Monthly Archives: September 2021

Hold Out The Word Of Life

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The Sacramental Life - Day 331 - Philippians 2:14-18 - Hold Out The Word Of Life - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 331 – Philippians 2:14-18 – Hold Out The Word Of Life – Growing As Disciples

Do everything without complaining or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe  as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.  So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:14-18 (NIV)

Shine Like A Star In The Universe

Could that be true of me? Is that even possible? Could what be true of you? Could what be possible? Could I shine like a star in the universe? Now, before you answer me, I want to make a few things clear. I’m listening. I do not want to be a star in the universe for my own glory. This is not some prideful desire on my part. I have no desire to gain the applause of the world or to stand out and be noticed by others. I understand what you are saying. It is good that you are aware of the prideful possibilities that could accompany this desire in you. But do not miss the key points. What are the key points? I want you to shine like a star in the universe for me. I am asking you to shine like a star in the universe for me. I want you to stand out and be noticed. I want people to wonder why you are so different. I want people to be drawn to you. I want people to ask questions about you. I want people to clearly see that my life is being lived out in and through you. I want to use your life so that others can be drawn to me. I want to use your life so that others will come to know and love and follow and serve me. I want to use your life to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Is this all clear to you? Do you understand everything that I am saying to you? Yes, I do. That is very good.

But there are other key points to go over. You have my full attention. When I ask something of you, will I not also make it possible for you to accomplish what I have asked of you? How so? If I say, “I want you to shine like a star in the universe”, will I not help you to shine like a star in the universe for me? If I say, I don’t want you to be tarnished by arguing or complaining or any other darkness that is in the world, will I not help you to live a pure and blameless life?” Yes, you will make me able to do whatever you ask of me. That is correct. You got that right. Never have any doubt, I will always make you to do whatever I ask of you.

There is one more final key point I want to make with you now. I’m still listening. When I ask you to do something for me, will I not also fan the flame of desire in you, to do what I ask of you? Yes, you will. You have something you want to say. I have noticed that you fanned the flame of godly desires in me. That does not mean I will not have to overcome fleshly, sinful, or worldly desires that wage war against me. That is true. In those battles, draw near to me. I will strengthen you. I will fan the flame of godly desires in you. I will make you able to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. I will make you able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You will shine like a star in the universe for me. Thank you, Lord

Lord, I will not be an arguer or complainer. I will not allow myself to be tarnished by the world’s darkness. Help me to shine like a star in the universe for your glory. Help me to be a bold, bright and powerful witness for you. Use me to bear fruit for your kingdom. Amen

Key Question…  Why will those who helped you to come to know Christ be able to boast about your witness for Him?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to make you shine like a star in the universe as you hold Him out to others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to shine like a star in the universe as you hold Him out to others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what prayers you are now regularly praying to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is helping you to shine as you hold Him out to others.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 331 – Philippians 2-14-18 – Hold Out The Word Of 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

Help Others

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The Compassionate Life - Day 265 - Romans 15:1-3 - Help Others - Growing As Disciples

The Compassionate Life – Day 265 – Romans 15:1-3 – Help Others – Growing As Disciples

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.  We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Romans 15:1-3 (NLT)

Help Others

That is what I want you to do for me. What do you want me to do for you? I want you to help others. That may sound easy. That may seem like a very basic and very uncomplicated request. Does it? I don’t know, I’m not sure. You are right to be cautious. Why is that? I am asking a lot of you. Helping others will not always be easy. Helping others will often be everything but uncomplicated. Helping others will take you out of your comfort zone. Helping others will cause you inconvenience. Helping others will take you way out of your way. Helping others will require you to go the extra mile and then some. You can also be sure that you will receive no encouragement from the world and what it values. Those who are conforming to the world will largely be living to please themselves. You live in a “me first” world. Don’t let yourself be conformed into its pattern of thinking and speaking and acting. I won’t. It will be very good if you don’t.

So, what will you do? I will follow your example. I will live as you lived. I will give like you gave. I will serve like you served. I will rely on all the strength that you will give me to help those who are weak. I will build others up according to their needs. I will follow you to wherever you lead me to do whatever you ask me. I will have two questions on my mind and in my heart. What two questions will guide your thoughts and words and actions? I will ask you, “How do you want to use me?” I will ask others, “How can I help you?” You will do to have those questions continually on your mind and in your heart. Receiving and acting on the answers to those questions will make you able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Receiving and acting on the answers to those questions will make you able to be a bold and bright witness for me in the world. You will reap a rich harvest. You will store up treasure in heaven with me. You will live a life that is pleasing to me. That is what I want. That is what I will do. I will live to serve you and others. That will be very good.

Lord, on my own, I am weak. But I know that you have given me strength in you. You are with me to help me.  I will follow your example. I will never live to please myself. Instead, I will use the strength you have given me to help others and build them up. Amen

Key Question…  When has the Lord given you unusual strength to help those who are weak?

Living It Out…  Be willing to be inconvenienced and go far out of your way to help those who are weak.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will give you strength to help those who are weak.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has given you strength to help the weak.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you help others with all the strength the Lord has given to you.

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

The Compassionate Life – Day 265 – Romans 15-1-3 – Help Others – 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

Made Perfect In Weakness

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The Virtuous Life - Day 203 - 2 Corinthians 12-7-10 - Made Perfect In Weakness - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 203 – 2 Corinthians 12-7-10 – Made Perfect In Weakness – Growing As Disciples

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

Weaknesses

Are you discouraged or depressed that you have weaknesses within you? Do you grieve that you have weaknesses within you? Do you wish that you were strong in every way? Do you have any idea where you would be and what you would be doing if you had no weaknesses within you? Would you know me if you had no weaknesses in you? Would you be following and serving me if you had no weaknesses in you? Would you be proud and self-reliant and self-sufficient if you never needed my help? Would you be able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name, if you accomplished all you set out to do, without relying on me? You have asked me some very good questions that I need to deeply consider. I must not pass other these questions quickly or take them lightly. Yes, you will do well to think deeply about all the questions that I have asked you. 

What have you done because you are weak? What have you done because you need my help? What have you done when I have asked you to do something that was far beyond your own power and strength and abilities and talents? I have humbly come to you. I have asked you for your help. I have learned to rely on you. Would you rather have superhuman strength or the ability to place your faith in me and rely on my help? Would you rather be able to accomplish great things with or without my help? Well, those last two questions are hypothetical questions that will never be possible. How so? I will never have superhuman strength. Why is that? You created me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You won’t give me something that would cause me to live independently from you. It was an act of your love that caused you design me to want and need your help. It was your plan that I would place my faith in you and come to rely on you. So, me having superhuman strength was and is not ever going to part of your plan for me. That’s true. Your other hypothetical question is equally impossible. How so? Your word says, apart from you, I can do nothing. I have found that to be true. I can accomplish nothing of lasting and eternal value without your help. So, my accomplishing great things on my own, without your help is impossible. That is also true.

So, what to you think about your weaknesses now? My weaknesses have drawn me to you. My weaknesses have caused to cry out to you and ask for your help. My weaknesses have caused me to place my faith in you and rely on your help. You have worked in and through my weaknesses to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Your power has been on display as you have done in and through me what I could have never done by myself. So, I can now rejoice in my weakness, as I rely on your power. That is very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have not liked having weaknesses in me. That is quite an understatement, isn’t it? OK, I have grieved having weaknesses in me. Now, I am finally understanding it is your plan to work through my weaknesses so your power and glory can be on display. Amen. 

Key Question…  What fruit is your life bearing because the Lord is powerfully working in and through your weaknesses?

Living It Out…  Welcome the Lord to work powerfully in and through your weaknesses.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will work powerfully in and through your weaknesses.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has worked in and through your weaknesses.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow God’s power to work in and through your weakness.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 203 – 2 Corinthians 12-7-10 – Made Perfect In Weakness – 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

A Deposit Guaranteeing Our Inheritance

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 139 - Ephesians 1:-11-14 - A Deposit Guaranteeing Our Inheritance - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 139 – Ephesians 1:-11-14 – A Deposit Guaranteeing Our Inheritance – Growing As Disciples

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,  in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-14 (NIV)

I Chose You

That is what I did for you. What did you do for me? I chose you. You were predestined according to my plan. I worked everything out, I orchestrated everything around you so that you would be able to come to know me. When you were in your greatest difficulties, under the most stress, and in painful circumstances; I was there and very near to you. When you cried out to me, your plea did not go unnoticed. When you turned your life over to me, a celebration took place in heaven. There was great joy when you turned away from your old life of sin in the world, to begin your new brand-new life in me. You heard and received and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. On that day, the entire course of your life changed. On that day, your thoughts and words and actions would never be the same again. Is everything that I am saying proved true? Is your life completely different since the day you began to follow me as your Savior and Lord? Yes, everything you are saying is wonderfully true. I do have a brand-new life in you, there is no doubt about that. Speaking of having no doubt, there are very few guarantees in life, would you agree? Yes, I would agree, this life is filled with uncertainty. It is hard to imagine that anything in this life that is guaranteed. Well, one thing is guaranteed. You have an inheritance awaiting you in heaven. One day you will come to live forever in heaven with me. There is no doubt about that. In fact, you have a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance in heaven with me. My Holy Spirit came to live and dwell inside of you on that day when you turned your life over to me. I remember that day. I remember that moment. Thank you for my inheritance in heaven with you. Thank you that I can now live each day of my life for the praise of your glory. Yes, that is what you will do as you walk through life with me.

Lord, thank you for orchestrating everything around me so that I could come to know you. In my difficult circumstances, you drew me to yourself. You saved me and gave me a new life in you. Your Spirit now dwells in me. Help me to bring praise to your glory. Amen

Key Question…  How did God orchestrate everything around you, according to His will, so you could come to know Him?

Living It Out…  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your life so you can bring praise to the glory of God.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit living inside of you is a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance in heaven.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are living your new Spirit-filled life in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your new Spirit-filled life in Christ bring praise to the glory of God.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 139 – Ephesians 1-11-14 – A Deposit Guaranteeing Our Inheritance  – 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

For This Reason I Kneel

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 76 - Ephesians 3-14-19 - For This Reason I Kneel - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 76 – Ephesians 3-14-19 – For This Reason I Kneel – Growing As Disciples

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)

A Good Reason To Kneel

Do you want a good reason to kneel in prayer to me? Do I need a good reason to kneel in prayer in prayer to you? Don’t I already have a multitude of good reasons to kneel in prayer to you? Yes, you do, you have made a good point. But I have a good reason for you to kneel in prayer to me that has not occurred to you, at least not very often. Then I want to hear that reason. If I am unaware of any reason to kneel in prayer to you, then I want to know what I am missing. That’s good. I want you to kneel in prayer so that others will know how much I love them. I want others to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep my love is for them. You are certainly correct; I have rarely prayed in that way for others. Will you do so now? Yes, I will pray for others to come to know how much you love them. That will be very good.

Do you know what will happen to you as you pray for others? I have an idea, maybe not exactly. Could you tell me? As you continually pray for others, my spirit will strengthen you in your inner being. I will dwell in your heart by faith. You will be rooted and established in my love. Just as you are praying for others, so you also, will come be able to grasp how wide, how long, how wide, and how deep is my love for you. You will know my love in ways that pass all your understanding and knowledge. You will be filled with the fullness of my presence. You will live in an intimate relationship with me. You will be filled with hope and peace and joy because you will know me, and I will know you. This is so wonderful. This is beyond my imagination. I love you Lord. Thank you for your kindness and mercy and love toward me. I will pray earnestly for others to come to know your love for them. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that you love me. I love you because you first loved me. I live in your love. I am guided by your love. I am guarded and strengthened by your love. Help me to know your love even more deeply. Help me to pray for others to come to know your love. Amen

Key Question…  How has God helped you to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is for you?

Living It Out…  Pray for others to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is for them.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will help you to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is for them.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to come to know His love for you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is for you.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 76 – Ephesians 3-14-19 – For This Reason I Kneel – 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

Breathed Out By God

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The Word Centered Life - Day 13 - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Breathed Out By God - Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 13 – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Breathed Out By God – Growing As Disciples

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

Thoroughly Equipped

That is what I want. That is what I need. That is what I cannot do without. What do you want and need and cannot do without? I need to be thoroughly equipped by you to do the work you have given me to do for you. Without being equipped by you, I will be unable to do the work you have given me to do for you. It is very good for you to know this to be true. How did you come to learn this to be true? I have failed many times by trying to do your work under my own power without your training. I have often run ahead of you and failed to rely on you. That is not good. But you have helped me to see the error of my own ways. How have I helped you to see the error of your own ways? For one, you have given me hopelessly large assignments that I couldn’t possibly accomplish without your help. Your assignments have drawn me to you. What you have asked of me, has caused me to cry out to you. The good work you have given me to do for you has required me to remain in your presence. I have met daily with you in your word. A very good choice. Your word has taught me what I have not known. Your word has reproofed any behavior in me that was not pleasing to you. You have corrected the way that I have thought and spoken and acted. You have helped me to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. You have helped me to walk away from darkness to live in your marvelous light. I have confessed my sin to you. You have forgiven my sins and cleansed my unrighteousness. Your word has made me able to resist temptation and fight against evil. In every way you have, are now, and will in the future train me in righteousness so that I can live the life you have given me to live for you. Yes, I will use my word to do my good work in you, so you will be able to do good work for me. How does that sound? That sounds fantastic. I welcome all your good work in me. That is very good.

There is one small, but very important point, I want to make clear to you. What’s that? My teaching and training will never end until we meet face to face. Don’t wait to begin serving me. I will train keep on training you as you do the good work, I have given you to do for me. You may never feel fully ready. You may never feel fully prepared. But I am asking you to start doing now the work I have given you. That I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to be thoroughly equipped to do every good work that you give me to do for you. Use your word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train me to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. Help me to be thoroughly trained in righteousness. Amen

Key Question…  How are you allowing yourself to be thoroughly equipped by God’s word to do every good work for Him?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to use His word to thoroughly equip you to do the good work He has given you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God’s word will thoroughly equip you to do the good work He has given you to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God’s word has been equipping you to do His good work.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow yourself to be thoroughly equipped by God’s word.

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

The Word Centered Life – Day 13 – 2 Timothy 3-16-17 – Breathed Out By 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

Let Us Draw Near

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The Sacramental Life - Day 330 - Hebrews 10:19-25 - Let Us Draw Neat To God - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 330 – Hebrews 10:19-25 – Let Us Draw Neat To God – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,  by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)

Draw Near

There is nothing I would rather do than draw near to you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. In your presence, there is hope and joy and peace. In your presence, there is rest and renewal and restoration. In your presence, there is power and strength. In your presence, there is a place of refuge from every storm. In your presence, there is instruction and guidance and direction. In your presence, there is health and healing and wholeness. I need to draw near to you. I want to draw near to you. I have needs that can only be met by you, as I live in an intimate relationship with you. Is that what you will do? Will you draw near to me? Will you live in an intimate relationship with me? Yes, I will. That is very good.         

You have more to say on this subject. You have more to ask of me? Yes, I have more to say and more to ask. I wonder why drawing near to you doesn’t come easier. I know how much I want to draw near to you. I know how much I will benefit as I draw near to you. Why am I so distracted? Why is drawing near to you so difficult? Why does drawing near to you require such effort and discipline on my part? Why must I schedule a time and place to meet with you? Why will I not draw near to you if I don’t make doing so the priority of my life? How could I let trivial things of much less value crowd you out of my life? Why am I so allured by the demands of this life? Why don’t I automatically choose what is far better and more important? Why am I so strongly tempted to focus on earthly and temporal things over heavenly and eternal things? Do you want an answer? Do you need an answer? I know that I live in a sin broken world. I know that this world is always attempting to mold me into its pattern. I know that I need to be careful and focus my attention so that I am not allured and distracted by the things of this life. I will focus my attention on you. I will draw near to you. I will live in an intimate relationship with you. I know that doing so will require my very best effort and my full commitment. Drawing near to you is now and will forever be the priority of my life. That is very good. You will never regret making this choice. Yes, I know. Thank you, Heavenly Father for allowing me to draw near to you and live in an intimate relationship with you. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son into the world to pay for my sins. I have been forgiven and cleansed. The way to you has been opened. I am acceptable in your sight. I can draw near to you. Help me to live in and intimate relationship with you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you taking daily advantage of your new privilege and opportunity to draw near to God?

Living It Out…  Daily draw near to God so you will be able to live in an intimate relationship with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you have been given the privilege and opportunity to draw near to God.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are daily drawing near to God.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you draw near to God and live in an intimate relationship with Him.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 330 – Hebrews 10-19-25 – Let Us Draw Near – 4 Paged 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

God Loves A Cheerful Giver

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The Compassionate Life - Day 264 - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - God Loves A Cheerful Giver - Growing As Disciples

The Compassionate Life – Day 264 – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – God Loves A Cheerful Giver – Growing As Disciples

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.              2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

Remember This

I have something that I want you to remember. I have something that I want you to keep in the forefront of your mind. I want you to remember something that will guide the conduct of your life. What do you want me to remember? Remember this, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.”  Many times, I have heard you say that you want to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Many times, I have heard you say that you want to be a bold and bright witness in the world. May times, I have heard you say that you wanted to store up treasure in heaven. Am I correct? Have I heard you say these things repeatedly? Yes, you have heard me correctly. I have said these words repeatedly. Well, those are very good desires that you have in you. How will these things be accomplished through your life? I will be a cheerful giver. I will not be tight fisted with all that you have given to me. You have richly blessed my life so I can be a blessing to others. You have given me talents and resources that you want me to share with others. You have even freed up my schedule and given me time to serve others. So, I will open handedly give my time, talent, and resources to others. That will be very good. What else will you do? I will leave my comfort zone. I will follow you to where you lead me so I can do whatever you ask of me. I will look for ways that I can join you in the work you are doing in the world. I will go out and work in your harvest field so that I can one day reap and share in a rich harvest with you. What will be your attitude? How will you feel about joining me in my harvest field? Will you be reluctant? Will you be hesitant? Will you be under some sort of compulsion? No, not at all. It will be my joy to serve you. I will be happy to follow your example. It is my desire to pattern my life after yours. I want to live like you lived. I want to give like you gave. I want to serve like you served. Why is that? You love me. I love you. There is nothing I would rather do than sow and reap a rich harvest for you, as I bring glory to your name. All that I have, all that I am, all that I hope to be is at your service. That is very good. Use me now. That I will do. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, thank you for helping me to be a cheerful giver. Help me to generously give my time, talent, and resources to others. Help me to both sow and reap generously. Help me to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord led you to give your time, talent, and resources to others?

Living It Out…  Make it your ongoing practice to sow generously so that you will also be able to reap generously.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will help you to both sow and reap generously.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has used you to sow and reap generously.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you sow generously so you can also reap generously.

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

The Compassionate Life – Day 264 – 2 Corinthians 9-6-7 – God Loves A Cheerful Giver – 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

You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will

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The Virtuous Life - Day 202 - James 4:13-16 - You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 202 – James 4:13-16 – You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will – Growing As Disciples

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:13-17 (NIV)

Listening

That seems to be the key. What seems to be the key to what? Listening, it seems to me, is the key to being able to know and do your will. Why do you think so? If I am unwilling to listen to you, I will never know and do your will. If I am too busy to listen to listen to you, I will never know and do your will. If I would rather listen to myself than to you, I will never know and do your will. Those are all correct statements. What will be required of you if you want to hear from me? If I want to hear from you, I will need to humbly, and attentively, listen to you. I will need to set aside my agenda. I will need to stop and make time so I am not too busy or distracted to hear from you. I must be willing to follow and obey you once I hear from you. It would do me no good if I were only a hearer of your word. I must be willing to go and do whatever you ask of me. Why would you bother to speak to me if you knew that I wouldn’t listen or follow or obey you? I suspect you would not, unless you really wanted to get my attention, so you could turn my life around. And I know that you have done that before in my life. That is true.

But I don’t want to be a reluctant listener. I don’t want to be a hesitant follower. I want to live my life in such a way that I am in sync with you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to know and do your will. I want to go and do all that you ask of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. So, I will listen attentively to you. You are correct, that is the key, do that and you will be able to know and do my will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I know I can dream up elaborate plans to keep me busy. I do not want to be busy. I want to be productive. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be able to know and do your will. Help me to listen attentively to you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making time to listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to the Lord so you will be able to know and do His will.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and do His will as you listen to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been guiding your steps as you listen to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 202 – James 4-13-16 – You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will – 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

Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 138 - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 138 – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds – Growing As Disciples

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)

Take Every Thought Captive

How will you do that? How will I do what? How will you take every thought captive and make it obedient to me? That is a very good question. I will tell you one thing. What’s that? I will not be able to take every thought captive and make it obedient to you with solely my own strength. I will need your help. You will have my help, as you rely on me. I did notice a word you used. What word? You used the word “solely.” Do you have some key roles in taking your thoughts captive to me? Yes, I do have key roles in taking my thoughts captive and making them obedient to you. Tell me, what are your roles? I must not allow my mind to feed on fleshly and worldly thoughts. There are people, places and things that are not helpful and are in fact very damaging to my desire to take every thought captive and make them obedient to you. So, I will separate myself from whatever would feed fleshly and worldly thoughts in me. That is a very good starting point. What else? I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. I will meditate on your word. I will memorize your word. I will study your word. I will pray your word. I will sing your word. I will do whatever will help me take a firm grip of your word so that it takes a firm grip on me. Most importantly, I will put your word into practice as I love and follow and serve you. That will be very good. What else will you do to take every captive and make them obedient to me? I will flee fleshly and worldly thoughts. I will leave them behind as I run to you. I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. As I am in your presence, as I remain in you, you will help me to think your thoughts, speak your words, and take your actions. You will make me able to destroy strongholds in my life, as you help me to take every thought captive and make them obedient to you. Yes, I will, you can be sure of that. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will not allow fleshly and worldly thoughts to be fed and grow in me. I will separate myself from them. I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. Help me to take my thoughts and make them captive to you. Destroy strongholds in me. Lead me in victory. Amen

Key Question…  How is allowing God’s word to dwell in you helping you to take every thought captive and obedient to Him?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to help you to take very thought captive and make them obedient to Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to take every thought captive and make them obedient to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are taking your thoughts captive and obedient to Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you destroy strongholds by taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 138 – 2 Corinthians 10-3-5 – Divine Power To Destroy Strongholds – 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