Category Archives: 365 Days Of Promises

Not Lose His Reward

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 167 - Matthew 10:42 - Not Lose His Reward - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 167 – Matthew 10:42 – Not Lose His Reward – Growing As Disciples

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42 (NIV)

A Cup Of Cold Water

Even the small things matter. Even what kind of small things matter? Giving even small things to people in need is important. Why is that? If you are willing to give in small ways to those in need it means that your heart and mind and life are open to helping those who are in need. If you are giving even a little bit that means that you are not blindly walking through life, ignoring pain and suffering all around you. Giving a little bit is a start, it is a beginning, it is a sign that you are not being tight fisted and closed handed with those who are in need. I see. That’s it exactly. What’s it exactly? I want you to see the opportunities all around you to help others in need. I understand. That’s good.

Have I richly blessed your life? Yes, you have richly blessed my life. Have I given you many good gifts? Yes, you have given me many good gifts. Why do you suppose I have richly blessed your life and given you so many good gifts? I know that you love and care for me. Yes, I love and care for you. But most of all, I think you have blessed my life so that I can be a blessing to others. You want me to follow your example. 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 do.

So, will you freely share your time and talents and resources with others? Will you follow my example? Will you give to others what I have given to you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Why would it be a foolish mistake to fail to give to others what I have given to you? One day you will reward me for what I have done for others in this life. It would be foolish to try to hold on to what I cannot keep. I came into this life with nothing. I will take nothing of material value into the next life. I like the way that you said that. Why is that? You know that you cannot store up treasure on earth. But you also know that you can store up treasure in heaven. One day, in heaven, you will be rewarded for how you have loved and helped and ministered to those in need in this life. Keep on loving. Keep on giving. Keep on serving. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will freely give of my time and talents and resources to those who are in need. I will not be tight fisted. I will not be closed handed. I will generously give to others what you have given to me. Use my life to richly bless the lives of a multitude of others. Amen

Key Question… Why would it be a foolish mistake to fail to help others who are in great need?

Living It Out… Freely give of your time, talents and resources to those who are in need.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will receive a reward in heaven because you have freely given to those who are in need.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are freely given to those who are in need.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you freely give to those who are in need.

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

Promises – Day 167 – Matthew 10-42 – Not Lose His Reward – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

See Many Good Days

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 166 - Psalm 34:12-14- See Many Good Days - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 166 – Psalm 34:12-14- See Many Good Days – Growing As Disciples

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:12-14 (NIV)

Many Good Days

Do you love life? Do you want to see many good days? That seems like a question that does not need to be asked. Who does not love life? Who does not want to see many good days? Yes, it does seem like a question that does not need to be asked. Yet, you would never guess that some people love life or want to see many good days. Why is that? How could that be? Have you seen anyone whose thoughts and words are continually evil and untruthful? Have you seen anyone whose actions are more often evil than they are good? Have you seen anyone who has conflict swirling around them no matter where they go and or what they do? Yes, seeing such things in people is not a rare occurrence. Would you guess that such people love life and want to see many good days? No, that thought would not occur to me. Then you have answered your own questions.

No let’s come back to you. You have said that you love life and want to see many good days. Yes, that is my desire. How often do you allow your thoughts or words, or actions hinder you from loving life and seeing good days? When have you thought or said or did something that ruined a day? How carefully are you guarding all your thoughts and words and actions? Do you realize that the quality of your days and the length of your life will be determined by how you think and speak and act? How so? If you live an angry life, filled with stress you will not enjoy life and your days will be much shorter. This kind of life will wear you out. This kind of life is unhealthy. This kind of life will take a toll on your heart and mind and life. If you live this kind of life it will be cut short. I understand. That’s good.

So, what will you do differently? I will guard my thoughts, words, and actions. I will live a life of doing good. I will go wherever you guide me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will live the life that you have called me to live. I will take joy in loving and following and serving you. I will seek and pursue peace in all my relationships. I will be your witness in the world. I will allow you to work in and through me. I will bear fruit for your kingdom. I will bring glory to your name. That will be very good. Then you will truly love life and see many good days. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I love life and I want to see many good days. I don’t want any of my thoughts or words or actions to ruin my days or shorten my life. Help me to turn away from evil completely. Help me to do good. Help me to continually seek and pursue peace. Amen

Key Question… How are you carefully guarding every word that comes out of your mouth?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to help you to think and speak and act in ways that will help you to pursue peace in all your relationships.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to seek and pursue peace in all your relationships,

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are seeking and pursuing peace in all your relationships.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you seek and pursue peace so you can see many good days.

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

Promises – Day 166 – Psalm 34-12-14 – See Many Good Days – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Take Note Of This

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 165 - James 1:19-21 - Take Note Of This - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 165 – James 1:19-21 – Take Note Of This – Growing As Disciples

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:19-21 (NIV)

Notes

Are you taking notes? Are you listening attentively to what I have to say to you? Are you allowing my word to be planted deeply in you? Are you allowing my word to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life? Is my word helping you to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me? I’m not sure, you tell me. Nice try. You tell me. I think that your word is doing its work in me. I think that I am allowing your word to be planted in me. How are you allowing my word to be planted in you? I meet with you in your word. I read and study your word. I meditate deeply on your word. I memorize your word. I pray your word. I proclaim your word. Most of all, I believe that I am putting your word into practice every day as I love, follow and serve you. It is certainly the desire and passion of my heart to have your word dwelling in me richly. I know, without a doubt, that your word is and will be molding and shaping my life. I know, for certain, that your word will make me able to resist temptation and stand against evil. I know, with great confidence, that your Holy Spirit is taking your word and using it to fight in me, with me, for me, and through me, as I walk through life with you. That’s true. That sure. That’s certain. Now, I am living a perfect life? Not a chance. Do I still need your word to continue to do its work in me? For sure. So, if you can plant your word even more deeply in my life, I welcome you to do it today, tomorrow, and every day of my life until I come to meet you face to face. That I am doing. That I will continue to do. Have no doubts about that. Thank you, Lord.

Let’s talk about anger. What do you know about anger? Anger can and does destroy relationships. Anger can and will make me an ineffective witness for you in the world. Anger will make me unable to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You have answered well. Anger will do all this damage. So, what will you do with your anger? How will you respond in a situation that might make you angry? I will be quick to listen. I will be slow to speak. I will be slow to become angry. That will be very good. Let these words of mine be planted deep within your heart and mind and life. Then you will be able to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will take note of what you say to me. I will listen attentively. I will allow you to plant your word deep within my heart, mind and life. Help me to live a righteous life that is pleasing to you. Make me quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Amen

Key Question… How are you taking note of important things that God wants to say to you in His word?

Living It Out… Allow God to plant His word in your heart and mind and life so he can change how you think, speak and act.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will change your heart and transform your mind as He plants His word in you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God to plant His word deep within you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

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

Promises – Day 165 – James 1-19-21 – Take Note Of This – 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

Commit To The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 164 - Proverbs 16:3-9 - Commit To The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 164 – Proverbs 16:3-9 – Commit To The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.  The LORD works out everything for his own ends– even the wicked for a day of disaster.  The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.  Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.  When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.  Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.  In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:3-9 (NIV)

Plans

Do you want to follow your plans, or do you want to live out my plans? I’m hoping and praying and believing that your plans will become my plans. What I have sometimes done in the past is to develop elaborate plans and then ask you to bless them when they have been fully formulated. The truth is that these plans are only my plans. Occasionally, some of my plans may have aligned with your plans, but not usually. What has happened to your plans, when you have not committed yourself and your way to me? My self-developed plans have usually amounted to nothing of value. They have often wasted valuable time and energy. That’s not good. I know.

What would you like to do differently as you are developing plans? I would like to commit myself and my way to you. I would like to ask for and receive your guidance. I would like you to go where you guide me and do what you ask of me. I know that you have good plans for my life. You have a purpose for my life. I would like to live out your purposes and plans for my life as I love, follow, and serve you. I would like to humbly live in ways that please you. Those are very good desires.

How will you know if a plan and a course of action is from me? How will you be able to receive my instruction and follow my guidance? I must draw near to you. I must ask for your help. I’m must listen to you. What will happen to you as you live this kind of life? I will come to know you. I will come to know your will and your ways. I will be able to recognize your voice leading and guiding me through life. Yes, you will. When you live in this way, my blessing will be on your life. My favor will rest on you. You will have good success. Your life will bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. I will be with you every step of the way as you walk through life with me. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, I know I have foolishly made plans and taken steps without committing myself and my way to you. Forgive me. Guide my plans and guard my steps. Help me to humbly walk in ways that are pleasing to you. Use me to accomplish your purposes and plans. Amen

Key Question… Why is it a foolish act of pride to develop a plan and course of action without consulting the Lord?

Living It Out… Commit yourself and your way to the Lord so that He will be able to bless your plans and steps.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your plans as you commit yourself and your way to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are committing yourself and your way to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you commit yourself and whatever you do to the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 164- Proverbs 16-3-9 – Commit 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

Teach Us To Pray

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 163 - Luke 11:1 - Teach Us To Pray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 163 – Luke 11:1 – Teach Us To Pray – Growing As Disciples

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (NIV)

Teach Me To Pray

Is this what you want? Is what do I want? Do you want me to teach you to pray? Yes, I want you to teach me to pray. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to know you. I want to love and follow and serve you. I want to live my entire with and for you. I want to accomplish your purposes. I want to fulfill your plans. I want to shine brightly as your witness in the world. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. How could any of this happen if I did not allow you to teach me to pray. Without prayer, I would not know you or your will. Without prayer. I would not receive your instruction or follow your guidance. In fact, how could I even call you Lord if I wasn’t living a life of attentively listening to you. I want to walk through life with you. I want to live my life in a constant dialogue with you. Without prayer, I would never be able to live the life that you have called me to live. All of what you have said is true.

What must you do if you are serious about allowing me to teach you to pray? Many have said that they want me to teach them to pray. Far fewer have allowed me to teach them to pray. If I am to allow you to teach me to pray, I must come to meet with you in prayer. I must set aside a time and place to meet with you in prayer. I must withdraw from the noise and busyness of life to make myself available to you. I must quiet myself before you. I must focus my heart and mind and life on you. Why is all this true? Learning to pray will not be easy. Learning to pray will require effort. What kind of effort will be required of you? I must turn myself over to you. I must be fully attentive to you. I must yearn to hear from you. Why is this true? I am hard of hearing. I am not a good listener. You must make me able to hear. You must strengthen me so that I can hear from you. You must remove anything that is in me that makes me hard of hearing. I have no doubt that you will do all this for me as I meet with you in prayer, as I seek you with all my heart. You will make me able to hear and know and love and follow and serve you. You will certainly teach me to pray. Yes, I will. Draw near to me now, the teaching will begin. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, that is my prayer. That is my desire. That is my request. Teach me to pray. Draw me near to you. Quiet me in your presence. Help me to hear your voice. Speak to me. I’m listening. Teach me. Use my prayers to accomplish your purposes and plans. Amen

Key Question… How have you listened to the Lord once you have asked Him to teach you to pray?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to teach you how to pray then listen to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will teach you how to pray as you meet with Him in prayer.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been teaching you to pray.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask the Lord to teach you to pray.

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

Promises – Day 163 – Luke 11-1 – Teach Us To Pray – 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

Number Our Days

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 162 - Psalm 90:12 - Number Our Days - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 162 – Psalm 90:12 – Number Our Days – Growing As Disciples

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

Well Spent 

What would be the best use of your time? How will you make sure that you are not foolishly misusing your days? How will you know if you are wisely using the life you have been given? When you look back, from eternity, over your entire life, what will you be glad you spent your time doing? That is a question that makes my head spin. That is a lot to think about. Is thinking about the answers to these questions well worth your time and energy? Without, a doubt, these questions are well worth my consideration. Why is that? I have been given a limited number of days. Life is brief. My life is somewhat like the snap of the fingers or the blink of an eye. My life is like the morning mist that burns off during the heat of the day. Life races by. I am here today. Before I know it, I will be gone tomorrow. Hopefully, not literally. I would like many more days and weeks and months and years to serve you. But I know that I have but one brief life to live. I don’t want to waste it. I don’t want to foolishly misuse or misspend it. Those are good thoughts. You have wise desires within you. Maybe so. But I still desperately need your help. How do you need my help? I need your wisdom to help me to wisely use my days. You see, I most want my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans for my life. I want to be able to go and do all that you ask of me. I want to know and do your will. Even more than that, I have one overpowering desire. What is that? I want to know you. I don’t want to know about you. I want to know you intimately. I also want you to know me. I want to live and walk through life with you. I want to hear your voice guiding me to where you want me to go, giving me what you want me to do. If I can say that I know you and you know me, then I will know that my life was well spent. Then when I look back from eternity, over my entire life, I know that I will have no regrets. So, that is my prayer. That is my desire. That is my request. Help me to know you. Help me to do your will. Help me to live my life with and for you. I will most certainly answer this prayer and this desire of yours. Your life will be well spent in knowing and loving and following and serving me. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, I know without a doubt that my days in this life are limited. Teach me to number my days. Help me to use each day wisely. Help me to use my days in a way that bears fruit for your kingdom and brings glory to your name. Guide me. Use me. Help me. Amen

Key Question… What new and wise way would you like to use some of your time today?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to give you wisdom to wise use the days you have been given.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you wisdom to wisely use the days you have been given.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are wisely using the days the Lord has given to you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to help you to wisely use the days you have been given.

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

Promises – Day 147 – Psalm 90-12 – Number Our Days – 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

Hear The Word

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 161 - Luke 8:11-15 - Hear The Word - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 161 – Luke 8:11-15 – Hear The Word – Growing As Disciples

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.  Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.  Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.  The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.  But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:11-15 (NIV)

Hear

How will you hear my word? I’m not exactly sure what you mean. I will ask you more questions so you will understand. What place will my word have in your life? Will my word be one good source among many other good sources of information? Will my word my word be material that you must thoroughly evaluate before you allow yourself to hear and receive it? Will my word have any authority over your life? What will you do when a thought or an opinion or a value of yours conflicts with my word? Will you attempt to reinterpret my word to make it conform to what you think or feel or believe? Will my word have any special place in your life? Do you get the sense of what I am asking of you? I do. Let me hear what you think I am asking you? You want to know if I would consider your word to be reliable and trustworthy. You want to know if I would be willing to allow my heart and mind and life to come into alignment with your word. You want to know if the final authority in my life will be me, and my thoughts, or you and your word. You want to know If I will accept your word as the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You want to know what priority hearing and retaining and putting your word into practice will have in my life. You want to know if I would be willing to put my full faith and hope and trust in you and your word. Have I captured what you want to ask me? Yes, very well. Here is my answer. You and your word are the final authority in my life. If a thought or opinion or value of mine conflicts with your word then it is I who must change, not your word. I will take your word deep into my heart and mind and life. I will put my full faith and hope and trust in you and your word. I will hunger for your word. I will feast on your word. I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. I will allow you to use your word to make me fruitful for you. How is that? That is very good. 

Lord, I will listen attentively to your word. I will take your word deep into my heart, mind and life. I will meditate on your word daily. Change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life by your word. Allow your word to bear fruit in and through my life. Amen

Key Question… How has hearing and retaining and putting God’s word into practice helped you to bear fruit for Him?

Living It Out… Make every effort to hear, retain and put God’s word into practice so you can bear fruit for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that hearing, retaining and putting God’s word into practice will make you fruitful for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word is bearing fruit in and through your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hear and retain God’s word so your life will be fruitful for Him.

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

Promises – Day 161 – Luke 8-11-15 – Hear The Word – 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

What Good Is It

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 160 - James 2:14-17-What Good Is It?- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 160 – James 2:14-17-What Good Is It?- 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)

What Good?

What good is your faith in me? That seems like an odd question. I will ask you some more questions, so it does not seem so odd to you. How has your faith in me changed your life? How are you now different because you have faith in me? What are you now doing that you would not be doing if you did not have faith in me? Now, I understand where you are headed with this line of questioning. You could have asked, “How is my faith in you observable?” Or you could have asked, “How can others see that I have a vibrant faith in you because of the way I think and speak and act?” Yes, those are two very good questions as well. How will you answer my questions? I will tell you one thing without a doubt. What’s that? I wouldn’t be having this conversation with you if I did not have faith in you. Nor would I be writing about our conversation. So, I could also say, I would not be living in an intimate relationship with you if I did not have faith in you. Yes, that is quite true. What else? I can’t think of one thought or word or action of my life that has not been touched or changed or transformed because the life of faith I am living with you. You have changed the entire course of my life. My former way of thinking and speaking and acting is long gone. Those who knew me back then, before I came to have faith in you, would not recognize me today. Every day, as I have lived a life of faith in you, you have been molding and shaping my life. I’m as sure as I can be that you are not finished with me yet. No, my work in and through you will continue until the day you come to live forever in heaven with me. Well, that is another thing, I should mention. What’s that? You have continually asked me to go and do things for you. You have worked through my life so that I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I know without a doubt, there is no sitting around, doing nothing, on this journey of faith I am on with you. That’s true. And I will keep on saying yes to you. I will keep on going and doing whatever you ask of me. That will be very good. So, what good is my faith in you? Living a life of loving and following and serving you is the goodness of the faith I have in you. Good answer. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I want my faith in you to be living and active. I want others to be able to see my faith in you as I go and do whatever you ask of me. I want my faith in you to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Use my faith in you in your service. Amen

Key Question… How can people tell that you have a vibrant faith in the Lord by observing what you do for Him?

Living It Out… Allow your faith in the Lord to be living and active as you go and do all that He asks of you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will cause your faith in Him to be living and active.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your faith in the Lord is living and active.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you have a faith that is living and active that causes you to go and do good what the Lord asks of you.

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

Promises – Day 160 – James 2-14-17 – What Good Is It? – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional 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

I’ll Be There

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 159 - Matthew 18:19-20 - I'll Be There- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 159 – Matthew 18:19-20 – I’ll Be There- Growing As Disciples

When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action.  And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.” Matthew 18:19-20 (MSG) 

Gather Together

Do you think it is a good idea to try to live the life of faith in me, all by yourself, as a solitary individual? Do you think that I made you to live out your life of faith, all alone, by yourself? Do you have all the strength you need? Do you need no encouragement from others? Do you need no one to spur you on in your faith? Do you have no need for wise and godly people to speak into your life? Can you see everything that you need to see? Can you make course corrections without receiving and insight from others? Even more importantly, do your prayers need no support and guidance and encouragement from others? Have you not heard, do you not understand, that whenever two or more come together in prayer in my name, I will be right there in their midst? Have you not felt my powerful presence as you gathered together with others in prayer? I can’t recall you ever asking me so many questions at one time. You must really want to drive home a point with me. What is my point? You want me to stop living a self-reliant life of faith. I know that those words should not even coexist in the same sentence. Somehow, I have largely allowed them to coexist in my life. I have been trying to live a solitary life of faith. You think? Yes, I am getting the message. That’s good.

So, what course corrections will you make? I will gather together with fellow believers in prayer. I will gather together with fellow believers in worship. I will gather together with fellow believers in studying your word. I will allow you to use others to speak into my life. I will listen carefully to you as I listen carefully to others that you bring into my life. I will give and receive encouragement to others as we live out our life of faith together with you. I will no longer live as a lone ranger. I will live out my life of faith in you, firmly rooted and grounded in your body of fellow believers, your church. I will know without a doubt that you are in our midst whenever two or more are gathered together in your name. That will be very good.

Lord, I know you want me to live the life of faith, I have in you, in close fellowship with others. It is not your intent or plan that I live as some sort of self-sufficient lone ranger. So, I will frequently gather together with others to make my prayers known to you. Amen

Key Question… How commonly do you gather together with others to make your prayers known to the Lord?

Living It Out… Gather together with others to make your prayers known to the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be in your midst as you gather together to pray to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have felt the Lord’s presence as you gathered to pray to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May the Lord guide your prayers as you gather together with others to pray to Him.

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

Promises – Day 159 – Matthew 18-19-20 – I’ll Be There – 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

I Appointed You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 158 - John 15:9-17 - I appointed You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 158 – John 15:9-17 – I appointed You – Growing As Disciples

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  This is my command: Love each other. John 15:9-17 (NIV)

I Chose You

You know that I chose you. You did not choose me. You were well on your way on the road that led away from me, not toward me. I would not let you go. I sought you out. I pursued you. I was unwilling to let you live a life without me both now and forever. So, when you finally did cry out to me and ask me to come into your life, I was right there ready to hear and answer your prayer. But never forget that it was I that called you to come to me. It was I that drew you near to me. It was I that made you my very own. For that I am grateful and thankful beyond what my words could possible even begin to express. I will simply say that I love you with all my heart and soul and strength. It fills me with joy knowing that we are friends. It gives me great pleasure to know that you have a purpose and plan for my life. You have not kept your purpose and plan for my life a secret. What is my purpose and plan for your life? You want me to love you. You want me to love others. You want me to serve you. You want me to serve others. You want me to follow your example. You have called and appointed me to go and bear lasting, eternal fruit for your kingdom. You want me to bring glory to your name. Yes, this is my plan for your life. Will you go where I guide you? Will you do what I ask of you? Yes, I will. It will be my pleasure to follow and serve you. That will be very good.  

Lord, I will remain in your love. Obeying your commands will be not be burdensome to me because I love you. Help me to love others just as you love me. Help me to lay my life down in service to others. Help me to bear lasting fruit for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question… What work are you now doing so that you can bear lasting, eternal fruit for Christ?

Living It Out… Go and bear lasting, eternal fruit for the kingdom of God.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to bear lasting, eternal fruit for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to bear lasting, eternal fruit for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you go and bear fruit for the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 143 – John 15-9-17 – I Appointed 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