Category Archives: 365 Days Of Guidance

Claims To Have Faith

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 45 - James 2:14-17 - Claims To Have Faith - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 45 – James 2:14-17 – Claims To Have Faith – Growing As Disciples

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17 (NIV)

Real Faith

There are two things about which I don’t want you to be confused. What are they? You know that my salvation is a free gift. You know that you cannot earn or in any way merit your salvation. You know that you cannot make yourself acceptable in my sight. My Son came into this world to die and pay for your sins. In faith you turned away from your sins and accepted Him into your life as your Savior and Lord. Yes, your Son, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He forgave my sin and cleansed me of all my unrighteous. He made me acceptable in your sight. Yes, He did. This is first of all what I want you to be clear about. I understand. By faith, Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord. By faith, you are my God and Father. By faith, I know that I am filled with your Holy Spirit. What else do you want me to be clear about?

Your faith in me is real and alive and active. Your faith in me will show itself to the world. How will my faith in you show itself to the world? I will be working in and through your life every day. I will open your eyes to what I want you to see. I will open your ears to what I want you to hear. I will open your heart to what I want you to do. Because of your faith in me, you will want to do what I ask of you. Because of your love for me, you will want to do what I have given you to do for me. You will want to go where I send you. You will want to do what I ask of you. Does this sound like a hard and burdensome task to you? No, not at all, it will be my pleasure and joy to serve you. I want to be used by you. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. Yes, I know that is what you want to do for me. You will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name, as your faith in me is real and alive and active. This is very clear to me. This is the desire of my heart that is filled with real faith in you.  That is very good.

Lord, I want my faith in you to be real and alive and active. I want my faith in you to be demonstrafyted to the world. Open my eyes to see how you want to use me. Open my heart to do good deeds you have given me to do. Draw others to you through my faith. Amen

Key Question…  What good works has the Lord done through your life because of your faith in Him?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to work through your life so your faith will be alive and demonstrated to others in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will work through your life in ways that will demonstrate your faith to the world.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is working through your life and demonstrating your faith.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your faith in the Lord be demonstrated to the world today.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 45 – Claims To Have Faith – 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

For God So Loved

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 44- John 3:16-18 - For God So Loved - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 44- John 3:16-18 – For God So Loved – Growing As Disciples

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.  John 3:16-18

Certainty

How can you be certain that I love you?  The answer to that question seems quite clear to me. You sent your one and only Son into the world to die for my sins. Who would do such a thing, no one that I know on this earth.  It had to have taken desperate circumstances for you to make that drastic choice. Well, you were living far from me in a dark, sin filled life. You were on a path headed away from me, to an eternity without me. Is there any situation more drastic than that?  No, I’m sure that no circumstance could be more drastic than that.

Why was it necessary for me to send my Son into the world for you?  There was no other way to erase the stain of my sin. My sin separated me from you. We could not live in a relationship together. There was nothing that I could do to erase my sin. I couldn’t earn your forgiveness. No matter how hard I would try to live a good life I would never be pure in your sight. You are Holy and I was not.  It took your Son’s blood shed on the cross to wash away my sins so I could be forgiven and cleansed of all my unrighteousness.  Yes, it did. Now, you are holy in my sight because of all that my Son has done for you. Now, we can live in a relationship together. For that I am so thankful.

Let’s talk about believing. For quite awhile you believed all the important facts about my Son, didn’t you? Yes, I did. Did you really believe in Him then? You must have heard me say, “I believe everything about Jesus Christ but what difference does that make to me?” Yes, I heard that. At that time, I didn’t really believe in him. Explain that. Well, I certainly hadn’t turned away from my sin. I didn’t ask for or want forgiveness of my sins. I was enjoying my sin. One day that all changed didn’t it? Yes, it did. I had to hit rock bottom before I was ready to turn away from my sin and ask for your Son’s forgiveness and cleansing of my sin. But, you did that.  Yes, I did.

What has happened to your life since you began to follow my Son as your Savior and Lord? Well, the whole course of my life has changed as a result. How so? I now want to follow Him. What’s that mean?  I want to go where He guides me, to do all that He asks of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name.  I’m living my life according to your will, instead of my own. It is my joy to serve you. It is my desire to know you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I know for sure that you are my Father and I am your child.  Yes, you are. I am certain that I have already started to live the eternal life that I have in you. Yes, you have.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and sending your Son into the world to die for my sins. I believe in Jesus Christ and I’m following Him as my Savior and Lord. I look forward to the day when I will live in heaven with you. Amen

Key Question…  How has believing in Jesus Christ changed the entire course of your life?

Living It Out…  Believe in Jesus Christ and receive forgiveness of all your sins so you can live forever in heaven with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that by believing in Jesus Christ you will be forgiven of your sins and be able to live in Heaven with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you came to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savor and Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you follow Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 44 – John 3-16-18 – For God So Loved – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Please HIs Neighbor

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 43 - Romans 15:1-3 - Please His Neighbor - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 43 – Romans 15:1-3 – Please His Neighbor – Growing As Disciples

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” Romans 15:1-3 (NKJV)

Out Of My Way

Are you willing to go out of your way for others? Are you willing to be inconvenienced in order to serve people in need? Will you do for others what I have done for you? Will you humble yourself and take on the form of a servant? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me. Will you set aside your comfort and pleasure to serve me? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me. Will you give your time, talent, and resources to those who are in need? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me.

I’m asking you to open your eyes to those who are in need all around you. I’m asking you to soften your heart to those who need your help. I’m asking you to reach out your hands to those I want you to serve. Will you do this for me? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me. 

Haven’t I shown you how to live? Haven’t I shown you what I want you to do? Haven’t I been your example? Do you want to do for others what I have done for you? I’m thinking of a question that I dare not ask. I don’t want to seem ungrateful. Go ahead and ask it. I won’t think that you are ungrateful. I want to hear your answer so that I can serve you more fully. I want to be like you. I want to do what you have done. I want to give like you gave. I want to love like you loved. I want to live like you lived. So, here is my question, “What have you done for me?” I left heaven to come to earth for you. I became a man so that you could know me. I gave up all my rights. I humbled myself and took on the form of a servant. I allowed myself to be spurned and rejected. I allowed myself to be hurt and humiliated. I allowed myself to be crucified on a cross so that you could be forgiven of all your sins and cleansed of all your unrighteousness. I gave you salvation as a free gift. You will now live forever in heaven with me. I am so thankful for all that you have done for me. You went way out of your way for me. You gave everything that you had to give. You didn’t hold back anything. Is that what you will do for me? Will you give me all that you have to give? Will you go way out of your way to serve me? Will you go out of your way to serve others? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not live to please myself. I will not live for my own comfort and convenience. Help me to go out of my way to help people in need. Use me to always encourage, build up, and strengthen those who are weak in their faith.  Amen

Key Question…  How are you following Jesus Christ as your role model for going out of your way to help someone in need?

Living It Out…  Go out of your way to help people who are in need and especially those who are weak in their faith.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use you to encourage and strengthen those who are weak in their faith.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to strengthen others in their faith.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you go out of your way to help people in need and especially those who are weak in their faith.

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

365 Days of Guidance – Day 43 – Romans 15-1-3 – Please HIs Neighbor – 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 You Forgive Others

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 42 - Matthew 6:14-15 - If You Forgive Others - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 42 – Matthew 6:14-15 – If You Forgive Others – Growing As Disciples

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)

Forgiveness

You have said that you want to know me. You have told me that you want to be like me. Is this true? Yes, I want to know you. Yes, I want to be like you. You want to know my will and walk in my ways. You want to join me in what I am doing. Is this true as well? Yes, I want to know your will, walk in your ways, and join you in what you are doing. These are very good desires that you have in your heart and on your mind. I have one more question for you. Go ahead, ask me, I’m listening. What do you think I’m doing? That seems like an impossible question. How can I possibly know what you are doing? I will ask you a different question? What have a done for you? I could answer that question a thousand different ways. You have done so much for me. However, I think you are looking for one particular answer at this moment. Yes, I am. Do you have the answer that I am looking for? I think so. You forgave my sins. Yes, I did. That is exactly the answer I was looking for. Did I forgive some of your sins, or did I forgive you of all your sins? You forgave me of all my sins. Yes, that is exactly what I did for you. Once I forgave your sins what were we able to do together? We were able to live in a relationship with each other. Nothing separated us from each other. There was no longer a wall that divided us from each other. Yes, that’s right.

Now, I have another question for you. Ask, away. If you want to be like me and join me in what I am doing what will you do for others?  I see where this conversation is headed. I have some barriers that exist with some people. Like who? There are people that have hurt me.  I could say that they have sinned against me. I don’t really like them. I don’t want to be around them. If I never saw them again that would be just fine with me. Are you still holding on to bitterness towards them? Have you forgiven them of what they have done to you? I’m still bitter. I’m still hurt. I’m pretty sure that I haven’t forgiven them yet. This is a new day, isn’t it? You no longer need to carry bitterness and unforgiveness. You can be set free from carrying that heavy burden. How is that? Oh, I’m sure that you know the answer to that question. You want me to forgive others just as you have forgiven me. Yes, I do. Is that what you want to do? Is that what you will do? Yes Lord, I will let go of bitterness and unforgiveness. I will forgive others just as you have forgiven me. I will set down the heavy burden that I have been carrying. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving me of all my sins. Help me to do for others what you have done for me. Just as you have forgiven me, so I will also forgive everyone who has sinned against me. Help me to both give and receive your forgiveness. Amen

Key Question…  Why is it critically important that you forgive others just as you have been forgiven?

Living It Out…  Forgive others who have sinned against you, just as your Heavenly Father has forgiven your sins against Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your Heavenly Father will forgive all your sins just as you have also forgiven others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how forgiving others has brought God’s healing into your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you forgive others just as your Heavenly Father has forgiven you.

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

Guidance – Day 42 – Matthew 6-14-15 – If You Forgive Others – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

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

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

 

Hearer Of The Word

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 41 - James 1:22-25 - Hearer Of The Word - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 41 – James 1:22-25 – Hearer Of The Word – Growing As Disciples

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25 (ESV)

Hearing And Doing

Do you want my blessing to be on your life? Do you want to live in the freedom that I have secured for you? Yes, of course I want your blessing to be on my life. Yes, I want to live in the freedom that you have secured for me. If you want to receive my blessing and live in my freedom there are two things that you must do without fail. What are they? What does my word tell you? You want me to hear your word. You want me to listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. You don’t want half-hearted listening or quick glances into your word on my part. No, I do not. You want me to look intently into your word. You want your word to be in my heart and on my mind continually. You want me to focus all my attention on your word. Yes, I do. Why do you think I want you to give attention to my word? Your word is how you will speak to me. Your word is the foundation of our relationship. The only way that I will come to know you is by listening to your word. That’s right.

If you want to receive my blessing and live in the freedom that I have secured for you what else must you do? I must put your word into practice. How will you begin to put my word into practice? I will start putting your word into practice by listening attentively to your word. As I listen to your word, you will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, I will. Listening to your word will change the thoughts of my mind, and the desires of my heart. That’s true. As I continue to listen attentively to your word it will become my joy and desire to know your will and walk in your ways. It will be no burden for me to follow and obey you. It will be no heavy task to put your word into practice. It will be the desire of my heart to live my live fully and completely for you. How do you know this to be true? It is now my desire to do whatever pleases you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am receiving your blessings and living in your freedom. Yes, you are. Thank you, Lord.

 Lord, I will not allow myself to be fooled. I will both hear and do your word. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. I will remember to put into practice all that you have to teach me. I will live in all the freedom that your word will give to me. Amen

Key Question…  When have you recently put something into practice that you heard from God’s word?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to God’s word so you will be able put it into practice as you follow Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will bless your life as you listen to and put His word into practice.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has blessed your life as you have heard and done His word.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be both a hearer and doer of God’s word.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 41 – James 1-22-25 – Hearer Of The Word – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

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

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

Any Of You Lacks Wisdom

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 40 - James 1:5-8 - Any Of You Lacks Wisdom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 40 – James 1:5-8 – Any Of You Lacks Wisdom – Growing As Disciples

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8 (NIV)

Sure

 Do you lack wisdom? That’s a very good question. It’s very important that you are very sure of your answer. Why is that? If you are not completely convinced that you need wisdom, then you will never ask me for it. Oh, you may make some feeble, half-hearted request for wisdom from me. You will not really expect an answer from me. You almost certainly will not wait for me to answer your request. I get it. What makes you so certain that you really do lack wisdom? My experience tells me that I lack wisdom. Are you telling me that you have at least enough wisdom to know that you desperately lack wisdom? I guess so. Why is that? Take a look at my life and the history of my own decisions. When I have relied solely on my own wisdom I have had a history of making dumb decisions and stupid mistakes. My decision-making has been astoundingly poor. I’ve noticed that. So, there is no, “if” about it? You are absolutely certain that you need wisdom from me? Yes, I have no doubt in my mind that I need all the wisdom that you will give to me. Is your need for wisdom strong enough for you to passionately ask me for my wisdom? Yes, it is. Is your need for wisdom strong enough for you to wait for me to answer your request? Yes, without a doubt. That is very good. For you to ever receive wisdom from me you must be sure enough that you need it, so that you will ask for it. For you to ever receive wisdom from me, you must also be sure enough that you need it, that you will wait for it from me.  I will ask for and wait for your wisdom. That is very good, but there is more that you must be sure of if you want my wisdom. What else must I be sure of?

Do you believe that I will hear and answer your request for wisdom? Do you believe that I will generously give you my wisdom when you ask for it? Are you sure that I will give you wisdom without finding fault in you for asking for it? Lord, I believe that you will give me wisdom when I ask for it. I have no doubt about that. I have no doubt in you. I know that if I don’t have faith in you, I shouldn’t bother asking you for wisdom. Why is that? You will not answer a doubting, double minded request for wisdom. That’s right. I am sure that I need your wisdom. I am sure that you will give me your wisdom as I ask you for it. So, I am asking you for your wisdom now. I am waiting for your wisdom now. That is very good.

Lord, there is no “if” about it. I’m sure I need your wisdom. I’m also sure you will generously give me your wisdom when I ask for it. I’m asking you for your wisdom. Guard and guide my life with your wisdom. Stabilize my thoughts and ways with your wisdom. Amen

Key Question…  How sure are you that you don’t have the wisdom that you need to live your life?

Living It Out…  With a heart filled with faith ask God for His wisdom to guard and guide your life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will generously give you His wisdom when you ask Him for it.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has generously given you His wisdom.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask God for all the wisdom that you will need from Him.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 40 – James 1-5-8 – Any Of You Lacks Wisdom – 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

Fix Our Eyes On Jesus

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide -365 Days Of Guidance - Day 39 - Hebrews 12:2-3 - Fix Our Eyes On Jesus - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide -365 Days Of Guidance – Day 39 – Hebrews 12:2-3 – Fix Our Eyes On Jesus – Growing As Disciples

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

Eyes On You

What are your eyes fixed on? What has your attention? I’m not really sure how to answer those questions. What occupies your attention and what your eyes are fixed will guide the course of your life. Then my answer to your questions is very important Yes, it is.  To the extent that your eyes and focus are on me, I will be guiding your life. If my eyes and focus turn away from you then I am likely to wander off the path that you are leading me on. That’s right. I will waste time and effort on things of this world that are ultimately not that important. I will expend my energy and strength on what will not bear fruit for your kingdom and your glory. I will grow weary and lose heart once I see how little impact my life is making for you. Yes, you’ve got that right.

The problem of not focusing on me is larger than you may realize. How is that? I am the author and perfecter of your faith. Without keeping your eyes on me you can’t really live the life that I have laid out for you. You are not the author of your faith. I am the author of your faith. What does the author of the story know that the reader cannot know? The reader follows the story and only learns of the story while reading what the author has written. Keeping your eyes and focus on me is like reading the story of your faith. You will only know where I am leading you by following me. You will only know what I am asking of you by obeying me. The story of your life of faith with me will unfold little by little, day by day, as you keep your eyes and focus on me. I get it.

How hard has it been to keep your eyes and focus on me? It has been very hard to keep my eyes and focus on you. Why is that? The world and everything in it tries to demand my attention. The commitments that are before me grab a hold of my time. The noise of life makes it hard for me to listen to you and keep my focus on you and the life that you have for me. The pace of life wears me out and throws my life completely out of balance. So, the challenge of keeping your eyes and focus on me is great? Yes, it is. What will help you to keep your eyes and focus on me? Meeting everyday with you in your word will help me to keep my eyes and focus on you. Is that what you will do? Yes, it is. I will be looking and waiting for you to come to meet with me. I have a time and place set to meet with you. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you that you are the author and perfecter of my faith. I will follow you. I will keep and my eyes on you. Help me to endure whatever opposition I will face in life. Strengthen me so I will not grow weary or lose heart.  Amen

Key Question…  How would your life change if you continually fixed your eyes on Jesus?

Living It Out…  Fix your eyes on Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith, so will not grow weary or loose heart.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that as you fix your eyes on Jesus you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are fixing your eyes on Jesus Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you fix your eyes on Jesus so you to not grow weary or lose heart.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 39 – Hebrews 12-2-3 – Hebrews 12-2-3 – Fix Our Eyes on Jesus – 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

Know How To Answer Everyone

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Colossians 4:6 - Know How To Answer Everyone - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Colossians 4:6 – Know How To Answer Everyone – Growing As Disciples

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

Salt

Let’s talk about that word salt. What do you want to say to me about salt? You like salt quite a bit. Yes, I do. Is there anything that you don’t salt before you eat it?  You’ve noticed? There isn’t anything that I don’t notice. Yes, I salt almost everything I eat even without tasting it first. Why is that? I like the way that salt makes my food taste. What would your food taste like without salt? My food would taste bland without salt. You might want to lay off some of the salt. Too much salt isn’t good for you. I want you to live a long life as my servant in the world. That isn’t why I brought up the subject of salt, however. What do you want to say to me?

I want you to be like salt in the world. The world is bland and tasteless. I want your life to be a witness for me in the world. How you live and all that you say and all that you do will be like salt seasoning the world with my goodness, kindness, mercy, and love. Then all my words and actions better taste good to those around me. I don’t want to add a bad flavor to the world. You’re getting the idea. What you will add to the world, as my witness, will be different and attractive. Your life will look and taste good to others. Others will be drawn to you because I am living inside of you. People will be drawn to you because they will wonder what makes you so different. They will want to know why you are so loving, kind, and gracious. They will see that you forgive others even when you have been wronged. They will want what you have. They will want to live the kind of life that you are living. They will ask you about the hope that you have in you. Then you will have an opportunity to tell others about me. What if other people are not drawn to me? What if I don’t look and taste good to those who don’t know you? What if they don’t want to live the life that I am living? Those are good questions. What do you think might be the answers? If people are not asking me why I am so different, that would mean that I am not living as your salt in the world. It would mean that others are not seeing your goodness, kindness, mercy, and love in me. At that point I would desperately need your help. Yes, that’s right. Will you ask for my help to make you my salt in the world? Yes Lord, I want to be your witness in the world. I want you to use me for your kingdom and glory. I want others to be drawn to you through my life. Then come to me now. You will have all the help from me that you will ever need. Thank you, Lord.

 Lord, thank for giving me a new life to live and a new hope to share. Help me to live my new life in a way that is attractive to others. Give me kind, gracious, and life-giving words of faith so I will always be ready to share the hope I have in you. Amen

Key Question…  When has your kind and gracious manner caused others to want to know more about your faith in Christ?

Living It Out…  Be always ready to share with others the faith that you have in Jesus Christ.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use your kind and gracious words as a witness for Him in the world.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group when you have had an opportunity to share your faith with someone.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you always be ready to graciously share with others the faith you have in Jesus Christ.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 38 – Colossians 4-6 – Know How To Answer Everyone – 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

Renewed Like The Eagle’s

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Study - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 37 - Psalm 103:1-5 - Renewed Like The Eagle's - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 37 – Psalm 103:1-5 – Renewed Like The Eagle’s – Growing As Disciples

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits– who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV)

Don’t Forget 

Does all that is within you praise me? Do you think about all that I have done for you? Do you remember to give thanks to me? Not all that is within me gives praise to you. A lot of the time, I don’t think about or remember all that you have done for me. I’m sorry about that. I ask for your forgiveness for being so forgetful. You have my forgiveness. I am thankful for all that you have done for me. I want to live with the conscious awareness of all that you have done, are doing, and will do for me. Keeping my heart and mind on your activity in my life will only bring joy and blessing into my heart. Why is that? Living more aware of your activity will help me to know that you are always with me. Living more aware of your activity will help me to join you in what you are doing all around me. Living more aware of your activity will give me joy and fill me with the desire to thank and praise you. Yes, it will. I don’t want to live in a fog of forgetfulness. I don’t want to be blind to your working. I don’t want to be empty and joyless and ungrateful because I can’t see and remember your blessings. I need your help. Open my eyes. Help me what you have done, are doing, and will do in my life and in the world around me. Is that a prayer? Is that what you are asking of me? Yes, it is the desire of my heart to know you, to walk in your ways, to join you in what you are doing, and to live a life filled with joy and thankfulness. I want my life to give you glory, and to overflow with thanksgiving and praise to you.

If that is your prayer then here is what I want you to do. I’m listening. Yes, I can see that. At the end of each day reflect on what you have to be thankful for. Consider all that I have done. Make a list if you must. Then give thanks and praise to me. In this way you will learn to see and remember all that I have done. In this way you will learn to give thanks and praise to me. As you give thanks and praise to me you will be filled with joy. You will become aware of what I am doing. You will join me in the work that I have prepared for you to do. Will you do what I am asking of you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, you have blessed my life. You have pulled me out of darkness and redeemed my life. You have forgiven my sins and cleansed my unrighteousness. You have renewed my life and granted me the desires of my heart. I give all my thanks and praise to you. Amen

Key Question…  When do you sit down to consider all the ways that the Lord has blessed your life?

Living It Out…  Remember all that the Lord has done for you so you can continually offer praise and thanks to Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord is worthy of all your praise and thanks for all He has done for you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what helps you to remember and give thanks to God for all he has done.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you continually remember all that the Lord has done for you so you can continually praise and thank Him.

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

365 Days of Guidance – Day 37 – Psalm 103-1-5 – Renewed Like The Eagle’s – 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

Equipped For Every Good Work

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Study - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 36 - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - Equipped For Every Good Work - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 36 – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Equipped For Every Good Work – Growing As Disciples

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) 

Thoroughly Equipped

Do you want to be thoroughly equipped to do the work that I have given you to do for me? Yes, of course I would like to be thoroughly equipped and completely prepared to do the work that you have given me to do for you. Why would anyone want anything else but that? What point would there be in trying to serve you without being prepared? How would I ever be able to bear fruit for you if I wouldn’t let you prepare me to do what you have asked of me? Without your preparation I would be headed toward certain frustration and failure. I know that apart from you I can do nothing. That’s right. I know that apart from you, I have no chance of bearing fruit that will last for all eternity. That’s right.

How well would you like to be equipped and prepared? I want to be as equipped and prepared as you will make me. How long do you think I might have you in a time of training, equipping, and preparation? I’m not sure. Why are you asking me these questions? Your attitude and commitment will factor into how well you will be trained, equipped, and prepared to serve me. What do you mean by that? If you think that my training, preparing, and equipping will be quick and easy, you will not continue to let me train you. If you are half-hearted in your commitment, your training will be greatly hindered. Let me ask you a few of questions. I’m listening. How well did I use Moses? How long was Moses in training before I used him to lead my people out of Egypt? Was Moses’ training, equipping, and preparation, quick and easy? You used Moses in a way that changed the course of history and the destiny of your people. Yes, I did. Moses spent two thirds of his life in training before you used him to lead your people out of Egypt. Yes, that’s right. His training was anything but quick and easy. His training was long and never ending. Why do you say that? Well, I don’t think you ever stopped training, equipping, and preparing Moses to keep on doing what you asked of Him. No, I did not. Are you willing to allow me to train, equip, and prepare you today and tomorrow and up until the last day of your life? Yes Lord, I am willing. So, are you willing to go through training that is not quick and easy? Are you willing to go through training that is long and difficult? Yes Lord, I will go through whatever training you have in mind for me. That will be very good.

What do you think I will use to train, equip, and prepare you? I think you will use all of life to train me. I think you will use situations and circumstances of every kind to train, equip, and prepare me. Yes, that’s right. That however was not the answer that I was looking for from you. Try again. You will use your word to train, equip, and prepare me. That’s right. I will use my word to speak into your life. I will use my word to train, equip, and prepare you in all the situations and circumstances you will face in life. I get it. You said you wanted to be well trained, equipped, and prepared? Yes, I did. Then what do you think will be required of you? I will need to spend a lot of time with you in your word. Will you meet with me in my word so I can train you? Yes, I will. Will you meet with me every day, in my word, so you can be well trained, equipped, and prepared? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will meet with you in your word. I will allow your word to speak into my life. May your word teach, rebuke, correct, and train me in righteousness so I can be thoroughly equipped to do every good work you have given me to do for you. Amen

Key Question…  What has God’s word taught you to equip you for every good work?

Living It Out…  Meet with God in His word so He can speak into your life and prepare you to do the work He has given to you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God’s word will thoroughly equip you to 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’s word has been preparing you to do good works for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you meet with God in His word so He can prepare you to do good works.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 36 – 2 Timothy 3-16-17 – Equipped For Every Good Work – 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