Monthly Archives: June 2024

Lord Teach Us To Pray

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Luke 11:1 - Lord, Teach Us To Pray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Luke 11:1 – Lord, Teach Us To Pray – Growing As Disciples

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

Teach Me

Just as the disciples asked you to teach them how to pray so I am also asking you to teach me how to pray. I want you to enroll me in your class. I am your student. You are my teacher. Without, your instruction I will never become a person of prayer. Why do you want to learn how to pray? First and most importantly, I want to know you. I want to be able to hear your voice speaking to me. So, I will come to you. I will be still before you. I will rest in your presence. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. What do you think will happen to you as you come to know me? As I come to know you two things will happen to me. The better I know you, the more I will know your love for me. The more I know your love for me the more I will love you.  As I grow to know and love you the more I will become like you. I will begin to think your thoughts. I will know your will. I will begin to walk in your ways. I will want to do what pleases you. Yes, you will.

If you want me to teach you how to pray what must you do? If I want you to teach me how to pray I must show up. What do you mean by that? I must meet with you in prayer. I must keep on coming to you. It would be silly for me to ask you to teach me how to pray if I wasn’t willing to take time to pray. That’s right. You said you would be my student and I would be your teacher. Yes, I did. How often do you think my class in prayer will meet? There will be specific times and places for me to meet in class with you. My class in prayer with you will also continue throughout all the moments of every day. Yes, both are correct. When do you think your class in prayer will end? My class in prayer will never end. Once I start praying I will never stop listening to you. Once I start praying I will never stop talking to you. You will keep on teaching me how to pray. You will keep on showing me what to pray for. Yes, I will. Are you ready to start praying? Yes Lord, I am.

 Lord, I want a close relationship with you and the Father and The Holy Spirit. I want to learn how to pray. Help me. I want you to be my teacher. As your follower and student I will come to learn. Enroll me now. I’m ready to start. Amen

Key Question… When can you meet with the Lord so that He can teach you how to pray?

Living It Out… Set apart a daily time to meet with the Lord in prayer.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you set apart a daily time to meet with the Lord, He will teach you to pray.

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

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

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

Prayer – Luke – 11-1 – Lord Teach Us To Pray – 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

Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Proverbs 3:5-6 - Lean Not In Your Own Understanding - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Proverbs 3:5-6 – Lean Not In Your Own Understanding – Growing As Disciples

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Give Up

You have walked a path that has been filled with twists and turns and ups and downs. You have bounced from one thing to another. You have gone one-way and then another. You have gone forward and backward. There has been nothing straight about your path. No wonder you have been weary and worn out. No wonder you have been bruised and battered and broken by life. Why has your path led you to wander from one thing to another from one day to another? I have been relying on my own understanding. I have been doing what has seemed right to me. I have been doing my best to live my life in ways that I had hoped would be good and right. I have made mistakes. I have made bad choices. I have hung out with the wrong crowd. I have accepted bad advice. I have gone down dark and dreary paths that led nowhere to nothing good. I have had enough. I am fed up with my life. I want something more. I want something different. I want something else. I want something far better than what I have had in my life up to this point. I feel like I’m stuck. I don’t know where to turn. I don’t know where to go. I don’t know what to do. My own understanding has failed me miserably. I need help. I need help right now. Are you asking me for my help? Yes, I am asking you for your help. Are you ready to give up? Yes, I’m almost ready to give up. I will come back later when you are really ready to give up. What do you mean by that? Do you want me to give up? Yes, I want you to give up. I want you to give up on your own understanding. I want you to give up control of your life. I want you to give up and walk away from the crooked, dark and dreary path you have been on. As long as you are not ready to give up on your old life you are not ready to turn your life over to me. No, I’m ready to give up on my old life. I ready to give up on my own understanding.  I’m ready to turn my life over to you. I want to follow you. I want you to lead and guide my life. Forgive me of all my sins. Cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. Make me new and clean in you. You be the Savior and Lord of my life. Lead me on the path that you have laid out for me. I will follow you. I’m giving up. I am giving all of me to you right now. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, my path has had many twists and turns and that I wish I had not taken as I relied on my own understanding. I want to make a change of leadership. You are now in charge. I will trust you with all my heart as I follow you. Amen

Key Question… When has relying on your own understanding led you down the wrong path into difficult circumstances?

Living It Out… Trust in the Lord with all your heart and mind so that He can guide the course of your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will guide the course of your life, as you trust in Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are trusting in the Lord to guide the course of your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you trust in the Lord with all your heart so He can guide the course of your life.

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

The Mind – Proverbs 3-5-6 – Lean Not On Your Own Understanding – 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

He Should Pray

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Trouble - James 5:13 - He Should Pray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Trouble – James 5:13 – He Should Pray – Growing As Disciples

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. James 5:13 (NIV)

Let’s Talk

I have not been very good at doing either. What’s that? I have not been good at praying even when I have been in trouble. I have not been good at giving you praise even when I have been happy. Why is that? I’m not really sure. Oftentimes, I haven’t really reflected on my situation. There are days that I probably couldn’t tell you if I was in trouble or if I was happy. My days have blended together in a sort of a bland and gray and drab sameness. I just keep trudging forward. I don’t get too high and I don’t go too low. I haven’t gotten in big trouble very often. That’s what you think. I haven’t been too happy either. That’s not good. So, I haven’t prayed and given praise to you very much. I know this sounds pathetic. It does. I do regret that I have been living this unreflective prayerless and praiseless life. I do want to live a very different kind of life. I would like to live the life that you have called me to live. Do you think that I want you to live a bland and drab and gray kind of life? That can’t be the kind of life you want to live. It isn’t. Wouldn’t you rather have your life filled with joy? Wouldn’t you rather have your life filled with prayers that I will hear and answer? Wouldn’t you rather have your life filled with my peace? Yes, I would. That’s the kind of life I want to live. What do you suggest?

Let’s meet together and talk about your life. Right now? Yes, right now. You’re here. I’m here. Let’s talk. This can be the first day of every day, going forward, where you will meet with me to talk about your life. Tell me what you need. Ask for my help. Open up your heart and mind and life to me. Let’s talk about what troubles you. I know that you are quite a gifted worrier. That comes with not bringing my prayers to you. I know that you are filled with anxiety. That comes with trying to solve all my problems by myself. I know that you lack real happiness and joy in life. That comes with not carefully considering all that I have been given. I have been given much. You have richly blessed my life. Yes, I have richly blessed your life. I have helped you through every trouble you have faced in life. Will you come to meet with me? Will you offer all your prayers and praise to me? Yes, Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you that you delight to hear my prayers and praise. Help me to grow deep in my prayer and praise to you. In trouble I will pray. In happiness I will praise. Help me to bring my prayers and praise to you in both good and bad times. Amen

Key Question… How have troubles developed your prayer life?

Living It Out… Turn your troubles into prayer and your happiness into praise.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord delights in hearing both your prayers and praise.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are bringing both your prayers and praise to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you bring all your prayers and praise to the Lord.

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

Trouble – James 5-13 – He Should Pray – 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

Life-Giving Rebuke

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - Proverbs 15:31 - Life-Giving Rebuke - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Proverbs 15:31 – Life-Giving Rebuke – Growing As Disciples

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31 (NIV)

Constructive Criticism

You have heard words of constructive criticism before haven’t you? Yes, I have. That’s a modern way to say what is called a life-giving rebuke. It’s probably not a good translation of my word. I don’t think you understand the danger of not accepting a life-giving rebuke when you call it constructive criticism. I’m not sure what you mean. Do you think accepting or rejecting constructive criticism is an option on your part? Is constructive criticism like feedback that you can choose to accept or reject? Yes, I guess so. That’s a real problem then. Why is that? I often speak through others to you. I will often give you wisdom through the words of others. Sometimes that wisdom will be a matter of life and death. Do you want to pick and choose from the wisdom that I want to speak into your life? No, I don’t. I want all the wisdom that you will give to me. Yes, I know.

Not every criticism you hear will be constructive. Not every constructive criticism will come from me. Not every constructive criticism will be like a life-giving rebuke. Some criticism may look like constructive criticism but will be a form of condemnation that will try to tear you down. The devil is very good at using so called constructive criticism to attack you with words that can steal, kill, and destroy life. What do all my comments suggest to you? I need to listen very carefully to what I have called constructive criticism and what you call a life-giving rebuke. I need to carefully consider all the words that are being spoken to me. When you listen what will you be trying to hear? When I listen I will be trying to hear all the wisdom that you want to speak into my life. As you listen what must you not do? As I listen I must not react in a way that quickly rejects what others have to say to me. Why is that? I know that you have often spoken into my life through the words of others. Yes, I have.

How open are you to listening to constructive criticism or life-giving rebukes from others? What is your first response to difficult and challenging words that others have to say to you? I want to be completely open to how you speak to me through the words of others. I know that I have not been completely open to hearing difficult words of constructive criticism or life-giving rebuke. That is a very dangerous position to be in. Why is that? If others are afraid to take a chance to give you constructive criticism or life-giving rebukes then they won’t speak up. How you react to the words of others will either give or deny them the opportunity and permission to offer life-giving help to you. Do you want to limit the help you receive from others? No, I do not. Do you want to limit one of the ways that I want to speak wisdom into your life? No, I do not. Then you must be ready to listen to and ready to act on constructive criticism and life-giving rebukes that come your way. Is that what you will do? Yes Lord, it is.

Lord, I haven’t always been receptive to hearing and acting on words of constructive criticism. I know you often speak to me through the voices of others. Help me to hear all that you want to say to me so I can grow in your wisdom. Amen

Key Question… What might never hearing words of constructive criticism from others signal to you?

Living It Out… Be open to receive and act on the wisdom that the Lord gives you through constructive criticism from others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will often give you wisdom through the constructive criticism of others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how receiving constructive criticism is helping you to grow in wisdom.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you receive wisdom that the Lord wants to give you through constructive criticism from others.

Life – Proverbs 15-31 – Life-Giving Rebuke – 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

My Soul Thirsts For God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Psalm 42:1-2 - My Soul Thirsts For God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Psalm 42:1-2 – My Soul Thirsts For God – Growing As Disciples

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

When

There is no more important question than the one that is before you. What question is that? When can you come to meet with me? When will you set aside a time and a place to come into my presence? We both know that you are tired. We both know that you are weary and worn out. We both know that your soul desperately needs to be revived, refreshed and restored. I know that you have a thirsty desire that only I can satisfy. You have an emptiness that only I can fill. You are thirsty for me. Your soul is panting for me. Do you think that I don’t know that I have a thirst that only you can satisfy? That’s a good question, for you to consider. I know you know that I can satisfy your thirst. It does not seem obvious to me that you are convinced in knowing that nothing else can satisfy your soul. Why do you say that?

If you knew that only I could satisfy your thirst wouldn’t you set aside a time and a place to meet with me? Wouldn’t you come to rest in my presence? Wouldn’t you allow me to speak into your heart and mind and soul and life? Wouldn’t you listen attentively to all that I had to say to you? Wouldn’t you carefully consider my every word? Wouldn’t meeting with me be the first and highest priority in your life? Wouldn’t our time together become something that never gets set aside? Wouldn’t our meeting together become as regular and consistent as clockwork? I do know that only you can refresh my soul and satisfy my thirst for you. All my meaning and hope and purpose come from you. You are my counselor and guide. You supply all my needs. You give me strength. You show me where you want me to go. You give me what you want me to do. Yes, I will listen attentively to you. Yes, I will carefully consider every one of your words. Yes, I will set aside a time and a place to meet with you. I will firmly establish the “when” I will come to meet with you. That question will not go unanswered because I know that you and you alone can refresh my soul and satisfy my thirst for you. Meeting with you will be the first and most important priority of my life. That will be very good.

Lord, I might as well be crawling across the desert floor under a blazing hot sun. You have made me thirsty for you. You have my full attention, love and devotion. I am consumed with thirsty desire that only you can and do satisfy. I will come to meet with you. Amen

Key Question… Why is realizing that you are consumed with a spiritual thirst for God a real gift from Him?

Living It Out… Meet with the Lord in prayer and allow Him to refresh your soul and satisfy the thirst that you have for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you meet with God in prayer He will refresh your soul and satisfy your thirst for Him. 

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has refreshed your soul and satisfied your desire for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you meet with the Lord so He can refresh your soul and satisfy your thirst

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

Prayer – Psalm – 42-1-2  – My Soul Thirsts For God – 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 Lord Has Given Me An Instructed Tongue

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Mouth - Isaiah 50:4 - The Lord Has Given Me An Instructed Tongue - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Mouth – Isaiah 50:4 – The Lord Has Given Me An Instructed Tongue – Growing As Disciples

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. Isaiah 50:4 (NIV)

Awaken

Nothing would excite me more than to know that you will wake me up in the morning so that I can be taught by you. There is no place I would rather be than in your classroom. There is nothing I would rather do than to sit down to hear from you. Then you will set a time and a place to meet with me. Yes, I will. You will guard and protect our time together so that you will continue to meet with me. Yes, I will. You will make our time together the top priority in your life. Yes, I will. You will not let the busyness of life take away from our time together. No, I will not. You will not let any of the demands of life crowd me out of your life. No, I will not. This commitment to meet with me at a set time and in a special place should come as no difficulty to you. Why is that? You have already said that there is no place you would rather be than in my presence. You have already said that there is nothing that you would rather do than hear from me. That’s true. That is what I said. You are right. It will not be difficult for me to continue to meet with you. I long to be in your presence. I hunger and thirst for you. I want to hear everything that you have to say to me. I want you to teach me. I want you to train me. I want you to mold and shape my life. Open my ears to hear you. Yes, I will.

I am delighted that you hunger and thirst for me. It gives me great pleasure to know that you want to hear every word that I have to say to you. We both want the very same thing. You want to hear from me. I want to speak to you. You want to be used by me. I want to use you. As you meet with me you will hear from me. As you hear from me I will give you my words. My words will not only be for you. My words will not just teach and train you. My words will instruct your tongue so that you can speak my words. The words that I speak through you will sustain the weary. You will comfort and encourage others with my words. In this way you will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Are you ready for me to use you? Yes Lord, I am. Keep on meeting with me so that I can give you my words. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, awaken me morning by morning to meet with you. Awaken my heart and mind to you. Give me ears to hear all that you have to say to me. Teach and train me with your word. Instruct my tongue so I can speak words to encourage and sustain the weary. Amen

Key Question…When are you most able to hear the words that the Lord wants to teach you?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to awaken you morning by morning so he can instruct your tongue with words to sustain the weary.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will teach you and instruct your tongue with His words with which you can sustain the weary.

Get Ready To Share…Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has made you able to sustain the weary with His words.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to teach you and instruct your tongue so you will have His words to sustain the weary.

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

Mouth – Isaiah 50-4 – The Lord Has Given Me An Instructed 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

Made Us Competent

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 - Made Us Competent - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 – Made Us Competent – Growing As Disciples

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 (NIV)

Rely On Me

You have heard my call? Yes Lord, I have heard your call. You are asking me to do something for you. Yes I am, but you seem reluctant, why is that? I don’t feel like I am able to do what you are asking me to do for you. I’m not surprised one bit, not at all, even in the least. Why is that? You feel like you may be incompetent, insufficient, inadequate and unable to do what I am asking of you. Yes, that’s right. Do you know why you have those feelings? No. I don’t. If I knew then maybe I wouldn’t have them. I wish that I didn’t have them. You have these feelings because you really are incompetent, insufficient, inadequate and unable to do what I am asking you to do for me. Great, I thought that you might give me a word of encouragement. I thought that you might affirm all my gifts, talents, and abilities. I would rather tell you the truth. What is the truth? The truth is that all your gifts, talents and abilities do not add up to you being able to accomplish all that I have given you to do for me. Why is that? Only I can make you competent, sufficient, adequate and able. If you rely solely on your gifts, talents and abilities you will fall flat on your face. That sounds like it would hurt a lot. Yes, it does hurt. You should know. Why is that? Haven’t you relied on yourself and fallen flat on your face plenty of times? Yes, by now I probably should have callouses on my face. That’s pretty funny. Flat on your face is not a bad place to be is it? Why do you say that? What have you done when you have fallen flat on your face? I have cried out to you for your help. Yes, you have.

You want me to use you, don’t you? Yes Lord, I do. Then you must rely on me completely. Apart from me you can do nothing. When you rely on me completely I will make you able to accomplish all that I have asked you to do for me.

Is there anything more important to you than to be used by me to minister to others? No, there is nothing more important to me than to serve you. Will anything make you more thankful than to know that I have made you able to minister to others? Will anything give you more confidence and hope than to know that you have done what could not be done because you relied on me? Will anything give you more joy than to know that others have given their lives to me because of how I have worked in and through your life? No Lord, nothing will make me more thankful, confident, hopeful and joyful than to know that you have used me according to your purposes and plans. Will you rely on me completely to do my work in and through you? Yes Lord, I will. Very good, then I will make you completely competent, fully sufficient, totally adequate, and surely able to serve me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, so often I have relied solely on my gifts, talents and abilities to try to accomplish what you have asked me to do for you. That has never worked. Help me to rely on you for all that I need to serve you. Make me able, I pray. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord made you able to accomplish something for Him that was far beyond your abilities?

Living It Out… Make it your practice to rely on the Lord so that you will be able to do all that He asks of you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will enable to do all that He asks of you so that you can bear fruit for His kingdom and glory.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group something difficult that the Lord has asked you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord to make you competent and able to do all that He asks of you to do for Him.

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

Transformation – 2 Corinthians 3-3-6 – Made Us Competent – 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

Do Not Let

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Freedom - Galatians 5:1 - Do Not Let - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Freedom – Galatians 5:1 – Do Not Let – Growing As Disciples

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Stand Firm

You have been set free. I have broken the power of sin over your life. You are no longer a slave to sin. You are no longer living in bondage. Sin does not control your life. You are not living for sinful passions or carnal desires. You are living the life that I have called you to live. You are living a life that is pleasing to me.  

Keep following me. Keep on running well. Don’t let sin of any kind once again put a yoke of slavery on you. Be alert. Stand firm. Be on guard against anything and everything that might tempt you to sin against me. Don’t ever allow yourself to think that living your life with and for me consists of following a set of rules and regulations and laws. That would be just one more yoke of slavery that would be a heavy burden on you.

I purchased your salvation. You did not earn or merit the new life that you have in me. Your forgiveness and cleansing came to you as a gift that I have given to you. You have received my gift. Continue to live in it. I am your Lord and Savior. You are my follower. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Live in my love. Follow and obey my commandments. Live your life with and for me. 

Separate yourself from what is evil. Remove yourself from temptations and sins of every kind. You know where you should not go. You know what you should not do. Run away from evil and pursue me. Pursue the life that I have for you. Live for my purposes. Follow my plans. Let me use you for my kingdom. Let your life bring glory to my name. Bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom.

Rely on me. I will help you. I will change your heart. I will transform your mind. You will no longer desire your old life of sin. You will desire me and the life that I have for you. I will strengthen you. I will guard you. I will guide you. I will make you able to stand. I will strengthen you against every temptation and evil. You will live your life fully for me. Yes, Lord, I will stand firm with all the strength that you will give to me. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that I could never live a life that is pleasing to you by following a system of laws. Trying to do that would just be another type of entanglement in a yoke of slavery to sin. Help me to stand firm and live in all the freedom that you have secured for me. Amen

Key Question… How has Jesus Christ set you free from the sins in which you were once entangled?

Living It Out… Take a firm stand and be on guard against allowing yourself to be entangled again in a yoke of slavery to sin.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ has set you free so that you could live a life of freedom in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how Jesus Christ has set you free from sinful entanglements.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you stand firm in the freedom that Jesus Christ has secured for you.

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

Freedom – Galatians 5-1 – Do Not Let – 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

Delight Yourself In The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Psalm 37:4-7 - Delight Yourself In The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Psalm 37:4-7 – Delight Yourself In The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:4-7 (NIV) 

Desires

At one time my heart was filled with all the desires that come from the world. I was captivated by all that the world had to offer. My life became one long pursuit of the next latest and greatest thing. Chasing after the things of this world became a never-ending treadmill of disappointment for me. I quickly learned that my heart would never be satisfied by the things of this world. I wanted something else. I wanted something more. I wanted a different kind of life that didn’t feel so empty and hopeless and useless. I had a hunger that couldn’t be fed. I had a thirst that went unsatisfied. I had a yearning within me that set me on a search for meaning in life. So, I set off on a journey of searching.

What did you find? I found hope and purpose. I found joy and thanksgiving. My empty heart found fullness. My hunger was fed. My thirst was satisfied. I found the meaning in life that my heart had always been looking for in all the wrong places. I found you. You found me? Well, maybe it was you who found me. In all my misguided wanderings, I can now see that it was you who was pursuing me. I was seeking something. You were seeking me. Yes, I was. My empty heart was looking to be filled. You wanted to come into my life to fill my heart and mind and life with you. You wanted to rescue me from a life without you. You wanted to pull me out of the muck and mire that was my meaningless life. You wanted to set me on a new and solid path of loving, following and serving you. I had no idea what were the real and true and good desires of my heart. I had no idea that you would both give and grant me the desires of my heart. What are the desires of your heart? It is my desire to know and love you. It is my desire to follow and serve you. It is my desire to be used by you so I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. These desires bring me great delight. These desires fill my heart. I know that these desires come from you. Yes, they do. I know that you have given and will grant these desires of my heart. Yes, I will.

Lord, I delight myself in you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is my joy to know and do your will. I will follow you where you lead me. I will do what you ask of me. I know you have given and will grant me these desires of my heart. Amen

Key Question… What are some desires that God has placed in your heart?

Living It Out… Delight yourself in the Lord so he can give and grant you the desires of your heart.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you delight yourself in the Lord He will give and grant you the desires of your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has both given and granted you a desire of your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you delight yourself in the Lord so He can give and grant you the desires of your heart.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional study guide click here:

Prayer – Psalm-37-4-7 – Delight Yourself In The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Will Accomplish What I Desire

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Word - Isaiah 55:10-11 - Will Accomplish What I Desire - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Word – Isaiah 55:10-11 – Will Accomplish What I Desire – Growing As Disciples

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)

What Purpose And Plan? 

What purpose do you think I have in mind when my word goes out to you? What do you think I want my word to accomplish in your life? Those are hard questions to answer. Why is that? You might have a hundred different things you want your word accomplish in my life. Depending on the time, place and circumstance you might have any number of different purposes in mind when you speak to me through your word. On one hand you are right I am asking you difficult questions. On the other hand you are making the answer to my question too difficult. Think about your answer to my questions in a more basic and simple manner.

When you speak to me through your word you are trying to get my attention. There is something that you want to say to me. That’s right. There is something that you want me to know. There is some work that you want your word to accomplish in and through my life. That’s also right. It’s very important for me to listen attentively so that I can hear all that you want to say to me. If I were not very careful it would be easy for me to fail to hear all that you want to say to me. How will you be fully attentive and very careful to listen to all that I have to say to you? I will set aside a time and a place to meet with you in your word. Why is that necessary? The noise and pace of life makes it very hard for me to hear what you have to say to me. I need to slow down and quiet myself before you so I can be fully attentive and able to carefully listen to all that you have to say to me. That’s true. 

As you have been fully attentive and listened carefully to my word what have I accomplished in you? Your word has helped me to know and love you. Your word has helped to do your will. Your word has given me a desire to live my life wholeheartedly with and for you. Your word has guarded and guided the course of my life. Your word has made serving you the mission and goal of my life. Your word has made me to want what you want. Your word made me to want to do what you are doing. In every way I welcome your word into my life to accomplish your purposes and plans that you have for me. That is what my word has done and will keep doing in your life.

Lord, thank you for your word. It is my daily delight to meet with you in your word. Use your word to accomplish your purposes and plans in my life. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. Use your word to help me to know and do your will. Amen

Key Question… How has God used His word to accomplish His purposes and plans in your life?

Living It Out… Make sure that you are consistently meeting with God in His word so He can use it to do His work in your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will use His word to accomplish His purposes and plans in your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has used His word to accomplish His will in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to use His word to accomplish His purposes and plans in your life.

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

God’s Word – Isaiah 55-10-11 – Will Accomplish What I Desire – 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