Monthly Archives: August 2024

The One Who Is In You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God- 1 John 4:4-6 - The One Who Is In You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God- 1 John 4:4-6 – The One Who Is In You – Growing As Disciples

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:4-6 (NIV) 

Recognize And Reject

What will you believe? What will accept as true? You are living in the world. You are not of the world. My Spirit is living and dwelling in you. My Spirit has made you to be an overcomer. You will you overcome the world. You will overcome what the world attempts to teach you. You will not accept it. You will not take it in. You will not make it your own. I’m not sure what you mean. How will overcome the world? Let’s go back to my first two questions. What will I believe? What will I accept as true? Yes, that’s right. The world will attempt to teach you its values. The world will want you to think, speak and act according to its principles. How will be able to recognize and reject what is false? That is a very good question.

I have given you my word. I have filled you with my Holy Spirit. I have placed you in a body of believers. These are what will teach you. Accept my word. Take my word in. Make my word your own. What does that mean? Live your life according to my word. Let my word dwell in you richly. My Holy Spirit will help you to put my word into practice in your life. My Holy Spirit will bring my word into your remembrance and apply it to your life. My Holy Spirit will use my word to teach you and counsel you and guide you. As you study my word you will know the truth. As you study my word you will know what is false. I understand. Your Holy Spirit will use your word to teach me. I will be able to recognize false teaching and false teachers as I compare the content of what I have been taught by you with what the world and its false teachers attempt to teach me. Yes, that’s right. But there is more. On your own you might be led astray. On your own you might accept what is false. On your own you might not recognize a faIse teacher. I did not make you to live alone. I did not make you to live in isolation. I have placed you in a body of believers. In my body of believers you will teach others and also be taught by them. You will encourage and strengthen each other. You will watch out for each other. You will guard and protect each other from false teachers and their false teachings. Together you will overcome the world with my word and my Holy Spirit living and dwelling in you. Now do you understand? Yes Lord, I do. 

Lord, thank you that the Holy Spirit living inside of me has made me able to recognize and reject false teaching that is in the world. Help me to listen attentively to all you want to teach me. Help me to both know the truth and put it into practice as I follow you. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Holy Spirit living in you helped you to recognize false teaching in the world?

Living It Out… Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you to recognize and reject false teaching that is in the world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit living in you will help you to recognize and reject false teaching that is in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been able to recognize and reject false teaching.

Prayer To Bless Others… May the Holy Spirit living in you help you to recognize and reject false teaching that is in the world.

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

Knowing God – 1 John 4-4-6 – The One Who Is In You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Mary Has Chosen What Is Better

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Luke 10:41-42 - Mary Has Chosen What Is Better - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Luke 10:41-42 – Mary Has Chosen What Is Better – Growing As Disciples

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

Sit

There is a lesson in that one word. What’s that? There is a lesson in what word? Sit. You have had a very hard time sitting still. It has been even harder for you to sit still and be quiet. The hardest of all for you has been to sit still, be quiet and listen attentively. You do know me. I like to be constantly on the move. Silence makes me uncomfortable. I’d much rather talk than listen. How well have these qualities served you? What do you mean? How has being unable or unwilling to sit still, be quiet and listen attentively hindered you from knowing me? How has lacking these qualities hindered you from being taught by me? I see your point. What’s my point? You want me to learn to sit still, be quiet, and listen attentively at your feet so that I can come to know you. You want me to be able to hear from you so that I can be taught by you. Yes, I do.

This is going to be difficult. This is going to be a battle. This will require discipline. I will need your help. What are you saying? What are you asking for from me? I want to sit still before you. I want to be quiet so I can hear you. I want to listen attentively so that you can teach me. What’s the problem? You know me. Yes, I know you.  It will take every ounce of my strength to sit still, be quiet and listen attentively. You are worried that you won’t be able to do it. I know that I won’t be able to do it. Why is that? I have tried to develop these habits of sitting still, being quiet, and listening attentively to you. My own efforts have always ended in miserable failure.

Would you like my help? Yes Lord, I desperately need your help. Will you rely on me for my help? Yes Lord, I will rely on you.

Do you really want to leave your life of busyness? Do you really want my peace and calm to come into your life? Do you really want to stop being frustrated and frantic? Will you stop racing from one thing to another? Yes Lord, I want all that you have for me. Then set a time and a place to meet with me everyday. Make the time short and the place special. Start small and I will grow in you the desire to sit still, be quiet and listen attentively to me. You will begin to hear from me. You will come to know me. You will know that I am teaching you. I will strengthen you. I will make you able. My efforts in you will not end in miserable failure. Come now and sit at my feet. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I have been busy. I have been worried and upset about many things. I have been frantic and frustrated. I have raced through life from one thing to another. Bring your peace into my life as I sit at your feet. Teach me. Guide me. Change me. Use me. Amen

Key Question…  How has spending time at the feet of Jesus Christ brought peace and calm into your life?

Living It Out…  Make a time and select a place to sit at the Lord’s feet so that you can come to know Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be choosing what is best as you sit at the feet of Jesus to be taught by Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has changed your life as you have come to know Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you choose what is better by setting aside a time and a place to meet with the Lord.

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

Knowing God – Luke 10-41-42 – Mary Has Chosen What Is Better – 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

Earnestly I Seek You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Psalm 63:1 - Earnestly I Seek You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Psalm 63:1 – Earnestly I Seek You – Growing As Disciples

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (NIV)

My Soul Thirsts For You

I have seen you barren. I have watched you when you have been dry and weary. I have taken notice when you have been parched and thirsty for me. You have been like someone crawling across a desert floor where there is no water. Then you have cried out to me. Then you have known that you need me to refresh your life and satisfy your soul. Then you have drawn near to me as I have drawn near to you. In these moments what have you learned? What have I taught you? I have learned that you will always draw near to me as I draw near to you. You will never turn me away. In your presence you will always refresh my life and satisfy my soul. There is no need for me to be barren. There is no reason for my life to become dry and weary. I should never look like some parched and thirsty traveler crawling across a desert floor where there is no water. No, that is not my plan for you. That is not what I want to see in your life.

What do you think I want for you? You want me to live in your presence. You want me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. You never want to see me barren, dry and weary. You want me to be vibrant and refreshed and alive. You want me to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. You want me to bring glory to your name. You want me to know you. You want me to live in your love. You want my life to be filled with joyful, praise and thanks to you. You want me to have you in my heart and on my mind. You want me to find peace and rest in you. You want me to rely on you for your help. You want me to hold on to you as you hold on to me. Yes, I want all of these things for you. Do you want all of these things that I would like to give to you? Yes Lord, I do.

What will you do differently? I will not ignore the cry of my heart. I will not fail to live in your love. I will allow my lips to be filled with thanks and praise to you. I will hold on to you as you hold on to me. I will draw near to you as you draw near to me. I will not wander away from your presence. I will walk with you as you walk with me. I will think about you day and night. I will meditate on your word at all times. I will drink deeply of the life that you want to give to me. I will earnestly seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, you will.

Lord, I have been barren. I have been dry and weary. I have been parched and thirsty for you just as if I was crawling across the hot desert floor where there was no water. Thank you for refreshing my life and satisfying my soul as I have earnestly sought you. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord refreshed your life and satisfied your soul as you have earnestly sought Him?

Living It Out… Earnestly seek the Lord so that He can refresh your life and satisfy your soul.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will refresh your life and satisfy your soul as you earnestly seek Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been refreshing your life and satisfying your soul.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you earnestly seek the Lord so that He can refresh your life and satisfy your soul.

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

Knowing God – Psalm 63-1 – Earnestly I Seek You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Called According To His Purpose

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Romans 8:28-30 - Called According To His Purpose - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Romans 8:28-30 – Called According To His Purpose – Growing As Disciples

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8:28-30 (NLT)

Become Like Him

I have a purpose and a plan for your life. Do you know what my purpose and plan is? Yes, I do. Tell me about my purpose and plan for your life. You want to make me to be like your Son, Jesus Christ. Yes, I do. How will I make you to be like my Son? What will I use to mold and shape your life so that you become like my Son? You will use all of life to make me to be like your Son. You will use all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life to shape my life according to your purposes and plans. Yes, I will. How does that sound to you? It sounds like some of the molding and shaping of my life might be painful. I’m pretty sure that I will not like every moment of every day. No, you won’t.  I don’t want you to be confused about something. What’s that? I will not bring all kinds of pain and suffering on you just so that I can use it to mold and shape your life. Don’t ever think of me as a source or author of pain, suffering and evil in your life. That’s not who I am. That is not what I do. This world is not how I designed it. This world has been broken by the power of sin. You will experience pain and suffering and disappointment and loss in this world just like everyone else who has ever lived in it. I will be with you through all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life. I will weep when you weep. I will share your joy. You are right though. What am I right about? I will use all of life to mold and shape your life. I will be able to take the worst of circumstances and bring good even out of them. You already know that to be true, don’t you? Yes, in the greatest of pain and in the midst of my suffering you have come to show me your love. You have drawn near to me as I have drawn near to you. When my heart has been broken you have been there to comfort me. The pain and suffering that I have gone through, I would never want to go through again. But, I would not want to trade away how much I have come to know you and your love in the darkest of those hours. You have been using all of life to make me to be like your Son. Yes, and I will bring my work in you to full completion.

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me to come to you. I know you have a plan for my life. You want to make me to be like your Son. I welcome you to use all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life to shape me into the person you want me to be. Amen

Key Question… What plan did God have in mind when He called you according to His purpose?

Living It Out… Allow God to use all the ups and downs and twists and turns of life to help make you to be like His Son.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will accomplish His purpose and bring to completion His plan to make you to be like His Son.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has been making you to be like His Son Jesus Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow your Heavenly Father to use all of life to make you to be like His Son.

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

Knowing God – Romans 8-28-30 – Called According To His Purpose – 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 Is My Portion

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Lamentations 3:24-26 - The Lord Is My Portion - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Lamentations 3:24-26 – The Lord Is My Portion – Growing As Disciples

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:24-26

Using Time

Here I am Lord. I am waiting quietly here with you. I am glad to be here with you in this place. I am seeking you with all my heart. I am seeking you with all my mind. I am seeking you with all my strength. Does it take a lot of effort for you to meet with me here in this place at this time? That isn’t an easy question to answer. Why is that? At least it isn’t a question that is easy to honestly answer. What do you mean by that? I am always glad when I have set aside a time and a place to meet with you. It is so good to be in your presence. In your presence I come to know you. In your presence I grow in my love for you. In your presence I can taste of your goodness, kindness, mercy and love. In your presence you restore my soul. In your presence you refresh my life. In your presence you set me on fire to serve you. When I am in your presence I am certain that there is no place that I would rather be. When I am in your presence I am certain that there is nothing I would rather do. You don’t seem to be struggling with your answer to me. These are the honest feelings of your heart and mind and soul. Yes, my heart and mind and soul tells me that you are all that I would ever want or need both now and forever. That is very good.

There is something else you want to tell me. There is something else that you have learned. There is a second answer to my question. Why does it take a lot of effort for you to come to meet with me at this time and in this place? I get distracted. The world and all that is in it screams for my attention. I get busy. The demands of life lay claim to all my time. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get done what needs to be done. Time runs out. When time runs out are you happy with how you have spent your time? I am only happy with how I have spent my time when I have centered it and started it with you. You are the one who I want to direct my life. You are the one who I want to guide how I use my time. My second answer to your question is that it takes all my effort to listen to what my soul is telling me. What’s that? You are my portion. You are my future. You are my hope. I will seek you. I will wait for you. I will meet with you so that you direct my life and guide how I use my time. That will be very good.

Lord, you are mine. I am yours. All I have that is worth anything is in you. You are my future. You are my hope. You are my salvation. I will wait in your presence. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul. Help me to know you and all your goodness. Amen

Key Question… When have you waited before the Lord when the road ahead seemed unclear?

Living It Out… Wait before the Lord so that you can come to know and love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will know the Lord and all He has for you as you seek Him with all your heart, mind, and soul.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are placing all your hope in the Lord now and forever.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you wait before the Lord so that you can come to know and love Him with all your heart.

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

Knowing God – Lamentations 3-24-26 – The Lord Is My Portion – 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 Answered Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Psalm 34:4-7 - He Answered Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Psalm 34:4-7 – He Answered Me – Growing As Disciples

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Psalm 34:4-7 (NLT) 

Look To Me

What are you relying on in life? What will relieve you of all your fears? Who will get you out of trouble? Where will you go for help when you need it? Who will be your counselor? Who will be your guide? Who will guard and surround and protect you when you are under attack? Those are good questions. You will want to know your answers to these questions before you need them. Often I have relied on myself. How has that worked out for you? When I have relied on myself I have been filled with fear. Why is that? I have encountered problems that were far larger than I could ever possibly handle. In those times I could see no way out of my troubles. As long as you were relying on yourself you had no choice but to be filled with desperation and fear. That’s right. What then? My fears and troubles caused me to cry out to you. I prayed prayers of desperation. I asked you for your help. Did I shame you? Did I blame you? Did I turn you away? No, you drew near to me as I drew near to you. It was as if you were watching and waiting for me to come to you. Do you know why it seemed that way to you? I’m not sure. It’s because I was watching and waiting for you to come to me. I was waiting to hear your prayer. I was waiting to come to you to help you in your trouble. I am so thankful that you answered prayer. You heard my cry. You came to me in my need. Yes, I did. I didn’t just need help. What did you need? I needed you to come into my life. I needed you to be my Savior and my Lord. I needed to turn myself over to you. That’s what I did. So now, I am relying on you. You are the one who is relieving me of all my fears. Yes, I am.

Is there more that you want to say to me? There is much more that I want to say to you. Now, I don’t just rely on you when I am in trouble. Now, I don’t just look for your help me when I have a need. Now, it is my delight to dwell in your presence. Now, I want to spend time with you. In your presence you fill me with joy. In your presence you make me radiant. There is much more. Like what? You have given me a new life to live. What does your new life look like? It is now my joy to do what pleases you. I follow and obey you because you love me and I love you. I am living in your love. I am doing your will. I am walking in your ways. You are counseling me. You are surrounding me. You are guarding me. You are protecting me as I follow you. Yes, I am.

Lord, thank you for answering my prayers. You have delivered me from all my fears. You fill me with joy and make me radiant when I draw near to you. When I have been desperate you have saved me from all my troubles. You have been my guard of protection. Amen

Key Question… What fears and troubles would you like to bring to the Lord right now?

Living It Out… Seek the Lord with all your heart so that He can deliver you from your fears and fill you with His joy.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will deliver you from your fears and fill you with His joy as you seek Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been your protection as you have sought Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you seek the Lord with all your heart so that He can fill you with joy and deliver you from all your fears.

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

Knowing God – Psalm 34-4-7 – He Answered 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

Search Me, O God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Psalm 139:23-24 - Search Me, O God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Psalm 139:23-24 – Search Me, O God – Growing As Disciples

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) 

Examination

I have no problem asking you to know my heart, test my mind and examine my life. I welcome you to know my heart, test my mind and examine my life. Do you have nothing to worry about? Do you have nothing to hide? Do you have every reason to be confident? No, I have only one reason to be confident. What’s that? My confidence is in you. You loved me enough to send your Son into the world to die for my sins so that I could be forgiven and cleansed of all my unrighteousness.  He has made me to be acceptable in your sight. He has made it so that I can live in a close and intimate relationship with you. You are my Heavenly Father. Yes, I am. I am your child. Yes, you are. Your confidence is in the right place. You can be completely confident in my love for you.

I am confident in your love for me. So, I want you to know my heart, test my mind and examine my life. Why is that? I know that I will come up short. I know that I will be lacking. I know that I will have missed the mark. I know that I will need your help. Yes, you will. I know that you will want to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Yes, I do. I welcome your working in my life. I want what you want. I want to know you and do your will. I want to live in ways that please you. I want to follow you to where you lead me. I want to do all that you ask of me. I want you to accomplish your purposes and plans in my life. I want to follow you on the path of life that you have laid out for me. That is very good.

I will lead you. I will change your heart. I will transform your mind. I will guide your life. You can be completely confident in me. Keep welcoming my work in and through your life. Keep following me on the path of life that I have laid out for you. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, know my heart, test my mind and examine my life. See if there are any wicked ways in me. Change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life so that I can live in ways that please you as I follow you on the path of life.  Amen

Key Question… How have you come to know God better as you have welcomed Him to know, test and examine your life?

Living It Out… Ask God to know your heart, test your mind and examine your life as you follow Him on the path of life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will know your heart, test your mind and examine your life as you follow Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are following God as He leads you on the path of life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you welcome God to know your heart, test your mind and examine your life as you follow Him.

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

Knowing God – Psalm 139-23-24 – Search Me, O 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

Teach Me Your Decrees

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Psalm 119:9-16 - Teach Me Your Decrees - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Psalm 119:9-16 – Teach Me Your Decrees – Growing As Disciples

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)

My Word

What do you think of my word? It is my joy to hear your word. I rejoice in hearing you speak to me. I don’t want to miss out on anything that you have to say to me. Your word is more valuable to me than any treasure that this world has to offer. Your word guards and guides my life. How is my word guarding and guiding your life? Your word is changing my heart and transforming my mind. As I meditate on your word I am able to understand what you want to teach me. As I consider your word I am able to see how you want to train me. Your word helps me to know your will. Your word helps me to think your thoughts. Your word keeps me walking in your ways. I am listening to you and following your words. Yes, you are.

How does my word keep your way pure? There is a battle going on over my mind. The word and its’ evil desires has plenty that it wants to say to me. Without your word I would be defenseless against the evil that is in the world. I would think and act according to all that it has to say to me. Your word puts your thoughts and ways in my heart and mind. Your word stands against the words that are of this world. I want your word in my life. I hunger for your word. I delight in your word. Your word pushes the thoughts and words of this world out of my heart and mind. I can’t think two sets of words at one time. Either your word or the world’s words will rule my heart and my mind. Your word cleanses and scrubs the words from the world out of my heart and my mind. Hearing your word gives me a burning desire to live my life for you. I don’t want to stray. I don’t want to wander. I want to follow everything you are saying to me with your word. Yes, you do.

Will you continue in my word? Will you let my word dwell in you? I will meditate on your word. I will treasure your word. I will live my life according to your word. I will rejoice in your word. I will put your word into practice as I follow you. Yes, you will.

Lord, I will hide your word in my heart. Guard and guide my life with your word. I will meditate on your word so I can understand all you want to teach me. Thank you for the great riches I am receiving as I meet with you in your word. Amen

Key Question…How will hiding God’s word in your heart help guide and guard your life?

Living It Out… Boldly and persistently bring your prayers to the Lord to ask Him for what you need.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will guard and guide your life as you hide His word in your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when God’s word has guided and guarded your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life be guarded and guided by God’s word as you hide it in your heart.

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

Knowing God – Psalm 119-9-16 – Teach Me Your Decrees – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Because Of The Man’s Boldness

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Luke 11:8 - Because Of The Man's Boldness - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Luke 11:8 – Because Of The Man’s Boldness – Growing As Disciples

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:8 (NIV)

Persistence 

What prayers are worthy of your persistence? What will you ask for without giving up? What will you keep on asking for until you have what you ask for from me? Is there anything that you won’t stop boldly bringing to me in prayer? I am glad that you have asked me these questions. It is good for me to carefully consider what you are asking of me. There are several things that I will never stop boldly bringing to you as a prayer request. First, I want to know you. I want to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I want you to know me. I want to be able to hear your voice. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to live my life fully for you. I don’t want to fall short or miss the mark in loving, following and serving you. I want to do everything that you have planned and prepared for me to do in this life. I want to be found to be faithful in your sight. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be a bright and shinning witness for you in the world. One day I want to hear you say, “well done, good and faithful servant.” Why are you asking all of this of me? I am weak. You are strong. Only you can make me faithful. Only you can make me able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. On my own, with my own strength, I will accomplish nothing. Only you can make me able to bear fruit for all eternity. Only you can make me able to bring glory to your name. So, I am telling you that I want what you want. I want my life to be at your service. I want to be completely at your disposal. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do all that you ask of me. I want you to work in me, through me and for me so that I can be the person you have called me to be as I do all that you ask me to do for you.  What is second? What do you mean? A little while ago you said you first wanted to ask me these things. It sounded like you had a second request. No, I don’t have a second request. I will just restate that I want to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want my life to be lived out as an act of joy filled praise, thanksgiving and worship to you. I know that I will serve you and others completely if this persistent prayer of mine is heard and answered. Do you have any doubts about my answering this persistent prayer of your heart? I have no doubts. I know that you will hear and answer this prayer that you placed in me as the desire of my heart. That is very good. Keep on persistently bringing your prayers to me. Yes, Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you that I have the privilege to bring the needs of others to you in prayer. Help me to be bold and persistent in prayer and to not give up when the answer does not come immediately. Instead, I will keep on praying and trusting in you for an answer. Amen 

Key Question… When have you boldly and persistently prayed on behalf of your friends that are in need?

Living It Out… Boldly and persistently bring your prayers to the Lord to ask Him for what you need.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers as you persistently ask Him for what you need.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are being persistent in your prayers.

Prayer To Bless Others… My you boldly and persistently prayer to the Lord asking Him for all that you need.

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

Prayer – Luke 11-8 – Because Of The Man’s Boldness – 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

Looks Intently

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Freedom - James 1:25 - Looks Intently - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Freedom – James 1:25 – Looks Intently – Growing As Disciples

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 (NIV)

Look Into, Remember, Do

Do you want to live and walk in the freedom that I have secured for you? Do you want to be set free from bondages to sin? Do you want to be able to overcome evil in the world? Do you want to stand up against temptations that will certainly come your way? Yes, I want to be set free. Yes, I want to walk in all the freedom that you have secured for me. I certainly want to be able to stand up against temptations that will come my way. I don’t want to be in bondage to any kind of sin. How can I live the life of freedom that you are describing to me? That is a very good question.

There are three things that you must keep on doing if you want to live in the freedom I have secured for you. First, you must make it your daily practice to look intently into my word. What do you think looking intently into my word will require of you? Looking intently into your word will require my wholehearted effort and focused attention. I must listen very carefully to all that you are saying to me. I must not let your word go in one ear and out the other. How will you make sure that does not happen? I will meditate on your word. I will memorize your word. I will pray your word. I will let your word dwell richly in my heart and mind and life. That will be very good. What’s next? You must remember my word. You must carry my word with you throughout your life. My word must remain in your heart and on your mind. You must always allow my word to speak into your life. How will make sure that you will keep on remembering my word? I will continue to meet with you every day in your word. I know that you will continue to remind me what you want me to remember as I keep on meeting with you. That’s right. I will bring to your attention what you need to remember from my word as you keep on meeting with me. What else? You must never let yourself become only a hearer of my word. You must be a hearer and a doer of my word. You will be set free as you look into, remember and put my word into your daily practice. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I will look intently into your word. I will consider carefully all you want to teach me. I will put into practice all you have shown to me. Thank you, that your word has set me free. Thank you, that your word is richly blessing my life as I follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your daily practice to look intently into God’s word?

Living It Out… Look intently into God’s word and put it into practice so that you will be set free and have a blessed life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you look intently into God’s word and put it into practice, your life will be set free and blessed.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have been set free by putting God’s word into practice.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you look intently into God’s word and do what it says so that your life will be blessed.

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

Freedom – James 1-25 – Looks Intently – 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