judge or condemn others, I would be passing the same judgment on myself. Why is that? The same behavior that I might judge or condemn could probably just as easily be found in me. You are wise to know that to be true. What else won’t you do if you want to be a blessing to others? I won’t have an unforgiving attitude when someone has hurt or harmed me. Why is that? Having an unforgiving attitude will only hurt and harm me further. Unforgiveness is like a poison that destroys a life. It can do far more damage to me than what I needed to forgive in the first place. I don’t want anything to cause a root of bitterness to grow in my life. Most importantly, you have freely forgiven me, and you expect me to freely forgive others. I have often said that I want to think and speak and act like you. Yes, I have heard you say that many times. You are forgiving, I must also be forgiven. Being forgiving is something that you expect of me. Yes, I do. You must forgive others if you want to receive my forgiveness. Yes, I know that to be true. That’s good.

What will happen to you as you live as I lived. What will you receive as you generously bless others with my kindness and mercy and love? Will anything good come back to you as you bless the lives of others? Yes, I will receive back from others what I give out to them. If I give out kindness and mercy and love, I will receive it back. Will you get the same amount of blessings as you give to others? No, for some reason, I’m not sure why, what blessings I give out to others, will be multiplied and given back to me. That is true. Will you be a blessing for me in the darkness of this world? Will you think and speak, and act like me? Yes, I will. Then your life will also be truly blessed. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will not judge or condemn others for their behavior. Nor will I be unforgiving when I have been wronged. Help me to richly bless the lives with your kindness and mercy and love. Remove anything and everything within me that might offend others. Amen

Key Question…  How are you now making sure that you are giving out what you hope to receive back from others?

Living It Out…  Make certain that your behavior is richly blessing the lives of others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will receive back from others what you have generously given to them.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your behavior is richly blessing the lives of others.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you give to others what you hope to receive back from them.

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

The Compassionate Life – Day 266 – Luke 6-37-42 – Give And It Will Be Given – 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

Rather Train Yourself To Be Godly

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The Virtuous Life - Day 204 - 1 Timothy 4-7-8 - Rather Train Yourself To Be Godly - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 204 – 1 Timothy 4-7-8 – Rather Train Yourself To Be Godly – Growing As Disciples

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

Training

Here I am reporting for training. Tell me what you have in mind. I want to enter training with you. I want to draw near to you. I want to enter your presence. I want to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I want you to mold and shape me into the person you have called me to be. I want to live the life you have given me to live. I want to live a goldy life that is pleasing to you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. So, your training will not be a lot of self-effort on your part? My training will require a lot of effort, but it will not be self-generated. My training will consist largely of my submitting myself to you. I am not the coach. I am not the trainer. You are both my trainer and coach. That is a good acknowledge on your part. My training will consist largely of coming to you. How will you come to me? I will come to you in prayer. I will come to you in worship. I will come you by meeting with you in your word. I will come to you in fellowship in your body of believers. I will come to you in service. In all these arenas you will train me, of that I have no doubt. That is very good.

How committed are you to enter in training? What kind of effort can I expect from you? I am all in. I will go all out. I am not entering into training lightly. I am not in this for the short term. This is not a sprint. I am in this for the long haul. This is more like a marathon. I will run on the course that you lay out for me. I will not run ahead of you or lag behind you. My heart and mind and life will be sharply focused on you. With your help, I will run fast and finish strong. With your help, I will complete the course you have laid out for me. Yes, you will. Yes, I will help you to run fast and finish strong. You will complete the course I have laid out for you as you remain in my training. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will enter spiritual training with you. I will allow you to train me so I will be able to live a godly life. Teach me. Train me. Guide me. I want to live a life that bears abundant fruit for your kingdom and brings glory to your name. Use me for your purposes. Amen

Key Question…  May you train yourself to live a godly life.

Living It Out…  Enter spiritual training with the Lord so you will be able live a godly life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will train you spiritually so you will be able to live a godly life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group elements of your spiritual training in godliness.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you train yourself to live a godly life.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 204 – 1 Timothy 4-7-8 – Rather Train Yourself To Be Godly – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

When You Pray

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The Prayer Filled Life - The Prayer Filled Life - Day 77 - Matthew 6-5-8 - When You Pray - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 77 – Matthew 6-5-8 – When You Pray – Growing As Disciples

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV)

Shut The Door

Why is that important? Why is what important? Why is it important that you go into your room, shut the door, and pray to me? That sounds like withdrawing from the noise and busyness of the world. That looks like setting a very specific time and place to meet with you. That no doubt has a very clear purpose and agenda in mind of meeting with you. That involves developing an intimate relationship with you. That requires a clear priority and definite commitment from me.  You are correct in your thinking. All your thoughts are right on target.

Will you set aside a daily time to go into your room, shut the door, and pray to me? How is that for a very clear and specific question for you to answer? Yes, I will meet with you in prayer. I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of the world so that I can hear from you. I will develop an intimate relationship with you. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will make my wants and needs know to you. I will tell you what is on my heart and in my mind. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. To meet with you, in this way, is not burdensome to me. I want to love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There nothing I would rather do than live a life of intimacy with you. I want to know you. I want you to know me. Then we both want the same thing.

What will happen to you when you make it your daily practice to meet with me in prayer? I will more passionately come to know and love and follow and serve you. I will begin to pray prayers that you can hear and answer. I will more powerfully live the life that you have called me to live. This life will be rewarding both now and favor. You will do in and through me what only you can do. You will make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You will help me to store up treasure in heaven with you. Yes, all these things will be true as you live an intimate life of prayer with me. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, I will go into my room, shut the door, and meet with you in secret times of prayer. I will make my needs know to you. I will humbly get to the point. I will not use an abundance of words. Teach me how to pray as I meet with you. Amen

Key Question…  When are you going into your room, shutting your door, and praying to your Heavenly Father?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily private practice to meet in secret, private prayer, with your Heavenly Father.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be rewarded for meeting in secret, private prayer with your Heavenly Father.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your private prayer time with your Heavenly Father is developing.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Heavenly Father.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 77 – Matthew 6-5-8 – When You Pray – 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