Monthly Archives: January 2024

Follow The Spirit’s Leading

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 257- Galatians 5:22-26 - Follow The Spirit's Leading - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 257- Galatians 5:22-26 – Follow The Spirit’s Leading – Growing As Disciples

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:22-26 (NLT)

Leading You

How will you know if I am leading you? How will you know if you are following me? Those are very good questions. Don’t expect me to answer them for you. Why is that? Why would I answer a question for you when you already know the answer? Why would I answer a question for you when I want to hear the answer from you? You wouldn’t. You haven’t. You won’t. That’s right. So, go ahead and answer my questions. Here goes. I will know if you are leading me and I am following you if your fruit is being developed in my life. You want the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to overflow my life. You want to see this fruit to be fully formed in me.  Yes, I do, there is no doubt about that. This fruit will only form if I am living in an intimate relationship with you. As hard as I could or might try, this fruit will never form in me by my very best efforts. No, it will not. Something else is also true. What’s that? This fruit will only form in me if I have walked away and continue to keep on walking away from my old life in the world. And the only way to walk away from my old life in the world is to fully enter in to living the life that you have secured for me. You broke the power of sin over my life. My old life and all its sin were nailed to the cross and they died there with you. Yes, they did. And now I am following your leading. I am keeping in step with you because my heart and mind and life are focused on you. I am becoming who you called me to be. I am doing what you have asked me to do. Both are true because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. Yes, you do, I can see that. That is how I know that you are leading me, and I am following you. Yes, you do, and that is very good.

Lord, thank you for setting me apart to be one of your followers. Thank you for forgiving my sin and cleansing my unrighteousness. Thank you for purifying my heart and mind. Help me to continually call on you for all that I need. Hear and answer my prayers. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making sure that you keep in step with the Holy Spirit guiding you through life?

Living It Out…  Follow the Holy Spirit’s leading as He develops His fruit within you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will develop His fruit within you as you keep in step with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit is leading you as He develops His fruit in you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you follow the Holy Spirit’s leading as He develops His fruit in you.

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

Promises – Day 257 – Galatians 5-22-26 – Follow The Spirit’s Leading – 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

Know God Better And Better

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 256- Colossians 1:9-14- Know God Better And Better - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 256- Colossians 1:9-14- Know God Better And Better – Growing As Disciples

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.  We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,  always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,  who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:9-14 (NLT)

Pray For Others

You have told me many times that you want to come to know me. You have said that you want to be able to know and do my will. You have indicated that that you want spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you can live a life that is pleasing to me. You have stated that you want to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You will not be satisfied unless you come to know me better each day as you love, follow, and serve me. You want to be strengthened by my power so that you will have patience and endurance as you go through life with me. You would like your life to be filled with joy and overflowing with thankfulness. You would like to give me praise because you have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred in the kingdom of my Son, who purchased your freedom and forgave all your sins. Is this all true? Am I stating your desires correctly? Yes, I want all these things to be abundantly and obviously true for me. That is very good. We both want the same thing.

I want to tell you a secret. Now, you really have my attention. Actually, it is not much of a secret.  What I am about to tell you should be obvious to you and to all my followers. I’m listening attentively. What you want for yourself, pray for others. Pray that others will come to know and love and follow and serve me. Pray that others will come to know me better every day. Pray that others will be strengthened by my power so that will have patience and endurance on their way through life with me. Pray for others to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Pray for others to be filled with joy and overflowing with thankfulness. You get the idea? Yes, I do. If I want something from you, I am to also ask for it for others. That’s right, you got it. The surest and quickest way for you to receive something from me is to ask for it for others. That I will do. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, it is the desire of my heart to know you better and better every day as I love, follow, and serve you. I want to know and do your will. I want your spiritual wisdom and understanding. I want to bear fruit for you. I will pray the same for others. Amen

Key Question…  How are you coming to know God better day by day as you love, follow, and serve Him?

Living It Out…  Make it your desire to know God better and better every day as you love, follow, and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will help you to come to know Him better and better as you love, follow, and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God is helping you to come to know Him better every day.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you come to know your Heavenly Father better and better every day as you love, follow, and serve Him.

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

Promises – Day 256 – Colossians 1-9-14 – Know God Better And Better – 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

Clothe Yourself With Love

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 255- Colossians 3:12-14 - Clothe Yourself With Love - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 255- Colossians 3:12-14 – Clothe Yourself With Love – Growing As Disciples

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)

Clothe Yourself With Love 

I have called you. I have chosen you. You are my child. It is my plan that you will come to know and love and follow and serve me. It is my desire that you will think and speak, and act like me. I want you to follow my example. I want you to become like me. I want others to see my life being lived out in and through you. How does all this sound to you? Does it sound to you like a burdensome demand or does it sound to you like a welcome invitation? It sounds marvelous. It sounds wonderful. In no way does it sound like a burdensome demand to me. In every way it sounds like a welcome invitation that has become the desire of my heart. I want what you want. So, I will clothe myself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I will overlook and make allowances for faults in other people. I do so with the hope, but not the expectation, that they will overlook and make allowances for my faults, of which there are many. I will closely follow your example. I will quickly and willingly forgive others who have offended me. Hopefully, I will not allow myself to be offended in the first place. But if I am, I will forgive others just as you have forgiven me. I am saying I will do all these things with the knowledge that I will sometimes fall short of living the life you have called me to live. I am saying these things knowing that you will forgive me and help me to live the life you have called me to live. You will pick me up and keep me moving forward with you. You will keep on molding and shaping my life. You will keep on making me able to think and speak and act like you. You will keep on helping me to follow your example. Yes, I will. You can count on me. That I will do, and above all else, I will put on love so I can be bound together with others and live-in perfect harmony with them. That will be very good. Yes, it will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will follow your example. I will think and speak and act like you. Help me to be tenderhearted, merciful, kind, humble, gentle, patient, and forgiving as I love, follow, and serve you. I will put on love so that I can live in perfect harmony with other people. Amen 

Key Question… How is clothing yourself with love making you able to live in perfect harmony with others?

Living It Out… Clothe yourself with love so you can live in perfect harmony with others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to clothe yourself with love so you can live in perfect harmony with others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are putting on love and living in harmony with others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you clothe yourself with love so you can live in harmony with others.

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

Promises – Day 255 – Colossians 3-12-14 – Clothe Yourself With Love – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Prayer With An Alert Mind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 254- Colossians 4:2-6 - Prayer With An Alert Mind - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 254- Colossians 4:2-6 – Prayer With An Alert Mind – Growing As Disciples

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.  Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.  Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.  Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:2-6 (NLT)   

Opportunities

You need to be prayerful. You need to be watchful. You need to be thankful. Why is that? I’m not doubting that I need to be prayerful, watchful, and thankful. I want to understand fully why I need to ne prayerful, watchful, and thankful. I doubt that I know what you have on your mind. So, here I am, you have my full attention. I am listening attentively to you. You will miss opportunities to be my witness in the world if you are not prayerful, watchful, and thankful. You will not recognize wide open opportunities to proclaim me to others if you are not prayerful, watchful, and thankful. Can you be more specific? Can you give me more details? Yes, I can. Yes, I will.

If you are prayerful you will be listening attentively to me. You will hear my voice guiding you through life. You will be relying on me. You will not be relying on yourself. Remember your thoughts are not my thoughts. Remember your ways are not my ways. As you prayerfully listen, you will go where I guide you. As you prayerfully listen, you will do what I ask of you. Your heart and mind and life will be open to what I want to do in and through you. You will be able to know and do my will. Are these good enough reasons to be prayerful? They are excellent reasons to be prayerful. I will be prayerful as I walk through life with you. That will be very good.

You need to be watchful. Being watchful is a part of being prayerful. You will have wide open opportunities to share me with others. Doors will open wide for you to proclaim the good news of the Gospel to others. If you are not prayerfully watchful you will likely fail to recognize these opportunities. You will be distracted. You will be busy. You will be diverted to a thousand different tasks that will have no lasting and eternal value. You will misspend your time and talents and resources on what will not last. You will not bear fruit for my kingdom. You will not store up treasure in heaven with me. Are these good enough reasons to be watchful? They are excellent reasons to be watchful. I will be watchful as I walk through life with you. That will be very good.

You need to be thankful. You will go through up and down and twists and turns in life. You will experience pain and suffering and loss in life. How you go through difficulties and adverse circumstances will determine if you will or will not be a powerful witness for me in the world. You can become bitter and resentful or you can remain thankful that I am with you help through life. Know this, your darkest hours will be some of your best opportunities to shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world. Is this a good reason to be thankful? This is an excellent reason to be thankful. I will be thankful as I walk through life with you. That will be very good.

Lord, I will be watchful, prayer and thankful as I walk through life with you. Use every circumstance of my life as an opportunity to be a bold witness for you. Give me abundant opportunities to proclaim you graciously, attractively, and powerfully to others. Amen

Key Question… When have difficult and trying circumstances given you an opportunity to be a witness for Christ?

Living It Out… Be watchful and prayerful and thankful looking for every opportunity to share Christ with others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be given wide open opportunities to share Christ with others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been given opportunities to share Christ with others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be devoted to prayer with an alert mind and thankful heart.

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

Promises – Day 254 – Colossians 4-2-6 – Prayer With An Alert Mind – 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

Work For Nothing

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 253 - Philippians 2:14-16 - Work For Nothing - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 253 – Philippians 2:14-16 – Work For Nothing – Growing As Disciples

Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed!  Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing. Philippians 2:14-16 (MSG)

My Work 

Your work is to go out into the world. Do everything without arguing and complaining. No whining. No engaging in disputes. Have a good attitude. Live a clean life in thought, and word, and deed. Then you will be blameless and pure. You will live as my child. You will show yourself to be one of my followers. You will be different. You will stand out. You will shine like a star in the universe in the darkness of this world. Others will be drawn to me because of the witness of your life. They will get a good glimpse of me when they look at you. They will see my life being lived out in and through you. How does all this sound to you? This sounds like the desire of my heart. This sounds like the goal and purpose of my life. This sounds like my passionate and persistent prayer. That is very good.

Just as others have invested their time and talents and resources into your life, do likewise. Just as others have spurred you on in your faith, do likewise. Just as others have labored so that you could come to know and love and follow and serve me, give yourself to the same work. You can spend your life in no better way. This is the way to bear fruit for my kingdom. This is how you bring glory to my name. This is how you will store up treasure in heaven with me. This is how you will know that you will never work for nothing. Will you do this? Will you do all that I ask you? Will you give yourself tirelessly to my work? Yes, Lord, I will do all you ask of me. I will joyfully give myself to your work. I will not grow weary. I will not become tired. I will not give up and quit. You seem quite confident. My confidence is in you and not in myself. You will make me able. You will keep me moving forward with you. You will help me to accomplish your work. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that. Thank you. Lord.

Lord, I am at your service. Use me for your purposes. Just as others have invested in my life so I could come to know, love, and follow and serve you, use me likewise. Help me to spur others on in their faith. Help me to shine as an example that others can follow. Amen

Key Question… Who will be living proof that you have wisely invested your life in the spiritual well-being of others?

Living It Out…  Invest your time and talent and resources in others in ways that will help them to become vibrant followers of Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to help others to become bright and shining witnesses for Him in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is using you to help others to grow in their faith.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you invest your life in others in ways that will help them to grow in their faith.

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

Philippians 2-14-16 – Promises – Day 253 – Work For Nothing – 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

What Really Matters

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 252 - Philippians 1:9-11 - What Really Matters - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 252 – Philippians 1:9-11 – What Really Matters – Growing As Disciples

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.  May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT)

What Matters

I know that you want to live a life that really matters. At one time, you had no idea what such a life would look like. At that same time, you had no desire to live for anything beyond your own comfort and pleasure. You gave no thought to the future. You lived only for the present. Your heart and mind and life were focused only on what was immediately before you. You lived as is this life was the ultimate reality and that there nothing more to consider. You had no eternal perspective. Is all of what I have said true? Yes, it is. I especially like that you know I want to live of life that really matters. You also know that my life is nothing like it once was. You have changed everything about me. My heart and mind and life now have a completely different focus. I do now know what matters most. Tell what matters most? I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to follow and serve you. In every way, I want to become like you. I want to think and speak and act like you. I want to love like you loved. I want to give like you gave. I want to serve like you served. I want you to form my thoughts, opinions, and values. I want you to guard and guide my life. I want to go and do your will. I want to take on the assignments you give to me. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want your love to overflow my life so that others will come to know and love and follow and serve you. In this way, I will bring praise and honor and glory to you. As I walk through life with you, and live in an intimate relationship with you, I am sure that you will help me to live a life that really matters. You will make me able to do what is pleasing to you. You will make me able to hear you one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is what matters most to me. That is the prayer that is continually on my mind and in my heart. I will hear and answer this prayer of yours. You will live a life that really matters. You will do what is pleasing to me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I want to live a life that really matters. I know what that means. Coming to know and love and follow and serve you really matters. Bearing fruit for your Kingdom and bringing praise and glory to your name really matters. Loving others really matters. Amen

Key Question… How has what really mattered in life changed since you have come to know, love, follow and serve Christ?

Living It Out… Come to know, love, follow, and serve the Lord so that you can live a life that really matters.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to live a life that really matters and brings praise, honor, and glory to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are living a life that really matters.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live a life that really matters so you can bring praise and honor and glory to God.

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

Promises – Day 252 – Philippians 1-9-11 – What Really Matters – 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

No Confidence In Human Effort

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 251 - Philippians 3-3 - No Confidence In Human Effort - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 251 – Philippians 3-3 – No Confidence In Human Effort – Growing As Disciples

For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, Philippians 3:3 (NLT)

Effort

Effort is not a bad thing. The focus of your effort is what will make you fruitful or unfruitful in life. You can engage in the most vigorous effort and see no fruit as the result of it if your efforts are improperly focused. Now you have my full attention. Now you have piqued my interest. Where must I focus my efforts? That is a very good question. You don’t beat around the bush. I will give you an answer just as directly as you have asked me the question. I’m listening attentively. You must make every effort to focus your heart and mind and life on me. You must seek me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. You must love and follow and serve me with all that is within you. Is that clear? Yes, that is very clear. And I will give you this promise, you will find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will work in and through you as you live your life with and for me. I will do in and through you what you could never accomplish by your own power or strength. I will lead you to where I want you to go. I will give you what I want you to do. You will accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans as you rely on me and I work in and through you. That will be great. That is the desire of my heart. That’s good.

We have only talked about half the equation. I don’t know what you mean. Don’t be so sure of that. We have talked about how you must focus your attention on me. We have discussed how you must come to rely fully on me. Yes, I get that. That’s good. There is something that you not do. What’s that? You must not rely on yourself. If you rely on your own power and strength your efforts will amount to nothing. Apart from me, you can do nothing. If you rely on your own gifts and talents and abilities your life will be fruitless. Nothing you accomplish will have any lasting and eternal value. The trophies you collect in this life, based on your own efforts, will one day be nothing but dust. If you want to store up lasting and eternal treasure in heaven with me, you must come to rely fully on me and not on yourself. It is that simple. I get that. I will rely on you and not on myself. I will focus on you and not on myself. I will allow you to work in and through me. That will be very good. Then your life will surely bear fruit that will last for all eternity. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I can’t tell you how often I have relied on my own human efforts. Often, I have trusted in my own gifts, talents, and abilities. Forgive me. What a mistake! Those efforts have amounted to nothing of lasting, eternal value. Help me to rely fully on you. Amen

Key Question… When has God made you able to do what you could have never accomplished with your own efforts?

Living It Out… Place no confidence in your own human effort, rather rely fully on the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will have good success when you rely fully on the Lord.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are learning to rely fully on the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord and put no confidence in your human efforts.

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

Promises – Day 251 – Philippians 3-3 – No Confidence In Human Effort – 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

Conduct Yourselves

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 250 - Philippians 1:27-30 - Conduct Yourselves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 250 – Philippians 1:27-30 – Conduct Yourselves – Growing As Disciples

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel  without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved–and that by God.  For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,  since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:27-30

Whatever Happens

There are some things that I would like to go over with you. There are some questions I would like to ask of you. Go ahead, ask away, you have my full attention, I am listening attentively to you. You want to be a bright witness for me in the darkness of this world. You want to shine brightly for me like a star in the universe. You want others to see my life being lived out in and through you. You want others to be drawn to me because of what they see in you. Are these all true, do you desire all these things? Yes, I want to be a bright and powerful witness for you in the darkness of this world. Good, let’s continue. You want to know me. You want to become like me. You want to think like I thought. You want to speak like I spoke. You want to act like I acted. Are all these things also true, do you desire all these things? Yes, I want all my thoughts and words and actions to be like yours. I want to give like you gave. I want to serve like you served. I want to love like you loved. Very good, let’s keep going. You have said that you want to bear fruit for my kingdom and that you want to being glory to my name. You have said that you want to store up treasure in heaven with me. You have said that you want me to use you to lead others to me. Are all these things also true, do you desire all these things? Yes, I want you to use me. Yes, I want my life to be well spent in your service. Yes, I want my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I never want to look back over my life, with regret over what I could have been or done for you. I want to be fully used by you. It would give me great joy to know that others came to know and love and follow and serve you because of the way that you used me in their lives.  Very good, we both want the same things. Yes, we do.

Now, you may be wondering where I am going with all these questions. There is no doubt about that. There is something that you must do. There is a decision you must make right now, in advance, if you want all these things to be true of your life. Without, this decision you will lead an unfruitful life for me. What decision must I make? You must decide to live your life in a manner worthy of me. Let me be more specific. In all the pain and suffering and loss in life, you must conduct yourself in a way that you remain a bold and bright witness for me in the darkness of this world. Whatever happens, in the most adverse and trying circumstances, your conduct must be like mine. In these times you must think, and speak, and act like me. Will you make this decision? Yes Lord, I will, right now! That is very good.

Holy Spirit, in the past I have not guarded what I allowed my mind to think. I have not set my mind on what you desire. I have not welcomed you to change my heart and transform my mind with God’s word. Well, I am now. Amen

Key Question… When have adverse circumstances given you a unique opportunity to be a powerful witness for Christ?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to use your adverse circumstances in life to be a powerful witness for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be able to use your adverse circumstances to be a powerful witness for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been a witness for Christ in adverse circumstances.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your conduct in adverse circumstances allow you to be a bright witness for Christ.

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

Promises – Day 250 – Philippians 1-27-30 – Conduct Yourselves – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Source Of All Comfort

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 249 - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7- The Source Of All Comfort - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 249 – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7- The Source Of All Comfort – Growing As Disciples

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.  Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.  We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Troubles In Life

There is no doubt that I will certainly have those, that will be my experience. What will you have? What will be your experience? I will have troubles in life. To think otherwise would be foolish. It would be denying reality. Why do you think this is true? This is a sin broken world. This world does not function according to your original design. You suffered in this life, so will I. That is true. I will experience pain and suffering and troubles because of ways that I have thought or spoken or acted. Yes, some pain and suffering and trouble, I will bring on myself. Yet, I will also experience pain and suffering and troubles that come my way, as part of life, that are no fault of my own. That is also true. As bad as your troubles have been, have you received any benefit from them? Has any good been brought forth in your life because of the troubles you have gone through. I will tell you one thing for certain. What’s that? Pain and suffering and troubles are an attention getter. Nothing has more quickly drawn me back to you than being in the midst of pain and suffering and troubles. Nothing has caused me to rely more passionately and persistently on you than being in great need. How do you feel about that outcome? I am not a big fan of pain and suffering and troubles; I don’t welcome any of it into my life. I would rather avoid it all together. That’s honest. But I also wouldn’t trade a life free of pain and suffering and troubles for a life of not coming to know you. If the cost of drawing near to you, living in a more intimate relationship with you, and relying more fully on you, is going through pain and suffering and trouble in life, then I would gladly pay it. The truth is I have probably needed troubles in life to draw me back to you. So, in some strange way, I am thankful for them. You don’t need to give thanks and praise to me for pain and suffering and troubles. No, I will give thanks and praise to you for your mercy and compassion as I go through them. You have never left me alone when I have needed you the most. You have always drawn near to me, as I have drawn near to you. You have always been with me to help me. You have always comforted me with your love. For that I will give you all my thanks and praise. That is very good. One more thing. What’s that? Help me also to comfort others with all the comfort and love I have received from you. That, I will do. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know I am certain to go through troubles in life. I also know you are the God of all comfort. I give you my thanks and praise for your mercy and comfort. I will rely on you in my troubles. Use me to comfort others with the comfort I have received from you. Amen

Key Question… When have you been able to comfort others with the comfort you have received from the Lord?

Living It Out… Give thanks and praise to God for giving you comfort with which you can also comfort others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will comfort you so that you will also be able to comfort others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how receiving comfort has made you able to comfort others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you comfort others with the comfort you have received from the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 249 – 2 Corinthians 1-3-7 – The Source Of All Comfort – 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

We Are Changed

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 248 - 2 Corinthians 3:16-18- We Are Changed - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 248 – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18- We Are Changed – Growing As Disciples

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NLT) 

You Will Be Changed

That is certain. Have no doubts about that. What is certain? About what should I have no doubts? You will be changed. You will become like me. I will be changing your heart. I will be transforming your mind. I will be guiding your life. In the past, perhaps you have thought that you will be changed in an instant when you see me face to face. Is there anything wrong or incorrect with that thought? No, that thought is completely correct. But with you, that thought has been incomplete. How so? On the day that you turned your life over to me, and I became your Savior and Lord, I began changing your heart, transforming you mind, and guiding your life. My work began on that day and has and will continue until the day you come to meet me face to face. Then you will be completely changed. Then my work will be complete. I get that. What I don’t want you to forget, misunderstand, or minimize, is that my work in you in the here and now is critically important. How so? You have often said that you want to bear fruit for my kingdom. You have often said that you want to bring glory to my name. You have often said that you want to store up treasure in heaven with me. You want to shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world. You have even gone so far as to say that you want to shine like a star in the universe for me, so that a multitude will be drawn to me through the witness of your life. Yes, I have said all these things. I would have no greater joy than for all of them to become true of the life I live with and for you. Yes, I know that to be true of you. Those are high and lofty desires. Those are worthy goals. None of these will become true unless I change your heart, transform your mind, and guide your life. None of these will become true unless I transform you into my likeness. You must become like me in the here and now. You must think, and speak, and act like me. Your thoughts, and words, and actions must be like mine. That is why my work in you now is critically important. Well, I do welcome you to do your work in me, with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, I will, you can be certain, that you will be changed. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, you are my Savior and Lord. I will love and follow and serve you. Do your work in and through me. Transform me into your likeness. Change my thoughts, words, and actions. Make me like you. Use me to reflect your glory in the darkness of this world. Amen

Key Question… Why can you be certain that the Lord will transform you into His likeness everyday as you follow Him?

Living It Out… Welcome the Lord to transform you into His likeness so you can reflect His glory in the world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that every day the Lord is transforming you into His likeness so you can reflect His glory in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what the Lord has been using to transform you into His likeness.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you welcome the Lord transforming you into His likeness so you can reflect His glory in the world.

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

Promises – Day 248 – 2 Corinthians 3-16-18 – We Are Changed – 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