Monthly Archives: May 2025

Serve Others

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 338 - 1 Peter 4:10-11 - Serve Others - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 338 – 1 Peter 4:10-11 – Serve Others – Growing As Disciples

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)

Your Gifts 

Are you using all the gifts you have been given to serve others? Are you bearing fruit for my Kingdom and bringing glory to my name, as you faithfully use the spiritual gifts, I have given to you? Those are very good questions. I will tell you one thing for certain. What’s that? I don’t want to someday find out that I never used a gift that you had given to me. That would be really sad. That would be a tragedy. What will you do to make sure that does not happen? I will ask for your help. What help do you want from me? I want you to help me to discover and use all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. Is that it? No, I’m just getting warmed up. I want you to help me to refine and develop the gifts you have given to me. What do you mean by that? I know that the gifts you have given to me will not be fully developed unless I use them. I also know that as I use the gifts you have given to me, you will refine, grow and develop them in me, for your use. You will make me effective and fruitful in using the gifts you have given to me. You will not let the gifts you have given me go unused, underdeveloped and underutilized, as I go and do whatever you ask of me. I think that is the key. What is the key? Will I listen to your voice? Will I follow you? Will I go where you lead me and do what you ask of me? How would it be possible to not use the gifts you have given me if I am continually following and obeying you? It would not be possible. So, if I follow and obey you, I’m sure that I will have no worries about not utilizing the gifts you have given to me. What you ask of me will require me to use all the gifts you have given to me. That is correct. Keep your heart and mind and life focused on me. I will lead and guide you. I will accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans in and through you. I will give you what I want you to do. As you serve me you will have no worries about failing to use all your spiritual gifts as you rely on me. Thank you, Heavenly Father. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me spiritual gifts with which I can serve others. Help me to discover and faithfully use all my spiritual gifts. Help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name as I use all the gifts you have given to me. Amen

Key Question… What trial and error process have you go through on the way to discovering your spiritual gifts?

Living It Out… Use all your spiritual gifts to serve others so you can bear fruit for God’s kingdom and bring glory to His name.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will bear fruit for the kingdom of God and bring glory to His name as you use your spiritual gifts.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to use, refine and develop your spiritual gifts.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you use the gifts you have been given to serve others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 338 – 1 Peter 4-10-11 – Serve Others – 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

Taste And See

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 33 - Psalm 34:4-8 - Taste And See - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 33 – Psalm 34:4-8 – Taste And See – Growing As Disciples

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:4-8 (NIV)

Taste and See 

Do you want to taste and see? Do I want to taste and see what? Do you want to taste and see me? Yes, of course I want to taste and see you. Do you know that you will not taste and see me if your heart and mind and life is not focused on me? Why is that? You tell me. If I don’t take time to slow down to meet with you, I will never taste and see your goodness. I will not be able to live the life you have called me to live. I will not hear your voice. The noise of the world will be too loud. I will not follow your guidance. I will not receive your instructions. I will not notice your activity all around me. The frantic pace of life will obscure my vision. I will wander through life from one meaningless endeavor to another. My life will have no hope and meaning or purpose. I will miss your plan for my life. I will not accomplish your purposes or fulfill your plans. No, you would not. But, this will not be true of you, of that I am certain. I am glad to hear that.

How are you taking steps to taste and see my goodness? Every day, I meet with you in your word. Every day, I engage in an ongoing conversation with you. Every day, my heart and mind and life are focused on you. I am constantly thinking about how I can love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is my joy to do what is pleasing to you. You are guarding and guiding my life. You are leading me to where you want me to go. You are giving me what you want me to do. I am making my needs known to you. You are hearing and answering my prayers. You are saving me from out of my troubles. Your protection is making camp around me. I am taking refuge in you. You are making my life radiate with joy as I look to you. In sum, I am living in an intimate relationship with you. That is why and how you are tasting and seeing my goodness. Yes, I know. That is very good. Yes, it is. 

Lord, I will earnestly seek you. I will keep my heart, mind and life focused on you. I will call out to you and make my needs known to you. I will live my life in humble awe before you. Help me to taste and see your goodness. Fill my life with your joyful radiance. Amen

Key Question…  How has earnestly seeking the Lord delivered you from fears you have faced in life?

Living It Out…  Keep your heart and mind and life focused on the Lord so you will be to taste and see His goodness.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to taste and see His goodness.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to see His goodness.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you continually come to the Lord to taste and see His goodness.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 33 – Psalm 34-4-8 – Taste And 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

Live In Harmony

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 354 - 1 Peter 3:8-9 - Live In Harmony - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 354 – 1 Peter 3:8-9 – Live In Harmony – Growing As Disciples

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)  

What Would Love Do?

That is a very good question. What is a very good question? What would love do? Yes, that is a very good question. Do you have an answer for that question? Yes, I do. As your follower, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I love you because you first loved me. Your love has changed my heart and transformed my mind. How so? All my thoughts and words and actions are now different because I love you. Now, I want to do what is good and right and pleasing to you. Before, I lived to do what was good and right and pleasing to me. I lived for my own interests. I was pridefully focused on myself. Now, I want to humbly follow and obey you because I love you. I’m not looking for what might be the minimum requirement of loving you either. That would be no expression of love at all. Now, I am constantly on the lookout for ways to express my love to you. So, the answer to the question of, “What would love do?” is anything and everything. There is nowhere I would not go, or nothing I would not do because I love you. That is a very good answer. 

What have I asked you to do for me? How do I want you to treat others? What am I asking you to do for others? You are asking me to love others deeply from my heart. You want me to be sympathetic and compassionate and loving to all. Say more about who is included in that word, “all”. You want me to love those who don’t love me. You want me to love everyone. Give me an example. If someone committed some evil against me or hurled some insult at me, you want me to bless them anyhow. In fact, you have called me to be a blessing to everyone around me. Yes, that is my calling on your life. What will you receive and inherit as you live as my blessing in the world? I will receive your blessing. Yes, you will. Will you love me? Will you love others? Will you follow and obey my two great commandments? Yes Lord, I will, with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will live in harmony with others. I will not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. Instead, I will be sympathetic, loving and compassionate to all. I will repay evil and insult with blessing. With your help, I will be a blessing so that I can inherit a blessing. Amen

Key Question…  Why will personal pride almost always get in the way of being able to live in harmony with others?

Living It Out…  Make every effort to live in harmony with others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to live in harmony with others.

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

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live in harmony with others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 354 – 1 Peter 3-8-9 – Live In Harmony – 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

Then He Opened Their Minds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 320 - Luke 24:45-49 - Then He Opened Their Minds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 320 – Luke 24:45-49 – Then He Opened Their Minds – Growing As Disciples

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:45-49 (NIV)

Opened Mind 

There is a big difference between having an “open mind” and having an “opened mind.” Really, how so? In the world someone who says, they have an “open mind” often means that they are willing to try anything no matter how vile and sinful it may be. They will likely, almost certainly, suffer great harm with that approach to life. They will live with deep regrets. They will experience a life that will, no doubt, be bruised and battered and broken. Their open-minded pursuit of pleasure with only lead them down a path of pain and suffering. So, in this regard, I want to have a closed mind. I only want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. That is very good.

You mentioned that there was a difference between having an “open mind” and an “opened mind”? What did you mean by that? I want you to open my mind. I want you to open my mind so I can understand your word. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to receive your instruction. I want to follow your guidance. So, that is my prayer. That is my desire. That is my request. Do you believe that I will open your mind so you can understand my word? Without a doubt, I know that you will make me able to understand your word. Yes, I will, you are correct. What will my word do for you? Your word will change the desires of my heart. Your word will transform the thoughts of my mind. Your word will guard and guide the course of my life. Yes, my word will do all these things for you.

What must you do with my word? I must follow and obey your word. It would be foolish and sinful to only hear your word. I must go where your word guides me and do what your word asks of me. I must keep in step with you and your word. I must not run ahead or lag behind your word. That is true. What do you know about my word? Where will my word guide you? What will my word give you to do? Your word will guide me into the world to be your witness. Your Holy Spirit will use your word to empower me to be a bold witness for you in the world. Will you do that for me? Will you be my witness in the world? Yes Lord, I will. It will be my joy to help others to come to know and love and follow and serve you. That will be very good.

Lord, only you can open my mind so I can understand your word. I will wait quietly and listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. Help me to follow and obey your word. I will go and do whatever you ask me. Help me to be your bold witness in the world. Amen

Key Question… How attentively are you hearing and following instructions from the Lord?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to open your mind so that you can understand His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will open your mind so you can understand His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has opened your mind so you can understand His word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen to the Lord and carefully consider what He wants you to say before you speak.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 320 – Luke 24-45-49 – Then He Opened Their Minds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Teach Me Your Ways

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 154 - Exodus 33:12-17 - Teach Me Your Ways - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 154 – Exodus 33:12-17 – Teach Me Your Ways – Growing As Disciples

Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:12-17 (NIV)

My Prayer

This is my prayer. What is your prayer? I want to know you. I want to walk in your ways. I want your presence to be with me. I want your favor to rest on me. I want you to make me able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want to glorify your name in all that I think, say and do. I want to be powerfully used by you so that I can bear abundant fruit for your kingdom. I know that none of this will be possible without your help. None of this will happen unless you hear and answer my prayers. Do you believe that I will hear and answer your prayers? Yes, I do. Do you believe that I will accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans in and through you? Yes, I do. That is very good.

What must you do if you want me to accomplish all that you have asked of me? I must keep on coming to you. I must live a life that is reliant on you. I must live a life of prayer with you. I must live in an intimate relationship with you. I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in your word. I will meet with you in worship. I will live a life that is fully devoted to you. This is the life that I want to live. This is the life that I desire. I want nothing more than to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Make me able to live this kind of life. Accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans in and through my life. Help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Place your hand on me. Let your favor rest on me. I want what you want. I will go where you send me. I will do what you ask of me. My life is in your hands. Use me in your service. I will hear and answer your prayers. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, there is nothing I want more than to come to know you and find favor with you. It is my utmost desire to live in ways that please you and bring glory to your name. Help me to know and love and follow and serve you. Use my life completely in your service. Amen

Key Question… When have you known that the Lord was powerfully helping you to go and do His will?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to teach you His ways so that you can come to know Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will teach you His ways so you can come to know Him.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you come to know and find favor with the Lord.

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

Day 154 – Becoming Like Christ – Exodus 33-12-17 – Teach Me Your Ways – 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

Close To The Brokenhearted

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 311 - Psalm 34:8 - Close To The Brokenhearted - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 311 – Psalm 34:8 – Close To The Brokenhearted – Growing As Disciples

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV) 

Crushed

Well, I have been that.  You have been what? I have been crushed. I have been brokenhearted. I have been filled with pain and suffering. I have experienced seemingly unending tears. It’s no fun, I will tell you that. I wouldn’t wish pain and suffering and crushing brokenness on anyone. But I know a couple things for certain. What’s that? Sin has broken this world. This life is not as you intended it. Nothing in this world has been left untouched by sin. No one will go through this life free of pain and suffering and crushing brokenness. You suffered. Why would I not suffer? You experienced pain. You went through what I would call, crushing brokenness. Why wouldn’t I as well? Doesn’t that sound quite discouraging and depressing and defeating to you? It might, except I also know something else as well. What’s that? You are with me. You will never leave me. You will never forsake me. No, I will not. For that, I am thankful. For that I am thankful. Your closeness to me gives me hope. So no, I am not discouraged or depressed or defeated. That is very good.

I have something to say that might sound a little weird. What’s that? I wouldn’t want to live a life that had no pain or suffering in it. I wouldn’t exchange the crushing brokenness I have experienced for a pain free life on easy street. You’re right, that does sound a little weird. Let me ask myself some questions. Go ahead, this sounds interesting. Would I know you as well if I had never gone through suffering? I don’t think so. Would I have come to rely on you as much as I do if I had never experienced setbacks? I’m sure not. Have I not drawn near to you and you to me in the deepest and darkest and most painful moments of my life? Without, a doubt. Have I not experienced deeper measures of your love as I have cried out to you in anguish? That is for certain. Would I know you as well as I do if everything about my life was easy and went perfectly? Not hardly, maybe not even at all. Do I sound weird now? No, not at all.  How about this? You have even made me able to comfort others with the comfort you have given to me. That’s great. On top of that, you have held on to me. You have always lifted me up. You have carried me. You have led me though life. You have kept me moving forward with you. So no, I would not trade the life I have lived with you, for any other kind of life, especially one that seemed to promise me no pain or suffering or setbacks or defeat. That’s very good. Keep on leading me Lord. Yes, I will.

Lord, I know this sin tainted world is filled with brokenness and suffering. I have experienced my share of pain. I am thankful you have been near to me when have I been brokenhearted. You have comforted and lifted me up and kept me moving forward with you. Amen

Key Question… What prayers have you prayed to the Lord when you were crushed and brokenhearted?

Living It Out… Draw near to the Lord and receive His comfort when you are crushed and brokenhearted.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is close to you when you are crushed and brokenhearted.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been close to you when you were brokenhearted.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you cry out to the Lord because He is close to you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 311 – Psalm 34-18 – Close To The Brokenhearted – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional

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 Hear My Voice

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Woman hands praying for blessing from god on sunset background

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)

Time And Place

I have set a time and a place to meet with you. I have you firmly on my schedule. I have made meeting with you the absolute priority of my life. I will not let a day go by that I have not met with you. Why is that? Why am I on your schedule? I get distracted. I lose track of what is vitally important. Many times, what has seemed to be urgent but is ultimately unimportant has pushed aside what is actually urgent and of ultimate importance. You are on my schedule, first and foremost, because I have nothing of higher priority or of greater importance than meeting with you. I have not squeezed you into my schedule. No, not at all, everything else in my life comes after and is built around my meeting with you. That is very good.

I have more to say about meeting with you. I’m listening. Having you on my schedule does not mean that once we have met, we are done meeting for the day. Having you on my schedule, in the morning, is the beginning of what I hope will be our dialogue of prayer together throughout each moment of my day. Our meeting together in the morning is the way that I want to start my day with my heart and mind and life focused on you. I know that you will help me to remain attentive to you throughout my day. I will do that for you. 

What do you hope to accomplish as you meet with me in prayer? What is your goal? What is your hope? What is your dream? What is your desire? I am glad that you have asked me these questions. It is my hope and dream and desire to know and to love and to follow and serve you will all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to live my life with and for you. I want to walk in an intimate relationship with you. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. Do you believe that I will hear and answer these prayerful desires of your heart? Yes, I believe you will answer these prayerful desires of my heart far beyond what I could ask for or even imagine. It is good that you believe I will hear and answer these prayerful desires of your heart. Why is that? Because this is exactly what I will do for you. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will make our time together the absolute priority of my life. Transform my heart and mind and life as I meet with you in prayer. Thank you, for hearing and answering my prayers as I expectantly lay them before you. Thank you for your goodness to me. Amen

Key Question… What prayer requests would you like to make to the Lord right now?

Living It Out… Make it your consistent daily pattern to meet in prayer with the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers as you make them known to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has heard and answered your prayers.

Prayer To Bless Others…May you lay all your prayers before the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 188 – Psalm 5-1-3 – You Hear My Voice – 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 Greatest

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 305 - Matthew 23:11-12 - The Greatest - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 305 – Matthew 23:11-12 – The Greatest – Growing As Disciples

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12 (NIV)

Great 

What does it mean to be great? Is it a sin to want to be great? Do you define greatness in a way that is unique, and different from the world? Do you want me to be great in some way? You have a lot of questions about greatness. I can see that you are more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of being great. Yes, I am, without a doubt. Well, I am going to ask you to answer your own questions for me. I thought you might say that. Go ahead, I’m listening. Your definition of greatness is far different than the world’s definition of greatness. How so? Being great according to the world’s definition is very self-serving, self-centered and self-reliant. Being great according to the world’s definition includes a desire to be better and have more than anyone else. The idea of being great is rooted in pride. It desires and demands attention. It wants to be noticed and recognized and applauded. The person wanting to be great, in the eyes of the world, can’t take their thoughts off of themselves. In fact, everything and all of life revolves around the worldly greatness seeker. Yes, it does. Your idea of greatness is the exact opposite. You want me to be great at loving and caring for others. You want me to be great at helping and serving people in need. Your idea of greatness is rooted in humility. A truly great person, in your eyes, has taken their thoughts off of themselves. Their focus is on you. They want to know and do your will. They want to follow your example. I know that you want me to follow your example. How so? You want me to take on the form of a servant. You want me to lay aside my rights and privileges. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to give like you gave. You want me to serve like you served. Yes, I do want all of these things for you.

How will you ever be able to be like me? How will you ever be able to be great as a servant? Not by my own power and strength that is for sure. But I know one thing. What’s that? You will change me. You will mold and shape me. You will make me as you want me to be. Yes, I will. What will you do? I will keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. In your presence I will be changed. It your presence you will make me to be like you. You will make me great in loving and serving you and those all around me in this world. Yes, I will. Keep on loving, following and serving me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I believe what you are saying about true greatness. I will follow your example. I will take on the form of a servant. I will humbly serve others. Help me to think and speak and act like you. Help others to see you in me. Use me to help draw others to you. Amen

Key Question… What has helped you to come to believe that true greatness is found in humbly serving others?

Living It Out… Follow Christ’s example by humbly giving yourself in service to others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith to believe that true greatness is found in following Christ’s example of humbly serving others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are following Christ’s example of humbly serving others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow the Lord’s example by humbling yourself to serve others today.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 305 – Matthew 23-11-12 – The Greatest – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Make Disciples

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 304 - Matthew 28:18-20 - Make Disciples - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 304 – Matthew 28:18-20 – Make Disciples – Growing As Disciples

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Go

That is a powerful word. What is a powerful word? “Go”, is a powerful word. Why is that? You have given me a commission. I have your command before me. You have given me your guidance and direction. You have made known what you want me to do for you. What’s that? You want me to, “go”. You don’t want me to sit around and do nothing. You want me to get up and go. With what purpose do I want you to get up and go? You want me to get up and go and make disciples. You want me to help others to become your followers. Yes, I do.

Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. Where would you be if someone didn’t take seriously my command to go and make disciples? I would be lost and without hope in the world. I wouldn’t be one of your followers today. I would have never become one of your disciples. I would still be walking on the path that led away from you. I would still be dead in my sins. I would have no hope of eternal life forever with you. I would not be living in an intimate relationship with you. No, you would not. But someone did respond to my call. Someone got involved in your life. Someone took the time and made the effort to help you to come to know and love and follow and serve me. Yes, they did.

I have a couple more questions to ask you. I’m still listening. Did a total stranger lead you to me? Did someone you did not know have a great and powerful impact in your life? No, not really. Someone I knew reached out to me. Someone who cared about me took the risk of sharing the Gospel with me. Someone took the time to establish a relationship with me so that they could help me to come to know you. They loved and cared for me. I know now that they were praying for me. They invested their time in my life. They allowed you to use them to minister to me. Yes, they did. Did they have to go far and travel a great distance to help you to become one of my disciples? No, they did not. Will you do the same for others? Will you get and go and help make disciples of the people you know, who live around you right now? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will respond to your command. I will say yes to you. I will do what you ask of me. I will go and make disciples of all nations. I will teach others what you have taught me. Use me to help others to love and follow and serve you. Empower me to serve you. Amen

Key Question… Where do you think the Lord is leading you to go and make a disciple?

Living It Out… Respond to the Lord’s command by going and making disciples.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be with you as you go and make disciples.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to make disciples.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you go wherever the Lord guides you to make disciples.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 304 – Matthew 28-18-20 – Make Disciples – 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

Often Withdrew

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 302 - Luke 5:15-16 - Often Withdrew - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 302 – Luke 5:15-16 – Often Withdrew – Growing As Disciples

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)

Withdraw

There is no doubt about it, that is what I need to do, right now. What do you need to do right now? I need to withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with you in prayer. Why do you need to meet with me in prayer? I’m running on empty. I am weary and worn out. I have been allowing myself to be swallowed up by the busyness of life. I have been running myself ragged. I am certain that I have allowed others to set the pace and agenda of my life. It seems like I have been chasing one great idea after another. None of them are bad. All of them are good. Something has give. Something has to go. My life is lacking a defined purpose and a focused direction. I’d have to say that my life is somewhat of a scattered mess. I need to pull back. I need to refocus. I need you to revive and refresh and restore my life. I need to receive guidance and instruction from you. I want to know where you are leading me. I want to know what you are giving me to do. For all these reasons, I need to quiet myself before you. I need to meet with you in prayer. Yes, you do.

Come to me. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Quiet yourself before me so you can hear me speaking to you. I will revive and refresh and restore your life. I will show you where I am leading you. I will show you what I am giving you to do. I have a purpose and plan for your life. You will receive guidance and instruction from me. I will strengthen you. I will empower you. Rest in my presence. In me, you will find hope and meaning and purpose. In me, your life will overflow with joy and thanksgiving. I will come. I will draw near. I will quiet myself before you. That will be very good.

I do know one thing for sure. What’s that? You are leading me to you. You want me to go deeper with you in prayer. You want me to learn to do the work of prayer. I don’t need to run here and there and everywhere. I don’t need to come up with a great idea. I don’t need to seek to achieve some great accomplishment. You simply want me to hear from you. You want me to pray the prayers that you will give me to pray as I meet with you in prayer. Yes, I do.

Lord, I will withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with you. I will not let the demands of life distance me from you. I will not allow myself to be swallowed up by all the demands of life. I will go to a quiet place so that I can hear from you as we meet in prayer. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your daily pattern and practice to meet with the Lord in prayer?

Living It Out… Make it your daily pattern to withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with the Lord in prayer.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that it will be well worth your time to withdraw to meet with the Lord in prayer.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are making it your pattern to regularly withdraw to pray.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take time to withdraw from the busyness of life so you can pray.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 302 – Luke 5-15-16 – Often Withdrew – 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