Monthly Archives: March 2025

Spiritual Milk

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 337 - 1 Peter 2:1-3 - Spiritual Milk- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 337 – 1 Peter 2:1-3 – Spiritual Milk- Growing As Disciples

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)  

Craving

I have this craving that is within me. I didn’t stir up this craving within me. I am not the originator of this craving within me. I cannot take credit for this craving that is within me. This craving that is within me could have only come from you. I will say that I am grateful and thankful for this craving that you have put in me. What is this craving that you are talking about? I am talking about the craving that I have in me for the pure spiritual milk of your word. I hunger and thirst or your word. Just as a newborn baby craves milk, so I also crave the pure spiritual milk of your word. Your word satisfies my hunger and thirst. Yet, I am always hungry for more of your word. That is very good.

What is my word doing in you? Your word is helping me to come to know and love and follow and serve you. Your word has helped me to want to know and do your will. Your word has filled me with desire to do what is good and right and pleasing to you. Your word has given me the desire to strip off and rid myself of anything and everything that is not pleasing to you. Like what? I want to strip off and rid myself of malice and deceit, hypocrisy and envy, and slander of every kind. What else is my word doing in you? Your word has been changing my heart, transforming my mind and guiding my life. Your word is helping your thoughts and words and actions to be formed in me. Your Holy Spirit has taken your word and used it like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me and through me. Your word has been helping me to resist temptation and stand against evil. But most of all, and most importantly, your word has been helping to taste your goodness and kindness and mercy and love. Your word has helped me to want to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I delight in hearing your word. As I listen to you speaking to me, I know that you are helping me to grow up in the salvation you have secured for me. Yes, I am. Yes, I will. Keep on craving my word. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I crave the pure spiritual milk of your word. I will drink deeply of your word so I will be able to grow up in the salvation you have secured for me. Help me to keep on stripping off and ridding myself of anything and everything that is not pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question… How is drinking pure spiritual milk of God’s word helping you to strip off what is not pleasing to the Lord?

Living It Out… Drink deeply of the pure spiritual milk of God’s word so you will be able to strip off what is not pleasing to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will grow up in your salvation as you crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are drinking deeply of the pure spiritual milk of God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you crave pure spiritual milk of the word so you will grow up in your salvation.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 337 – 1 Peter 2-1-3 – Spiritual Milk – 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

Trust In God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - John 14:1-4 - Trust In God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – John 14:1-4 – Trust In God – Growing As Disciples

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4 (NIV)  

One Or The Other

I know it will be the one or the other. You know what will be the one or the other? I will either trust in you or let my heart be troubled. There are only those two choices. Why are there only two choices? If I don’t trust in you, then I will no doubt attempt to trust something or someone that is not worthy of my trust. Like what or who? I might trust in possessions and money. I might trust in accomplishments or training. I might trust in prestige, power or position. I might trust in myself. I might trust in my gifts, talents and abilities. I might trust in another person. Nothing in all of life, whether it be people or things will ever be worthy of my trust. Over time, one by one, all these unworthy trusts will let me down. The truth of the matter is, I don’t have to wait to be let down by trusting someone or something other than you. Somewhere deep down inside me, I have known the unworthiness of faulty trusts at the very beginning, well before I have ever been let down by them. So, with relying on unworthy and faulty trusts comes a worried and troubled heart. That should have always been a signal to me. What kind of signal? Worry is a signal that I have misplaced my trust in someone or something other than you. Yes, that is a very good signal.

What will you do when you begin to worry? I will come to you. I will draw near to you. I will turn every one of my worries into a prayer to you. I will lay all my worries at your feet. I will place all my trust in you. I can fully trust you right now in this life. I can fully trust you right now for the life I will have forever in heaven with you. You will be with me. You will help me. You will bring me through every trouble until the day I come to live forever in heaven with you. I will place all my trust in you both now and forever. You are completely worthy of all my trust. I will not let my heart be troubled, I will fully trust in you. That will be very good. I am worthy of all your trust. Thank you, Heavenly Father. 

Heavenly Father, I will place all my trust in you. I will not let my heart to be troubled. At the first sign of worry I will turn every one of them into a prayer to you. Thank you that I can trust you both now in this life and forever in the next life in heaven with you. Amen

Key Question… When have you trusted God instead of allowing your heart to be troubled?

Living It Out… Trust God rather than allowing your heart to be troubled.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can trust God rather than let your heart be troubled.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are trusting God rather than letting your heart be troubled.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you trust in God so that your heart does not become troubled.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 334 – John 14-1-4 – Trust In 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 You Truly Love Me?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 331 - John 21:15-17 - Do You Truly Love Me? - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 331 – John 21:15-17 – Do You Truly Love Me? – Growing As Disciples

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”  The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17 (NIV)

Loving You

Loving you is not theoretical. Loving you is quite practical. Loving you is not passive. Loving you requires action. This sounds odd, I know. What do you mean by all of this? Here is what I mean. I love you. My love for you motivates my desire to do what is pleasing to you. Because I love you, following and serving you is not burdensome to me. It is my delight to go and do what you ask of me, because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. So, love is active. My love for you is demonstrated by my obeying your commands. Out of my love for you flows all that I will ever do for you. That is very good.

Wouldn’t it be crazy if I said that I loved you but never did what you asked of me? What kind of love would that be? It would be no kind of love at all. Wouldn’t it be silly for me to try to figure out what might be the minimum requirement of loving you? That would not work, not at all. Why is that? You know. Yes, I know. But I want to hear you say it. You continually take me deeper with you and ask for more from me. It is as if I have many ongoing opportunities to affirm and reaffirm my love for you. Sometimes, it feels as if you are asking, “Will your love for me motivate your desire to do even “this” or “that” for me?” Guess what. What? It feels that way because that is exactly what I am asking and will keep on asking you. Sometimes, the “this” or “that” you ask me is scary. How so? You ask me to do what I am not able to do. Why do suppose I do that to you? You want me to draw nearer to you. You want me to rely more fully on you. You want to do in and through me, what only you can do. Will you come to know and love and follow and serve me more fully as you rely more completely on me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, you know I love you. Loving you is passionately motivating my desire to follow and serve you. Obeying your commands is not a burden to me. It is the joy of my heart to go and do what is pleasing to you. Use me in your service. My life is in your hands. Amen

Key Question… What joy have you found in going and doing what the Lord has asked of you?

Living It Out… Allow your knowing and loving Christ to passionately motivate your desire to follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that knowing and loving Christ will place a call on you to follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what the Lord has called you to go and do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your love for Christ motivate your desire to follow and serve Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 331 – John 21-15-17 – Do You Truly Love 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

Undivided Heart

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 329 - Psalm 86:11 - Undivided Heart - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 329 – Psalm 86:11 – Undivided Heart – Growing As Disciples

Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 (NIV) 

Half My Heart 

There is something I will not give to you. There is something that I am sure you don’t want from me. There is something that I am positive you will not accept from me. What is that? I will not give you half my heart. You don’t want half my heart. In this case half of something is not better than nothing. Why is that? Giving half my heart would leave me pulled in two different directions. Being pulled in two directions is no way to live. It is painful. It is exhausting. It is unproductive and unfulfilling. There is no hope or peace or joy or hope in living life with a divided heart. You want something so much more for me. You want something so much better for me. What’s that? You will accept nothing less from me than my giving my whole heart to you. Do I want your whole heart because I am demanding? Do I want your whole heart because I am controlling? Do I want your whole heart because I am jealous? No, you want my heart because you love me with all of your heart. You want what is best for me. You want me to live the life you have called me to live. You want me to be to go where you have called me to go. You want me to do what you have designed me to do. Anything less would be a tragedy. Living any other kind of life would leave me filled with regrets. Like what? Living a half-hearted life would leave me wondering what I could have been and done for you. I would ask, “What fruit could I have born for your kingdom or what glory could I have brought to your name?” Another thought I might think, “Who would be in heaven if I had only lived with my heart fully devoted to you?” “How could you have used me in your service if my heart and mind were undivided and set fully on you?” You will not have to wonder. You will not have to think of what could have been. I will hear and answer the prayer that is the desire of your heart. I will give you an undivided heart. I will make you able to live your life fully with and for me. You will go where I guide you. You will do what I ask of you. You will indeed bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You will shine brightly in the world for me. Others will come to know and love and follow and serve me because they will have seen my life being lived out in and through you. That is my heart’s desire. That is my prayer. That is very good. Your prayer will be answered. Thank you, Lord, 

Lord, in the past my heart has been divided between many conflicting and competing priorities. Now I want a heart that is undivided. I want to love and follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Give me an undivided heart for you. Amen

Key Question… How is having an undivided heart helping you to bear fruit for the Lord and bring glory to His name?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to give you an undivided heart that is fully devoted to loving, following and serving Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you an undivided heart filled full with desire to love, follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is giving you a heart that is fully devoted to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you give thanks to God for His knowing and loving and caring for you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 329 – Psalm 86-11 – Undivided Heart – 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 Know Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 326 - Psalm 139:1-6 - You Know Me- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 326 – Psalm 139:1-6 – You Know Me- Growing As Disciples

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.  You hem me in–behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:1-6 (NIV)

You Know Me

I can hardly believe it. It is so fantastic that it is almost beyond belief. Yet, I know without a doubt that it is true. Nothing could be better news!!! What can you hardly believe? What is so fantastic? What do you know without a doubt? What news could not be better? Obviously, you know exactly what I am talking about. Yes, I do. That does not mean I won’t take great delight in hearing the thoughts that are in your heart and on your mind. Well, if I can bring you delight that is exactly what I would like to do with all that is within me. So, here are the thoughts that are in my heart and on my mind. You know me. You don’t know me just a little bit. You know me intimately. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know my words before I speak them. You know my actions before I take them. You know me better than I know myself. Nothing about my thoughts or words or actions is hidden from you. You know everything about my life from before it began and right up until it’s final day on this earth. You have been with me on each and every day. You have seen my setbacks and sins. You have seen my discouragement and defeats. You have seen my successes and triumphs. You have been with me through every twist and turn and up and down of my life. You have never left me. You have lifted me up when I have fallen. You have comforted me when I have been broken. You have held on to me as I have held on to you. Most importantly, you have drawn me back whenever I have wandered away from you. You have turned my life around. You have rescued me from a life without you. You have forgiven my sins and cleansed my unrighteousness. Your hand has been on me. You have been guiding and guarding and blessing my life. You have a secured a place for me in heaven. One day I will come to live forever with you. You have done all of these things for me in spite of the fact that you know everything about me. I am so unworthy. I am so undeserving. I am so thankful. I am so grateful. You are so good to me. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength! I love you with all that is within me! You are my Savior and Lord! Yes, I have done all these things for you. Yes, I am your Savior and Lord. Yes, I take great delight in you. You are my child. My hand is on you. My favor rests on you. I know you intimately and I love you deeply. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, you know my thoughts before I think them, words before I speak them and actions before I take them. Thank you for knowing, loving and caring for me. Thank you for guarding, guiding and blessing my life. I am thankful your hand is on me. Amen

Key Question… How does your Heavenly Father’s knowledge of you make Him qualified to love and care for you?

Living It Out… Allow your Heavenly Father to love and care for you as He guards and guides and blesses your course through life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father knowns you intimately and loves you deeply.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your Heavenly Father’s love for you has blessed your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you give thanks to God for His knowing and loving and caring for you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 326 – Psalm 139-1-6 – You Know 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

I Love What You Revealed

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 323 - Psalm 119:161-168 - I Love What You Revealed - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 323 – Psalm 119:161-168 – I Love What You Revealed – Growing As Disciples

I’ve been slandered unmercifully by the politicians, but my awe at your words keeps me stable.  I’m ecstatic over what you say, like one who strikes it rich.  I hate lies—can’t stand them!— but I love what you have revealed.  Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right.  For those who love what you reveal, everything fits— no stumbling around in the dark for them.  I wait expectantly for your salvation; GOD, I do what you tell me.  My soul guards and keeps all your instructions— oh, how much I love them!  I follow your directions, abide by your counsel; my life’s an open book before you.  Psalm 119:161-168 (MSG)

Your Word

What has my word revealed to you? How can I answer that question? Does that seem like a difficult question to you? No, it is not a difficult question. It is a question that has an almost unlimited amount of answers. Your word has done so much for me. Good, then you will have no difficulty in beginning to answer my question. I know that you cannot completely answer my question. Let me start by saying that I love your word. It is my joy and delight to hear from you. I am so thankful that you speak to me through your word. Your word has richly blessed my life. Being able to hear your instructions and follow your guidance has made me feel like I have struck it rich. Living by your counsel is guarding my life. Your word has made it so I will not stumble around in the darkness of this world. Your word has made me able to know and live by the truth. The entire course of my life is being guided by your word. How am I doing? Am I answering your question well, so far? Yes, you are doing very well, keep going. Yes, I feel like I have only begun. Your word is changing my heart. Your word is transforming my mind. Your word is forming all my thoughts, words and actions. Your word is making me able to stand against temptation and resist evil. Most importantly, your word has made me able to know and love and follow and serve you. Your word has shown me that you are both my Savior and Lord. Your word has shown me that I am your child. I have been adopted in your family. You have made me to be your own. There was a celebration in heaven on the day I turned my life over to you. I can keep going. That’s good. Hearing your word, has strengthened my faith. Your word is guiding my prayers. Your word has made me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Your word has helped me to shine brightly for you in the darkness of this world. Your word has filled my heart with thanksgiving and praise to you. Yes, my word has done all these things and many more for you. Keep on meeting with me in my word. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for your word. I love to hear you speaking to me. Your word has been guarding and guiding the entire course of my life. I will receive your instruction and follow your direction as I abide by your counsel. Thank you for all your goodness to me. Amen

Key Question… How does taking God’s word into your heart and mind make you feel like you have struck it rich?

Living It Out… Allow God’s word to guard and guide the course of your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will guard and guide the course of your life as you abide by His counsel.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on God’s word to guard and guide you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God’s word to guard and guide your life as you abide by His counsel.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 323 – Psalm 119-161-168 – I Love What You Have Revealed – 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

Clothe Yourselves With The Lord Jesus Christ

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 322 - Romans 13:11-14 - Clothe Yourselves With The Lord Jesus Christ - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 322 – Romans 13:11-14 – Clothe Yourselves With The Lord Jesus Christ – Growing As Disciples

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:11-14 (NIV)

What Time Is It? 

That is a very good question. What is a very good question? What time is it? Tell me more of your thoughts about that question. I’m thinking about your return. I’m thinking about your second coming. Your return and second coming seem more imminent. How so? You described what the season of your return would look like. I believe that we are entering into that season of tumultuous upheaval that could signal your return. Our world is filled with what seems like unprecedented hatred and strife. Evil is being uplifted and applauded. Good is being ridiculed and scorned. Nations are rising up against nations. Even the weather on our planet seems to be going haywire. So, how will your thought that my return and second coming might be more imminent change the way that you live your life? That is a very good question. I do have one thought before I answer your question. What’s that? Personally, whether your return and second coming is imminent or my life on earth is coming much closer to its end, I know that one way or another, I will soon be with you. So, either one tells me my answer to the question of, “What time is it?” What is your answer?  My answer is that the time is short. That is a good answer. 

Now would you answer my question? How will the shortness of time impact the way that you live your life? I want to make the most of the time. How will you make the most of the time? I will make sure that I am immediately and continually putting off deeds of darkness or any thought of how I might gratify a sinful desire. I will make sure that I am walking in the light with you. I will keep putting on the new life that you have given me to live. I will listen attentively to your voice. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. What am I likely to ask of you? You are likely to ask me to do things that will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Like what? Go and make disciples. Help lead others to you. Teach others what you have taught me. Live brightly and boldly as your witness in the world. Yes, I will ask all of these things of you. Do you know why that is? Yes, the time is short. Yes, it is. 

Lord, thank you for pulling me out of the darkness. You have made it so I can walk in the light with you. I will immediately and continually reject any thought of trying to gratify sinful desires. Instead, I will put on the new life you have given me to live. Amen

Key Question… What sense of urgency and passion do you have in loving, following and serving the Lord?

Living It Out… Put on the new life that Christ has given you to live so you will be able to walk in the light with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be able to walk in the light with the Lord as you put on the new life, He has given you to live.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have put on the new life Christ has given you to live.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you clothe yourself with Jesus Christ so you will live brightly for you, with the expectancy of His return.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 322 – Romans 13-11-14 – Clothe Yourselves With The Lord Jesus Christ – 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

Watch And Pray

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 306 - Matthew 26:41 - Watch And Pray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 306 – Matthew 26:41 – Watch And Pray – Growing As Disciples

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

Watch And Pray

That is exactly what I will do. That is exactly what I need to do. What’s that? I need to watch and pray so that I will not fall into temptation. No statement could be truer than, my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. It is a good thing that you do believe what I am saying to you. Yes, it would be a foolish mistake for me to think that I can stand against temptation with my own strength. How will watching and praying help you to stand against temptation? That is a very good question. It is a question you need to know how to answer. I think I know how to answer your question. I would love to hear your answer. I have more than one answer. I’m listening. Watching and praying will help me to see temptation approaching. I cannot tell you how many times I have fallen into temptation simply because I allowed myself to enter into or remain in a tempting situation. One strategy to avoid falling into temptation is to run and distance myself from it before it arrives. If I allow myself to linger in the presence of temptation, I am likely to fall prey to it. I must never knowingly allow myself to enter into tempting situations. Watching and praying will help me to avoid temptations before they become overpowering. That is one way watching and praying will keep you from falling into temptation. Yes, it is.

Watching and praying will help me to resist temptation in an even more important way. How so? Watching and praying will align my heart and mind and life with yours. Watching and praying will help me to want to know and do your will. Watching and praying will transform my thoughts and words and actions. I will want to think your thoughts, speak your words and take your actions. Watching and praying will motivate a passionate desire within me to do what is good and right and pleasing in your sight. The passionate desire you have placed in me to live my life with and for you will overcome the power that temptation once had over me. Yes, it will. Watching and praying will help me to remain dead to sin and alive to you. So, I will continue to watch and pray so that I will run from temptation and so I will have an ongoing powerful and passionate desire to live my life in way that is pleasing to you. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know my spirit is willing and my flesh is weak. Only you can make me both faithful and fruitful. Reorder all my priorities and transform all my thoughts, words, and actions, as I watch and pray. Keep my heart and mind and life entirely focused on you. Amen

Key Question… When have altered your course to avoid a temptation because you were watching and praying?

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

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you watch and pray, the Lord will protect you from falling into temptation.

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

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

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 306 – Matthew 26-41 – Watch And Pray – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Guide You Into All Truth

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 332 - John 16:13-15 - Guide You Into All Truth - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 332 – John 16:13-15 – Guide You Into All Truth – Growing As Disciples

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.  John 16:13-15 (NIV)

The Truth

I know how you have been guiding me into the truth. I know how you have been declaring the truth to me. How is that? How have I been guiding you into the truth? How have I been declaring the truth to you? You have taken God’s word an applied it directly to my life. You have brought God’s word back into my mind when I needed it the most. You have taught and trained mw with God’s word. You have helped me to hide God’s word deep into my heart and mind and life. You have formed the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and deeds of my life with God’s word. You have used God’s word like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me and through me. You have used God’s word to help me to resist temptation and stand against evil. You have used God’s word to change my heart and transform my mind. You have used God’s word to protect me from the constant bombardment of all the false principles, values and practices of the world. You have guarded and guide the entire course of my life with God’s word. Am I correct? Have I said what is true? Yes, you are correct. Yes, you have said what is most certainly true.

What will you do to allow yourself to continue to be guided into the truth? I will listen attentively to you. You will have my full attention. I will follow and obey you. I will act on all the truth that you show me. I will continue to allow God’s word to dwell in me richly. To do otherwise, would be like taking the sword out of your hand. I will never let that happen. I will read and study God’s word. I will memorize and meditate on God’s word. I will pray and proclaim God’s word. In every way, I will take hold of God’s word so that it will take hold on me. That will be very good. I will keep on guiding you into all the truth. Thank you, Holy Spirit. 

Holy Spirit, I will listen attentively to you. I will allow you take God’s word and apply it to my life. I will allow you to use God’s word like a sword to fight in, with, for and through me. Use God’s word to guide me into all the truth. I will follow and obey you. Amen

Key Question… When has the Holy Spirit taken something from God’s word and applied it directly to your life?

Living It Out… Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth by listening attentively to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will guide you into the truth.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit is guiding you into the truth.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth.

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

Becoming Like Christ – John 16-13-15 – Day 332 – Guide You Into All Truth – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

The Sword Of The Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 324 - Ephesians 6:16-18 - The Sword Of The Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 324 – Ephesians 6:16-18 – The Sword Of The Spirit – Growing As Disciples

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:16-18 (NIV)  

Under Attack

Have you ever felt like you were under attack? Have you ever known that evil had come against you? Has it ever seemed like the devil was shooting flaming arrows at you? I can say yes to all your questions. I have definitely been under attack from the devil and all his evil. What protection do you have against the devil and all his evil? How will you be able to stand up when you are under attack? You will make me able to withstand up when I am under attack. How so? Right now, I can think of four ways that you will protect me when I am under attack. I’m listening. First, you have given me the shield of faith. You have helped me to place all my faith in you. You have helped me to come to rely fully on you. When I am under attack, I can come to you. I can draw near to you. I can submit myself to you. I can resist the devil and all his evil and he will flee from me. This shield of faith will protect me from whatever the devil tries to launch against me. Yes, it will. What else? You have given me a helmet of salvation. The life of salvation you have given me to live will protect my mind. You will help me to fix my thoughts on you. Instead of thinking evil thoughts, you will help me to think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you. You will guard my thoughts as I love, follow and serve you. Yes, I will. What else? You have given me your word. You have filled my heart and mind and life with your word. It is my delight to meet with you in your word. Your word is changing my heart, transforming my mind, and guiding my life. It is my joy to hear you speaking to me in and through your word. I am especially thankful that your Holy Spirit takes your word, and at just the right time, uses it like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me, and through me. Your word is making me able to resist temptation and fight against evil. Yes, it is. What else? Your Holy Spirit is helping me to remain alert and watchful and prayerful. You are helping me to live and walk through life with you in an ongoing dialogue of prayer. You are giving me prayers to pray. You are granting answers to my prayers. You are leading to pray for both myself and others. This life of prayer you have given me will be protecting me whenever I am under attack. Yes, it will. It pleases me that you know that you will have my protection when you come under attack. Thank you, Lord. I will rely on all your protection. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for your armor of protection. Thank you for the life of salvation you have given me to live. Help me to think your thoughts, speak your words and take your actions. Use your word as a sword to fight for me. Help me to be alert and prayerful. Amen

Key Question… When has God’s word fought like a sword in you, with you, for you and through you?

Living It Out… Allow the armor of God to protect you against every attack of evil you will face in life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the armor of God will make you able to withstand all the attacks of evil you will face in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has used God’s word like a sword to fight for you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Holy Spirit to use God’s word like a sword to fight in you, with you, for you, and through you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 324- Ephesians 6-16-18 – The Sword Of The Spirit – 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