Monthly Archives: May 2025

Remember Before Our God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 301 - 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 - Remember Before Our God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 301 – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 – Remember Before Our God – Growing As Disciples

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)

Mentioning

That has not been my continual everyday practice, I can tell you that for sure. What has not been your continual everyday practice? I have not been mentioning my fellow coworkers in Christ, every day in my prayers. Do you believe that it is critically important to pray for your fellow coworkers in Christ? Yes, I do. Do you believe that I am asking you to pray for your fellow coworkers in Christ? Yes, I do. Do you know that I will hear and answer your prayers as you continue to pray for your fellow coworkers in Christ? Yes, I do. If you believe and know all of these things, why have you not been continually praying every day for your coworkers in Christ? I’m not sure. I may not have been thinking deeply about engaging in that kind of prayer. I will tell you one thing for certain. What’s that? I will start praying continually and daily for my fellow coworkers in Christ. That will be very good.

There is something else that I know I will need. What’s that? I will need your help. I will need you to give me prayers to pray. I will need you to guide my prayers. I will need you to teach and train me how to pray. Do you believe that I will do all these things for you as you meet with me in prayer? Yes, I do. What else do you believe? I believe that you will hear and answer my prayers. I believe that fruit will be born for your kingdom and glory will be brought to your name through the prayers that you give me to pray. I believe that work produced by faith will grow. I believe that labor prompted by love will grow. I believe that endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ will grow as you hear and answer not only my prayers but also all those who call on your name as they meet with you in prayer. Yes, all these things, and much more than you could hope for or even imagine will be accomplished as you and your fellow coworkers in Christ meet with me in prayer. Will you meet with me? Will you pray as I guide you? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I will continue to pray for my fellow coworkers. Make us all faithful and fruitful workers in your kingdom. Help us to bear abundant fruit for you. Use our faith and hope and love in and for you to keep us joyously and energetically serving you. Amen

Key Question… How are you continually praying for your coworkers who are loving, following and serving the Lord?

Living It Out… Continue to pray for your coworkers in Christ so that your and their labor will be faithful and fruitful.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Your Heavenly Father will hear and answer your prayers for your coworkers in Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group the prayers you are praying for your coworkers in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you continually remember in your prayers before God, those who labor for Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 301 – 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3 – Remember Before Our God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

To Live Is Christ

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 300 - Philippians 1:19-26 - To Live Is Christ - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 300 – Philippians 1:19-26 – To Live Is Christ – Growing As Disciples

for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. Philippians 1:19-26 (NIV)

Abundant Fruit

That is what I want to accomplish with my life. That is my reason to be living this life. What do you want to accomplish with your life? What is your reason to be living your life? I want to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. I want to live my life with and for you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to live the life you have called me to live. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want my life to have counted for something. I want my life to have made a difference. I want to leave behind a legacy. Now, I need to make something clearer. What is that? I don’t want to leave a legacy that is about me. I want to leave a legacy that points others to you. I want to have helped others make progress in their life of faith with you. I want to have helped others to have gone deeper and further in their life of loving and following and serving you. There is nothing unclear about your hopes and dreams and desires. Well, that’s good. If there was any lack of clarity it would have been in and with me, not with you. I am stating what I want to be clear in my heart and mind and life. That is very good. 

Now, I know a couple things I would like to point out. What’s that? It is you who has fanned the flame of these hopes and dreams and desires within me. For this, I am thankful beyond measure. I am thankful beyond what my words could possibly express. All that is within me is thankful. All that is within me is grateful. You have given me a passionate desire to love and follow and serve you. You could not have given me a better gift. You could not have filled me with more hope and joy. That is very good. Yes, it is. It is far beyond good. Yes, it is. What else do you know? I know that you will keep on fanning the flame of my desire to love and follow and serve you. You will make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom. You will make me able to bring glory to your name. You will make me able to live my life with and for you both now and forever. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, thank you for helping me through all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life. You have brought me though every adversity. You have helped me to become a bold witness for you. Help me to keep on bearing abundant fruit for you and bringing glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord used some of your trials and adversities to help you to bear fruit for Him?

Living It Out… Rely on prayer and help from the Holy Spirit to bear abundant fruit for the Lord as you go through life with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to bear abundant fruit as you go through life with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is using your life to bear abundant fruit for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to use your life to bear abundant fruit for Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Philippians 1-19-26 – Day 300 – To Live Is 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

His Good Favor

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 299 - Ezra 7:27-28 - His Good Favor - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 299 – Ezra 7:27-28 – His Good Favor – Growing As Disciples

Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. Ezra 7:27-28 (NIV)

On My Side

I know that you are on my side. What does that mean to you? That is a good question. I may have stated my thought incorrectly. How so? I maybe could have and should have said that I know that we are both on the same side. If I were not on your side, you certainly would not have come over to my side. You have made me able to leave my old way of thinking and speaking and acting. You have turned my life around. You have helped me to turn away from my old life of sin. You pulled me off the road that led away from you. You rescued me from a life without you both now and forever. You have given me a passionate desire to love and follow and serve you. You have made it to be my delight and joy to live my life with and for you. So, in this sense I know that you are on my side. You love and care for me. You are guarding and guiding my life. You are making me able to know and do your will You have been leading me to where you want me to go. You have been giving me what you want me to do. That is what I mean when I say that I am on your side and you are on my side. You are encouraging and strengthening me to follow and serve you. You are making me able to be a witness for you in the world. You are helping me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, I have done, am doing and will continue to do these things in and for you. You are correct. I am on your side.

Why is it critically important for you to keep on remembering that I am on your side? The road ahead will not always be easy. I will face difficulty and challenges as I follow and serve you. I will face opposition. I will experience attack. Discouragement, depression and defeat may try to overcome me. I must always remember that you are with me to help me. I must always believe that your good favor and strong hand rests on me. You will lift me up. You will carry me on to victory. You will help me to overcome every obstacle as I continue to love, follow and serve you. You will make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You will keep me moving forward with you. Yes, I will. You can be sure that I will always be with you to help you. Thank you, Heavenly Father. I will always remember that you are on my side. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I know you have given me work to do for you. Thank you that your good favor and strong hand are guarding and guiding me as I serve you. Help me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Bring others alongside me to help me. Amen

Key Question… When have you been encouraged because you knew God was helping you to do His work?

Living It Out… Rely on God’s good favor and strong hand to guard and guide the work He has given you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s favor will rest on you as you do the work, He has given you to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has given you work to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on God’s good favor and strong hand to guard and guide you as you serve Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 299 – Ezra 7-27-28 – His Good Favor – 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

Give Good Gifts

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 297 - Matthew 7:9-11 - Good Gifts - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 297 – Matthew 7:9-11 – Good Gifts – Growing As Disciples

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV) 

Good Gifts

It has been a joy and delight of mine to be a giver of good gifts. I have liked to consider what someone might want and need as a gift and then give it to them as a surprise. I have wanted to greatly exceed their expectations, as well. For me, it has often been true, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I have frequently had more joy and satisfaction in giving a gift than in receiving a gift. Obviously, it is true, that I still do very much like receiving good gifts especially if they come as an unexpected surprise. This comes as no surprise to me.

No one is a better giver of surprise and wonderful gifts than you. You think so? Yes, I do, without a doubt. If I have any small quantity or quality of being a giver of good gifts, it has only been true because you have made me in your image. I am only a giver of good gifts either because of how you have made me or because of what I have heard or seen or received from you. It pleases me that you know and understand how you have come to be a giver of good gifts.

What will you do differently, now that you better understand that I am a giver of good gifts? What will you do differently, now that you have come to believe that it is my joy and delight to give good gifts to you? I will make my needs and wants known to you. I will more readily bring my prayer requests to you. I will not foolishly think that some need or want is too big or too small to ask of you. I will trust that you will keep on giving good gifts to me. Yes, I will.

There is something I would like to ask you. There is some help I need from you. What is that? I would like more wisdom to know what to ask of you. I would like you to help guide my prayers. I know that you both given and granted the desires of my heart. How so? Well, for example, you have been both giving and granting my desire to know you. No gift is better than that. I’m glad you think so. In the past, I might not have thought of or considered asking for that as a gift from you. I want you to keep on giving and granting me desires that come from you. I want to be able to ask for and receive what you want to give to me. Does that make sense? It makes a lot of sense. Do you believe that I will hear and answer this prayer of yours? Will I give you this good gift? Will I help you to ask for all that I want to give to you? Without, a doubt. Of that, I am very sure. You are correct. That is what I will do in and for you. Thank you, Lord.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being a giver of very good gifts. You have richly blessed my life far beyond my hopes and dreams and desires. Help me to learn to keep on asking for the good gifts I need from you. Help me to receive all you want to give to me. Amen

Key Question… What do you think have been some of your Heavenly Father’s favorite gifts He has given to you?

Living It Out… Ask your Heavenly Father to give you the good gifts you need from Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can ask your Heavenly Father to give good gifts to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what good gifts you are asking your Heavenly Father to give you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask your Heavenly Father for the good gifts you need from Him?

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 297 – Matthew 7-9-11 – Give Good Gifts – 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

Love Each Other Deeply

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 271 - 1 Peter 4:8 - Love Each Other Deeply - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 271 – 1 Peter 4:8 – Love Each Other Deeply – Growing As Disciples

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

My List 

I have had a mental list in my mind. I don’t know that I have deliberately or even consciously kept this mental list. I just know that it has existed. It exists today, even right now. What kind of list have you kept in your mind? I am sad to say that I have kept a mental list in my mind of wrongs that people have committed against me. What do you think about such a list being in your mind? I think it is a worthless list. It is an unhelpful list. I suppose it is even a sinful list. Why is the list worthless? I don’t plan on taking any action related to the list. I won’t be seeking revenge. That’s good. But there is more isn’t there? Yes, there is. Once someone has gotten on my mental list of wrongs done against me, it is unlikely that I will ever be close to them again. That sounds terrible, I know. But it is worse than that. How so? Once someone is on my list, it is quite likely that I will take steps to distance myself from them. How does that sound? Not good. I know. What do you know? My attitude and my list is not at all loving and forgiving. My attitude and my list certainly does not leave much hope and room for reconciliation. Why are we talking about your attitude and list now anyhow? Well, I am confessing this sin to you. I am asking for your forgiveness. You have my forgiveness. But I also want to let go of wrongs committed against me. I don’t want to have a list of wrongs committed against me, residing in my mind. That’s good.

What would you like me to do for you? I have frequently, almost daily, asked you to make me to be more like you. Yes, I have heard that prayer of yours many times. What do you have in mind? I want to love like you loved. I want to do what you did. How so? Your deep love for others made you able to overlook and forgive the sins that they committed against you. You did not keep a list of wrongs committed against you. You did not distance yourself from those who hurt or harmed you. Instead, you loved and forgave them. Even more, you prayed for those who sinned against you. You are always ready to forgive. You are also seeking reconciliation. Yes, I am. You are always hoping that people will turn to love and follow and serve you. Yes, I am. So, I want you to help me to love others deeply from my heart. I want you to make me able to fully love and freely forgive others just as you do. I want you to destroy my list and help me to make sure that no one gets on it, because it no longer exists. That I can and that I will do for you. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, help me to love others deeply from my heart. Keep me from holding on to a list of wrongs that have been committed against me. Rather give me a love for others that is ready, willing and able to cover over any sin that has been committed against me. Amen

Key Question… How has your deep love for others helped you to overlook failings and weaknesses in them?

Living It Out… Allow your deep love for others to cover over the sins they have committed against you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to love others deeply from your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your deep love for others covers over their sins.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love others deeply so you can forgive them freely.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 271 – 1 Peter 4-8 – Love Each Other Deeply – 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

Told Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 256 - 2 Kings 5:13-15 - Told Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 256 – 2 Kings 5:13-15 – Told Him – Growing As Disciples

Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant.” 2 Kings 5:13-15 (NIV)

Who Am I?

Who am I that I need to figure everything out? Who am I that I need full understanding? Who am I that I need to be in complete agreement? What are you talking about? What don’t you need to figure out? About what do you not need full understanding? Why don’t you need to be in complete agreement? I’m talking about your will. I am thinking about following your guidance and receiving your instruction. Am I the evaluator of your guidance and instruction? I think not. Will I only do as you ask of me only if I understand or agree or am in complete agreement? I think not. Will I do what you ask me simply because it is you that has asked me? I hope so. I believe so. I pray so. Where would faith and hope and trust be if I only did what made sense to me? Would I ever be taking a step of faith with you if you needed to convince me to do what you asked of me every time? That would be no faith at all. That’s true. If I need to figure everything out, fully understand or be in complete agreement, then I would be simply relying on my own thoughts and ideas and understandings. That is also true. 

I know something for certain. What’s that? You will call me to leave the familiar to do the uncomfortable. You will cause me to come to rely on you. You will stretch and grow my faith in you by asking me to do what does not seem understandable, likely or even possible. Taking a step of faith with you into the unknown to do the impossible is a real step of faith. Yes, it is. That is what I want to do. I want to take real steps of faith with you. I want you to do in and through me what only you can do as I come to rely on you. That will be very good. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will. 

Lord, I have not always followed your guidance or accepted your instruction. I have foolishly thought that I had a better way that was an improvement on your guidance and instruction. Obviously, that was a huge mistake. Help me now to follow and obey you. Amen

Key Question…How has the Lord blessed your life as you have followed and obeyed His instructions?

Living It Out… Hear, follow and obey all the Lord’s guidance and instruction.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your life as you follow His guidance and accept His instruction.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how following the Lord’s guidance and instruction has blessed your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow and obey the Lord’s instructions.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 256 – 2 Kings 5-13-15 – Told 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

We Demolish Strongholds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 218- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - We Demolish Strongholds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 218- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – We Demolish Strongholds – Growing As Disciples

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)

Battleground

That’s where my battles will most often be fought. What battles? Where will your battles be fought? The spiritual battles I will fight in life will often be fought in my mind. You could even call my mind a battleground. Yes, that is true. There will always be external components to the spiritual battles I will face in life. But what I allow my mind to think about spiritual battles and evil strongholds will be critically important. You are on the right track. Tell me what you have on your mind. Let me start by describing different kinds of strongholds. That’s a good place to start. I thought so. There are many different types of strongholds that might take my heart and mind and life captive. Doubt and fear are powerful strongholds. Pride and arrogance are others. Lust and materialism are as well. The list of possible strongholds is almost endless…anger and bitterness, dishonesty and gossip, unforgiveness and resentment, selfishness and self-centeredness, greed and gluttony…it is hard to know where to stop. With each spiritual battle and stronghold a question is asked. What question is asked? What will I allow my mind to think? Will I allow my heart and mind to think doubt filled, fearful thoughts or angry and bitter thoughts or unforgiving and resentful thoughts? The heart of the question is, “Will I allow myself to think earthly and worldly and evil thoughts or will I think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you?” Those are very good questions to ask yourself.

The answer is obvious, I want to think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you. That is a good answer. How will you think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to me? I know me, I can’t just turn off my thoughts. There is no off button. But I do know you and I do know your word. I know that your word can and will push earthly and worldly and evil thoughts out of my mind. Your world will cleanse my heart and transform my mind. Your word will give me new thoughts to think. Your word will demolish strongholds and help me to take every thought captive to you. Your word will fight in me, with me, for me and through me like a sword to give me victory over the spiritual battles and powerful strongholds I will face in life. Yes, my word will fight for you. Yes, my word will deliver you. Yes, my word will lead you in victory. Take my word deep into your heart and mind and life. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know I will face spiritual battles. I know spiritual forces of evil will attempt to set up strongholds in my life to hinder me from fully knowing and loving and following and serving you. Help me to demolish every stronghold with weapons you have given me. Amen

Key Question… How has God’s word helped you to take captive your thoughts and make them obedient to Christ?

Living It Out… Allow God to help you to demolish strongholds with the weapons He has given to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will help you to demolish strongholds with the weapons He has given to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to demolish a stronghold in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the weapons God has given you to demolish strongholds in your life.

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

Day 218 – Becoming Like Christ – 2 Corinthians 10-4-5 – We Demolish Strongholds – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Those Who Are Persecuted

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 208 - Matthew 5:10 - Those Who Are Persecuted - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 208 – Matthew 5:10 – Those Who Are Persecuted – Growing As Disciples

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 (NIV)

Witness

I want to be your witness in the world. I want the faith that I have in you to stand out from the darkness of this world. I want to shine brightly as a light in the world. I want others to be able to see and recognize that your life is being lived out in and through me. Those are all very good desires that you have within you. As you love and follow and serve me, you will shine brightly for me. I will powerfully use you as my witness in the world. Others will be drawn to me because my life is being lived out in and through you. The righteousness you have in me will boldly stand out in the darkness of this world. For that, I am thankful beyond words. I can think of nothing more that I want than to be used by you. That is very good.

What can you expect as the righteousness you have in me boldly and brightly stands out in the darkness of this world? I can expect to be verbally abused and mocked because of the faith I have in you. I can expect to be ostracized, treated harshly and even persecuted because I am your follower. I can expect to be slandered, cursed at and even lied about because I will be living the new life that you have called me to live. All of these things happened to you. I should not be surprised when any of these things happen to me. The darkness of this world does not like the light I have in you. The sinfulness of this world does not and cannot accept the righteousness I have in you. No, it does not. No, it cannot. Yes, my life will live in and through you. Yes, you will shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world. For that, you will be persecuted.

Will you be disappointed when you are rejected? Will you be discouraged when you are persecuted? Will you be depressed when you are mistreated? No, I will not, not for one minute, not even for one second. Why is that? I will know that your word is true. I will know that I have been forewarned. I will know that I am being treated as you were treated. I will know that it is your righteousness being lived out, in and through me that is being rejected. I will know that I am truly living the life that you have called me to live. The more light I have in you, the more the darkness of the world will come against me. In those moments, I know that you will be with me to help me. You will guard and guide me. You will lead me through the darkness of this world as I love, follow and serve you. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I am thankful for the new life I have in you. You have made me righteous. You have forgiven and cleansed my sins. You are using me as your witness in the darkness of this world. I joyfully anticipate that I will be persecuted because I am your follower. Amen

Key Question… How are you living in the world even though you are not of the world?

Living It Out… Joyfully anticipate that you will be persecuted because the righteousness you have in Jesus Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the righteousness you have in Christ will stand out from the evil that is in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the righteousness you have in Christ stands out in the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May the righteousness you have in Christ stand out as a witness in the world.

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

Day 208 – Becoming Like Christ – Matthew 5-10 – Those Who Are Persecuted – 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

If Anyone Is Thirsty

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 335 - John 7:37-39 - If Anyone Is Thirsty - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 335 – John 7:37-39 – If Anyone Is Thirsty – Growing As Disciples

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39 (NIV)

Thirsty

I have been thirsty. By that, I don’t mean that I have wanted a little something to drink. What do you mean? I mean to say, I have been thirsty like a person crawling across the sun scorched desert floor in search of water. I have been dry and weary and worn out, looking for something to revive and refresh and renew my life. What have you discovered? I have discovered that I cannot revive and refresh and renew my life. I have discovered that nothing in this world can satisfy my thirst and revive and refresh and renew my life. Why is that? Only you can satisfy my thirst. Only you can revive and refresh and renew my life. In fact, it is my thirst for you that drew me to you. So, I am thankful beyond measure that you placed this thirst within me. That is very good.

You are correct in saying that you cannot satisfy your own thirst. It would be foolish for you to think that you can revive and refresh and renew your own life. But do you have no role in your thirst being satisfied? Oh yes, I have a role in my thirst being satisfied. Tell me about your role in your thirst being satisfied. You can make me lie down in green pastures. You can lead me by still waters. You can set up all the conditions that make me able to be revived and refreshed and renewed by you. But I still must drink of your refreshment. I must allow you to fill me with your living water. How will you drink? How will you be filled? How will my living water overflow your life? I will ask for you to satisfy my thirst. I will ask you to revive and refresh and renew my life. I will ask your living water to overflow my life. When will you ask? Where will you ask? How will you ask? I will ask you, as I am in your presence. I will ask you, as I come before you with a glad and thankful heart. I will ask you, as I live and walk through life in an intimate relationship with you. That will be very good. I will satisfy your thirst and revive and refresh and renew your life as you come and drink from me. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know that nothing from the world will ever be able to satisfy my thirst. There is a thirst within me that only you can satisfy. Thank you for satisfying my thirst and refreshing my life as I draw near to you. May your living water overflow my life to others. Amen

Key Question… How did your thirst first draw you to the Lord so you could be refreshed by Him?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to satisfy your thirst and refresh your life as you draw near to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will refresh your life as you draw near to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing the Lord to refresh your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow Jesus Christ to satisfy your thirst.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 335 – John 7-37-39 – If Anyone Is Thirsty – 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