Monthly Archives: May 2023

Power To The Weak

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 8 - Isaiah 40:29-31 - Power To The Weak - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 8 – Isaiah 40:29-31 – Power To The Weak – Growing As Disciples

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV)

Power 

I certainly need that. You certainly need what? I certainly need your power. For what do you need my power? I need your power to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I need your power to do the work you have given me to do for you. I need your power to live the life you have called me to live. When did you come to the conclusion that you need my power? Well, it has become quite obvious to me that I don’t have the power I need to accomplish your purposes, fulfill your plans, do the work you have given me to do, or even live the life you have called me to love. How did that become obvious to you? My weariness has certainly revealed my lack of power. My own fruitless efforts have also revealed my lack of power. I know that you have said that, apart from you, I can do nothing. Yes, that is true. Well, I have done a lot of nothing, under my own power and strength. I know it is not your will for me to accomplish nothing. No, it is not.

It is a very good that you have come to realize that you need my power and strengthen working in and through you. Why do you suppose that you need my power and strength? Why do you suppose that I did not create you with all the power and strength that you would need in life? You did not want me to be self-reliant You did not want me to be self-sufficient. Why is that? You love me. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to come to you for all that I need. You want to refresh and revive and renew and strengthen me as I come to rest in your presence. You want me to walk through life with you. Yes, I do. If I never needed your help, would I be drawn into an intimate relationship with you? Would I come to rest in your presence, if I was never weary or worn out? Would I ever rely on you, if I never needed your help? Would I ever come to know and love you as I do, had you not made me as I am? I doubt it. So, I am thankful that you made me to want to enter into your presence to live my life in an intimate relationship with you. That is very good. You will have all that you need from me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have set apart a time and place to meet with you on a daily basis. It is my joy to rest in your presence. You refresh, revive, renew and strengthen me. Give me your power to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Work in and through my life. Amen

Key Question… What daily time and special place have you set apart to wait on the Lord?

Living It Out… Make it your daily pattern and practice to wait on the Lord so He can renew your strength.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will renew your strength as you wait on Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are regularly waiting on the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you wait on the Lord so He can renew your strength.

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

Promises – Day 8 – Isaiah 40-29-31 – Power To The Weak – 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

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 6 - Mathew 7:7-8 - Ask - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 6 – Mathew 7:7-8 – Ask – Growing As Disciples

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

Ask, Seek, Knock

I have definitely not been doing enough of that. You have not been doing enough of what? I have not been doing enough asking. I have not asked you for all that I need. I have not turned all my worries into prayers to you. I have not been doing enough seeking. I have let my life become too comfortable, maybe even complacent. I have no urgency to seek and find all that you have for me. I’m not sure that my eyes have been wide open to all that you want to show me. I have certainly have not been knocking on doors of opportunity that you want me to walk through. There are some elements of truth to what you are saying. I do want your prayers to be urgent and energetic. I do want you to ask, I do want you to seek, I do want you to knock, all with great passion and persistence. But from my vantage point I see that you are weary and worn out. You are discouraged and depressed. You are filled with worry and anxiety. In your current state, you do not even realize that you have been walking through doors of opportunity that I have opened before you. You are forgetting that you have been and are now asking for my help and seeking all that I want you to know and to learn from me. So, much of what you are feeling is not true. Well then, what should I do?

Come close to me. Rest in my presence. Let me revive and refresh and restore your soul. Keep on asking me for all you need. Turn every one of your worries into a prayer to me. I will hear and answer your prayers. Listen attentively to my voice. Seek to receive all that I have for you. Don’t be in a hurry. Don’t rush off. Linger in my presence. I will strengthen you. I will encourage you. I will lift you up. Keep on going through the doors I open for you. Don’t retreat. Don’t back up. Keep on moving forward with me. I will be with you to help you. I will be all that you need. Thank you, Lord. I will keep on asking. I will keep on seeking. I will keep on knocking, as I rest in your presence. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will ask, I will seek, I will knock. I believe you will hear and answer my prayers. You will give me what I need. You will help me to find what I am seeking. You will open doors for me to walk through. Thank you for all your goodness, kindness and mercy. Amen

Key Question… How are you regularly asking the Lord for what you need from Him?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord for what you need from Him.

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 you are asking from the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask the Lord for what you need.

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

Promises – Day 6 – Matthew 7-7-8 – Ask – 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

Come Close To God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 5 - James 4:7-10 - Come Close To God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 5 – James 4:7-10 – Come Close To God – Growing As Disciples

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.  Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. James 4:7-10 (NLT)

Humility

What is it that has most prevented you from coming to me? What has hindered you from drawing near to me? Those are good questions. Do you have an answer? Yes, I have an answer, but it is not a good one. Why is that? My answer will be correct. It will not be good. I’m listening.  I have lived a pride filled, self-reliant and self-sufficient life. Somewhere deep down inside of me, I must have told myself that I have no need to draw near to you, because my life was going quite nicely. You’re right, that is a correct answer and it is not a good one. It is only correct in that it described my almost unconscious self-talk and thoughts. Yet, it is a false answer in every other way. How so? A life without you, is never going quite nicely. A pride filled, self-reliant and self-sufficient life is an empty life without hope or joy or peace. It is a life headed toward disaster. It is a dark and sinful life that will most certainly be bruised and battered and broken before long. This is your voice of experience isn’t it? Yes, it is.

You are no longer living a pride-filled, self-reliant, and self-sufficient life. No, I am not. What happened to you? I discovered the error of my ways. I learned that the true wages of sin is death. I was fully bruised and battered and broken. My lifestyle led me to rock bottom. There was no more pride or self-reliance, or self-sufficiency left in me. All I could do was humbly cry out to you. All I wanted to do was draw near to you. You helped me to come to you. Yes, I did. What else did I do for you? You drew near to me. You heard my cry and prayer. You came into my life. You healed my bruised and battered and broken life. You allowed me to taste of your kindness and mercy and love. You lifted me up and have set me on a path of loving and following and serving you. Yes, I have done all these things for you. My life has never been the same since. That is very good. Yes, it is. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I have lived a pride filled life with divided loyalties. I have followed you and the ways of the world. No more, no longer, not me. I will submit my heart, mind and life to you. I will draw near to you. Draw near to me. I will follow you to wherever you lead me. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your daily practice to draw near to God?

Living It Out… Humbly submit yourself to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will lift you up as you humble yourself before Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are drawing near to the Lord on a daily basis.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you draw near to God so He can draw near to you.

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

Promises – Day 5 – James 4-7-10 – Come Close 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

Meditates Day And Night

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 7 - Psalm 1:1-6 - Meditates Day And Night - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 7 – Psalm 1:1-6 – Meditates Day And Night – Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.  Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:1-6 (NIV)

A Blessed Life

Who wouldn’t want to live that kind of life? What would living that kind of life require? What kind of life do you want to live? I want to live a blessed life. What do you mean by that? I want to live a happy life. I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. I want to live a life that you can and will bless. Do you not know what kind of life I can and will bless? Do you not know what you must do if you want to live a life that I will bless? Is there some mystery here? Is there something that is unclear to you? Have I not been specific enough? You have been quite clear. You have been very specific. I have no doubt in my heart and mind about what goes into living a life that you can and will bless.

Very well then, describe a blessed life to me. If I want to live a blessed life, I will separate myself from evil of every kind. I will withdraw from both evil circumstances and evil people. I will not walk in the counsel of the wicked. I will not stand in the way with sinners. I will not sit in a seat with mockers. No, I will not allow myself to fit in the world’s pattern of thinking or speaking or acting evilly. I will not allow my heart and mind and life to be molded according to values and practices of this world. How will this be possible? That is a very good question. Only your word living and dwelling in me richly will make me able to separate myself from the evil that is in this world. Only your word dwelling in me richly will make me able to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. So, I will meditate on your word day and night. Your word will change my heart. Your word will transform my mind. Your word will guide my life. Then I will be able to live a life that you can and will bless. Yes, you will, without a doubt. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know that there are both unhelpful and unhealthy situations and people I must separate myself from as I follow you. I also know that you want me to meditate on your word day and night so you can change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Amen

Key Question… How is meditating on God’s word changing your heart and transforming your mind?

Living It Out… Make it your day and night practice to meditate on God’s word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will bless your heart and mind and life as you meditate on His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are meditating on God’s word day and night.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you meditate on God’s word day and night as He watches over your life.

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

Promises – Day 7 – Psalm 1-1-6 – Meditates Day And Night – 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 Still

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 12 - Psalm 46:10 - Be Still - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 12 – Psalm 46:10 – Be Still – Growing As Disciples

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Quiet

What a magnificent promise. I could want nothing more. I could think of nothing better. What promise are you referring to? I am referring to your promise that I can know you as I quiet myself before you. That is a very good promise. Yes, I know, of that I am certain. You are aware of the premise to that promise? Yes, I am. Tell me about the premise to my promise. Many of your promises have a premise. Many of your promises require something to be true in order for them to be fulfilled. This promise is no different, in that regard. What will be required of you, if you want to come to know me? I must make being quiet and still before you, a priority, if I want to know you. That is true. Why is it critically important for you to make being quiet and still before me a priority? This hectic life is filled with activity. Great demands are placed on my time. I am constantly being tempted to live a life that is filled with busyness. It would even be easy to believe that always being busy is some kind of virtue. It is not, I know that for sure, without a doubt in my mind. Not only is this world a hectic and busy place; it is also a very noisy place. Often, it is hard to even hear myself think over the noise and distractions of this life. I am no stranger to being overwhelmed by voices that would like to place demands on my time and energy and resources. I could run myself in ragged circles trying to please everyone in this world. Life could pull me in every direction other than toward you if I am not careful. That would not be good. No, it would not. There is one thing I know about with great certainty. What’s that? You will not generally shout for my attention. You will rarely make me come to be quiet and still before you. No, not generally. It is your desire that I draw near to you. It is your plan that I come to you with my heart filled with desire for you. Yes, it is my desire and plan for you to drawn near to me. With that in mind, I would say the best gift you have ever given to me, is the desire to know and love and follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. So, I will make quieting myself and being still before the priority of my life. I will carve out a specific time and a special place to meet with you on a daily basis. That will be very good. Yes, I know. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, it is the utmost desire of my heart and goal of my life to come to know and love and follow and serve you. Help me to quiet myself before you. Help me to withdraw from the noise and busyness of this hectic life so I can clearly hear from you. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your daily practice to quiet yourself before God so you can come to know Him?

Living It Out… Set aside a daily time and place to be still before God so you can come to know Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will come to know God as you are still before Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have come to know God as you have been still before Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be still before God so you can come to know Him.

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

Promises – Day 12 – Psalm 46-10 – Be Still – 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 Not Judge

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 14 - Matthew 7:1-2 - Do Not Judge- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 14 – Matthew 7:1-2 – Do Not Judge- Growing As Disciples

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)  

Judging Others

I have been proud. I have been arrogant. I have thought that I was in some way better than others. It is hard to admit. It is embarrassing to say out loud. But, it is true. It has been so easy to see the faults of others and so difficult to see the faults of my own. I have been so willing to closely examine someone else’s life and so unwilling to examine my own. What a joke. What a hypocrite. Sometimes I nauseate myself when I get a true glimpse of my own behavior. All I can ask is that you forgive me. All I can say is that I need your help. You are asking for my forgiveness and help? Yes, I am. That is my prayer. You will have both. You are forgiven and I will help you.

Tell me exactly what you want. I want to be like you. I want to be kind. I want to be gracious. I want to be forgiving. I want to love others just as you have loved me. I want to be able to follow your example. What is my example? You loved and forgave people while they rejected you. You loved and forgave people as they were hurting you. You prayed for your enemies as they were crucifying you on the cross. What clearer example of love and forgiveness can there be? I will answer my own question. There can be no clearer example of humbly loving and forgiving others. You have given me a crystal-clear example to follow. You want me to love and forgive others regardless of how they have or are currently treating me. That’s true.

Why do you want to become like me? You love me. I love you. You rescued me from a life without you. You made it so I can live in an intimate relationship with you. As I am in your presence, I am being changed. How so? I am becoming more like you. I am learning to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. I want to live as you lived. I want to do what you did. Why is that? It was your pleasure to serve your Heavenly Father. It was your desire to bear fruit for His kingdom and bring glory to His name. That’s right. As I am loving and forgiving others, I will be doing the same. Yes, you will. That is why I want to become like you. That is why I will not engage in judging others. That is very good.

Lord, I don’t know why it is easy to see others faults and so difficult to see mine. Why have been I been so willing to give judgement when I have only wanted to receive grace? Forgive me. Help me to be as gracious and kind to others as you have been to me. Amen

Key Question… Why is it so easy to see other’s faults and so difficult to see your own faults?

Living It Out… Don’t ever let yourself take up a judgmental attitude toward others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to refrain from judging others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to refrain from judging others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you never engage in judging others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 14 – Matthew 7-1-2 – Do Not Judge – 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

Love Is

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 15 - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Love Is - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 15 – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love Is – Growing As Disciples

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)

Love Looks Like

I have no doubt that this is what love looks like. I also have no doubt, whatsoever, that this is what you look like as well. I am equally sure that my life does not measure up to this description of love. Why is that? I’m not sure. I’m human. I am a sinner. Occasionally, I am some of these things in part. I am never all of these things in full, nor do I even come close to displaying a significant portion of these qualities all together at one time. I may be patient and proud. I may be kind and boastful. I may be truthful and angry. What is quite clear, is that, I desperately need your help. Why do you need my help? You want me to become like you. I want to become like you. I want to be able to demonstrate your love to the world. I want your love to flow through me. I want to love others just as you love me. I want others to see your love in me so that they will be drawn to you. I’m sure we have the same goals. We do have the same goals, don’t we? Yes, we do have the same goals. I want you to love others just as I love you. I want you to follow my example. I do want you to become like me. That’s good. Yes, it is very good.

Well, I know what will not work. I know what has not worked. What’s that? It will not work, it has not worked, for me to simply try harder to love others. I have tried that over and over year after year. My efforts have met with miserable failure. Yes, I have noticed. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. Didn’t you say you wanted to become like me? Yes, I did. How will you become like me? I will become like you as I spend time with you. I will become like you as I draw near to you. I will become like you as I walk with you. I will become like you as I am in your presence. Yes, you will. As you become like me, what won’t you need to try harder to do? I will not need to try harder to love others because you will be changing me and making me more like you. Loving others will be the biproduct of you making me to be more like you. Now, you get it. Now, you understand. Yes, I do. That is very good.  

Lord, I have not loved others just as you have loved me. My love for others has been far from perfect. Forgive me. Help me. I want to love others like you love me. Develop in me the highest and best qualities of love. Help me demonstrate your love to the world. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord provided you an example of how to love others?

Living It Out… Follow the Lord’s example by loving others just as He loves you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to love others just as He loves you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is making you able to love others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love others just as the Lord loves you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 15 – 1 Corinthians 13-4-7 – Love Is – 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

Bear With Each Other

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 16 - Colossians 3:12-14 - Bear With Each Other - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 16 – Colossians 3:12-14 – Bear With Each Other – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

Fully Clothed

That’s what I want. What’s that? I wanted to be fully clothed with your love. I want to be filled with compassion and kindness. I want to be gentle and patient. I want to live a life of humility. That’s good. But, I’m not there yet, that is for sure. It is very hard for me to bear with other’s weaknesses. It is not easy for me to overlook and let go of grievances. I want to forgive others as you have forgiven me. Above all else, I want to put on love. I want your love to flow through me. I want your love to live in me. I want to be able to live in perfect unity with others. That’s very good.

So, what are you asking of me? I want to be changed. I want to be different. I want to be like you. I want to live the life you are calling me to live. That is the most important starting point. Why is that? You desire to live the life that I am calling you to live. Not many have that desire. Not many want to be changed. Not many want to be different. Most are living, self-satisfied lives. They see weaknesses in others but none of their own. They hold on to anger and bitter grievances with others. Their lives are filled with disunity of every kind. So, your desire is very good. 

What has your desire to be like me caused you to do? I have drawn near to you in prayer. I have come to rely on you. I have come to be in your presence. I have continued to meet with you in your word. What has been happening to you as you have drawn near to me? Are you the same person? Can you be in my presence and remain unchanged? No, I cannot be in your presence and remain unchanged. No, I am not the same person that I was before I started meeting with you. Are you encouraged or are you discouraged? Are you learning to clothe yourself with my love? I am encouraged. I know that you are working in my life. You are helping me to fully clothe myself with your love. Yes, I am. Will you keep on allowing me to change you? Yes, I will. That will be very good. Day by day, I will continue to help you to keep on clothing yourself with my love. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I want to love and forgive others as you love and forgive me. Help me to be fully clothed with your love. Help me to forgive and set aside every grievance I have with others. Help me to live in perfect unity with others so I can live as your child in this world. Amen

Key Question… How is your being clothed with Christ’s love helping you to bear with the weaknesses of others?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to clothe you with His love so you will be able to love and bear with the weakness of others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to clothe yourself with His love so you will be able to love and forgive others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been clothing you with His love.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow Christ to clothe you with His love so you will be able to love others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 16 – Colossians 3-12-14 – Bear With Each Other – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Abstain From Sinful Desires

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 17 - 1 Peter 2:11-12 - Abstain From Sinful Desires - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 17 – 1 Peter 2:11-12 – Abstain From Sinful Desires – Growing As Disciples

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV)

My True Home

I think I am just starting to see life in its proper perspective. How so? I am like an alien or stranger just passing through this life. This is not my true home. In a very brief amount of time, my life on this earth will be over. It will be nothing but a foolish waste of time and effort for me to try to make myself too cozy in this life. After all, I brought nothing into this world, I will take nothing out of this world. Why is it significant that you see the brevity of your life? Why is it important that you identify your true home? Why is critical for you to know that you can take nothing out of this world? Well, I will tell you one thing for sure. What’s that? The world and all that is in it, is trying to wage war against my soul. How so? The world is trying to captivate me and allure me and entice me into pursuing all that it has to offer. Why is that so bad? I really have two choices. I can either pursue the life you want me to live or I can pursue the life that the world is trying to entice me to live. I can pursue earthly or heavenly treasure. My heart and mind and life can be focused on heaven or on earth. There is no middle ground. I can’t have it both ways. No, you cannot. Not only that, time is flying by. I don’t have an unlimited number of days to live. You have given me places to go. You have given me things to do. I want to live each day faithfully and fully and fruitfully for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That’s very good.

So, what will you do? How will you live your life differently? I will guard my heart and mind and life from being captivated by the world and all that is in it. I will rely on you to help me to live a faithful and fruitful and good life. I will endeavor to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. It will be my hope and desire and plan to do good works that will cause even unbelievers to give thanks and praise to you. These will not be my good works. These will be the good works that you give me to do. It is my prayer that these good works will help draw a multitude of people to you. Then many will come to know and love and follow you. Then I will be storing up treasure in heaven with you. Yes, you will and that will be very good.  

Heavenly Father, I know I am just passing through this life. This world is not my true home. I am like a stranger in this world. So, I will not try to make myself too cozy in this life. Instead, help me to do good works that cause even unbelievers to give thanks to you. Amen

Key Question… How are you guarding your life so you will remain a faithful and fruitful witness for Christ in this world?

Living It Out… Know that you are a stranger and alien in this world as you faithfully and fruitfully do good works for the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to live a faithful and fruitful life as a stranger or alien passing through this world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group why unbelievers might thank God for your good works.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you abstain from worldly desires as you do the good works God gives you to do for Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 17 – 1 Peter 2-11-12 – Abstain From Sinful Desires – 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

Being Poured Out

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 18 - 2 Timothy 4:6-8 - Being Poured Out - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 18 – 2 Timothy 4:6-8 – Being Poured Out – Growing As Disciples

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)

Poured Out?

Now that’s a thought. There a lot of good questions I need to ask myself. Like what? Am I being poured out? Am I gladly and joyfully pouring myself into living the life you have given me to live? Am I giving you my all? Am I listening to your voice? Am I hearing your instructions? Am I receiving your guidance? Am I going where you guide me? Am I doing all that you ask of me? Am I following and obeying you? Am I fighting a good fight? Am I running a good race? Will I keep the faith and finish the race you have laid out before me? You’re right. You have a lot of questions you want to ask yourself.

Do you have any answers to your questions? I have thoughts. I’m not positive that I would call them answers. Tell me your thoughts. I’m glad that these questions are in my heart and on my mind. Why is that? These questions have certainly not originated in me. You have put these questions in my heart and on my mind. I’m glad that these are not just hypothetical questions in my heart and mind. What are they? They are far more than hypothetical questions. They are burning desires. They are hopes and dreams. Again, these burning desires and hopes and dreams have certainly not originated in me. You have put these burning desires and hopes and dreams in my heart and on my mind. I’m glad that these are not just hypothetical questions, burning desires or hopes or dreams. What are they? They are far more than hypothetical questions, burning desires or hopes or dreams. They are prayers. They are prayers that have not originated with me. You have put these prayers in my heart and on my mind. Yes, I have put these questions, burning desires, hopes and dreams and prayers in your heart and on your mind.

Why is it important for you to know that I have placed these questions, burning desires, hopes and dreams and prayers in your heart and on your mind? You want all of these things for me. This is your will and purpose and plan for me. You will hear and answer these questions, burning desires, hopes and dreams and prayers for me. You will help me to pour myself out in your service. You will help me to fight a good fight. You will help me to keep the faith, run well, and finish the race that you have laid out before me. Yes, I will. I know that without a doubt. That is very good. 

Heavenly Father, it is the desire of my heart, the thought of my mind and the goal of my life to pour myself out as a sweet offering to you. I want to joyfully live the life you have given me to live. I want to run well and finish the race you have laid out before me. Amen

Key Question… How are you pouring yourself completely into doing the work God has given you to do for Him?

Living It Out… Pour yourself out to God as a sweet offering to Him as run well the race that He has laid out before you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to run well and finish the race that has been laid out before you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are running the race that God has laid out before you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live your life as an offering to God.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 18 – 2 Timothy 4-6-8 – Being Poured Out – 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