Category Archives: 365 Days Of Promises

Teaches Us To Say No To Ungodliness

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 245 - Titus 2:11-15 - Teach Us To Say No To Ungodliness - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 245 – Titus 2:11-15 – Teach Us To Say No To Ungodliness – Growing As Disciples

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. Titus 2:11-15 (NIV)  

A Godly And Upright Life 

You have much to say on this topic. I have much to say on what topic? You have much to say about living a godly and upright life that is good and right and pleasing to me. If I have much to say, it is certainly not about my great record of success. I have had many days and weeks and months and even years where I would say that I have not been able to successfully live a godly life in the darkness of this world. For many years, I have lived as a discouraged and depressed and defeated follower of yours. I have wanted to live a life that is pleasing to you. I have wanted to live the life you have called me to live. Wanting is good. Wanting is a great place to start. Where did this desire and wanting to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me come from? That is obvious. It certainly did not come from me. You planted this desire in my heart and mind and life. That is very good for you to know. If I planted a desire within you, do you think that I would not nourish it and make it grow? Would I allow a desire I planted within you to wither and die? No, you would not. That is correct. What I plant in you, I will nurture and make grow. What has caused your lack of success? What has been the source of your problem? Why have you found such great difficulty? You must have some answers. You are no longer talking like a discouraged and depressed and defeated follower of mine. No, I am not. I have found the source of my discouragement, depression, and defeat. I now know how to live the life you are calling me to live. Tell me what you have found. I have found that I was relying on my own power and strength and ability to live the life you have called me to live. I was relying on myself. That has not, nor will ever, lead to success, either for me, or anyone else for that matter. Only you can make me able to live the life you have called me to live. So, as I keep on turning away from ungodliness and worldly passions, I must keep on turning to you. I must keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. I must live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. You will continue to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. You will mold and shape me. You will guard and guide me. You will complete the work you started in me. You will fulfill every desire you have planted in me. Yes, I will. Separate yourself from evil, draw near to me, and you will live the life I have called you to live. That I will keep on doing. That is very good. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I am glad that it is your grace that will make me able to live a godly and upright life in the darkness of this world. I will rely on you. Help me to think, speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. Make me able to live the life you have called me to live. Amen

Key Question… Why must you rely on the Lord, rather than yourself, to enable you to live a godly life that pleases Him?

Living It Out… Allow the grace of God to enable you to live a godly and upright life that is good, and right and pleasing to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the grace of God will enable you to live a godly and upright life that is pleasing to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God is making you able to live a godly and upright life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow yourself to be taught by the grace of God to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions.

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

Promises – Day 245 – Titus 2-11-2 – Teaches Us To Say No To Ungodliness – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Bear Much Fruit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 244 - John 15:5 - Bear Much Fruit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 244 – John 15:5 – Bear Much Fruit – Growing As Disciples

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)

Bearing Fruit 

I know that you want to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and my glory. How do you know that? I have heard you pray that prayer many times. That was you wasn’t it? You’re kidding me. What do you think? Yes, you are kidding me. It was me. That has been a frequent prayer of mine. Yes, I know. I hear all your prayers. 

Let’s talk about fruit bearing. I will start by asking you some questions. Go right ahead. When have you worked really hard and seen absolutely no fruit from your labor? I’m not sure. Go ahead, make a guess.  Sometimes I have dreamed up a project all by myself. I didn’t really consult with you about it. The project just seemed like a good idea to me. But, after a lot of hard work I knew that it was not bearing fruit. Your hand was not on it. It was just a lot of self-effort on my part. It was my good idea. It was not your good idea. It was not what you were calling me to do for you. Let’s take a step back for a minute. I have another question for you. What is it?

What is fruit? That’s a good question. It’s important to know. Yes, it is. The fruit that I want to bear is fruit that will last for all eternity. There is a lot of activity in life that might look like it is accomplishing something important. If that activity doesn’t stand the test of time and last forever it isn’t the fruit that you are calling me to bear for you. No, it is not. Apart from me you will never be able to bear this kind of fruit. Do you know why we took a step back to consider this question? My good ideas will never be able to bear fruit for you. No, they will not. You must listen to me. You must hear my call. You must go where I guide you to do what I ask of you. Then and only then will you be able to bear fruit that will glorify me. This kind of fruit will last for all eternity. 

Let me clarify something for you. What’s that? The amount of fruit you will bear for me will correspond to how you abide in your relationship with me. Do you want to abide in me? Yes, I do. Will you spend time with me? Yes, I will. Will you spend time meeting with me in my word? Yes, I will. Will you listen to all that I have to say to you? Yes, I will. Will spend time talking with and listening to me in prayer? Yes, I will. Will you bow yourself down to worship me? Yes, to all your questions. My life is fully devoted to loving, following and serving you. Yes, I can see that it is.

As you abide in me and my word abides in you I want to know what I will be doing. What’s that? My word will be purifying and cleansing your life. My word will work in you, with you and for you. My word will prune from your life what is not pleasing me to me. As you remain in me and I prune your life you will be able to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and my glory. Then people that look at you will see me. Then they will know that you are one of my disciples. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, I want that more than anything in all of life. Then that is what you will have.

Lord, I will remain in you. Apart from you I can do nothing. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind, and purify my life. Help me to live a life that bears an abundance of fruit for your glory. Help me to show that I truly am one of your disciples. Amen

Key Question… How is meeting with Jesus Christ in His word, in worship and in prayer helping you to remain in Him?

Living It Out… Remain in Jesus Christ so you will be able to bear fruit for God’s glory, showing yourself to be one of His disciples.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will bear an abundance of fruit through your life as you remain in Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has been bearing fruit through your life for His glory.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you remain in Jesus Christ so that you can bear an abundance of fruit for Him.

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

Promises – Day 244 – John 15-5 – Bear Much Fruit – 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

Two Are Better Off Than One

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 243 - Ecclesiastes 4-9-12 - Two Are Better Off Than One - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 243 – Ecclesiastes 4-9-12 – Two Are Better Off Than One – Growing As Disciples

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

Tightly Braided Cord

Do you want to enjoy success? Do you want to be able to accomplish the work that I have given you to do for me? Do you want to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? Do you want to run well and finish strong on the course I have set before you? Do you want to accomplish my purpose and fulfill my plans? Lord, you know that I want all these things to be true of the life I am living with and for you. Yes, I know this to be a true desire that is within you. We both want the same thing and that is very good. I do want to give you some wise counsel. I do want to give you some clear guidance and sound instruction. Listen carefully to these words of mine. You have my full and undivided attention. Do not under any circumstance think that you don’t want or need any help. Do not come to believe that you can accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans all alone, by yourself, without the help of others. Such a thought is a mistake. Such a thought is unwise. Such a thought is foolish. I did not make you to be self-sufficient. You must not become self-reliant. I want you to rely fully on me. But that is not all, part of relying on me will include relying on others that I will bring into your life. At times, others will join you. At other times, you will join others. Together you will accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. Together you will complete the work you have been given to do for me. Do you understand? Yes, I understand. Let me make this clearer to you. Do not think that I mean that you should be loosely connected to others. No, think of a tightly braded cord, that cannot be separated or easily broken. That is how I want you to be joined together with others in doing the work I have given to you. Now, do you fully understand? Yes, I understand. I will join with others, like a tightly braided cord to do the work we have been given. Yes, that will be very good.

Lord, often I have worked alone. Often, I have thought I did not want or need anyone’s help to do the work you have given me to do for you. What a mistake. How unwise. How foolish. I now know I need all the help I can get to fight through the battles in life. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord brought others alongside you to help you to do His work and accomplish His plans?

Living It Out… Work together with others so you will be more able to accomplish the work the Lord has given you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bring others alongside you to work together to help you to accomplish His plans.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are working together with others to accomplish God’s plans.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you join with others to do the work the Lord has given you to do for Him.

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

Promises – Day 228 – Ecclesiastes 4-9-12 – Two Are Better Off Than One – 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 Any Of You Lacks Wisdom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - James 1:5-8 - If Any Of You Lacks Wisdom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – James 1:5-8 – If 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)

Ask Me

Do you have all that you need? I’m not sure what you mean. Do you know all that you need to know? I’m sure that I don’t know all that I need to know. I’m positive that I don’t have all that I need. I need all the help that I can get. Why would you ask me those questions? If you don’t have all that you need and you don’t know all that you need to know and you need all the help that you can get, why aren’t you coming to me to ask for help? Do you think that I am relying on myself too much? Do you think that I give off the appearance that I don’t want or need help? You tell me. Do you seem desperate for answers from me? That’s a good question. I suppose I have been relying on myself too much. How has that been going for you? Are you asking me how relying on myself is working out? Yes, you got it. 

What has happened to you when you have relied on yourself and not sought my wisdom and direction? I’ve stumbled around a lot. I’ve made a few good and many bad decisions. I’ve headed in the wrong direction and wasted a lot of time. My life has taken two steps forward and three steps back. Some of my worst decisions have been very costly. Do you wish that you would have sought my wisdom and asked for my direction? Yes Lord, that is my wish, but it’s too late now. What? It is in no way too late now. You need to trust me with all your heart. Do you believe that I can redeem and use even your very bad decisions? Yes Lord, I do. Then never believe that you reached a point when it is too late. That kind of thinking does not come from me. When you call out to me I will never turn my back on you. I will always generously give my wisdom to you. You can always come to rely on me. Do you believe what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I believe you.

Why would you ever be reluctant to come to ask me for wisdom? I’m not sure. Well, you need to think deeply about this question. I suppose that I have frequently thought that I could handle a situation all by myself. What do you think now? That kind of independent thinking has usually been a mistake. I can never go wrong by asking for your wisdom and direction. That’s right. Have you ever wondered if I really would give you wisdom and direction? Yes, I have. You will never receive all that I want to give you if you doubt me. Will you come and ask me for wisdom without any doubt about it? Yes Lord, I will.

Then you will receive wisdom from me in abundance. You have no idea how generously I want to give my wisdom to you. Lord, I will come. I will ask. I will believe and I will not doubt you. Here I am right now. I need your wisdom and direction. I need and want you to guide my life. I will rely on you and not on myself. That is very good.

Lord, thank you that I can always come to you and ask you for your wisdom. You have never turned me away. You have always answered my prayer and guided my thoughts. Help me to rely on you and your wisdom rather than on myself. Amen

Key Question… When has God generously given you His wisdom in the trials you have faced in life?

Living It Out… Make it your regular habit to ask for and rely on God’s wisdom to guide you through life.

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

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has given you His wisdom in a trial you went through.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you in faith ask God for all the wisdom that you need as you follow and serve Him.

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

Promises – James 1-5-8 – If 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

He Saw Him Who Is Invisible

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 241 - Hebrews 11:24-28 - He Saw Him Who Is Invisible - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 241 – Hebrews 11:24-28 – He Saw Him Who Is Invisible – Growing As Disciples

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. Hebrews 11:24-28 (NIV)

Your Focus

Where is your focus? What has your attention? What guides your life? How are you able to endure and persevere in and through the difficulties of life? What protects you from going astray? Why don’t you become diverted? Why have you not become ensnared in the pleasures of sin? Why are you not pursuing all the comforts that this life has to offer? What keeps you on track? Do you have unusual power? Do you have astounding strength? You must be kidding me. Me, have unusual power? Me have, astounding strength? Nothing could be further from the truth. And have I never gone astray? Have I never become diverted or ensnared in the pleasures of sin or caught in pursuing the comforts of this life? Hardly, I have made every mistake that can be made, or so it seems to me. That is quite an exaggeration. Well, I have made more than my share of mistakes. I have taken many missteps. I have sinned boldly; I am sad to say. Yes, this is all true. But your life is now on course. What explanation do you have to explain the fact that you are running the race I have set before you. You are running well, why is that? I have a clear explanation. Good, I will be glad to hear it. My heart and mind and life are focused on you. To this, I deserve no credit. You have given me a heart that wants to seek you with all that is within me. I am on fire for you. It is my passion to love and follow and serve you. I am fully devoted to you. But again, it must be said, that what you have done and are doing in me, has come as a gift to me. How is it that this devotion, this focus is in me? It only has come from you to me. It is a gift. The most excellent gift I could ever desire.  I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. So, I will say earnestly, as my most heart-felt prayer, and my statement of faith, that it is you that gives me all I need to keep moving forward with you. Keep my focus on you. Keep on helping me, as you have been helping me. That I will do. My focus is and will be on you. That is very good. 

Lord, I will keep my heart and mind and life focused sharply on you. I will not allow the things of this life or the pleasures of sin to knock me off course. I will follow you to where you lead me to do what you ask of me. Guide me, use me, I am entirely yours. Amen

Key Question… Why is being fully devoted to the Lord of greater value than anything the world has to offer?

Living It Out… Keep your heart and mind and life focused on the Lord so you will be able to persevere in the difficulties of life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be able to persevere the difficulties of life as you focus your heart, mind, and life on the Lord.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to persevere in the difficulties of life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you keep your heart, mind, and life focused on the Lord so you can persevere in the difficulties of life.

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

Promises – Day 241 – Hebrews 11-24-28 – He Saw Him Who Is Invisible – 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

Let Your Roots Grow Down Into Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 260- Colossians 2:6-7 - Let Your Roots Grow Down Into Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 260- Colossians 2:6-7 – Let Your Roots Grow Down Into Him – Growing As Disciples

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

Deeply Rooted 

Do you want to be deeply rooted in me? Do you want to be built up in me? Do you want your life to overflow with joyful thanks because your faith is growing strong in me? Yes, I want to be deeply rooted and built up in you. Yes, I want my life to overflow with joyful thanks because my faith is growing strong in you. What must I do for all of these to be true? You accepted me as your Savior and Lord. You turned away from your old and sinful life in the world. You turned toward me to love and follow and serve me. Yes, I did. Keep on loving and following and serving me. Never grow weary. Never grow tired. Never give up and quit. You will go through difficult twists and turns and ups and downs in life. You will experience pain and suffering and loss. This is a sin broken life. Don’t become discouraged, depressed, or defeated. Keep your heart and life focused on me. I will sustain and strengthen you. I will revive and refresh you. I will give you a hope filled future. That I will do, my entire focus will be on you. I will rely fully on you. That will be very good.

But there is more you must also do. I’m listening. You must hold on to what you have been taught. I have brought and will continue to bring many godly followers into your life to teach and train you. Listen to them. Allow them to speak into your life. That I will do, I will hold on to what you have been teaching me through the godly men and women you have brought into my life. That will be very good.

But there is more you must also do. I’m listening. You must live daily in an intimate relationship with me. You must abide in me. You must remain in me. Do not run ahead of me. Do not lag behind me. Listen attentively to me. Meet with me daily in my word. Meet with me daily in prayer. Meet with me daily in worship. Follow me to where I lead you to do whatever I ask you. That I will do, I will live in an intimate relationship with you. I will follow and serve you. I will live my life with and for you all the days of my life. Then you will be deeply rooted and built up in me. Then your life will overflow with joyful thanks to me. Thank you, Lord. This is the desire of my heart. That will be very good. 

Lord, you are my Savior and Lord. I will love, follow, and serve you. I will live in an intimate relationship with you through all the seasons of my life. I know that you will help my life to be rooted and built up in you. For that, I give you all my joyful thanks.  Amen

Key Question…  How are you allowing God’s word to continue to daily root you deeply in the Lord and build you up in Him?

Living It Out…  Make sure that your roots are going deep, and your life built up, as you follow Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your roots will grow deep, and life built up, as you follow Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your roots are growing deep and you built up in the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your roots grow down so you can be built up in the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 260- Colossians 2-6-7 – Let Your Roots Grow Down Into 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 Belong To The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 240 - Romans 14-7-8- We Belong To The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 240 – Romans 14-7-8- We Belong To The Lord – Growing As Disciples

For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.  If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8 (NIV)

You Belong To Me

How is that for a thought? How is what for a thought? You belong to me. That is quite a thought. What do you mean by saying that? I could think about that thought for quite some time, maybe my entire life, and only begin to scratch the surface of what that thought means for me today, tomorrow, and forever. The truth of that thought will unfold differently with greater meaning and purpose every day as I love and follow and serve you. I have no doubt about that, none whatsoever. That’s good.

I would like you to scratch the surface of that thought. Tell me what it means to you, that you belong to me. Where will I begin? Begin anywhere. Here goes. You love and care for me. You lived and died for me. You came into this world to save my soul. You rescued me from a live without you. You paid for my sins. You cleansed my unrighteousness. You broke down the wall of sin that separated me from God. You healed my bruised and battered and broken life. You restored my soul. You made it so I could live in an intimate relationship with you. You filled me with your Holy Spirit, which by the way, is like a deposit or guarantee that you have a place reserved in heaven for me. That it is, without a doubt. You gave me a completely new life to live. You made it so I could live my life with and for you. You have set a course through life for me to run. You have surrounded me with a great cloud of witnesses to encourage and spur me on as I run the race you have set before me. You have given my life hope and meaning and purpose. You have given me gifts and talents and abilities with which I can serve you. You have made it so I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You have made it possible for me to be able to store up treasure in heaven with you. You are using me to be a bright and bold witness in the darkness of the world. How am I doing so far? You are doing very well. You are doing far more than scratching the surface. Well, I have saved some of the very best for now. You have made it so I can love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength because you love me, and I belong to you. Yes, you do, belong to me. For that, I am now, and will forever be thankful and grateful. That is very good.

Lord, it is so good that I belong to you. I am your child. You love and care for me. You gave yourself for me. You lived and died for me. You pray for me. What a blessing. What a gift. With great joy I will happily live each moment of every day with and for you. Amen

Key Question… What comfort, peace and hope are yours because you know you belong to Jesus Christ?

Living It Out… Live each moment of every day with and for the Lord because you belong to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can live your life with and for the Lord because you belong to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are living your life with and for the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live your life with and for the Lord because you belong to Him.

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

Promises – Day 240 – Romans 14-7-8 – We Belong To The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Trust In The Name Of The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 239 - Psalm 20:4-9 - Trust In The Name Of The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 239 – Psalm 20:4-9 – Trust In The Name Of The Lord – Growing As Disciples

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.  Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.  They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.  O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call! Psalm 20:4-9 (NIV)

Will You Trust Me?

In what will you trust? Who will you rely on? Where will you place your faith? To whom will you make your requests? Why will your plans succeed? Those are all very good questions for which there is only one answer. Let me hear your answer. I will trust you. I will rely on you. I will place all my faith in you. I will make all my requests to you. You will be the recipient of all my prayers. My plans will only succeed for two reasons. First, the plans that will succeed would more properly be called your plans. You place hopes and dreams and desires and plans in my heart. I would be foolish and misguided if I thought they came from me. Every good and perfect gift comes from you. Every hope and dream and desire and plan I have within me does not originate with me. They all come to me as a gift from you. Those that don’t have no chance of succeeding, that is plain and simple. Can I think up plans that are not your plans? Yes, without a doubt. I have done that and trusted and relied on myself to accomplish them and experienced devastating defeats and miserable setbacks. We both know the difference between a plan that you have given me and a plan that I thought up all on my own. I have no interest in going down that road any longer. I don’t want to do that again. That’s good.

You mentioned two reason why your plans will succeed. Yes, I did. What is the second reason why your plans will succeed? Well, I already briefly mentioned the second reason. Say it again. To recap, first, I need your plan. Second, I need to trust and rely on you to accomplish your plan in and through me. It will do no good to have your plan but try to accomplish it by myself without your help. Either not having your plan or relying on myself to accomplish your plan with both end in dismal failure. That’s true. That’s right. That’s certain. Will you go and do what I ask you? Will you accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans? Yes, I will with all the power and strength that you give me. I will trust and rely on you to work in and through me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Good answer, you will have good success. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I have made the mistake of trusting in something and someone other than you. I have even trusted in myself. I know that any thought or plan or idea that is not rooted in trusting you will not succeed. I will place all my faith and hope and trust in you. Amen

Key Question… How are you learning to trust the Lord with your planning from beginning to ending?

Living It Out… Place all your trust in the Lord so that the plans He gives you will succeed.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you plans that will succeed as you place all your trust in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has given you plans that succeeded as you trusted in Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you trust in the Lord so that all the plans He gives you will succeed.

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

Promises – Day 239 – Psalm 20-4-9 – Trust In The Name Of The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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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

Have The Same Attitude

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 238 - Philippians 2:5-7 - Have The Same Attitude - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 238 – Philippians 2:5-7 – Have The Same Attitude – Growing As Disciples

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, Philippians 2:5-7 (NLT)

Your Attitude

What is your attitude? I’m not sure what that question even means. Do you have anything that guides your attitude? Do you have anything that helps you to determine what you will think? You are asking me questions that I have not often considered. My daily life has certainly not been guided by the answers to those questions. Let me tell you something. I am listening, you have my full attention. If you leave those questions unconsidered and unanswered, you will think and speak and act like everyone else in the world. Your attitude will be guided by your daily circumstances. If you have what you consider to be a good day, then you will have a good attitude. If you have what you consider to be a bad day, then you will have a bad attitude. You and everyone you are close to will be the victim of your circumstances. Well, that is no good. No, it is not good. 

What kind of attitude would you like to have to guide your life? What is worthy of helping you to determine what you will think? Now, I understand your questions. Now, I have more of a context and framework with which to consider and answer your questions. I have thought about these questions far more than I realized. Yes, of that I am sure. Of that, I am certain. Let me hear your answers. I want to be like you. I want to think like you think. I want to speak like you speak. I want to act like you act. I want to follow your example. How will that be possible? What must you do if you want to become like me? I will need to come to know you. By that, I mean really know you. I don’t mean know about you either. I must seek you with all that is within me. I must love you will all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I must come to live in an intimate relationship with you. I must draw near to you. In your presence, I will be changed. As I walk through life with you, day by day, you will change me. I may not notice it at the time, or all at once. But as I live my life with and for you, I can’t help but become like you. I will go where you lead me. I will do what you ask of me. I will live as you lived. Do you know what I am asking of you? Yes, I do. You want me to humbly take on the form of a servant. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to serve like you served. You want me to give like you gave. Yes, I want all this from and for you. Do this and you will become like me. Do this and you will have all that you ever really wanted from me. I will do all that you ask of me. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will follow your example. I will have your attitude. I will not hold on to my own rights and privileges. I will not cling to what could have been mine. Instead, I will humble myself by taking on the form of servant. I will love and give and serve like you did. Amen

Key Question… What opportunities do you have right now to follow Christ’s example by serving others?

Living It Out… Follow the Lord’s example by humbly serving others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to humbly serve others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is using you to humbly serve others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow Christ’s example by humbly taking on the role of a servant.

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

Promises – Day 238 – Philippians 2-5-7 – Have The Same Attitude – 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

But Take An Interest In Others

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 237 - Philippians 2:1-4 - But Take An Interest In Others - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 237 – Philippians 2:1-4 – But Take An Interest In Others – Growing As Disciples

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?  Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:1-4 (NLT)  

It’s Not About Me

I know, I know, it’s not all about me. What’s not all about you? Life is not all about me. I am not the center of the universe. Life does not revolve me. The sooner I realize this, I mean really realize this, the better. Why is that? I am more than a little embarrassed to come to realize how self-centered my thoughts have been. Even being embarrassed is another symptom of my problem. People are not thinking about me. I am not on everyone’s mind. That’s true.

What are you going to do about your self-centeredness? Even that is heard to hear. That question is hard to take. But it is one for me to think deeply about. That will be good. However, I do know what I will do. What’s that? I will take my focus off myself and put it on you. That will be step one. I will consider you and all that you want to give me. What do I want to give you? You want to give me encouragement. You want to comfort me with your love. You want to fill me with your Spirit.  You want to give me a loving and tender and compassionate heart. You want to root me in fellowship in your body of believers. You want me to work together with fellow believers to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. You want to give me a humble and sacrificial heart that has no need or desire to impress others. In short, in more ways that I can think of, count, or even imagine, you want to make me like you. You want me to follow your example. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to give like you gave. You want me to serve like you served. Yes, I do. That brings me to step two. Step two, was all that you have already mentioned just part of step one? I think so, there is much overlap between step on and step two, of that I am sure. Tell me what is step two. I will look not only to my own interests but also to the interests of others. I will humbly consider others as better than myself. The way I see it, step one puts my focus on you. Step two puts my focus on others that you have called me to love and serve. If I implement step one and two, I will leave my self-centered life far behind me. I will live the life you have called me to live. I will be able to go and do what you ask of me. Yes, you will. That will be very good.   

Lord, I will look out not only for my own interests but also for the interests of others. I will have a tender and compassionate heart for those in need.  I will work together with one mind and purpose with fellow believers. I will fully love others just as you love me. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord made you tender and compassionate to others who are in need?

Living It Out… Look out not only for your own interests but also for the interests of others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to look out for the interests of others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to look out for the interests of others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take an interest in others by helping them with what they need.

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

Promises – Day 237 – Philippians 2-1-4 – But Take An Interest In Others – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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