Monthly Archives: June 2024

Watch And Pray

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Mark 14:37-38 - Watch And Pray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Mark 14:37-38 – Watch And Pray – Growing As Disciples

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:37-38 (NIV)

Wake Up

Be on your guard. Don’t allow yourself to be caught sleep walking through your life with me. It’s time to wake up. It’s time to watch and pray so that you won’t fall into temptation. Don’t think that you are so strong and able to withstand any temptation. The moment you think you are standing strong will be your weakest moment; when you are most likely to fall into temptation. Don’t think that my telling you to watch and pray is a helpful suggestion. It is a command from me to you. It is critically important that you hear and obey what I am telling you. The devil is like a roaring lion. He will be seeking those who he can devour. Who will he devour? He will devour the weak. He will ensnare those who are asleep and not being watchful and prayerful. That’s right. I don’t want that to be you.

How will you stay awake? How will you be attentive to me? How will you listen to all that I have to tell you? How will you keep watch so you can see all that I want to show you? I will need your help that’s for sure. I will never be able to withstand the devil and all his evil with my own strength. I will rely on you. I will draw near to you. I know that you will draw near to me. Yes, I will. I know that you are making intercession for me. You are praying for me every day as I follow and serve you. Yes, I am. In addition to drawing near to you I will resist the devil and all his evil. How will you resist the devil and all his evil? I will run away from evil. I will not linger around it. I will not wonder about it. I will not let evil capture my attention. I will not engage in it.  I will not let evil grab a hold of my heart and mind.  I will distance myself from people, places and circumstances that are filled with evil and temptation. As I am running away from evil I will be running to you. You will protect me. You will shelter me. You are my fortress. You are my deliverer. Yes, I am. You will make me able to stay awake. You will help me to be watchful and prayerful. Yes, I will.

Lord, give me strength to stand against temptation as I watch and pray throughout all the moments of every day. I will rely on you for all my strength. Show me what I need to see. Help me to hear what you are saying to me. Guide all my prayers. Amen

Key Question… How has being vigilant and avoiding known sources of temptation helped you to stand against them?

Living It Out… Watch and pray throughout your day so that you will be able to stand against temptation.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to be watchful and prayerful as you stand against temptation.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are being watchful and prayerful to stand against temptation.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be ever watchful and prayerful so that you do not fall into temptation.

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

Prayer – Mark-14-37-38 – Watch And 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

The Battle Is The Lord’s

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - 1 Samuel 17-45-47 - The Battle Is The Lord's - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – 1 Samuel 17-45-47 – The Battle Is The Lord’s – Growing As Disciples

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NIV)

Rely On Me

You will face many battles in life. You can be sure of that. Each battle will present you with a choice. What choice is that? You will be asked if you are going to rely on me or are you going to rely on yourself. You may think that you can make this choice once for all time. It would even be good to make your choice now in advance. But you must reaffirm again and again whatever choice you make now. Well, I have made my choice. I am not going to rely on myself. I am going to rely on you. You have made a good choice.

It is easy to say that you will rely on me to fight with you and for you in the battles of life. It will be much harder for you to learn to fully rely on me. Why is that? You tell me. I have an independent and self-sufficient nature within me. It is good that you are aware of that. How have your battles in life gone when you have relied completely on yourself? I have lost many battles simply because I have relied on myself rather than relying on you. That’s right.

When you rely on yourself I don’t mind watching you loose battles. Do you know why that is? It is more important to you that I come to know and rely on you rather than whether I win or lose a battle. Yes, it is. Don’t be confused though, I don’t want you to loose battles. I have no pleasure when you have to learn a painful lesson by loosing a battle.

When you have relied on me in the battles of life what has happened to you? As I have relied in the battles of life I have come to know you better. Yes, you have.  My faith in you has grown, as I have known that you are fighting with me and for me. Yes, it has. You have received honor and glory in the victories that you have won for me. Others have been drawn to you as they have seen you lead me in victory. It has been my joy to know that I am really living my life with and for you as I am relying on you in the battles of life. Will you continue to rely on me to fight with you and for you in the battles of life? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I know I will face many battles in life. I also know I will have a choice to make. Will I rely on you or on myself to fight the battles in life? I will tell you now. I will rely on you to fight with me and for me in every battle that I will face in life.  Amen

Key Question… How have you come to know God better in the battles that He has helped you to fight?

Living It Out… Rely on the Lord to fight with you and for you in the battles that you will face in life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will fight with you and for you in the battles that you will face in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has given you victories in battles you have faced in life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord to fight with you and for you in the battles of life.

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

Knowing God – 1 Samuel 17-45-47 – The Battle Is The Lord’s – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Your Ears Will Hear A Voice

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Isaiah 30:21 - Your Ears Will Hear A Voice - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Isaiah 30:21 – Your Ears Will Hear A Voice – Growing As Disciples

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)  

The Way

Are you expecting that I will speak to you? Are you listening attentively to my voice? Are you waiting for my instructions? Are you trusting in my guidance? Do you believe that I will lead you on your journey through life? I know that you will speak to me. I know that you will guide me on my journey through life. I am counting on your guidance and waiting for your instruction. You have said that you will draw near to me as I draw near to you. That’s right. You want me to come to you in prayer. You want me to be taught by you. You want me to receive your guidance. These things are also true.

Why do you expect to hear from me? Why are you so certain that I will speak to you? Prayer to you is a dialogue, not a monologue. That’s right. Prayer is just as much listening as it is talking to you. Yes, it is. You want me to talk to you. Yes, I do. You also want me to listen to you. Yes, I do. I can’t receive your instruction or follow your guidance if you do not speak to me. That’s pretty obvious isn’t it? Yes, it is.

Why are you so willing to come to meet with me? Why are you so determined to hear from me? Nothing brings me greater joy than to be in your presence. Nothing is more encouraging than to hear you speaking to me. Nothing is more certain than your desire for me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. So, I come and sit at your feet. I come to wait in your presence. I come to listen attentively to your voice. I am reminded of times when I have searched for something with the certainty that I am looking in the right place. The intensity of my search is strongest when I am certain that I will find what I am looking for if I don’t give up. I know with certainty that you will speak to me if I keep on listening and don’t give up. Yes, I will.

What do you want to hear from me right now? I want to hear whatever you have to say to me. You can tell me where to go. You can tell me what to do. You can tell me what you want to do in and through my life. You can tell me how you want to use me for your purposes. You can teach me. You can guide me. You can correct me. You can encourage and strengthen me. You know what I need to hear. You know that I am listening attentively to you. Yes, I do.

Lord, I will patiently wait, watch, and listen for your guidance and direction. Teach me Lord to walk and live according to your will and ways. It is my desire to live my life fully for you. Use me according to your purposes and plans. Amen

Key Question… How hard is it for you to stop and wait to listen for guidance and instruction from the Lord?

Living It Out… Stop and wait to listen for the Lord to give you guidance and direction for your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will guide your life as you stop and wait for His guidance and direction.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have received guidance from the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen attentively to the voice of God speaking to you.

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

Guidance – Isaiah 30-21 – Your Ears Will Hear A Voice – 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

Be Imitators Of God

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Love - Ephesians 5:1-2 - Be Imitators Of God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Love – Ephesians 5:1-2 – Be Imitators Of God – Growing As Disciples

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

A Fragrant Offering

Do you want to be like me? Yes, of course I want to be like you. What child does not want to be like his father? You are my Heavenly Father there is no reason that I would not want to be like you. Is that an option? Is there really some way in which I can be like you? Yes, you can be like me in many ways. How, is that possible? Do what a child does. What’s that? Imitate me. That doesn’t sound like something that is easy to do. Did you want something that was easy to do? No, I really would like to imitate you and become like you. How can I get started?

If you want to imitate me then you must come to know me. How do I do that? Meet with me in prayer. Meet with me in my word. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Carry on a conversation with me throughout your day. How do you get to know anyone? I get to know another person by spending time with them. It’s no different with me. How well do you want to know me? I want to know you intimately. Then spend a lot of time with me. You will never know me well if we don’t spend time together. Maybe you should make spending time with me a priority in your life. How would I do that? Set a time and a place where we can meet together everyday. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Have you ever heard that before? Yes, many times. Do you know it to be true? Yes, without a doubt.

How will I know that I am beginning to become like you? You will start doing what I have done. What have you done? I’m going to let you answer that. I’ll try. I’m sure that you will do just fine. You have been a giver. How so? You gave your one and only Son to die on the cross so that I could be forgiven and cleansed of my sins. Yes, I did. That was a real and powerful demonstration of your love. Yes, it was. So, when I start to love others and give of myself to them will I be becoming like you? Yes, you will.

Let’s talk about my Son. What about Him? Imitate Him. Do what He did and you will become like me. What did He do? That’s another question that I will let you answer. He gave himself to you. He gave himself to others. Yes, He did. He went where you sent Him to do what you asked of Him. Yes, He did. His sacrificial giving of himself was like a fragrant offering to you. Yes, it was. Can I be a fragrant offering to you? What do you think? Yes, I can. When I obey you and do what you ask will I become like you? Yes, you will. When I love others with your love will I become like you? Yes, you will. Will you help me to become a fragrant offering to you? Yes, I will, you can count on it. This is all that I have ever wanted.

Heavenly Father, just as a child wants to be like his father so I also want to be like you. Help me to imitate you by living a life filled with your love. Use my life as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to you as I love others with your love. Amen

Key Question… When has God asked you to do something for Him that involved some kind of sacrifice?

Living It Out… Ask God to show you how you can sacrificially love others with His love.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will make you like Him as you imitate Him by loving others with His love.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are imitating God by loving others with His love.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you, as God’s child, imitate your Heavenly Father by sacrificially loving others with His love.

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

Love – Ephesians 5-1-2 – Be Imitators Of 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