Monthly Archives: May 2023

A Servant Of Christ

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 30 - Galatians 1:10 - A Servant Of Christ - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 30 – Galatians 1:10 – A Servant Of Christ – Growing As Disciples

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

Approval

I certainly don’t want to live for that. You don’t want to live for what? I don’t want to live for the approval of men. Why is that? Living for the approval of men is a waste of time and energy. How so? It’s like trying to please everyone. That’s an impossible task. Let me tell you, I’m speaking from experience. Living to please others leaves a person weary and worn out. Not only is it impossible, it is also thankless. I could run myself ragged and somewhere, someone would be unhappy and disapprove of my efforts. So, you won’t try to please anyone, is that correct? No, that is not correct.

Who will you live to please? First, let me say that there is another even more important reason not to try to live to please men. A choice needs to be made. Why is that? It is impossible to try and please both you and men. What you desire and what men desire are in direct conflict with each other. Mankind is self-serving. Mankind seeks its own benefit. Mankind wants comfort and pleasure. Mankind has hopes and dreams and desires that are entirely earthly and completely unspiritual. Mankind lives in opposition to you. That’s true.

So, it is your desire to live to please me? Yes, it is my desire to live in ways that please you. I want to live as your servant in the world. I want to go and do whatever you ask of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to shine as your light in the world. In every way and on every day, I want to be faithful to you. I want to live a life that is approved by you. I want your hand to guide me. I want your favor to rest on me. Those are very good desires. There is something more that you want to say, isn’t there? Yes, there is. I’m listening. I know you are always listening. I know that you know what I am going to say even before I say it. That’s true. Well, here goes, I can’t make myself faithful. I can’t make myself fruitful. On my own, with my own strength, I can’t live a life that is pleasing to you. Only your light can shine in and through me. Only you can help me to live a life that is approved by you. For me to be fruitful your hand will need to guide me, and your favor will need to rest on me. Is that your prayer? Is that your request? Is that your urgent desire? Yes, it is. I will hear and answer your prayer. You will live to please me. You will live a life that has my approval. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, for far too often I cared entirely too much about what others thought about me. I lived for the approval of men. I tried to live up to everyone’s expectations. What a foolish mistake. No more of that! Now, I will live as your servant, seeking to solely please you. Amen

Key Question… What are you now doing as a result of your desire to please Christ, rather than men?

Living It Out… Live your life with the goal of serving and pleasing Christ, rather than men.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can live as Christ’s servant, seeking to please Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are living as Christ’s servant, seeking to please Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live as a Christ’s servant, seeking to please Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 30 – Galatians 1-10 – A Servant Of Christ – 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 The Lord

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 32 - Matthew 22:36-40 - Love The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 32 – Matthew 22:36-40 – Love The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)  

I Love You 

There is one thing I know for sure. There is one thing I know without a doubt. What’s that? I now love you because you first loved me. You made it possible for me to come to know and love you. You started me on this journey of knowing, loving, following and serving you. I deserve no credit for the fact that I am living in an intimate relationship with you. Without you drawing me to yourself, I would still be walking on a dark path that led away from you. You rescued me from a life without you. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You now call me your friend. Day by day, you are helping me to come to know and love you. You are fanning the flame of my desire for you. Yes, I am. 

You have more that you want to say, don’t you? Yes, I do. I am impatient. I am unsatisfied. Tell me more. That is just it, I want more. I want to know you more intimately. I want to love you more fully. I want to serve you more boldly. I do not want to remain as I am. I want to keep on moving forward with you. Could I call what I am feeling, “a holy dissatisfaction?” I hope so. I don’t want more for myself. I want to more fully live the life you are calling me to live. I know that you want me to be patient. I know that you want me to be filled with faith. I know that you want me to trust your timing. I will be and do all these things. That’s very good. I will also trust that you will continue your good work in me. You will mold and shape me. You guard and guide me. You will use me to fulfill your purposes and accomplish your plans. I know that you will one day bring your work in me to completion. I look forward to that day. On that day, it is my hope and prayer that we will look back over my life and I will hear you say that I have been a good and faithful servant who has accomplished the work you have given me to do for you. Only you can make that happen. Only you can make that certain. I am trusting fully in you. My life is in your hands. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That is very good.

Lord, I have no higher desire than to know and love you. No priority or pursuit of mine is even remotely close to my wanting to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Fan the flame of my love for you. Help me to fully know and love you. Amen

Key Question… What spiritual disciplines has the Lord used to help you to know and love Him more intimately?

Living It Out… Live in an intimate relationship with the Lord so you will know and love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and love Him with all your heart and mind and soul and strength.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your love for the Lord is growing stronger and deeper every day.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love the Lord with all your heart and mind and soul and strength.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 32 – Matthew 22-36-40 – Love The Lord – 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

Self-Controlled And Alert

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 34 - 1 Peter 5:8-9 - Self-Controlled And Alert - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 34 – 1 Peter 5:8-9 – Self-Controlled And Alert – Growing As Disciples

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)  

Watch Out

I have not been doing that. You have not been doing what? I have not been alert. I have not been watching out. I have not been careful. I have not been observant. Most of all, I have not been self-controlled. That’s not good. I have let the devil sneak up on me and attack me with his evil. I have been very slow to recognize that I was in a spiritual battle. I have engaged in a conflict that was not my own. I have foolishly fought with my own strength, which, we both know, never ends well. That’s true.

You sound discouraged. You seem depressed. Is it that easy to hear and see? Yes, it is. Even if it weren’t, my thoughts and feelings cannot be hidden from you. You know what I am thinking and feeling even before I do. Yes, I do. I do have a question for you. Go ahead, I am listening. Do you think your spiritual battle with evil is now over? Has the attack you have been under completely passed by? I thought so. Do my questions make you want to think again? Yes, they do. What are you just now realizing? My spiritual battle with evil is not over. Why do you say that? I feel this weight of condemnation. As you noticed, I am discouraged and depressed. I have been living under condemnation because I have been caught napping. I have been discouraged and depressed because once again I have experienced a defeat because I was not vigilant. I was not watching out. I was not on guard. Even more foolishly, I relied on my own power and strength once the battle began. Yes, you were not vigilant. Yes, you relied on your own power and strength. But, don’t let yourself fall under the condemnation of the devil. That is not my desire for you. It is my plan that you will learn from your mistakes. Will you learn? Will you get up and keep moving forward with me? Yes Lord, I will. That is very good.

So, you can be very sure that all is not lost. How so? You tell me. Once again, I am learning a lesson. I am learning to be vigilant. I am learning to watch out. I am learning to rely on you when I am faced with a battle. You will help me. You will fight with me. You will fight for me. You will fight through me. You will help me stand against the Devil and all his evil. Yes, I will. Rely on me. Yes, I will. That is very good.

Lord, I have been caught napping. I have not been watchful and on alert to attacks by the Devil and his evil. Help me to be watchful, careful, disciplined and alert. Help me to resist him and stand firm against all his evil attacks. Strengthen me with your power. Amen

Key Question… What tactics has the Devil and his evil tried to use to attack you?

Living It Out… Be watchful and alert against attacks by the Devil and all his evil.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to stand against attacks by the Devil and all his evil.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to stand against evil attacks by the Devil.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you watch out and remain alert so that the Devil and his evil cannot sneak up on you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 34 – 1 Peter 5-8-9 – Self-Controlled And Alert – 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

Humbles Himself

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 35 - Luke 14:7-11 - Humbles Himself - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 35 – Luke 14:7-11 – Humbles Himself – Growing As Disciples

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:7-11 (NIV)

Humble 

What would I do if I were humble? How would I live my life differently if I were to follow your example? What would I be doing if I took on the role of being a servant? You are asking yourself some very good questions? Do you have any great answers? Not really. Well, maybe. I know one thing for sure. What’s that? I need your help on several things. Like what? I need your help to be humble. I am filled with pride. I have wanted to sit in the seat of honor. I have wanted to be the center of attention. How does that sound to you? It is very hard to admit. I don’t even want to whisper the thought. It sounds pathetic. It feels disgusting. Well, you have a very good start. How so? You are admitting that you are proud. You are asking for my help. You know that you will not be able to take on the form of a humble servant without my help. That is for sure, there is no doubt about that.

Let’s take a step back. I would like to ask you a couple questions. I’m listening. Why do you want to be humble? Why do you want to take on the form of a servant? That question is easy for me to answer. I want to become like you. You humbled yourself and took on the form of servant. I want to humble myself and take on the form of servant. I want to follow your example. I want to do what you did. That is very good. 

How will you know what to do as my humble servant in the world? That is also an easy question for me to answer. I will humbly listen to your instructions. I will humbly follow your guidance. I will humbly go and do what you ask me to do for you. How did I come to know those answers to my question? You humbly listened, you humbly followed, and you humbly did all that your Heavenly Father asked you to do for Him. Yes, I did. That is what I will do also. That is very good.  

Lord, I know you came into this world and took on the form of a servant. You have given me an example to follow. Help me to humble myself. I will not seek to exalt myself. I will do just as you have done. Help me to follow your example by living to serve others. Amen

Key Question… Why will it always be a mistake to think of yourself more highly than others?

Living It Out… Humble yourself, by taking on the form of a servant, so you can serve others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to humble yourself by serving others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are humbly serving others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you humble yourself, take on the form of a servant, and serve others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 35 – Luke 14-7-11 – Humbles Himself – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

My Disciple

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 36 - Luke 14:26-27 - My Disciple - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 36 – Luke 14:26-27 – My Disciple – Growing As Disciples

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26-27 (NIV)

First Place

You have first place in my heart and mind and life. I hesitate to use that expression. Why is that? Saying you have first place in my life seems to indicate that other things are in the running. Nothing is also in the race for my heart and mind and life. Nothing else places or shows. Nothing comes close to my desire to be fully devoted to you. That is very good.

I understand that I should have counted the cost of being your disciple. I know that your gift of salvation is a free gift. I also know that being fully devoted to you will cost me everything. I hesitate to think in terms of counting the costs of being your disciple. I will move forward with that idea only because it is in your word. Why is that? What is your hesitancy? Counting the costs seems to indicate that there might be some value on each side of the scale. There is no value in not being your disciple. If I were to decide to not be your disciple, I would be wasting my life. It would be a disaster to one day look back at what it cost me to not be your disciple. In fact, I could say it will cost me just as much to be or not be your disciple. Each choice will cost my life. That is true. So, I have finished counting the cost. I want to be your disciple. That is very good.

You know, even though it will cost me everything to be your disciple, that cost is not burdensome to me. Why is that? I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. How much of a burden is it to do what pleases the one you love? How much of a burden will it be for me to follow and serve you? None at all. Will I sit around waiting to follow and obey you? No, I will look for ways to follow and obey you. It will be my delight to do what pleases you. That is very good.

Will I love and follow and serve you perfectly? Will I always do what is pleasing to you? No, not perfectly. No, not always. But you will help me. You will keep me on course. You will help me to keep on loving and following and serving you. You will make me able to live as your disciple in the world. You will help me to live the life you have called me to live. Yes, I will. You can be certain of that. For that, I am thankful beyond measure. That is very good. 

Lord, you have first place in my life. Nothing else competes. Nothing else places or shows. I am devoted to you. I love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Help me to live as one of your servants. Help me to be one of your disciples. I will follow you. Amen

Key Question… How has your love for Jesus Christ made you want to follow and serve Him at all costs?

Living It Out… Love Jesus Christ with all your heart, mind, soul and strength so you can live as His disciple in the world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ will make you able to love Him and live as His disciple in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your love for Christ has made you able to live as His disciple.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you, as Christ’s disciple, love Him with all your heart and mind and soul and strength.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 36 – Luke 14-26-27 – My Disciple – 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

Take Up His Cross

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 37 - Matthew 16:24-27 - Take Up His Cross - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 37 – Matthew 16:24-27 – Take Up His Cross – Growing As Disciples

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:24-27 (NIV)

Cost

What will it cost you if you want to take up my cross and follow me? Well, I know that my salvation is a gift. I cannot earn or merit my salvation. I know that you paid for my sins once and for all time. Those are correct statements. But, I didn’t ask you about your salvation. I asked you what it would cost you if you took my cross and followed me. Well, I’m sure that it will cost me everything to be fully devoted to you. It will cost me everything to take up your cross and follow you. That is true. Is it a big, unhappy burden for you to completely lose yourself in following and serving me? Is there someplace you would rather go? Is there something you would rather do? No certainly not, it is not some big unhappy burden for me to lose myself in following and serving you. Why is that the case? You love me. You lived and died for me. You gave yourself completely for me. There is no greater gift that you could have given me, than the salvation, I have in you. Your love for me ignited my love for you. I now want to love you just like you love me. You gave yourself fully to me. I want to give myself fully to you. So, there is no place I would rather go than to where you lead me. There is nothing I would rather do than the work you have given me to do for you. Do I expect the work to be comfortable? Do I expect the tasks to be easy? Will I lead a life of comfort and ease because I want to love and follow and serve you? No, I will not. How do you know that? Well, so far following and serving you has not been comfortable and easy. You have stretched me far beyond my comfort level. You have asked me to do what I would have thought to be impossible. But, you have been with me to help me. You have strengthened and empowered me to do the work that you have given me to do. Yes, my hand has been on you. My favor has rested on you. Yes, I know, and it is my incredible joy and enthusiastic desire to do what is pleasing to you. It is no burden. I am doing what I want to do because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want you to work in and through me so I can bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to arrive in heaven knowing that I have gone and done your will. That is why I am willing to pay the cost of taking up the cross and following you. That is very good. 

Lord, I am fully devoted to you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is my desire and joy to lose myself completely in serving you. I will deny myself completely. I will enthusiastically take up the cross so I can follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question… Where has Christ led you to go and what has given you to do since you took up the cross to follow Him?

Living It Out… Daily take up the cross of Christ so that you can be fully devoted to loving, following and serving Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will one day reward you for everything that you have gone and done for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are taking up the cross as you love, follow and serve Christ

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take up your cross and follow Jesus Christ.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 37 – Matthew 16-24-27 – Take Up His Cross – 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

Blessed Are Your Eyes

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 38 - Matthew 13:16-17 - Blessed Are Your Eyes - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 38 – Matthew 13:16-17 – Blessed Are Your Eyes – Growing As Disciples

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.  Matthew 13:16-17 (NIV)

See And Hear 

I have given you eyes to see. I have given you ears to hear. Do you want to see and hear what I want to show and tell you? Yes, of course I want to hear and see what you want to show and tell me. Who wouldn’t want to use their eyes to see and ears to hear from you? You would be surprised. Many do not want to hear or see from me.  To fail to use my eyes and ears to hear from you would be a foolish and tragic mistake. That’s true. I know that you have much that you want me to see and hear. Your blessing will be on my life as I continually watch for your activity. Your blessing will be on my life as I keep on listening to your voice. You will lead me. You will guide me. You will guard and guide my life as I watch for your activity and listen to your voice. Yes, I will.

How will you see my activity? How will you hear my voice? I will be entirely attentive to you. What does that mean? I will not half-heartedly watch for your activity. I will not only occasionally listen for your voice. I will not expect to hear from you or see your activity if I allow myself to be consumed by the noise and busyness of the world. I will not see your activity when I am distracted. I will not hear from you when I am preoccupied. I will expectantly watch for your activity and carefully listen to your voice. You will have my full attention as I walk through life with you. That will be very good. 

What do you need from me? What can I expect from you? I need you to train my eyes and ears. I need you to make me able to see and hear from you. My ability to see and hear from you is weak. You need to teach me. You need to train me. How will I do that for you? I will do what you expect of me. Which is? You expect that I will draw near to you. You expect that I will be still be before you. You expect that I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. Yes, I do. Do these things and you will hear and see all that I want to show and tell you. That is what I will do. Then your life will be blessed by what you see and hear from me. 

Lord, here I am. I am still before you. I am entirely attentive to you. I want to hear whatever you want to say to me. I want to see whatever you want to show me. Thank you for blessing my life by allowing me to hear and see all you want to show and tell me. Amen

Key Question… How has being still before the Lord grown your ability to hear and see what He wanted to show you?

Living It Out… Make yourself entirely attentive to all that the Lord wants to show and tell you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your life by what He has to show and tell you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have heard and seen something from the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you see and hear what the Lord wants to show and tell you.

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

Matthew 13-16-17 – Becoming Like Christ – Day 38 – Blessed Are Your Eyes – 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

Your Servant Is Listening

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 39 - 1 Samuel 3:8-10 - Your Servant Is Listening- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 39 – 1 Samuel 3:8-10 – Your Servant Is Listening- Growing As Disciples

The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:8-10 (NIV) 

Speak To Me

Here I am. I am your servant. I am listening. It gives me great joy to know that you will speak to me. It fills my heart with hope and peace and joy knowing that you will take the time to talk to me. That’s good. Do you have any concerns? Do you have any desires? In the past, I know that I have failed to hear your voice. I have been distracted and preoccupied and busy. I raced right on by you. I did not pause to hear what you wanted to say to me. I don’t want any more of that. It is my desire to grow in my ability to clearly hear your voice. I want to recognize your voice. I want to respond to your speaking to me. That’s good.

What will be required of you if you want to clearly hear me speaking to you? I know that it will require time from me to learn to hear your voice. How so?  I think the strength of my desire to hear from you can be measured by the time I am willing to spend quietly listening to you. If I only spend a few minutes here and there, then I am not very serious about my desire to hear from you. On the other hand, if I am spending significant amounts of time with you, in your presence, then we can both be sure that I really do seriously want to hear from you. That’s true.

Why is time necessary for you to learn to hear my voice? Hearing your voice does not come naturally and easily to me. Why is that? The thoughts of my mind and the feelings of my heart race within me. So often, I can barely hear myself think. In order to hear from you I need to slow my heart and mind down. I need to be still before you. Your voice is like a quiet whisper. Your voice will never shout for my attention. I need to be quiet and receptive, if I want to hear from you. That’s true.

Why else is time necessary if you want to hear from me? Hearing from you is like a muscle that needs to be strengthened. The more I hear and obey you, the more I will be able to hear your voice speaking to me. What will happen as you spend more time with me? Our relationship will grow. I will come to know your thoughts. I will come to speak your words. I will come to do your deeds. I will grow in my ability to know and do your will as I live in an intimate relationship with you. You will make me to be more like you. Yes, I will do all these things in you and through you. I have a final question for you. What’s that? Are you impatient? Once, I was. Now, I am expectant. That is very good. You can expect to hear me speaking to you.

Lord, thank you for speaking to me. You use your voice to both guard and guide my life. I will listen attentively to you. I will joyfully go where you voice guides me. I will thankfully do what your voice gives me to do for you. Help me to clearly hear your voice. Amen

Key Question… How has your ability to hear the Lord speaking to you grown as you have continued to listen to Him?

Living It Out… Listen attentively to the Lord so you can hear His voice guarding and guiding you through life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use His voice to guard and guide the course of your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are making your ears attentive to the Lord’s voice.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen to the Lord’s voice so He can guard and guide your life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 39 – 1 Samuel 3-8-10 – Your Servant Is Listening – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

It Is Written

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 40 - Matthew 4:4 - It Is Written - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 40 – Matthew 4:4 – It Is Written – Growing As Disciples

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”  Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

 Live On 

What would your life look like if you lived on my word? If I lived on your word, I would certainly read your word. That would be a good start. Yes, I was just getting started. I have much more to say. Go ahead, I’m listening. To start with I would establish a time and a place to meet with you in your word. Why is that important? If I don’t establish meeting with you in your word as a priority, it will never happen. Why is that? The rest of life will crowd meeting with you in your word, out of my life. So, at our daily time and in our specific place, I will withdraw into solitude and silence so I can hear from you. This is when I will read your word. This is when I will allow your word to speak to me. But, I won’t only read your word. I will do much more than just read your word. Why is that? If I were to only read your word, I may not grab hold of it, or it may not grab hold of me. I want your word to dwell richly in my heart and mind and life.  I want your word to do its work in me. I want your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. So, I will study your word. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will pray your word. I will grab a firm hold of your word by putting it into practice. This is how I will live on your word. That will be very good.

What will my word do for you as you are living on it? Here you have given me a very clear example. You have shown me clearly one of the things your word will do for me. What’s that? Your Holy Spirit will take your word and use it like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me and through me. You word will make me able to resist temptation and fight against the devil and all his evil in the world. Your word will make me able to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. Your word will guard and guide me life. Your word will make me able to live a life that is pleasing to you. Your word will make me able to know and do your will. Yes, my word will do all these things for you as you live on it. That is what I will do, I will live on your word. That will be very good.

Lord, I will follow your example. I will take your word into my heart and mind and life. I will read, study and meditate on your word. I will allow your word to be used to fight in me, with me, for me and through me as I face the devil and all his evil in the world. Amen

Key Question… When have you memorized something from God’s word to help you to stand against a known temptation?

Living It Out… Read and study and meditate on God’s word daily so you can take it deeply into your heart and mind and life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will use God’s word to fight in you, with you, for you and through you against evil.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word has helped you to resist temptation and evil.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you daily take God’s word deeply into your heart and mind and life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 40 – Matthew 4-4 – It Is Written – 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

Hold To My Teaching

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 40 - John 8:31-32 - Hold To My Teaching - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 40 – John 8:31-32 – Hold To My Teaching – Growing As Disciples

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NIV)

Set Free

That is what I want. What do you want? I want to be set free. From what do you want to be set free? I want to be set free from the sinful patterns and practices of the world. I want to be free to live my life fully for you. I don’t want to go where I should not go. I don’t want to do what I should not do. I want to live a life that is completely pleasing to you. That is a very good desire. 

How will I set you free? You are asking me that question? Yes, I am asking you that question. Do you know why I am asking you that question? I guess so, at least I’m pretty sure, maybe even nearly positive. Let me hear you answer. You have made it quite clear how you will set me free. Not only that, you have made obvious what tool you will use to set me free. That’s true. You will use your word to set me free. You will use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Your word will change everything about me. All my thoughts, words and deeds will be changed by the mighty power of your word. You go that right.

Do you have a role in my setting you free? Yes, without a doubt. What role do you have in my using my word to set you free? I need to come to you and meet with you in your word. I need to feed on your word. Daily, I need to take in a steady diet of your word. Not only do I need to feed on your word, I need to focus my heart and mind and life on your word. How will you focus your heart and mind and life on my word? I will think about your word second by second, and moment by moment, every day of my life. Your word will always be before me. In addition to my feeding and focusing on your word, I will need to be freed by your word. How will you be freed by my word? I will be freed by your word as I hold on to your word. I will be freed by your word, as I follow and obey your word. I will be freed by your word, as I continue to put your word into practice. Yes, you will. Feed on my word. Focus on my word. Be freed by my word. Yes Lord, I will. Then you will be set free.

Lord, I will make it my daily practice to feed on your word. I will continually focus my heart and mind and life on your word. Change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life as I meet with you in your word. Set me free by the mighty power of your word. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your daily practice to feed on a full diet of God’s word?

Living It Out… Make you your daily practice to come to both know and hold on to God’s word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be set free as you come to know and hold on to God’s word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been set free by knowing and holding on to God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hold to Christ’s teaching so you can be set free by Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 41 – John 8-31-32 – Hold To My Teaching – 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