Category Archives: 365 Days Of Promises

I Am Sending You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 235 - John 20:19-23 - I Am Sending You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 235 – John 20:19-23 – I Am Sending You – Growing As Disciples

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.  As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!  Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”  Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:19-23 (NLT)

Sending You 

I am sending you. Where are you sending me? I am sending you into the world. Just as I was sent into the world, so also am I sending you. Where are you sending me into the world? What are you asking me to do for you? When will this sending occur? When will I take on the assignment you have given to me? What exactly are you asking of me? What is the exact nature of my mission? You have many questions. Yes, I do. I want to make sure that I fully engage in the work you want me to do for you. That’s good. But I want to make sure that you don’t misunderstand when and where I am sending you. Let’s talk about the “when” first. I’m listening. On the day you gave your life to me and asked me to be your Savior and Lord, that is when your mission started. How so? On that day you started to be a witness for me in the world. On that day you began to tell others about me. You told people all that I had done for you. This mission, of your being my witness in the world, will never stop. You will continue to tell others what I have done, and am doing for you. You will even tell others what I will do for you in the future. How can I tell people what you will do for me in the future? Do you not know where you are headed? Do you not know that I am preparing a place for you and that one day I will bring you to myself? Do you not know that one day you will come to live forever with me in heaven? Yes, I know all these things. Yes, and you can tell others about them. Yes, I can. Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Now let’s talk about where I am sending you. This is exciting. Yes, it is. But you may have an incorrect thought in your mind about where I am sending you. How so? Based on my telling you when your assignment began you may have guessed where I will be sending you. I didn’t guess. I have no idea where you will send me. How could I possibly know? I will be sending you out your front door. Out my front door? Yes, the second you step out your front door, and often even before that, you will be my witness in the world. Wherever you are is where I want you to be my witness. Does that make sense? Yes, that makes sense. That’s good. Now, will I send you to places that you have never been before to be my witness? Will you be my witness in places near and far? Yes, you will. But make sure that you are my witness, at all times, and everywhere you go. That I will do. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for giving me a mission. Thank you for sending me into the world to be a witness for you. Fill me with your peace. Fill me with your power. Fill me full your Holy Spirit. Powerfully use me to bear fruit for your Kingdom and bring glory to your name Amen

Key Question… How keenly are you aware of the fact that Christ is sending you to be His witness in the world?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to send you out your front door to be His witness in the world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is sending you out your front door to be His witness in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are being sent out your front door to be Christ’s witness.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to send you out your front door to be His witness into the world.

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

Promises – Day 235 – John 20-19-23 – I Am Sending You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Those Who Wait For Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 233 - Isaiah 64:4 - Those Who Wait For Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 233 – Isaiah 64:4 – Those Who Wait For Him – Growing As Disciples

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 (NIV) 

Rely On Me 

What was in your mind? What were you thinking? Why would you do that? Why would I do what? Why would you rush off to fight your own battles? Why would you trust your own counsel? Why would you be guided by your own wisdom? Why would you rely on your own feeble strength? Those are all very good questions. I must say that I have asked myself some of those very same questions. Why is that? My own counsel, my own wisdom, and my own feeble strength have not served me well. Relying on myself has most often led to disastrous and depressing defeats. Would you say that you are a quick learner on this subject? That is a funny question. Why is that? It was not meant to be funny. Maybe, I should have said that it is an ironic question. That would have been more fitting. Why is that? Not only am I not a fast learner on this subject. It might be an exaggeration to say that I am any kind of learner on this subject. Why is that? Well, I certainly haven’t conquered the inclination to rely on myself to rush off to fight my own battles. That’s not good. No, I know that it is not good. It is good that you are aware of the issue. Yes, we can certainly agree on that. 

I have a few questions for you. I’m listening. Are you quicker than me? Are you wiser than me? Are you stronger than me? Can you accomplish what I cannot? Do you have some clever strategies that will secure victories that I cannot win? I am certainly not quicker or stronger or wiser than you. I couldn’t begin to accomplish what you can. You can win victories when victory is impossible to all, except to you. Then why don’t you wait for me to act? Then why don’t you rely on me? Then why don’t you put all your faith and hope and trust in me? There is no need for you to answer these questions. Just think deeply about them. I do have one question I do want you to answer. What’s that? Why would I ask you to wait for me to act? I can certainly act faster than you can act. We both know that to be true. You want me to rely on you. You want me to trust you. You want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. You want to do in and for and through me what I could never do by myself. You want to accomplish your purposes and plans in and through my life. You want me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. None of these things will be possible or every be accomplished by me relying on myself. That is true. All of what you have said is true. Will you come to rely on me? Yes Lord, I will come to rely on you. That is very good. Now you are learning. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, oftentimes I have foolishly and pridefully rushed off to act on my own behalf. Those hasty and ill-conceived efforts have resulted in disaster. I will stop being self-reliant. I will put all my faith and hope and trust in you. I know that you will act on my behalf.  Amen

Key Question…  Why is it far better to wait for the Lord rather than to rush off to act on your own?

Living It Out… Make it your regular pattern to wait for the Lord rather than to rush off to act on your own.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will act on your behalf as you wait for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you wait for the Lord to act on your behalf.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you wait for the Lord so He can act on your behalf.

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

Promises – Day 233 – Isaiah 64-4 – Those Who Wait For 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

Who Finds Wisdom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 236 - Proverbs 3:13-18 - Who Finds Wisdom- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 236 – Proverbs 3:13-18 – Who Finds Wisdom- Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)

Filled With Wisdom

Do you want me to bless your life? Do you want to be filled with wisdom? Do you want to have understanding? Do you want to live a long life that is filled with riches and honor? Do you want me to lead you on a pleasant way and on a peaceful path? Yes, of course I want all these things. Who wouldn’t want these things? Only a fool wouldn’t want to have your blessing on their life. There you have hit upon what is true. What’s that? There is a foolish way to live a life. There is a wise way to live a life. I want you to describe each one of them to me. Me, do I know? Yes, you know. If you say so, here goes. A fool pursues the riches of this life. Their life is one long pursuit of all this world has to offer. They spend their life chasing after material things like gold and silver and fine jewels. They live for the moment. Their life is all about enjoying comfort and pursuing pleasure. They give no thought to the brevity of this life. Their heart and mind and life are focused on only they can acquire and make their own. Why is that so foolish? We all came into this world with nothing. We are all just passing through this life. Whatever this world offers will never come with us into eternity. That is true.  But this isn’t the only foolishness of that kind of life. What else is foolish? This foolish life is self-centered, self-sufficient, and self-indulgent. It leads all those who pursue it on a troublesome path filled with pain and suffering, bruising and brokenness. A short, stressful life, full of anxiety, await all those who go down this path. That is true. But the real foolish is not pursuing you. The ultimate and most costly mistake is not living the life you have called us to live. What kind of live have I called you to live? You want me to pursue, embrace, and lay hold of you and your wisdom. You are my Savior and Lord. You want me to live my life with and for you. You want me to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you, in the new life you have given to me. That is a path that leads to peace. That is a path that leads to a long life now, and eternal life in the future. That is a life that you will bless. Yes, it is. Will you pursue me and the life that I am calling you to live? Yes, Lord. I will. That is very good. That is wise. That is the path on which I will lead you. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know your wisdom is more valuable than silver or gold or any precious jewels. Nothing from this life can compare with your wisdom. I will pursue you, embrace and lay hold of your wisdom. I will live the life you are calling me to live with and for you. Amen

Key Question…  How has living a life of wisdom guided you on pleasant and peaceful paths?

Living It Out… Pursue, embrace and lay hold of the life of wisdom that the Lord has for you to live with and for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you His wisdom when you pursue, embrace and lay hold of it above all else.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are pursuing the life of wisdom that the Lord has for you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you pursue, embrace, and lay hold of wisdom from the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 236 – Proverbs 3-13-18 – Who Finds 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

This Is The Way You Should Go

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 234 - Isaiah 30-21 - This Is The Way You Should Go - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 234 – Isaiah 30-21 – This Is The Way You Should Go – Growing As Disciples

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 (NLT2)

My Voice 

Will you listen to my voice? Will you follow my direction? Will you receive my guidance? Yes, I will listen to your voice. Yes, I will follow your direction and receive your guidance. What steps will you take to hear my voice, follow my direction, and receive my guidance? Steps? I’m not quite sure what you mean. Let me ask you a few questions. Go ahead, I’m listening.

What will hinder or help your ability to hear from me? If I race through the busyness of life and allow myself to be overwhelmed by its’ noise, I will never be able to hear from you. I need to slow down and withdraw from the noise and busyness of life so I can hear from you. I need to quiet myself before you. I need to come to rest in your presence. I need to be still before you. Then I need to meet with you in your word. Oh, and another thing, I also need to submit my heart and mind and life to you. Then as I do these things, I will be placing myself in a position to hear from you. I do think one other prerequisite, to hearing from you is also important. What’s that? I need to decide in advance that I really will follow and obey you. Why is that important? If I am unwilling to follow and obey you, how attentively could I possibly be listening to you. I can’t imagine going to all this effort to hear from you if I wasn’t really willing to follow your direction or receive your guidance. You have a good point. There is something else that I suspect to be true. What’s that? If I am not willing to follow and obey you, it is very unlikely that you will give me direction or guidance or counsel that I won’t follow anyway. Although, I am not positive on this point. Why is that? I know that I have not always followed your direction and guidance. Yet, you have given it to me anyway. Why would I do that? You want me to learn the importance of hearing and following and obeying you. You want me to know that there are consequences to hearing and obeying or to hearing and not obeying you. Yes, that is true. I want you to learn to hear and follow and obey me. I want you to learn to listen attentively to my voice. That I will do. That will be very good. 

Lord, no longer will I fail to listen to your voice. You have my full and undivided attention. I will quiet myself before you. I will remove myself from the noise and busyness of life. I will hear you. I will follow you. Guide my life according to your will, purpose, and plan. Amen

Key Question…  When has the Lord guided you into something new, unexpected, and wonderful?

Living It Out… Listen attentively to the voice of the Lord guiding you through life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the voice of the Lord will guide you through life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are listening to the voice of the Lord guiding you through life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow the voice of the Lord guiding you through life.

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

Promises – Day 234 – Isaiah 30-21 – This Is The Way You Should Go – 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 Prunes The Branches

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 232 - John 15:1-4 - He Prunes The Branches - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 232 – John 15:1-4 – He Prunes The Branches – Growing As Disciples

I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:1-4 (NLT)

Ouch

Ouch what? Ouch, as in that doesn’t feel so good. Ouch, as in that is not a pain free experience. Ouch, as in I would rather not go through that again. What are you talking about? I am talking about being pruned. I am talking about you removing things from my life that hinder my ability to bear fruit for you. I am talking about you cutting away dead or less than vibrant stuff, so that I can bear even more fruit for you. None of this work of yours comes without some pain. It isn’t always pleasant. And that, I think, is a dramatic understatement on my part. You are not incorrect. My pruning will never be a pain free experience. Please don’t ever say it will involve some mild discomfort. I have had enough negative experiences with mild discomfort. That’s funny. You have kept your sense of humor, that’s good. Well, I do know that there is nothing mild about mild discomfort. The truth is that pruning may sometimes hurt more than mild discomfort. Sometimes pruning seem like major surgery. That comes as no surprise to me. I would guess not. But let me ask you some questions. I’m listening. Would you prefer to remain as you are, where you are? Would you rather not move forward with me? Would it be your desire to level off, and plateau, or even regress? Do you want me to use you in even greater ways? Would you like to bear even more fruit for my kingdom? Would you like to bring even more glory to my name? Those are some tough questions with huge implications. That’s correct. Since you put the choice before me in these terms I have only one answer for you. What’s is your answer? Prune away. Remove anything and everything from my life that will hinder my ability to bear fruit for you. I don’t want anything to get in the way of my bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. That is my answer. That is my hope. That is my prayer. Good answer. You can be sure that I will prune your life. I will fulfill your hope and answer your pray. I will use you to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. Thank you, Heavenly Father.  

Heavenly Father, I know I have not been a fan of pruning. Being pruned has not been without some pain. Yet, I welcome your pruning in my life. Draw me close. Help me to remain in you. Make me able to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question…  When has your Heavenly Father pruned your life so you could bear more fruit for Him?

Living It Out… Welcome the Heavenly Father’s pruning of your life so you can bear more fruit for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will prune you so that you can bear more fruit for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Heavenly Father’s pruning has helped you to bear more fruit.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you welcome the Heavenly Father’s pruning in your life so you can bear more fruit for Him.

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

Promises – Day 232 – John 15-1-4 – He Prunes The Branches – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

The Right Path

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 231 - Psalm 25-4-5 - The Right Path - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 231 – Psalm 25-4-5 – The Right Path – Growing As Disciples

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT)

Follow Me

Do you want to walk down the right path in life? Now that is a profound question. How will I know if I have or am, or will walk down the right path in life? How can I make sure that I have not wandered on to a path that is neither unhelpful nor unhealthy? How can I make sure that my life is not misspent? How can I make sure that I have not, am not, or will not invest my life in what will amount to nothing? How can I make sure that I will never live with regret over what I could have done or what I could have been? You have expanded on my question. You are asking yourself some very good questions. Do you have any answers to your questions? First, I will say that I do want to walk down the right path in life. I am certain that there is a right path for my life. I am equally certain that there are many wrong paths for my life. Let me hear you describe some of the wrong paths in life. That’s easy. At one time or another, I have walked on many of them. There is the path of self-reliance. On that path, I learned the foolishness of relying on myself for my own wisdom. On that path, I took many missteps as I wandered from one meaningless endeavor to another. How about another path? There is the path of self-indulgence. On that path, I lived a bruised and battered and broken life as I lived for my own comfort and pleasure. I acquired possessions and used people. Describe one more path. There is the self-centered path. This is the prideful path. On this path, I was the center of attention. Everything revolved around me, I was the subject of my adulation. Sounds creepy doesn’t it? Yes, it does.  Well, all these paths are unhelpful and unhealthy and lead to nowhere good. They all lead away from you. Yes, these paths do lead away from me. 

But you do want to walk down the right path, of that I am sure. Yes, that’s correct. You have also discovered how to walk down the right path in life. Yes, I have. Tell me about that. You will lead down the right path in life. You will point out the way for me to walk. You will lead me. You will guide me. You will teach me. You have even given me your life as an example to follow. I will live as you lived. I will do what you did. I will put all my faith and hope and trust in you. Yes, I have done, and doing and will do all these things for you. Will you follow me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, at many times and in many ways, I have relied on myself. I have charted my own course. I have gone my own direction. I have wandered on painful paths that led away from you. No more! I will place all my faith and hope and trust in you. Guide my life. Amen

Key Question…  When have you slowed down, maybe even stopped, to wait for direction from the Lord?

Living It Out… Put all your faith and hope and trust in the Lord as you rely on Him to guide your path through life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will guide your path as you put all your faith and hope and trust in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are putting all your faith and hope and trust in the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May the Lord show you the right path to follow as you put all your hope in Him.

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

Promises – Day 231 – Psalm 25-4-5 – The Right Path – 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

Not To Worry

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 224 - Matthew 6:25-27 - Not To Worry - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 224 – Matthew 6:25-27 – Not To Worry – Growing As Disciples

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Matthew 6:25-27 (NLT) 

Gifted And Talented Worrier

 Now that’s something I good at. What are you good at? I am a very gifted and talented worrier. I didn’t realize that worrying was a gift or a talent. Oh, I have made an art form out of it. I have been able to worry about something that has never happened, nor is it ever likely to happen. I can take the smallest of worries, something like a mole hill, and turn it into a mountain. And you think this is some sort of gift or talent? Not really, it’s more of a curse. Well, at least you can joke about it. But it is no joke. No, worrying is nothing to joke about. I have found worrying to be all consuming and paralyzing at times. Worry has held me back. Worry has placed limits on my life. Worry has kept me from moving forwarded with you. Worry has even caused me to fail to go and do what you have asked of me. Worry has been no small problem in my life. Yes, I know. 

What do you want to do with your worry? You tell me. I want to stop worrying, that is for sure. That’s good. I will give you a suggestion. I will give you some guidance. I will give you my instruction. Are you ready? Are you listening carefully? Yes, you have my full attention. Here is what I want you to do, every time you worry, I want you to turn that worry into a prayer to me. I don’t want you to do this occasionally. I don’t want you to do this most of the time. The key word here is, EVERY TIME. EVERY TIME you begin to worry, I want you to turn that worry into a prayer to me. What will happen to you when you turn all your worries into prayers to me. I will stop worrying. Yes, you will stop worrying. But that, is not what I was going to say. I was going to say that instead of you being a gifted worrier, you will become a gifted prayer. Do you know why that is? I will have traded all worries into prayers to you. What do you think about making that trade with me? Will you turn all your worries into prayers to me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not allow myself to become a victim of all-consuming and paralyzing worry. I know that worrying will add no length or value to my life. I know you have, are now, and will continue to take care of my needs. I know that you love and care for me. Amen

Key Question…  When are you most likely to become a victim of all-consuming and paralyzing worry?

Living It Out… Place all your faith and hope and trust in your Heavenly Father so you can be released from all your worries.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be released from worry when you trust and rely on your Heavenly Father to meet your needs.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what worrisome needs you are making known to your Heavenly Father.

Prayer To Bless Others…May you trust and rely on your Heavenly Father so that you can be released from worry.

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

Promises – Day 209 – Matthew 6-25-27 – Not To Worry – 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

Come And See

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 230 - John 4:29-30 - Come And See - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 230 – John 4:29-30 – Come And See – Growing As Disciples

Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”  So the people came streaming from the village to see him. John 4:29-30 (NLT)

An Open Invitation

You have an open invitation before you. You have a hardy welcome waiting to greet you. Tell me more. You can draw near to me. You can rest in my presence. You can be still before me. I will revive and refresh and restore your soul. I will heal your bruised and battered and broken life. My healing will come into your life. You can receive my forgiveness. You can receive my cleansing. You will be made fresh and clean. Nothing will stand between us. No barrier will separate us. You can come to know me as your Savior and Lord. You can live in an intimate relationship with me. You can walk through life with me. You will receive my instruction. You will follow my guidance. You can allow me to mold and shape you into the person I have called you to become. Daily as you accept my invitation you will come to know and love and follow and serve me. I will use you to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. You will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. You will shine boldly and brightly for me in the darkness of this world. Others will be drawn to me because they will see my life being lived out, in and through you. How does this invitation sound to you? Will you receive this welcome. Will you draw near to me? Will you come to rest in my presence? I have never had a more welcoming invitation and inviting greeting. There is nothing I would rather do than draw near to you and rest in your presence. Teach me. Train me. Guard and guide me. Revive, and refresh, and restore my soul. Make me whole. You are my Savior and Lord. With all that is within me, I will love and follow and serve you, all the days of my life. That will be very good. 

There is something I want you to do for me. What’s that? You name it. I want you to give others an open invitation. I want you to tell others about all that I have done for you. I want others to know about the new life of salvation, that they can have in me. Will you invite others, just as I have invited you? Will you welcome others just as I have welcomed you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for the invitation to come to see and know you. You know, love and care for me. You died for me. Thank you for the forgiveness I have in you. Thank you for the new life I have in you. You are my Savior and Lord. Use me to invite others to you. Amen

Key Question… How is the Lord continually inviting you daily to come to know Him more intimately?

Living It Out… Make it your daily priority to come to see and know the Lord more intimately.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is still inviting you daily to come to see and know Him more intimately.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how are you coming to see and know the Lord more intimately.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you come to see and know the Lord more intimately.

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

Promises – Day 215 – John 4-29-30 – Come And See – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Be Patient As You Wait

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 229 - James 5:7-11 - Be Patient As You Wait - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 229 – James 5:7-11 – Be Patient As You Wait – Growing As Disciples

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.  You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.  Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!  For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. James 5:7-11 (NLT)

Patiently Wait

What will happen to you as you patiently wait my return? If I patiently wait for your return my heart and mind and life will be focused on you. My attention will not be captured by the thoughts and opinions and values of this world. My life will not be one long pursuit of all the comforts and pleasures that this world has to offer. I will live with the knowledge that this world is not my true home. I am just passing through this brief life. Whether you come quickly and return to this earth, or I leave this life very soon, it does not amount to much difference to me personally, at least in one regard, I will be seeing you soon. That is true.

You will be seeing me soon, there is no doubt about that. How does that knowledge impact your life today?  Knowing that I will see you soon reorders my priorities. I want my life to count. I don’t want to waste time. I don’t want to misspend my life. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to know and do your will. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to live a bold life as a bright witness for you in the darkness of this world. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want others to come to know and love and follow and serve you because they have seen your life being lived out in and through me. You have very good desires within you. Do you believe that I will fulfill these desires of your heart? Yes, I do. You put these desires in my heart. You will certainly fulfill them. Yes, I will, you can count on me.

As you go through different seasons in life how are you able to endure them? As you encounter twists and turns and ups and downs and trials of every kind, how do you find strength to overcome them? Not by myself, not with my own strength, not under my own power, that is for sure. As my heart, and mind, and life are focused on you and your return I am encouraged. You give me hope. You give me strength. You keep me moving forward with you. Yes, I have. Yes, I am. Yes, I will. Keep your heart and mind and life focused on me. I will supply all you need. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, patiently waiting is not one of my stronger gifts. That is an understatement, I know. Help me to keep my heart and mind and life focused on your return. Help me to patiently endure even the difficult seasons of life, as I continue to love, follow, and serve you. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord helped you to patiently endure a difficult season in your life?

Living It Out… Expectantly and patiently wait the Lord’s return as He helps you to endure difficult seasons in life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to endure difficult seasons as you expectantly await His return.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is helping you to endure difficult seasons in life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you wait patiently for the Lord’s return.

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

Promises – Day 229 – James 5-7-11 – Be Patient As You Wait – 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

Keep Watch And Pray

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 228 - Mark 14:37-38 - Keep Watch And Pray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 228 – Mark 14:37-38 – Keep Watch And Pray – Growing As Disciples

Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?  Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:37-38 (NLT)

Watchful And Prayerful 

Do you need any convincing? Do I need to be convinced about what? Do you need to be convinced that you will need to be watchful and prayerful if you will have any hope or chance at being able to resist temptation? No, I don’t need to be convinced. I have no doubts about my need to be watching and praying so that I will be able to resist temptation. Before we go any further let’s be clear about how you need to watch and pray. I’m listening. That’s good. I will ask you a few questions. Go right ahead. Who do you need to keep your heart and mind and life focused on? Who needs to have your undivided attention? Already you have asked me questions I would not have anticipated. How so? It is surprising that your questions begin with the word who. I would have thought your questions would have begun with the word what. Can you give me some examples? I thought you might ask me, “What do I need to watch out for or be on guard against?” or “Under what circumstances do I need to be especially watchful and prayerful?” Yes, those are good questions. Those are questions that you will need to carefully consider. They, however, are not the first and most important questions. Why is that? To that question, which is a good one, I will ask you another question. Do you think it is your watchfulness or your prayerfulness that will make you able to resist temptation? In other words, do you think it is your own efforts that will bring you victory? Now, I am beginning to understand. Tell me what you understand? My heart and mind and life need to be focused on you. As I watchfully and prayerfully set my heart and mind and life on you, you will make me able to resist temptation. You are the subject of my watchfulness and prayerfulness. Before now, before this very moment, I had thought that the subject of my watchfulness and prayerfulness was evil in the world. I thought something like, “Be watchful and prayerful so that evil doesn’t sneak up on me.” Don’t completely discard that thought. That thought is not wrong. But the priority of your focus needs to be on me. Your heart will be changed, and your mind transformed, and your life guided has you focus your full attention on me. Remember you have been told to submit yourself to me and the devil will flee from you? Yes, I remember that well. That’s good. You submit yourself to me by being watchful and prayerful in my presence, by giving your full attention to me. Do you understand? Yes, I understand. Will you be watchful and prayerful with me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not sleepwalk through life. I will be watchful and prayerful. I will keep my heart and mind and life focused sharply on you. I will withstand temptation with all the strength that you give to me. I will live the life you have called me to live with and for you. Amen

Key Question…  When have you been overcome by temptation because you were not being watchful and prayerful?

Living It Out… Make it your daily pattern to be watchful and prayerful so you will be able to resist temptation.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be able to resist temptation as you remain watchful and prayerful.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how being watchful and prayerful is helping you to resist temptation.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be watchful and prayerful so you will be able to resist temptation.

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

Promises – Day 228 – Mark 14-37-38 – Keep Watch And Pray – 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