Category Archives: 365 Days Of Promises

Give And It Will Be Given To You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 157 - Luke 6:37-38 - Give And It Will Be Given To You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 157 – Luke 6:37-38 – Give And It Will Be Given To You – Growing As Disciples

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:37-38 (NIV)

Giving And Receiving

What will you give to others? What do you hope to receive from others? I know where this is headed. Where is this headed? There is a law of reciprocity in life. Tell me about it. If I judge others, I can expect that others will judge me. If I condemn others, I can expect that I will be condemned by them. If, I don’t forgive others, they will not forgive me. You are correct. But you can say more. I know that if I am to receive your forgiveness, I must also forgive others. That is also true. So, failing to forgive is not only a tragedy in this life, it is a tragedy in the next life as well. How so? I don’t want to live with the consequences of being unforgiving, judging and condemning. I want to live in your forgiveness both now and forever. And so, you will as you continue to show others the same kindness and mercy and love that I have shown to you. That I will do. I will follow your example. I will do for others, what you have done for me. I will allow your kindness and mercy and love to flow in and through me to others. That will be very good. 

There is more to talk about regarding this law of reciprocity. Yes, I do have more to say. I’m listening. You want me to be generous with what you have given to me. You have richly blessed my life. You have blessed me so I could be a blessing to others. That is true. You do not want me to be tight fisted and closed handed with those who are in need. You want me to give freely just as you have given freely to me. Yes, that is exactly what I want and what I expect of you. But what else do you know? I know that I can’t outgive you. As I continue to give and be generous with others, you will continue to give me more so I can continue to keep on blessing the lives of others. I have found it to be abundantly true that with the measure I give will be the same measure with which I will receive. If I give very little, I will receive very little. So, will you keep on generously giving to others what you hope to receive? Yes Lord, I will keep on giving and receiving so I can bless the lives of others, just as you have blessed my life. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will generously give to others what I hope to receive back from them. I will give out forgiveness and kindness, mercy and love. I will give out understanding, encouragement and compassionate. Help me to freely give out what you want me to receive back. Amen

Key Question… How are you continually giving out good things that you would like to receive back from others?

Living It Out… Freely and generously give to others what you hope to receive back from them.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to give to others what hope to receive back from them.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have received back from others what you have given to them.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you give to others what you hope to receive back from them.

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

Promises – Day 157 – Luke 6-37-38 – Give And It Will Be Given To You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Said To Themselves

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 156 - Matthew 9:1-8 - Said To Themselves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 156 – Matthew 9:1-8 – Said To Themselves – Growing As Disciples

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.  Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”  At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”  And the man got up and went home.  When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. Matthew 9:1-8 (NIV)

Entertain Thoughts

What will you allow your mind to think? What thoughts will you entertain within you? Will you entertain thoughts that are good and right and true? Will you entertain thoughts that are helpful and healthy? Will you entertain thoughts that are pleasing to me? What is the alternative? Some don’t even realize that they have a decision to make about what they allow their mind to think. Some allow all the thoughts and opinions and values of the world to be entertained in their mind. Some allow their minds to be filled with dark and evil thoughts of the sinful nature. Some allow the thoughts of their mind to be far from me. Not only do they think evil thoughts, but they speak evil words and take evil actions. They live a life filled with very kind of evil. That is the natural and automatic result of entertaining evil thoughts in the mind. That is not the life that I will live. I want my mind to think thoughts that are good and right and true. I want my mind to think thoughts that are helpful and healthy. I want my mind to think thoughts that are pleasing to you. I want all my thoughts and words and actions to be pleasing to you. That is very good.

How can I think thoughts that are pleasing to you? That is a very good question. Entertain thoughts that are pleasing to me. Take my word deep into your heart and mind and life. Allow my word to do its work in you. Allow my word to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life. Allow my word to powerfully work in and through you. Then you will think thoughts, speak words and take actions that are pleasing to me. Then you will bring honor and glory to me. That is what I will do, I will entertain thoughts in my mind that come from you. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for forgiving and cleansing me of all my sins. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind so all my thoughts, words and actions are pleasing to you. Use your word to powerfully work in and through me for your honor and glory. Amen

Key Question… How is meditating on God’s word changing the thoughts you allow your mind to think?

Living It Out… Allow God’s word to transform your mind so you can think thoughts that are pleasing to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use His word to help you to think thoughts that are pleasing to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word is changing the thoughts you think.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to use His word to transform your thoughts so they will be pleasing to Him.

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

Promises – Day 141 – Matthew 9-1-8 – Said To Themselves – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Understands And Knows Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 155 - Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Understands And Knows Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 155 – Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Understands And Knows Me – Growing As Disciples

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,  but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)  

Priority

What is the priority of your life? What will you seek? What will be your desire? With what will you be satisfied? Those are all very good questions. Do you have an answer? Yes, I have an answer. I would first like to say what I will not seek or desire. I would like to be clear about what will not satisfy me. I’m listening. I will not seek human wisdom. I have no need or desire to be considered wise by people in the world around me. I don’t need their approval or recognition or applause. The thoughts and opinions and values of this world mean nothing to me. The wisdom of the world will amount to nothing. All the wisdom of the world will one day pass away. So, seeking or boasting about human wisdom will not be a priority in my life. That’s good.

It probably does not need to be said but I will not be seeking physical strength. Why is that? It is obvious to all, including me, that I am not physically strong. I will never be confused with someone who is a muscle man. I will never be in danger of boasting about my great physical strength. That’s good. Even the very strongest of men will one day become incredibly week. All the strength in this world will one day pass away. So, seeking or boasting about physical strength will never be a priority in my life. That’s good.

What about riches? Have you ever wanted to be rich? Have you ever wanted to live in luxury? Have you ever wanted to acquire the best that this life has to offer? Have you wanted to live in a complete comfort? I would be lying if I said no to any of these questions. I have been tempted with every one of these desires. Yes, I have wanted the best that this life has to offer. But now I know that worldly riches will not satisfy. Worldly riches are here today and gone tomorrow. No one will take worldly riches with them when they leave this life. So, seeking or boasting about worldly riches will not be a priority in my life. That’s good.

I do know what is now and will continue to be the priority of my life. What’s that? It will be the priority of my life to understand and know you. Only seeking you and finding you will satisfy me. Only coming to know and love you intimately occupies the desire of my heart. Only living my life with and for you will be my pursuit. Only following and serving you will be my goal. Will I ever be able to be able to boast that I understand and know you? Certainly not. Why is that? Only you can make me able to know and love and follow and serve you with all my heart. You will make me able to understand and know you. So, I will boast in you and all that you have done for me as I make seeking you the priority of my heart and mind and life. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not boast in human wisdom, physical strength, or worldly riches. To do so would be foolish. All these will one day be of no value. Instead, it will be the priority of my life to come to understand and know you. Help me live a life that is pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question… What has helped or hindered your ability to come to understand and know the Lord?

Living It Out… Make coming to understand and know the Lord the priority of your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that understanding and knowing the Lord is worth being the priority of your entire life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to come to understand and know Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you make understanding and knowing the Lord the priority of your life.

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

Promises – Day 155 – Jeremiah 9-23-24 – Understands And Knows Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 154 - 1 Peter 5:6-11 - Cast All Your Anxiety On Him- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 154 – 1 Peter 5:6-11 – Cast All Your Anxiety On Him- Growing As Disciples

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)

Cast

What would it take for you to cast all your fears and worries and anxieties on to me? Two things would need to be true for me to cast all my fears and worries and anxieties on to you. I’m listening. First, I would need to know that you love and care for me. I would need to believe that you would hear and answer my prayers. I would need to be certain that you would come to my aid when I am in distress. That’s number one. Do you know that I love and care for you? Do you believe that I will hear and answer your prayers? Are you certain that I will come to your aid when you are in distress? I can give you an emphatic yes to all your questions. I have no doubts about your love and care for me. I am certain you will come to my aid when I am in distress. That is very good.

What else must be true for you to cast all your fears and worries and anxieties on me? I must be willing to humble myself before you. I must stop trying to rely on myself. As long as I continue to pridefully think that I can and should be able to take care of myself, I won’t be turning all my fears and worries and anxieties over to you. As long as I pridefully think that I can and should be self-sufficient and self-reliant I won’t be placing all my faith and hope and trust in you. That’s not good. I know. What has happened to you when you have lived a prideful self-sufficient and self-reliant life? I have been filled with fear and worry and anxiety. I have been easy prey to attack by the devil and all his evil. I have not allowed you to help me to be on guard against him. I have not allowed you to help me to be firm in my faith so I could stand strong, firm and steadfast. As a result, I have experienced discouragement and defeat. That is not good. I know.

Will you believe in me? Will you rely on me? Will you trust me? Will you cast all your care on me? Yes Lord, I will. Will you stop living a prideful, self-sufficient and self-reliant life so I can help you to stand strong and firm and steadfast in your faith? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I know you love and care for me. Therefore, I will give all my fear, worry and anxiety to you. I will humbly rely on all your help. Help me to be on guard against the devil and all his evil. Make me strong, firm and steadfast as I love, follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question… How is knowing that God cares for you helping you to give all your fear, worry and anxiety to Him?

Living It Out… Cast all your fear, worry and anxiety on God because He cares for you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can cast all your fear, worry and anxiety on God because He cares for you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are casting all your fear, worry and anxiety to God.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you cast all your fear, worry and anxiety on the Lord because He cares for you.

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

Promises – Day 154 – 1 Peter 5-6-11 – Cast All Your Anxiety On Him – 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

The Lord Is With Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 153 - Psalm 118:5-9 - The Lord Is With Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 153 – Psalm 118:5-9 – The Lord Is With Me – Growing As Disciples

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.  The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?  The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Psalm 118:5-9 (NIV)

On Your Side

I am on your side. I like the sound of that. Nothing could be better news to me. That’s good, because it is true. I am always near to you. I am always ready to hear and answer your prayers. You can cry out to me. You can come and lay all your troubles before. None of your prayers are too small or too big for me to hear. I am never too busy. I am never preoccupied. I have no greater delight than when you draw near to me in prayer. It is then that you will realize how close I really am to you.

What comfort do you have in knowing that I am near to you? What encouragement is yours because you know that I am on your side? I know one thing for sure. What’s that? With you on my side I have no need to live in fear. I have not been, nor will I ever be walking through life alone. You are with me. You are near to me. What can man do to me if you are with me and on my side? You are my helper. You are my deliverer. You will lead me in triumph. You will give me victory. I can take refuge in you. You are my fortress. You are my strength. You will calm me in every storm. Yes, I have been and will continue to be all these things for you. I love and will take care of you. I know something else. What’s that? My future with you is eternally secure. No matter what twists and turns and up and downs I go through in life, my story, our story, ends only in one place. Where is that? One day I will come to live forever in heaven with you. That is true. That is right. That is sure. So, I will wisely take refuge in you. No one else and nothing else is worthy of faith and hope and trust. You alone are worthy. All my faith and hope and trust is in you. Never forget, always remember, I am on your side. That I will never forget and always remember. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have cried out to you in great anguish. I have laid all my troubles before you. I have asked for your help. I know that you have heard and answered my prayers because you are on my side. You are always near to me. You love and care for me. Thank you! Amen

Key Question… How is the nearness of God to you keeping fear far from you?

Living It Out… Pour your heart out in prayer to the Lord because you know that He is on your side.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is on your side and will hear and answer your anguish filled prayers.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has heard and answered your anguish filled prayers.

Prayer To Bless Others… May knowing that the Lord is on your side keep fear far from you.

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

Promises – Day 153 – Psalm 118-5-9 – The Lord Is With Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

The Lord Will Fight For You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 152 - Exodus 14:13-14 - The Lord Will Fight For You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 152 – Exodus 14:13-14 – The Lord Will Fight For You – Growing As Disciples

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)

Be Still

Can you be still before me? Can you come and rest in my presence? Can you sit quietly before me? Can you wait for me to act on your behalf? I know one thing for certain. What’s that? Being still, resting in your presence, sitting quietly before you, and waiting for you to act is much harder and more difficult than it would seem. Why is that? It takes real discipline to be still before you. It requires significant effort sit before you. Resting in your presence does not come easily or naturally to me. All my natural inclinations are to be active, to stay busy and be on the move. Those same inclinations become even stronger when a battle is before me. In the past, it has been almost impossible and irresistible for me to quickly engage in a fight to try to win the battle that is before me. I am sad to say that asking for your help and relying on you to fight my battles has been far from my thoughts and actions. I have nearly always fended for myself in fighting my battles in life. I can now see how mistaken my thinking has been. Forgive me Lord. You are forgiven.

What has happened when you have fended for yourself in fighting your battles in life? I have usually made matters worse. I have hardly ever won a battle that I have fought alone, with my own strength. I have certainly been filled with anxiety and worry and stress when I have attempted to fight battles with my own efforts alone. I have most often lived in defeat because I have neither asked for or relied on your help. That is not good. I can see that now. That is good.

What do you think will happen to you as you rely on me to help you fight battles in life? I will come to know you more intimately. I will live and walk more closely with you. My faith and hope and joy in you will become strong. I will know that you are with me to help me. I will know that you will fight for me. I will learn that you will bring me through every battle in life. You will lead me in victory. You will help me to overcome. Yes, I will. Will you be still before me? Will you quiet yourself in my presence? Will you allow me to help you? Will you keep moving forward with Me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, at one time I thought that all my battles were mine alone to fight. What mistaken thinking. My fighting often only made matters far worse. Now, I know that I can be still before you. I can rely on you. You will help me. You will give me victory over battles. Amen

Key Question… When have you been still and allowed the Lord to fight battles for you?

Living It Out… Be still before the Lord and allow Him to fight battles for you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bring you victory as you allow Him to fight battles for you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has given you victory in a battle.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be still and allow the Lord to fight for you.

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

Promises – Day 152 – Exodus 14-13-14 – The Lord Will Fight For 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

The Greatest Among You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 136 - Matthew 23:11-12 - The Greatest Among You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 136 – Matthew 23:11-12 – The Greatest Among You – Growing As Disciples

The greatest among you will be your servant.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12 (NIV)  

Be Great

I know in the past, you have wanted to be great. You have wanted to stand out. You have wanted to be respected. You have wanted to be honored. You have wanted to win the applause of others in the world. Now, much of that desire is gone. Now, at times, you are repulsed by that old worldly and fleshly desire. Now, I know you are now wary of any part of that desire that remains in you. You think the only source of that desire has been your pride? You think nothing good can come of the desire, to be great, that is still within you. You believe that desire is worldly and can only come from your old sinful nature. Have I captured your thoughts and feelings about your desire to be great? Yes, you have, without a doubt.

What would you think if I told you that I want you to be great? What would you think if I told you that your desire to be great comes from me? I would be surprised. No, I would be shocked. I would need to completely readjust my thinking, if that were true. It’s true. Start readjusting. I want you to be great in humility. I want you to be great in being a servant. I want you to be great in going and doing all that I ask of you. I want you to be great in following my example. I want you to be great in thinking and speaking and acting as I did. I want you to be great in giving. I want you to be great in serving. I want you to great in loving. I want you to be great as a bright and shinning witness for me in the world. I want you to be great in bearing fruit for my kingdom. I want you to be great in bringing glory to my name. Can you see anything wrong with being great in these ways? I cannot. Would you want to be less than great in any one of these ways? No, I would not. Would being less than great in any one of these ways be pleasing to me? Certainly not.

So, how are your readjusting your thoughts? I am thinking that I want to be great in loving and following and serving you. I want to be great in humbly going and doing all that you ask of me. I want to be great in living the life you have called me to live. It is my prayer and hope and desire that you will make me able to humbly be and do great things with and for you. That is very good. 

Lord, I will follow your example. I will humble myself and take on the form of a servant. I will go and do what you ask of me. I will serve you and others with my whole heart. I want to do great things for you. Use me to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom. Amen

Key Question… When have you foolishly wanted to be great according to the world’s definition of greatness?

Living It Out… Humble yourself and take on the form of a servant so God can powerfully use you to bear fruit for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will exalt you when you humble yourself and take on the role of being a servant.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how humbling yourself has made you able to do what God asked of you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow Christ’s example by humbly being the servant of others.

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

Promises – Day 136 – Matthew 23-11-12 – The Greatest Among You – 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

His Feet Do Not Slip

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 150 - Psalm 37:30-31 - His Feet Do Not Slip - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 150 – Psalm 37:30-31 – His Feet Do Not Slip – Growing As Disciples

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.  The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. Psalm 37:30-31 (NIV)  

Slipping

What will prevent you from slipping? What will help you to think and speak and act wisely? What will help you to live a righteous life that is good and right and pleasing to me? Let me first say that my righteousness alone would be no better than filthy rags. My wisdom alone would be no better than the world’s foolishness. Without you, I would have no hope of thinking and speaking and acting wisely. Without you, I would never be able to live a righteous life that is good and right and pleasing to you. It is only your payment of my sin, by your sacrificing yourself on the cross, that has made me righteous in your sight. You have forgiven all my sins and cleansed me of my unrighteousness because I have received you, into my life, as my Savior and Lord. All of what you have said is true.

I do know that I have only partially answered your questions. That’s right. You do want me to live and walk in the wise and righteous life that you have secured for me. You want me to come to know you. You want me to think thoughts, speak words and take actions that are good, and right, and pleasing to you. You want me to be wise in all I think, say and do. You want me to live the righteous life that you have called me to live. Yes, I want all of this for you. To live otherwise, would be slipping away from your purpose and plan for my life. To live otherwise, would be living outside of your will for my life. That’s true

So, I have now come back to your original questions. That’s good. Here now are my answers. You will prevent me from slipping. You will help me to think and speak and act wisely. You will help me to live a righteous life that is good and right and pleasing to you. I know you want me to be more specific. Yes, I do. Taking your word deeply into my life is how you will do your work in and through me. Your word will change my heart. Your word will transform my life. Your word will guide my life. Your word will make me able to resist temptation and stand against evil. As I let your word dwell in me richly, you will accomplish your purposes and plans and will in and through me. Your word will be my firm foundation. Your word will prevent me from slipping away from you. Yes, it will. I will take your word deep into my heart and mind and life so I can live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will keep your word in my heart day by day as I love, follow and serve you. Your word will always be before me. I will allow your word to transform the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and deeds of my life. Use your word to keep me from slipping. Amen

Key Question… How has God’s word guided the course of your life away from danger?

Living It Out… Day by day, keep God’s word in your heart so you will not slip.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that having God’s word in your heart will keep you from slipping.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are daily keeping God’s word in your heart?

Prayer To Bless Others… May you keep God’s word in your heart, so you do not slip.

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

Promises – Day 150 – Psalm 37-30-31 – His Feet Do Not Slip – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Completely Calm

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 149 - Matthew 8:23-27- Completely Calm - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 149 – Matthew 8:23-27- Completely Calm – Growing As Disciples

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.  Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”  He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”  Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)  

Storms Of Life

Here I am again. Where are you again? Here I am in another storm. You call this a storm? Yes, I call this a storm. It may not look like much of a storm to you. But it looks like a big storm to me. So, what if it is a big storm? What will you do with all the storms you face in life, whether they are big or small? What have you learned as storms have raged against you? What have you learned as you have gone through storms with me? I know that I can cry out to you in all the storms of life. I am never alone. You are with me. You will not forsake me. You will help me to weather all the storms of life. You will bring me through all the storms of life.  So, if a storm causes you to draw nearer to me and to rely more fully on me, it cannot be all bad. Is that true? Would you agree? Yes, as I have gone through the storms of life, with you, I have benefited greatly. How so? I have known that you have heard and answered my prayers. I have seen your power and strength. I have been astonished at how you have calmed storms that raged all around me. You have been my refuge and strength and deliverer. I have learned that you are worthy of all my hope and faith and trust. I have come to know that I can rely more fully on you. That is all very good.

Are you done learning all that you can in the storms of life? Are there no longer any valuable lessons you can learn? Certainly not, I still have much to learn. I’m listening. What can you still learn? I can still learn how to rely on you more fully. I can still learn how to place my faith in you more completely. I can still learn to pray more passionately and persistently.  I can still be astonished and thankful and grateful as you deliver me out of all the storms of life. I can still be overcome by your kindness and mercy and love for me.  I can still be wowed and in awe of all your power and strength and majesty. Will you allow me to continue to teach you all these lessons? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.  

Lord, I have gone through raging storms with you. I thought I might drown. I have cried out in prayer to you. You have calmed my storms and given me peace. Thank you that I can rely on you in the storms of life. You are my refuge and strength and deliverer. Amen

Key Question… How have you cried out to the Lord in prayer when a storm raged against you?

Living It Out… Rely on the Lord and ask Him to calm storms that rage against you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will calm storms when they rage against you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has calmed storms that raged against you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord to calm storms that rage against you.

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

Promises – Day 149 – Matthew 8-23-27 – Completely Calm – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

Walks In Wisdom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 148 - Proverbs 28:26 - Walks In Wisdom- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 148 – Proverbs 28:26 – Walks In Wisdom- Growing As Disciples

He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. Proverbs 28:26 (NIV)

Kept Safe

Do you want to be kept safe? Yes of course, I want to be kept safe. Only a fool would not want to be kept. That is correct and you are not a fool. That’s good to hear. I know that I have acted foolishly in the past. Now, that brings forth a topic worth considering. How so? How have you acted foolishly in the past? I have been foolish to think and speak and act like a “know it all.” How does a “know it all” think and speak and act? A “know it all” is foolishly filled with pride. Such a person is stubborn and strong willed. They are self-sufficient, self-reliant, self-centered and usually self-indulgent. They think that the world revolves around their thoughts and opinions and values. A “know it all” is a very poor listener. They will not hear advice. They will not accept wise counsel. No one can speak wisdom into the heart and mind and life of a “know it all.” This is a very dangerous way to live. Why is that? Everyone has blind spots that they cannot see. No one can recognize and see all their own flawed ways of thinking and speaking and acting. We all need wise people to speak wisdom into our lives. No one can see all the factors that go into making a good and wise decision. You sound like you are speaking from personal experience. Yes, I am. If there is a foolish way to think and speak and act, I have probably done it many times before. If there is a dumb decision to make or a foolish course to set, I have probably made it and set it. You are being a little hard on yourself. You haven’t made every foolish mistake there is to make. Am I close? No even near. Well, I haven’t even stated the worst. What is the worst? Just as a “know it all” is a poor listener to others, they are also a poor listener to you. I think I can say, without a doubt, that a poor listener to others is never a good listener to you. That is true.

You may be describing yourself of the past. This not you now. What are you doing differently? I am no longer relying on myself. I am now placing all my faith and hope and trust in you. I much more likely to humbly think that I know very little than to be “a know it all”. That’s good. Now, I am listening attentively to your voice. I am meeting with you daily in your word. I am receiving your instruction. I am following your guidance. I am also listening to wise counselors that you bring into my life. I am watching for your activity in and all round me. I am following you to where you lead me. I am doing what you ask of me. This is very good. How do you like living and walking in my wisdom? I am filled hope and joy. I am at peace because I am being kept safe by you. I would not want to live any other kind of life. That is very good. 

Lord, I have been stubborn and strong willed. I have been filled with pride. I have been a “know it all” and as a result I have suffered harm. No more! Now, I will trust you. Now, I will rely on you. Help me to live and walk in your wisdom so I can be kept safe. Amen

Key Question… When have you foolishly relied on your own wisdom and suffered as a result?

Living It Out… Trust in the Lord and rely on wisdom to keep you safe.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you wisdom to keep you safe.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has given you wisdom to keep you safe.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you walk in the Lord’s wisdom so you will be kept safe.

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

Promises – Day 148 – Proverbs 28-26 – Walks In 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