Monthly Archives: January 2022

May Be Proved Genuine

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Trials - 1 Peter 1:6-7 - May Be Proved Genuine- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Trials – 1 Peter 1:6-7 – May Be Proved Genuine- Growing As Disciples

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

Refined By Fire

My eyes and heart and mind are on you. I’m looking forward to the day that I will come to live forever in heaven with you. I am filled with hope and joy because I know that my future in heaven is eternally kept in heaven for me. You have secured my salvation. You have paid for my sins. You have broken down the wall of sin that had separated me from you. You are my Savior and Lord. You are my God and King. I have placed all my faith in you.  That is very good.

I know that this life will not be easy. I know I will face difficulties and trials that will test my faith. I will hold on to you. You will sustain me. You will strengthen me. You will lead me through every up and down and twist and turn in life. You are with me to guide me. You are with me help me. You will make me able to stand up under every trial. You will allow me to see that my faith is not resting on myself. You will help me to know that my faith is anchored in you. You are my rock. You are my fortress. You are my deliverer. I have placed all my trust in you. That is very good.

Welcome trials as your friends. That sounds difficult to receive and hard to accept. It is of great value to have your faith refined by fire. In the trials of life your faith in me will shine like a beacon. In the trials of life, you will sparkle like a star in the universe. As your faith is purified by trials, others will see that your faith rests in me. I am your hope. I am your trust. I am your future. You can and will rely on me. You can endure. You can carry on. I will use you. I will work in and through your life. You will be my witness. You will bring glory to my name. Will you hold on to your faith in me as you are refined by the fiery trials of life? Yes, Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, all my faith and trust is in you as I go through trials in life. Use all the trials of life to prove and refine the genuineness of my faith. It is my prayer that my faith in you will bring praise and glory and honor to you in all that I think, say and do. Amen

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

Trials – 1 Peter 1-6-7 – May Be Proved Genuine – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

This Is The Day The Lord Has Made

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - This Is The Day The Lord Has Made - Psalm 118:24 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – This Is The Day The Lord Has Made – Psalm 118:24 – Growing As Disciples

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

Rejoice And Be Glad

Is there anything special about this day? This is a drab and dreary day for many. They will get up to go through the same motions that are no different than any other day. They will put one foot in front of the other to take steps to get done what they feel they must do before their day ends. They have no lasting hope or joy. Their lives are filled with quiet desperation. A completed “to do list” brings them no satisfaction because they know that another list will be waiting for them to begin again in the morning. They are not changing and becoming what they thought and dreamed they might one day become. Do you know anyone that is living this kind of drab and dreary hopeless kind of life? 

I am embarrassed to say that I have lived this dreary and hopeless kind of life. I have had my eyes entirely focused on what I thought I must get done. I have raced wearily from one task to another. I have felt the hopelessness of a life without apparent meaning. These thoughts and experiences are not completely foreign to me.

How about now? Have you allowed yourself to become weary and worn out? In your weariness have you lost your joy and felt hopeless? When you say “now” do you mean today or in a recent season of my life? Are you asking me if I am susceptible to feeling hopeless or joyless even as one of your followers? Yes, I am.

You know the answer to that. Yes, I do. There are days that I feel like locking the door, disconnecting the phone and pulling the covers over my head. On those days, I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything. If I didn’t see another person on those days it would be just fine with me.

Is today anything like that? Yes, as a matter of fact it is. What would you have to say if I told you that today is a day that I made for you? How would you respond to me if I asked you to rejoice and be glad in today? I might mumble and grumble about that idea.

You have described a day like today as a “crash and burn” day. Yes, I have. How did you reach the low point of today? I have been racing through life going from one thing to another. I’ve been living as if everything depends on me. I’ve looked every direction except up. I’ve trusted in everything and everyone other than you. I have not relied on your strength. I have not asked for your help. So, here I am, at a complete stop, running on empty. Yes, I can see that.

Is today a good day or a bad day? I know that it is a good day. Why is that? I know that it is a good day because you have gotten my attention. You want me to look to you for all that I need. You want me to place all my trust in you. You want me to rely on you and your strength. Yes, I do. You want me to rejoice in this day that you have made for me to live with and for you. Yes, I do. 

Lord, thank you for making this day for me to live for you. Guide my steps and guard my path as I follow and obey you. Help me to rejoice and be glad as I proclaim your goodness to others that I will meet today. I love you. Amen

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

Gratitude – Psalm 118-24 – This Is The Day The Lord Has Made – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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 Thanks In All Circumstances

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - 1 Thessalonians 5:18- Give Thanks In All Circumstances - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5:18- Give Thanks In All Circumstances – Growing As Disciples

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.                        1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

You Are With Me

This seems like a really hard thing to do. What’s that? I don’t know how I will ever be able to give thanks when bad things happen to me or to the people I love and care about. Is that what you think I want you to do? Do you really think I want you to give thanks for terrible things that happen in life? You don’t? No, that would be really weird, don’t you think? Yes, that’s exactly what I thought. Yes, I know. Let me clear this up for you. I’d like that a lot.

I don’t want you to give thanks for every circumstance that you find yourself in. You will find yourself in some terrible circumstances in life. Yes, I know. You live in a sinful and broken world. Sin has corrupted the world and everything in it. Bad things can and do happen to good people. You know that. Yes, I certainly do. In every circumstance I want you to give thanks to me. You do? Yes, I do.

Why do you think that you can still give thanks to me in the midst of terrible circumstances? I’m not sure. What do you know about terrible circumstances and me? You are with me in the midst of all my circumstances. Yes, I am. I am never alone in the pain that I feel or the loss that I experience. No, you are not. You feel my pain and weep when I weep. Yes, I do.

You are never more near me than when I am feeling broken hearted about something. Yes, that’s true. Some of the closest and most intimate moments I’ve spent with you have been when I’ve been experiencing great pain. I have never left you alone, have I? No, you haven’t. Is that something to rejoice and give thanks about? Yes Lord, it is.

What have I been able to do with terrible circumstances? You have been able to bring about good in my life even when something really terrible has happened. Like what? You have grown my faith and trust in you when I have gone through great difficulties. You have deepened my prayers as I have cried out to you. Aren’t those outcomes worth rejoicing and giving thanks? Yes Lord, they are.

What do you know about this life and terrible circumstances? This life is short. It is like the blink of an eye or a snap of the fingers or even a mist that is here one second and gone the next. Yes, but what do you have to look forward to? I have living forever in heaven with you to look forward to. Has the pain and suffering in this life ever caused you to think more about living forever in heaven with me? Yes, it has. Isn’t that a cause to rejoice and give thanks for even in very difficult circumstances? Yes Lord, it is.

Do you think that you can now rejoice in every circumstance you will face in life? Yes Lord, I know that I can rejoice because you are with me. Yes, I am.

Lord, help me to give thanks in all the difficult circumstances I will face in life. Thank you for drawing near to me when I have been broken hearted. Thank you for bringing about good even when I have felt pain, suffering and loss. Amen

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

Gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5-18 – Give Thanks In All Circumstances – 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                                            www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - Do Not Be Anxious About Anything - Philippians 4-6 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – Do Not Be Anxious About Anything – Philippians 4-6 – Growing As Disciples

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

To Help Me

Why do you think that you worry so much about anything and everything? You seem to move from one worry after another. You are right about that. My biggest worry is that I will be a failure. What has all your worry done for you? Not much of anything positive that is for sure. Worry has caused me to say no to you, of that, I am very sure. I have doubted my abilities and your call on my life. I have thought that I couldn’t possibly do what you were asking me to do for you. You right about half of that statement. What’s that, what do you mean? You can’t do what I am calling you to do, by yourself, without my help. I want to work in and through you. I want you to rely on my strength. I want you to draw near to me and ask me for my help. Every time I ask you to do something for me you will need my help. So, feeling a little inadequate isn’t all that bad. But, don’t look at yourself and think about your inability. The second you begin to think that you can’t do something agree with that thought and ask for my help. Believe that I will work in and through you. Trust that I will be with you to help you. Don’t say no to me and shrink back. Say yes to me and move forward. Yes Lord, I will.

Let’s talk about your fear of failure for a moment. How much of a failure could you possibly be? I’m not sure how to answer that question. Let me put this question to you another way. You are my child. I am your Father. I made you. I am molding and shaping your life. I’m leading you through life. My Holy Spirit lives inside of you. I am praying for you. I will never leave you or forsake you. I will give you all the strength that you need to live your life for me. One day when your life on this earth ends you will begin to live forever in heaven with me. Now, I will ask you that very same question again, “How much of a failure could you possibly be?” I will never be a failure. Yes, that’s exactly right.

When you start to worry, what will you now do differently? Worry will be sign for me to come to you in prayer. I will talk with you about everything that I have begun to worry about. I will turn every worry that I have into a prayer. I will give thanks to you because I know that you will hear and answer my prayers. Yes, I will. You will give me all the strength that I will need to live my life for you. Yes, I will. Thank you Father that you are always with me to help me.

Lord, I have been a worrier about anything and everything. I know that you love me and are in control. I am so thankful that you hear and answer my prayers. Help me to always turn all my worries over to you in prayer. Amen

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

Gratitude – Philippians 4-6 – Do Not Be Anxious About Anything – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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Individual users may save the Discipleship 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

In Strict Training

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Identity - 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 - In Strict Training- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Identity – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 – In Strict Training- Growing As Disciples

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NIV) 

Run

I have laid out a course for you. You are in a race. The race is called life. I want you to run well. I want you to run in such a way so that you will win the prize that I have in heaven for you. What must I do to run well? How will I be able to run in such a way as to win the prize that you have in heaven for me? You must follow me. You must keep your eyes on me. You must avoid the obstacles in life that will hinder you from running well. You must keep the focus of your heart and mind and life on me. I will train you. I will guide you. I will lead you through life. Will you enter in to strict training as you run the race that I have laid out for you?  Yes Lord, I will. That’s very good. 

I do have questions. Go ahead. Ask me, I’m listening. What does going into strict training look like? What will be a part of my strict training as I follow you? You tell me. You think I know the answers to my questions? Yes, I do. I’m sure that meeting with you in your word daily will be a part of my training. Developing an intimate prayer filled life with you will be another part of my training. You’re on the right track. Keep going. I’m sure that you have no intention for me to run my race all alone by myself. No, I do not. Living in close fellowship with other believers will spur me on as I run the race that you have laid out for me. Yes, it will. So, a part of my regular training will include joining together with other believers to worship you. That’s right. I’m guessing that you would also like me to be a part of a small group that will encourage me to keep on running. Good guess. There is more. I know that you have a purpose and plan for my life. Yes, I do. You have good works prepared in advance for me to do. Yes, I do. Doing the work that you have given me to do for you will be a part of my race. Yes, it will. You have answered your questions well. Will you go into this strict training? Will you run your race with me? Will you run in such a way as to win the prize I have in heaven for you? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I will go into strict training so I will be able to compete. I want to be able to run in such a way as to get the prize that you have waiting in heaven for me. I want a crown from you that will last forever. Help me to live my life fully and completely for you. Amen

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

Identity – 1 Corinthians 9-24-25 – In Strict Training – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Leave – Go

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - Genesis 12:1 - Leave - Go - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – Genesis 12:1 – Leave – Go – Growing As Disciples

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1 (NIV)

Comfort Zone

You like to stay in your comfort zone. You don’t like to feel the discomfort of a difficult challenge. You would like to stay right where you are, right now. What you have now is familiar. What you have now is easy. You are feeling no pain, but making no gains. What do you mean by that? Have I said anything that has shocked you? Have I said anything that is untrue? No, I’m sure that you have said what is true. But, your last statement is the one that got my attention. You said that I was feeling no pain and making no gains. Yes, that is what I said. I would like you to say more about that. Making no gains is the troubling part of my statement, isn’t it? Yes, it is. You don’t want to live a life that is making no gains, do you? No, I want to live an abundant and fruitful life for you. Yes, I knew that my statement would get your full attention. I would be happy to say more on the subject. I will listen attentively to every one of your words.

You want your life to be blessed to be a blessing to others. You want me to use you in significant ways. You want to be able to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You want to do all the good works that I have prepared in advance for you to do. You don’t want any of your gifts and talents and resources and abilities to go unused. You want to boldly go where I guide you, to powerful do all that I ask of you. One day you most want to hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Have I said anything that is not true? Do you want all these things? Do you want to serve me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Yes Lord, I want all these things. There is not one word of yours that I would change. This is exactly the kind of life that I want to live as I follow and serve you. Are you sure? What do you mean by asking me that? If you want to go boldly where I guide you and powerfully do all that I ask of you, then you cannot stay in your comfort zone. You must be willing to leave the comfortable and familiar to go to the challenging and unknown. You must follow me to where I lead you and do all that I ask of you. I’m assuming that all of this will be well outside of my comfort zone. You got that right. Are you ready and willing to leave your comfort zone to boldly go and do all that I ask of you? Yes Lord, I am.

Lord, I like being comfortable and living in the familiar. I know I have resisted your call to leave the familiar to go to the unknown. Forgive me. Now, I rely on you, as I go to where you guide me to do all that you ask of me. Use my life as a blessing to others. Amen 

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

Rhythms – Genesis 12-1 – Leave – Go – 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