Monthly Archives: November 2021

Forgiving Others

Posted on by
Reply
The Virtuous Life - Day 216 - Matthew 6-14-15 - Forgiving Others - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 216 – Matthew 6-14-15 – Forgiving Others – Growing As Disciples

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.  If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. Matthew 6:14-15 (MSG)

Forgive Others

That is what I will do. What will you do? I will forgive others. You will forgive others who have hurt or harmed you? You will forgive others who have wrongfully mistreated you? You will forgive others who despitefully used you? You will forgive others who have clearly sinned against you? Yes, I will forgive others unconditionally. Wait a minute, you will forgive others who show no hint of remorse? You will forgive others who have no intention of acknowledging or admitting any of their sins against you? Yes, as I just said, I will forgive others unconditionally even when they are not, in any way, worthy of my forgiveness. Why would you do such a thing? Where did such an idea become part of the way you think or speak or act? Now, you are playing with me. Now, you are teasing me a bit. No, I am not. Well, I am only following the example that has been set before me. You forgave me when I was living as your enemy. You forgave me when I was living in ways that were displeasing to you. You forgave me when I thought and said I did not want or need anything from you. You forgave me when I was living a self-centered, self-sufficient, and self-indulgent life that had no time for you. As despicable as I was, you drew me to yourself. You showed me your kindness and mercy and love. You turned my life around. You forgave my sin and cleansed my unrighteousness. You set me on a new course of loving and following and serving you. Yes, I did all these things for you. I have no doubt about that. That’s good.

So, how could I fail to forgive someone who has sinned against me? Why would I not follow your example? Why would I not do for others what you have done for me? Why would I not forgive others just as you have forgiven me? If I say that I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength, I will think as you thought, speak as you spoke, and act as you acted. I know that you want me to become like you. I know that you want me to follow your example. Yes, I do. That is what I will do with all the strength you will give to me. I will live in your lavish forgiveness as I extend my forgiveness to others who have sinned against me. In that way, others will clearly see that your life is being lived out, in, and through me. That will be very good. Living in this way will allow you to be a powerful and fruitful witness for me, in the darkness of this world.

Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving my sins. Thank you for giving me a clean and fresh and new start with you. Thank you for making me righteous in your sight. Help me to forgive others just as you have forgiven me. Help me to show your love to others. Amen

Key Question…  How are you now forgiving others just as your Heavenly Father has forgiven you?

Living It Out…  Make it your ongoing practice to quickly forgive those who have sinned against you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your Heavenly Father has forgiven your sins and will help you to forgive others who sin against you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are quickly forgiving those who mistreat you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you forgive others just as God has forgiven you.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 216 – Matthew 6-14-15 – Forgiving 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                                           www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

That The World May Believe

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 101 - John 17-20-23 - The World May Believe - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 101 – John 17-20-23 – The World May Believe – Growing As Disciples

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:  I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23 (NIV)

Complete Unity

I know that this is your prayer. I know that this is your will. What is my prayer? What is my will? It is your prayer and will that we will be brought to complete unity. Who will be brought to complete unity? Your followers, your church, will be brought to complete unity. How do you know that it is my prayer and will that my followers, the church, will be brought into complete unity? Just before you left this earth you prayed this prayer. It was obviously of utmost importance to you. You are correct. Do you know why I prayed this prayer and why unity among my followers is of utmost importance to me? I think so. Go ahead, tell me your answer. Unity among believers will be a bright and shining witness for you in the world. In the world there is disunity and divisiveness of every kind. Love and unity amongst your followers is countercultural. Love and unity amongst your followers stands out like a bright light in the darkness of this world. When unbelievers see love and unity amongst believers, they will become convinced that you are who you said you were. When unbelievers see love and unity amongst believers, they will know that your Heavenly Father sent you into the world to be its Savior and Lord. Unbelievers will be drawn to you. They will want to turn their lives over to you. They will be drawn into the love and unity that can only come from you. That is true. That is correct. That is certain.

I have a few questions for you. I’m listening. Is my prayer and my will of utmost importance to you? Now that you know my prayer and my will, how will you live your life? What will you make sure is true of you? I will make sure that I am living in unity with others. I will be on guard against thinking or speaking or acting in ways that bring disunity into your church. I will not allow myself to become divisive in your body of believers. I will make sure that my love for and my complete unity with my fellow believers serves as a bright witness in the world. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for praying for me. Thank you for making your will so clear. I will live in unity with my fellow believers so that we can all be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Help us all to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question…  How are you living in unity with fellow believers so you will be an attractive witness in the world?

Living It Out…  Make sure that you are living in unity with fellow believers so you can be a bright witness for Christ in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you and your church will bear fruit for the kingdom of God as you live in unity.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how living in unity has helped you to be a bright witness for Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live in unity with your fellow believers so those in the world may come to believe in Jesus Christ.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 101 – John 17-20-23 – That The World May Believe – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

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

Pray For Those Who Hurt You

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 88 - Luke 6-27-31 - Pray For Those Who Hurt You - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 88 – Luke 6-27-31 – Pray For Those Who Hurt You – Growing As Disciples

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.  If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.  Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.  Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:27-31 (NLT)

Reaction

That would not be my first reaction. What would not be your first reaction? It would not be my first reaction to love my enemies. It would not be my first reaction to do good to those who hate me or to bless those who curse me. Praying for those who hurt is not something that naturally occurs to me. So, that is not one of my first reactions either. I like your honesty. You are making a true confession. Well yes, I am. I am not proud that I have such poor first reactions to my being mistreated. I want to be able to think and speak and act like you. I want to pattern my life after yours. I want to love like you loved. I want to serve like you served. I want to give like you gave. And I especially want to pray like you prayed. I will confess fully, right now, that I have fallen far short of these goals. I have missed the mark, by a wide margin. Forgive me. You are forgiven.

So, I see that you are willing to listen. You will follow my instructions. You will receive my guidance. Yes, I will. Then I will tell you that there is no blessing in seeking revenge. There is no reward in getting even. Nothing is to be gained by getting paid back for the evil that has been done against you. If you are continually hoping that the score will be made even or that you will receive full justice in this life, you are going to be disappointed. Justice and the score being made even, or your being paid back in this life should not be your concern. What should be my concern? Do to others what you would like them to do to you. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who hurt you. Make this your one and only reaction. With this reaction, you will be my bright witness in a dark and broken world. With this reaction, you will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. With this reaction, you will reap great rewards in heaven. Will this be your one and only reaction? Yes Lord, it will. That will be very good.

Lord, I am listening. I will follow your instructions and receive your guidance. I will love my enemies. I will do good to those who hate me. I will bless those who curse me. I will pray for those who hurt me. I will do to others what I would like them to do to me. Amen

Key Question…  How are you regularly and continually praying for those who hurt you?

Living It Out…  Love your enemies, do good, bless, and pray for those who hurt you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that there will be great rewards for loving and praying for those who hurt you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are praying for those who hurt you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 88 – Luke 6-27-31 – Pray For Those Who Hurt You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

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

Acts On Behalf Of Those Who Wait For Him

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 100 - Isaiah 64-4 - Acts On Behalf Of Those Who Wait For Him - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 100 – Isaiah 64-4 – Acts On Behalf Of Those Who Wait For Him – Growing As Disciples

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

Act On Your Behalf

I have a couple questions to ask you. Go ahead, I’m listening. Will you wait on me? Will you wait for me to act on your behalf? Now, before you quickly answer, I have a few more questions to ask you. I’m still listening. Will you take matters into your own hands? Will you rely on yourself instead of on Me? Will you quickly and foolishly and rashly, think and speak and act unwisely? Now, you have me thinking. What are you thinking? I’m thinking that I need to answer your questions honestly. I’m thinking that I need to confess what I have done rather than state what is obviously the correct answer. What have you done? Most often, I have quickly and foolishly and rashly and unwisely taken matters into my own hands. I have relied on myself. Why is that a problem? You want me to rely on you. You want me to place all my faith and hope and trust in you. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to come and ask you for what I want and need. Yes, I want all these things for you. What has been the result of you taking matters into your own hands? I have not grown in my faith and hope and trust in you. My relationship with you has not grown more intimate. I have not learned to consistently and persistently, come to ask you for what I want and need. As a result, I have not received all that you have wanted to give to me. I have not allowed you to act on my behalf. Those are very serious consequences of not waiting on me and allowing me to act on your behalf. That is true, but these are not all the serious consequences I have suffered by relying on myself and taking matters into my own hands. What else have you suffered? I have made mistakes. I have taken missteps. I have sinned. My own foolish and quick and rash and unwise thinking and speaking and acting has brought pain and suffering into my life. Acting on my own, I have not led the life you have called me to live. I have not born fruit for your kingdom or brought glory to your name. I have not been a bold and bright witness for you in the world. That is going to change right now. How so? I am putting a stop to my relying on myself rather than on you. From here on, I will wait for you, I will allow you to act on my behalf. I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I will ask you for what I want and need. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for setting me apart to be one of your followers. Thank you for forgiving my sin and cleansing my unrighteousness. Thank you for purifying my heart and mind. Help me to continually call on you for all that I need. Hear and answer my prayers. Amen

Key Question…  How has God acted on your behalf, in ways you could not have imagined, as you relied on Him?

Living It Out…  Wait on to God to act instead of taking matters into your own hands.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will act on your behalf as you wait for Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has acted on your behalf as you have waited for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you wait for God and allow Him to act on your behalf.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 100 – Isaiah 64-4 – Acts On Behalf Of Those Who Wait For Him – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

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

Earnestly Seek You

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 90 - Matthew 18-19-20 - Gathered In My Name - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 90 – Matthew 18-19-20 – Gathered In My Name – Growing As Disciples

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:1-4 (NIV)

Seek You

I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will seek you with all that is within me. I will seek you in the morning, I will seek you in the noon time. I will seek you in the evening. I will seek you all day long. Why is it that you so passionately and persistently and consistently want to seek me? You have placed this desire within me. This desire that is within me has been given to me as a gift. There could be no greater gift than to have a heart that seeks you. I could not have dreamed up this desire. I could not have created this desire within me. Yet here it is. The thirst I have for you is like a thirsty person crawling across a sun scorched desert floor in search of water. I can’t get enough of you. I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to follow and serve you. I want to live my life with and for you. And not just a little bit either. My desire for you is all consuming. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There is nothing I would rather do than be with you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. If I have overstated my passionate desire for you or my willingness to do whatever you ask of me; then I ask that you will make what I have said to be absolutely true. Help me to know you intimately. Help me to walk with you closely. Do you believe that I will hear and answer your prayer? Will I do for you what you ask of me? Yes, I do believe. Why would you not start what you have begun? You have made me this way. You have placed these desires within me. Surely, you will complete this good work that you have begun in me. There is no doubt within me that if I seek you with all my heart, I will find you. You will show yourself to me. You will allow me to know you intimately. Yes, I will hear and answer this prayer of yours. For all of this, I give you all honor and praise and glory. I will lift up my hands to you as I bow down to worship you. You are my God and Father. Yes, I am. I am your child. Yes, you are. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, you are my God. Yes, I will earnestly seek you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I will seek you with all that is within me. Because your love is better than life, praise and glory to you will be on my lips as I raise my hands to worship you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you been seeking God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily pattern and practice to seek God with all your heart.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will find God as you seek Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are earnestly seeking God with all your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others…May you earnestly seek God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 90 – Psalm 63-1-4 – Earnestly I Seek You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

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

Gathered In My Name

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 99 - Matthew 18-19-20 - Gathered In My Name - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 99 – Matthew 18-19-20 – Gathered In My Name – Growing As Disciples

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV)

Gathered

That is a critically important word. What is a critically important word? “Gathered” is critically important word. Why is “gathered” such a critically important word? Think of the opposite of the word gathered. That would be scattered. That is correct. Do I want you to live a life that is gathered or scattered? I’m not sure what you mean. Should you live a life that is distant and scattered, and separate from others? Were you made to live on your own, by yourself, independent from others? Now, I am being to understand what you mean. Now, I am seeing where you are headed. What do I mean? Where I am headed. It has never been, nor will it ever be, your will for me to live my life, as one of your followers, off by myself, all alone, without a regular and consistent gathering together with fellow believers. How do I want you to gather? When do I want you to gather? For what purpose will you gather? What will I accomplish in and through you as you gather together with fellow believers? The answers to these questions will be quite lengthy. Go ahead, get started, I’m listening. You want me to gather in worship. You want me to gather in the hearing and proclaiming of your word. You want me to gather in prayer. You want me to gather in fellowship. You want me to gather in serving you. You are correct. There are many ways in which I want you to gather. Let’s talk more about gathering in prayer. That is our main topic for today.

Why do I want you to be gathered in prayer with others? You want me to be spurred and encouraged as I gather with others to pray. You want my prayer life to grow and develop as I gather with others to prayer. You want me to know how to pray according to your will, purposes, and plan as I gather with others to pray. You want me to powerfully sense your presence as you are in our midst as I gather with others to pray. You want my faith and trust in you to grow as I gather with others to pray. You want me to know that our Heavenly Father is hearing and answering our prayers as we gather to pray in your name. You need to say no more. You need to go now farther. I can wait no longer to say, “Yes, I want all these things for you.” “Yes, all these things will be true as you gather together to pray with others.” Will you gather together with others to pray prayers, in my name, to your Heavenly Father? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. Then your prayers will be heard and answered. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will gather with others to agree on and pray prayers to our Heavenly Father. Thank you for your promise to be in our midst as we pray. I know you will guide us as we pray. Thank you that our prayers will be heard and answered as we pray in your name. Amen

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 99 – Matthew 18-19-20 – Gathered In My Name – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

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

Love Each Other

Posted on by
Reply
The Sacramental Life - Day 340 - John 15-9-17 - Love Each Other - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 340 – John 15-9-17 – Love Each Other – Growing As Disciples

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  This is my command: Love each other. John 15:9-17 (NIV)

Remain In My Love

You know that I love you. You know that I love you just as my Heavenly Father loved me. I demonstrated my love for you when I laid down my life for you. Could I have done anything more or better for you than to die on the cross as payment for your sins? Could you have received any greater gift than now being able to live the life of salvation that will never end? One day, you will come to live forever in heaven with me. How great a gift of love is that? Now, before you answer, do I need to point out that it was my Heavenly Father who sent me into the world so that you could be saved? He and I both made it possible for you to be forgiven of all your sins and cleansed of all your unrighteousness. You have been adopted as His child. You are now a part of His family. No greater love could have been given to you. This love will last for all eternity. How does this sound to you? I am in awe. I am bowed down before you. I am filled with hope and peace and joy. I am overflowing with gratefulness and thanksgiving. I could have asked for no greater gift. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am at your service. I am fully devoted to you. That is very good.

Now it is my desire that you remain in my love. Do you know how to remain in my love? Yes, I do. I will remain in your love by obeying your commands. I will live in an intimate relationship with you. I will listen to your voice. I will receive your instruction. I will follow your guidance. I will do whatever you ask of me. That’s good. What am I asking of you? You are asking me to love others just as you loved me. That is correct. How did I love others? You loved others unconditionally. You loved others sacrificially. You loved others even when they horribly mistreated you. Yes, I did. Will you follow my example? Will you love like I loved? Yes, I will. Then you will be able to do what I have called and appointed you to do. You will be able to go and bear fruit that will last. That is the desire of my heart. That is very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, thank you for loving me just as your Heavenly Father loved you. Thank you that I can remain in your love as I keep on obeying your commands. Help me to love others just as you love me. Thank you for choosing me and appointing me to bear fruit. Amen

Key Question…  What must you do if you are a friend of Christ and want to remain in His love?

Living It Out…  Obey Christ’s command and love others just as He loves you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that Christ loves you just as the Father loves Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are remaining in Christ’s love by obeying His commands.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you love others just as the Lord loves you.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 340 – John 15-9-17 – Love Each Other – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

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

Whole Body Fit Together

Posted on by
Reply
The Sacramental Life - Day 339 - Ephesians 4-11-16 - Whole Body Fit Together

The Sacramental Life – Day 339 – Ephesians 4-11-16 – Whole Body Fit Together – Growing As Disciples

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.  Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.  This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.  Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT)

Spiritual Gifts

What are my gifts? Have you given me spiritual gifts? How am I supposed to discover and use my spiritual gifts to build up others in your body? Will my spiritual gifts be fully formed in me the minute I start using them? You are asking very good questions. It pleases me that you have such passion in you to know their answers. Why is that? You will only discover and use your spiritual gifts if you have a passionate and persistent desire to use them to build up others in my body. I can’t tell you how many spiritual gifts lie dormant, undiscovered, and unused among my followers. Spiritual gifts will never be discovered and developed and deployed without passionate and persistent effort. Hasn’t that been your experience? Don’t you know the answers to your own questions? Haven’t you discovered and used your spiritual gifts as you have been relentless in loving and following and serving me? Haven’t you been discovering your spiritual gifts as you have followed me to where I led you and did what I asked you? Yes, what you say is true. Yes, you have helped me to discover and use my spiritual gifts as I have loved and followed and served you. Yes, you have given me a passionate and persistent desire to serve you. And no, my spiritual gifts have not been fully formed and developed in me the minute I started using them. To think otherwise would be foolish. In fact, my first attempts at using my spiritual gifts were quite feeble. But you have kept on using them. Only with your encouragement. You have spurred me on. You have kept me moving forward with you. That is true. Keep on using your spiritual gifts to serve me. I will. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, help me to discover, develop and use all the spiritual gifts you have given me to use to build up others in the body of Christ. Help me to fit into your body and be used to help others to grow to become your fully mature, healthy, and fruitful followers. Amen

Key Question…  How have you come to discover and use your spiritual gifts to build others up in the body of Christ?

Living It Out…  Use the spiritual gifts you have been given to build up others in the body of Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has given you spiritual gifts to use to build up others in the body of Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are using your spiritual gifts to build up others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you use your spiritual gifts to build up others in the body of Christ.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 339 – Ephesians 4-11-16 – Whole Body Fit Together – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

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

We Continually Remember

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 97 - 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3 - We Continually Remember - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 97 – 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3 – We Continually Remember – Growing As Disciples

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.                                  1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)  

Continually Remember

I am going to need help on this. You are going to need help on what? I am going to need help on continually remembering to pray for others. Why is that? Continually doing anything with great consistency does not come naturally to me. Even if I did continually remember when to pray, I am certain that, on my own, I would not know how to pray. So, you will need my help on both when and how to continually pray for others. That’s it. Do you know why you would not be successful on either one, without my help? I’m not sure. I’m not certain. You used the phrase, “on my own”. Yes, I did. Will prayer of any kind be something that you will do on your own, without my help? You are pointing out something that I need to continually remember. What’s that? You will give me prayers to pray. You will teach me when, and where, and how to pray. You will help me to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. Prayer doesn’t start with me. It is you that both gives and grants prayers to pray. It is your spirit living and dwelling in me that will guide my prayers. That is correct. So, I am never alone, all on my own, when I am praying. No, you are not. I will always have your help when I am praying. Yes, you will. As I draw near to you in prayer, you will draw near to me. Yes, I will. You will teach me. You will train me.  Yes, I will.

Let’s talk about how you can pray. I’m listening. Can you pray that other’s faith in me will lead to their doing good works for me? Yes, I can. Can you pray that other’s love for me will result in their engaging in joyous labor on my behalf? Yes, I can. Can you pray that other’s hope in me will have great endurance in serving me? Yes, I can. These are great places for you to start in your praying for others. Can you give thanks for all those who love and follow and serve me? Can you give thanks for all those who bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes, I can. Start praying for others in these ways. As you continue in prayer, as you keep on listening to me, I will show you how to pray even more specifically for those who are loving and following and serving me. Will you do this? Will you meet with me in prayer? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, help me to continually remember in prayer those who love, follow, and serve. I will pray that their faith produces good work, their love prompts joyful labor, and that hope will inspire their endurance. Help us all to bear much fruit for your kingdom. Amen

Key Question…  How are you continually remembering in your daily prayers those who love, follow, and serve the Lord?

Living It Out…  Continually pray for the specific needs of those who love, follow, and serve the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer the specific prayers you pray for those who love, follow, and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are praying for those who love, follow, and sere the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you continually remember and pray for others as they love, follow, and serve the Lord.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 97 – 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3 – We Continually Remember – 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 re

A Still Small Voice

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 96 - 1 Kings 19-11-12 - A Still Small Voice - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 96 – 1 Kings 19-11-12 – A Still Small Voice – Growing As Disciples

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV) 

Speak To Me

That is what I want. What do you want? I want you to speak to me. I want to hear your voice. Why do you want me to speak to you? Why do you want to hear my voice? I want to know you. I want to know your will. I want to walk in your ways. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to walk through life with you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to live the life you have called me to live. Would any of that be possible if I never heard from you? Would my own thoughts guide me to where I should go? Would my own ideas give me what I should do? What do you think? I’m more interested in what you think. What have I already said to you? You have said that apart from you, I can do nothing. Do you believe that to be true? I know that to be true. So, are you really ready to listen to me? Yes, I am. That is very good.

What else have I already said to you? You have said that I will find you when I seek you with all my heart. Do you know that to also be true? Yes, I do. That is also very good. What does that tell you about seeking me? What does that tell you about listening to my voice? Seeking you and listening to you is not an occasional, part time, half-hearted effort. If I really want to seek you and hear from you, I must be fully devoted to you. All my heart and mind and life must be focused on you, to both seek and hear from you. That is correct.

What are you prepared to do as your part in seeking and hearing from me? I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of life. I will quiet myself in your presence. I will meet with you in your word. Why is all this important? You will not shout to get my attention. I am very unlikely to hear your still small voice over the noise and busyness of life. That is true. What is also true? I am more than a little hard of hearing. Hearing your voice does not come naturally or easily to me. Hearing your voice seems like a habit to be practiced and a skill to be developed. Yes, it is. As I continue to meet with you in your word, I will learn to hear you speaking to me. I will follow you to where you lead me and do what you ask me. I will then be able to live the life you have called me to live. Of that, you can be certain. Keep on drawing near to me. I will draw near to you. You will hear from me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, this life is busy. This life is noisy. I know that it will be unlikely that I will hear your voice over the noise and busyness of life. So, I will withdraw to quiet places so I can hear from you. I will focus my heart, mind, and life on you. Lord, speak to me. I’m listening. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making a habit of withdrawing from the noise of life so you can hear the Lord’s voice?

Living It Out…  Meet with God in His word and listen to His still small voice speaking to you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will speak to you as you listen carefully to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are making it a habit to listen carefully to the Lord’s voice.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord speaking to you.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 96 – 1 Kings 19-11-12 – A Still Small Voice – 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 re