Monthly Archives: December 2025

Silence Ignorant Talk By Doing Good

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38665878 – businessman upset by the accusations of colleagues

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 1 Peter 2:15 (NIV)

Silence Foolish Accusations

Let me tell you, I hate it when I am unfairly attacked. It bugs me, when foolish accusations have been unjustly made against me. Well, join the club. Get used to it, foolish accusations were made against me and I did nothing but good. There will be many times that you will suffer foolish accusations and unjust attacks simply because you are one of my followers. I get that. I am somewhat, not fully for sure, prepared for that to happen to me. When that happens to me, I will know and remember that I am in good company with you, as one of your followers. That’s right.

When you have been unjustly attacked by foolish accusations how have you responded to them? I’m sure that I have not responded as you would have wanted me to respond. Why do you say that? Well, when you were unjustly attacked by foolish accusations you didn’t respond to them. You just kept on doing all the good that your Heavenly Father had given you to do for Him. Yes, I did. You didn’t attempt to defend yourself. You didn’t seek to set the record straight. You didn’t put together your own counter attack. You didn’t play the game of “tit” for “tat”.  No, I did none of these things. Well, I have done all of these things when I have been unjustly acted by foolish accusations. Yes, I have noticed that you can be quite aggressive in seeking to defend yourself.

How has aggressively defending yourself against unjust and foolish accusations worked out for you? Not well at all. In some cases, I may have won a battle, but in doing so, I have lost a war. What do you mean by that? I may have cleared my name of one unjust foolish accusation. But, in clearing my name, I have certainly sullied it by getting down in the mud with those who unjustly accused me with false accusations. I lost sight of something far more important than my name. What’s that? What’s far more important than my name, is your name. Here I am here on this earth, hoping to live my life fully for you. I want to bring glory to your name. Trying to clear my name will never bring glory to your name. No, It will not. What do you wish you would have done when faced with unjust and foolish accusations? What will you do in the future instead? I will just keep on doing all the good that you have given me to do for you. That will make me able to continue to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, it will. Continuing to do all the good that I have given you to do for me will also silence many unjust and false accusations against you. You will shine brightly as one of my witnesses in the world. Now that is what I want.

Lord, I want to do all the good things you have given me to do. I want my life to silence foolish accusations from being made against me. I want my life to be a bright and shining witness for you as I bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… What are some good things that God has given you to do for Him?

Living It Out… Do all the good things that God gives you to do so that your life will silence foolish accusations against you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that doing the good things that God gives you to do will silence foolish accusations against you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how doing good things has silenced foolish accusations against you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live a life of doing good things that silences foolish people from making accusations against you.

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

God’s Will – 1 Peter 2:15 – Silence Ignorant Talk By Doing Good – Growing As 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

Continue To Do

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Hebrews 10:36 - Endurance - Continue to Do - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Hebrews 10:36 – Endurance – Continue to Do – Growing As Disciples

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:36 (NLT)

Endurance

Now, that’s a very important word. What’s that? Endurance, you won’t find many more important words than that one. Why is that? I will ask you a few questions. I will make a few statements. I’m listening. Do you know that I have called you by name? Do you know that I have forgiven all your sins and cleansed you of all your unrighteousness? I am your Savior and Lord. Do you know that I have adopted you into my family? I am your God and Father. You are my child. I am molding and shaping your life. I am making you to be the person that I want you to become. You are my masterpiece. I started my work in you on the day that you were born. I will continue my work in you until the day that you come to live forever in heaven with me. Do you know that I have a purpose and plan for your life? Do you know that I have good works prepared in advance for you to do for me? I have given you gifts, talents and abilities that you can use to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. I am with you. My hand is on your life. I will help you. I will strengthen and sustain you as you love, follow and serve me. How does all this sound so far? It sounds fantastic! I am so thankful for all that you have done, are doing and will do for me. That’s good. 

Life will get hard. Your road ahead will not always be easy. There will be twists and turns and ups and downs that you did not expect. You will suffer pain. You will experience loss. You will go through trials and testing. You will be faced with many questions. What questions will I need to answer? Will you continue to love, follow and serve me?  Will you hold on to me as I hold on to you? Will you patiently endure all that life throws at you? Will you come to rely on my strength? Will you seek my counsel? Will you trust in my wisdom? Will you keep on moving forward with me? Now, do you see why that word endurance is such an important word? Yes Lord, I do understand. I will endure. I will keep on loving, following and serving you. I will keep on doing the work that you have given me to do for you. I will rely on you to supply me with whatever I need. I will hold on to you as you hold on to me. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not give up. I will not slow down. I will not quit. I will patiently endure and continue to do your will. I will follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will not retreat. I will have no regrets. I will hold nothing in reserve. Amen

Key Question… What work has the Lord given you, so you can bear fruit for His kingdom and bring glory to His name?

Living It Out… Patiently endure and continue to do God’s will so that you will be able to receive all that has been promised.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will receive all that has been promised as you endure and patiently continue to do God’s will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are patiently enduring and continuing to do God’s will.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you with patient endurance continue to do God’s will.

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

God’s Will – Hebrews 10-36 – Continue To Do – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Take Up His Cross Daily And Follow Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Luke 9:23-24 - Take Up His Cross Daily And Follow Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Luke 9:23-24 – Take Up His Cross Daily And Follow Me – Growing As Disciples

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (NIV) 

Follow Me

I have called you to come to me. You have given yourself to me. I am your Savior and Lord. You have been following me to where I have been leading you. You have been doing all that I ask of you. You have given yourself fully to my service. It has been my joy to follow and serve you. My love for you motivates my heart. I want to go where you lead me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. It is no sacrifice for me to live my life fully for you. Knowing and doing your will is the desire of my heart. You have set me on fire. I am filled with passion to accomplish your purposes and fulfil your plans. That is very good.

The road ahead will not be easy. You will face difficulties. You will encounter challenges. You will be tested. Don’t grow weary. Don’t become faint. Don’t get discouraged. Keep your eyes on me. Keep on following me to where I lead you. Keep on doing all that I ask you. I will strengthen you. I will encourage you. I will revive and refresh and restore your soul as you keep on following me. Hold on to me as I hold on to you. I will hold on to you. I will rely on you for all that I need. I will trust you. I will not give up. I will not retreat. I will hold nothing in reserve. I will lose myself in your service. I will have no regrets. No, you will not.

I will use you. You will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. You will shine brightly in the darkness of this world. One day we will look back over your life together. You will hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You will know that I have used you to accomplish my purposes. You will know that you have fulfilled my plans because you will have loved and followed and served me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. I need or want nothing more than that. I am at your service. Here I am, lead me and I will follow you. Yes, you will.

Lord, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is my joy to go where you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. I will take up my cross daily so that I can follow and serve you. Use me for your purposes. Help me to accomplish your plans. Amen

Key Question… How is your love for the Lord motivating your desire to take up your cross daily to follow and serve Him?

Living It Out… Take up your cross daily so that you will be able to go and do all that the Lord asks of you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is asking you to take up your cross daily as you love, follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are taking up your cross daily to follow and serve the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…May you take up your cross daily as you love, follow and serve Jesus Christ.

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

God’s Will – Luke 9-23-24 – Take Up His Cross Daily And Follow Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Be Transformed

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Romans 12:1-2 - Be Transformed - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Romans 12:1-2 – Be Transformed – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Stop And Start 

I want to present my entire being to you as an act of worship. I want to live my life in a way that is completely pleasing to you. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to accomplish your purposes and plans. I don’t want my life to miss the mark. I don’t want to fall short of doing what you have planned for me to do for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. That’s very good.

How can I know and do your will? How can I live a life that is fully devoted to you? How can I present myself fully to you as an act of worship? Those are good questions. Why do you say that? By asking me your questions you are admitting to me that you need my help. That’s true. Only you can make me able to know and do your will. Only you can help me to live my life fully devoted to you as an act of worship. My own efforts will only result in miserable failure and certain defeat. I desperately need your help to live a life that is pleasing to you. Yes, you do. By asking me your questions you are also expressing faith that I will hear and answer your prayers. You do believe that there is way that I can and will help you to live a life that is fully devoted and pleasing to me. Yes, I do. That is very good.

To live your life as a living sacrifice that is fully devoted to me you must do two things. Just two things? Yes, just two things. You have my complete attention. What are these two things? You must stop letting the world conform you and start letting me transform you. How is the world trying to conform me? You tell me. The world and all that is in it is trying to mold and shape my life so that I think, speak and act like everyone else in the world. The world wants me to adopt all its values, patterns and practices. Everyday my heart and mind and life are being bombarded by everything that the world values. That’s right. How will I ever be able to be different from the world since I do live in it? You won’t without my help. The only way to stop letting the world conform you is by starting and continuing to let me transform you. How will you transform me? My process of transforming you started on the day that you asked me into your life as your Savior and Lord. On that day, I gave you a new heart and a new mind. I made you new in me. But, that was just the beginning. I want to make you new every day. I want to change your heart and transform your mind every day. How will you do that? I will use my word to change your heart and transform your mind. Instead of taking in all that the world is throwing at you, you must let my world dwell in you richly. You must meditate on my word day and night. You must come to meet with me in my word. Will you let my word change your heart and transform your mind? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I want a new heart and a new mind. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. I want you to give me a new way of thinking so I can know and do your will. Use my entire being, all that I am and hope to be, as a spiritual act of worship. Amen

Key Question… How are you using your entire being to follow and serve the Lord as a spiritual act of worship?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to transform your mind and the way you think so that you will be able to know and do His will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will transform your mind and the way that you think so that you can know and do His will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is transforming your mind and the way that you think.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to transform your mind and the way you think so you can know and do His will.

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

God’s Will – Romans 12-1-2 – Be Transformed – 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

Vengeance Is Mine

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Romans 12:17-19 - Vengeance Is Mine - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Romans 12:17-19 – Vengeance Is Mine – Growing As Disciples

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19 (ESV)

Scorecard

Do you keep a scorecard of those who have wronged you? Do you want to get even with those who have harmed you? Would you like to right every wrong and avenge every hurt? If you could, would you repay every evil with your very own evil? What can I say? You know every one of my thoughts, words and deeds. Nothing is hidden from you. Yes, I have kept a scorecard of those who have wronged me. I have been very slow to forgive and forget those who have harmed me. Even when I have forgiven others and let go of the pain that I have endured, I have almost never come to live in a restored relationship with those who have hurt me. That’s not good. Yes, I know.

If you know where you have fallen short and missed the mark, what would you like to do differently? I would like to forgive others just as you have forgiven me. I would like to love others just as you have loved me. That is very good. What else? I would like to leave revenge up to you. It is not my job to judge others. It is not my role to avenge wrongs that have been committed against me. I will leave all that up to you. That will be very good. What else? Instead of seeking to get even, I would like to do what is right and good to everyone. I would like to do what is honorable in the eyes of all. Including me? I especially want to do what is honorable in your eyes. I want to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. I want others to see your life being lived out in and through my life. That will be very good. What will you experience when you do what is honorable in the eyes of all? When I treat others with honor I will live in peace. I will make friends with those who have been my enemies. I will win over people who have been my adversaries. Yes, you will. Others will want the life that you will be living. They will want what you have. They will want to live in an intimate relationship with me. Will you let me use you in this way? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I will set aside vengeance and leave that to you. It’s not my role. It’s not my responsibility. Instead, I will think, speak and act in ways that are honorable to all. Help me to live in peace with others so I can be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Amen

Key Question… Why will seeking vengeance always come back to harm you even though it might seem justified?

Living It Out… Think, speak and act in ways that are honorable in the sight of all so you can live in peace with everyone.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that it will be far better to leave vengeance to the Lord rather than taking it on yourself.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are trying to do what is honorable to all.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your thoughts, words and deeds be honorable instead of repaying others with evil for evil.

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

God’s Will – Romans 12-17-19 – Vengeance Is Mine – 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

Hears These Words

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Matthew 7:24 - Hears These Words - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Matthew 7:24 – Hears These Words – Growing As Disciples

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24 (NIV)  

Withstanding Storms 

I want the foundation of my life to be secure. I want to build the foundation of my life on solid rock that will be able to withstand the storms of life. I do not want to build the foundation of my life on sand that will be swept away in a storm. Those are very wise and good desires. What material should become the foundation of my life? How can I live a life that will be able to withstand the storms of life? You are wise in knowing that you will certainly go through storms in life. In this broken world that has been corrupted by sin, storms are certain to come your way. You are wise in asking how you can live a life that will be able to withstand the storms of life. Your faith has helped you to believe that I can and will help you to withstand the storms of life. You have asked an excellent question about how to build a sure and rock solid foundation.

If you want to build your life on a rock-solid foundation you must come to me and do two things. Coming to me will mean that you will be relying on me to build the foundation of your life. You are not the builder of your own foundation. Your hard work and your own effort will not build a rock-solid foundation for your life. Will you come to me so that I can build a rock-solid foundation for your life? Yes Lord, I will come to you. I will rely on you to build the foundation of my life. That will be very good.

What are the two things I must do to build a rock-solid foundation for my life? Never think that you are a passive participant in my building the foundation of your life. The two things that you must do will require your best effort and all your strength. Are you ready to hear what I have to say to you? Yes Lord, I am ready to hear all that you have to say to me. That’s good, because the first thing you must do is listen to my word. You must come to meet with me in my word. You must listen carefully to all that I have to say to you. You must take my word into your heart and mind and life. You must make my word your very own. You must hold on to my word. You must claim my word. You must pray my word. You must allow my word to dwell in you richly. You must allow my word to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life. Does this sound easy to you? No, it does not sound easy to me. That’s good, as I have said, hearing my word will require your best effort and all your strength. I understand, what else must I do to allow you to build a rock-solid foundation for my life? You must put my word in practice. It will not be enough for you to only hear my word. You must do what my word says. Will you hear my word and put it in practice? Yes Lord, I will. Then your life will have a rock-solid foundation that will withstand the storms of life. 

Lord, I will listen attentively to your word. I will let your word soak into my heart and mind and life. I will allow your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. I will make sure to put your word into practice as I love, follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question… What from God’s word have you recently heard and put into practice?

Living It Out… Make hearing and putting God’s word into practice the daily pattern of your life.

Seeing It Happen… Share with another person or your small group how you are hearing and putting God’s word into practice.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your love for God is keeping you from loving the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hear God’s word and put it into practice so that your life will be built on a firm foundation.

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

God’s Will – Matthew 7-24 – Hears These Words – 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

Friendship With The World

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - James 4-4-6 - Friendship With The World - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – James 4-4-6 – Friendship With The World – Growing As Disciples

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:4-6 (NIV)

Path Of Life

At one time, I was in love with the world. My whole life was one long pursuit of all that the world had to offer. I wanted to acquire riches. I wanted to own an abundance of material possessions. I wanted to live in comfort and experience pleasure. No matter how much I secured for myself, I felt empty and unsatisfied in life. Acquiring the next, latest and greatest, thing did not bring me the joy that it had promised. Chasing after the world and that it had to offer, required a lot of pushing and shoving to advance my own interests. In the process, I was left bruised and battered and broken by the life I was living, as I continued to walk on a path that led further and further away from you. That’s not good.

When I couldn’t stand the brokenness and emptiness of my life any longer, I cried out to you. You heard and answered my cry for help. Now, I know that you had been pursuing me, all along, even as I was walking on a path away from you. You wouldn’t let me keep on walking away from you. No, I would not. You turned my life around. You brought me to yourself. You helped me to turn away from the sinful and worldly pursuits of my broken life. You showed me your love by forgiving my sins and cleansing me of all my unrighteousness. You healed my bruised and battered and broken life. You filled me with your Spirit. You gave my life hope and meaning and purpose. You gave me a new direction. You set my life on a new path of loving and following and serving you. Yes, I did. 

Now, I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I love you because you first loved me. You are drawing near to me as I draw near to you. Yes, I am.  The world and my old life is now behind me. You and my new life are before me. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. It will be my joy to live my life with and for you. That will be very good. 

Do you have something that you would like to ask me? Do you have a question that is on your mind? Yes Lord, I have one request. As I love, follow and serve you, I ask that you keep and guard my heart. Protect me from the allure of the world and all its evil desires. Help me to continue to leave the world and all its evil desires behind me. Keep me humbly walking on the path of life as I follow you.  I have heard and I will answer your prayer. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, at one time I loved the world and everything in it. I chased after the world and all it had to offer. The world was not what I wanted. I wanted you. Let my love for you, with all my heart and mind and soul and strength, keep me from loving the world. Amen

Key Question… When have you learned that loving the world, and all that it offers, will never satisfy you?

Living It Out… Allow your love God, with all your heart and mind and soul and strength, to keep you from loving the world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your love for God will keep you from loving the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your love for God is keeping you from loving the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love God with all your heart and not become a friend of the world.

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

God’s Will – James 4-4-6 – Friendship With The World – 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

Worship The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gods' Will - Psalm 96:7-9 - Worship The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gods’ Will – Psalm 96:7-9 – Worship The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Psalm 96:7-9 (ESV)

Open Eyes

I need your help. In what way are you thinking that you need my help? I know that you don’t need to ask me that question. You’re right, I didn’t ask you that question because I don’t know the answer. I asked that question because I want you to talk to me about the help that you need. I’m not very good at recognizing your activity in my life. I’m not very good at recognizing your activity in the world. I’m sure that you are very active in both the world and in my life. Yes, I am. Why don’t I notice? Am I not paying close attention? Am I too busy doing something else? Am I distracted? Is my antenna not up? Am I completely dense to what is happening all around me? What do you think? I don’t know what to think. I will tell you one thing. What’s that? I would like to be able to recognize your activity in my life and in the world around me.

Your desire to recognize my activity in your life and in the world around you is a good desire. That desire you have in your heart comes from me. Your desire to recognize my activity is part of your desire to know me. It is? Yes, you have told me that you want to know my will and walk in my ways. How can you know my will and walk in my ways, if you can’t recognize my activity in the world or in your life? I can’t, that’s why I need your help. That’s right.

What do you think you will need to do if you want to be able to recognize my activity in the world and in your life? I will need to ask for your help and then I will need to pay attention. That’s right. What else? What do you mean by asking me that? Why do you want to be able to recognize my activity? I want to be able to join you in what you are doing in the world and in my life. That’s right. That’s good. What will you do after you have recognized and joined me in what I am doing? I don’t know. Will you give thanks to me? Will you praise my name? Will you be thankful for what I have shown you? Will you be grateful for my activity in the world and in your life? Yes, I will. Then keep asking for my help to see my activity. Keep your heart and mind and eyes open. Then be ready to join me in what I am doing. Give me your thanks, and praise and worship for what I have done, am doing and will do. Will you do all these things? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will be able to recognize my activity in the world and in your life.  

Lord, thank for your activity in the world. Thank you for your activity in my life. Thank you for helping me to recognize your activity in the world and in my life. I give you all my thanks and praise and worship for the glory, majesty and goodness of your activity. Amen

Key Question… How are you recognizing the activity of God in your life?

Living It Out… Give the Lord your thanks and praise for all His activity in your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is worthy of your praise for all His activity in your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are thanking God for His activity in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you recognize and praise God for His activity in your life.

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

God’s Will – Psalm 96-7-9 – Worship The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Take Up His Cross Daily And Follow Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Luke 9:23-24 - Take Up His Cross Daily And Follow Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Luke 9:23-24 – Take Up His Cross Daily And Follow Me – Growing As Disciples

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (NIV) 

Follow Me

I have called you to come to me. You have given yourself to me. I am your Savior and Lord. You have been following me to where I have been leading you. You have been doing all that I ask of you. You have given yourself fully to my service. It has been my joy to follow and serve you. My love for you motivates my heart. I want to go where you lead me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. It is no sacrifice for me to live my life fully for you. Knowing and doing your will is the desire of my heart. You have set me on fire. I am filled with passion to accomplish your purposes and fulfil your plans. That is very good.

The road ahead will not be easy. You will face difficulties. You will encounter challenges. You will be tested. Don’t grow weary. Don’t become faint. Don’t get discouraged. Keep your eyes on me. Keep on following me to where I lead you. Keep on doing all that I ask you. I will strengthen you. I will encourage you. I will revive and refresh and restore your soul as you keep on following me. Hold on to me as I hold on to you. I will hold on to you. I will rely on you for all that I need. I will trust you. I will not give up. I will not retreat. I will hold nothing in reserve. I will lose myself in your service. I will have no regrets. No, you will not.

I will use you. You will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. You will shine brightly in the darkness of this world. One day we will look back over your life together. You will hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You will know that I have used you to accomplish my purposes. You will know that you have fulfilled my plans because you will have loved and followed and served me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. I need or want nothing more than that. I am at your service. Here I am, lead me and I will follow you. Yes, you will.

Lord, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is my joy to go where you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. I will take up my cross daily so that I can follow and serve you. Use me for your purposes. Help me to accomplish your plans. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord asked you to do something that you would rather not do?

Living It Out… Take up your cross daily so that you will be able to go and do all that the Lord asks of you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is asking you to take up your cross daily as you love, follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are taking up your cross daily to follow and serve the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take up your cross daily as you love, follow and serve Jesus Christ.

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

God’s Will – Luke 9-23-24 – Take Up His Cross Daily And Follow 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

His Purpose

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Romans 8:28-29 - His Purpose - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Romans 8:28-29 – His Purpose – Growing As Disciples

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)

Called

You have been called to live your life according to my purposes. I will guide you to fulfill my plans. My hand is on you. I will guide you. I will direct. I will use you. What will I look like? Where will you guide me? What will you have me do? Those are good questions. Let’s start with your first question. You will look like my Son. It is your destiny to look and think and act like Him. Day by day, I will conform you to His image. I will mold and shape your life. I will give you new thoughts to think. I will give you new words to speak. I will give you new deeds to do. You will leave behind your old dark and sinful life that you once lived. You will live the new life that I have called you to live.

You are wondering where I will guide you? Yes, I am. You would like a road map to follow. You would like your course laid out neatly and completely before you. Yes, I would. That would not be good. Why is that? If I laid out a detailed and complete road map for your life you would react in two undesirable ways. How would I react? You would see the course of your life and turn away. You would run away. You would retreat. You would rebel. You would think that I have asked too much of you. You would say that I was asking the impossible. You would be partly right. I will ask too much of you. I will ask you to do the impossible. Why is that? I will do in and through what can only be done with my help. I will call you to come to rely on me. If I asked you to do only what you could easily do, would you come to rely on me? I suppose not. That brings us to the second reason why you will never receive a detailed road map from me. I’m listening. If I gave you a detailed road map for your life there would also be times when you would think that you could handle what is ahead without my help. Again, you would you begin to rely on yourself. That is not what I want. That is not my plan. You will only live your life according to my call and purpose if you come to rely on me. Will you rely on me? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will rely on you every step of my life. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. I will allow you to mold and shape my life down to the finest detail. Make me to look and think and act like your Son. Yes, I will.

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you have called me to come to you. You have destined me to look and think and act like your Son. Mold and shape my life. Guide and direct my path. Lead to where you want me to be. Give me what you want me to do. Amen

Key Question… When has it taken many years to look back to see how God brought good out of a difficult and painful trial?

Living It Out… Allow yourself to be transformed by God so that you will be able to think and speak and act like His Son.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be able to bring good out of the most difficult and painful trials in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has brought good out of difficult and painful trials.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live your life according to the purposes of God.

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

God’s Will – Romans 8-28-30 – His Purpose – 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