Monthly Archives: August 2022

A Wise Man Listens To Advice

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 243 - Proverbs 12:13-18 - A Wise Man Listens To Advice - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 243 – Proverbs 12:13-18 – A Wise Man Listens To Advice – Growing As Disciples

An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble. From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:13-18 (NIV)  

Listening 

I have a growth opportunity of that I am sure. What is your growth opportunity? As you know, I have often been strong willed and opinionated. I am also one of those that is energized by the heat of a good debate. There is no doubt about that. I have not developed great skills at listening. I am afraid that I have often sent off signals that I am not always ready and willing and able to receive and act on wise advice whether it comes from you or from some wise person you have brought into my life. I know one thing for certain. What’s that? A person who fails to listen to wise advice is a fool. A person who cannot receive or act on wise advice lives in constant danger. They live with warnings never received or acted on. They think foolish thoughts, speak foolish words and take foolish actions. They suffer the natural pain and suffering of thinking and speaking and acting foolishly. I don’t want that to be me. It won’t be you, trust Me.  I have more to say. I’m listening. In the little more distant past, I have also been easily annoyed and unlikely to overlook an insult. Yes but, you have allowed me to work in you and through you so that now you are more likely to ignore and overlook an insult. I am thankful for all the progress you are making in me. That’s good. I am also thankful that I am still your work in progress. Yes, you are my work in progress. You will never stop molding and shaping me into the work of your hands. Yes, you are my masterpiece. I’m sure that you have a lot of work yet to do in me.  That’s true, but don’t be impatience or discouraged, my hands are on you. My favor rests on you. I will make you able to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me. It is hard to think of myself as your masterpiece. Try harder. I will. That’s good. So, I will make listening my goal. I will be listening well to you. I will be listening well to wise people you bring into my life. I will receive and act on all that you want me to hear and do. That will be very good.

Lord, I have not always listened well. I have been strong willed and opinionated. I have sent off strong signals that I have not been ready or willing or able receive and act on advice. Forgive me. I will listen attentively to any wise advice you want to give me. Amen

Key Question… How does your life send signals that you are ready and willing and able to listen and act on advice?

Living It Out… Be ready and willing and able to receive and act on wise advice from the Lord and those He brings into your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord and others He brings into your life will give you wise advice to receive and act on.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are ready and willing to receive and act on wise advice.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be ready, willing and able to receive and act on wise advice.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 243 – Proverbs 12-13-18 – A Wise Man Listens To Advice – 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

Go To

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 244 - Jonah 1:1-3 - Go To - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 244 – Jonah 1:1-3 – Go To – Growing As Disciples

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV)

Say Yes

That is what I always want to say to you. What do you always want to say to me? I always want to say, “yes” to you. Will it always be easy for you to say “yes” to me? It is the desire of my heart to always say “yes” to you. That is my hope and plan. You have a good desire and hope and plan. But you haven’t yet answered my specific question. Yes, I know. I’m thinking about your question. Tell me your thoughts. I know that I have not always said, “yes” to you. Sometimes, I have ignored your requests. Sometimes, I have delayed responding to your requests. Other times, I have run away from what you have asked me to do for you. Why would you ever run away from a request of mine? Your requests are not always easy. Sometimes you have asked me to leave the familiar to do what is uncomfortable. In fact, using the words, “sometimes” or “uncomfortable” or “unfamiliar” might be a bit of an understatement. Why is that? You often ask me to do things that are beyond my ability. Why would I do that? Sometimes, your requests have seemed outright scary to me. How could my requests scare you? You want to grow my faith as I rely on you to work in and through me. You want to do in and through me what only you can do. Do you have a problem with that? No, I don’t generally have a problem with that. I will confess that I have not always gone and done the difficult, unfamiliar and uncomfortable assignments you have given to me. Forgive me for that. You are forgiven.

How do you want to live your life? I’m not sure what you mean. Do you want to live with fear and doubt? Do you want to accomplish little or much? Do you want to have great or little faith? Do you want your life to bear much or little fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring a little or a lot of glory to my name? I see where all your questions are headed. I understand their meaning. I have only one answer. I want what you want. I will say “yes” to you. I will do and do whatever you ask of me, with all the power and strength you will give to me. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I know you will ask me to go and do things for you. What you ask may be uncomfortable and unfamiliar or difficult and challenging. Help me to always say yes to you. I want to be able to both give and receive your blessings as I serve you. Amen

Key Question… When have you wanted to run away from something that the Lord asked you to do for Him?

Living It Out… Go and do what your Heavenly Father asks of you so you can both give and receive His blessings.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will help you to go and do what He asks of you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have gone and done what your Heavenly Father asked of you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you go and do what your Heavenly Father asks of you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 244 – Jonah 1-1-3 – Go To – 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 The Parable Of The Sower Means

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 245 - Matthew 13:18-23 - What The Parable Of The Sower Means- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 245 – Matthew 13:18-23 – What The Parable Of The Sower Means- Growing As Disciples

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23 (NIV)

Abundant Fruit

That is sort of the bottom line. What is the bottom line? I want to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom. I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. I don’t want my life in you to be choked off by the worries and cares of this world. I don’t want to wilt under heat of the troubles and trials of this life. I want to be able to fight against every evil and withstand all temptation. I want to be able to endure any persecution. I don’t want to get caught up and entrapped by wealth and the pleasures of this life. I want my heart and mind and life to be entirely focused on you. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. You have good and right and pure desires in you. Well, they did not originate in me. Any good and right and pure desires in me certainly come from you. Yes, they do.

How will you be able to live a faithful and fruitful life that is good and right and pleasing to me? How will you be able to know and do my will? How will my good and right and pure desires that are in you, be fulfilled? Not by my own strength, that is for sure. Not by my trying harder, of that I am certain. What then? Only you can make me faithful. Only you can make me fruitful. How will I make you both faithful and fruitful? You will use your word to make me both faithful and fruitful. I meet with you daily in your word. Then and there, you will plant your word deeply into my heart and mind and life. Yes, I will. You will use your word to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Your word will accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans in and through my life. I will allow you to use your word to do your work in me. That will be very good. Then your life will bear abundant fruit for my kingdom and glory. Thank you, Lord. 

Heavenly Father, I will meet with you daily in your word. I will listen carefully and make myself attentive to what you want to teach me. Plant your word deeply in my heart, mind and life. Allow your word to flourish in me so I can bear abundant fruit for you. Amen

Key Question… How has the growth of God’s word in you made you able to bear abundant fruit for Him?

Living It Out… Meet with God in His word on a daily basis so He can plant His word deeply in your heart and mind and life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your life will bear abundant fruit for God as you take it deep into your heart and mind and life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God’s word to be planted deeply in you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow your Heavenly Father to plant His word deep into your heart and mind and life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 245 – Matthew 13-18-23 – What The Parable Of The Sower Means – 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

Withdrew To Lonely Places And Prayed

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 246 - Luke 5:15-16 - Withdrew To Lonely Places And Prayed - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 246 – Luke 5:15-16 – Withdrew To Lonely Places And Prayed – Growing As Disciples

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16 (NIV) 

My Priority

That is my priority. What is your priority? It is my priority to meet with you. Tell me more about your priority. Notice, I did not say that meeting with you is my first priority. Yes, I did notice that. Why did you not say meeting with me was your first priority? I did not want to convey the idea that any other priority came even remotely close to my priority of meeting with you. That’s good. How will you be certain to establish your priority of meeting with me? That is a very good question. I know one thing for certain. What’s that? You will not receive my leftover time. I will not let a busy schedule or the demands of life crowd you out of my life. I will not meet with you only when I get around to it. Why are these thoughts of yours so important? In the past, I have had very good intentions of meeting with you. But I never actually carved out a time and set a specific place to meet with you. I never put our meeting together firmly on my schedule. I know putting meeting with you on my schedule sounds so formal and maybe even artificial. But when I haven’t put meeting with you firmly on my schedule as my utmost and highest priority then it has never happened. Days and weeks and even months went by without my meeting with you. My meeting with you was nothing more than hit or miss. That is no way to live in an intimate relationship with you. Is that your desire? Do you want to live in an intimate relationship with me? Yes, that is the desire of my heart. I want to know you intimately. I want to love you passionately. I want to serve you completely.  I want my heart and mind and life to be fully devoted to you. That is very good. Daily, I will meet with you in prayer. Daily, I will meet with you in worship. Daily, I will meet with you in your word. Daily, I will meet with you as I go and do all that you ask of me. In every way, I will be listening attentively to you. My entire life will be focused on you. I will allow you to guard and guide my life. Then you will be able to receive all that I have for you. Then you will have all that you want from me. Then I will be the priority of your heart and mind and life. Thank you, Heavenly Father. 

Heavenly Father, I will withdraw daily to a quiet and lonely place to meet with you in prayer. I will not let a busy schedule crowd you out of my life. I will not leave our meeting to chance. You will not have my leftover time. You are the priority on my schedule. Amen

Key Question… Why must you never allow the demands of life to crowd out your time in prayer with your Heavenly Father?

Living It Out… Make it your daily ongoing practice to withdraw to quiet and lonely places to pray to your Heavenly Father.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will meet with you as you withdraw to quiet and lonely places to pray.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when you are withdrawing to quiet and lonely places to pray.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you withdraw to a quiet place so you can be alone to pray to your Father Heavenly.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Luke 5-15-16 – Withdrew To Lonely Places – 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

My Sheep Listen To My Voice

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 247 - John 10:27-29 - My Sheep Listen To My Voice - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 247 – John 10:27-29 – My Sheep Listen To My Voice – Growing As Disciples

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:27-29 (NIV)

Noise

This world is filled with noise. This world is clamoring for my attention. A voice shouts, “go there” another voice says, “come here”. Other voices demand that I do this or do that. If I were to listen to a thousand different voices, I suppose that I would walk a crooked path, living like a pinball bouncing from one endeavor to another. My life would have no purpose or meaning or direction. I certainly wouldn’t accomplish much. Trying to please a thousand different voices would be the certain way for me to misspend my life. That is not at all what I want. What do you want? I want to quiet myself before you. I want to draw near to you. I want you to draw near to me. I want to hear your voice. I want to follow your direction. I want to receive your guidance. I want you to guard my life. I want my life to have purpose and meaning and hope and focus that can only come from you.  Those are all very good desires.

You need to know one thing. You will be greatly comforted and encouraged by what I want you to know. What do you want me to know? I want you to hear my voice. You were made to hear my voice. It is my plan that you will hear my voice. You are one of my sheep. I am your good shepherd. I laid my life down for you. I will lead you through life. I will guide you to where I want you to go. I will give you what I want you to do. You will not misspend your life. I will use you to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. Your future with me is secure. No evil can snatch you out of my hand. I will be with you to help you. My hand is on you. My favor will be with you. Does what I am saying give you comfort? Are you encouraged? Yes, I am. Keep on quieting yourself before me. Rest in my presence. Keep on listening attentively to my voice. Keep on following and serving me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, this is a noisy world. Voices of every kind are shouting for my attention. The world would like me to live my life according to its values, patterns and practices. I want none of that. I will listen to your voice. Guard and guide my life as I am attentive to you. Amen

Key Question… What have you done to quiet yourself so that you would be in a position to hear the Lord’s voice?

Living It Out… Listen attentively to the Lord so that He can guard and guide you through life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will guard and guide you through life as you listen to Him..

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord guards and guides you through life as you listen to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen to the voice of the Lord guarding and guiding you through life.

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

Day 247 – Becoming Like Christ – John 10-27-29 – My Sheep Listen To My Voice – 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

Those Who Bring Good News

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 249 - Romans 10:14-15 - Those Who Bring Good News - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 249 – Romans 10:14-15 – Those Who Bring Good News – Growing As Disciples

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)  

Good News

I could have received no better news. Tell me what Good News you received. You gave up all your rights and privileges. You came into this world to live and die for me. You were sent by your Heavenly Father to rescue me from a life without you. My sin and darkness separated me from you. In my sin, I was certain to die without and apart from you. That was intolerable to you. You could not let that happen to me. No, I could not. So, you took my sins to the cross. You suffered pain and humiliation and a painful death on my behalf. You made it so I could be righteous in God’s eyes. You made it so I could be forgiven of all my sins and cleansed of all my unrighteous. Now, when God looks at me, He sees your righteousness. I am clean in His sight. Without your payment for my sin, I would have never been able to come to live forever in heaven with you.  Now, I have been adopted into your family. I am welcomed and loved and accepted as your child. In fact, I understand that there was rejoicing in heaven on the day I came to believe in you. Yes, heaven rejoiced on that day. Now, I know that my future in heaven is kept and guarded for me. Nothing will ever be able to snatch me out of your hand. I have an eternal future in heaven with you. I know that to be true because you deposited your Holy Spirit as a guarantee. Yes, that is true. So, what better news could there be? There is no better news. I am all yours. It is now my passion and joy to love and follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. You are my Savior and Lord. That is very Good News. That is the best of news. Yes, it is.

What will you do with the Good News that you have received? Will you keep the Good News to yourself? Will you go out and tell others the Good News so that they also can come to believe in me as their Savior and Lord? I certainly will not keep the Good News to myself. Why is that? I want others to receive all that I have received from you. I want others to be able to come to know and love and follow you as their Savior and Lord. I want others to come to live forever in heaven with you. I want to rejoice with you and all of heaven when someone comes to know and love and follow and serve you. So, I ask that you use me. Help me to boldly share the Good News of your forgiveness and cleansing and salvation. I will gladly hear and answer that prayer of yours. I will send you. I will use you. You will declare my Good News to others. We will rejoice together when others come to believe in me as their Savior and Lord. 

Lord, here I am, send me. Use me to share the Good News of the Gospel. Open my eyes and ears to see and hear who is ready to believe in you. Show me who to make the subject of my prayers. Open my mouth, give me the words you want me to speak. Amen

Key Question… Where has the Lord sent you to make the Good News of the Gospel known to others?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to use you to share the Good News of the Gospel with others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will open up doors and give you opportunities to share the Gospel with others.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to use you to share the Good News with others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 249 – Romans 10-14-15 – Those Who Bring Good News – 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

I Must Become Less

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 254 John 3:30 - I Must Become Less - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 254 John 3:30 – I Must Become Less – Growing As Disciples

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30 (NIV)

Less

I need to keep that word ever before me. What word? I need to keep the word, “less” in my conscious and ongoing thoughts. Why is that? At times, I have had a pretty high opinion of myself. That is hard to acknowledge. But it has been true. I have certainly thought more about my needs and wants and opinions and desires than almost any other subject. “What do I want?” “What do I desire? “What do I need?” Those questions have driven a good share of my life. As hard as it is to admit, I would say that I have been very full of myself. How full? Imagine a glass full to the very brim. Now try to pour in some additional water. That is how full I have been of myself. I have been so full of myself that nothing more could be poured into my life. Others couldn’t pour anything into my life. You couldn’t pour anything into my life. That is not good. Yes, I know. But that is all about to change.

What would you like to change? How differently would you like to live your life? For starters, I want less of me. I want to take my eyes off of myself. No longer do I want my life to be consumed and guided and surrounded by thoughts of me, myself and I. Frankly, I am more than a little tired of me, myself and I. I don’t want to continually think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me. Living for myself, my comfort and my pleasure will no longer drive my life. I want my focus to be on you. I want to be completely open to whatever you have to say to me. I want you to be able to pour your guidance and instruction into my life. I want to receive whatever you have for me. Why do you want this? I want to be able to know and do your will. I want my heart and mind and life to be centered on you. As I decrease, as there is less of me, I want there to be more of you in my life. I want to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your actions. Why do you want this? I want my life to point others to you. I want to shine brightly and burn hotly for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. It is my prayer that there will be far less of me and far more of you in my life. Help me to decrease, so you can increase in all that I think, say and do. Allow me to be a bold and bright witness for you in this world. I will hear and answer your prayer. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know life does not revolve around me. I’m not the center of the universe. I’m not the object of everyone’s attention. Far from it. It is my desire to become less and less so you can become more and more in my life. Be exalted in my life for your glory. Amen

Key Question… How are you becoming less so that the Lord can become more in your life?

Living It Out… Allow yourself to become less, so that the Lord will become more in your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you become less, the Lord will become more in your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how as you have become less, the Lord has become more in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you become less so that the Lord will become more in your life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 254 – John 3-30 – I Must Become Less – 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 Man Of God Told Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 256 - 2 Kings 5:13-15 - The Man Of God Told Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 256 – 2 Kings 5:13-15 – The Man Of God Told Him – Growing As Disciples

Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant.” 2 Kings 5:13-15 (NIV)

Who Am I?

Who am I that I need to figure everything out? Who am I that I need full understanding? Who am I that I need to be in complete agreement? What are you talking about? What don’t you need to figure out? About what do you not need full understanding? Why don’t you need to be in complete agreement? I’m talking about your will. I am thinking about following your guidance and receiving your instruction. Am I the evaluator of your guidance and instruction? I think not. Will I only do as you ask of me only if I understand or agree or am in complete agreement? I think not. Will I do what you ask me simply because it is you that has asked me? I hope so. I believe so. I pray so. Where would faith and hope and trust be if I only did what made sense to me? Would I ever be taking a step of faith with you if you needed to convince me to do what you asked of me every time? That would be no faith at all. That’s true. If I need to figure everything out, fully understand or be in complete agreement, then I would be simply relying on my own thoughts and ideas and understandings. That is also true. 

I know something for certain. What’s that? You will call me to leave the familiar to do the uncomfortable. You will cause me to come to rely on you. You will stretch and grow my faith in you by asking me to do what does not seem understandable, likely or even possible. Taking a step of faith with you into the unknown to do the impossible is a real step of faith. Yes, it is. That is what I want to do. I want to take real steps of faith with you. I want you to do in and through me what only you can do as I come to rely on you. That will be very good. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will. 

Lord, I have not always followed your guidance or accepted your instruction. I have foolishly thought that I had a better way that was an improvement on your guidance and instruction. Obviously, that was a huge mistake. Help me now to follow and obey you. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord given you guidance and instruction that was quite different than you anticipated?

Living It Out… Hear, follow, and obey all the Lord’s guidance and instruction.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your life as you follow His guidance and accept His instruction.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how following the Lord’s guidance and instruction has blessed your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow and obey the Lord’s instructions.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 256 – 2 Kings 5-13-15 – The Man Of God Told Him – 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

He Who Answers Before Listening

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 257 - Proverbs 18:13 - He Who Answers Before Listening - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 257 – Proverbs 18:13 – He Who Answers Before Listening – Growing As Disciples

He who answers before listening– that is his folly and his shame. Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) 

Listen Carefully, Speak Wisely 

That is exactly what I want to do. What do you want to do? I want to be able to listen carefully and speak wisely. It is good that you have linked those two thoughts together. Why is that? Those thoughts are intertwined. Those two ideas are inseparable. How so? You will never be able to speak wisely without learning to listen carefully. Do you know why that is? No, I don’t think so. Maybe I do, but I’m not sure. Take a guess. Not listening is a sure sign of pride. Not listening conveys the attitude that I have much to offer and no need to receive. It is the attitude of a “know it all”. A poor listener cuts themselves off from learning from others. A poor listener will never have the benefit of other’s insight. A poor listener will live forever with their blind spots that they can’t see by themselves. Why is that? It is easy to recognize a poor listener. A poor listener sends out signals that shout, “Don’t bother with me, because I won’t listen to you.” I don’t want to be that person. That’s good. 

How will you become a good listener? Where you will start? What will you do? I will start with you. It is the desire of my heart to hear from you. I want to listen to every word that you have to say to me. There is no one I want to hear from more than you. That’s good. So, I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of life. I will go to a quiet place. I will slow down and make myself attentive to you. I will separate myself from the swirl of activity all around me. Why will that be necessary? I am hard of hearing. Listening to you does not come naturally to me. No, it does not. Quieting myself before you will take all the strength that you will give to me. Why is that? Activity and busyness is my norm. Racing here and there and everywhere is my strength. It’s not really a strength. I know. It’s a huge weakness. But there is one thing I know for certain. What’s that? You will speak to me as I meet with you. You will speak to me as I meet with you in your word, and in prayer, and in worship. Yes, I will. 

What will happen to you as you listen attentively to me? You will give me wise words to speak as I listen attentively to you. Yes, I will.  What else? You will strengthen and develop my ability to listen to others as I keep on listening to you. Yes, I will. What else? As I listen to others, I will be more able to minister to them. You will give me wise and caring and loving words to speak that will bring life and healing to others. Yes, I will. Keep on listening to me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know I have pridefully spoken quickly without listening carefully. I have often spoken unhelpful and unhealthy words I have deeply regretted. Help me to listen attentively to you. Help me to speak wise words that will build up and encourage others. Amen

Key Question… When have you made the mistake of speaking without listening carefully?

Living It Out… Listen carefully to the Lord so that you will be able to speak wisely to others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you wise words to speak as you listen carefully to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are listening carefully so you will be able to speak wisely.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen carefully to the Lord so you will be able to speak wisely to others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 257 – Proverbs 18-13 – He Who Answers Before Listening – 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 Are The Potter

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 258 - Isaiah 64:8- You Are The Potter - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 258 – Isaiah 64:8- You Are The Potter – Growing As Disciples

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) 

Potter

I am so glad that you are the potter and I am the clay. Why is that? The pressure is off. It is you who are molding and shaping my life. You will make me into your masterpiece. Yes, I am and yes, I will. That is such good news. I would make a terrible potter, especially of myself. I would be sadly misshapen if I had to make myself into a masterpiece. There would be no hope. My efforts would be comical and humorous if they weren’t so sad. So, thank you, that I am the work of your hands. You are welcome.

You do have a role in my molding and shaping you. What is my role? First, I will say that you must allow me to mold and shape you. You must be ready and willing for me to mold and shape you. You could resist my efforts. You could hinder my work. You must welcome my work in and through you. I would never knowingly resist your efforts or hinder your work. Really? Have you never been stubborn? Have you never been strong willed? Have you never been opinionated? Have you never disobeyed me? Have you never run away from me? Have you never disobeyed my instructions and rejected my guidance? Have you never determined that you were going to live your life for yourself, by doing your own thing? Well, I have done all of those things at one time or another. Will doing those things help or hinder my work of molding and shaping you? Doing any of those things will no doubt hinder your work of molding and shaping me Yes, it will. 

What must you do if you want me to mold and shape you? I must draw near to you. I must submit myself to you. I must listen attentively to you. I must follow you to where you lead me. I must do what you ask of me. I must focus my heart and mind and life on you. In a word, I must give myself fully to you, so that you can mold and shape me into your masterpiece. Couldn’t I mold and shape you against your will? You could, but you won’t. Why is that? You have given me a free will. You have given me a life to live. I can choose to live my life with and for you, or I can choose to wander away from you. It is my choice. Yes, it is. Well, without a doubt I want to live my life with and for you. I want you to mold and shape me into your masterpiece. I want to be the work of your hands. That is very good. That is what I will do for you.

Heavenly Father, thank you for molding and shaping my life. I have great joy and comfort and confidence knowing that I am the work of your hands. Keep on molding and shaping my life. Make me into your masterpiece so that I can bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… How are you making yourself available to the Heavenly Father’s molding and shaping of your life?

Living It Out… Allow your Heavenly Father to mold and shape your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father is the potter who will mold and shape your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your Heavenly Father has been molding and shaping your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow yourself to be molded and shaped by your Heavenly Father.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 258 – Isaiah 64-8 – You Are The Potter – 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