Monthly Archives: November 2024

Knowledge Of God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 190 - Proverbs 2:1-6 - Knowledge Of God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 190 – Proverbs 2:1-6 – Knowledge Of God – Growing As Disciples

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,  and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:1-6 (NIV)

Know Me 

Do you want to know me? How well do you want to know me? What would you be willing to do to try to know me more intimately? Yes, I want to know you. Nothing is more important to me than to come to know you more intimately. I would be willing to do anything to come to know you more intimately. Give me some examples of what you would do or are doing because you want to know me more intimately. I am meeting with you in prayer. I have been quieting myself before you so that I will be able to hear from you. I am inclining my ear to you. I am listening attentively to you. I have treasured whatever you have had to say to me. I have been asking you for wisdom, insight and understanding. Yes, you have. That is very good. I am meeting with you in your word. Your word is more valuable to me than any hidden treasure. I am storing up your word in my heart. I am letting your word dwell in me richly. I am putting your word into practice. I know that you have been using your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. You have been using your word to mold and shape me. You have been guiding and guarding my life by your word. Yes, I have been using my word in your life in these ways. I have been going and doing what you have asked of me. I have been allowing you to work in and through me. It has been my goal to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be used by you. I am at your service. I know that I have been coming to know you more intimately as I have followed and served you. Yes, you have. That is very good. I have been allowing you to examine my life. I have been confessing my sins to you. I know that I have received your forgiveness. I have been allowing you to change the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and deeds of my life. Yes, you have. That is very good.

Have I done all these things perfectly? Have I loved and followed and served you completely? Have I always been filled with passion to live the life you have called me to live? No, I have fallen short. But I know you are with me to help me to come to know and love and follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, I am. Keep on seeking me. Yes, I will. That is very good.

Lord, I want to come to know you. I want to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I want to have your wisdom and insight and understanding. I will listen carefully to you. I will store up your word in my heart. Guide and guard my life by your word. Amen

Key Question… Why is God’s word more valuable to you than hidden treasure of any kind?

Living It Out… Store up God’s word in your heart so that you will be able to come to know Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will come to know God as you store up His word in your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has used His word to change your heart and mind and life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you store up God’s word in your heart so you can come to know Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 190 – Proverbs 2-1-6 – Knowledge 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

Do Not Fear

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 189 - Isaiah 41:13 - Do Not Fear - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 189 – Isaiah 41:13 – Do Not Fear – Growing As Disciples

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

Hold On 

Do not Fear. Hold on to me. I am holding on to you. Yes, you will go through twists and turns and ups and downs in life. You live in a sin broken world. I went through pain and suffering and difficulty. You will go through pain and suffering and difficulty.  I will be with you to help you. You can rely on me. For that I am thankful beyond measure. That is very good.

It is important that you know one thing and do one thing. Can you guess what that would be? Yes, I don’t need to guess. Why is that? You have already told me. What have I told you? You have told me that you are with me. You will help me. You will hold on to me. I must never forget that. That’s right. What must you do? I must hold on to you. I must draw near to you. I must come to rely on you. I must place all my faith and hope and trust in you. You will hold on to me. You will bring me through every difficulty. Yes, I will. You can count on me.

There is something that I have learned as I have looked back over my life. What’s that? I have more clearly seen how you have been with me to help me. I have been able to recognize how you have held on to me. I have come to understand how you have brought me through all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life. That is very good.

There is something else I have learned as you have brought me through difficulties in life. What’s that? Our relationship has grown more intimate as you have held on to me and I have held on to you. That’s true. I know without a doubt and without hesitation that I wouldn’t trade a pain free, smooth sailing life for the intimacy that we have between us because I have learned to hold on to you as you have held on to me. I have come to know you more intimately as I have cried out to you for help. I have come to walk more closely with you as you have helped me through every difficulty in life. Yes, you have. That is very good. Yes, it is and for that I am also thankful beyond measure. I will trust you. I will rely on you. I will place all my faith in you. You will be with me to help me. Yes, I will. Thank you. Lord. 

Lord, I have gone through many twists and turns and ups and downs in life. I have been in fearful situations. You have never left me alone. You have been with me to help. Thank you for taking me by the right hand and leading me through every difficulty in life. Amen

Key Question… When have you drawn near to the Lord and asked for His help as you have gone through fearful situations?

Living It Out… Hold on to the Lord as He holds on to you through all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will take you by the hand and hold on to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has held on to you throughout life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hold on to the Lord as He holds on to you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 189 – Isaiah 41-13 – Do Not Fear – 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

Walk In The Light

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 161 - 1 John 5-7 - Walk In The Light- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 161 – 1 John 5-7 – Walk In The Light- Growing As Disciples

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 (NIV)

A Choice

I know that I have made a choice. I know that I will need to keep on reaffirming my choice every day as I continue to follow you. What choice did you make? What choice will you need to keep on making as you follow me? I made a choice to leave the darkness of this world. I made a choice to separate myself from evil. I made a commitment to not sit or stand or walk around with the evil darkness of this world. I left behind my old life in the world, as if it were a pile of old, dirty and stinky clothes. I determined that I would never allow myself to be clothed in the evil darkness of the world ever again. I took, have taken and will continue to take an inventory of my life. I will ask myself and I will ask you, “Is there anything that must be removed from my life, if I want to continue to walk in the light with you?” That question will never be unimportant. That question will never be irrelevant. That question will never be out of fashion. I will keep on asking you and myself that question. Why is that? The world and all that is in it is a tempting place. My life is constantly being bombarded by the thoughts and opinions and values of the world. I will need to be on guard. I will need to stand firm. I will need to submit my heart and mind and life to you as I continue to resist and reject evil in all its varied forms. Yes, you will.

Making a choice to reject evil will never be enough. Why is that? As I reject evil it must be replaced with something else. As I reject evil, I will accept you. As I reject evil, I will fully embrace and accept the new life you have and will continue to give me. You will lead me. You will guide me. You will guard and protect me. You will strengthen me and make me able to continue to walk away from darkness into the light with you. The darkness of this world will have no power over me as I continue to live and walk in the light with you. You will help me to hunger for you. You will satisfy my life with your goodness as I live my life with and for you. I have decided. I have fully rejected evil. I have fully accepted you into my heart and mind and life. You are my Savior. You are my Lord. I will follow you all the days of my life. That is very good. Yes, it is. 

Lord, I know that this is a dark and sinful world. I will face decisions in which I must continue to reject darkness to keep on walking in the light with you. I know I am not alone. You are with me to help me. You will help me to keep on walking in the light with you. Amen

Key Question… What strategies are you using to make sure God’s word sinks deeply into your heart and mind?

Living It Out… Reject darkness in all its forms so that you will be able to keep on walking in the light with the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to continue to reject darkness to keep on walking in the light with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have rejected darkness to walk in the light with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you reject darkness so you can walk in the light with the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 161 – 1 John 1-5-7 – Walk In The Light – 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

Comes By Hearing

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 164 - Romans 10:17 - Comes By Hearing - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 164 – Romans 10:17 – Comes By Hearing – Growing As Disciples

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Growing Faith

I want my faith in you to grow. I want to be able to move forward with you. I have no desire to remain as I am. Is there any chance I will allow you to stay as you are? I doubt it. Do you believe that I also want you to be able to move forward with me? Yes, I believe that you want me to move forward with you. You have a very strong desire to be fully devoted to me. Yes, I do. Where did that desire come from? I have no doubt about that. You placed in me a burning desire to know and love and follow and serve you. Will my desire for you be accomplished? I hope and pray and believe you will accomplish all your desires for me. That is very good.

Let’s zero in on your faith. I’m listening. You have my full attention. How do you think I will grow your faith? You will use all the circumstances of life to grow my faith. You will grow may faith as I go through the trials and tribulations of life. You will use the assignments you give me to grow my faith. You will grow my faith as you work in and through me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. You will place people in my life who will spur me on in my faith. Yes, all of these are true. But can you think of an even more significant or fundamental way that I will grow your faith? Yes, I can. Let me hear your thoughts out loud. You will grow my faith as I live in an intimate relationship with you. You will grow my faith as I live in a dialogue of prayer with you through all the moments of life. You will grow my faith as I meet with you in my word. You will grow my faith as I allow your word to sink deeply into my heart and mind and life. You will use your word to help me to think your thoughts, speak your words and take your action. Hearing your word speaking to me will definitely grow and strengthen my faith in you. Yes, it will.

So, you have a role and responsibility in the growth of your faith. Yes, I do. What is your role in the growing of your faith? I must come to live in an intimate relationship with you. I must meet with you in your word. I must allow you to use your word to speak into my life. Will you meet with me in my word? Will you hear everything I want to say to you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, it is my prayer that you will grow and strengthen my faith. I want you to do things in and through me that I could never do by myself. Give me faith to go and do whatever you ask of me. As I meet with you in your word, use it to increase my faith in you. Amen

Key Question… What strategies are you using to make sure God’s word sinks deeply into your heart and mind?

Living It Out… Make it your highest priority to meet daily with God in His word so He can grow and strengthen your faith in Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will use His word to grow and strengthen your faith in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has used His word to grow and strengthen your faith in Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you meet with God in His word so He can grow and strengthen your faith in Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 164 – Romans 10-17 – Comes By Hearing – 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 Great Project

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 186 - Nehemiah 6:2-4 - A Great Project - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 186 – Nehemiah 6:2-4 – A Great Project – Growing As Disciples

Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. Nehemiah 6:2-4 (NIV)  

An Assignment

You know that you have received an assignment from me. You know that I have given you work to do for me. You are quite clear that I have asked you to go and do something for me. Do you have any doubts? Do you have any questions? Do you have any concerns? No, I do not have any doubts. Yes, I have questions. Yes, I have concerns. Let me hear your questions and concerns. I didn’t expect that the work would be so hard. I didn’t expect to encounter so much difficulty. I certainly wasn’t planning on any opposition. Did you expect your work to be smooth and easy sailing? Yes, I might have had that expectation. Can you tell me why you would have had such an expectation? No, I cannot. I guess I didn’t think things through very carefully. What do you think now? I would say that I should have expected the work to be hard and filled with difficulty and even opposition. Why is that? You experienced difficulty. You encountered opposition. Why wouldn’t I? You were even opposed by those who were your followers. Has that happened to you? Have you received what could be called, “friendly fire?” Yes, some of the most surprising and discouraging opposition I have faced has been from your followers, fellow believers and even friends of mine. I have never called the fire, “friendly”, however. It has been the most painful.  But you have kept on going. You have kept on doing the work I have given you to do for me. Yes, that’s correct. That is very good. 

Why is it so important that you have no doubts about the work I have given you to do for me? Knowing that I am doing what you have asked me to do has kept me focused, steadfast and relentless in continuing to do what you have asked of me. I have not let myself become discouraged or distracted. I have not allowed myself to say yes to some good but lesser tasks or opportunities. Day by day, I have kept on task. Day by day, I have relied on you. Day by day, you have made me able to keep on doing your work. You have been with me to help me. You have given me your power and strength. You have kept on working in and through me. For that, I am very thankful. I will keep on doing the assignment you have given to me. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to be used by you. I will joyfully go and do whatever you have ask of me. I will not quit. I will not become distracted or sidetracked. I will not leave the work you have given me to do. Give me the energy, strength and power to complete your work. Amen

Key Question… When have you had to say no to what would have distracted you from continuing to do the Lord’s work?

Living It Out… Remain focused on going and doing whatever the Lord has asked of you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you great projects to go and do for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have continued to go and do what the Lord has asked of you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you keep on doing the work the Lord has given you to do.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 186 – Nehemiah 6-2-4 – A Great Project – 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

Servant Of All

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 185 - Mark 9:33-37 - Servant Of All - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 185 – Mark 9:33-37 – Servant Of All – Growing As Disciples

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:33-37 (NIV)

True Greatness

You have this desire for greatness within you. You don’t want your life to be unwisely used or misspent. You don’t want your life to amount to nothing or accomplish little. You want to be able to look back over your life with no regrets. Have I read you right? Do I understand you well? Nothing is hidden from you. You know me better than I know myself. You know my words before I speak them. You know my thoughts before I think them. So, you will not try to deny that you have a desire to be great within you? No, I will not. You are a little uncomfortable with the thought of being great. You are a little worried that desiring to be great might be an improper desire. Did you notice that I did not condemn my disciples for wanting to be great? Yes, I noticed that. Did you notice that I helped define what true greatness is and looks like? Yes, I noticed that as well. That’s good.

Let me clear something up for you. Desiring greatness is not an improper desire. Where do you think that desire in you came from? It did not come from me of that I am certain. No, it did not. I placed that desire within you. Let me hear what kind of greatness you are hoping for? I want to know you intimately. I want to hear your voice. I want to live and walk in an ongoing dialogue of prayer with you. I want to love and follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That would be great. I want to be used by you. I want to go and do what you ask of me. I want you to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans in and through my life. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and being glory to your name. I want to shine brightly for you in this world. I want people to be drawn to you because of what they see of you in and through my life. That would be great. One day I want to be able to look back over my life with you and hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I know that only you can make me faithful. I know that only you can make me fruitful. So, I want to come to full rely on you. That would be great. These are the desires of greatness that I have on my mind. These are the desires of greatness that I have in my heart. These are the prayers of my heart and mind. I want to be great for you. I will hear and answers these prayers of yours. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I do have desires. I do have ambitions. It is my desire and ambition to know and love and follow and serve you. I am willing to be last of all. I am willing to give myself fully in service to you and to others. Help me to do great things with and for you. Amen

Key Question… How is your life now being guided by the Lord’s definition of greatness?

Living It Out… Allow your desires and ambitions to guide you to love and serve others with all the ability the Lord gives you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has given you desires and ambitions to know and to love and to follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been using you to serve others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you become a servant of all.

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

Day 185 – Becoming Like Christ – Mark 9-33-37 – Servant Of All – 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

Call To Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 173 - Jeremiah 33:3 - Call To You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 173 – Jeremiah 33:3 – Call To You – Growing As Disciples

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Call To You

I will call to you. I will make it my regular practice to come to rely on you. That will be very good. Why will you make it your regular practice to come to me to call out to me? I need your help. I am not all wise. I am not all knowing. I cannot see the future. Even the very next step before me is often unclear. I don’t want to wander off course. I do not want to drift away from you. I don’t want to serve my own interests. I don’t want to follow my own plan. I want to know your will and walk in your ways. I want to be able to go and do what you ask of me. Those are very good desires you have in your heart. I haven’t even gotten to the heart of why I will come to you and cry out to you. I’m listening. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to live my life with and for you. None of these things would be possible if I did not live my life in a dialogue of prayer with you. That is true.

Do you expect to hear from me? Do you believe that I will speak to you? Do you have faith that I will hear and answer your prayers? Are you certain that I will show you what you do not know? I have no doubt about any of these things. Your promises are true and sure and certain. I have no doubt that you will speak to me. That is very good. You have been speaking to me. You have been leading me. You have been guarding and guiding my life. You have been giving me your wisdom and counsel and understanding. That is true.

You do have more to say on the subject of hearing from me. Yes, I do. I have no doubt in you. I do have some doubt in myself. What doubt do you have in yourself? I sometime doubt that I will have the ability to hear you. This doubt does not discourage or depress me. In light of my doubt in myself, or maybe concern is a better word, I will simply pray that you will make me better able to hear from you. I suspect that as I keep on drawing near to you, I will become more able to hear your voice speaking to me. Yes, you will. Don’t you already know this to be true? Yes, I do. Then keep on drawing near to me with the certainty that I will keep on speaking to you. Be sure that I will tell you what you do not know. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, there is so much I do not know. I believe that as I meet with you in prayer you will show me what I do not know. Show me what I need to know. Guard and guide and protect my steps. Give me your wisdom and insight and understanding as I walk with you. Amen

Key Question… How are you calling out to the Lord right now to ask Him something about what you do not know?

Living It Out… Call out to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to show you what you do not know.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can call to the Lord and ask Him to show you things you do not know.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when the Lord showed you something you did not know.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you call to the Lord and ask Him to show you what you do not know.

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

Day 174 – Becoming Like Christ – Jeremiah 33-3 – Call To 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

Be Watchful And Prayerful

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 184 - Mark 14:38 - Be Watchful And Prayerful - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 184 – Mark 14:38 – Be Watchful And Prayerful – Growing As Disciples

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:38 (NIV)

Watchful And Prayerful

Are you being watchful? Are you being prayerful? Are you allowing temptation to sneak up on you? Are you allowing temptation to take you by surprise? Those are interesting questions. How so? What makes these questions particularly interesting to you? Your questions seem to indicate that if I am watchful and prayerful, I will be able to see temptation coming. Or, if I am watchful and prayerful, I will be able to recognize a temptation for what it is. And that, if I am watchful and prayerful, I will be able to resist temptation. Maybe even, If I am watchful and prayerful, I will be able to make a course correction that will steer me clear of an approaching temptation. Well, what does your experience with not watching and being prayerless tell you? If I am not watching and prayerless, I will regularly fall into temptation. I will be easy prey for temptation. That is true. That is not good. Yes, I know.

What else do you know about temptation? You will provide a way out of temptation for me. What does that way out of temptation often look like? That is where watchfulness and prayerfulness come into play. As I am watchful and prayerful, I will clearly see two things. I will see temptation approaching. I will see your way of escape. Often, seeing temptation coming and the way of escape available occur very early and quickly. What do you mean by that? If I am not watching and if I don’t immediately take your way of escape, I will likely, almost certainly, fall into temptation. I need to take the way of escape, that you provide, when the escaping is good. Yes, you do.

What do you know about being prayerful? Being prayerful will strengthen my desire and resolve to resist and run from temptation. Being prayerful is like deciding in advance that I will not allow myself to be overtaken by temptation. Being prayerful, is the way to submit myself to you and resist evil at the same time. I will never have the strength, in myself, to simply resist temptation under my own power. I am weak. You are strong. As I am in prayer, with my heart and mind and life focused on you, I will be able to resist temptation. Why is that? You will help me. You will be with me. You will give me strength to stand against evil and resist temptation. Yes, I will help you to stand against evil and resist temptation as you are watchful and prayerful. Thank you, Lord. That is what I will do, I will be watchful and prayerful. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will watch and pray so I will not fall into temptation. I will draw near to you and submit myself to you in prayer so I will be able to resist temptation. I will steer myself clear of temptation when I see it approaching. I will come to you for your protection. Amen

Key Question… When have you steered clear of approaching temptations because you were being watchful and prayerful?

Living It Out… Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how watching and praying as protected you from falling into temptation.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 184 – Mark 14 -38 – Be Watch And Pray – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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