Monthly Archives: October 2024

Give Yourself Fully

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 132- 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Give Yourself Fully - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 132- 1 Corinthians 15:58 – Give Yourself Fully – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Firmly And Fully 

There is one reason I can stand firmly with you. There is one reason I can give myself fully to you. Both are possible for the very same reason. Why can you stand firmly with me? Why will you give yourself fully to me? You lived and died and rose again for me. You forgave my sin. You cleansed my unrighteousness. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You broke the power of sin over my life. You filled me with your Holy Spirit. You made it possible for me to come to live forever in heaven with you. You have secured a place for me in heaven. I have a certain and eternal future that puts all of this life into perspective. What perspective do you now have on life? This life is temporary. This life is fleeting. This life is like the snap of the fingers or the blink of an eye. It would be foolish to labor for all that this world has to offer. Why is that? I brought nothing into this world, and I will take nothing out of this world. So, what will you pursue? How will you spend your life? What is worthy of your pursuit? I will spend my life pursing you. I will follow your example. I will think what you thought. I will say what you said. I will do what you did. I will pursue knowing and loving and following and serving you. I will live the life that you have called me to life. What life have I called you to live? You have called me to love like you loved. You have called me to give like you gave. You have called me to serve like you served. How did I love and give and serve? You gave yourself fully. You gave yourself sacrificially. You gave yourself relentlessly. You made no retreats, held nothing in reserve and had no regrets. You did all that your Heavenly Father gave you to go and do for Him. Yes, I did. That is what I will do. That is the desire of my heart. That is the mission and vision and goal of my life. I will stand firmly with you and I will give myself fully to you. I am at your service. Use my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Help me to bear fruit that will last for all eternity. Yes, I will. You count on me. That I will do. That is very good.  

Lord, all my hope is in you. I know that one day I will come to live forever in heaven with you. In the meantime, I will give myself fully to your word because I know that my labor will never be in vain. I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… Why would it be a waste of your time and effort to labor for the things of this world?

Living It Out… Be steadfast and immovable always giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will provide all you need to help you to give yourself fully to His work.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group the hope you have in Christ that makes you steadfast and immovable.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you give yourself fully to the work of the Lord because you know your labor will never be in vain.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 132 – 1 Corinthians 15-58 – Give Yourself Fully – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Know Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 131 - 1 John 2:3-6 - Know Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 131 – 1 John 2:3-6 – Know Him – Growing As Disciples

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)

Know You

Will you obey me? Will you receive my instruction? Will you follow my guidance? Will you go where I guide you? Will you do what I ask of you? Without question, I will obey you. Without hesitation I will go where you guide me and do what you ask of me. Without a doubt, I will receive your instruction and follow your guidance. Why are you so ready and willing to follow and obey me? You love me. I love you. You gave yourself fully for me. I will give myself fully to you. It is no burdensome task for me to follow and obey your commands. I want to go and do what is pleasing to you. I am actually looking for ways that I can do what is pleasing to you. It is my joy to love, follow and serve you. That is very good.

What do you hope will happen as you follow and serve me? It is my hoped and desire that I will come to know you. As I come to know you, I am sure that I will love more and more as I follow and serve you. When I say that I want to know you, I don’t mean that I want to know about you. I mean that I want to know you intimately. I want to hear your voice. I want to live and walk closely with you. As I remain in your presence, I want to be changed by you. How do you want me to change you? I want you to cause me to passionately love, follow and serve you. I want to be so on fire for you that I will shine and burn as a bright and bold witness for you in the world. I want your light to shine through me into the darkness of this world. I want people to be drawn to you because they see your life being lived out, in and through me. I want to live as you lived. I want to walk as you walked. I want my life to be patterned after your life. I want your thoughts and words and deeds to become my thoughts and words and deeds. I want your thoughts to be in my mind. I want your words coming out of my mouth. I want your deeds to be done through my life. In every way, I want my live to bring glory to your name. That is my prayer. This is what I am asking of you. I will hear and answer your prayers. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, it is the desire of my heart to come to know and love and follow and serve you. Use your word to give me the desire and strength and power to go and do what you are commanding me. Every day I want to live and walk just as you lived and walked. Amen

Key Question… How has knowing and loving God made it not burdensome to do what is commanded of you?

Living It Out… Obey Christ’s commands and walk as He walked so that you will come to know and love and follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will give you the desire and power to do what is commanded of you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are coming to know Christ and walk as He walked.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you obey Christ’s commands and walk as He walked so you will come to know Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 131 – 1 John 2-3-6 – Know Him – 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

Ask Or Imagine

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 159 - Ephesians 3:20-21 - Ask Or Imagine - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 159 – Ephesians 3:20-21 – Ask Or Imagine – Growing As Disciples

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

More Than

I know that you can do more than I can think, ask or imagine. I know that you want me to be able to do what I could never do under my own power. I know that you want your power to be working in and through me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I know that you want me to be able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. How do you know all these things? You have shown me these principles from your word. You have revealed these principles to me through my experience. Tell me more about that. You have often given me assignments that are far beyond my ability to accomplish. Why would I do that? You want me to come to rely on you. You want me to come to ask you for your help. You want me to know that you will make me able to do whatever you ask of me. Anything else? Yes, you want me to know that apart from you I can accomplish nothing of lasting and eternal value. My efforts alone will bear no fruit for your kingdom or bring glory to your name. My efforts alone will add up to nothing. Can you say more about that? Yes, if I could accomplish your assignments under my own power, which I can’t, all the thanks and praise and honor and glory might not be given to you. That would be a sinful mistake. Why is that? All that I am, all that I have, all that I hope to be comes from you. There is nothing that I will accomplish that you will not deserve all the praise and honor and glory. There is more. I’m listening. If I could accomplish your assignments without your help, I am sure that I would become self-reliant and self-sufficient. I would also become proud. That would not be good. No, it would not. So, it is a very good thing that I need to ask for and rely on your help to accomplish your assignments. Yes, it is. Needing your help also causes me to live in an intimate relationship with you.  Needing your help causes me to pray as I walk through life with you. Yes, it does. That is very good. Yes, it is.

Lord, at many times and far too frequently I have been operating under my own power. I have not asked for or relied on your help. No more! I will ask for and rely on your power to help me to accomplish your purposes, fulfill your plans and bring glory to you. Amen

Key Question… When has the largeness of an assignment caused you to rely on God’s power to work in and through you?

Living It Out… Ask for and rely on the power of God to work in and through you to bear fruit for His kingdom and bring glory to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s power will work in and through you to help you to accomplish His purposes.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s power has enabled you to accomplish His purposes.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask for and rely on God’s power to work in and through you.

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

Day 159 – Becoming Like Christ – Ephesians 3-20-21 – Ask Or Imagine – 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

A Gentle Whisper

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 158 - 1 Kings 19:11-12- A Gentle Whisper - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 158 – 1 Kings 19:11-12- A Gentle Whisper – Growing As Disciples

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NIV)

Quiet 

I know one thing that is for certain. What’s that? I will only hear your whispers if I want to hear your whispers. Why do you say that? Life is busy and noisy. If I want to hear your voice speaking to me, I will need to quiet myself before you. That may seem like an easy task to some. But it is not. It takes a vigorous and committed effort to regularly and consistently quiet myself before you. Why is that the case? The demands of life scream for my attention. All that seems urgent but is ultimately not all that important attempts to monopolize all my time. There is never enough time to complete all the items on the “to do” lists of life. Trust me, I know. I have raced through life accomplishing the urgent and the unimportant. I do trust you, on this. Your life is not hidden from me. I have seen the frantic activity of your life. I know.

Do you want to hear from me? There is nothing I want more than to hear from you. Why is that? I want to come to know you. I want to come to love you. I want to come to follow and serve you. I want to come to live my life with and for you. I want to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I don’t want to hear an occasional whisper from you. I want to live in an ongoing dialogue with you throughout the day by day, moments of my life. How will that be possible? Only by you making it possible, of that I am sure. Yes, but what will need to happen in you for you to be able to hear from me? I will tell you what I think. Go ahead, I’m listening. Day by day and moment by moment you will make me better able to hear your voice as I continue to quiet myself before you. How do you know that to be true? That is what you have been doing in me already. You are making me better able to hear from you. Yes, I am. Keep on quieting yourself before me. Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of life so I can hear from you. I will quiet myself before you so I can hear your gentle whispers. Speak to me. I am listening. I will hear and respond and act on everything you have to say to me. Amen

Key Question… When have you received guidance from God in the form of a gentle whisper?

Living It Out… Set aside a time and place to quiet yourself before God so you can hear from Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will speak to you in gentle whispers when you meet with Him in prayer.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group something God has spoken to you through a gentle whisper.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you quiet yourself before God so that you can hear from Him.

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

Day 158 – Becoming Like Christ – 1 Kings 19-11-12 – A Gentle Whisper – 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

Building A House

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 145 - Luke 6:46-49- Building A House - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 145 – Luke 6:46-49- Building A House – Growing As Disciples

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)  

Foundation

Your word will be the foundation of my life. How will my word be the foundation of your life? Let me start by saying what will not be the foundation of my life. The thoughts and opinions of the world will not be the foundation of my life. The current values and beliefs that are prevalent in society will not be the foundation of my life. What is commonly practiced and acted on in this current age will not be the foundation of my life. Not even my thoughts, opinions and values will be the foundation of my life. Say more about that last one. I will not set myself up as the final authority of what will or will not be the foundation of my life. Why is that? I am not God. It is not uncommon for me to be incorrect in my thinking. It has not been rare for me to discover that I have believed something that was untrue or unhelpful or unwise. It is good for you to acknowledge this. I know.

Your word alone will be the foundation of my life. That’s good. I will allow your word to form my thoughts and guard my words and guide my actions. That’s good. If I discover that one of my thoughts or opinions or values is not in harmony with your word, I will know that it is I that needs to change and not your word. Your word will give me wisdom to know what to think, how to speak and how to act. Your word will guard and guide my life. Your word will help me to resist temptation and stand against evil. Your word will mold and shape me. Your word will build me into the person you want me to become. Your word will sustain and strengthen me in and through all the storms of life that are certain to come. Yes, my word will do all these things for you.

How will you make my word the foundation of your life? I will take your word deep into my heart and mind and life. How so? I will read your word. I will study your word. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will pray your word. I will teach your word. I will consume your word until your word consumes me. What does that mean? I will take a hold of your word until it takes a hold of me. I will allow your word to change my heart and transform my mind. I will never stop meeting with you in your word. When will you meet with me in my word? Every day, I will meet with you in your word. There is not a day that goes by that I do not need to hear from you. Keep on being hungry for my word. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will hear and put your word into practice. I will allow your word to be the foundation of my life. I will not build my life on the thoughts, and opinions and values of the world. Guard and guide my life with your word. Help me to withstand storms in life. Amen

Key Question… How are you allowing God’s word to be the foundation on which your life is built?

Living It Out…  Hear and put God’s word into practice so that it will be the foundation of your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will be your foundation that will withstand all the storms of life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word has helped you to withstand storms in life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life be built on the foundation of God’s word.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 145 – Luke 6-46-49- Building A House – 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

What Love Is

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 156 - 1 John 3:16-18 - What Love Is - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 156 – 1 John 3:16-18 – What Love Is – Growing As Disciples

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

Love Others

I have not always loved others with my actions. I have not always had my eyes and ears open to see and hear the opportunities that are before me to love others with my actions.  I’m sure that I have walked right on by opportunities to love others with my actions. Forgive me. You are forgiven. What is it that you want? I want to follow your example. I want to love like you loved. I want to do what you did. What did I do? You humbled yourself. You took on the form of a servant. You loved others with your thoughts, words and actions. You laid down your life for others. Yes, that is what I did for others. That is what I did for you. For that, I am thankful beyond what my words could possibly express. That is good.

How will you love others with your actions? I’m not sure. How will you lead me to love others with my actions? You have answered my question with your question. How so? You tell me. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will keep my heart and mind and life attentive to you. I will open my eyes and ears to see and hear the opportunities to love others that you have placed before me.  I will not walk right on by the opportunities you give me to love others with my actions. That will be very good. 

How will you benefit by loving others with your actions? I have not thought of that. Think about that question now. I will have great joy in following your example. I will rejoice that I have been used by you to help draw others to you. I will have great peace in knowing that you have used me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I will have satisfaction in knowing that I have been able to shine brightly as your witness in the darkness of the world around me. I will be grateful that you have made me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. In addition to all this, I will be thankful that you have allowed me to store up treasure in heaven with you as I love, follow and serve you. That is very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will not love others only with my words. I will follow your example. I will lay down my life for others. I will do for others what you have done for me. I will love others with my actions. Give me opportunities to demonstrate your love to others in the world. Amen

Key Question… How has loving others with your actions allowed you share the love of God with others?

Living It Out… Follow the Lord’s example by loving others with your actions.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to love others with your actions.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has led you to help others with your actions.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow the Lord’s example by loving others with your actions.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 156 – 1 John 3-16-18 – What Love Is – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

You Will Receive Power

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 155 - Acts 1:8 - You Will Receive Power - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 155 – Acts 1:8 – You Will Receive Power – Growing As Disciples

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Power

I want to be your witness in the world. I want to be used by you to draw others to yourself. I know that my efforts to be your witness in the world have often been powerless and feeble attempts. I know that apart from you I can do nothing of lasting and eternal value. Operating under my own power and strength will accomplish nothing. I know where the problem has been in the past. I have neither waited for or relied on your power to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I am very tired of living a fruitless life. I have had enough of rushing off to take on your assignments by myself. I don’t want any more of that. That’s good.

So, what will you do differently now that you have realized that your efforts alone will never be enough to go and do my will? I will wait for and rely on your power. I will meet with you in prayer. I will ask for your help. I will receive your instruction and follow your guidance. That does not mean that I will sit around forever. I know that there is a time to wait and a time to move out. I will wait for your green light. When you say wait, I will wait.  When you say go, I will go. It seems to me that there is a time of waiting and a time to take that faith filled first step. I will follow your timing rather than my own. I will take my first and every step with you. I want you to lead me. I want you to guide. I want you to direct my efforts. That will be very good.

Your power does seem to come with that faith filled first step. You’ve noticed? Yes, I have noticed that your power does not come to those who rush off without you. Yes, I have noticed that your power does not come to those who do not move out with you. So, I will neither run ahead of you or lag behind you. I will allow you to lead me to where you want me to go. I will allow you to give me what you want me to do. That will be very good.

Then what will you expect? What will you hope for? What will you have faith to believe? I believe that you will work in and through my life. Your Holy Spirit will empower me to do your work. Your Holy Spirit will make me able to do what I could never do by myself. Your Holy Spirit will empower me to be your witness in the world around me. Yes, He will. I will powerfully use you as my witness in the world. You will accomplish the work that I will give you to do for me. Your hopes and dreams and prayers that I have given to you will be answered. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I know that without the power of your Holy Spirit working in and through me, I will be unable to be your witness in the world. Empower me. Make me able to go and do your work. Use me near and far to be your witness so many will come to know you. Amen

Key Question… How has the power of the Holy Spirit made you able to do what you could not have done by yourself?

Living It Out… Wait for and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower you to be Christ’s witness in the world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will empower you to be Christ’s witness in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has empowered you to be Christ’s witness.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you wait for and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower you to be Christ’s witness in the world.

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

Day 155 – Becoming Like Christ – Acts 1-8 – You Will Receive Power – 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

Never Be Shaken

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 150 - Psalm 15:1-5 - Never Be Shaken - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 150 – Psalm 15:1-5 – Never Be Shaken – Growing As Disciples

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. Psalm 15:1-5 (NIV)

Not Shaken

Here is the bottom line for me. I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. I want to live a life that you can and will bless. I want to live a life that will never be shaken. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to dwell in your sanctuary. I want to live on your holy hill. Although, I’m not sure where that is or what that means. But it sounds very good to me. Why is that? I want to be wherever you are. I don’t want to wander away from your presence. I don’t want to live a life that would separate me from you. That is very good. 

How will you live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me? Why do you want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me? Let me take that second question first. I have never understood the idea of fearing you as a motivation to live my life for you. I do have an awesome respect and holy awe of you. I’m sure that I have a healthy fear of you as well. But I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I would agree wholeheartedly with your word when it says that your kindness is meant to lead me to repentance. That is what has happened to me. I love you because you first loved me. I have turned my life over to you because I passionately want to know and love and follow and serve you. That is very good. Now, let me answer your first question. Go right ahead. I cannot fully live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you without your help. No, you cannot. You are the one who is changing me. You are the one who is molding and shaping me. You are making me into the person you want me to become. Yes, I am. I welcome your work in me. Yes, I will. I have worked in you. I am working in you. I will work in you. My work in your life will never stop. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to dwell in your sanctuary and live on your holy hill. Help me to live a life of integrity that you will fully bless. Help me to live a life that cannot be shaken. Amen

Key Question… How will living a life of loving, following and serving the Lord keep you from being shaken?

Living It Out… Rely on the Lord to help you to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to live in ways that are pleasing to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is helping you to live in ways that are pleasing to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live a life that is pleasing to God and cannot be shaken.

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

Day 150 – Becoming Like Christ – Psalm 15-1-5 – Never Be Shaken – 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

Because You Say So

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 153 - Luke 5:5 - Because You Say So - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 153 – Luke 5:5 – Because You Say So – Growing As Disciples

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5 (NIV)  

Obey Me

Will you obey? Don’t answer me yet. Will you go and do what I ask of you even when you do not understand? Must you agree with me completely before you will follow and obey me? Will you pick and choose when you will or will not do what I ask of you? Such an approach would not be obeying you at all. If I were to pick and choose when I would or would not obey you that would make me the guide of my own life. I cannot say that you are both my Savior and Lord if I rely on my own instruction and follow my own guidance. Such behavior would also be foolish and unproductive. Why is that? I am not all wise. I am not all knowing. I am not all powerful. Apart from you, I can accomplish nothing that will be of lasting and eternal value. Guiding my own life will lead to nothing but weariness on the way to accomplishing nothing. That’s true.

There is something else that I know. What’s that? You seldom make all the details relating to my next steps in life known to me. Why do you suppose that is? I can think of a few reasons why that is true. I’m listening. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want me to come to rely on you. You want me to walk in faith with you. You want me to know that you are working in and through my life. You want to accomplish your purposes and plans in and through me so that glory is brought to your name so that others come to have faith in you. For all of these reasons, you often reveal my next steps in life one step at a time. Is that alright with you? Do I have a choice? Very funny. No, you do not have a choice. Yes, it is alright with me whenever and however you want to reveal to me my next steps in life. I want you to be able to accomplish all your purposes and plans in and through my life. That’s good.

There is something else I know. What’s that? I know that you will sometimes test me. How so? You will ask me to go and do what I don’t fully understand to let both you and I know if I will obey you. You already know. But I do not. So, I’m asking you to help me to always say yes to you. Help me to always obey you. That I will do. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I know you will sometimes ask me to do what I don’t fully understand. It is not my job to pick and choose when I will follow and obey you. I go and do whatever you ask of me. Give me your power so I will be able to accomplish your purposes and plans. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord asked you to do something for Him that you did fully understand?

Living It Out… Go and do whatever the Lord asks of you even when you don’t fully understand why.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord your life will bear fruit as you go and do what the Lord asks of you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are going and doing whatever the Lord asks of you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you do what the Lord asks of you even when you don’t fully understand why.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 153 – Luke 5-5 – Because You Say So – 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

Worthy Of The Calling

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 152 - Ephesians 4:1-3 - Worthy Of The Calling - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 152 – Ephesians 4:1-3 – Worthy Of The Calling – Growing As Disciples

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

A Worthy Life

Well, I can’t tell you how many times I have failed in this regard. What’s that? In so many ways, I have failed to live to live a life worthy of the calling I have received from you. Do you think this comes as a shocking surprise to me? No, I don’t. I wanted to let you know that I know how desperately I need your help to live out the calling I have received from you. That’s good. What’s good about that? You know that you need my help. You know that you can’t possibly live out the calling you have received under your own power and strength. If you were to think that your own very best efforts would lead to you living a life worthy of my calling that would be a tragic mistake. Why is that? I have called you to live in an intimate relationship with me. I have called you to live a life that is reliant on me. I am the one who will mold and shape you. I am the one who will change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life. That’s great. I welcome all your good work in me. I trust that you will make me into the person you want me to become. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. Do your work in and through me. Yes, I will.

Do you know when and where and how I will change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life? I’m not sure. Tell me. In my presence, you will come to know me. In my presence you will come to love me. In my presence, you will desire to follow and serve me. In my presence, you will desire to think my thoughts, speak my words and take my actions. In my presence, I will do my work in you. In my presence, I will make you to be like me in all that you think, say and do. As you keep on coming to me it will be the utmost desire of your heart to live a life that is pleasing to me. As you keep on coming to me you will definitely be able to live a life that is worthy of my calling. Thank you, Lord. I will keep on coming to you. That will be very good.

Lord, I have far fallen short of living a life worthy of my calling. Forgive me. Help me to be humble and gentle and patient and loving. I want to live in peaceful unity with others. I will make every effort to live a life worthy of the calling I have received from you. Amen

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 152 – Ephesians 4-1-3 – Worthy Of The Calling – 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