Monthly Archives: February 2023

God Is The Strength Of My Heart

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 110 - Psalm 73:25-26 - God Is The Strength Of My Heart- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 110 – Psalm 73:25-26 – God Is The Strength Of My Heart- Growing As Disciples

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV)  

Perspective

I lost all perspective. How did you lose all perspective? I focused on what my eyes could see. Maybe, I should I say that I focused on what I thought my eyes saw. What did you think your eyes saw? It looked to me like others were enjoying life far more than me. It looked like others were right in pursuing all that this world has to offer. How so? Others were living in comfort. Others were experience pleasure. Others seemed to be wringing every drop of enjoyment that they could out of life. They were going places I wasn’t going. They were doing things I wasn’t doing. In comparison, my life looked dull and uninteresting and boring. I thought, it was good to be them. But I was me. Anything else? It gets worse. How so? My discouragement deepened. I’m listening. The wicked seemed to be prospering. In fact, the wicked still seem to be prospering. Is that what you think? That is what I thought. That is not now what I think. That’s good.

How is your perspective now? How has your perspective changed? What has helped you to see things as they truly are? First, let me say, it is always a mistake to look around and compare my life with someone else. There is nothing fruitful or productive in that whatsoever. That only leads to disconnect. That mindset will surely steer me off course. I don’t want to live the life that someone else is living. You have created me to be me. You have given me a life to live. I want to live the life that you designed me to live. What does that life look like? I want to live a life of loving and following and serving you. I want to live a life that does what is good and right and pleasing in your sight. I want to live a life that has mattered in light of all eternity. I don’t want momentary success or temporary treasures. I want to store up treasure in heaven with you. I want to live a life of bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. How will you do all this? Instead of looking around, I will keep my heart and mind and eyes focused on you. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. I will allow you to be my portion and strength every day, both now and forever. This is how my perspective has changed. You have changed my perspective for me. For that, I am very thankful. That is very good. 

Lord, I have lost perspective. I have looked around and wanted what would not satisfy. I have envied the good fortune and success of others. I have been discouraged when evil seemed to succeed. No more. I know you will provide all I need now and forever. Amen

Key Question… How has worshipping the Lord corrected your perspective and given you direction in life?

Living It Out… Rely on the Lord to provide all that you need both now and forever.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will provide all that you need in this life and forever.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how worshipping the Lord has corrected your perspective in life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the Lord to be your portion and strength.

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

Day 110 – Becoming Like Christ – Psalm 73-25-26 – God Is The Strength 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

Do What Leads To Peace

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 31 - Romans 14:19 - Do What Leads To Peace - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 31 – Romans 14:19 – Do What Leads To Peace – Growing As Disciples

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:19 (NIV)

Every Effort

Why don’t you like conflict? I’m not sure. I know that I don’t like the stress that conflict brings into my life. I know I don’t like the destruction of relationships that is often caused by conflict. I know I don’t like the feelings of brokenness I feel when I am heavily engaged in conflict. I more than dislike conflict. I hate conflict. I loose sleep over conflict. Conflict drains my energy and wears me out. Conflict makes it very difficult for me to hear your voice and know your will. My productivity goes way down when I am engaged in conflict. For someone who isn’t sure, you seem quite sure about why you don’t like conflict. I guess so.

When is conflict most likely to find its way into your life? I am more likely to engage in conflict when my life is out of balance. If I haven’t had enough sleep, food, or exercise I can easily be drawn into conflict. Why is that? A lack of sleep, food, or exercise tends to make me crabby and very short on patience. If any of my other basic needs haven’t been met I can be drawn into conflict then as well. Oh, more importantly, if I haven’t spent time in fellowship with you, that’s when I’m probably most easily drawn into conflict. That’s when my life is most out of balance. So, if I want to be able to resist being drawn into conflict, I need to make sure that my life is in balance, starting with fellowship with you, in your word. Your help comes to me as I am living in close fellowship with you.  I need to rely on you to help me to resist the temptation to be drawn into conflicts. That sounds like a good plan to me.

What circumstances are most likely to draw you into conflict? Disagreements of all types draw me into conflict. Some conflict is unavoidable. Some conflict is even desirable. I’m sure that you want me to engage in conflict when I am faced with injustice in the world. You don’t want me to idly stand by when someone is being unjustly treated. No, I don’t. But, the times of justified conflict seem to be more of the exception than the rule. Often times I get drawn into conflict when someone does something that I don’t like. When someone doesn’t live up to my expectations conflict has often resulted. Just not getting what I want has also resulted in conflict. So, there has been a lot of conflict in my life related to my own selfishness and pride. I think it’s important to evaluate any conflict in my life. Yes, it is. I know you don’t want me to engage in conflict that is rooted in selfishness, pride, or any other sin. No, I do not.

What would you rather do than engage in conflict? What do you think I would rather you do than engage in conflict? Both questions have the same answer. I want to do what you want. What do I want? You want me to live in peace with others. You want me to make peace my aim and pursuit. You want me to distance myself from selfish, prideful, and sinful conflict. Instead of engaging in conflict with others, you want me to use all my thoughts, words, and actions to encourage and build others up in their faith in you. Yes, I do. Will you use your thoughts, words, and deeds to build others up in their faith? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will make every effort to live in peace with others. I will make peace my aim and pursuit. I will distance myself from whatever leads to conflict with others. Instead, use all of my thoughts, words and deeds to encourage and build others up in their faith. Amen

Key Question…  When has the Lord used you to encourage and build others up?

Living It Out…  Make doing what leads to peace your aim and pursuit.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use you to encourage and build others up.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are being changed as you spend time with Jesus.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you do what leads to peace in your relationships with others.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 31 – Romans 14-19 – Do What Leads To Peace – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Seek Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 111 - Jeremiah 29:11-13 - Seek Me- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 111 – Jeremiah 29:11-13 – Seek Me- Growing As Disciples

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

Your Plans

I am so thankful that you have a good plan for my life. You have filled my life with hope. You have given me a future. What do you like best about my plans for your life? That is not a hard question for me to answer. I don’t have to think very deeply to know my answer. My answer is in the top of my mind. My answer burns within my heart. I am most thankful that it was in your plan for me to come to know and love and follow and serve you. You drew me to yourself. You rescued me from a life without you. You helped me to turn my life over to you. You led me to confess all my sins to you. You broke the power of sin over my life. You forgave my sin and cleansed my unrighteousness. You filled me with your Spirit. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. Even now, you are fanning the flame of my desire for you. You all are helping me to seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. You have made it possible for me to know and love and follow and serve you. I am so thankful that I can live in an intimate relationship with you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. You are with me. You are helping me. You are guarding and guiding me through life as I keep on seeking you with all my heart. You are guiding me to where you want me to go. You are giving me what you want me to do. There is nothing I would rather do than your will. You are making me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. One day, I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Could there be any better plan that this?  What do you think? Absolutely not. I could not ask for or desire anything better or more than what you are already freely given to me. You are so good to me. So, I am thankful beyond words for plans for my life. That is very good.

Lord, thank you for drawing me to you. It is you who has given me this passionate desire to seek you with all my heart. Fan the flame of this desire. Make me white hot in desire for you. I will come and pray to you. I will listen to you. I am fully devoted to you. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord awakened a desire in you to seek Him with all your heart?

Living It Out… Make to the priority of your life to seek God with all your heart.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will find the Lord when you seek Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are seeking the Lord with all your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you seek the Lord with all your heart.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 111 – Jeremiah 29-11-13 – Seek Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Ask, Seek, Knock

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 112 - Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask, Seek, Knock - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 112 – Matthew 7:7-8 – Ask, Seek, Knock – 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)

Last Resort?

I have had a bad habit. What’s that? For much of my life, I have thought of prayer as a last resort. How so? Well, if after an exhaustive effort on my part, I couldn’t solve my own problems, then I would turn to prayer. Or if some need was far beyond my ability to meet, then I would turn to prayer. What’s wrong with that approach to prayer? You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to come to rely on you. You are my loving Heavenly Father. You want to give good gifts to me. It is your joy to hear and answer my prayer. Yes, it is my desire to give you what you will need in life.

Why is it that you have been so reluctant to pray? Do you think that I am too busy to listen to you? Do you believe that your request will be some kind of bother to me? Do you regard it as some kind of virtue to solve your own problems, without my help? I don’t have any good answers. I do know one thing. I have learned one thing. What’s that? I have learned that apart from you I can accomplish nothing of true and lasting and eternal value. I don’t want to live a life apart from you. I don’t my life to be an accumulation of check marks off of an insignificant to do list. What do you want? I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to live in an ongoing prayer dialogue with you. I want to talk with you about anything and everything. I want you to teach me how to pray. I want you to give me prayers to pray. I want to be able to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. Those are all very good desires. I’m sure that these desires come from you. Yes, they do. 

What must you do if you want to live a life of prayer? What must you do if you want me to teach you to pray? What must you do if you want to be able to pray prayers that I will hear and answer? I must meet with you in prayer. I must set aside a time and a place when and where I can begin to develop a daily pattern of meeting with you in prayer. I must enter your prayer classroom. Will you do that? Will you ask, will you seek, will you knock in prayer? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not remain silent. I will not “go it alone”. I will rely on you. I will make my needs known to you. I will be persistent, and passionate in the prayers I pray. I will ask. I will seek. I will knock. I will wait patiently for you to hear and answer my prayers. Amen

Key Question…  Why does the Lord want you to come to ask Him for what you need?

Living It Out…  Pray to the Lord and ask Him for what you need.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer the prayers you pray to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what prayers you are praying to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you keep on asking and seeking and knocking as you make your needs known to the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 112 – Matthew 7-7-8 – Ask, Seek, Knock – 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

Be Content

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 30 - 1 Timothy 6:6-8 - Be Content - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 30 – 1 Timothy 6:6-8 – Be Content – Growing As Disciples

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT)

What Will Last?

You know that you can’t take anything with you when you leave this life? Yes, I know that. Have you been slow to come to this realization or have you known it all along? I wouldn’t say that I have known that I can’t take anything with me all along, that’s for sure. What would you say? I would say that even now, I lose sight of the fact that I can’t take anything with me when I leave this world. Why is that? Too often I find myself pursuing money and all the things that it can buy. I must tell myself that if I can’t take something with me I might as well get maximum enjoyment and contentment from it while I have it now. Let’s talk about contentment since you have used that word. I’m listening. Have you found contentment with money and all that it can buy? Think of something that you have had to have. Do you have something in mind? Yes, I do. What do you have in mind? I have a red convertible sports car in my mind. You wanted that for a very long time didn’t you? Yes, I did. You thought that you had to have that shiny red convertible sports car? Yes, I did. You thought your life would be filled with joy and excitement once you had that shiny new sports car didn’t you? Yes, I did. You finally got the car didn’t you? Yes, I did. That was a very exciting joy filled day, wasn’t it? Yes, it was. How long did your joy and excitement last with the purchase of your new car? I was excited about the shiny new sports car for a couple months at the most. That’s It? Yes, that was it. What happened to your exciting shiny new red sports car? It became a car. I had it. It was mine. I was no longer excited about it. It did not fill me with joy. What then? After the sports car, I started to want something else that was bigger and even better. I wanted something more that would fill me with excitement, joy, and contentment. I’m not even going to ask you about that. But, what have you found out? I have found out that money and all that it can purchase will never fill me with lasting joy and contentment. It is foolish to pursue what can’t make me content. It is doubly foolish to pursue what I can’t take with me when I leave this world. Yes, it is.  No amount of money or no accumulation of things will ever make me content and fill the void of emptiness that always leaves me wanting more. That’s right.

You however can fill the emptiness that I feel inside. You can fill me with joy and contentment now and forever. Yes, I can. I have learned that as I love, follow, and serve you, I will be filled joy and contentment that will never end. Yes, you will. I have also learned that I can take something with me when I leave this life. What’s that? I can take with me the fruit that you have born in and through my life as I have loved, followed, and served you. Yes, you can. You will bear fruit through my life that will last forever. Yes, I will. Now that is something that will bring me lasting joy and contentment! Yes, it is.

Lord, I have sought contentment through money and all that it could buy in this world. I have learned that pursuing what I can’t take with me, out of this life, is foolish. Help me to continue to learn to be content, as I love, follow, and serve you. Amen

Key Question…  Why will money and all that it can buy never be able to make you content?

Living It Out…  Pursue a contented life of loving, following, and serving the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will bring contentment into your life as you love, follow, and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how loving, following, and serving the Lord has made you content in life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you pursue a godly and contented life of loving, following, and serving the Lord.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 30 – 1 Timothy 6-6-8 – Be Content – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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.

Train Yourself

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 29 - 1 Timothy 4:7-8 - Train Yourself- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 29 – 1 Timothy 4:7-8 – Train Yourself- Growing As Disciples

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

My Coach

What would you do if you wanted to train yourself physically? That depends on the level of physical fitness I was trying to achieve. What do you mean by that? Well, there is a big difference between being in good physical health and being physically trained to function at peak performance. What level of training most appeals to you? Being physical trained to function at peak performance appeals the most to me. What would that require? That kind of training would require a well mapped out regime of rigorous exercise, healthy diet, and adequate rest, that would be best provided by a coach. You would need a coach? Yes, a good coach would make sure that each day’s training would build on all the prior training. A good coach would make sure that a healthy diet and adequate rest accompanied the rigorous exercise. A healthy diet and adequate rest would be just as important as the rigorous exercise so that my body would have a chance to rest, recuperate, and rebuild. The exercise, diet and rest would not be haphazard? No, it would it would be well planned, under the close supervision, of a gifted coach. At the end of a long training regime what would be your reward? I would be in excellent physical condition and able to function at peak performance. I would be able to compete at the best of my abilities. There is some value in that. Yes, there is some value in that.

What would you do if you wanted to train yourself spiritually? I would need your help. I would need you to be my coach. I might think of coaching myself in physical training. I would never think that I could coach myself through spiritual training. I would need you to teach me. I would need you to train me. I would need you to guide me. So, I would start off my desire to be trained spiritually by asking you to help me. I would ask you to be my coach. That’s a very good start. What would be required as part of your spiritual training? I would need to come to listen to you. I would need to begin to receive your guidance. I would need to begin to follow your direction. That’s good. What would be a good and healthy start? What do you think I would ask of you? I think you would ask me to leave my old sinful life behind so I could follow your coaching. That’s right. What do you think would come next? I think that you would ask me to come to meet with me in your word. Why is that? You want to speak into my life. You want to use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. That’s right. Then what? As you are changing my heart and transforming my mind you will ask me to begin to live the new life you have given me to live. How will you do that? I will follow you. I will go where you guide me and do what you ask of me. That will be very good. What will be the reward of your entering into spiritual training with me? I will have a new life to live with you both now and forever. Yes, you will.

 Lord, in the past I have spent a great deal of time and energy in physical training. This training holds value only for a very short time in this life. Help me now to enter training in godliness which will hold promise both in this life and in the everlasting life to come. Amen

Key Question…  What spiritual disciplines are part of balanced spiritual training in godliness?

Living It Out…  Allow yourself to enter spiritual training in godliness.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that entering spiritual training in godliness will hold promise now in this life and forever in the life to come.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you have entered spiritual training in godliness.

Prayer To Bless Others…  My you enter spiritual training in godliness as you love, follow, and serve the Lord.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 29 – 1 Timothy 4-7-8 – Train Yourself – 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.

Stop Passing Judgment

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 28 - Romans 14:13 - Stop Passing Judgment - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 28 – Romans 14:13 – Stop Passing Judgment – Growing As Disciples

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. Romans 14:13 (NIV)

Make Up Your Mind

Judging others will never be your job. Leave that to me. If you are monitoring your own thoughts, words, and actions you won’t have time left over to judge others. What will happen to you if you continue to judge others? I will receive back what I give out. If I give judgment, I will receive judgment. Yes, you will. You want to receive my forgiveness, is that right? Yes, I do. You want to receive my grace and mercy? Yes, I do. You want to be giving second, third, and even more chances in life, is that right? Yes, I do. You don’t ever want me to give up on you, is that also right? Yes, it is. You would like to hear words of encouragement and affirmation from me, is that right. Yes, I need all the encouragement and affirmation I can get. All of what you want from me, I want you to freely give to others.

What do you think I want you to do instead of judging others? You want me to love others with your love. You want me to encourage others with your encouragement. What you have done for me, you want me to do for others. You want others to see your love on display in and through my life. Others will never see your love and mercy if I have a judgmental heart. Others will never receive encouragement and affirmation from me if I don’t let your mercy flow through my life. The heart of love that you have toward me must overflow into the lives of others. You want me to give to others all that I have received from you. Yes, I do. You want me to be for others, and to be on their side, just has you are for me, and have been on my side. Yes, I do. You want my life to serve as an example that others can and will follow. You don’t want anything from my life to be a barrier, obstacle, or stumbling block to anyone’s faith. So what will you do? Have you made up your mind? I will stop passing judgment on others. That’s a good start.  I will love others with your love. That will be a good finish.

Lord, I would like my life to serve as an example that others can follow. I never want to be a barrier to anyone’s faith. Instead, I will love others with your love. I will stop judging others and I will start encouraging them in their faith in you. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord used you to encourage someone in their walk of faith with Him?

Living It Out…  Never be a stumbling block to someone’s faith but rather encourage them in their walk of faith with the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to encourage others in their walk of faith with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to encourage others in their faith.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you not judge others but rather encourage them in their faith.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 28 – Romans 14-13 – Stop Passing Judgment – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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Spur One Another On Toward Love

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 27 - Hebrews 10:24 - Spur One Another On Toward Love - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 27 – Hebrews 10:24 – Spur One Another On Toward Love – Growing As Disciples

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Consider

There is something that I want you to really consider. I don’t want you to quickly pass over this thought. I want you to really think deeply about this question. You have my full attention. I’m listening attentively to what you want to ask me. Here are my questions. Who can you spur on, inspire, and stir up to show my love and do my good deeds to others? This is not as easy of a question as it might seem. Why is that? What will it take for someone to be willing to listen to what you have to say on this subject? That complicates the question, doesn’t it? Yes, it does. Why is that? I think at least two things are required for someone to be willing to listen to me. First, I need to have a close enough relationship with other people so that they are willing to listen to what I have to say to them. No one is going to listen a stranger’s words of encouragement to show love and do good deeds to others.  A stranger has no reason or right to be heard. The encouraging and challenging words from a stranger are quickly dismissed. That’s right. What else is just as important? If I hope to encourage others to show love and do good deeds then I need to be a role model and example of one who loves others and is doing good deeds. My words alone will not be enough to encourage others to show love and do good deeds. No, they will not. Anything less than my being a role model of showing love and doing good deeds will cause others to think that I am a hypocrite that says one thing and does another. Yes, that’s right.

You are living in close relationship with many people. You are also actively engaged in showing love and doing good deeds to others. Does this mean that you are now ready to tell everyone around you how they can show love and do good deeds towards others? No, it does not mean that. What else is needed? I think there is a right time and place to spur on, inspire, and stir up others to show love and do good deeds. How will you ever know the right time and place? Without your help I will probably never know the right time and place to offer the right words of encouragement. I need your help. I need your prompting. I need you to open up the opportunities for me to encourage others to show your love by doing your good deeds. Yes, you do need my help. Yes, you do need my prompting. Yes, you do need the right time and place to speak my words of encouragement. Listening to me and following my prompting is a vital part of considering how you can you spur on, inspire and stir up others to show my love and do my good deeds. Will you allow me to use you to encourage others? Will you act when I prompt you? Will you speak up when I give you the right time, right place, and right words? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will consider how I might spur others on toward showing your love and doing your good deeds. Let my life serve as a role model for others to follow. Help me to stir up, inspire, and spur others on to serve you by showing love and doing good deeds. Amen

Key Question…  How has your life served as a role model to others of showing love and doing good deeds?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to use you to spur others on to showing His love and doing His good deeds.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use you to spur others on to showing love and doing good deeds.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how someone has spurred you on to show love and do good deeds.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the Lord to use you to spur others on to show love and do good deeds.

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

385 Days Of Guidance – Day 27 – Hebrews 10-24 – Spur One Another On – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional  Study Guide

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