Monthly Archives: February 2024

Don’t Sit There

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 288 - Ecclesiastes 11:4 - Don't Sit There- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 288 – Ecclesiastes 11:4 – Don’t Sit There- Growing As Disciples

Don’t sit there watching the wind. Do your own work. Don’t stare at the clouds. Get on with your life. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (MSG)

Take Decisive Action

These are very important words. What are very important words? “Take decisive action” are very important words. Your whole life could pass by if you sat around doing nothing while you waited for perfect conditions. That hasn’t been my problem, at least not most of the time. What has been your problem? Most of the time, I have rashly rushed off to do what I thought was right in my own eyes. I did not wait and watch and listen so that I would be able to know and do you will. So, you are a little confused? That’s right. Well then, we will have a good discussion. I’m watching and waiting and listening. That’s good. I have a few questions for you. Go ahead, ask me. Are you sitting around doing nothing? Are you lying around waiting for perfect conditions? No, not at all. We are having a very important discussion. I am being attentive to all that you want to say to me. Watching and waiting and listening to you is hard work that often requires my very best effort. So, watching and waiting and listening to me is not sitting around doing nothing? It is not idly watching the wind. It is not lazily staring at the clouds. You are not trying to get out of work? You are not delaying going and doing what I ask of you? No, I am not. Listening attentively to me is not filler, until you can get on with the rest of your life? No, certainly not.

So, where are you confused? I’m not sure if right now, at this very moment, is a time to watch and wait and listen or a time to take decisive action? That is a very good question to ask now and keeping on asking throughout your life. Do you believe that I will help you to strike a balance between watching and waiting and listening and taking decisive action? Yes, I do. Which is more important, watching and waiting and listening or taking decisive action? Neither one is more important. Good answer. One however must come before the other. One cannot happen without the other. How so? I can’t know your will without watching and waiting and listen to you. So, before I can take decisive action, I must know your will. That’s right. When I do, I will take decisive action. I will quickly and enthusiastically and joyful go and do all that you ask of me. Then you will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. That is what I want. That is my plan. That is my desire. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not sit around doing nothing to wait for perfect conditions. Yet, I will not rashly rush off to do whatever seems right to me. I will watch and wait so I will be able to know and do your will. Help me to act decisively so I can bear fruit for your kingdom. Amen

Key Question…  How are you seeking to know the Lord’s will and ways as part of your decision to act?

Living It Out…  Strike a balance between watching and waiting and acting decisively to go and do the Lord’s will.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to both watch and wait and act decisively to go and do His will.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you watch and wait so you can act decisively to do the Lord’s will.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you act decisively so you will be able to go and do the Lord’s will.

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

Promises – Day 288 – Ecclesiastes 11-4 – Don’t Sit There – 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

Sharing Your Faith

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 287 - Philemon - Sharing Your Faith - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 287 – Philemon – Sharing Your Faith – Growing As Disciples

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,  because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.  I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Philemon 1:4-7 (NIV)

Full Understanding

That is what I want. That is what I need. That is my hope and dream and prayer. What are you talking about? What is your want and need? What is your hope and dream and prayer? I want to have a full understanding of every good thing I have in you. That is no small want or need. That is no small hope and dream and desire. What do you think I want you to receive? I think we are on the same page. I think that we both want the same thing. You are correct. How will you receive all that I have for you? I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will draw near to you. I will meet with you in your word. I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in worship. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. How is that so far? That is a very good start. I thought maybe I had covered everything. I thought maybe I had left nothing out. No, you haven’t covered everything. Yes, you have left out something that is vitally important. What’s that? You will never have a full understanding of all you have in me if you don’t serve me. If you don’t go where I guide you and do what I ask of you, your understanding of all you have in me will be quite incomplete. There are things about me and my will and my ways, that you can only learn by serving me. As you go out into the world to share your faith and make disciples in my name, you will gain understanding of all you have in me, that can come to you in no other way. Why is that? I will give you an example. I will ask you a few questions. When I have asked you to serve me, have I asked you to do what was quite easy? Hardly, you have often asked me to do what was quite difficult. That’s true. Have you relied on me more fully when I have asked you to do what was quite difficult? Has your faith in me grown stronger as you have relied on me to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans through you? Have you known that I was working in and through you, as I made you able to do what I asked of you? I will give an emphatic yes to all three of your questions. Then you can see how you will have a fuller understanding of all that you have in me as you serve me? Yes, I can. Will you go out into the world to share your faith and make disciples? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will remember and thank you for others, as I meet with you in prayer. Help me to truly love others deeply from my heart. Help me to better understand all I have in you as I remain vitally active in sharing my faith. Help me to refresh the hearts of others. Amen 

Key Question… How has your understanding of all you have in Christ grown as you have shared your faith with others?

Living It Out… Be able to better understand all you have in Christ as you share your faith with others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will better understand all you have in Christ as you share your faith in Him with others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are remaining vitally active in sharing your faith.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you better understand all you have in Christ as you share your faith with others.

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

Promises – Day 287 – Philemon 1-4-7 – Sharing Your Faith – 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

Confess And Turn

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 286 - Proverbs 28:13 - Confess And Turn - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 286 – Proverbs 28:13 – Confess And Turn – Growing As Disciples

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)

Confess And Turn

Do you want to be forgiven of your sins? Do you want to be cleansed of your unrighteousness? Do you want to be made fresh and new and clean in my sight? Do you want my redemption and healing and freedom to come into your life? Do you want to live a new life? Do you want to live a life that is good and right and true? Do you want to live a life that is pleasing to me? Do you want to be the recipient of my kindness and mercy and love? Who would not want these things to be true for them? Who would turn away from these great gifts from you? You would be surprised. Many want nothing to do with my kindness and mercy and love? What must I do If I want all these things to be true for me? That is a very good question. It is wise of you to know that something will be required of you if you want to receive my kindness and mercy and love. What is required of me? You tell me. I know that I cannot earn or merit your forgiveness and cleansing. I cannot make myself righteous in your eyes. I can’t try harder and do better and make a stronger effort to secure your kindness, mercy, and love. No, you cannot. Your forgiveness and cleansing can only come when I am willing to admit my sin, confess my unrighteousness and turn from my wicked ways. Will you admit your sin, confess your unrighteousness, and turn from your wicked ways? Yes, I will. I want to live a life that is good and right and true. I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want to be the recipient of your kindness and mercy and love. I want to be fresh and new and clean in your eyes. I want to be holy and pure and righteous in your sight. These are gifts that can only come from you. That is true. You will have all you want from me as you admit your sin, confess your unrighteousness, and turn from your wicked ways. That I will do. That is very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will not hide from my sin. I will not deny my sin. I will not make excuses for my sin. Instead, I stand ready and willing and able to admit my mistakes and confess all my sin. Forgive me. Heal me. Change me. Use me. Make my life fresh and new and clean. Amen

Key Question…  Why would failing to confess your sins establish a dangerous pattern and difficult course for your life?

Living It Out…  Be ready and willing and able to admit and confess your sins to the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will receive mercy from the Lord as you confess your sins to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are willing to admit and confess your sins to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you confess and turn from your sin so you can receive the Lord’s kindness.

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

Promises – Day 286 – Proverbs 28-13 – Confess And Turn – 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

A Special Utensil

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 284 - 2 Timothy 2:20-21 - A Special Utensil - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 284 – 2 Timothy 2:20-21 – A Special Utensil – Growing As Disciples

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.  If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NLT)

Ready To Use

Do you want to remain ready to be used? Do you want me to use you in my service? Will you keep yourself pure and ready as a special utensil that I can and will use? Yes, I want to remain ready to be used. Yes, I want to be used by you. Yes, I want to be a special utensil in your hand. You have answered me well. What must you do if you want to remain ready to be used as a special utensil in my hand? I must distance myself from tempting circumstances. I must not allow myself to be placed in compromising situations. I must run from evil when it approaches, not eventually, but immediately. I must never linger and allow myself to be allured and enticed and overcome by temptation. Where will you run when evil is all around you in the world? There is only one place that I can run. I will run to you. I will run away from evil and pursue you and the righteous life that you have for me. I will allow you to guard and protect me. As I draw near to you, evil will flee from me. That is true. That is right. That is sure. Will you never succumb to temptation? Will you never sin? I wish, but that certainly will not be the case. I will make mistakes. I will take missteps. I have and will sin against you. There will be times that I will think and say and do what is not pleasing to you. That is also true. What will you do when you do sin against me? I will confess my sin to you. I will not hide. I will not run away. I will not deny what is clearly the truth. What is the truth? I am a sinner in desperate need of your forgiveness and cleansing. The truth is, only you and you alone can make me pure and righteous and clean and holy. My holiness is nothing more than dirty rags. I cannot wash myself. I cannot purify myself. I cannot make myself ready for your use. Only as I confess my sins to you, am I made pure and clean and holy and ready for your use. It is your blood, that was shed on the cross, that washes away my sin and makes me pure and holy and ready for your use. That is correct. Will you confess your sins to me? Will you allow me to forgive and cleanse your unrighteousness? Will you allow me to make you ready to be used? Yes Lord, I will. That is very good.

Lord, it is my desire to be pure and ready for your use. I will run from evil so that I can pursue you and the life you have for me. I will fully devote myself to loving and following and serving you. Make me ready for your use, use me in your service for your glory. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord used you as special utensil to accomplishes His purposes?

Living It Out…  Keep yourself pure so that you will be ready for the Lord to use.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that keeping yourself pure will make you ready for the Lord to use.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how keeping yourself pure has made you ready for the Lord to use.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you keep yourself pure so you can be a special utensil for the Lord’s use.

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

Promises – Day 284 – 2 Timothy 2-20-21 – A Special Utensil – 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

Pursue Righteous Living

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 283 - 2 Timothy 2:22-26 - Pursue Righteous Living - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 283 – 2 Timothy 2:22-26 – Pursue Righteous Living – Growing As Disciples

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.  Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.  A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.  Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 2 Timothy 2:22-26 (NLT) 

Flee – Pursue

Do you want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me? Do you want to be powerfully used by me? Do you want to store up treasure in heaven with me? Do you want to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes, I want all these things to be true in my life. What must I do if I want to live a life that you can and will bless in these ways? That is a very good question. I am glad that you asked that question. You must do two things at the same time if you want to live a life that I can and will bless. You have my full attention. I am listening attentively to you. That’s good. You must flee anything and everything that feeds sinful desires within you. So, I suggest that you take an exhaustive inventory. Closely examine what feeds sinful desires in your life. What are you allowing your eyes to see or ears to hear that will feed sinful desires within you? Ruthlessly eliminate those things from your life. Don’t play around. Don’t delay. Don’t linger. Flee evil of every kind. Don’t allow yourself to be in tempting circumstances. Run as soon and as fast as you can away from what will surely try to allure and entrap you. Am I being clear? Do you fully understand what I am saying? Yes, I understand. That’s good. That is only one thing that you must do if you want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me. If you only ran away from evil, that would not be nearly enough. Evil would track you down and entice and entrap you. Running away alone will never being enough to escape evil. This world is full of sin and evil and darkness no matter where you go. So, you must pursue me. You must pursue the righteous life that I have called you to live. To say it another way, you will run away from evil as you run to me. By running away from evil you will be resisting the devil and all his evil. By running to me, you will be submitting yourself to me. Then the devil will flee from you. Then you will be able to live the life I have called you to live. Then will you be living a life that I can and will bless. Will you run from evil and pursue me and the life I have for you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will run from anything and everything feeds sinful thoughts, words, and actions in me. I will pursue righteous living. Help me to live a life that is fully pleasing to you. Help me to be patient and kind and loving to all so that I can be a fruitful witness for you. Amen

Key Question…  Why will being impatient and quarrelsome and difficult make you unfruitful as a follower of Christ?

Living It Out… Allow your pursuing righteous living to guide all your thoughts and words and actions.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to lead a fruitful life as you pursue righteous living.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are pursuing righteous living in all you think, say, and do.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you pursue righteous living so you can be a fruitful witness for Jesus Christ.

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

Promises – Day 283 – 2 Timothy 2-22-26 – Pursue Righteous Living – 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

Test His Own Actions

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 282 - Galatians 6:4-5 - Test His Own Actions - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 282 – Galatians 6:4-5 – Test His Own Actions – Growing As Disciples

Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Galatians 6:4-5 (NIV)

Test Yourself

Will you do that? Will I do what? Will you test yourself? Will you examine your thoughts and words and actions as you love and follow and serve me? Is that necessary? Is that required? Am I even qualified to test myself? Your last question was your best question. Your first two questions, not so much. Have you ever heard it said that there were no dumb questions? Yes. Don’t believe it. Let’s focus on your last question. That is a very good question. The answer is no, you will not be able to adequately, and objectively, and fairly, test yourself. Sometimes, believe it or not, you may judge yourself too harshly. That will be rare, as you might have guessed. At other times, you give yourself a pass by justifying your thoughts and words and actions. The human heart is deceptive. Have you ever heard that? Yes, I have heard that. Do you know that to be true? Yes, I know that to be true. What then is my hope? How can I honestly test myself? Now, that is another very good question. What is the answer to that question? Do I know the answer? Yes, you know the answer, of that, I am quite sure. Here then is my answer. I will come to you. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. Together, we will test my life. I will not compare myself with others. My thoughts and words and actions will not be graded on a curve. I will not be looking around to see if I am doing a little better or worse than someone else. That’s good. I am sure that you will help me to see what I need to see. I am sure that you will help me to think, and speak, and act, in ways that are pleasing to you. I am sure that you will mold and shape my life. I am sure that you will help me to make course corrections. I am sure that you will help me to do my very best as I love and follow and serve you. You will help me to have the satisfaction of a job being well done for you. You will help me to carry my load and do the work you have given to do for you. You will help me to pass the test. Of all these things I am certain. That is very good. You will have my help as you test yourself. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will test my own thoughts, words, and actions. I will not compare myself with others.  I will allow you to examine my life. Help me to give my very best effort and carry my own load so I can be satisfied with a job being well done, as I follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question…  Why will you never regret testing your thoughts, words, and actions as you follow and serve the Lord?

Living It Out…  Test your own thoughts and words and actions as you follow and serve the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to test your thoughts and words and actions as you follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are testing yourself as you follow and serve the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you test your thoughts and words and actions as you follow and serve the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 282 – Galatians 6-4-5 – Test His Own Actions – 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

Call Upon His Name

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 281 - Psalm 105-1-5 - Call Upon His Name - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 281 – Psalm 105-1-5 – Call Upon His Name – Growing As Disciples

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!  Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!  Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, Psalm 105:1-5 (ESV)

Call Upon Me

Will you call on me? How often will you call on me? Why will you call on me? What will you say to me as you call on me? What will be in your heart and on your mind? Yes, I will call on you. It is my hope and desire and plan to call on you continually throughout my day. Why is that? I want my heart and mind and life to be focused on you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. How would living in an intimate relationship with you be possible if we hardly ever talked? You have a very good point on which you and I are in complete agreement. So, what will you say to me? Nothing will be off limits. I will pour my heart out to you. I will ask you for what I want and need. I will give thanks and praise to you for kindness and mercy and love toward me. I will remember the wondrous things you have done for me. I will ask for your presence, and power, and strength to be with me so I will be able to go and do what you ask of me. What am I likely to ask of you? You will certainly ask me to tell others about you. You want others to come to know and love and follow and serve you. You want others to be able to turn away from their sin so that they can receive your forgiveness and cleansing. You want a multitude to be rescued from a life without you both in the here and now and forever. You want others to receive the gift of salvation and life forever in heaven that you have secured for them. You want others to come to live in an ongoing intimate relationship with you. Yes, I want all these things to be true. Yes, I will ask you to allow my life to be lived out in and through you. Yes, I will work powerfully in and through you. Yes, you will be my witness in the world, as you tell others about me. Yes, you will shine brightly for me as you bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. All of this will be possible as you continually call upon me throughout your day. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will call upon your name. I will remember all your wondrous works. I will be filled with joy as I give thanks and praise to you for your kindness. I will proclaim your goodness far and wide. I will be filled with strength as I continually seek your presence. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making it your practice to call on the Lord throughout the moments of your day?

Living It Out…  Call on the Lord throughout your day and give thanks and praise to Him for all that He has done for you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your heart will be filled with joy as call on the Lord and give thanks to Him for all He has done for you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are calling on the Lord and giving thanks and praise to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you seek the Lord and call upon His name continually throughout your day.

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

Promises – Day 281 – Psalm 105-1-5 – Call Upon His Name – 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

A Great Work

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 280 - Nehemiah 6:2-4 - A Great Work - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 280 – Nehemiah 6:2-4 – A Great Work – Growing As Disciples

So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me,  so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”  Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. Nehemiah 6:2-4 (NLT)

A Great Work

I have a purpose and plan for your life. I have called you into my service. You have been given a great work to do for me. I have a mission for you to accomplish. I have a task for you to complete. I will make you able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Does this surprise you? No, I am not surprised. Why is that? If none of what you have said was true, I would be shocked. I would wonder, “What have I been doing with my life?” I have been engaged in a mission. I have been working on a task. My purpose in life is to love and follow and serve you. It has been my passionate desire to follow you to where you lead me to do what you ask of me. If I am not in the middle of what you had in mind as the purpose and plan for my life, I would be very sad. Then I have very good news for you. What’s that? You are on track. You are running on the course I have laid out for you. You have gone and done what I have asked of you. Your heart and mind and life are focused on loving and following and serving me. I am glad that you think so. Your words are very encouraging. Your words life me up and spur me on. That’s good. 

Let’s talk a little bit about where you are right now. Where am I right now? You tell me. I am weary and worn out. I am running on empty. I feel depleted and maybe ready to give up and quit. How do you feel about that? Not good, not right, it’s not going to happen, but the feelings are real. What do you need? I need to be refreshed and restored and revived by you. I need to be lifted-up and carried by you. I can see that. I need you to give me passion and power, persistence, and perseverance so I will be able to keep on doing the great work you have given me to do for you. Is that your hope? Is that your desire? Is that your prayer? Yes Lord, it is. You will have all that you ask of me, I will make you able to keep on doing the great work I have given to you. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know you have given me a great work to do for you. Give me your passion and power, and persistence and perseverance in doing your work. Help me to say no to time wasters. Help me to focus my heart and mind and life on following and serving you. Amen 

Key Question…  How has the Lord helped you to know the great work He has given you to do for Him?

Living It Out…  Keep on doing the great work that God has given you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will give you a great work to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are doing the great work the Lord has given you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  Lord, how will you give me passion, power, persistence, and perseverance in doing the work I have been given?

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

Promises – Day 280 – Nehemiah 6-2-4 – A Great Work – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

Store Your Treasures In Heaven

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 279 - Matthew 6:19-21 - Store Your Treasures in Heaven - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 279 – Matthew 6:19-21 – Store Your Treasures in Heaven – Growing As Disciples

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

Storing Up Treasure

This is very important. This is something you should consider deeply. What are we talking about? We are talking about storing up treasure. What should I consider? What do I need to think deeply about? How will you invest your life? How will you spend the time that you have been given on this earth? You will have two choices. What are my choices? Will you store treasures on earth where moths eat, rust destroys, and thieves break in and steal? Keep in mind, that even if none of this were true, you brought nothing into this world and you will take nothing out of this world, when your time is up and your life on this earth has come to an end. Storing up treasure on earth is one choice that many foolishly make as the goal and priority of their lives. That are captivated by the riches of this life and so they chase after them, foolishly spending all their time and talent and resources on what will not last. Yes, I can see the foolishness of making that choice. That’s good. What other choice could I make? You could decide to follow and serve me. You could go wherever I lead you to do what I ask of you. You could bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You could be a bold and bright witness for me in the world. You could allow me to use you so that others will also come to know and love and follow and serve me as you do.  A multitude of people could be in heaven because of how you have loved and followed and served me. A host of people might one day gather around you, to thank you, for how you followed and obeyed and served me in ways that resulted in them asking me to be their Savior and Lord. Their thanks, would be never ending. Now, that’s real treasure, isn’t it? That is treasure that will last for all eternity, is it not? Yes, it is. But that is not all. What else is there? There is much more. All that you do for me in this life will be rewarded. Make no mistake, have no question, or doubts about that. Now, what is the better choice? What will be your choice? I will store up treasure in heaven with you. I will follow you to where you lead me to do what you ask of me. I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That will be very good. This will be a decision that you will never regret. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will not store up treasure on earth. That would be a foolish waste of time, talent, and resources. Instead, I will store up treasure in heaven with you. I will go where you guide me to do what you ask of me so that I can bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question…  What opportunities has the Lord given you to store up treasure in heaven with Him?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily priority to store up treasure in heaven with the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you can store up treasure in heaven with the Lord as you love, follow, and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you have been storing up treasure in heaven with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you store treasure in heaven with the Lord by going and doing what He asks of you.

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

Promises – Day 279 – Matthew 6-19-21 – Store Your Treasures In Heaven – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Your Eye Is A Lamp

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 278 - Matthew 6:22-23 - Your Eye Is A Lamp - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 278 – Matthew 6:22-23 – Your Eye Is A Lamp – Growing As Disciples

Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT) 

Walk In The Light

Do you want to live in the light with me? Do you want to separate yourself from the darkness of this world? Do you want to walk in the light with me? Yes, I want to live and walk in the light with you. Yes, I want to separate myself from the darkness of this world. How can I live and walk in the light with you? That is a very good question. It is a question to always keep before you. Why is that? Living and walking in the light with me will require an ongoing decision on your part that you will need to continually affirm as you follow me. I’m not understanding. You must keep on guarding what you allow your eyes to see as you follow me. You must keep on deciding to walk away from darkness as you focus your heart and mind and life on me. Why must I continue to affirm this decision? Why isn’t a one-time decision for all my life enough? You live in a world filled with darkness. Darkness surrounds you. Darkness will attempt to alure and entice you. Darkness will try to distract and divert you and throw your life off course. These attacks will come through what you allow your eyes to see. These attacks will come against you throughout your entire life. You must resist them. You must stand against them. You must fight against them. The only way to be victorious over the darkness in this world is by continually keeping your heart and mind and life focused on me. Keep on seeing what I want you to see. What do you want me to see? I want you to see me. I want you to see where I am leading you. I want you to see me working in and through you. I want you to see my hand on your life. I want you to see my blessing and favor resting on you. I want you to see my word changing your heart, transforming your mind, and guiding your life. I want you to see that you are bearing fruit for my kingdom and bringing glory to my name. I want you to see that you are a bright and shinning witness for me in the darkness of this world. Do you want to see what I want you to see? Yes Lord, I do. I will keep on guarding what I allow my eyes to see so I can live and walk in the light with you. That will be very good.

Lord, I will guard my eyes from seeing what will bring darkness into my life. I will choose to see what you want me to see. I will turn from darkness to live in your light. Daily, I will see your word changing my heart, transforming my mind, and guiding my life. Amen

Key Question…  How are you guarding your eyes from seeing what will bring darkness into your life?

Living It Out…  Choose to see what the Lord wants you to see over all the darkness that is in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your life will be filled with light as you see what the Lord wants you to see.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are choosing to see what the Lord wants you to see.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you guard what you allow your eyes to see so your life will be full of light. 

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

Promises – Day 278 – Matthew 6-22-23 – Your Eye Is A Lamp – 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