Monthly Archives: February 2022

Remains In Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - John 15:5 - Remains In Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – John 15:5 – Remains In Me – Growing As Disciples

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV) 

Bearing Fruit

Do you want to bear an abundance of fruit for me? Yes Lord, I want to bear an abundance of fruit for you. Bearing an abundance of fruit for me will not come through your hard efforts. On your own you could work tirelessly and never bear lasting fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. I do not want to see you live a futile and fruitless life. Your own efforts give me no pleasure no matter how hard you work.

What does give you pleasure? You tell me. I know that apart from you I can do nothing. How do you know that? Both your word and my experience tell me that I can do nothing apart from you. Many times I have worked myself ragged with my own efforts and bore no lasting fruit that would bring glory to your name. That’s right.

Do you believe my word? Do you trust what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I believe in you and trust your word. What does my word say about how I have designed you? You have made me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. That’s right. You are my source. I need to remain connected to you. Every good and perfect thing that I have received comes from you. You are the one who will give me power and strength to serve you. You are the one that will enable me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, I will.

How will you remain connected to me? How will you live in a close and intimate relationship with me? I will set aside a special place and a specific time to meet with you. I will meet with you in your word. I will talk with you in prayer. I will give thanks and praise and worship to you for all that you have done, are doing and will do in my life. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do what you ask of me. I will listen to your voice as you speak to me. I will sit quietly with you in your presence. In every way, I will draw near to you as you draw near to me. I will live in total dependence on you. I will rely on you to help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I will allow you to work in and through me as I love, follow and serve you. I will live in close fellowship with others in your body.  I will give and receive encouragement from them as I live my life with and for you. In all these ways I will remain vitally connected in an intimate relationship with you. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you that you are the vine and I am one of your branches. You made me to be vitally connected to you. You sustain and strengthen and empower me to bear an abundance of fruit as I remain in you. That is what I will continue to do. Amen

Key Question…  When can you make time every day to meet with the Lord so you can remain in Him?

Living It Out…  Make time and choose a special place to meet with the Lord everyday so that you will continue to remain in Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will bear an abundance of fruit as you continue to remain in the Lord.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how remaining in the Lord has caused you to bear fruit for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you remain in Christ so that you will bear an abundance of fruit for Him.

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

If – John 15-5 – Remains in Me – 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

Grow Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Let Us - Ephesians 4:14-15 - Grow Up - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Let Us – Ephesians 4:14-15 – Grow Up – Growing As Disciples

So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Ephesians 4:14-15 (AMP) 

My Body

Do you want to be mature in you faith? Do you want to grow up in your relationship with me? Yes Lord, I want to be mature and grow up in my faith in you. I am tired of being like an infant that is tossed back and forth by every different kind of thought or feeling. I don’t want to think one thing and do or say another. I want to be done with taking three steps forward and two steps back as I follow you. I want to keep moving forward with you. I want to love, follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul. I want to be completely devoted to you. Yes, I can see that you are quite serious in your desire for me. Yes, I am.

Where have I caused you to grow? That sounds like an odd question to me. Why is that? You didn’t ask me how have I caused you to grow? No, I did not. That’s what I would have expected. So, I have surprised you with my question? Yes, it is the “where” part of your question that has taken me by surprise. That’s good because it is the “where” part of my question that I want you to think about. Why is that? You tell me. You have made me grow in your body of believers. You have made me grow in your church. Yes, that’s right. You’re thinking that is not the only place in which you have grown. Yes, I am. You’re thinking that you have grown when you have met alone with me in my word. Yes, I am. Without my body of believers you would not have my word. Think about what you would have or where you would be without my body of believers. Where would you be if no one ever told you about me? Where would you be if no one ever took the time to minister to you? What have I done for you that I have not done through the ministry of body of believers? I get it. I would be lost without what you have done for me through your body of believers. Yes, that’s right. What are you saying to me? What do you want me to understand? You want to grow? You want to mature? You want to keep moving forward with me? You want to serve me? You want to be used by me? You want to be completely devoted to me? You want to love and serve me with all your heart and mind and soul? Is this all true? Yes, it is all true! Where do you think all of this that you want to be true will happen? All that I want you to do in me, with me, for me and through me will happen in your body of believers. Yes, that is right. You want me to be rooted and grounded in your body of believers so that you can do for me what I am asking of you, is that right? Yes, that is right. Then that is where I will be. That will be very good.

Lord, it is the desire of my heart to become like you as I grow up in my faith. Keep me from being tossed like an infant from one thought to another. Make me mature in you. Help me to grow up in my faith so I will help others to grow up in their faith. Amen

Key Question…  How have you been more able to discern what is false as you have grown up in your faith?

Living It Out…  Make it your desire to mature and grow up in your faith up in your faith as you love, follow and serve the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will make you to be like Him as you mature and grow up in your faith.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to mature and grow up in your faith.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you grow and become mature in your faith so you can help others to grow up in their faith.

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

Let Us – Ephesians 4-14-15 – Grow Up – 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

Think About Such Things

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Philippians 4:8-9 - Think About Such Things - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Philippians 4:8-9 – Think About Such Things – Growing As Disciples

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)  

Think, Speak, Act

Do you want my peace to come into your life? Yes, of course I want your peace to come into my life. How can I welcome your peace into my life? What must I do if I want to live in your peace? It is a good thing that you are asking me these questions. Why is that? If you want my peace in your life there is something that you must do. What’s that? You must think my thoughts. How can I think your thoughts? What kind of thoughts am I thinking right now? Is there something wrong about my thoughts? Am I not thinking your thoughts? How are your thoughts formed? Where can you learn of my thoughts? Where do thoughts that are not of me come from? I can learn of your thoughts from your word. That’s right. Your thoughts from your word will change my thoughts. You will replace my thoughts that come from the world with your thoughts that come from your word. You got it. As I think your thoughts I will begin to experience your peace. Yes, you will.

Do you want my peace to come into your life? Didn’t you just ask me that? Didn’t we just go over that question? Yes, we discussed how my peace would begin to come into your life. I’m guessing there is more. That would be a good guess. If you want my peace to come into your life then you will not only begin to think my thoughts but you will also begin to speak my words. The words that come out of your mouth will show you and everyone else what is in your heart and on your mind. You will think and speak words that are filled with my peace. I got it. Not quite yet you don’t. There is more? Yes, there is more.

Do you want my peace to come into your life? I knew you were going to ask me that question again. I’m welcoming your peace into my life by allowing you to change my thoughts and words. What else would you like to change? It is not enough for your thoughts and words to be changed if you want to live in my peace. You must allow me to change your actions. How do you want to change my actions? I want you to put into practice all that I have been teaching you. I don’t want you to be just a hearer and speaker. I also want you to be a doer. I want you to go where I guide you. I want you to do all that I ask of you. Will you think my thoughts, speak my words and do my deeds? Yes Lord, I will. Then my peace will live and dwell in you.

Lord, I know that the world and all that is in it will never bring me peace. The world does not think your thoughts, speak your words, or do your deeds. Help me to think, speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you so that your peace can come into my life. Amen

Key Question…  How has thinking Godly thoughts brought the peace of God into your life?

Living It Out…  Allow God’s peace to come into your life as you think His thoughts, speak His words and do His deeds.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will bring peace into your life as you think His thoughts, speak His words and do His deeds.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how Godly thinking, speaking and acting has given you His peace.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May God’s peace come into your life as you think His thoughts, speak His words and do His deeds.

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

Character – Philippians 4-8-9 – Think About Such Things – 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

A Doer Who Acts

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - James 1:22-25 -A Doer Who Acts - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – James 1:22-25 – A Doer Who Acts – Growing As Disciples

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25 (ESV)  

Look Intently

I will not be only a hearer of your word. I will not be like a person who forgets what they look like immediately after looking at themselves in a mirror. I will not give your word a quick glance. I have done that with a mirror and failed to see what I needed to see. What an embarrassing experience that has been. Such embarrassing experiences have taught me to look more intently into the mirror. Life is like that. There have been times, when I have suffered embarrassment because I gave your word a quick glance and did not put it into practice. I have taken missteps, made huge mistakes and sinned against you, because I did not follow what your word had to say to me. Forgive me. You are forgiven.

What do you want to do differently? How will you make sure that you are both hearing and doing my word? How will you put my word into practice? First of all, I will look intently into your word. I will read your word. I will study your word. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will pray your word and I will put your word into practice. I will take hold of your word so that your word will take hold of me. I will allow your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. That will be very good.

What has my word done for you? Your word has helped me to know your will and walk in your ways. Your word has been molding and shaping my life. Your word has guarded and guided my life. Your word has made me able to stand against temptation and resist evil. Your word has set me free. Your word has kept me for going where I should not go. Your word has prevented me from doing what I should not do. Your word has blessed my life. Your word has helped me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That’s right. Will you continue in my word? Will you keep on putting my word into practice? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, every day I will look intently into your word. I will not forget what your word says. I will be a careful listener of your word. I will not deceive myself by thinking that it is enough to only hear your word. Help me to be both a hearer and doer of your word. Amen

Key Question… How are you being very careful to be both a hearer and doer of God’s word?

Living It Out… Allow time every day to hear God’s word so you can be a both hearer and doer of His will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your life as you hear and do His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are hearing and doing God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you, as you look intently into God’s word, be a doer who acts.

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

Discipleship – James 1-22-25 – A Doer Who Acts – 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

Fan Into Flame

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 240 - 2 Timothy 1:6-7 - Fan Into Flame - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 240 – 2 Timothy 1:6-7 – Fan Into Flame – Growing As Disciples

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)  

On Fire

That is what I want to be? What do you want to be? I want to be on fire for you. What does that mean to you? I want to boldly and passionately serve you. I want to live my life fully for you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I don’t want to hold anything in reserve. I don’t want to make any retreats. I don’t want to have any regrets. That is very good. I would like to ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. You have my full attention. What might cause you to have regrets? If I half-heartedly followed and served you, I would have regrets. Half-hearted efforts would be no way to for me to express the love I have for you. I want to passionately love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to follow and serve you with all that is within me. That is very good. I have more to say. Go ahead, I’m listening. I would also have regrets if I did not discover and use all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. It would be a tragedy to one day find out that I did not fully use all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. So, it is my prayer that you will help me to fully discover and use all the gifts you have given me so I can bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That is a very good prayer that I will hear and answer. For that, I am so very thankful. But I have more to say on this subject. I’m still listening. I would have regrets if I did not boldly use all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. I know well the difference between timidly and boldly using the spiritual gifts you have given to me. I have no interest in being timid. I want to be bold and courageous for you. I’m not exactly sure how to fan into a flame all the gifts you have given to me. But that will be the prayer of heart. Set me on fire for you. Help me to boldly serve you with all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. That is another prayer that I will hear and answer. These prayers will continually be in my heart and on my mind as I love, follow and serve you. That will be very good. You will be on fire for me.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me spiritual gifts. Help me to discover and use all the gifts you have given to me. I don’t want one gift to go undiscovered or unused. Help me to fan into flame of the gifts you have given me so that I can boldly serve you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you been able to discover and use your spiritual gifts for God’s purposes?

Living It Out…  Fan into a flame the spiritual gifts that God has given to you so you will be able to boldly serve Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to fan into a flame the spiritual gifts He has given you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are fanning into a flame the spiritual gifts given to you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you fan into flame the gifts that God has given you to boldly serve Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 240 – 2 Timothy 1-6-7 – Fan Into Flame – 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

A Workman

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Word - 2 Timothy 2:15 - A Workman - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Word – 2 Timothy 2:15 – A Workman – Growing As Disciples

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.                                  2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

A Workman 

That is exactly what I want to be. What’s that? I want to be a workman that correctly handles your word. That is a very good desire. Why do you want to be a workman that knows how to correctly handle my word? I know that the only way to live a life that is pleasing to you is to hear and obey your word. If I love you, I will obey your commandments. If I want to want to have a secure foundation for my life, I need to put your word into practice. These are all part of being a workman that correctly handles your word. That’s right.

What effort are you willing to make to become a workman that correctly handles my word? I will set aside a daily time to meet with you in your word. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. I will immerse myself in your word. I will meditate on your word day and night. I will study your word. I will memorize your word. I will hide your word in my heart, so I will not sin against you. I will allow you to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life with your word. That is very good. 

How will you allow me to use you as a workman that correctly handles my word? It is my prayer that your word working in and through my life will make me a bright and bold witness for you in the world. So, I will not keep your word as a secret. I will teach your word. I will pray your word. I will share your word with others so that they can come to know you. I know that your word will give me hope and meaning and purpose. How so? I will allow your word to guide me to where you want me to go. I will allow your word to give me what you want me to do. I will allow your word working in me to bear fruit for your kingdom so that glory can be brought to your name. That will be very good.

What can you be sure of as a workman who correctly handles my word? I will never regret following and obeying your word. I will never be embarrassed because I put your word into practice. I will live a life that will be filled with joy because I have correctly handled your word. There is no better way that I can possibly spend my time than becoming a workman who correctly handled your word. I will life a life with no regrets because I will have known you and done your will. That’s right. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will immerse myself in your word. I will let your word dwell in me richly. I will mediate on your word day and night. I will allow your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Help me to be a workman who rightly handles your word. Amen

Key Question… What strategies are you employing to grow as a workman who correctly handles God’s word?

Living It Out… Immerse yourself in God’s word so you can become a workman who correctly knows how to handle it.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to be a workman who rightly handles His word.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are like a workman who handles God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you immerse yourself in God’s word so you will become a workman who correctly handles it.

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

God’s Word – 2 Timothy 2-15 – A Workman – 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

Seek Peace And Pursue It

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 28 - 1 Peter 3:10-12 - Seek Peace And Pursue It - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 28 – 1 Peter 3:10-12 – Seek Peace And Pursue It – Growing As Disciples

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”            1 Peter 3:10-12 (NIV)

See Many Good Days

What would that look like? What would what look like? What would a good day look like? Would you like to love life and see good days? Yes of course, who wouldn’t want to love life and see many good days? Then wouldn’t it be important for you to have some idea of what a good day would look like? Yes, it would, I can see that now. Your question does make sense. Your question is worthy of considerable thought and needs a good answer. Yes, it does. I would describe a good day as one that is good and pleasing to you. It is the desire of my heart to do what is pleasing to you. If I had a day that was successful in that regard, I would call it a very good day. I would very much like to live many of those kinds of good days. Can you describe that kind of day a little more clearly? Yes, I can. If I keep my heart and mind and life away from evil that would be part of a very good day. If I turned from evil and did good, that would also be part of a very good day. If I sought peace and eagerly pursued it by working for it, that would again be part of a very good day. Basically, any good day, would be one in which I went and did your will and lived the life you are calling me to live. A good day would include bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. Most importantly, a very good day would include and require me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. None of what I have described would be remotely possible unless I lived and walked closely with you. Why is that? Apart from you, I can do nothing. Without you, living a good day would not be possible! That’s true.

I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is the desire of my heart to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. Nothing would please me more than to live out many good days with and for you. Nothing would thrill me more than for you to give me prayers to pray that would be your delight to hear and answer. Use my life for your glory. Bear fruit through my life for my kingdom. Use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Let me see many of these kinds of good days with you. Yes, you will, you can be sure of that. I will hear and answer your prayers. You will see many good days with me both now and forever. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I know your eyes are on me. You can see and hear all I think, say, and do. Help me to seek peace, do good and live a righteous life that is pleasing to you. Give me prayers to pray that it will be your delight to hear and answer. Help me to bear fruit for you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making it your continual practice to turn away from evil to do good?

Living It Out…  Make it your continual practice to seek peace, do good and live a righteous life so the Lord can answer your prayers.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers as you seek peace, do good, and live a righteous life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are seeking peace, doing good and living a righteous life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you seek peace, do good and live the righteous life the Lord has called you to live.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 28 – 1 Peter 3-10-12 – Seek Peace And Pursue It – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

What Good Is It?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 179 - James 2:14-17 - What Good Is It? - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 179 – James 2:14-17 – What Good Is It? – Growing As Disciples

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17 (NIV)

Real Faith

What do you suppose real faith looks like? Real faith is living and active. Real faith will cause me to follow you to wherever you lead me. Real faith will enable me to do whatever you ask of me. Real faith will not allow me to sit around and do nothing. If I have real faith, I will be living in an intimate relationship with you. I will hear your voice. I will follow your guidance. I will receive your instructions. I will go and do whatever you ask of me. Will faith will cause me to spring into action. That will be very good.

I have some more ideas about real faith. I have more to say about real faith. I’m listening. I have already said that real faith involves living in an intimate relationship with you. Yes, you did say that. If I have real faith, I will not run ahead of you. If I have real faith, I will not lag behind you. Real faith will keep me right beside you. I will not wander away from you to do my own thing. I will not rely on my own strength to try to accomplish your will. Real faith will prevent me from being self-reliant and self-sufficient. I will place all my faith in you. I will rely on all your help. Living my life with and for you will be the goal of my real faith in you. That will be a very good goal.

I have even more ideas about real faith. I would like to hear all your ideas about real faith. Real faith will cause me to live a life of prayer. Real faith will cause me to live a life of worship. As I live a life of real faith, I will continue to give you praise and thanksgiving as I walk through life with you. These things will all be true because you will be with me to help me. You will be near to me. I will be near to you. I will be living in an intimate, moment by moment life of real faith in you. Yes, you will. Then real life will also fill my life with peace and hope and joy as I love, follow and serve you. This is what real faith will look like. Yes, it does. Yes, it will. All my faith is you. Yes, it is. That is very good. 

Lord, you have changed the course of my life. You have given me new thoughts to think, words to speak and deeds to do. It is my pleasure and joy to follow and serve you. I will go where you guide me and do what you ask of me. Bear fruit through my life. Amen

Key Question…  When has the Lord directed you to meet the needs of someone in distress?

Living It Out…  With a heart filled with faith, go and do what the Lord asks you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will have you go and help others who are in distress.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what the lord has given you to go and do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your faith be accompanied by action.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 179 – James 2-14-17 – What Good Is It? – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Humble Yourselves

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Mixed Emotions - 1 Peter 5:6-7 - Humble Yourselves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Mixed Emotions – 1 Peter 5:6-7 – Humble Yourselves – Growing As Disciples

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

My Anxiety

I would have never guessed the true source of my anxiety. What’s the true source of your anxiety? I’m not absolutely positive that I am correct. But, it seems to me that pride is the true source of my anxiety. How is pride the true source of your anxiety? Well, my pride has told me that I can handle every problem and that I can work my way out of every difficult circumstance. My pride has told me to keep my problems and difficult circumstances to myself. My pride has told me that I should not want or need help from anyone. So, I should not ask anyone for any help of any kind. Does that include me? I’m embarrassed to say, yes, it has included you. That’s not good. No, it’s not.

How has not wanting or needing or asking for any help of any kind worked out for you? Not well, at all. Pridefully trying to be self-sufficient and self-reliant has only served to fill my life full of anxiety. That should come as no surprise to you. Why is that? Do you think I made you to be self-sufficient and self-reliant? No, I don’t think so, I doubt it. Do you think I made you to live in close and intimate relationships with others and with me? Yes, I do. Would you live in close and intimate relationships with others and me if you never needed any help of any kind? Knowing myself, I would say, no, not ever. Then your needing help is a good thing? Then your needing to rely on me is a very good thing? Yes, it is. I can see that now. 

Will you ask for help? Will you come to rely on me? Will you cast all your anxieties on me? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will ask you for your help. I will come to rely on you. I will cast all my anxieties on you. What will happen to you when you do these things? I will be helped. I will be relieved. The pressure and anxiety that has been filling my life will be released. I will be filled with peace and calm and joy. Why is that? You will be helping me. You will be lifting me up. You will be encouraging me. Why will I be doing all of these things for you? You love and care for me. Yes, I do. You can be sure of that.

Heavenly Father, I have pridefully thought I could handle every problem and work my way out of every difficult circumstance. I was wrong. My pride only served to fill my life full of anxiety. Now, I will humbly cast all my cares on you. I know you care for me. Amen

Key Question…  When has prideful self-reliance caused your life to be filled with anxiety?

Living It Out…  Humble yourself before God so you can cast all your anxieties on Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will lift you up, in due time, as you humble yourself before Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how humility has helped you to cast your anxieties on God.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you humble yourself before God by casting all your anxieties on Him.

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

Mixed Emotions – 1 Peter 5-6-7- Humble Yourselves – 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

Salt Of The Earth

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 210 - Matthew 5:13-16 - Salt Of The Earth - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 210 – Matthew 5:13-16 – Salt Of The Earth – Growing As Disciples

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on. “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 (NCV)

Salt And Light

I want to be like salt for you in the world. What does that mean? You’re asking me that question. Yes, I am asking that question. I thought you might tell me what that means. No, I would prefer to hear from you. I want to season the world with your flavor so that people will be attracted to you. I want to flavor the world with all your goodness. I want others to fully taste of your goodness by the flavor that you bring out of my life. That’s good. What else? I want my life to act as a preservative that will prevent the world from falling into corruption and experiencing decay, as I live the life you have called me to live, by going and doing all that you ask of me. I expect that you will use me to right wrongs. I expect that you will use me flight injustice. I expect that you will give me good deeds to do for you that will bring praise and glory to your name.  Yes, I will. What else?

I also want to be like a light in the world. What does that mean? I want to shine brightly for you in the darkness of this world. I want your light in me to overcome the darkness of the world. I want you to use me to change what is not good and right and pleasing to you. I want you to use me to overturn what is evil and establish what is right. I want others to see your kindness and mercy and love through the testimony of my life. I want your light in me to draw others to you. I want a multitude to come to know and love and follow and serve you because they see you in me. That will be very good. I will use you to be my salt and light in the world.  You will help a multitude to taste and see my goodness. You will help a multitude to come to know me. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I want to be used as your salt and light in the world. Help me to bring the flavor of you to everyone I meet. Help me to shine your light in the world so many will come to know, love and follow you. Use my life to do good deeds that brings glory to you. Amen

Key Question… How has the flavor of your life helped others to taste the goodness of the Lord?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to use you as His salt and light in the world so that others will be drawn to Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to be used by Him as His salt and light in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to be his salt and light in the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life be like salt and light that helps others to taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

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

Day 210 – Becoming Like Christ – Matthew 5-13-16 – Salt Of The Earth – 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