Monthly Archives: September 2023

A New Thing!

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 119 - Isaiah 43:18-19 - A New Thing!- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 119 – Isaiah 43:18-19 – A New Thing!- Growing As Disciples

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

Something New

I am doing something new; do you want to see it? Of course, I want to see what you are doing. Who wouldn’t want to see something new that you are doing? Won’t the new thing you are doing be easy to spot? Shouldn’t the new thing you are doing be readily apparent to me? You might think so, you might guess so, but you would be wrong. Why is that? There are many reasons why people fail to perceive something new that I am doing. Can you give me examples? Can you help my understanding? Can you give me your wisdom and insight? Now, there you go. You have asked some great questions. You want understanding and wisdom and insight. You want to see the something new that I am doing. To see the something new I am doing that desire must be in you. Many could care less about what I am doing in the world. Really, that seems hard to believe. It’s true, many have their focus entirely elsewhere. Their eyes are on the past. How will that prevent someone from seeing the something new you are doing? They may be weighed down by the heavy burden of past failures and regrets. They may be living on glory of past accomplishments. They may be stuck in bitterness and unforgiveness over some way that they have been mistreated and hurt by others. For whatever reason, their focus is everywhere, but on me. They are wrapped up tightly in their own little world that revolves entirely around themselves. They are blinded to the something new that I am doing because they are not looking for it. That’s not good. Now, it is not.

What must I do so I can see the something new that you are doing? You must take your focus off yourself. You must let go off the past. Past failures and regrets are forgiven and forgotten. Past hurts are healed. Past accomplishments and achievements are behind you. Turn your focus on to me. Keep your heart and mind and eyes and ears open. Be attentive. Be watching. Be listening. Be expectant. Be looking forward, not backward. Have faith that I am and will be doing a new thing in, for, and through you. Follow me to where I am leading you. Join in on the work I will give you to do for me. My hand is on you. My favor is with you. I will make you able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. I will use you to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. I will do all that you have asked of me. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will let go and forget former things. I will not dwell on the past. I will put all that is not helpful far behind me. I will keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. Where are you leading me? What new thing do you want to do in, for, or through me? Amen

Key Question… What new thing is the Lord showing you that He wants to do in, though, or for you right now?

Living It Out… Forget and not dwell on the past so you can see the new thing that the Lord is doing.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to forget and not dwell on the past so you can see the new thing He is doing.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group the new thing the Lord has allowed you to see that He is doing.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you forget and not dwell on the past so you can see the new thing the Lord is doing.

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

Promises – Day 119 – Isaiah 43-18-19 – A New Thing! – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide.pdf

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

His Divine Power

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 118 - 2 Peter 1:3-4 - His Divine Power - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 118 – 2 Peter 1:3-4 – His Divine Power – Growing As Disciples

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

My Powerful Promises

Thank you, Lord for your powerful promises. You are right in calling my promises powerful. How have you come to this conclusion? What have my promises been doing in you? Your powerful promises have been changing my heart. Your promises have given me the desire to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Your promises have made it my hope to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. Your promises have made me want to live in an intimate relationship with you. That is very good. What else have my powerful promises been doing in you? Your powerful promises have been transforming my mind. Your promises have been helping me to think your thoughts. Your promises have pushed evil desires and corrupt thoughts out of my mind. Your promises have been developing your character and nature in me. That is very good. What else have my powerful promises been doing in you? Your promises have helping me to know and do your will. Your promises have been guiding me to where you want me to go. Your promises have been giving me what you want me to do. Your promises have made me able to bear fruit for your kingdom. Your promises have made me able to bring glory to your name. Yes, my powerful promises have been doing all these things in you. For that, I am thankful. For that, I am grateful. For that, I have hope and peace and joy beyond what my words can express. Thank you, Lord, for your great and very powerful promises! It pleases me to see your thankfulness and gratitude for my powerful promises.

What will you keep on doing with my powerful promises? How will you continue to take my powerful promises into your heart and mind and life? I will meet daily with you in your word. I will meditate on your promises. I will memorize your promises. I will pray and proclaim your promises. I will study and teach your promises. Your promises will continually be in my heart and on my mind. Your promises will continually be guiding my life. I will keep on taking hold of your promises so that they will keep on taking a hold on me. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you that your glory and goodness drew me to you. Thank you that your powerful promises have been doing their work in me. Your word has helped me to escape corruption that is in the world. Your word has been developing your character in me. Amen

Key Question… How is taking hold of the powerful promises of God helping you to escape corruption that is in the world?

Living It Out… Allow the power and promises of God to make you able to live a godly life that is pleasing to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the power and promises of God will help you to live a godly life that is pleasing to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the power and promises of God have been working in you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the powerful promises of God to develop his nature and character in you.

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

Promises – Day 118 – 2 Peter 1-3-4 – His Divine Power – 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

Hearts Burning Within Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 116 - Luke 24:32 - Hearts Burning Within Us - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 116 – Luke 24:32 – Hearts Burning Within Us – Growing As Disciples

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 (NIV)  

Open The Scriptures

Would you like me to open the Scriptures for you? Would you like my word to burn hotly in you? Would you like my word to change your heart? Would you like my word to transform your mind? Would you like my word to guard and guide the course of your life? Would you like my word to make you able to resist temptation and stand against evil? Yes, I would like your word to do all those things in me. But there is something I want your word to do in me as well. What is that? I want your word to help me to come to know you intimately. I want your word to cause my heart to burn passionately for you. I want to be fully devoted to you. I want to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength.  These are also very good desires within you. What else would you like my word to do for you? I want to live a life of faith with you. I want to know where you are guiding me so I can go boldly do what you are asking of me. I no longer want to live a timid life of wondering where you want me to go or what you want me to do. Those are also very good desires within you. I want all these very same things for you.

What must you do if you want my word do all these things in you? That seems obvious to me. How so? If I want your word to do these things, I must meet with you in my word. That is obvious, isn’t it? Yes, it is. So, when will you meet with me in my word? I will meet with you in your word every day. Why is that? There is not a day that I do not need to hear from you. There is not a day that I don’t need your word to do its work in me. How will you be sure to meet daily with me in my word? I will set a time and place to meet with you. Why is that important? Life is busy. Life is demanding. Life is distracting. If I don’t make meeting daily with you in your word the priority of my life, it will never happen. Is this the voice of your experience? Yes, it is. So, you can expect me to draw near to you daily, in your word, so you can do your work in me. That will be very good. 

Lord, that is my hope. That is my desire. That is my request. That is my prayer. Open the Scriptures to me. Have your word burn hotly in me. Use your word to change my heart. Use your word to transform my mind. Use your word to guard and guide my life. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord been opening the Scriptures for you so you can understand them?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to open the Scriptures to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will open the Scriptures to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is opening the Scriptures to you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to open the Scriptures for you.

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

Promises – Day 116 – Luke 24-32 – Hearts Burning Within Us – 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

Open Handed

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 114 - Deuteronomy 15:10-11 - Open Handed - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 114 – Deuteronomy 15:10-11 – Open Handed – Growing As Disciples

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NIV) 

Open Handed

I have richly blessed your life. I have given you many good gifts.  I have withheld no good thing from you. It would be foolish for you to be close handed and unwilling to share with the poor. Do you know why I am saying this to you? Do you know why this is true? You want me to share with others the good things you have given to me. You have blessed me so I can be a blessing. You want me to follow your example. You want me to give like you gave. You want me to serve like you served. You want me to love like you loved. Yes, I want you to do all these things. Yes, I want you to follow my example. But there is another more basic reason it would be foolish for you to not share with others. Well, I do know that I came into this world with nothing. I will leave this world with nothing. Can I really call anything in this world “mine?” Do I really own anything if I can’t take it with me? What do you think? I am only the temporary steward of all you have given to me. That is true. You do have one thing that is not quite correct in your thinking. What’s that? It is true that you came into this world with nothing. It is not true that you will leave this world with nothing. I’m not understanding. You can’t store on treasures on earth. But you can store up treasure in heaven with me. How can I store up treasure in heaven with you? Everything you do for me in this life will be rewarded. Nothing you do for me in this life will be forgotten. I will be watching you as you give like I gave. I will see you as you serve like I served. I will take notice of when you love like I loved. As you do all these things for me your reward will be great in heaven. One day, we will look back over your life. Together we will celebrate the work that I have done in and through you. We will have great joy over the people who are in heaven because of how you have allowed me to use you. You will find great satisfaction in knowing that as you were open handed and generous with the poor you were a bright light and bold witness for me in the world. You will give thanks that you were able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. All of this will be because you were open handed and generous with the poor as you loved and followed and served me. This is the life I want to live. This is what I will do. That is very good. 

Lord, you have been abundantly generous to me. You have given me many precious and valuable gifts. You have withheld no good thing from me. Help me to follow your example. Help me to also be open handed and abundantly generous with the poor. Amen

Key Question… When has someone been open handed and generous with you when you were in great need?

Living It Out… Make sure that you are open handed and generous with the poor.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless the work of your hands as you are open handed and generous with the poor.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are open handed and generous with the poor.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be opened handed and generous with the poor.

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

Promises – Day 114 – Deuteronomy 15-10-11 – Give Generously – 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

Building Others Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 115 - Ephesians 4:29-32 - Building Others Up - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 115 – Ephesians 4:29-32 – Building Others Up – Growing As Disciples

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)

Build Others Up

That is how I would like you to use me. How would you like me to use you? I would like to become like you. I would like to think and speak and act like you. I would like to follow your example. I would like to be kind and compassionate and forgiving towards others just as you have been to me. I would like all my thoughts and words and actions to build others up according to their needs. To think and speak and act like you, I will certainly need your help. How will you need my help? I will need you to change my heart and transform my mind. I will need you to mold and shape my life. I will need you to make me into the person you want me to become. I need you to remove any unhealthy and unwholesome thoughts, or words or actions from within me. Is this your prayer? Is this your desire? Is this your passionate hope? Yes, I am praying and asking you to do this work within me. This is no half-hearted, faint request on my part. All my heart and mind and soul are in this prayer request. Why is this prayer so important to you? I know that this is your purpose and plan for my life. I know that you want me to become like you. I know that you want me to think and speak and act like you. You want me to be a bright light in the world. You want me to be a bold witness for you in the darkness of this life. The only way that I will ever be able to bear fruit for your kingdom or bring glory to your name is if you do this work in and through me. So, I believe that I want what you want. So, my heart and mind and life are open to you. Do your work in me. Have your way with me. Help me to build others up by all my thoughts and words and actions. Yes, I will do this work in you. You will be a bold and bright witness for me in the world. You will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name because I will be working in and through you every day as you love and follow and serve me.  

Lord, I will follow your example. I will be kind and compassionate and forgiving to others. I will allow you to make me to be like you. Use all the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and the deeds of my life to build others up according to their needs. Amen

Key Question… How are you being very careful to not let any unwholesome words come out of your mouth?

Living It Out… Allow the Holy Spirit to use your thoughts and words and actions to build others up according to their needs.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will use you to build others up according to their needs.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are building others up according to their needs.

Prayer To Bless Others… May only healthy words come out of your mouth that build others up.

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

Promises – Day 115 – Ephesians 4-29-32 – Building Others Up – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

He Is Near

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 113 - Isaiah 55:6-7 - He Is Near - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 113 – Isaiah 55:6-7 – He Is Near – Growing As Disciples

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NIV)  

Call On Me

That is exactly what I will do. What exactly will you do? I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will call on you with all that is within me. Will you find me when you seek me? Will I hear you when you call on me? Yes, I believe that I will find you. Yes, I believe that you will hear me. Why is that? Why is your belief so strong? What makes you so sure that you will find me, and I will hear you? I believe your promises. I believe that your word is good. Everything you say is worthy of full acceptance. What is my promise? If I forsake wicked ways and evil thoughts and turn to you, not only will I find you, and you will hear from me, but you will have mercy on me and pardon all my sin. Yes, that is my promise. Yes, that is my word. Yes, that is what you can count on. Thank you, Lord.

Will you make forsaking wicked ways and evil thoughts an ongoing pattern in your life? Will you continually reject thoughts and ways that are not good and right and pleasing to me? Yes Lord, I will. Will you keep on turning away from the opinions and values and practices of the world so you can seek me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Will you ask me to forgive your sins and cleanse all your unrighteousness? Yes Lord, I will. Will you keep on calling on me every day as you love, follow and serve me? Will you live and walk in an intimate relationship with me? Will you listen to my voice? Will you receive my counsel? Will you follow my instruction? Will you follow me to where I lead you? Will you do what I ask of you? Yes Lord, I will. That is very good. Then you will find me. Then you will hear from me. Then I will guard and guide the course of your life. Then my favor will rest on you. That is my hope. That is my dream. That is my desire. That is very good. You will have what you have asked of me. 

Lord, I will seek you with all my heart. I will call on you with all that is within me. Thank you for being near to me. You will hear my voice as I turn my life over to you completely. Thank you for your kindness, mercy and love. Thank you for pardoning all my sin. Amen

Key Question… Why is right now the very best time to seek the Lord with all your heart?

Living It Out… Call on the Lord because he is very near to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can call on the Lord because He is very near to you.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you call on the Lord because He is very near to you.

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

Promises – Day 113 – Isaiah 55-6-7 – He Is Near – 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

Rest Secure

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 112 - Psalm 16:7-9 - Rest Secure - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 112 – Psalm 16:7-9 – Rest Secure – Growing As Disciples

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.  I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, Psalm 16:7-9 (NIV)

Never Be Shaken

Do you want to be able to rest secure? Do you want to live a life that will never be shaken? Do you want your heart and mind to be filled with gladness and rejoicing? Who could say no to any of these questions? Who wouldn’t want to rest secure and never be shaken? Who wouldn’t want their heart and mind to be filled with gladness and rejoicing? Yes, of course, I want all these things to be true of my life. Would it be surprising for you to learn that we want both want the same things for you? I also want all these things to be true of your life. That doesn’t surprise me at all. Why is that? You are good and kind and loving. You love and care for me. You want the best for me. Yes, I do want the best for you. It pleases me that you know that about me. I’m glad about that. It is the desire of my heart to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. That’s good.

What must I do if I want to rest secure and never be shaken? What must I do if I want my heart and mind to be filled with gladness and rejoicing? Those are good questions. It is good that you knew to ask them. Why is that? My promises usually have a premise. What does that mean? It means for one thing to be true, some prior something else must also be true. The answer to your questions will make this point clear. I’m listening. If you want to rest secure and never be shaken, you must receive my counsel and follow my instruction. My counsel and instruction will guide the course of your life. My counsel and instruction will guard your life. I will be before you, leading you to where I want you to go and giving you what I want you to do as you receive my counsel and follow my instruction. As you follow and obey me, your life will be secure and will never be shaken. Do you understand? Yes, I do. Living a life of following and serving me will not only make your life secure and unshaken, it will cause you to be filled with gladness and peace and joy. It will be the desire of your grateful heart to give all your thanks and praise to me for the life I have given you to live. Will you receive my counsel and follow my instruction? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I welcome your counsel and instruction into my life. I will follow and obey you. I will live my life according to your will. I will do what you ask of me. I will go where you guide me. Thank you that your counsel and instruction will help me to rest secure. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord’s counsel and instruction been guiding the course of your life?

Living It Out… With a glad heart give thanks and praise to the Lord for his counsel and instruction that is guiding you through life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord’s counsel and instruction will guide you through life and keep you secure.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing the Lord’s counsel and instruction to guide you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you receive the Lord’s counsel and follow His instruction so you will rest secure.

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

Promises – Day 112 – Psalm 16-7-9 – Rest Secure – 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

Trust In God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 111 - John 14:1-7 - Trust In God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 111 – John 14:1-7 – Trust In God – Growing As Disciples

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7 (NIV)

Trust In Me

Why can you place all your trust in me? You love and care for me. You lived and died for me. You are my Savior and Lord. You forgave all my sins. You cleansed all my unrighteousness. You made it so I could be adopted into your family. I am your child. You filled me with your spirit. I can now live in an intimate relationship with you. You are leading and guiding me through life. My life is in your hands. My future is under your control. You have a purpose and plan for my life. I can take shelter in you. You are my refuge in every storm. You are worthy of all my trust. Yes, I am.

Who am I that makes me worthy of your trust in me? That is a difficult question to answer. Why is that? I could start writing an answer to that question and never end. You are all I need, of that I am certain. What would you like to say about who I am right now, for your life today? You are my way through life. You are my way to heaven. You will lead me. You will guide me. You will guard me. My present and future are secure. You have a place kept and guarded in heaven for me. Yes, I do. What else? You are the truth. Nothing in you or about you is false. All the promises in your word are true. All your promises are worthy of my full acceptance. All your promises are worthy of my complete reliance. Your word has been changing my heart and transforming my mind. You have been using your word to mold and shape my life. Your word has been helping me to place all my trust in you. You speak the truth into my life. Yes, I do. What else? You are the life. What does that mean? Without you, and before I came to believe in you, before I came to love you, I was dead in my trespasses and sins. I was without hope in the world. But you were unwilling to let me live a life without you, both now and forever. You gave your life so I could have life. Yes, I did. You are my light and life everyday as I love, follow and serve you. Yes, I am. So, these are reasons why I can and will place all my trust in you. That is very good. 

Lord, I will place my trust in you. You love and care for me. My life is in your hands. My eternal future is secure and kept and guarded in heaven with you. You are the way, the truth and the life. I will follow and serve you. I will live my life with and for you. Amen

Key Question… What circumstances are most likely to cause your heart to be deeply troubled?

Living It Out… Place all your trust in God so your heart will not be troubled as you love, follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your heart will not be troubled as you place all your trust in God.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are placing all your trust in God.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you trust in God rather than allowing your heart to be troubled.

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

Promises – Day 111 – John 14-1-7 – Trust In God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Love Never Fails

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 110 - 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 - Love Never Fails - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 110 – 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 – Love Never Fails – Growing As Disciples

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 (NIV)  

Childish Ways

It’s time. It’s time for what? It’s time to put childish ways of thinking, speaking and acting far behind you. That is, if you want to keep on moving forward with me. Do you want to keep moving forward with me? Yes, I do want to keep on moving forward with you. That is the utmost desire of my heart and mind and life. I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. That is very good.

I do have a question. What’s that? What are childish ways of thinking and speaking and acting? That is a very good question that I will ask you to answer. I thought you might say that. Well, you know the answer to your own question. So, it will be good to hear you answer it. I will try. That’s good. I will be listening. Self-centeredness is an example of childish behavior. How so? Life does not revolve around me. Life is not all about me. You want me to love and serve others. Yes, I do. A self-centered attitude will never allow me to love like you loved or give like you gave or serve like you served. No, it will not. Name another childish behavior. Self-reliance is another childish behavior. Why is that? I am not all wise. I am not all knowing. I am not all powerful. I am not, nor will I ever be self-sufficient. I will never be able to live the life you are calling me to live under my own power. No, you will not. Can you name one more childish behavior? Yes, I can. Self-indulgence is another example of childish behavior. Yes, it is. What can you say about self-indulgence? Life is not all about my comfort. Life is not all about my pleasure. You have richly blessed my life. You have given me many good gifts. I have no doubt about that. Yet, you are calling me to love you. You are calling me to love others. Yes, I am. This call will require sacrifice on my part. Giving to others will not always be easy. Giving to others will likely place uncomfortable demands on my life. But, if I am to love you and love others, I will need to put all my childish ways of self-centeredness, self-sufficiency, and self-indulgence far behind me, so I live and love as you did. I will need to follow your example. Will you do that? Will you love like I loved? Will you serve like I served? Will you give like I gave? Will you put all your childish ways behind you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will put all my childish ways of thinking, speaking and acting behind me. I will allow you to make me wise. I will allow you to make me able to love you and others deeply from my heart. Do your work in me so I can live in ways that are pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question… What are good examples of childish thoughts, words and actions you would like to leave behind?

Living It Out… Put away childish thinking, speaking and acting so you can love others deeply from your heart.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to put childish thinking, speaking and acting away so you can love others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is helping you to love Him and others from your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you put away childish ways of thinking, speaking and acting so you can love others.

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

Promises – Day 110 – 1 Corinthians 13-8-12 – Love Never Fails – 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

Press On

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 109 - Philippians 3:12-16 - Press On - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 109 – Philippians 3:12-16 – Press On – Growing As Disciples

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.  Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Philippians 3:12-16 (NIV)

The Goal

What is your goal? What do you hope to accomplish? Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? Who do you hope to become? Those are all very large questions. Each one has implications for my entire life. In a way those seem like trick questions. Why is that? They are not trick questions. But it is interesting that you think they might be trick questions. Tell me why you think these might be trick questions. Life is not all about me. Life does not revolve around me. I could have goals that are not your goals. I could have plans that are not your plans. I could want to go and do what is not your purpose or plan or will for my life. I could want to become someone other than the person you have in mind. None of these would be good or right or pleasing to you. With a focus on myself, I could completely miss out on living the life you have called me to live. These are wise and mature thoughts that you are expressing. However, you are forgetting something very important. What’s that? I have taken hold of you. Yes, that is true. You have made me your own. You are my God and Father. You are my Savior and Lord. I am your child. It is my joy and delight to follow and serve you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, you do, I can see that. So, not only have I taken hold of you, but you also have taken hold of me. Yes, that is also true. So, when I asked you those questions, they were not trick questions at all. No, I can now see that they were not. So, go ahead and answer them. My goal is to become more and more like you. I want to know you intimately. I want to think your thoughts, speak your words and take your actions. I want to know and love and follow and serve you. I want to walk through life with you. I want to go where you lead me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to keep on pressing on with you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Are any of your hopes and dreams and desires outside of my purpose and plan and will for you? No, they are not. Keep on pressing on with me. Yes, I will. That is very good. 

Lord, I will forget what lies behind. I will let go of my past shortcomings and failures. Instead, I will keep pressing on with you. You have taken hold of me. I will take hold of you. Help me to live the life that you have called me to live. Use me in your service. Amen

Key Question… How are you continually pressing on to keep on living the life Christ has called you to live?

Living It Out… Keep on pressing on with the Lord so you will be able to live the life He has called you to live.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to keep on pressing on with Him so you can live the life He called you to live.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you keep pressing on to live the life you have been called to live in Christ.

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

Promises – Day 109 – Philippians 3-12-16 – Press On – 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