Monthly Archives: March 2023

Put Off Your Old Self

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 74 - Ephesians 4:20-24 - Put Off Your Old Self - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 74 – Ephesians 4:20-24 – Put Off Your Old Self – Growing As Disciples

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NIV)

Three Steps

I have come to think that the new life I have in you requires me to take three steps. You have reduced your new life in me down to three steps? I didn’t devise this plan. I didn’t make up these steps. They seem to be right here in your word.  So, you believe that you are on solid ground? Yes, I do. Let me hear your thoughts. First, let me qualify a few points about these three steps. Go right ahead. I will never be finished taking these steps. I will need to keep on taking these steps every day as I follow you. At any time and in any order, I will need to frequently revisit these steps. Are you done with your qualifiers? Yes, for now, I think.

What is the first step you must take if you want to live the new life you have in me? I must put off my old life. I must turn away from my old life that was filled with deceitful and sinful practices. I must separate myself from evil of every kind. As part of putting off my old life, which could be called repentance, I will need to ask you to forgive and cleanse me of all my sin. I must allow you to be my Savior and Lord. I must receive your forgiveness and free gift of salvation. I must determine that I want to live my life with and for you. That is step one. That is very good.

What is the second step you must take if you want to live the new life you have in me? I must allow you to transform and renew my mind. Without a new mind, I would never be successful at leaving my old life behind. What will I use to transform and renew your mind? You will use your word to transform and renew my mind. You want me to let your word dwell in me richly. You want me to take your word deeply into my heart and mind and life. You want me to meditate on your word day and night. Your word will help me to think your thoughts. Your word will help me to speak your words. Your word will help me to do your deeds. To sum it all up, your word will help me to know and do your will as I allow you to transform and renew my mind. That is step two. That is very good.

What is the third step you must take if you want to live the new life you have in me? I must put on the new life I have in you. What will that look like? Well, that will be unfolding every day as I live my life with and for you. I know one thing for sure. What’s that? My new life in you will include living in an intimate relationship with you. I will draw near to you. You will draw near to me. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will keep on taking all three of these steps as I love, follow and serve you. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will put off my old life. I will leave my old patterns and practices far behind me. Use your word to transform and renew my mind. Help me think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds.  I will keep on putting on the new life I have in you. Amen

Key Question… What practices from your old life did you leave behind so you could put on your new life in Christ?

Living It Out…  Put off your old life, be renewed in your mind, and put on your new life in Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to put off your old life, be renewed in your mind, and put on your new life in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are putting on the new life you have in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you put off your old self, be renewed in your mind, and put on your new life in Christ.

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

Day 74 – Becoming Like Christ – Ephesians 4-20-24 – Put Off Your Old Self – 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

Present Your Requests To God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 117 - Philippians 4:6-7 - Present Your Requests To God- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 117 – Philippians 4:6-7 – Present Your Requests To God- Growing As Disciples

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Present My Requests

That is what I will do from now on. What will you do from now on? I will present all my requests to you. That is a good plan. What has caused you to come to this decision? For too long and far too often, I have carried all my own worries. I have been weighed down by worry and filled up with anxiety. Why have you carried all your own worries? Why have you not asked for my help? I’m not completely sure why I have carried my own worries. Take a guess. I would guess that I have an independent and proud streak within me. Is that a guess? No, not really. Anyhow, I have thought to myself that I can handle all my own problems and difficulties. I have said to myself, “I shouldn’t need to ask for anyone’s help”. Has that included me? Yes, unfortunately. Is that your sole answer for your not asking for my help? I’m sure it’s not. What else?  Sometimes life has become so harried and frantic that I have forgotten to ask you for your help. There must be more. Don’t hold anything back from me. Well, sometimes I have wondered if you would hear and answer my prayer. That sounds terrible. That is something I hate to admit. If I have had a lack of faith in you that is something that I will not continue to let exist in me. That’s good. What will you do? I will begin to turn every worry of mine into a prayer to you. Not only will I pray to you, but I will pray prayers filled with faith and thanksgiving. Why is that? I know that you will hear me. I know that you will help me. I know that you love and care for me. I am your child. Yes, you are. Yes, I will hear you. Yes, I will help you. I do love and care for you. 

What will happen to you as you turn all your worries into prayers to me? I will carry my worries no longer. I will give them to you. I will let you carry my worries for me. That will be very good. What else? Then you will fill me with your peace. Your peace will guard my heart and mind and life. Your peace will cover me. Your peace will protect me. Your peace will be before, behind me and all around me. Your peace will completely surround me in ways that I will never be able to fully comprehend. Yes, it will. Keep on turning all your worries into prayers to me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, far too often I have carried my worries by myself. I have held on to them and been filled with anxiety. No longer will I carry my worries. I will turn every worry into a thanksgiving filled prayer to you. I know you will give me your peace as I fully trust you. Amen

Key Question… When have you carried worries, instead of turning them into a prayer to God?

Living It Out… Instead of carrying worries, turn every one of them into a thanksgiving filled prayer to God.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can turn every one of your worries into a prayer to God.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what worries you are presenting to God as prayers.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you, instead of worrying, present your requests to God.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 117 – Philippians 4-6-7- Present Your Requests To God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Gives Freedom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 75 - James 1:22-25 - Gives Freedom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 75 – James 1:22-25 – Gives Freedom – Growing As Disciples

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)

Freedom

I certainly want to live in freedom. I definitely want to live a life that you can and will bless. Those are good desires that you have in your heart. What must you do if you want to live in freedom? What must be your habits if you want to live a life that I can and will bless? That is a good question. Obviously, you are referring to more than one habit. Yes, I am. First, I must make every effort to hear your word. How will you make every effort to hear my word? How frequently will you make yourself available to hearing my word? I will hear your word by reading your word. I will hear your word by studying your word. I will hear your word by meditating on and memorizing your word. I will hear your word by praying your word. These are some of the ways that I will make every effort to hear your word. I will engage in these efforts to hear your word every day as I come to meet with you in your word. I will sit silently and in solitude before you so I can hear you speaking to me through your word. This is the first habit. This habit will help me to hear your word. I will develop this habit of listening to you. That will be very good.

The second habit that will help me to live in freedom and allow you to bless my life will be to put your word into practice. I can expect to receive no benefit from your word by hearing it but failing to put it into practice. That’s true. So, I will make every effort to put into practice all that you have shown me from your word. I will follow and obey you. I will do what you ask of me. I will allow your word to form the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and the deeds of my life. This is the second habit. Putting your word into practice will bless my life and make me fruitful as I love, follow and serve you. I will develop this habit of putting your word into practice. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not merely listen to your word. I will not deceive myself. I will not forget all that you have said to me. Thank you for richly blessing my life and helping me to live and walk in freedom as I make every effort to both hear and put your word into practice. Amen

Key Question… How has both hearing and putting God’s word into practice given you freedom?

Living It Out… Make every effort to both hear and put God’s word into practice so you can live in freedom.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will live in freedom as you hear and put God’s word into practice.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live in freedom as you hear and put God’s word into practice.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 75 – James 1-22-25 – Gives Freedom – 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 Way You Should Go

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 76 - Psalm 32:8-9 - The Way You Should Go - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 76 – Psalm 32:8-9 – The Way You Should Go – Growing As Disciples

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Psalm 32:8-9 (NIV)

Know It All 

I have learned my lesson. What lesson have you learned? I have learned how foolish it is to pridefully and stubbornly fail to accept your guidance. How have you learned this lesson? I have taken so many missteps. I have made so many mistakes. I have wasted time and talent and resources. I have wasted so much energy going off in a dozen different unfruitful directions. Each lesson, I will tell you, has not been pain free. Being stubborn and filled with pride can leave a person weary and worn out and bruised and broken. I have experienced it all, and then some. I’m sure it seems that way to you. You don’t think so? Some never reach the end of themselves and learn to come to humbly ask me for help. You are here now. You have realized your mistakes. You are admitting your sin. Yes, I am, without a doubt. Now I see that I was like a stubborn mule. I was not willing to be led by you. But now you are. Yes, I am. That is very good.

Tell me what more you have learned? I have learned that nothing is more dangerous than to think one “knows it all”. A “know it all”, will never receive advice or accept counsel. A “know it all”, cannot be warned. A thousand people could see a “know it all” headed for a cliff. Not one person could help the “know it all” avoid disaster. The “know it all” would not hear a thousand voices in unison shouting, “watch out, stop, don’t take another step.” Only later, after the disaster might a “know it all” say, “Why didn’t you warn me?” Then there may be hope for the “know it all”. That was me. I was like a “know it all” after a disaster. The only difference is that it took my going over many cliffs and experiencing many disasters to understand that I did not “know it all”. Then I was willing to humbly ask you for your help. Then I was willing to accept your instruction and receive your guidance. Now I know that I know very little and that I desperately need your help. So, every day I will come to you to ask to guide me. I will make no plan or take no action without asking for you to direct my steps. You have learned a valuable lesson. Yes, I have. I will place all my trust in you. That is very good. 

Lord, I will not be like a stubborn horse or mule that resists guidance. I will not reluctantly submit myself to your leadership. Instead, I will listen attentively to you. I will receive your counsel. I will humbly and willingly follow you. I will joyfully do what you ask me. Amen

Key Question… How are you humbly allowing the Lord to give you His guidance as you follow Him?

Living It Out… Humbly allow the Lord to give you His guidance as you follow Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you His guidance as you humbly follow Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has guided your life as you have humbly followed Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you humbly receive and follow guidance the Lord wants to give to you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 76 – Psalm 32-8-9 – The Way You Should Go – 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

Why Do You Boast?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 77 - 1 Corinthians 4:7 - Why Do You Boast? - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 77 – 1 Corinthians 4:7 – Why Do You Boast? – Growing As Disciples

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)

Boasting 

I don’t want to be doing that. You don’t want to do be doing what? I don’t want to be boasting about who I am or what I have done. Why is that? I have no reason to boast. Why do you have no reason to boast? Everything I am and hope to be comes from you. Everything I have done or will do has come from you. You have uniquely created me as I am. You have given me specific gifts, talents and abilities with which you have made me able to serve you. You have guided me to where you have wanted me to go. You have given me what you have wanted me to. I can do nothing of lasting and eternal value without your making me able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. So, I can’t boast. But I can give you thanks and praise and honor and glory for all your goodness to me. You have richly blessed my life. I have found great joy in loving, following and serving you. That is very good. It brings me pleasure to hear your thankfulness.

However, you have not said enough. What more can I say? Tell me about the danger of comparing yourself with others. There lies a great danger. If I were to compare myself with others, I might begin to think I am better than others and become proud and boastful. I might even begin to think that I am the source of who I am or what I have done. Then I would not give you the thanks and praise and honor and glory you richly deserve. Is that the only possibility? No, certainly not. The other possibility is equally dangerous. If I were to compare myself with others, I might think that others are far better and more gifted than myself. Then I might become jealous and envious and resentful. I might even begin to covet who others are or what they have been given. Then for quite different reasons, I would not give you the thanks and praise and honor and glory you richly deserve. Both a prideful boastful attitude and a jealous and envious, covetous attitude are not pleasing to you. No, they are not. Both of these wrong attitudes would short circuit your work in and through my life. Both of these improper attitudes would make me unable to bear fruit for your kingdom or bring glory to your name. That’s true. So, I will focus on giving thanks and praise and glory and honor to you for the way that you are, have been and will continue to do your work in and through me. That will be very good.

Lord, there is nothing I have received that has not come from you. There is nothing I have done of value that you have not made me able to accomplish. I give you praise for the way you have been, are, and will be working in and through me for your glory. Amen

Key Question… What of lasting and eternal value would you be able to accomplish without the Lord helping you?

Living It Out… Give thanks and praise to the Lord for how He is working in and through you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that it is the Lord who is working in and through you to accomplish His purposes.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is working in and through you to accomplish His purposes.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you give thanks to the Lord for the way He has been, is, and will continue to work in and through you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 77 – 1 Corinthians 4-7 – Why Do You Boast – 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

Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 78 - James 4:7-10 - Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 78 – James 4:7-10 – Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You – Growing As Disciples

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:7-10 (ESV)  

Humbly Draw Near

Thank you, Lord, that I can draw near to you. Thank you, Lord, that you draw near to me. As a humble act of submission, I will make it my regular and frequent practice to draw near to you. How often will you draw near to me? I will certainly draw near to you every day. But I am certain that I will need to draw near to you far more frequently than just every day. Why is that? I desperately need your help. I certainly need your wisdom. I definitely need your protection. So, I can envision drawing near to you through the moments of my day. That will be very good.

What happens to you when you humbly draw near to me? When I humbly draw near to you, I am submitting myself to you. I am asking for your help. I am coming to rely on you. I am placing all my trust in you rather than in myself. I am making myself fully available to you. I am withdrawing from the world and entering into your presence. I am listening to your voice. I am focusing my heart and mind and life on you. I am making myself available to receive your instruction and follow your guidance. I am turning away from my own thoughts to seek your thoughts. I am waiting in solitude and silence before you so that you can guard and guide my life. That is very good.

What have I done for you as you have humbly drawn near to me? When I have humbly drawn near to you, you have drawn near to me. You have filled me with your peace. You have removed my heart and mind and life from the storm of evil thoughts, opinions, values and circumstances that have swirled around me, that have sought to entrap me. You have caused the devil to flee from me. You have reordered and reprioritized my perspective. You have refocused my heart and mind and life on you. You have helped me once again to place all my hope and trust on you. You have set my feet back on a firm foundation. You have made me able to see, once again, how to live and walk and move forward with you on the path of life. Yes, I have done all these things for you. Will you keep on submitting yourself to me by drawing near to me? Will you make humbly drawing near to me your ongoing moment by moment strategy to resist evil in all its forms? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will draw near to you. I know you will draw near to me. Help me to resist the devil so he will flee from me. Guard my heart and mind and life from his attacks. Help me to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds as I follow and serve you.  Amen

Key Question… How has God changed your thoughts, words and actions as you have humbly drawn near to Him?

Living It Out… Humbly submit yourself to God by drawing near to Him, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you humbly submit yourself to God by drawing near to Him, the devil and his evil will flee from you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been humbly drawing near to God and resisting the devil.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you humbly draw near to God and resist the devil so he will flee from you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 78 – James 4-7-10 – Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You – 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

Your Steadfast Love

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 79 - Psalm 63:1-4 - Your Steadfast Love - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 79 – Psalm 63:1-4 – Your Steadfast Love – Growing As Disciples

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:1-4 (ESV)

Earnest Desire

It is my earnest desire to seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is my joy to be in your presence. It is my delight to meet with you in solitude and silence. You have placed within me this insatiable desire for you. If I were like a thirsty traveler crawling across the desert floor in search of water, my desire would not be stronger than it is for you. This desire within me is not to my credit. This desire did not originate in me. I have not given birth to this desire, nor would I be able to stir it up within me. You have started this flame of desire within me. You have fanned the flame of this desire within me. For this I give you my wholehearted and undying thanks. That is very good.

What do you hope to gain as you seek me with all your heart? What do you hope will be the outcome of your coming to meet with me? What do you believe I will do in you, for you and through you as you draw near to me? I hope to come to know you intimately. I want to hear your voice. I want to receive your instruction. I want to follow your guidance. I want you to guard and guide my life. Is that it? No, I’m just getting warmed up. As I am in your presence, I want you to mold and shape my life. I want you to change my heart and transform my mind. I want to be able to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. I want to be able to live a life that is pleasing to you. Is that it? No, I have much more that I hope for and believe that you will do in me, for me, and through me as I remain in your presence. I want to be able to shine brightly in the world for you. I want to be able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want others to be drawn to you through your life being lived out in and through me. Surely this must be all you want from me? No, I am not nearly done with my what I am asking for from you. I want to be able to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want my life to be filled with praise and thanks to you. I want to give you the honor and glory that you deserve. I want to worship you with all that is within Is that it? Is that enough? Have I asked for too little? Yes, I want more. I want you to show me what I failed to ask you for. I want you to teach me how to pray. I want you to give and grant all the prayers that you would like me to pray. I don’t want to miss out on anything that you would like me to receive from you. I want to fully live the life that you have called me to live so I can bring you all the glory due your name. Now, for the moment, I am done with my requests from you. I believe that you will hear and answer these prayers that you have given me to pray. Yes, I will hear and answer your prayers as you keep on earnestly seeking me with all your heart. 

Heavenly Father, my soul thirsts for you. My body longs for you. I will earnestly seek you. I will seek you as if I were a thirsty person crawling across the desert floor looking for water. I want to come to know you and give you praise for your steadfast love. Amen

Key Question… How has God refreshed and revived your life as you have earnestly sought Him?

Living It Out… Earnestly seek God with all your heart so you can come to know Him and His steadfast love.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will come to know God’s steadfast love as you earnestly seek Him with all your heart.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you earnestly seek God so you will come to know His steadfast love.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 79 – Psalm 63-1-4 – Your Steadfast Love – 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

Living By God’s Power

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 80 - 1 Corinthians 4:20- Living By God's Power - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 80 – 1 Corinthians 4:20- Living By God’s Power – Growing As Disciples

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT2)

Lot Of Talk

I have seen and heard far too much of that. You seen and heard far too much of what? I have seen and heard far too much talk. I have seen far too little power. What do you mean by too much talk and too little power? Let me clarify something before I go too much farther. Go ahead. When I say that I have I have seen far too much talk and far too little power I am talking both about in my life and in the world around me. I am commenting just as much about myself as I am about the world around me. What kind of power are you hoping to hear and see far more of your life and in the world? I am hoping to hear and see far more of your power at work in and through my life and in the world around me. Let me be clear, I am hoping to hear and see your power at work so that your purposes and plan will be accomplished, and glory will be brought to your name. I have no desire to make a name for myself. I don’t want to be the center of attention. I don’t want anyone to be drawn to me. Self-interest is not driving my desire to see you powerfully at work in my life or in the world around me. I want your power to bring you glory and draw a multitude of people to you. I want to see a rich harvest for your kingdom. That is very good.

Why do you think you have seen far too little of my power working in and through your life and in the world around you? There could be any number of reasons. Name a few. I could have something in my life that is hindering your power to be at work in and through me. I could be asking amiss or not asking at all for your power to be at work in me or in the world around me. I could be relying far too much on my own thoughts, wisdom and ideas. I could be praying with wrong motives. I might not be praying according to your will. You might want me to be more fervent and persistent in prayer. You might want to draw me far deeper in my relationship with you. Could all of these be true at one time or another? Yes, that is a very distinct possibility. Could you go wrong by drawing nearer to me? Could you make a mistake by being more fervent and persistent in your prayers? I doubt it, certainly not. Will I show you if you are praying amiss? Will I help you to see and remove what is hindering your prayers? Without a doubt. Will keep on coming to me? Will you keep on praying to me? Will you rely on me rather than on yourself? Yes, I will. Then you will see my power at work in you and in the world around you. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have seen and heard far too much talk and too little of your power at work. Remove anything from my life that will hinder your power to work in and through me to accomplish your purposes and bring you glory. I will come to rely on you and your power. Amen

Key Question… What prayers are you now praying for God to be powerfully at work in a situation?

Living It Out… Rely on the power of God to work in and through you to accomplishes His purposes and bring Him glory.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can rely on the power of God to work in and through you for His purposes and glory.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when the power of God has been working in and through you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on God’s power to work in and through your life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 80 – 1 Corinthians 4-20 – Living By God’s Power – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Guard Your Heart

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 81 - Proverbs 4:20-27 - Guard Your Heart - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 81 – Proverbs 4:20-27 – Guard Your Heart – Growing As Disciples

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:20-27 (NIV)

Pay Attention

That is what I will do, without a doubt. What will you do without a doubt? I will pay attention to you. I will listen closely to your words. I will treasure everything that you have taught me. I will hear and obey you. I will guard my heart and mind. I will be very careful about the words that I allow to come out of my mouth. I will focus my heart and mind and life on you. You will have my full-hearted devotion. I will live the life that you are calling me to live. Why will I have your full-hearted devotion? I will follow and obey you because I love you. It would be foolish and impossible to believe that I loved you if I was unwilling to follow and obey. The desire of my heart is to love, follow and obey you. It my joy to do what you ask of me. That is very good. 

Will you be alone in your effort to follow and obey me? I’m not sure what you mean by that question. Will I help you to follow and obey me? Does your following and obeying me rest on your own strength alone? Certainly not, I would have no hope of living a life that is devoted to you without your help. I am weak. I am prone to wonder. I am susceptible to temptation. You will help me to follow and obey you. You will guard and guide me as I follow you. You will sustain and strengthen me as I follow you. How will I keep you on course? How will I guard, guide, sustain and strengthen you? You will lead me. You will teach me. You will train me. How so? You will use your word to speak into my life. You will use your word to change my heart. You will use your word to transform my mind. Your word will make me able to resist temptation. Your word will make me able to stand against evil. As I remain in you and your words remain in me, I will live the life that you are calling me to live. I will not wander off. I will stay on course. I will go where you guide me and do what you ask of me. Yes, you will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will pay attention to what you have taught me. I will not forget or fail to pay attention to you. I will guard my mouth from saying and eyes from seeing what is not helpful. I will fix my heart, mind and life on you. Use your word to keep me on course. Amen 

Key Question… How has God used His word to keep you from swerving to the right of left as you follow Him?

Living It Out… Allow God’s word to guard and guide and keep on course as you love, follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will keep your life on course as you love, follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are guarding your heart and mind as you follow the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God’s word to guard and guide your heart and mind as you love, follow and serve Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 81 – Proverbs 4-20-27 – Guard Your 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

Search Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 82 - Psalm 139:23-24 - Search Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 82 – Psalm 139:23-24 – Search Me – Growing As Disciples

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Search Me

I’m not sure if this is the best or worst time to pray this prayer. Why is that? I am so frustrated. I am absolutely churning inside. There is no calm within. Do you mean to say that you are angry? Yes, I am angry. Do you have ample reason to be angry? Are you justified in being as angry as you are? Probably not. Do you think that I am pleased with your anger? Certainly not. Have you let a relatively minor situation get the best of you? Without, a doubt. Have you lost all your perspective and allowed yourself to overcome with emotion? There is no doubt about it. Guess what. What? This is a perfect time to draw near to me. This is an ideal time to ask me to search you to remove any offensive way that is within you. Why is that? What is at the surface? What has coming bubbling out of you? What is obvious for both of us to see? I can see that I am unnecessarily angry. I can see that I have foolishly let something upset me. I have let a minor detail in life cause me to lose all perspective. That is good. What is good about that? It is good that you see these things. It is great that you are confessing them to me. You are not trying to hide anything from me. No, I am not. That’s very good isn’t it? Yes, I can see that now.

What would you like me to do for you? I would like you to forgive me. You are forgiven. I would also like you to search me. That is never hard for you, but it is especially easy today. Yes, it is. Well, I would like you to remove this anger from me. What anger? Yes, I get it. You have already removed this anger from me. Is there something else that you would like me to do for you? Yes, I would like you to help me to overcome situations that might be frustrating. I would like you to give me victory over anger. What do I want you to do? You want me to be quick to listen, slow to speak and be slow to become angry. Yes, I do. That’s what I want as well. Good, I will hear and answer your prayer. I will lead you in my everlasting way. You will live the life that I am calling you to live. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, I welcome you to search me. I don’t confidently say that thinking you will find no offensive way that is within me. Just the opposite is true; I am sure you will find an offensive way in me that certainly needs to be removed. I welcome your work in me. Amen

Key Question… How has God used His word as a tool to search your thoughts and words and actions?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to search you and remove any offensive way that is within you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will search you and remove any offensive way in you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group an offensive way that the Lord has removed from your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to search you and remove any offensive way in you.

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

Day 82 – Becoming Like Christ – Psalm 139-23-24- Search 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