Monthly Archives: May 2024

Minds For Action

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 1 Peter 1:13 - Minds For Action - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 1 Peter 1:13 – Minds For Action – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

 Prepare Your Mind

Prepare your mind for action. That’s quite a thought. How will you prepare your mind for action? How will you prepare your mind so you will be able to go where I guide you to do what I ask of you? What will help you to hear my voice? What will help you to answer my call? What will make you unprepared and not ready to take on an assignment from me? I need to set my mind on you. I need to set my mind on loving, following and serving you. If my mind is focused on you and all the hope that I have in you I will be prepared and ready to go wherever you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. That’s right.

What might distract you from setting your mind on me? What will make it hard for you to hear my voice? What will prevent you from answering my call? I need to be very careful about what I allow my mind to think. I need to be very cautious about where I go and what I do in life. How so? The world and all that is in it is clamoring for my attention. It would be easy for me to become distracted by the allure of all that is in the world. Why is that? The world shouts for my attention. The world and all its evil offer powerful and sinful enticements. Every day I will be faced with a choice. What choice is that? Will I listen to the appeals from the world? Will I chase after all that it offers. Will I pursue all the comfort and pleasure of the world? Will I get lost in all its noise and busyness? Will I allow my life to become a frantic pursuit of more? Will I be led to pursue the latest and greatest thing that the world tells me I must have if I want to be happy? All those questions are part of one choice. Will I follow the world? Following the world will make me unprepared, unwilling and unready to follow you. I will not be prepared for action. I certainly will not have a heart and mind and life that are ready to follow and serve you. No, in this case you would not. But, this is not your choice. No, this is not my choice. My choice is to listen attentively to you. My choice is to draw near to you. I want to hear your voice. I want to answer your call. I will be watching and waiting and listening for you to speak to me. My mind will be ready for action so I will be able to go wherever you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. Yes, it will.

Lord, I will guard my thoughts. I will not allow my mind to be conformed to the evil that is in this world. I will set my thoughts fully on the hope that I have in you. Help me to be self-controlled. Prepare my mind for the action you want me to take. Amen

Key Question… Why is it foolish to set your hope on anything other than the grace that you have in Jesus Christ?

Living It Out… Guard your thoughts and allow the Lord to prepare your mind for action as you place all your hope in Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will guide your thoughts and prepare your mind for the action He wants you to take.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped your mind to be prepared and ready for action.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you set your thoughts fully on the hope you have in Jesus Christ so your mind will be prepared for action.

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

The Mind – 1 Peter 1-13 – Minds For Action – 4 Pages 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

My Counselors

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Word - Psalm 119:24 - My Counselors - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Word – Psalm 119:24 – My Counselors – Growing As Disciples

Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.  Psalm 119:24 (NIV)

Wise Counsel

Where do you go when you have a difficult decision to make? What do you rely on when you need wise counsel? Who do you turn to when you are not sure of your direction in life? Do you rely on yourself? Are you one who needs no wise counsel? Do you have an answer for every question? Do you have a solution for every problem? Are you one who never asks for directions no matter how uncertain or lost you may be? Asking for help has not come easy to me. Often times, I have tried to figure things out on my own without asking for help or seeking wise counsel. How has that worked out for you? Trying to figure things out on my own has not usually worked out so well for me. How so? Relying solely on myself has led to some very poor and costly decisions. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and suffered as a result. I’ve noticed. You may have also noticed one of my other failed strategies. I was waiting for you to mention it. Here goes. I have also sought an overabundance of counsel until I finally liked what I heard. How has that worked out for you? That hasn’t worked out so well either. Tell me about that. The world is filled with many so-called experts that are more than willing to offer their so-called wise counsel. In many cases their so-called wise counsel stands in direction opposition to your will and your ways. I’m sure that my following their worldly counsel has not been pleasing to you. You’re right about that.

What have you learned through all your mistakes? I have learned to seek your counsel. I have learned to come to ask for your help. I have learned to come to meet with you in your word to receive all the wise counsel that I will need in life. It is now my joy and delight to hear you speaking to me through your word. I now know that I can trust every word that you have to say to me. You are my source of wise counsel. You are my direction in life. You will guard and guide my life with your word. You will counsel me with your word. Your word stands far above any counsel that the world could ever offer me. What else have you learned? I have also learned to adjust my thinking and change my opinions whenever they are not in alignment with your word. The world and all its opinions, values and principles now mean nothing to me. Now your word means everything to me. I know that you will use your word to adjust my thinking and change my opinions. You will help me to think your thoughts, know your will and walk in your ways. Yes, I will.

Lord, there are many so-called sources of wise counsel in this world. I could run around and seek counsel from each one of them until I liked what I heard. Instead it is my joy and delight to come to you to receive wise counsel from your word. Amen

Key Question… Why is it a mistake to allow yourself to be counseled by the opinions, principles, and values of the world?

Living It Out… Allow God’s word to be your source of wise counsel as you walk through life with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will give you wise counsel as you walk through life with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on God’s word as your source of wise counsel.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God’s word to be your counselor as you walk with Him through life.

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

God’s Word – Psalm 119-24 – My Counselors – 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

Abide In Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - John 15:4-5 - Abide In Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – John 15:4-5 – Abide In Me – Growing As Disciples

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 (ESV)

Bear Much Fruit

I am the vine. You are a branch. What does that tell you? I am connected to you. I was designed to live in an intimate relationship with you. You are my source of life. All that I need flows through you. There is not a minute of the day or a moment of my life when I can vibrantly live apart from you.

You have been called to abide in me. You are meant to remain in me. What does that tell you? It is possible to live a life that is disconnected from you. I need to guard against being lured away from you. The world and all that is in it could distract me from living in a vital and intimate relationship with you. Living in a vital and intimate relationship with you will require consistent effort and discipline on my part. Abiding in you will require me to make significant and life altering choices. What kind of choices will you need to make? I will need to choose to make it my practice to abide in you. How will you do that? If I want to abide in you I will need to live a life of prayer. Our life together will be one long and ongoing prayer filled conversation. I will draw near to you and you will draw near to me. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. We will talk together about all of life. Yes, we will. What else? As I abide with you I will meet with you in your word. There is not a day that I will not need to hear what you want to teach me. You will mold and shape my life with your word. You will change my heart and transform my mind with your word. You will guide my life, give me comfort and strengthen me with your word. Your Holy Spirit, living in me, will bring your word to my remembrance and apply it to my life. That’s right. What else? As I abide with you I will want to bow down to worship you. I will give thanks to you for all your goodness to me. I will praise your name for who you are and all that you have done. I will gather together with the body of believers you have placed me in to express my love to you as I worship you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That’s very good. What else? As I abide in you I will want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for you that will last for all eternity. I know that apart from you I can do nothing. I want my life to be used by you. I want to do the good works that you have planned for me to do for you. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. Live your life in these ways. Make these choices and you will be abiding in me. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you that you are the vine and I am your branch. You are my source of vibrant and eternal life now and forever. I will remain vitally connected to you on a daily moment-by-moment basis so I can bear abundant and lasting fruit for your kingdom. Amen

Key Question… What spiritual disciplines have helped you to abide in Christ and remain vitally connected to Him?

Living It Out… Remain vitally connected to Jesus Christ on a daily, moment-by-moment basis so you can bear abundant fruit for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will bear an abundance of fruit for the kingdom of God as you remain vitally connected to Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are remaining in Christ and bearing abundant fruit for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you abide in Christ so that you can bear an abundance of fruit for His Kingdom and glory.

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

Knowing God – John 15-4-5 – Abide In Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

You Were Taught

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Ephesians 4:20-24 - You Were Taught - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Ephesians 4:20-24 – You Were Taught – Growing As Disciples

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NIV)

Put Off, Renew, Put On

Do you want to be like me? Do you want to live the new life that I have given you to live? Do you want to live a righteous and holy life that is pleasing to me? Yes, I do want to be like you. I want to live the life that you have given me to live. I want to live a righteous and holy life that is pleasing to you. How can all that be possible? Is there something that I must do? That is a very good question. Yes, there is something that you must do.

When I called you to come to me, you left your old life to follow me. You turned away from your sins and asked me to forgive and cleanse you of all your unrighteousness. You said that you would follow me as your Savior and Lord. Is all of this true? Yes, that is all true. I have forgiven you of all your sins and cleansed you of all your unrighteous. I have given you a new life to live in me now and forever. I have been leading you through life as your Lord and Savior. You are my child. One day you will come to live forever in heaven with me. Then everything is all good. You think so? Well, maybe not. I’m not positive that I’m really living the life you have given me to live. You mentioned that there is something I must do if I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. Yes, I did. Would you like me go over what you must do if you want to live a righteous and holy life that is pleasing to me? Yes, I would.

Actually there are three things you must do if you want to live the life I have given you to live. You must first put off your old life. Your old life is like old dirty, stinky clothes. Once you have completely taken them off, don’t ever put them back on again. Make sure that you don’t let any remnants of your old life remain with you. Take a thorough inventory and get rid of whatever no longer suits you as one of my followers. Don’t ever go back and to try those smelly clothes on again. Do you understand all of this? Yes, I do. You will have temptations and battles against your old life of sin. As awful as it sounds, you will be tempted to put back on the dirty, stinky clothes of your old life. I will strengthen you in your battle against this temptation and sin. How will you do that? You will be part of what I will do in you. Here is what you must do next. You must let me change your heart and renew your mind with my word. How can I do that? You must feast on my word. You must allow my word to dwell in you richly. You must meditate on my word day and night. You must hide my word in your heart. As you do this I will be changing your heart and renewing your mind. As my word dwells in you richly you will be able to stand against temptation and sin. You will be able to leave the clothes of your old life behind. Do you believe what I am saying to you? Yes, I believe you. Why is that? I know that you already have been changing my heart and renewing my mind. Yes, that’s true. What else have I been doing in you? What else have I been teaching you? You have been teaching me how to put on the new life that you have given me to live. Yes, I have. That is what you will do next and keep on doing as I lead you through life.

Lord, thank you for making it possible for me to come to know you. You have taught me how to remove the stinky clothes of my old life. You are using your word to change my heart and renew my mind. You are helping me to put on the new life I have in you. Amen

Key Question… How have you taken a close inventory and eliminated evil influences and practices from your old life?

Living It Out… Allow God’s word to change your heart and renew your mind so that you can put on and live out your new life in Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will change your heart and renew your mind so that you can live out your new life in Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word has been helping you to live out your new life in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God’s word to change your heart and renew your mind so you can live out your new life in Christ.

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

Knowing God – Ephesians 4-20-24 – You Were Taught – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

The Tongue

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - James 3:6 - The Tongue - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – James 3:6 – The Tongue – Growing As Disciples

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:6 (NIV) 

Life Giving Words

There is power in your tongue. How so? Your words can kill or your words can heal. You can speak life giving words that will lift others up or you can speak life taking words that will tear others down. What kind of words would you like to speak? Obviously, I would like to speak life giving words that will lift others up. Why is that obvious? Would everyone see it as obvious by the words that have come out of your mouth? Well, I said that I would like to speak life giving words. I did not say that I have always spoken life giving words. That wouldn’t be true. But that’s what I want and that’s what you asked me. Yes, I did, you’re right. So, do you want to make a break with the past? Yes, I do. Do you want new life giving words to come out of your mouth? Yes, I do,

What will need to happen for life giving words to come out of your mouth? I’m not sure, I really don’t know. Do you think that the words of your mouth can be different than what’s in your heart and on your mind? I don’t think so. I’ve tried to keep a lid on negative thoughts and words that I’ve held on to in my heart and mind. Sooner or later those words have erupted and come out of my mouth. Yes, they have and that has not been pretty, has it? No, it hasn’t. Then I’ve spoken life taking words that have torn others down. Yes, you have.

Would you agree that your heart and mind have to change before the words of your mouth will change? Yes, I would. Would you also agree that whatever is in your heart and on your mind will one day come out? Yes, I would. So, if evil is in your heart and on your mind it will come out, is that true? Yes, it is. Likewise, if good is in your heart and on your mind, it will come out, is that also true? I am sure that it is. So, do you want me to change what is in your heart and on your mind? Yes, I do. Why don’t you change your heart and mind by yourself? I would if I could but I can’t. Are you sure? Yes, I’m sure. What makes you so sure you can’t change your own heart and mind? I’ve tried that many times and failed miserably. Yes, you have. Only you can change my heart and mind. Yes, that’s right.

Do you believe that I will change your heart and mind so that you can speak my life giving words? Yes, I do. What do you think I will use to change your heart and mind? You will use your Holy Spirit living inside of me to change me. Yes, I will. What will my Holy Spirit use as a tool to change your heart and your mind? Your Holy Spirit will use your word to change my heart and mind. He will help me to think and speak your words. Yes, He will and then you will be able to speak the life giving words that I will give you to speak into the lives of others. Then my words will come pouring out of your life. Then you be a witness for me in the world. That is exactly what I want.

Lord, in the past the words of my mouth have been like a flamethrower. I have said things that have hurt people and destroyed relationships. No more! Take charge of my tongue. Help me to speak life giving words to other people. Amen

Key Question… When have you set something on fire with the words that have come out of your mouth?

Living It Out… Make every effort to make sure that the words that are coming out of your mouth are life giving.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use your mouth to speak words that give life to other people.

Get Ready To Share… May the Lord use the words that come out of your mouth to give life to other people.

Prayer To Bless Others… May it be your desire to know and do the will of God.

Life – James 3-6 – The Tongue – 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

If It Is The Lord’s Will

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - James 4:13-17- It It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – James 4:13-17- It It Is The Lord’s Will – Growing As Disciples

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16 (NIV)

Making Plans

What’s your plan? What would you like to do with your life? What would you like your life to accomplish in the short time that you have to live it? When you look back over your life what would have to happen for you to know that your life was well spent? I’m wondering if those are good or trick questions. Why would you say that? There is no guarantee that my plan is your plan. There is the very real possibility that what I might like to do might lead me to misspend my life. What I might want to accomplish might be quite different from what you want to do in and through my life. I’m not sure if I have all the knowledge and wisdom that I would need to decide how to spend my life. Are you saying that you can’t answer these questions? I could answer them. I’m not sure that I can answer them correctly. In fact I have had a history of answering them incorrectly. What do you mean by that? I have made plenty of plans that did not have you in them. I have made plans based on pleasure. I have made plans based on power. I have made plans based on prestige. All of these plans have not ended well. All of these plans have left me unsatisfied, unhappy and unfulfilled. I have known that I have been doing the wrong things for all the wrong reasons.

What do you want? I want to ask you some questions. Go ahead I’m listening. What’s your plan? What do you want to do with my life? What do you want to accomplish in my life in the short time that I have to live it? When we look back over my life together what would have to happen for us to know that my life was well spent? You have turned the table on me. That’s right. Why have you done that? What are you saying to me? I want to know you. I want to know and do your will. I have no interest in making plans without you. I have done enough of that already. I have wasted time and energy and resources doing what wasn’t in your plans for me to do. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to accomplish the work that you have given me to do for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. That is the only way that I will ever know that my life was well spent. So, I’m asking you to use my life for your purposes and according to your plan. That is what I want. That is what you want. That is what we want. Yes, it is.

Lord, I have made plans without seeking to know your will. I have chased after priorities other than knowing you and doing your will. How foolish have I been? Help me now to know you and do your will. Use my life for your purposes and according to your plans. Amen

Key Question… When has God given you a direction and a plan that was far better than what you had in mind?

Living It Out…Take steps today to make it your priority to know God and do His will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to know Him and do His will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are making it your priority to know God and do His will.

Prayer To Bless Others… May it be your desire to know and do the will of God.

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

Knowing God – James 4-13-16 – Making Plans – 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

Consider Them Rubbish

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Philippians 3:8 - Consider The Rubbish - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Philippians 3:8 – Consider The Rubbish – Growing As Disciples

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8 (NIV)

What Counts?

What do you mean by that? Mean by what? You are asking me what counts. You want to know what I consider to be valuable, isn’t that true? Yes, I do. Why are you asking me that question? It’s a very important question, isn’t it? Yes, I’m sure that it is. Any question that you ask me is important. I want to know what’s behind your question. Oh, I’m positive that you know the answer to that already. You do? Yes, I do. Tell me what you think. I don’t want to waste my time. I don’t want to waste my life. I want my life to have been well spent and have counted for what is of eternal value. I don’t want to stand there one day with you looking back over my life with a regret that my life was not well spent. I don’t want that to happen to you either. That is why I have asked you this question. What counts?

I know what counts. I know what is valuable. Tell me. There is nothing more valuable than knowing you. I could not spend my time more wisely than coming to know you. Why is that? As I come to know you I will become like you. As I come to know you I will think your thoughts. As I come to know you I will do your will. As I come to know you I will walk in your ways. As I come to know you I will love you. As I come to know you I will love others. All I hope to be will be fulfilled as I come to know you. Knowing you will enable me to be all that you want me to be. Knowing you will make me to be a better parent, spouse, child, sibling, friend, neighbor, and coworker. Knowing you will help me to do what you have given me to do. Knowing you will allow me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, it will. If I have known you and done your will I will never regret how my life was spent. No, you will not.

How will you come to know me? I will come to know you by responding to your call. You are calling me to come to know you. Yes, I am. You want me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. You want me to set aside what is worthless so that I will have time to come to know you. Yes, I do. You want me to draw near to you. You will draw near to me. Yes, I will. As we meet together you will help me to know you. You will help me to know your will and to walk in your ways. You will help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You will help me to do what counts. Yes, I will.

Lord, I have wasted so much time and energy on what will amount to being worth less than nothing. I want my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to use my time to come to know you and minister to the needs of others. Amen

Key Question… What have you set aside as worthless trash so you may come to know Jesus Christ?

Living It Out… Set aside what is worthless so that you can come to know God and minister to the needs of others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to set aside what is worthless so you can come to know Him and serve others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are using your time to know God and minister to others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you set aside what is worthless so that you will have time to come to know Christ and minister to others.

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

Knowing God – Philippians 3-8 – Consider Them Rubbish – 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

Let God Transform You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Romans 12:1-2 - Let God Transform You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Romans 12:1-2 – Let God Transform You – Growing As Disciples

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

Let

Now that is a very important word. What word? I want you to think about the word, “let.” “Let,” is a very important word. How so? In this case the word “let” will determine one of two choices that you will make. What are my choices? Will you let yourself be conformed to this world and all its values, patterns and practices? Or will you let me renew your mind with my word? How you answer these two questions will determine the entire course of your life. Let’s talk about each one. I’d like that.

To let yourself be conformed to the world you really don’t need to do anything special. The world is already bombarding you with all its values and patterns and practices everyday. If you do nothing at all you will think and act no differently than anyone and everyone else in the world. You will go with the flow. You will think, say and do what others do just because that is what anyone and everyone else is thinking, saying and doing. You won’t stand out. You won’t be different. You will blend in with the rest of the world. You will do whatever feels good. You will live for comfort and pleasure. You will live to serve and please yourself. You will not seek me. You will not know me. You will not love me. You will not follow, obey and serve me. You will be on your own in the life you have chosen to live in the world. I definitely don’t want this life. I don’t want to be conformed to the world and all its values, patterns and practices. I want to seek you and know you and love you with all my heart. Let’s talk about the other choice then. That would be great.

You can let me renew your mind with my word. As you meet with me in my word I will change your heart and transform your mind. I will teach you. I will train you. I will guide you with my word. You will think my thoughts and walk in my ways. You will seek me and you will find me. You will love me with all your heart and mind and soul. You will want to know and do my will. It will be your desire to please me. You will want to give yourself fully to me as an act of worship. You will follow and obey and serve me not because you must but because that has become the desire of your heart. Your greatest joy will be to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Is this what you want? Is this the life you want to live? Yes Lord, it is!

Lord, I know that there is a battle going on. There is a war that is raging over my mind. Will I allow myself to be conformed to this world or will I allow you to renew my mind with your word? Renew my mind with your word so I can both know and do your will. Amen

Key Question… How can you eliminate from your life some of the more obvious and dangerous worldly influences?

Living It Out… Allow God to use His word to renew your mind so that you will be able to know and do His will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will use His word to renew your mind so that you will be able to know and do His will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God to use His word to renew your mind.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to use His word to renew your mind so that you can know and do His will.

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

Knowing God – Romans 12-1-2 – Let God Transform You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Growing Seed

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Parables - Mark 4:26-29 - Growing Seed - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Parables – Mark 4:26-29 – Growing Seed – Growing As Disciples

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain–first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”   Mark 4:26-29 (NIV)

Growing

Let’s talk about growth. That sounds good to me. You want to grow, don’t you? Yes Lord, I certainly don’t want to remain just as I am. Do you know that you can’t cause yourself or anyone else to grow? I think I have been a little confused about that. Let’s clear that up. I’d like that. I alone am the one that causes growth. Your desire to grow is nothing compared to my desire to see you grow. How do you want me to grow? How do you think? I think you want me to grow to know you, love you and serve you more each day. Is that what you want? Yes, it is. That’s good. How else do you want to grow? I want to grow to bear fruit for you. I want you to be able to use me to reap a rich harvest for you. Those are also good desires that we agree on. I have a question. What’s that? If I can’t cause myself to grow, does that mean I can sit back and just let it happen? What do you think? I’m sure that’s not the case. You are right.

Have you noticed that there are two conditions for growth to occur mentioned here in my word? I think I missed them. To tell you the truth, I can’t ever remember even seeing this parable before. Look closely, what do you see? I see that seeds must be scattered for growth to occur. Yes, that’s one. What else? Where must they be scattered? They must be scattered on the ground. You got it. Do you know what the seed and grounds stand for? Yes, the seed is your word and the ground is my heart. So what part of growth is yours? I need to tend to my heart to make sure that it is receptive to your word. That’s right. I also need to let your word be scattered in my heart. When those two conditions are met, what will happen? I will grow in my relationship with you and your ability to use me. Yes, you will.

Now since I know that you are impatient, we need to discuss a few more points. Like what? Let me ask you a couple questions. Go ahead. Will your growth as my follower happen immediately? Do you mean like almost overnight? You have the idea. I’m guessing that the answer is no. Good guess. You may not even notice your own growth, but others will that’s for sure. Your growth will be constant, gradual and unstoppable as you continue to love, follow and serve me. So, don’t get discouraged or loose heart. I’m doing a work in you, day by day, until the day we see each other in heaven. Do you believe me? Will you trust me on this? Yes Lord, I will.

One final but very important point. What’s that? I want you to be out in the world casting the seed of my word into the soil of other people’s hearts. You do? Yes, of course I do. You want to be a part of reaping a rich harvest for me, don’t you? Yes Lord, I do. When can we start? Right now, today. How does that sound to you? I’m so glad to be growing, scattering seed and harvesting all for your glory. Here I am Lord, use me! I will.

Lord, thank you for using people to plant seeds of faith in me. Without them I wouldn’t have heard the good news of the gospel. Thank you for making seeds of faith to grow in me. Use me now to help plant seeds of faith in others. Amen

Key Question… How has the Holy Spirit caused seeds of faith to grow continually, constantly and gradually in your life?

Living It Out… Make sure that the soil of your life is suitable for seeds of faith to take root and grow in you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will use you to sow seeds of faith in those who do not know Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group where God has sent you to sow seeds of faith in others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the soil of your life to be fertile ground for God’s seeds of faith to grow in it.

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

Parables – Mark 4-26-29 – Growing Seed – 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                              http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Reckless Words

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Proverbs 12:18 - Reckless Words - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless Words – Growing As Disciples

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)

Fruitful Words 

What words are coming out of your mouth? Do you ask yourself, “Where did that come from? How could I have said that to someone? Those were hurtful words. I don’t want to be that kind of a person.” Yes Lord, I can see that you have been listening in on my words and my self-talk. Yes, I have. 

I want my words to be healing. I want to speak soothing words of comfort. I would like to be known as one who comforts, encourages and strengthens others with my words.

Never do I want to recklessly hurt others with my words. I know that the devil and all his evil use words that steal, kill, and destroy life. Forgive me when my words have harmed others.

Fill my heart and mind with your words. May my life overflow with words that bless others and lift them up. Help me to speak up for you. Put your words of your love and forgiveness in my mouth so that I can proclaim your good news.

Have you noticed that I have been changing your heart and mind? Yes, I have. How have I been doing that for you? As I have met with you in prayer you have been transforming me. Yes, I have been molding and shaping your life. I have been making you into the person that I want you to be. What have I been using to transform your mind and change your heart? You have been using your word. Yes, I have. You have been setting me free by the truth of your word. Yes, I have been planting my word in your heart and mind. What has my word been bearing in your life? Your word has been bearing fruit? Yes, and what words describe the kind of fruit that is coming out of your life? The fruit that you are bringing out of my life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Yes, exactly and that fruit has been giving you new words to speak haven’t they? Yes, they have.

I know that you are impatient. You never want to say the wrong words. You always want to bless others with your words. Yes, that is true. Let my work continue in you. I will continue to plant my word in you. You will continue to bear fruit for me. I will continue to transform your mind and change your heart. Trust me and do not become discouraged. I will never stop molding and shaping your life. You will speak words that will bless and encourage a multitude. Do you believe what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I do without a doubt.

Lord, I have been shocked with the words that have come out of my mouth. Forgive me. Help me. Change my heart and transform my mind so that I can bear fruit for you by having wise and healing words come out of my mouth. Amen

Key Question… When has someone encouraged and built you up with wise and healing words that they spoke to you?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to change your heart and transform your mind with His word so that you will be able to speak His words.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you wise and healing words with which to build others up and encourage them.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to speak wise and healing words to others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you speak words that bring healing.

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

Wisdom – Proverbs 12-18 – Reckless Words – 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 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