Monthly Archives: October 2023

How You Live

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 170 - Ephesians 5:15-21 - How You Live- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 170 – Ephesians 5:15-21 – How You Live- Growing As Disciples

Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.  Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:15-21 (NIV)

Filled With The Spirit

Do you want to live and walk wisely in this world? Do you want to shine brightly for me in the darkness that surrounds you? Do you want to be able to think and speak and act wisely so you can be a bold and bright witness for me? Yes Lord, I want all these things to be true of the life that I am living with and for you. How can I live and walk wisely?  How can I shine brightly? How can I be a bold and bright witness for you in the darkness of this world? How can I make the most of every opportunity to serve you? By your questions and by my questions you should know something to be true. What is that? What should I know to be true? You tell me. I will try. I’m listening. Thinking and speaking and acting wisely does not come naturally to me. Just the opposite is often true. I naturally think and speak and act foolishly. So, under my own power, with my own ability, left to my own efforts I have little, probably no hope, of living wisely as your bold and bright witness in the world. It is wise of you to know this to be true. That sounds like a start to me. It is a great start. It is the best and only place to begin. You are acknowledging that you need my help to think and speak and act wisely. Yes, I am. That is very good.

How do you think I will make you able to think and speak and act wisely? You will fill me with your Holy Spirit. Your Holy Spirit will give me wise thoughts to think, wise words to speak, and wise actions to take. Yes, that is true. How will you know if you are allowing my Holy Spirit to work in and through you? What kind of thoughts and words and actions do you think will be flowing out of your life as my Holy Spirit works in and through you? I will want to serve you and others. Life will not revolve around me. I will encourage and spur others on. I will help and lift others up. My life will be overflowing with peace and joy. My heart will be filled with praise. I will give thanks to you for how you are working in and through me to make me a light for you in the darkness of this world. Yes, all these will be true of you as you allow me to fill you with you with my Spirit. I welcome that, fill me up, use me in your service. Yes, I am and yes, I will continue to fill you with my Spirit. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know that life does not revolve around me. Life is not all about me. I am not the center of the universe. I am not the focus of everyone’s attention. Help me to be filled with your Holy Spirit. Help me to think and speak and act wisely as I serve others. Amen

Key Question… How is the Holy Spirit giving you opportunities to think and speak and act wisely in the world?

Living It Out… Allow the Holy Spirit to help you to live and walk wisely in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will help you to live and walk wisely in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit is helping you to live and walk wisely in the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be filled with the Spirit so you can live and walk wisely in the world.

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

Promises – Day 170 – Ephesians 5-15-21 – How You Live – 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

Christ Lives In Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 169 - Galatians 2:20 - Christ Lives In Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 169 – Galatians 2:20 – Christ Lives In Me – Growing As Disciples

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NIV) 

New Life

What did I do for you? You came into this world to live and die for me. You gave yourself on the cross. You paid for my sins. You made it so I could be forgiven of all my sins. You made it so I could be cleansed of all my unrighteousness. You made it so my old life could die on the cross with you. My old life in the world is dead and gone. My new life, in you, looks nothing like my old life in the world. You have given me a completely brand-new life to live in you. Yes, I have done all these things for you.

Do you sometimes forget that I love and care for you? Do you ever lose sight of all that I have done for you? Do you ever have doubts that your old life is dead and gone? You know that all of these are true. What do you do when this forgetfulness, this blurred vision and lost perspective and these doubts come upon you? I draw near to you. I quiet myself before you. I rest in your presence. I listen to your voice. I allow you to refresh and restore and revive me. I allow you to strengthen and encourage me. I allow you to lift me up and carry me. Have I been with you to help you when you come to me? Yes, you always draw near to me as I draw near to you. You have never forsaken me. You have never abandoned me. You have never left me alone, to fend for myself. You have always been my shelter in the storms of life. When forgetfulness, blurred vision and lost perspective and doubts rage against me like a storm, you have always helped me to keep on moving forward with you. You have held on to me as I have held on to you. What has happened to you as you have gone through the raging storms of life? What has happened as you have held on to me and I have held on to you? I have known without a doubt, that you love and care for me. I have known without a doubt, that you have given me a completely brand-new life to keep on living in you. In the raging storms of life, my faith in you has only grown stronger as you have kept on helping me to live the new life, I have in you. Isn’t that good? Isn’t that great? Yes Lord, thank you for loving and caring for me. Thank you for giving yourself for me. Thank you for helping me to live the new life I have in you. I love you. I give myself fully to you. I will live my life in you, with you, and for you. That is very good.

Lord, I am thankful you love and gave yourself for me. I love and give myself fully to you. Thank you that my old life is now gone. It died as it was crucified on the cross. Thank you for giving me a completely brand-new life to live in you. Live inside of me now. Amen

Key Question… How does your new life in Christ look completely different than your old life in the world?

Living It Out… By faith, live your completely new life in Christ that you have been given to live.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you have been given a completely new life to live in Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are, by faith, living your completely new life in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you by faith live the new life you have in Christ.

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

Galatians 2-20 – Promises – Day 169 – Christ Lives In Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Dwell In You Richly

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 168 - Colossians 3:15-17 - Dwell In You Richly - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 168 – Colossians 3:15-17 – Dwell In You Richly – Growing As Disciples

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV) 

My Peace

Do you want my peace to rule in your heart? Yes, of course, I want your peace to rule heart. What must I do If I want your peace to rule in my heart? That is a very good question. But the answer will not be what you expect. What do I expect? You expect that letting my peace rule in your heart will depend on something you will do. You think that some effort on your part will make my peace rule in your heart. I have a big surprise for you. What’s that? Your efforts will never bring you peace in your heart. My peace being in your heart does not depend on you. You have my full attention. I am listening attentively to you. Let me ask you a few questions. Go ahead. Do you believe that I love you? Do you believe that I care for you? Do you believe that I can and will help you? I know that I have you thinking. Yes, you have me thinking. What are you thinking? I can see where this line of questioning is headed. Where is that? If I believe that you love me, if I believe that you care for me, if I believe that you can and will take care of me, then I should be able to rest in that knowledge and receive the peace that you want me to live in. You got it. You want me to come to trust and rely on you. Yes, I do. Then, I will be letting your peace rule in my heart. That I will do. That will be very good.

I do want to warn you that coming to trust and rely on me will not be easy. The devil and all his evil will try to attack you and try to fill you with fear and worry and anxiety. He will try to steal and kill and destroy the peace and hope and joy and the peace I have for you. You need to be ready. You need to be prepared. How can I be ready and be prepared? Let my word dwell in you richly. You need your heart and mind and life to be focused on me. You need to be attentive to my voice. My word will strengthen you. My word will sustain you. My word will make you able to live a life of peace and joy and gratitude and thanksgiving as you love and follow and serve me. Will you let my peace rule in you? Will you let my word dwell in you richly? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. Then you will live the life I have for you. Then you will live in my peace. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, there is no doubt about it, these are troubling times. There is great difficulty, not only in my life, but also in the lives of many people around me. Help me to let your peace rule in me. Help me to let your word dwell in me richly, so I can live in your peace. Amen

Key Question… How is letting the word of God dwell in you richly making you able to rely on Him and receive His peace?

Living It Out… Let the peace of Christ rule, and the word of Christ dwell, in you as you go through trials and troubles in life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you His peace when you go through trials and troubles in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has given you His peace as you have relied on Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you let the word of God dwell in you richly.

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

Promises – Day 168 – Colossians 3-15-17 – Dwell In You Richly – 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

Not Lose His Reward

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 167 - Matthew 10:42 - Not Lose His Reward - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 167 – Matthew 10:42 – Not Lose His Reward – Growing As Disciples

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42 (NIV)

A Cup Of Cold Water

Even the small things matter. Even what kind of small things matter? Giving even small things to people in need is important. Why is that? If you are willing to give in small ways to those in need it means that your heart and mind and life are open to helping those who are in need. If you are giving even a little bit that means that you are not blindly walking through life, ignoring pain and suffering all around you. Giving a little bit is a start, it is a beginning, it is a sign that you are not being tight fisted and closed handed with those who are in need. I see. That’s it exactly. What’s it exactly? I want you to see the opportunities all around you to help others in need. I understand. That’s good.

Have I richly blessed your life? Yes, you have richly blessed my life. Have I given you many good gifts? Yes, you have given me many good gifts. Why do you suppose I have richly blessed your life and given you so many good gifts? I know that you love and care for me. Yes, I love and care for you. But most of all, I think you have blessed my life so that I can be a blessing to others. You want me to follow your example. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to serve like you served. You want me to give like you gave. Yes, I do.

So, will you freely share your time and talents and resources with others? Will you follow my example? Will you give to others what I have given to you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Why would it be a foolish mistake to fail to give to others what I have given to you? One day you will reward me for what I have done for others in this life. It would be foolish to try to hold on to what I cannot keep. I came into this life with nothing. I will take nothing of material value into the next life. I like the way that you said that. Why is that? You know that you cannot store up treasure on earth. But you also know that you can store up treasure in heaven. One day, in heaven, you will be rewarded for how you have loved and helped and ministered to those in need in this life. Keep on loving. Keep on giving. Keep on serving. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will freely give of my time and talents and resources to those who are in need. I will not be tight fisted. I will not be closed handed. I will generously give to others what you have given to me. Use my life to richly bless the lives of a multitude of others. Amen

Key Question… Why would it be a foolish mistake to fail to help others who are in great need?

Living It Out… Freely give of your time, talents and resources to those who are in need.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will receive a reward in heaven because you have freely given to those who are in need.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are freely given to those who are in need.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you freely give to those who are in need.

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

Promises – Day 167 – Matthew 10-42 – Not Lose His Reward – 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

See Many Good Days

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 166 - Psalm 34:12-14- See Many Good Days - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 166 – Psalm 34:12-14- See Many Good Days – Growing As Disciples

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:12-14 (NIV)

Many Good Days

Do you love life? Do you want to see many good days? That seems like a question that does not need to be asked. Who does not love life? Who does not want to see many good days? Yes, it does seem like a question that does not need to be asked. Yet, you would never guess that some people love life or want to see many good days. Why is that? How could that be? Have you seen anyone whose thoughts and words are continually evil and untruthful? Have you seen anyone whose actions are more often evil than they are good? Have you seen anyone who has conflict swirling around them no matter where they go and or what they do? Yes, seeing such things in people is not a rare occurrence. Would you guess that such people love life and want to see many good days? No, that thought would not occur to me. Then you have answered your own questions.

No let’s come back to you. You have said that you love life and want to see many good days. Yes, that is my desire. How often do you allow your thoughts or words, or actions hinder you from loving life and seeing good days? When have you thought or said or did something that ruined a day? How carefully are you guarding all your thoughts and words and actions? Do you realize that the quality of your days and the length of your life will be determined by how you think and speak and act? How so? If you live an angry life, filled with stress you will not enjoy life and your days will be much shorter. This kind of life will wear you out. This kind of life is unhealthy. This kind of life will take a toll on your heart and mind and life. If you live this kind of life it will be cut short. I understand. That’s good.

So, what will you do differently? I will guard my thoughts, words, and actions. I will live a life of doing good. I will go wherever you guide me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will live the life that you have called me to live. I will take joy in loving and following and serving you. I will seek and pursue peace in all my relationships. I will be your witness in the world. I will allow you to work in and through me. I will bear fruit for your kingdom. I will bring glory to your name. That will be very good. Then you will truly love life and see many good days. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I love life and I want to see many good days. I don’t want any of my thoughts or words or actions to ruin my days or shorten my life. Help me to turn away from evil completely. Help me to do good. Help me to continually seek and pursue peace. Amen

Key Question… How are you carefully guarding every word that comes out of your mouth?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to help you to think and speak and act in ways that will help you to pursue peace in all your relationships.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to seek and pursue peace in all your relationships,

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are seeking and pursuing peace in all your relationships.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you seek and pursue peace so you can see many good days.

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

Promises – Day 166 – Psalm 34-12-14 – See Many Good Days – 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 Note Of This

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 165 - James 1:19-21 - Take Note Of This - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 165 – James 1:19-21 – Take Note Of This – Growing As Disciples

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:19-21 (NIV)

Notes

Are you taking notes? Are you listening attentively to what I have to say to you? Are you allowing my word to be planted deeply in you? Are you allowing my word to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life? Is my word helping you to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me? I’m not sure, you tell me. Nice try. You tell me. I think that your word is doing its work in me. I think that I am allowing your word to be planted in me. How are you allowing my word to be planted in you? I meet with you in your word. I read and study your word. I meditate deeply on your word. I memorize your word. I pray your word. I proclaim your word. Most of all, I believe that I am putting your word into practice every day as I love, follow and serve you. It is certainly the desire and passion of my heart to have your word dwelling in me richly. I know, without a doubt, that your word is and will be molding and shaping my life. I know, for certain, that your word will make me able to resist temptation and stand against evil. I know, with great confidence, that your Holy Spirit is taking your word and using it to fight in me, with me, for me, and through me, as I walk through life with you. That’s true. That sure. That’s certain. Now, I am living a perfect life? Not a chance. Do I still need your word to continue to do its work in me? For sure. So, if you can plant your word even more deeply in my life, I welcome you to do it today, tomorrow, and every day of my life until I come to meet you face to face. That I am doing. That I will continue to do. Have no doubts about that. Thank you, Lord.

Let’s talk about anger. What do you know about anger? Anger can and does destroy relationships. Anger can and will make me an ineffective witness for you in the world. Anger will make me unable to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You have answered well. Anger will do all this damage. So, what will you do with your anger? How will you respond in a situation that might make you angry? I will be quick to listen. I will be slow to speak. I will be slow to become angry. That will be very good. Let these words of mine be planted deep within your heart and mind and life. Then you will be able to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will take note of what you say to me. I will listen attentively. I will allow you to plant your word deep within my heart, mind and life. Help me to live a righteous life that is pleasing to you. Make me quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Amen

Key Question… How are you taking note of important things that God wants to say to you in His word?

Living It Out… Allow God to plant His word in your heart and mind and life so he can change how you think, speak and act.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will change your heart and transform your mind as He plants His word in you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God to plant His word deep within you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

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

Promises – Day 165 – James 1-19-21 – Take Note Of This – 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

Commit To The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 164 - Proverbs 16:3-9 - Commit To The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 164 – Proverbs 16:3-9 – Commit To The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.  The LORD works out everything for his own ends– even the wicked for a day of disaster.  The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.  Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.  When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.  Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.  In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:3-9 (NIV)

Plans

Do you want to follow your plans, or do you want to live out my plans? I’m hoping and praying and believing that your plans will become my plans. What I have sometimes done in the past is to develop elaborate plans and then ask you to bless them when they have been fully formulated. The truth is that these plans are only my plans. Occasionally, some of my plans may have aligned with your plans, but not usually. What has happened to your plans, when you have not committed yourself and your way to me? My self-developed plans have usually amounted to nothing of value. They have often wasted valuable time and energy. That’s not good. I know.

What would you like to do differently as you are developing plans? I would like to commit myself and my way to you. I would like to ask for and receive your guidance. I would like you to go where you guide me and do what you ask of me. I know that you have good plans for my life. You have a purpose for my life. I would like to live out your purposes and plans for my life as I love, follow, and serve you. I would like to humbly live in ways that please you. Those are very good desires.

How will you know if a plan and a course of action is from me? How will you be able to receive my instruction and follow my guidance? I must draw near to you. I must ask for your help. I’m must listen to you. What will happen to you as you live this kind of life? I will come to know you. I will come to know your will and your ways. I will be able to recognize your voice leading and guiding me through life. Yes, you will. When you live in this way, my blessing will be on your life. My favor will rest on you. You will have good success. Your life will bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. I will be with you every step of the way as you walk through life with me. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, I know I have foolishly made plans and taken steps without committing myself and my way to you. Forgive me. Guide my plans and guard my steps. Help me to humbly walk in ways that are pleasing to you. Use me to accomplish your purposes and plans. Amen

Key Question… Why is it a foolish act of pride to develop a plan and course of action without consulting the Lord?

Living It Out… Commit yourself and your way to the Lord so that He will be able to bless your plans and steps.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your plans as you commit yourself and your way to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are committing yourself and your way to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you commit yourself and whatever you do to the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 164- Proverbs 16-3-9 – Commit To 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

Teach Us To Pray

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 163 - Luke 11:1 - Teach Us To Pray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 163 – Luke 11:1 – Teach Us To Pray – Growing As Disciples

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (NIV)

Teach Me To Pray

Is this what you want? Is what do I want? Do you want me to teach you to pray? Yes, I want you to teach me to pray. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to know you. I want to love and follow and serve you. I want to live my entire with and for you. I want to accomplish your purposes. I want to fulfill your plans. I want to shine brightly as your witness in the world. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. How could any of this happen if I did not allow you to teach me to pray. Without prayer, I would not know you or your will. Without prayer. I would not receive your instruction or follow your guidance. In fact, how could I even call you Lord if I wasn’t living a life of attentively listening to you. I want to walk through life with you. I want to live my life in a constant dialogue with you. Without prayer, I would never be able to live the life that you have called me to live. All of what you have said is true.

What must you do if you are serious about allowing me to teach you to pray? Many have said that they want me to teach them to pray. Far fewer have allowed me to teach them to pray. If I am to allow you to teach me to pray, I must come to meet with you in prayer. I must set aside a time and place to meet with you in prayer. I must withdraw from the noise and busyness of life to make myself available to you. I must quiet myself before you. I must focus my heart and mind and life on you. Why is all this true? Learning to pray will not be easy. Learning to pray will require effort. What kind of effort will be required of you? I must turn myself over to you. I must be fully attentive to you. I must yearn to hear from you. Why is this true? I am hard of hearing. I am not a good listener. You must make me able to hear. You must strengthen me so that I can hear from you. You must remove anything that is in me that makes me hard of hearing. I have no doubt that you will do all this for me as I meet with you in prayer, as I seek you with all my heart. You will make me able to hear and know and love and follow and serve you. You will certainly teach me to pray. Yes, I will. Draw near to me now, the teaching will begin. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, that is my prayer. That is my desire. That is my request. Teach me to pray. Draw me near to you. Quiet me in your presence. Help me to hear your voice. Speak to me. I’m listening. Teach me. Use my prayers to accomplish your purposes and plans. Amen

Key Question… How have you listened to the Lord once you have asked Him to teach you to pray?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to teach you how to pray then listen to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will teach you how to pray as you meet with Him in prayer.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been teaching you to pray.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask the Lord to teach you to pray.

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

Promises – Day 163 – Luke 11-1 – Teach Us To Pray – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Number Our Days

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 162 - Psalm 90:12 - Number Our Days - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 162 – Psalm 90:12 – Number Our Days – Growing As Disciples

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

Well Spent 

What would be the best use of your time? How will you make sure that you are not foolishly misusing your days? How will you know if you are wisely using the life you have been given? When you look back, from eternity, over your entire life, what will you be glad you spent your time doing? That is a question that makes my head spin. That is a lot to think about. Is thinking about the answers to these questions well worth your time and energy? Without, a doubt, these questions are well worth my consideration. Why is that? I have been given a limited number of days. Life is brief. My life is somewhat like the snap of the fingers or the blink of an eye. My life is like the morning mist that burns off during the heat of the day. Life races by. I am here today. Before I know it, I will be gone tomorrow. Hopefully, not literally. I would like many more days and weeks and months and years to serve you. But I know that I have but one brief life to live. I don’t want to waste it. I don’t want to foolishly misuse or misspend it. Those are good thoughts. You have wise desires within you. Maybe so. But I still desperately need your help. How do you need my help? I need your wisdom to help me to wisely use my days. You see, I most want my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans for my life. I want to be able to go and do all that you ask of me. I want to know and do your will. Even more than that, I have one overpowering desire. What is that? I want to know you. I don’t want to know about you. I want to know you intimately. I also want you to know me. I want to live and walk through life with you. I want to hear your voice guiding me to where you want me to go, giving me what you want me to do. If I can say that I know you and you know me, then I will know that my life was well spent. Then when I look back from eternity, over my entire life, I know that I will have no regrets. So, that is my prayer. That is my desire. That is my request. Help me to know you. Help me to do your will. Help me to live my life with and for you. I will most certainly answer this prayer and this desire of yours. Your life will be well spent in knowing and loving and following and serving me. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, I know without a doubt that my days in this life are limited. Teach me to number my days. Help me to use each day wisely. Help me to use my days in a way that bears fruit for your kingdom and brings glory to your name. Guide me. Use me. Help me. Amen

Key Question… What new and wise way would you like to use some of your time today?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to give you wisdom to wise use the days you have been given.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you wisdom to wisely use the days you have been given.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are wisely using the days the Lord has given to you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to help you to wisely use the days you have been given.

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

Promises – Day 147 – Psalm 90-12 – Number Our Days – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

The Good You Ought To Do

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - James 4:17 - The Good You Ought To Do - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – James 4:17 – The Good You Ought To Do – Growing As Disciples

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:17 (NIV)

Make A Commitment

I’ve noticed something about you. What’s that? You have these crazy arguments or debates with yourself. Sometimes you even include me in on them.  Arguments and debates, what kind of arguments and debates? I’m not sure what you mean? You know those conversations you have with yourself about something you don’t want to do? Like what? Can you give me some examples? Is nothing coming to your mind? I wouldn’t say that. I would just like you to give me some examples that come to your mind. Are you sure? Not really, but I won’t say no now. Please go ahead, I’m listening.

Let’s say it’s Sunday morning. You were up late Saturday night. You’re very tired. In your mind, you deserve rest because you’ve had a very hard week. Under no circumstances do you want to get out of bed. Is this sounding a little familiar to you? Yes, it is. So, a conversation begins in your mind about the idea of getting out of bed and going to church. You’re trying to sell yourself on the merits of staying in bed. After much conversation, you convince yourself that it is my will for you to stay in bed. Has this ever happened to you?  You know that it has. There is a problem with your conclusion. What’s that? It is not my will that you stay in bed instead of assembling together with other believers to worship me. Does it shock you to hear me say this to you? No, not at all. So, you know that it is my will for you to come together with other believers to worship me? Yes, I do.  How is it possible for you to have a conversation with yourself that leads you to thinking and doing otherwise? I’m not sure. I must have thought that these were special circumstances that overruled your desire to have me in worship on that Sunday morning. How does that sound to you as you say that to me now? It sounds incredibly weak and pathetic. I’m glad that you are willing to admit that.

This is part of a much larger problem. It is? Yes, it is. I’m not going to overwhelm you with examples but you have these conversations with yourself quite frequently. Do you know where the conclusions to these conversations usually end up?  I think so, but please tell me. These conversations most often end up with you concluding your decision based on what is most comfortable to you. I was afraid you might say that. It’s true, isn’t it? Yes, it is. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead. How willing are you to be uncomfortable as you serve me? That’s a hard question. I can only answer it by saying that I’m sorry. Forgive me for placing my own comfort above doing what I know you want me to do for you. You are forgiven.

I don’t want to leave our conversation at this point. I want you to know how pleased I am with your love and service to me. You are? Yes, I am. I know that you want to be used by me. You want to bear abundant fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Yes, I do, above all else. I have heard that prayer of your heart and I will answer it. You will? Yes, beyond what you could ask for or even imagine. But there is one thing I want you to do. What’s that? Stop having these conversations with yourself when you already know what I’m asking you to do for me. Make a commitment now, to just do what I have asked of you. Yes, Lord, I will.

Lord, you will get no argument out of me. I want to know and do your will. I want to do all the good you want me to do for you. I know that this will cost my time, talents and resources. Use all I am, all I have and I hope to be for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question… When has God taken you out of your comfort zone to do good things for Him?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to help you to know and do the good that He wants you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and do the good that He wants you to do for Him

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are doing the good that the Lord wants you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you make a commitment to go and do what God asks of you without debate or argument.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – James 4-17 – The Good You Ought To Do – 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