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.

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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

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

Do Not Worry About Your Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - Matthew 6:25-27 - Do Not Worry About Your Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Matthew 6:25-27 – Do Not Worry About Your Life – Growing As Disciples

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV) 

Faith And Trust

Don’t worry. That’s easier said than done. How has worrying about tomorrow added value to your life today? It hasn’t, what do you suggest? What I have in mind is not a suggestion. You have let worry control your life for far too long. Yes, I have, I’m sure of that. What’s the alternative? You tell me. I will tell you what has not worked. What’s that? I have turned my worries into greater anxiety and harder work. Has that helped? No, it hasn’t, not at all. No matter how hard I try I just cant stop worrying. Maybe you should try a different approach. Like what? Would you like to stop worrying? Yes, I would. Are you ready to admit that worrying is a real problem in your life? Yes, I am. I can’t tell you how many opportunities I’ve passed up or avoided because of one kind of worry or another. You think I don’t know? No, I’m sure that you know. So, you want to stop worrying? You bet, I do.

Do you think I have been telling you to just stop worrying? Isn’t that what you have been telling me? No, not really. Without a doubt I want you to stop worrying. Make no mistake about that. I’m really confused. What are some words that you think of when you think of the opposite of worry? I think of faith and trust primarily. What would you do if you had complete faith and trust in me? I’m not sure what you mean. If you had complete faith and trust in me would you talk to me about your worries? Yes, I would. If you had complete faith and trust in me would you believe that I will hear and answer your prayers? Yes, I would. If you had complete faith in trust in me would you believe that I will sustain your life and make you able to do whatever I ask of you? Yes, I would.

So, if I’m not telling you to simply stop worrying what do you think I might be saying to you? You are asking me to place all my faith and trust in you. Yes, I am. You are asking me to talk to you about all my worries. Yes, I am. You are asking me to turn every one of my worries into a prayer to you. Yes, I am. You are asking me to believe that you will hear and answer my prayers. Yes, I am. You are asking me to believe that you will give me whatever I need to do whatever you ask of me. Yes, I am.

Why is that? I will be able to overcome worry because you are with me to help me. Yes, I am. How often am I with you to help you? You are with me to help me all the time. Yes, I am and you have no need to worry and every reason to have faith and trust in me. Yes, I do and yes I will have faith and trust in you.

Heavenly Father, in the past I have turned my worries into greater anxiety and harder work. I have lived a stress filled life. I have not trusted you or relied on your help. Forgive me. I will stop worrying and start praying. I will turn my worries into prayers to you. Amen

Key Question… When have you turned your worries into prayers to your Heavenly Father?

Living It Out… Learn to trust your Heavenly Father and rely on His help by turning all your worries into prayers to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will hear and answer your prayers as you trust Him and rely on His help.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how praying to your Heavenly Father has released you from worry.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life be released from stress and anxiety as you turn your worries into prayers to the Lord.

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

Life – Matthew 6-25-27 – Do Not Worry About Your Life– 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Wash One Another’s Feet

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - John 13:14-17 - Blessing - Wash One Another's Feet - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – John 13:14-17 – Blessing – Wash One Another’s Feet – Growing As Disciples

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:14-17 (NIV)

An Example

I am your Lord and teacher. Will you humble yourself before me and allow me to teach you? Will you love like I loved? Will you give like I gave? Will you serve like I served? Don’t be quick to say that you will. I want you to be very sure of your answer. Why is that? The decision you make now will help you to make all your subsequent decisions. Say a firm and sure yes to me now and all your subsequent decisions to say yes to me will come much easier, without a lot of internal debate. So, you are not really asking me to say yes just for now? No, I am not. You are asking me for a lifetime of yeses to you. Yes, I am.

Is there anyone that you are unwilling to serve? Is there something that you will not do for me? Is there some place I cannot send you? Do you have a line in the sand that you will not cross? Could I ever ask too much of you? Don’t say anything to me just yet.

Have I held myself back from you? Has there ever been anything that I was not willing to do for you? Was there ever anyplace that I would not go for you? Was there ever a line in the sand that I would not cross for you? Was any request, by my Father, on your behalf, ever too much for me? No, you gave yourself fully and completely for me.

I have set before you an example. Will you humble yourself before me and serve others? Will you lay down your life so that others can live? Will you be my witness in the world? Yes Lord, I will. Is this a one time yes or a lifetime of you continually saying yes to me? I’m saying yes to you today, tomorrow and forever. I will go where you guide me to do all that you ask of me.

Was this a hard decision for you? No Lord, it was not. Why is that? I know that as I humbly serve you and others you will richly bless my life. It will be my joy to bring glory to your name. You made me for this purpose. You have designed me according to your plan. I will be doing what is the desire of my heart that has come from you to me as a gift. Yes, you will.

Lord, thank you for setting before me a very clear example I can follow. Help me to humble myself to wholeheartedly serve other people. Bless my life as I bring glory to your name by loving as you loved and giving as you gave.  Amen

Key Question… What blessings has the Lord brought into your life through your humble service to others?

Living It Out… Let the Lord use your life as a shining example of humility and service to other people.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless your life as you humbly serve other people.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to humbly serve another person.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you humble yourself before the Lord your teacher and example so that He can use you to serve others.

Blessing – John 13-14-17 – Wash One Another’s Feet – 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                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Built His House On A Rock

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Built His House On The Rock - Matthew 7:24-27 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Built His House On The Rock – Matthew 7:24-27 – Growing As Disciples

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Firm Foundation

Storms are certain in this life. They come to everyone. Sometimes you can see them coming from a great distance. At other times they will come when you least expect them and they will take you completely by surprise. Storms come in all different shapes and sizes. Something that seems so tame, safe and harmless can cause a great storm in your life. Sometimes your own careless, inattentive actions or lack of action can bring a storm upon you. Many storms just happen. You have no control over them and they aren’t your fault. No matter what the size, shape or cause of a storm, you can be certain that they will beat on your life. How will your life stand up under a heavy storm? Are you prepared to face them?

Would you like to know how to stand up under a heavy storm in life? Yes Lord, I would. Take a lesson from the expert builder. The most important part of his project is the foundation. If the foundation isn’t right, the rest of the structure won’t matter. The house can look magnificent in every detail but if the foundation is not secure, it will one day collapse like a house of cards when a storm beats against it. Would you like your life to have a secure foundation anchored in rock that will be able to withstand all the storms of life? Yes Lord, I definitely would like that.

I am the expert builder. My words are the ingredients of a secure foundation. My words are as hard as rock. You can anchor your life in me and my words. How do I do that Lord? There are two different ways to hear in life. One person hears my words and considers them to be interesting. They file my words away along with all the other words that they hear from the world. They pick and choose the words that they will put into practice based on their own thoughts, opinions, feelings, and desires. Usually my words end up a distant second place in their life, never to be put into practice. This person is building their life on the sand. Their life will collapse under a heavy storm. You don’t want that. No Lord, I don’t.

What does the other hearer do differently? The other hearer listens carefully to my words and puts them into practice. My words have final authority in their life. They don’t pick and choose what they like to hear and want to put into practice. Sometimes my word will be hard for them to hear. It will challenge their thoughts, words and actions. Often times my word will guide them to live in ways that are distinctly different than those in the world around them. Despite all the demand and challenges of my words, they are committed to following and obeying me no matter the cost to them personally. These followers of mine are building a secure foundation in me that will be able to withstand all the storms of life. Is that what you want? Will you put my words into practice in your life? Yes Lord, I will. Very good, follow me.

Lord, thank you that you are working in me, on and through me. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. I want my life to be built on you and your words. Construct my life according to your purposes and plans. Amen

Key Question…  How has knowing Jesus Christ and putting His word into practice been building the foundation of your life?

Living It Out…  Make every effort to hear and put Christ’s word into practice so that you can have a firm foundation in Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that Jesus Christ will securely build your life as you hear and put His words into practice.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are daily hearing and putting Christ’s word in practice.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you have a firm foundation in Christ as you hear His word and put it into practice.

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

Wisdom – Matthew 7-24-27 – Firm Foundation – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Double Minded Man

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - James 1:6-8 - Double Minded Man - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – James 1:6-8 – Double Minded Man – Growing As Disciples

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:6-8 (NIV)

Ask For More

It does no good to pray prayers filled with doubt. Why would you even bother praying to me if you did not believe that I would hear and answer your prayers? That’s a good question. There is the opposite side of that question. What’s that? If you believe that I will hear and answer your prayers why don’t you come and ask me for more? You want me to ask you for more than I am already asking of you? Do you think that you have been asking for a lot from me? That’s what I thought. Isn’t that something? You think you are asking for a lot from me. I think you are asking for very little from me. Who do you suppose is right? There is no chance that I am right. If you say that I am asking for very little from you then that has to be right. Why do you suppose you haven’t been asking me for more? That’s a good question.

I know that my prayer life is weak and not very well developed. I’ll start right there. I want you to enroll me in your school of prayer. I want you to teach me how to pray. I want you to guide my prayers. I want your help to know how to pray. I want to be able to pray powerful and effective prayers that bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be able to pray faith filled prayers that you hear and powerfully answer. I want you to fully develop a prayer life within me. I want to be able to hear your voice. I want you to be able to hear my voice. I don’t want anything to stand in the way. I don’t want anything to come between us. I don’t want anything to hinder my prayer life with you. I want to continually live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I want to know you. I don’t want to sort of know you. I want to really know you. I want to do your will. I don’t want to sort of do your will. I want to fully do your will. That’s very good.

Lets talk about being double minded. I’m listening. I don’t want any of that. I want to be fully devoted to you. I want to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I don’t want to hold anything in reserve. I don’t want to ever retreat. I don’t want to live with any regrets. There is one thing I know for certain. What’s that? I will need your help. You can make me faithful. You can help me to walk intimately with you. You can keep me on track. Yes, I can.

There is another thing I want to ask from you. What’s that? I want my faith to be strong. I don’t want to have a weak and wimpy faith. I want to have a giant amount of faith in you. I want to be able to do whatever you ask of me. There is one more thing. What’s that? I do believe that you will hear and answer these prayers of mine. I have no doubts. I have no questions. I will also start asking for more from you. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that you hear and answer prayer. I believe that you will hear and answer my prayers. Help me to keep on coming to you to pray for all that I need from you. I will be patient and persistent in my prayers. I will believe and not doubt, as I trust you. Amen

Key Question… What can you expect to receive from the Lord when you prayers that are filled with doubt?

Living It Out…  Pray faith filled prayers to the Lord asking all that you need from Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you can ask and receive from God all that you need from Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group answers to prayer that you have received from the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you pray faith filled prayers to the Lord to ask for all that you need from Him.

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

The Mind – James 1-6-8 – Double Minded Man – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Endure Hardship With Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Endure Hardship With Us - 2 Timothy 2:3-7 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Endure Hardship With Us – 2 Timothy 2:3-7 – Growing As Disciples

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:3-7 

All That You Ask Of Me

What does a good soldier look like to you? A good soldier is well trained. Have I been training you? Yes, you have. What else? A good soldier is strong and determined to complete his mission. He has a singular focus and is not distracted by civilian affairs. His desire is to please his commanding officer by following the orders that he has been given. No amount of adversity or hardship will cause him to withdraw from what he has been called upon to do. He will never give up. How about you? Are you this good soldier? Will you follow me with that kind of determination? Don’t answer me yet. I have more to ask of you.

What does an elite athlete look like to you? An elite athlete has a vigorous and balanced training regime that includes exercise, rest and healthy nutrition. How balanced has your training schedule been as you have followed me? I have had a hard time staying in balance. What do you mean by that? There have been many times when I have over trained and allowed myself to become weary and worn out. That’s where you are right now isn’t it? Yes, I suppose that it is. There have been plenty of other times when I have not trained hard enough. I’ve been pretty lax about my growing, following and serving you. But, not now? No, not now. Aren’t you missing something that almost all elite athlete’s have? What’s that? Don’t they all have a coach to help guide them in their training? Yes, they do. Who is your coach? You are my coach. Yes, I am. Will you allow me to guide your training as you follow me? Yes, I will. Are you sure? Yes, I am. You won’t try to take control of your own training? No, not anymore. I’ve tried that and it doesn’t work out very well.

What does a diligent farmer look like to you? A diligent farmer labors with great perseverance until he receives a crop. He keeps patiently working until he sees the fruit of his labors. He is patient because he knows that he will reap what he sows in due time. Do you have the patience of a diligent farmer? I’m afraid that I don’t. So often I want more immediate results. It’s hard for me to wait until the time of reaping. Do you believe that one day I will reward you for all the labor that you have done for me in this life? Yes Lord, I do.

So let me ask you these questions. Go ahead. Will you serve me with the singleness of mind of a good soldier so that you will be able to fight the good fight of faith? Will you allow me to coach and train you so that you will be able to run the race I have laid out for you? Will you persevere as a diligent farmer so that you will be able to reap a rich harvest and enjoy the fruit of your labors? Yes Lord, I will. I know that I can rely on you to help me to be and do all that you are asking of me. Yes, you can.

Lord, it is you that gives me strength to endure hardship. Help me to keep moving forward with you like a focused soldier, a committed athlete and a hard working farmer. I want to live a life bearing an abundance of fruit for you.  Amen

Key Question…  What kind of hardships have you suffered and endured as a good soldier of Jesus Christ?

Living It Out…  Commit yourself to following and serving the Lord with all the strength and endurance He will give to you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that all your endurance and faithful service to Christ will be rewarded when you meet Him in heaven.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how Christ is bearing fruit through your enduring faithfulness to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May the Lord give you strength to endure hardship as you faithfully serve Him; bearing fruit for His kingdom.

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

Spiritual Warfare – 2 Timothy 2-3-7 – Endure Hardship With Us – 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

Imitators Of God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Identity - Ephesians 5:1-2 - Imitators Of God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Identity – Ephesians 5:1-2 – Imitators Of God – Growing As Disciples

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

A Fragrant Offering

What would you do if you wanted to imitate me? How would your life look different if you went and did what I did? How would your thoughts and words and deeds change if you followed my example? Let me start of by emphatically saying one thing. What’s that? There is no “if” involved in my answer. I thought so. I want to imitate you. I want to go and do what you did. I want my life to be changed. I want to think your thoughts. I want to speak your words, I want to do your deeds. I know this to be true about you. Hearing you say that, encourages my heart. That’s good. I want you to be encouraged and strengthened in your desire to imitate me.

Now, I will attempt to answer your question about how I will start imitating you. There is only one way to start imitating you. What do you mean by that? My focus should start off with why you did what you did and not on what you did. Explain that. You gave yourself up as a fragrant offering to God. You poured yourself out in service to others. Yes, I did. But your giving yourself as a fragrant offering to God and pouring yourself out in service to others started with your love for Him. You loved God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, that is true. You lived in a close and intimate relationship with God. You drew near to Him as He drew near to you. You hungered and thirsted for Him. You lived and dwelt in His presence. You lived your life in a constant dialogue with Him. You listened to His voice. You followed His guidance. You fulfilled His purposes and accomplished His plans. Yes, I did. That is what I will imitate. That is what I want. That is the desire of my heart. That is what I hunger and thirst for. I want to live in the same intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father that you lived and walked in. I want to know Him. I want Him to know me. I want to love Him with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Then I want to go wherever he guides me to do whatever He asks of me. Then I will fulfill His purposes and accomplish His plans. Then I will offer myself as a fragrant offering to Him. Then I will pour myself out in service to others. Yes, you will and that will be very good.

Father, thank you that I am your child. Your love has changed me. No longer do I want to live for myself. Instead I want to live as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to you as I give your love and my life to others just as Christ did. Amen

Key Question…  What example has Jesus Christ set forward for you to imitate?

Living It Out…  Be an imitator of Christ by giving yourself as a fragrant offering to God as you love and serve others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to imitate Him by offering yourself to God as a fragrant offering.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has guided you to give your love and life to others.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you imitate Christ by loving God and giving your life in service to Him.

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

Identity – Ephesians 5-1-2 – Imitators Of God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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