Monthly Archives: February 2025

Many Parts

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 298 - 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 - Many Parts- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 298 – 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 – Many Parts- Growing As Disciples

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 (NIV)  

Spiritual Gifts

It has been quite a process to discover my spiritual gifts. How so? Over the years, by lots of trial and error, I have discovered and been able to use the spiritual gifts you have given to me. That’s very good. Not only have I discovered what are my spiritual gifts, I have also discovered what are not my spiritual gifts. Sometimes, I’m sure that the process was comical. Why is that? Well, I have made many feeble attempts to function well outside of the gifts you have given to me. Can you give me an example? Yes, I can. At one time, I helped lead worship and I can barely sing at all. My singing was definitely not music to anyone’s ears. Your singing is like a joyful noise that I enjoy hearing. Ha, thank you, for that. I’m serious. Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. Who would need more faith to worship me with singing, a gifted singer or someone who can’t carry a note or keep in tune? I understand. Keep on worshipping me with singing. I delight in hearing your voice. Thank you, Lord.

There is something I do need to confess. There is something I would like to talk to you about. I’m listening. I have not always been completely happy or fully satisfied with the spiritual gifts I have been given. Why is that? I have looked around and compared myself with others. That is always a mistake. I know that now. But I wanted the spiritual gifts of others. I was envious of what others had been given. How about now? What do you think now? I am content. I am at peace. I am grateful and thankful. It is my delight and joy to fully use the spiritual gifts you have given to me. It is my hope and prayer that you will help me to bear an abundance of fruit for your Kingdom and bring much glory to your name as I use the spiritual gifts you have given to me. That I will do in and through you. Keep on fully using all the spiritual gifts I have given to you. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for giving me spiritual gifts with which I can use to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Forgive me for being envious of others who have different gifting. Help me to be content to faithfully use the gifts you have given to me. Amen

Key Question… What kind of process has it been for you to discover and begin to use your spiritual gifts?

Living It Out… .Discover and use the spiritual gifts you have been given to serve others as a member of the body of Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has given you spiritual gifts to be used to serve others as an integral part of the body of Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has given you spiritual gifts to use to serve others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you faithfully and fruitfully use the spiritual gifts you have been given.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 298 – 1 Corinthians 12-12-20 – Many Parts – 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 Who Has Ears To Hear Let Him Hear

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 136 - Luke 8:4-8 - He Who Has Ears To Hear Let Him Hear - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 136 – Luke 8:4-8 – He Who Has Ears To Hear Let Him Hear – Growing As Disciples

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 8:4-8 (NIV)  

Following And Obeying

How will you hear my word? How will you take my word into your heart and mind and life? What effort will you make to hear my word? What will be the true indication that you are in fact hearing my word? I will meet with you in your word on a daily basis. I will set aside a special time and place to meet with you. I will not let anything crowd your word out of my life. The cares of this life will not thwart the growth of your word in me. The pursuits of this life will not lead me away from your word. The trials of this life will not cause me to abandon your word. Rather, I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will keep your word ever before me. I will allow your word to feed my thoughts, form my words and foster my actions. My heart and mind and life will be guarded and guided by your word. It is my prayer that you will cause your word to grow and flourish within me. I will hear and answer that prayer. But let me go back to one of your questions. Two things will indicate that I am truly hearing your word. One, I will be continually putting your word into practice. If I am following and obeying your word that is a very good sign that I am really hearing your word. Yes, it is. Two, if my life is bearing abundant fruit for your kingdom then that is also a very good sign that I am really hearing your word. Both, taken together will clearly help me to know if I am really hearing your word. Is that correct? Yes, that is certainly true. If you hear and put my word into practice, your life will bear abundant fruit for my kingdom. That is what I want. That is my desire. That is very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will make myself available to hear your word on a daily basis. I will take your word deep into my heart and mind and life. Cause your word to grow and flourish in me. I will put your word into practice. Use your word to make me abundantly fruitful for you. Amen

Key Question… How has hearing and putting God’s word into practice made you able to bear fruit for the Lord?

Living It Out… .Make sure that you are hearing and putting God’s word into practice.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your life will bear fruit as you hear and put God’s word into practice.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are you making yourself available to hear God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hear and put God’s word into practice.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 136 – Luke 8-4-8 – He Who Has Ears To Hear Let Him Hear – 4 Page Discipleship 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

How You Listen

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 135 - Luke 8:16-18 - How You Listen - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 135 – Luke 8:16-18 – How You Listen – Growing As Disciples

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.” Luke 8:16-18 (NIV)  

Listen And Hear

How will you know if you are really listening to me? How will you make sure that you are really hearing what I want you to hear? I will make time to hear from you. I will not race through life making myself unavailable to hear from you. I will sit at your feet. I will quiet myself before you. I will give you my undivided attention. I will make listening to you the absolute and highest priority of my life. I know that there is a difference between casually listening and really hearing. What’s the difference? If I am only casually listening your word might go in my one ear and out the other. Such listening would have no real and lasting impact on my life. It probably would be better to not listen at all than to casually listen. Why is that? Casually listening might fool me into thinking that I was really hearing you. That’s true.

How will you know if you are really listening and fully hearing me? I will put into practice all that you are teaching me. My thoughts and word and actions will be quite different if I am really listening and fully hearing you. How will you know if your thoughts and words and actions are quite different because you have heard from me? I will be shining brightly in the world for you. I will be a bold and bright witness for you. Others will have been drawn to you through the brightness of your light shining in and through my life. I will be receiving all that you want to give me. I will be growing into the person you have called me to become. Is there anything else that you might have missed? Well, it almost goes without saying that I will not be walking in darkness. I will be letting nothing prevent the brightness of your light form shining in and through me. If I have really listened and heard from you, I will be continually walking with you in the light. I will be continually separating myself from darkness so that I will be able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, you will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I want my life to shine brightly in the world for you. I do not want your light in me to be hidden. I will guard my life against any darkness that hinder my light from shining brightly for you. I will listen attentively to you. Give me all you want me to receive. Amen

Key Question… How are you listening carefully to all that the Lord wants you to hear?

Living It Out… Listen attentively to the Lord so that you will be able to shine brightly for Him in this dark world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will shine brightly through your life as you listen attentively to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the light of your life is shining brightly in a dark world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen attentively to the Lord so you will shine brightly in the world for Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 135 – Luke 8-16-18 – How You Listen – 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

Is With You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 296 - Zephaniah 3:17 - Is With You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 296 – Zephaniah 3:17 – Is With You – Growing As Disciples

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Rest

That definitely does not come naturally to me. What does not come naturally to you? Rest does not come naturally to me. Why is that? I am much more likely to be doing things. I have liked to be busy. I liked to go places and do things. Does rest seem like a waste of time to you? Does rest seem to have no good purpose to you? I suppose it sounds pathetic to admit, but yes, rest has seemed like a purposeless waste of time to me. You couldn’t be more wrong. I have had that suspicion. What would you think if I were to tell you that resting is not easy? I would be interested in hearing more. Rest can actually be a form of hard work. How can that be? If you were to set aside all your urges to be busy doing things would that be easy or hard for you? That would be exceedingly difficult for me. There you go then. You understand some of the difficulty of entering my rest. I guess I do. Yes, you do.

Would you be shocked to learn that you will not come to know me unless you enter my rest? No, not really. It is my hope and desire for you that you come to enter my rest. Would you like a preview of what you will learn as you enter my rest? Wow, a preview! I love previews. I always want to know what is coming next. As you enter my rest you will come to know that I love and care for you. As you enter my rest you will better understand how I have rescued and saved you from a life without me. As you enter my rest you will know that I delight in you. I delight in you so much that I rejoice over you with singing. On the day that you gave your life to me there was rejoicing in heaven. Does that blow you away? Yes, it certainly does. You, the God of the universe, who made everything, have all these thoughts and feelings toward me. Who I am? You are my child. I am your Heavenly Father. Come to rest in my love. Let my love quiet all your fears. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Come to rest in my presence. Come now. Yes, Heavenly Father, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being with me to help me. You rescued me from a life without you. How wonderful it is that you love and care me. How fantastic it is that you delight in me and rejoice over me with singing. I love you with all that is within me. Amen

Key Question… How has God’s love for you put life into perspective and quieted your fears?

Living It Out… Allow God to show you how much He loves and cares for you as you rest in His presence.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will help you to come to know and live in an intimate relationship with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s love for you has quieted your fears.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rest in knowing how much your Heavenly Father loves and cares for you.

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

Day 296 – Becoming Like Christ – Zephaniah 3-17 – Is With 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

Had Done Before

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 295 - Daniel 6:10-12 - Had Done Before- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 295 – Daniel 6:10-12 – Had Done Before- Growing As Disciples

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands–in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” Daniel 6:10-12 (NIV)

Pattern

That is what I want to develop in my life. What do you want to develop in your life? I want a daily pattern of meeting with you in prayer to be developed every day in my life. That is a very good and ambitious goal. I don’t think of it as a goal. Why is that? I think of a goal as being aspirational. I think of a goal as being something to hope to achieve. A goal may or may not be attainable. I may not meet every goal that I establish as a priority. Meeting daily with you in prayer will not be an aspirational goal that I hope to achieve. Why is that? I want meeting with you daily in prayer to be an established fact. I want meeting with you daily in prayer to be a rock solid, never ending pattern in my life. Not meeting with you daily in prayer will be unthinkable and inconceivable to me. You are very sure of your desire. Yes, I am. That’s good.

What steps will you take to establish our meeting daily together in prayer? I will set a time and a place to meet with you in prayer. Why is that essential? Life is busy. Life gets hectic. Life places almost limitless demands on my time. If I only meet with you in prayer when I get around to it, we will not see or hear from each other very often. That would not be good. That won’t happen, because meeting with you in prayer will be my first priority with everything else being a distant second. That’s good.

Why do you so desperately want and need to meet daily with me in prayer? I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I yearn to live and walk closely with you. I want to live my life in a constant and ongoing dialogue of prayer with you. Weren’t you only going to meet with me in a set place at a specific time? That is just the starting point. That is just the beginning. It is my hope and desire and plan that our specific times of prayer will carry over to every moment of everyday of my life. That will be very good. Yes, it will be.

What do you hope to receive from me as we meet together in prayer? I hope that you will teach me to pray. I hope that you will give me prayers to pray. I hope that you will sustain and strengthen and guard and guide my life as we meet together in prayer. I hope to hear your voice as I meet with you in prayer. I hope to make known all my praise and thanks and worship to you as we meet together in prayer. I will certainly do all these things in and for you as we meet together in prayer. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will make it my daily pattern to meet with you. I will withdraw from the busyness and demands of life to draw near to you. Help me to live in an intimate relationship with you. Sustain and strengthen and guard and guide me through all the difficulties in life. Amen

Key Question… What spiritual disciplines have become a consistent and ongoing pattern in your life?

Living It Out… Develop a life of prayer with the Lord so you can live in an intimate relationship with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that it will be well worth your time to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are developing an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you meet with the Lord in prayer on a daily basis so you can live in an intimate relationship with Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 295 – Daniel 6-10-12 – Had Done Before -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

Wait For Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 294 - Lamentations 3:21-26 - Wait For Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 294 – Lamentations 3:21-26 – Wait For Him – Growing As Disciples

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:21-26 (NIV)

Wait

That has not been my strong point. That has not been one of my gifts. What has not been one of your strong points? What has not been one of your gifts? I have not been good at waiting. That’s probably a dramatic understatement. Being constantly on the move and running ahead of you would better describe my life. I have been impatient. I have been impulsive. I have been reactive. In the past, I have seldom waited quietly before you. What problems has all of this caused you? I can’t begin to tell you all the foolish decisions and dumb mistakes I have made by racing ahead of you. I have made a well-worn path out of retracing my steps and starting over because I have not waited for your guidance or received your instruction. I have certainly wasted a lot of time and expended a lot of energy because I have not quieted myself before you so that I could hear from you. Yes, I know.

You mentioned the words, “in the past”, what are you now doing differently? You have done a work in my life. I am not who I once was. How so? You have made me able to sit quietly before you. It is now my joy to rest in your presence. It is my delight to taste of your goodness and kindness and mercy and love as I meet with you in the morning. I never thought words like that would ever come out of my mouth. But there is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There is nothing I would rather do than listen to you. That is very good. I will tell you one thing I have learned, without a doubt. What’s that? No time is better spent than the time I spend meeting with you. Why is that? You love me. I love you. It is so good to recall how you have led and guided me through life. You give me comfort. You fill me with hope. My heart and mind and life is filled with thanks and praise to you when I consider all your goodness to me. You have been faithful to me. You encourage me. You lift me up. You keep me moving forward with you. You lead me to where you want me to go. You give me what you want me to do. You hold on to me as I hold on to you as we walk together through life. Could anything be better than that? No, it could not. Could I hope for more? No, I could not. So, I will keep on quieting myself before you, as I wait for you. All my hope and joy and peace is in you. That is very good. You are very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have been impatient. I have had a hard time sitting still. I have wanted to be on the go. I have wanted to make some moves. Frequently, I have run ahead of you. I have not waited before you. I have not sought you. Help me to wait and listen to you. Amen

Key Question… When has being impatient and impulsive caused you to make foolish mistakes?

Living It Out… Wait for the Lord to guide your life along the path that He has laid out for you to walk.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will guide your life as you wait quietly before Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are waiting for the Lord to guide you through life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you wait for the Lord to guide you through life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 294 – Lamentations 3-21-26 – Wait For 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

Send Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 293 - Isaiah 6:8 - Send Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 293 – Isaiah 6:8 – Send Me – Growing As Disciples

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

Send Me

You can do that. I can do what? You can send me. Not only can you, but I want you to send me. I am at your disposal. I am ready for your use. There is no place I would not go for you. There is nothing that I would not do for you. How do you know that to be true? Well, I’m not exactly sitting around being idle right now. I believe that I have been listening attentively to your call. Have I heard you completely? Probably not. Have I responded to you perfectly? Probably not either. But it is the desire of my heart to be fully used by you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. One day, I would like to hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I want to have fully used all the gifts and talents, abilities and resources you have given to me. I want nothing to have gone to waste. When you and I look back over my life I don’t want to have any regrets. I don’t want to see that I missed great opportunities to have served you. Yes, I can see that in you. 

What confidence do you have that you will be faithful and fruitful for me? My confidence does not rest in myself; I can tell you that without a doubt. I am relying on you. I believe that you will make me faithful. I believe that you will make me fruitful. My job is to come to you. My job is to listen to you. My job is to follow you to where you lead me. My job is to do what you ask of me. So, my life and what I think and say and do is in your hands. I am entrusting myself to you. How do you feel about that? I feel very good about that. I am not filled with worry. I am not experiencing anxiety. I am at peace. I am filled with hope and joy. I know that my life is in your hands. You will not allow me to miss what I couldn’t see. You will not allow to fail to do what you have given me to do for you. You will help me to keep on loving and following and serving you. You will help me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Yes, I will, you can be sure of that. Follow me. Yes Lord, I am. Yes, Lord, I will. That is very good. Yes, it is. Send me. Yes, I will. 

Lord, here I am. I am at your service and ready for your use. I will listen attentively to your guidance and follow your instruction. I will get out of my comfort zone to go and do what you ask of me. Give me your thoughts to think, words to speak and deeds to do. Amen

Key Question… How willing are you get out of your comfort zone to go and do what the Lord asks of you?

Living It Out… Listen attentively to the Lord so you can hear Him calling you to go and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to accomplish His purposes and fulfill His plans.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have made yourself available to serve the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to use you for His purposes to fulfill His plans.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 293 – Isaiah 6-8 – Send 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

Ignores Discipline

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 291 - Proverbs 13:18 - Ignores Discipline- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 291 – Proverbs 13:18 – Ignores Discipline- Growing As Disciples

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 13:18 (NIV) 

Constructive Criticism

Ouch, that doesn’t sound fun to me. I’m not sure I like the sound of that. I’m not sure that I would welcome that into my life. What might you not want to welcome into your life? I might not want to welcome constructive criticism into my life. Why is that? Criticism of any kind, even if it is constructive, is not pain free. Besides, who gets to decide if criticism is constructive or destructive? How will I know if criticism I am given is valid and constructive? It sounds to me like you may be more than a little resistant to criticism, even if it is constructive, is that true? Yes, that is no doubt true. Why is that? I have been proud. I have been stubborn. I have been resistant. That is not good. Yes, I know it is not good. Tell me why it is not good. I have flaws. I am not perfect. I make mistakes. I take missteps. I sin. I even have blind spots of which I am largely unaware. So, there are plenty of times when I am completely unaware of my own misbehaviors. Yes, all of what you have said is true. Let me ask you a question. You have my full attention. Would you rather be blessed by receiving and acting on constructive criticism or would you rather continue to suffer harm by failing to receive and act on constructive criticism? I see your point. Only a fool would want to continue to suffer harm by failing to receive and act on constructive criticism. That’s true. That’s right.

So, what do you want to do differently now that you understand the importance of receiving and acting on constructive criticism? I want to welcome constructive criticism into my life. I want to give permission to others, who love and care for me, to give me constructive criticism. I will make sure I am sending out signals to others that I am ready and willing and able to receive constructive criticism. I will not be defensive. I will not be stubborn. I will not be resistant. That’s good. What else will you do with constructive criticism? I will bring it to you. I will make it a matter of prayer. I will ask you to show me the course corrections I need to make. I will allow you to mold and shape my life with the constructive criticism that comes my way. I will allow you to bless my life as I make the course corrections you are directing me to make. I will also ask you to protect me from criticism that is not constructive, is invalid and is in fact destructive. I will trust you to help me to discern the difference between constructive and destructive criticism. This will all be very good. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know I have blind spots. I have flaws within me that I cannot see by myself. I will welcome constructive criticism into my life. I will not be defensive. I will not be stubborn and unresponsive. I will take action and make course corrections I need to make. Amen

Key Question… Why do you desperately need people in your life who are willing to give you constructive criticism?

Living It Out… Welcome and be willing to hear and act on constructive criticism you receive from others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use people to give you constructive criticism that you need to hear and act on.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are welcoming and acting on constructive criticism.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hear and act on constructive criticism you receive.

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

Day 291 – Becoming Like Christ – Proverbs 13-18 – Ignores Discipline – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Open My Eyes That I May See

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 290 - Psalm 119:17-24 - Open My Eyes That I May See - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 290 – Psalm 119:17-24 – Open My Eyes That I May See – Growing As Disciples

Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from your commands. Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. Psalm 119:17-24 (NIV)  

My Prayer

That is my prayer. What is your prayer? I want to see wonderful things in your word. I want to hear and see all that you want to show me. I will ask you to show me the wonderful things that are in your word. That is a very good desire and prayer you have within you. How will you be able to see wonderful things in my word? What will be your responsibility? I will meet with you in your word. I will hunger for your word. I will delight in your word. I will listen attentively to your word. I will meditate on your word. I will think deeply about all you have to show me from your word. I will put your word into practice. That will be very good.

What has my word done for you? Your word has changed my heart and transformed my mind. Your word has given me your thoughts to think, words to speak and deeds to do. Your word has been my counselor. Your word has been my guide. Your word has put the things of this short life on earth into proper perspective. This life is not all that there is. This life is like a snap of the fingers or a blink of an eye. I am just passing through this life. Your word has shown me that my true and everlasting home is with you in heaven. Your word has given me wisdom. Your word has taught me to number my days. How so? Your word has given my life a purpose. Your word has given me a passion. Your word has sent me on a mission. I want to be used by you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to shine brightly for you in the darkness of this world. I want you to use my life to help lead others to you, so that they can also be able to follow you as their Savior and Lord. Yes, my word, has done all these things for you. Listen carefully to my word. Watch closely to all that I will show you. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I long for your word. I delight in your word. Your word has been my counselor. Your word has guarded and guided me through life. Open my eyes to see all the wonderful things you want to show me in your word. Thanks for speaking to me. Amen

Key Question… When has meditating on God’s word helped you to see what your Heavenly Father wanted to show you?

Living It Out… Ask your Heavenly Father to open your eyes so you can see wonderful things from His word..

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will show you wonderful things from His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what your Heavenly Father has shown you from His word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your Heavenly Father open your eyes to see wonderful things in His word.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 290 – Psalm 119-17-24 – Open My Eyes That I May See – 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

Love Must Be SIncere

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 288 - Romans 12:9-13 - Love Must Be Sincere - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 288 – Romans 12:9-13 – Love Must Be Sincere – Growing As Disciples

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)

Love Others

I need your help. Without your help I will be a miserable failure. Without your help I will not be able to live as you lived or do what you did. How do you need my help? What are you asking of me? I need your help to be able to genuinely and deeply love others, with all that is within me, from the depths of my heart. I have had enough of superficial and convenient expressions of love. I know that you want me to love and care for others on a completely different level. You want me to love others just as you love me. You want me to follow your example. Yes, I do.

What does genuine love look like? What will you do if you are loving others just as I love you? I will be devoted to others. I love and care for them just as you have loved and cared for me. What does that mean? I will enthusiastically and energetically and fervently help others who are in need. I will be generous and willing to share what you have given to me. What have I given to you? You have given me time, talent, and resources. Will you generously share your time, talent and resources with others? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

What else will you do for others? It will be my joy to honor others above myself. Life is not all about me. I will take the spotlight off of my own life. I don’t or want to be the center of attention. Instead, I will call out and celebrate the great things you are doing in the lives of others around me. I will allow my words to lift others up and spur them to keep on boldly living their lives to serve you. Not only will I lift others up with my words, but I will support them with my prayers, as they go through all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life. That will be very good.

Do you believe that I will help you to love others just as I have loved you? Yes, I do. That is my prayer. That is my hope. That is my earnest expectation and certain belief. I know that you will help me to love like you love, give like you gave, and serve like you served. Yes, I will, without a doubt. Thank you. Lord. 

Lord, I want to love others with all that is within me, from the depths of my heart. Help me to love like you love. Give me your strength. Keep me fervent and energetic. Make me prayerful. I will run from evil and hold on to good as I serve you and others. Amen

Key Question… How are you truly loving others with all that is within you, from the depths of your heart?

Living It Out… Rely on the Lord to help you to love others genuinely with all that is within you from the depths of your heart.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to love others just as He loves you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to love others genuinely.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love others genuinely and deeply with all that is within you, from the depths of your heart.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 288 – Romans 12-9-13 – Love Must Be Sincere – 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