Monthly Archives: February 2024

Directs The Steps

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 277 - Psalm 37:23-24 - Directs The Steps- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 277 – Psalm 37:23-24 – Directs The Steps- Growing As Disciples

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.  Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)  

Your Steps

Would you like me to direct your steps? Would you like me to keep your life on course? Yes, I want you to direct my steps and keep my life on course. Anyone wanting otherwise would have to be a fool with misguided priorities. That’s true. What must I do if I want you to direct my steps and keep my life on course? You are wise in knowing that you have a role in my directing your steps. You must play your part if you want your life to remain on course. So, tell me what is your role? Your question does not surprise me. Yes, you know that I like you to answer questions when you already know the answer. Here is my answer, if I want my steps to be directed by you, I must keep in step with you. If I want my life to stay on course, I must follow you to where you lead me and do what you ask of me. My life will never go of course if I keep in step with you as I follow and obey you. That is correct. Will your course always be easy? Will your terrain always be smooth? Hardly, this life is filled with rough traveling over treacherous terrain. Yes, it is. This world is filled with the treacherous terrain of sin and temptation and evil of every kind. All of which would like nothing better than to trip me up and knock me off course. That won’t happen to me. Why is that? I will keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. I will walk away from sin and temptation and evil of every kind as I keep in step with you. I will live a godly life that is good and right and pleasing to you. Yes, I may stumble here and there. But I will have your hand. You will hold on to me. You will keep me from falling. I will never be out of your sight. You will have your eye on me. I know that you take delight in every detail of my life. You will always be with me to help me through every difficulty in life. Yes, I will. For that, I am grateful. For that, I am thankful. It will be my delight and joy to walk through life with you. I will keep in step with you. I will allow you to direct my steps. That is very good. 

Lord, it is encouraging that you delight in every detail of my life. I would like to talk about many details of my life. I want you to direct my steps as I keep in step with you. Guide me through, and hold on to my hand, I as I walk over treacherous terrain in life. Amen 

Key Question…  How has the Lord held your hand as you have walked over treacherous terrain?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to direct your steps as you keep in step with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will direct your steps as you keep in step with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has directed your steps as you have kept in step with Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the Lord to direct your steps as you keep in step with Him.

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

Promises – Day 277 – Psalm 37-23-24 – Directs The Steps – 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

Do Good

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 276 - Titus 3:14 - Do Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 276 – Titus 3:14 – Do Good – Growing As Disciples

Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive. Titus 3:14 (NLT)

A Productive Life

Do you want to live a productive life? Do you want to one day be able to look back over your life and say that it was well lived and well spent? Would you like to hear me commend you for the good work you have done in this life, that you are now living? Yes, I want to live a productive life. I want to live a life that has no regrets. I want to know that I lived a life that was pleasing to you. I want to make the most of the time I have been given. How can I live a productive life that has no regrets? That is a good question that you will do well to always keep before you. Let me hear your answer to your own question. I thought you might say that. I know a few things, for certain. Like what? It would be possible for me to work myself ragged with non-stop activity and effort and still live an unproductive life. How so? If the goal of my life was to make as much money and acquire as many things as possible, I would be headed toward an unproductive life filled with regret. Money and things do not add up to a productive life that is well lived. That is true. It is foolish to live for storing up treasures on this earth. Yes, it is. What else do you know for certain? If I were to chart my own course and construct my own agenda, without consulting you, by asking for your guidance, I would be well on my way to living a fruitless and regrettable life. That is for sure, without any doubt. What else? If I were to live solely for my own comfort and pleasure so that I lacked nothing in life, I would one day regret that I had misspent my life.  That’s right.

You have talked about what you must not do if you want to live a productive, and well lived, fruitful life. Let me hear the positive side of this question. What will you do to live a productive life? I will listen to you. I will follow your guidance. I will go wherever you guide me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will pour myself out in your service. I will store up treasure in heaven with you. I will bear fruit for your Kingdom and bring glory to your name. I will use all my gifts and talents and abilities to help those who are in desperate need. I will be a light for you in this world of darkness. I will allow your life to shine in and through me, as I serve you and others. That will be very good. Do these things and you will live a productive life, with no regrets. Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to live a productive life. I want to invest my time, and talents, and resources in what will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to store up treasure in heaven with you. I will go and do whatever you ask of me. Use my life. Amen 

Key Question…  When have you invested your time, talents, and resources in meeting the urgent needs of others?

Living It Out…  Bear fruit for the kingdom of God and bring glory to His name as you meet the urgent needs of others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to bear fruit for His kingdom as you meet the urgent needs of others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is using you to meet the urgent needs of others.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you bear fruit for the Kingdom of God as you meet the urgent needs of others.

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

Promises – Day 276 – Titus 3-14 – Do Good – 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

Believing God’s Promise

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 275 - Romans 4:18-21 - Believing God's Promises - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 275 – Romans 4:18-21 – Believing God’s Promises – Growing As Disciples

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”  And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.  He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. Romans 4:18-21 (NLT)

My Promises

I am glad that we have come to this topic. I am happy that we will now discuss my promises. Your opening has me intrigued. I am wondering what direction we will head in our discussion. Oh, I think you have a pretty good idea where will go with our discussion. I’m not so sure about that. Do you believe in my promises? What kind of question is that? Of course, I believe in your promises. I have no doubts about your promises being true. Your word is good. You are faithful. Your promises are completely reliable. Yes, that is exactly what I knew you would say. Well, it’s the truth. Yes, it is the truth. The question I want to get at is this, “Do you believe the promises I have made to you?” It is obvious that you believe the promises I have made to all believers, everywhere, for all time. Do you believe the promises I have made specifically to you? Can you read my word and say to yourself, “These promises are for all believers everywhere, for all time, and they are being made also to me, right here and right now?” That is a different and more personal question, isn’t it? Yes, it is much more personal. You don’t sound so sure and certain. You sound like you may be hesitant in your answer. It is a very thought-provoking question. Yes, it is. 

What I want you to consider more deeply, is that the promises in my word are for you. Don’t think of my promises as being for everyone else, but you. Have I been doing that? Have you been apprehending the promises of my word, for your yourself? That is a very good question. I would say, not nearly enough. I want you to take my word deep into your heart and mind and life. I want you to put my word into practice. I want you to apprehend the promises of my word and make them your own. I want the power of my word working in your life. Will you take a hold of my word? Will live by my word? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I know that your word is good. I know that you are faithful. I know that your promises are completely reliable. I know that I fully can count on you. I will patiently wait with hope and faith for your promises to be fulfilled in my life. Amen

Key Question…  When have you continued to believe in God’s promises even when your situation seemed hopeless?

Living It Out…  Wait with patience and hope and faith for God’s promises to be fulfilled in your life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God can and will fulfill all His promises to you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has fulfilled His promises to you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you wait with patience, hope and faith for God to fulfill His promises to you.

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

Promises – Day 275 – Romans 4-18-21 – Believing God’s Promise – 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

Really Love Them

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 274 - Romans 12:9-13 - Really Love Them - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 274 – Romans 12:9-13 – Really Love Them – Growing As Disciples

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.  Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.  Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.  When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NLT)

My Love

I have heard you say many times that you want to be like me. You want to follow my example. You want to think, and speak, and act like me. You want to live as I lived. You want to do what I did. You also want to be able to know and do my will. Is all this true? Have I heard you correctly? Yes, it is true. Yes, you have heard me correctly. I would give me great joy to know that I am living a life that is pleasing to you. I want nothing more than to be able to know and do your will. That’s good.

There should be no mystery for you in knowing my will. You cannot go wrong if you follow my example. If you love like I loved, served like I served, and give like I gave, you will be living in the center of my will. You will be living a life that is good and right and true and pleasing to me. That’s great. There is one problem, however. What’s that? Loving like you loved or serving like you served or giving like you gave does not come easily or automatically to me. Loving others deeply and genuinely from my heart will require hard work and my very best efforts. That is true, you are correct. There is nothing wrong with working hard and giving your very best efforts. Of that, I have no doubt. There is something else of which, I have no doubt. What’s that?

My own hard work and my very best efforts to love others will fail miserably without your help. Are you speaking from the voice of experience? You know that I am. It is a very good thing that you are willing to acknowledge your shortcomings and inabilities. Here is a secret. You have my full attention. I don’t want you to love others with your love. I want my love to flow in and through you. I want you to love others with my love. I want my love flowing through you to draw others to me.  I want my love being lived out in and through you to shine brightly in the darkness of this world. Will you allow my love to flow in and through you? Will you love others with my love? Will you allow me to help you to love like I loved, serve like I served, and give like I gave? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, loving others deeply and genuinely from the heart does not come easily and automatically. I know that loving others just as you have loved me will require hard work and my very best efforts. Help me to follow your example of loving, giving, and serving. Amen 

Key Question…  When has loving others required some very hard work on your part?

Living It Out…  Make every effort to love others deeply and genuinely from your heart.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to love others just as He loves you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are loving others deeply and genuinely from your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you follow the Lord’s example by loving others deeply and genuinely from your heart.

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

Promises – Day 274 – Romans 12-9-13 – Really Love Them – 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

Many Form One Body

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 273 - Romans 12:4-5 - Many Form One Body - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 273 – Romans 12:4-5 – Many Form One Body – Growing As Disciples

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)

My Body 

Do you want to discover the spiritual gifts that I have given to you? Do you want to be powerfully used by me? Do you want to have a role in building up my body? Do you want to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? Do you want to be able to store up treasure in heaven with me?  Yes of course, I want all these things. I would be a fool if I did not desire to be used in these ways. Could I want or ask for anything better than to be used by you. Would there be any better use of my life than to be at your service? I think not. I like the way you think. You have good desires in your heart.

Do you know where you will be able to discover and use the spiritual gifts I have given to you? I am not certain. I need you to help me to answer that question. You will discover and be able to use the spiritual gifts in my body.  With that answer do you see any requirements? I’m not sure, again I will need your help. Well, first you need to be connected in my body. You needed to be rooted in my body. What does that mean to you? I will never be able to discover and use my spiritual gifts if I remain isolated, largely disconnected, and not vitally rooted in your body. I can’t discover and use my spiritual gifts, off by myself, in my own little self-contained world. No, you cannot, that is correct. I will be able to discover and use my spiritual gifts as I live in relationship with other believers in your body. That is true. Let’s be clear here. When we use the words, “My body”, what are we talking about? Your body is your church.  That’s right. So, to be able to discover and use your spiritual gifts you will need to be connected and living in relationship with fellow believers in my church. I get that, I understand. That’s good.

So, you know where you will be able to discover and use your spiritual gifts. Yes, I do. That’s good. There are a few things of which you must also be certain. What’s that? I have given you spiritual gifts. Everyone of my followers has been given spiritual gifts. Not one of my followers has been omitted, you included. Everyone has been given different gifts. Not everyone has the same gifts. Why is that? How would my body function if everyone had the same gifts? Not, well. Not at all. Don’t waste your time and energy being envious of the spiritual gifts that others have been given. I won’t. That’s good. How do you think you will discover and use your spiritual gifts? I’m not sure. You will keep your eyes and ears open. Watch and listen, opportunities to be serve me will come to your attention. Take a step a faith. Engage in service. As you serve, you will discover what are and are not your spiritual gifts. Does that make sense? Yes, it does. Don’t be discouraged as you first use your spiritual gifts. Why is that? You can be sure that your spiritual gifts will grow and develop and be refined and sharpened as you continue to use them to serve me. That I will do, I will serve you! That will be very good. 

Lord, I know you have given me spiritual gifts to be used in your body. Help me to discover and use all my spiritual gifts. I don’t want any gift I have been given to go unused and wasted. Use my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question…  How is being connected in Christ’s body helping you to understand and use your spiritual gifts?

Living It Out…  Make every effort to discover and use your spiritual gifts in the body of Christ.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord has given you spiritual gifts to be used in His body.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are discovering and using your spiritual gifts.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live a godly life filled with prayers that the Lord will hear and answer.

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

Promises – Day 273 – Romans 12-4-5 – Many Form One Body – 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

An Appointed Time

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 272 - Habakkuk 2:3 - An Appointed Time - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 272 – Habakkuk 2:3 – An Appointed Time – Growing As Disciples

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)

Dreams

You do know that I have given you dreams. I have given you visions. I have given you a desire to be used by me to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. Do you know these things to be true? Yes, I know that you have given me dreams. I am certain that you have given me visions. I have no doubt that you want to work in and through me. I am sure that you want to use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I do detect some hesitancy within you. Let’s talk about your hesitancy. Well, not every dream you have given to me has been fulfilled. That, no doubt is the hesitancy you detect in me. I don’t doubt you. I don’t me. With delay, I sometimes wonder if I heard you correctly. Was what I thought was a God given dream just me, and my thoughts run amuck? You can be sure of one thing about dreams that I give to you. What’s that? They will not be fulfilled in an instant. Have I not already fulfilled many of the dreams I have given to you? Yes, you have fulfilled many of the dreams you have given to me. Have any dreams I have given to you been fulfilled in an instant?  Were any dreams you received from me accomplished overnight? No, I can’t think of any dreams you have given to me that were fulfilled in an instant or accomplished overnight. What have I done in and through you as you have waited for one of my dreams to be fulfilled in, through, or for you? You have taught me to wait patiently and faithfully. You have taught me to trust and rely on you. You have taught me to keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. You have helped me to know, without a doubt, that you are preparing me to fulfill your dreams, accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans in, through, or for me. So, what have you been doing and what will you be doing as you wait patiently and faithfully for me to fulfill dreams, I have given to you? I will keep on loving and following and serving you. I will keep on going where you guide me. I will keep on doing what you ask of me. My heart and mind and life will be entirely focused on you. That will be very good. You can be sure that I will fulfill the dreams that I have given to you. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know you have given me dreams. I know that dreams you give me are not fulfilled in an instant. I will wait patiently and faithfully for you to fulfill the dreams you have given to me. In the meantime, I will keep on loving, following and serving you. Amen

Key Question…  Why can you be certain that God given dreams will take time to be fulfilled?

Living It Out…  Wait patiently and faithfully for God to fulfill the dreams He has given to you as you love, follow, and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will fulfill the dreams He has given to you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has already fulfilled dreams He has given to you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you wait patiently for the Lord to fulfill dreams He has given to you.

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

Promises – Day 257 – Habakkuk 2-3 – An Appointed Time – 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

Faithful Service

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 271 - Philippians 2:17-18 - Faithful Service - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 271 – Philippians 2:17-18 – Faithful Service – Growing As Disciples

But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.  Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Philippians 2:17-18 (NLT)

Serve Me

Do you want to serve me? Don’t be too quick in answering me. Let me describe what serving me will mean. I’m listening. Serving me will require you to listen attentively to me. That will mean that you will need to meet with me daily to hear from me. You will need to meet with me in my word. You will need to meet with me in prayer. You will need to meet with me in worship. I can understand why meeting with you is a requirement of serving you. Why is that? If I didn’t meet with you, how would I know what you are asking me to do for you? If I didn’t meet with you, how would I ever have the strength and power and ability to do what you ask of me? Without meeting with you, I would be merely guessing what you might want me to do for you. I know from experience that my best guesses have almost always been wrong. Without meeting with you, I would also be operating under my own strength, power, and ability. That effort has and will amount to nothing. I already know that you have said, “Apart from me you can doing nothing”. I am not interested in doing and accomplishing nothing. So, I will gladly meet with you every day so I will be able to know and do your will and accomplish your purposes and plans. That is very good. 

Meeting with me is not all that will be required if you want to serve me. You still have my full attention. Serving me will require your sharp focus and very best effort. No casual, half-hearted effort, will ever be able to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. I know why that is true. Why is that? Serving you will require me to joyfully and faithfully, pour myself into your work. Serving you will be quite demanding. You will frequently, maybe almost always, ask me to do what is far beyond my own strength, power, and ability. Many times, I will think that you have asked too much of me. Those thoughts will be incorrect. Why is that? You will ask me to do what I cannot do for at least a few reasons. Which are? You want me to come to rely on you to accomplish your work. That’s right. You want me to me to know that is you who has worked in and through me to accomplish your work. Knowing this will encourage and strengthen me and spur me on. That is also correct. Finally, you want others to know that it is you who has accomplished your work in and through me. Then the glory will rightfully go to you and not to me. That is true. Now, I will ask you again. Do you want to serve me? Yes Lord, I want to serve you. I will serve you with all that is within me. That is very good.

Lord, it is my joy to pour myself out in serving you. I will allow you to direct me in using my time and talent and resources to faithfully serve you. Use my life to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Help me to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom. Amen

Key Question…  What joy has been yours as you have engaged in faithfully and sacrificially serving the Lord?

Living It Out…  Joyfully and faithfully pour yourself out in sacrificial service to the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will have great joy as you serve the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what is the work the Lord has given you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your life be filled with joy as you faithfully serve the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 256 – Philippians 2-17-18 – Faithful Service – 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

Reflect On What I Am Saying

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 270 - 2 Timothy 2:3-7 - Reflect On What I Am Saying - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 270 – 2 Timothy 2:3-7 – Reflect On What I Am Saying – Growing As Disciples

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer.  Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:3-7 (NIV)

Reflect On

Those are two very important words. What are two very important words? I want you to “reflect on” all that I am saying to you. I don’t want my word to go in one of your ears and out the other. I want you to take my word deep into your heart and mind and life. I want my word to dwell in you richly. I want my word to abide in you. I want you to abide in my word. I want my word to change your heart. I want my word to transform your mind. I want my word to guide your life. My word will mold and shape you. My word will guard and guide you. My word will teach and train you. My word will make able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. My word will do all these things in, for, and through you, only if you reflect on my word and then do what it says. You must hear, follow, and obey my word if you want to live as one of my followers. So, I will say it again, “reflect on”, are two very important words. Have I made myself clear? Yes, you have made yourself very clear. That’s good.

So, how will you “reflect on” my word? I will start by setting a daily time and place to meet with you in your word. I will listen intently, careful consider, and reflect deeply, on your word. I will hear and obey you, that is for sure. In my hearing and obeying your word I will be like a good soldier being trained in your service. I won’t let myself be caught in civilian pursuits. My heart and mind and life will be focused on you. I will be like a finely tuned athlete wanting to be trained and prepared, by your word, to compete well and finish strong so that I will win the prize. I will be like a hardworking farmer patiently waiting for a crop of fruit to be born in and through my life as I allow your word to do its work. I can see that you truly have heard from me. You will reflect on my word. You will put my word into practice. Yes, I will. That will be very good. 

Heavenly Father, I will not let your word go in one ear and out the other. I will listen intently, carefully consider, and reflect deeply on all that you have to say to me. I will take your words deep into my heart and mind and life so I can hear, follow, and obey you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you listening intently and carefully considering all that the Lord wants to teach you?

Living It Out…  Listen deeply, carefully consider, and reflect on all the Lord wants to teach you so you can hear, follow, and obey Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be able to be a faithful and fruitful follower of Christ as you hear and obey Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are hearing and obeying all the Lord wants to teach you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  Heavenly Father, what do you want me to hear and obey as I reflect on your word?

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

Promises – Day 270 – 2 Timothy 2-3-7 – Reflect On What I Am Saying – 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

Just As He Had Done Before

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 269 - Daniel 6:10-12 - Just As He Had Done Before - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 269 – Daniel 6:10-12 – Just As He Had Done Before – Growing As Disciples

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.  Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.  So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands–in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” Daniel 6:10-12 (NIV)

A Pattern

That is exactly what I need. What is it that you need? I need to develop a pattern of meeting with you in prayer. Why do you need to develop a pattern of meeting with me in prayer? My prayers will be occasional and hit or miss if I don’t develop a regular daily pattern of meeting with you in prayer. If I don’t set a daily time and place to meet with you in prayer it may never happen. Life is busy and hurried. Life is demanding and distracting. Life can cause me to place what might seem urgent over what is ultimately more important. I can think of nothing that is more important than setting aside a time and place to meet with you in prayer. What is your hope? What is your dream? What is your desire? What do you want to happen as you meet with me in prayer? I want to come to know you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to live my life in a constant and ongoing dialogue of prayer, as I walk through life with you. So, setting a specific time and place to meet with you in prayer is just a starting point. I want that daily, specific time of prayer, to carry on throughout each of my days. Those are very good hopes, and dreams, and desires. I’m not finished. I’m just getting warmed up. Go on, I’m listening. I want to bow down and worship you. I want to give you thanks and praise for your kindness and mercy and love. I want to be able to hear your voice guarding and guiding me through life. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to be able to pray prayers that you will hear and answer not only for my needs, but also for the needs of others. I want your kingdom to come down to earth. I want to hear and see you doing miracles that draw a multitude of people to you. I want your life to be living in and through me. I want to shine brightly for you like a star in the universe. You weren’t kidding, you were just getting warmed up. Yes, and if I have missed something, if I have left something out, I want you to show me and teach me how to pray. Finally, I want to store up treasure in heaven with you, as I bear fruit for your kingdom, and bring glory to your name. That is why I need to develop a pattern of meeting with you in prayer. Very well then, are you ready to start right now? Yes, I am. That is very good.

Lord, thank you for your kindness and mercy and love. You have been with me to help though all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life. You have sustained and strengthened and protected me. It is my joy and delight to meet with you daily in prayer. Amen

Key Question…  What pattern of prayer would you like to be a regular part of your life going forward from today?

Living It Out…  Develop a regular daily pattern of meeting with the Lord in prayer.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will sustain, strengthen, and protect you as you live a life of prayer with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are developing a regular pattern of prayer with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you develop a daily pattern of meeting with the Lord in prayer.

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

Promises – Day 269 – Daniel 6-10-12 – Just As He Had Done Before – 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

I Have Refined You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 268 - Isaiah 48:10 - I Have Refined You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 268 – Isaiah 48:10 – I Have Refined You – Growing As Disciples

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. Isaiah 48:10 (NLT)

Whatever It Takes

Whatever it takes. What do you mean by saying, “Whatever it takes?” I want to come to know and love and follow and serve you. I want to become like you.  I want to think like you think. I want to speak like you speak. I want to act like you act. I want your thoughts and words and actions to be mine. I want to give like you gave. I want to serve like you served. I want to love like you loved. With that in mind, I will freely admit that I am quite distant from those desires becoming a reality in my life. How so? I have rough spots, imperfections, and impurities in my life that hinder me from becoming like you. So, I am giving you permission to rub off the rough spots or burn off the imperfections and impurities in my life. I want you to mold and shape me to make me to be more like you. That is what I mean by saying, “Whatever it takes?” I see. I know.

Let me be clear here, I am not the author of pain and suffering and loss. I will not shower you with hardships. I will not bring evil against you. You live in a sin broken world. You live in a world that comes full of pain and suffering, hardship, and loss. These were not unfamiliar to me. They will not be unfamiliar to you. I suffered. You will suffer. Having said that, you are correct in your thinking, I can and will use the heat of pain and suffering and hardship and loss to burn off impurities and imperfections in your life. I will rub off the rough spots in your life. I will mold and shape you according to my purposes and plans. Why would I do this? I love you with an everlasting love. You are my child. So, you can be sure that I can and will bring good out of the bad that happens in your life. I can and will redeem and use even the darkest of your days. Your attitude is good and that is very important. Why is that? You and I have both seen people that have grown bitter and not better as they have gone through pain and suffering and hardship and loss in life. Instead of drawing nearer to me in these moments, they have withdrawn from me. Instead of relying on me in these moments, they have turned away from me to rely on themselves. Instead of their relationship growing deeper and more intimate with me in these moments, they have separated themselves from me entirely. You will not let this be true of you. You will allow me to do my work in you, for you, and through you when go through great difficulties in life. Why is that? Because you will allow me to use whatever it takes to do my best work in you. Yes, I will, whatever it takes. That is very good.

Lord, use whatever it takes to refine my character. May it be pain or suffering or hardship or loss, use whatever it takes to make me to be more like you. Use whatever it takes to grow my faith and deepen my relationship with you. All my hope and trust is in you. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord made you more like Him as you have gone through hardship and suffering?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to use hardship and suffering to refine your character to make you more like Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord can use hardship and suffering to make you more like Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used suffering to make you more like Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the Lord to use hardship and suffering to make you more like Him.

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

Promises – Day 268 – Isaiah 48-10 – I Have Refined You – 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