Monthly Archives: March 2022

Ask – Receive

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask - Receive - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – Matthew 7:7-8 – Ask – Receive – Growing As Disciples

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Ask Me 

I haven’t been doing that. You haven’t been doing what? I haven’t been asking you for all that I need from you. I’ve noticed. That comes as no big surprise to me. Why do you think I want you to come and ask me for all that you need? I’m not sure. I could give you everything you need without you asking me for anything. I know more about what you need than you know about what you need. I do want you to come and ask me for all that you need. You don’t have a clue why that might be? Not really. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. You have children. Do you like it when they come and ask you for what they need? Yes, I do. Why is that? I enjoy meeting their needs. It gives me great pleasure to see their joy when I have met a need of theirs. How would you feel if your children never came to ask you for what they needed? I would feel sad about that. I would think that something was wrong with our relationship. I would wonder why they weren’t asking me to help them with what they need. What answers would you come up with? I would wonder if they thought I wasn’t interested in meeting their needs. I would wonder if they thought I wasn’t able to meet their needs. Neither of those thoughts would be true. No, they would not be true. I am both interested in and able to meet the needs of my children. Do you believe that I am interested in and able to meet your needs? Yes, I believe that you are interested in and able to meet my needs. Will you come to me to ask me for all that you need? Yes, I will. That’s good.

I have another question to ask you. Do you give your children everything they ask for when they ask for it? No, I don’t give my children everything they want. Why not? There are lots of reasons. Let me hear them. Sometimes they ask for something that will not be good for them. Sometimes they ask for something before they are ready for it. Sometimes I want to know how seriously they want something. Have you ever wondered why I haven’t immediately answered your prayers? Yes, I have wondered why you haven’t answered my prayers. Your answers are my answers. My answers to your prayers will always be yes, no, or not yet. When you have not received an answer to your prayer what will you do? I will keep on praying. I will keep on asking. I will keep on seeking. I will keep on knocking. That will be very good.

Lord, I know I have seldom asked you for what I have needed. Forgive me. Now, I will keep on asking. Now I will keep on seeking. Now I will keep on knocking. I will be persistent in my prayers by continuing to ask you for all I need. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it the rhythm of your life to ask the Lord for what you need from Him?

Living It Out… Make it the rhythm of your life to keep on asking the Lord for what you need from Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers as you keep on asking Him for what you need.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group something you are asking the Lord for right now.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask the Lord for all that you need from Him.

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

Rhythms – Matthew 7-7-8- Ask – Receive – 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

Received The Word

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - 1 Thessalonians 2:13 - Received The Word - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – Received The Word – Growing As Disciples

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) 

Received

That is a very important word. What’s that? Received, is a very important word. How so? I will ask you a few questions to help you understand the importance of the word, received. Go ahead, I’m listening. It is very good that you are listening. Here are my questions. How are you receiving my word into your life? How has receiving my word into your life allowed me to use my word to work in your life? How have I used my word to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life? How are your thoughts, words and deeds different because my word has been working in you? How has the entire course of your life changed because my word has been working in you? What will happen to your life if you do not continue to receive my word into it? You have asked a lot of questions. You can start answering them now.

I will start by answering your first and last questions. That’s great. I am meeting with your word. I have set apart a time and a place to meet every day with you in your word. I am meditating on your word day and night. I am letting your word dwell in me richly. How so? I am reading your word. I am studying your word. I am meditating on and memorizing your word. I am praying your word. I am proclaiming your word to others. I am taking a firm hold of your word so that it takes a firm hold of me. What do you mean by that? Well, in every way possible I am receiving your word into my life and then I am putting it into practice as I love, follow and serve you. That is very good. What would happen if you didn’t receive my word into your life and then put into practice? That was your last question. Yes, it was. Your working in my life will be hindered and short circuited if I don’t receive your word into my life and then put it into practice. That’s true.

What kind of work has my word been doing in you? Your word has been changing my heart, transforming my mind and guiding my life. How so? Your word has broken me free from bondages that once entangled my life. Your word has made me able to stand against evil and resist temptation. Your word has given me new thoughts to think, words to speak and deeds to do. Your word has set me on fire to want to know and do your will. Your word has given me a passion to want to do what is pleasing to you. Your word has changed the entire course of my life. Yes, it has.  Keep on receiving my word into your life. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. Daily I am receiving your word into my life. Use your word to do your work in my life. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Thank you for molding and shaping me with your word. Amen

Key Question… How are your thoughts, words, and deeds different because God’s word has been working in you?

Living It Out… Give thanks to God that as you receive His word into your life it is doing His work in you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will do its work in you as you receive it into your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are receiving God’s word into your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you receive God’s word into your heart and mind and life so it can work in you.

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

Gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 2-13 – Received The Word – 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

Meditation Of My Heart

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Meditation - Psalm 19:14 - Meditation Of My Heart - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Meditation – Psalm 19:14 – Meditation Of My Heart – Growing As Disciples

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Words

What words are you allowing your heart to think? What words are you allowing your mouth to speak? Do you think that the thoughts you think and the words you speak are pleasing to me? I know that my thoughts and words fall far short of what is pleasing to you. I feel powerless to change my thoughts and words so that they are pleasing to you. That is a good thought. That thought pleases me. How does my thought please you? You know that you cannot think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to me without my help. You are powerless to change your thoughts and words without my help. Where does that leave me? That leaves you needing my help.

How will you help me to think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to you? That is a very good and important question. I have one tool and one way that I will change the thoughts you think and the words you speak. You have my full attention. I’m listening very carefully to all that you want to say to me. That’s good. Hear me clearly say this to you, my word will change the thoughts that you think and the words that you speak. How so? My Holy Spirit will use my word to change your heart and transform your mind. My word will help you to think my thoughts and speak my words. I’m not sure that I understand. My word is like a sword in the Holy Spirit’s hand. The sword of my Holy Spirit will fight in you, with you and for you. Then I will not be powerless in the battle over the thoughts of heart and the words of my mouth. No, you will not be powerless in the battle over the thoughts of your heart and the words of your mouth because you will not be fighting alone. I like that.

I want you to notice one more important point. What’s that? You are in the battle. You are in the fight. What does that mean? You must engage in the battle over the thoughts of your heart and the words of your mouth. How do I do that? I have told you that my Holy Spirit will take my word and use it to fight in you, with you and for you. Yes, I heard you say that. I will ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. How will you place my word in the hand of my Holy Spirit so He has a sword to fight in you, with you and for you? I think I understand. If I don’t know your word, the Holy Spirit will have no sword in His hand for me. In order to place the sword of the word in the Holy Spirit’s hand I need to know your word. I need to meet with you in your word. I need to meditate to on your word. I need to let your word dwell in me richly. Will you meet with me in my word? Will you meditate on my word? Will you let my word dwell in you richly? Yes, Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, as I meet with you in your word I ask you to change my heart and thoughts and words. I trust you because you are my rock and redeemer. Thank you for making my heart and life new so that I can think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question… When do you meditate on God’s word so He can use it to change your thoughts and words?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to change the thoughts of your heart and words of your mouth as you meditate on His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will change the thoughts of your heart and words of your mouth as you meditate on His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used His word to change your thoughts and words.

Prayer To Bless Others… May the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be pleasing to the Lord.

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

Meditate – Psalm 19-14 – Meditation Of My Heart – 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

Imitate Their Faith

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Hebrews 13:7 - Imitate Their Faith- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Hebrews 13:7 – Imitate Their Faith- Growing As Disciples

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)

Worth Imitating

Well, that would be something. I can’t see how that would be possible. What are you talking about? The idea that someone should imitate me seems pretty far-fetched. Why is that? I am not living a life that is worthy of being imitated. Are you sure? Are you absolutely positive that your life is not worth imitating? When you start asking me questions like that I’m not sure of anything. Why is that? You have a way of teaching me something new that starts out with you asking me a lot of questions. In many cases, at many times, your questions are your way of challenging my thinking. I’m glad that you have started to notice a little bit of a pattern. You must want to teach me something new, am I right? Yes, you are right.

You are living a life that is worthy of imitating. How can that be? Are you ready for me to ask you a lot of questions? Yes, I am. You confess your sins to me, isn’t that true? Yes, I do confess my sins to you. I don’t deny or try to hide my sins from you. That would be foolish. I need your forgiveness and cleansing. Yes, you do. You have left your old life of sin behind and are determined to follow and serve me, isn’t that true? Yes, there is nothing I would rather do than follow you to where you lead me to do what you ask of me. You are following and serving me because you love me, isn’t that true? Yes, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I love you because you first loved me. It is my joy to follow and serve you because I love you. That’s very good.  You are making it your daily practice to draw near to me as I draw near to you. Every day, you are meeting with me in my word, isn’t that true? Yes, I am drawing near to you to meet with you in your word. I also draw near to you in worship and prayer. You are discovering your spiritual gifts and are using them to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name, isn’t that true? Yes, it is the desire of my heart to fulfill your purposes and accomplish your plans. One day, I want to her you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s great. Are you starting to see why your life is worth imitating? But, I’m not perfect. No, you are not perfect. If you thought you were perfect your life would not be worth imitating. Will you rely on me to make your life worth imitating? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for bringing spiritual leaders into my life to share your word with me. Their witness has encouraged and spurred me on in my faith. Help me to follow their example so I can encourage and spur others on in their faith. Amen

Key Question… How has remembering the life of one of your spiritual leaders encouraged and spurred you on in your faith?

Living It Out… Remember the spiritual leaders that have had an influence in your life so that you can be encouraged by their faith.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has brought spiritual leaders into your life to encourage and spur you on in your faith.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are remembering and imitating the faith of spiritual leaders.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live a life of faith that is worthy of being imitated.

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

Faith – Hebrews 13-7 – Imitate Their Faith – 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 Do You Want Me To Do?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Mark 10:51-52 - What Do You Want Me To Do?- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Mark 10:51-52 – What Do You Want Me To Do?- Growing As Disciples

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:51-52 (NIV)

Want?

What do you want me to do for you? That’s a good question. I’m not sure what I want you to do for me. How will you be able to ask me for what you want if you don’t even know what you want? I can see the problem. Let me start with what I know I want right now. I want to know you. I want to love, follow, and serve you. I want to live my life passionately for you. I want to be on fire for you. I want to shine brightly for you as your witness in the world. I want to do what pleases you. I want to do the good works that you have prepared in advance for me to do for you. When I say that I don’t know what I want, these things are not in question. I am certain that I want all of these things. That is very good.

Can I ask what you want for me? Yes, you can ask that question. You can ask me any question. My answer won’t surprise you. Why is that? The things that you want are what I want for you. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. If you had everything that you were certain you wanted from me would that be enough for you? Having all that I am certain I want from you would be more than enough for me. I would want or need nothing else. I would be completely satisfied both now and forever. There is something else that I want from you. What’s that? I want you to come to ask me for all that you want and need. Ask me for these things you know you want now. Ask me for all that you will need as you live your life with and for me.

Will you come to ask me for all that you want? Will you ask me specifically for all that you need? Yes Lord, I will come to ask you for all I want and need. What do you want to ask me for right now? I want to ask you to help me to know, love, follow and serve you. I want to ask you to set me on fire for you so I can passionately serve you as a bright and shinning witness in the world. I want to ask you to help me to know and do what pleases you. I want to ask you to make me able to do the good works that you have prepared in advance for me to do for you. I want you to help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Most of all I want to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I am now asking you for all these things. These are all excellent prayers. Do you believe that I will hear and answer all these prayers of yours? Yes Lord, I believe that you will hear and answer all these prayers of mine. That’s very good. I will.

Lord, my prayers have been so general. Sometimes I’m not even sure what I was asking you to do for me. Teach me how to pray by asking you for specifically what I need. When you meet my specific need I will know you have heard and answered my prayer. Amen

Key Question… What are some specific needs you would like to make known to the Lord right now?

Living It Out… Cry out to the Lord in prayer to make your specific needs known to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith to keep on praying for the Lord to meet your specific needs.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group a specific need that you are asking the Lord to meet.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask the Lord for what you specifically want and need from Him.

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

Prayer – Mark-10-51-52 – What Do You Want Me To Do?- 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

Praise The Lord O My Soul

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Prayer Filled Life - Day 105 - Psalm 103:1-5 - Praise The Lord O My Soul - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 105 – Psalm 103:1-5 – Praise The Lord O My Soul – Growing As Disciples

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,  who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,  who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV)

Praise You

That is what I will now do. What will you now do? I will give all my praise and thanks to you. With all my heart and soul and entire being I will pour out praise and thanks and worship to you. With will gratitude, and not halfhearted words, I give you thanks and praise and worship for who you are and what you have done for me. What have I done for you? Who am I to you? You are my redeemer. You redeemed my life from the pit. You pulled my life out of the muck and mire. You rescued me from a life without you. You are my healer. You have healed me of my diseases. You revived, refreshed, restored, and healed my bruised and battered and broken life. Now, I can walk and not grow weary. Now, I can run and not faint. Now, I can soar with you like an eagle. You have given me your power and strength with which I can and will love and follow and serve you. You are my Heavenly Father. You have made me to be your child. You have adopted me into your family. You have made me to be your very own. You have crowned my life with you love and compassion. You are my provider. You have both given and granted to me the desires of my heart. What is the greatest desire of your heart? It is the greatest desire of my heart to know and love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. I could not want or ask for anything better. But you have also given me far more than I could have ever asked for, dreamed of, or even imagined. The best of which is, one day I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Yes, you will. In the meantime, I will remember you for who are and what you have done for me by giving to you all my thanks and praise and worship. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord! Praise you, Lord!

Lord, you have been so good to me. You have showered my life with your blessing. You have redeemed my life. You have forgiven my sins and healed my diseases. You have shown me your love and compassion. You have renewed my life. You have all my praise! Amen 

Key Question…  Why is it critically important that you continue to remember and give thanks to God for all His benefits?

Living It Out…  Make giving praise and thanks to God a daily part of your life with Him

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will revive, refresh, and restore your soul as you give praise and thanks to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has satisfied your desires and given you good things.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you give praise and thanks to the Lord for who He is and what He has done.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 105 – Psalm 103-1-5 – Praise The Lord O My Soul – 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