Monthly Archives: July 2022

Helps Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 276 - Romans 8:26-27- Helps Us - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 276 – Romans 8:26-27 – Helps Us – Growing As Disciples

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

Weak Or Strong?

There is no doubt about that. There is no doubt about what? I am weak. How are you weak? How much time do you have? I could go on and on about how weak I am. That wouldn’t be a bad exercise. Why is that? You don’t need to worry so much about your weaknesses. When you should begin to worry is when you begin to think you are strong. Why is that? What do you do when you know you are weak? I come to rely on you. I ask you for your help. What do you do when you begin to think that you are strong? I rely on my own gifts and talents and abilities. I try to go and do your will with my own efforts. You do now see the problem, don’t you? Yes, I do.

You had a very specific weakness in mind when you said there was no doubt about your weakness. Yes, I did. Tell me about the weakness you had in mind. I can’t tell you how often I have not known how to pray. Does that seem like a weakness to you? Yes, it does. Are you sure about that? No, I’m not. If you haven’t known how to pray what have you done? If you don’t know how to pray what will you do? If I don’t know how to pray, I will ask you to show me how to pray. That is what I have done and that is what I will do. When have you been so sure of how to pray that you didn’t need to ask me to show you how to pray? When have you not needed me to guide your prayers? You’ve got me there. I can’t say that I have ever not needed you to guide my prayers. I have always and will always need you to show me how to pray. Yes, you will.  Wouldn’t needing and relying on my help be more of a strength than a weakness? Yes, it would. Wouldn’t relying on yourself to come up with your own prayers to pray be more of weakness? Yes, it would. Aren’t you strongest when you rely on me? Yes, I am. Aren’t you weakest when you rely on yourself? Yes, I am. So, what will you do? I will rely on you to show me how to pray. I will let you guide my prayers. That will be very good.  

Holy Spirit, often I have no idea how to pray. I have no thoughts to think or words to say. I am left speechless, which is a good thing. I will rely on you to teach me how to pray. Guide my prayers. Intercede for me. Bring my prayers into alignment with God’s will. Amen

Key Question… When have you been so deeply disturbed by a situation that your prayers were like groaning?

Living It Out… Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers so that they will be in alignment with God’s will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will guide your prayers so that they will come into alignment with God’s will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has been teaching you how to pray.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Holy Spirit to show you how to pray in and through your weakness.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 276 – Romans 8-26-27 – Helps 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

Work Out Your Salvation

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 277 - Philippians 2:12-13 - Work Out Your Salvation - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 277 – Philippians 2:12-13 – Work Out Your Salvation – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

Work Out

I will start at the beginning. What beginning? The beginning of my salvation. The start of my faith in you. Why is that important? I don’t want there to be any confusion. I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding. I want to keep the truth in the forefront of my mind. I want to hold the truth firmly in my heart. What is the truth? You secured my salvation for me. Your death on the cross paid for my sins. You have forgiven me of my sin and cleansed me of my unrighteousness. I cannot possibly earn or merit your salvation. Your salvation has come to me as a gift. You rescued me from a life without you. You helped me to turn away from my sin so I could begin to love and follow and serve you. You have restored my soul. You are now leading me on the path of righteousness. You have adopted me in your family. I am your child. You have filled me with your spirit. I am now living out, or working out, the new life of salvation you have given me to live. Yes, you are.  I must never think that I have done, am doing, or could do anything to earn or merit your salvation. That is true.

But now it is time for me to keep on living out or working out my life of salvation. You have places for me to go. You have things for me to do. Yes, I do. So, what will living out or working out your salvation look like? How will you live out or work out your life of salvation? I will live in an intimate relationship with you. I will draw near to you. You will draw near to me. Yes, I will. I will meet with you in your word. I will meet with you in worship. I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in service. I will live my life in a constant dialogue with you. I will live to do what is good and right and pleasing to you. You will help me to know and do your will. Yes, I will. You will mold and shape my life as I continue to live out and work out the life of salvation you have given me to live with and for you. That will be very good. Yes, it will.

Lord, it is the desire of my heart to both know and do what is pleasing to you. Do your work in me. Help me to exercise my faith. Give me the strength to know and do your will. I will work out my life of salvation as I continue to love and follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question… What work has been involved in your growing in the salvation that Christ secured for you on the cross?

Living It Out… Grow in your salvation and allow your faith to be exercised so you can know and do what is pleasing to God.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you the will to know and do what is pleasing to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your will to know and do God’s work is growing in you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May it be your will and your work to do what is pleasing to God.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 277 – Philippians 2-12-13 – Work Out Your Salvation – 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

Declare It Fearlessly As I Should

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 278 - Ephesians 6:19-20- Declare It Fearlessly As I Should - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 278 – Ephesians 6:19-20- Declare It Fearlessly As I Should – Growing As Disciples

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Fearlessly

There is only one way that I will ever be able to declare the Gospel fearlessly. How is that? First, you will need to give me the words to speak. Next, you will need to give me the power to speak. Anything less than this will not end well, of that I am certain. Well, I will certainly give you the words to speak. You can also count on me to give you the power to speak. That’s good. I do believe that you will give me your words to speak. I do have faith that you will give me the power to speak them as well. That is very good. I have a couple of questions to ask you. Go ahead, I’m listening. Will I give you the words to speak in advance of your speaking them? Before you answer, I will ask you my second question. You have my full attention. Will I give you the power to my speak words in advance of your speaking them? Those are good questions. Do you know the answers? Yes, I think I do know the answers. You will give me the words and the power to speak the Gospel fearlessly as I speak and not before I speak. Why is that? You will not give me what I do not need. If I don’t speak, I will need neither your words nor your power. That is partly correct. What else? There are two things that I want you to do before you speak. Can you think of what I want you to do? You want to come to you in prayer. You want me to rely on you. You want me to ask you for both words and the power to speak the Gospel fearlessly. Yes, I do. What else? You want me to take steps of faith with you. You want to grow my faith and trust in you. So, you will give me the words and the power to fearlessly proclaim the Gospel just as I need them. You will put your words in my mouth. Your Holy Spirit will fill me with power as I proclaim the Gospel fearlessly to others. Yes, I want to grow your faith and trust in me. Yes, my Holy Spirit will empower you to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly to others. Thank you, Lord.

One final point I want to make with you. What’s that? Not only do I want you to pray for the words and power to fearlessly proclaim the Gospel. I also want you to pray for others who are about to proclaim the Gospel. You will need to pray, not only for yourself, but for others as well. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I want to be able to fearlessly share the Gospel with others. I want others to come to know and love and follow you as their Savior and Lord. Give me the opportunity and words to speak in sharing the Gospel with others. Help me to be used by you. Amen

Key Question… Why will sharing the Gospel with others require a step of faith on your part?

Living It Out…  Ask the Lord to give you the words to speak so you will be able to declare the Gospel fearlessly.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will give you the words to speak so you can declare the Gospel fearlessly.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been able to share the Gospel with others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you declare the Gospel fearlessly so that others will be able to come to know the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 278 – Ephesians 6-19-20 – Declare It Fearlessly As I Should – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

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

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

If Only You Had Paid Attention To My Commands

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 279 - Isaiah 48:17-18 - If Only You Had Paid Attention To My Commands - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 279 – Isaiah 48:17-18 – If Only You Had Paid Attention To My Commands – Growing As Disciples

This is what the LORD says– your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:17-18 (NIV)

Pay Attention

Let me make one thing very clear. Let me say something without hesitation. Let me state something as emphatically and forcefully as I can. I can hardly wait to hear what you are about to declare. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know my words before I speak them. You know my deeds before I do them. Yes, that is true. That is correct. Nevertheless, I will enjoy hearing what is now about to come out of your mouth. Here goes then. You are in charge of my life. I am not in charge of my life. You are my Savior. You have redeemed my life. You have set my life on a new course. You have filled my life with new hopes and dreams and desires. What are your hopes and dreams and desires? It the utmost and highest dream of my heart to know you. Not only do I want to know you. I want to know and do your will. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. That is very good. You could have no better hope and dream and desire. Of that, I have no doubt whatsoever. That is very good. But I am not finished with my declaration. Go ahead, I’m listening. You are also my Lord. What does that mean to you? It means that It will be my delight to do your will. It will be my joy to do what is good and right and pleasing to you. I want to live my life with and for you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. My life is in your hands. I am completely at your disposal. That is very good.

How will you come to know me? How will you be able to know and do my will? How will you live in an intimate relationship with me? How will you follow me to where I lead you? How will you do what I ask of you? I will pay attention to you. I will listen to your voice. I will follow and obey your commands. I will focus my heart and mind and life on you. Do this and you will have all that you are asking of me. Do this because I am your Savior and Lord. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I am not all wise. I am not all knowing. Quite often, I have no idea of what is best for me. You are both wise and all knowing. You know what is best for me. Teach me. Guide me. Lead me in the way that is best for me. Help me to know and do your will. Amen

Key Question… How are you paying close attention to the Lord so He can teach you what is best for you?

Living It Out…  Pay close attention to the Lord so that you can both know and do His will.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will teach you and guide you and lead you according to His will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are paying close attention to the Lord so he can lead you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you pay attention to the Lord so you can know and do His will.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 279 – Isaiah 48-17-18 – If Only You Had Paid Attention To My Commands – 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

The Lord’s Servant Must Not Quarrel

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 280 - 2 Timothy 2:24-25- The Lord's Servant Must Not Quarrel- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 280 – 2 Timothy 2:24-25- The Lord’s Servant Must Not Quarrel – Growing As Disciples

And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.  2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV)

Opportunity

That is what I want. That is what I am looking for. What is it that you want? What is it that you are looking for? I want and am looking for opportunities to be used by you. How do you want to be used by me? I want to help others to come to know and love and follow and serve you. I want to help others to come to their senses so that they can repent and turn away from their sins and be set free from the trap of the devil. I want to help others to be able to live out the life of salvation you have for them now and forever. I want to be able to rejoice with you and all heaven when someone welcomes you into their lives as their Savior and Lord. Those are all very good desires.  

Not everyone has the opportunities that you are asking for. Not everyone is able to minister to the needs of others. Not everyone is able to lead others to me. Why is that? You tell me. Well, I am sure that it is your desire that every one of your followers will be able to minister to others and lead them to you. Yes, that is my desire. I suppose some will not be able to minster to others and lead them to you because they are preoccupied or uninterested or unwilling or maybe even afraid. That is regrettable. That is lamentable. That is so sad. Yes, it is. Is there any other reason why someone might not be able to minster to others and lead them to me? Yes, there is another reason. It feels like you might be zeroing in on me. Maybe, I am. A quarrelsome and argumentative person will have little opportunity to be used by you to minister to others. Why is that? Quarrels and arguments and debates drive people away rather than draw them near. All of these close doors and limit opportunities to minister to others. Little kindness, mercy and love is seen in the heat of quarrels, arguments and debates. No one will open their heart to express their need or confess their sins to someone who is an angry debater, quarreler or arguer. I don’t want to be that person. That’s good. I will be kind. I will be gentle. I will be loving, so that I can be powerfully used by you. That will be very good. Help me to take advantage of every opportunity to love and minister to others. Yes, I will. You can count on me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, protect me from being quarrelsome. Rather, help me to be kind, and loving and gentle to others. Open up doors of opportunity for me to minister to spiritual needs. Use me to lead others to you so they can turn from their sin, to love, follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question… Why can you be certain that quarrelsome arguments will destroy relationships?

Living It Out…  Be kind and loving and gentle with others so that you will have an opportunity to minister to them.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that being kind and loving and gentle will give you opportunities to minister to others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has given you opportunities to minister to others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be kind to everyone so that they will be receptive to you teaching them.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 280 – 2 Timothy 2-24-26 – The Lord’s Servant Must Not Quarrel – 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

So He Got Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 280 - Matthew 2:13-15 - So He Got Up- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 280 – Matthew 2:13-15 – So He Got Up- Growing As Disciples

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:13-15 (NIV)

Warnings

I have blown right past those. What have you blown right past? I have blown right past warnings from you. Why is that? I have been busy. I have been preoccupied. I have been distracted. My heart and mind and life have been filled with so much activity, it has been hard for me to hear from you. That’s not good. No, it’s not. Is this the only reason you have blown right past warnings from me? No. it’s not. I have been self-reliant. I have been self-sufficient. I have been self-centered. I have thought that I didn’t want or need advice or guidance from anyone. Including me? Yes, I am sad to admit and say, “including you.” Many times, I have not received your guidance or followed your instructions. That’s not good. No, it isn’t, but it gets worse than that. How so? I have wanted, what I wanted, when I wanted it. I have not listened to hear what would be best for me. I haven’t followed your desires for me. Often, I have wanted and pursued what I wanted even if it was not good and right and pleasing to you. I have been stubborn. I have been strong willed. I have been independent. Most of all, I have been stupid. I have gone my own way and done my own thing. That’s not good. No, it isn’t, and I have suffered more than my share of bruising and brokenness as a result. I want no more of this kind of life. What do you want? I want what you want for me. I want to do what is good and right and pleasing to you. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to know and do your will. That is very good.

I have a question for you. I’m listening. How will you live your life differently? What changes will you make? I will listen attentively to you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will receive your guidance. I will follow your instructions. I will most certainly hear and heed your warnings. I will get up immediately and take the steps you are requiring of me. I will not linger. I will not wait. I will spring into action. My heart and mind and life will be focused on you. I will live the life you are calling me to live. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you that you are watching over my life. You are guarding and guiding me. Help me to hear and heed any warnings of danger from you. I will get up. I will immediately respond. I will take decisive action to avoid the danger that is ahead of me. Amen

Key Question… Why is it important to get up and take immediate action when you receive a warning from the Lord?

Living It Out… Get up and respond immediately and appropriately to any warnings you receive from the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to hear and heed warnings from Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has warned you of a coming danger.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you get up and immediately respond to any and all warnings that you receive from the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 281 – Matthew 2-13-15 – So He Got Up – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

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

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

By Faith Abraham Obeyed And Went

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 282 - Hebrews 11:8 - By Faith Abraham Obeyed And Went - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 282 – Hebrews 11:8 – By Faith Abraham Obeyed And Went – Growing As Disciples

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)

Call 

I welcome that in my life. What do you welcome in your life? I welcome your call in my life. There is no place I would rather be and nothing I would rather do than to be going and doing what you ask of me. Are you sure? Not always, but I am confident that you will help me to know and do your will. You will help me to follow and obey you. You will encourage and strengthen me as I live my life with and for you. Yes, I will.

There is something else of which I am very sure. What’s that? You will ask me to leave the familiar and comfortable to go to the unfamiliar to do what is uncomfortable. That is true. What will happen to you as you go and do what I ask of you? I will come to rely on you more fully. I will come to listen to you more carefully. I will hold on to you tightly as you lead me through life. I know that you will be holding on to me tightly as well. Yes, I will. Our relationship will deepen. I will live more intimately with you. I will more clearly hear your voice guiding me. I will live my life in an ongoing dialogue of prayer with you. Surely, I will follow your guidance. Surely, I will follow your instructions. Thankfully, I will learn to depend on you, rather than myself. Certainly, my faith and hope and trust in you will grow. Yes, it will. You can be sure of that.

What will I accomplish in you and through you as you hear and obey my call? You will accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans in and through my life. You will make me faithful. You will make me fruitful. You will help me to bear fruit for your kingdom. You will help me to bring glory to your name. You will help me to store up real treasure in heaven with you. You will make me able to one day, at the end of time, hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  Nothing will make me happier. Nothing will give me more pleasure than to know that I had gone and done your will and lived the life you have called me to live. That is what I am doing and will continue to do in you, for you and through you. Follow me. Hear my call. Go and do what I ask of you. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will listen to your voice. I will look for your direction. I will follow your guidance. I will leave the familiar to go to the unknown. I will go where you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. Use me powerfully to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Amen

Key Question… What is the Lord asking you to do for Him in this season of your life?

Living It Out… Go and do what the Lord asks of you so that you can be powerfully used by Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to go and do what He asks of you.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you obey the Lord by going and doing what He asks of you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 282 – Hebrews 11-8 – By Faith Abraham Obeyed And Went – 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

Thoroughly Equipped For Every Good Work

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 283 - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Thoroughly Equipped For Every Good Work - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 283 – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Thoroughly Equipped For Every Good Work – Growing As Disciples

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.      2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) 

Thoroughly Equipped

That is what I want. What do you want? I want to be ready for your use. I want to be thoroughly equipped. I want to be able to do every good work you have prepared for me to do for you. That is a very good desire you have in you. How will you be prepared and made ready for my use? What will I use to mold and shape you? What will I use to teach and train you? What will I use to guard and guide you? Are these difficult questions for you to answer? No, they are not difficult questions for me to answer. You will use your word to make me ready for your use. You will use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. Your word will transform the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and deeds of my life. Your word will make me thoroughly equipped for your use. Yes, It will. 

What role do you have in allowing my word to do its work in your life? How will you allow my word to thoroughly equip you? I will meet with you every day in your word. I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. How so? I will read your word. I will study your word. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will pray your word. I will proclaim your word. I will teach your word. Most importantly, I will put your word into practice. What do you mean by that? I will live my life according to your word. I will think and speak and act according to your word. To sum all my thoughts up, I will grab ahold of your word so your word can grab ahold of me. Without a doubt, your word will be the foundation on which every aspect of entire life is built. That will be very good. 

How have I used my word to fight for you? You have used your word like a sword. How so? Your Holy Spirit taken your word and used it like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me and through me. Your word has helped me to resist temptation and stand against evil. You have taught me with your word. You have rebuked and corrected me with your word. You have used your word to train me to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. Everything that you have done, are doing and will do in and for and through me has been according to your word. So, I will continue to richly welcome your word into my heart and mind and life. That will be very good.

Lord, I will meet daily with you in your word. I will listen attentively to all you have to say to me. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. Use your word to guard and guide my life. Use your word to thoroughly equip me for every good work. Amen

Key Question… What time and place have you set aside to meet with God in His word?

Living It Out… Allow God to use His word to thoroughly equip you for every good work.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will use His word to thoroughly equip you for every good work.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word is thoroughly equipping you for every good work.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to use His word to thoroughly equip you for His work.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 283 – 2 Timothy 3-16-17 – Thoroughly Equipped For Every Good Work – 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

Reap A Harvest If We Do Not Give Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 284 - Galatians 6:9 - Reap A Harvest If We Do Not Give Up - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 284 – Galatians 6:9 – Reap A Harvest If We Do Not Give Up – Growing As Disciples

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) 

Give Up

That is something I will not do. What will you not do? I will not give up on serving you. Why do you say that? Do you have unusual staying power? Do you have superior discipline? Do you have incredible will-power? I have developed none of these qualities within me. What does that mean? I do not naturally have staying power, superior discipline or incredible will-power. Far from it, on my own, I am weak and inconsistent. On my own, I have the tendency to become easily discouraged and defeated. Growing weary, giving up and quitting would not be a remote possibility for me, if I were to rely on myself to go and do your work. That’s true.

So why then, are you not giving up and quitting? Well, I am not relying on myself. I am relying on you. I know that you will encourage and strengthen me. You will lift me up. You will keep me moving forward with you. You will empower me to do your work. You will make me able to know and do your will. You will help me to reap a rich harvest for your kingdom. Yes, I will.

When can you expect to reap a rich harvest for my kingdom? I’m not sure what you mean. Will a rich harvest come quickly and easily? Will you be likely to reap a rich harvest right after your initial efforts? No, not likely. Why is that? There is a time for sowing and a time for reaping. Rich harvests do not usually occur over night. Rich harvests are often the result of continuous effort over many years. That’s right. What does that principle mean to you? I need to keep on working day after day and night after night. I must not grow weary. I must not give up and quit. I must keep on relying on you to give me strength and encouragement and hope as I continue to serve you. Will you keep on serving me? Will you keep on giving me your best efforts? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

What promise can you hold on to? What is most certainly true? What can you believe without a doubt? I will reap a rich harvest for your kingdom if I do not give up. Will you keep on serving me? Will you keep on going and doing what I ask of you? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will reap a rich harvest for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will not give up. I will not grow weary. I will not quit. Why is true? You will strengthen me. You will encourage me. You will empower me. You will make me able to bear a rich harvest for your kingdom. For that, I will give my best and unending efforts. Amen

Key Question… How are you giving the Lord your best and unending efforts so you can reap a harvest for His kingdom?

Living It Out… Never give up, so that, in due time, you will be able to reap a rich harvest for the Kingdom of God.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you God will make you able to reap a rich harvest for His kingdom.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has made you able to reap a rich harvest for His kingdom.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you never give up so you can reap a rich harvest for the Kingdom of God.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 284 – Galatians 6-9 – Reap A Harvest If We Do Not Give 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

You May Know Him Better

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 286 - Ephesians 1:17-20 - You May Know Him Better - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 286 – Ephesians 1:17-20 – You May Know Him Better – Growing As Disciples

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, Ephesians 1:17-20 (NIV)

Know You

That is the desire of my heart. What is the desire of your heart? It is the desire of my heart to know you. That is a very good desire. I don’t want to know you a little bit. I don’t want to be your acquaintance. What do you want? I want to know you intimately. My interest in knowing you intimately is not a weak desire either. The desire to know you intimately burns within me. It is my passionate desire to know you intimately. What do you think I want? Where do you suppose the desire that is in you came from? I believe that you passionately want me to know you as well. My desire to know you certainly did not come from me. I did not conceive of this desire within me. No, you did not. You planted this desire in my heart. You gave me this desire. Yes, I did.

What do you know about me, in regard to the desires of your heart? You are both the giver and granter of desires. Why is that important to know? If you have given me a desire, you will certainly grant me a desire. Since you have given me this passionate desire to know you, you will certainly make it so I can and will be able to come to know you intimately. Yes, I will.

Will your coming to know me require any effort of your part? Will the desire that is within you cause you to take any kind of action? Of course, because I love you and want to know you intimately, I will seek you with all my heart. I will be fully devoted to you. I will draw near to you. I will listen attentively to whatever you have to say to me. I will keep my heart and mind and eyes open for your activity in and around my life. I will live my life in an ongoing dialogue of prayer with you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will be at your service. I will be at your disposal. I will allow you to work in and through my life. I will do none of these things because I should or must. No, I will do all of these things because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That is very good. You will come to know me intimately. 

Heavenly Father, it is my passionate and burning desire to better know you. I also have the same desire for others to better know you. Please fulfill both desires. Give me your Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Powerfully use me to pray for and minister to others. Amen

Key Question… How has it become your passionate and burning desire to better know your Heavenly Father?

Living It Out… Pray that you and others will have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you can better know your Heavenly Father.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you can better know Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have come to better know your Heavenly Father.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you can better know your Heavenly Father.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 286 – Ephesians 1-17-20 – You May Know Him Better – 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