Category Archives: 365 Days Of Promises

We All Make Many Mistakes

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 307 - James 3:1-5 - We All Make Many Mistakes - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 307 – James 3:1-5 – We All Make Many Mistakes – Growing As Disciples

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.  Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.  We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.  And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.  In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. James 3:1-5 (NLT)

Your Mouth

What words are coming out of your mouth? How are the words of your mouth guiding the course of your life? What does that mean? Are you speaking words filled with faith? Are you speaking words filled with doubt? Are you speaking life giving words that will bless the lives of others according to their needs? Are you speaking harmful and hurtful words that will curse the lives of others? Are you getting a sense of what I am talking about when I ask, “What words are coming out of your mouth?” Yes, I do. Tell me what you have noticed about my questions. I see that I have a choice to make. Yes, you do have a choice to make. Tell me more about the choice that is before you. My words can be helpful or hurtful. My words can bring life, or my words can bring death. You do clearly see the choice that is before you.

I would like you to know something else. What’s that? Your words will reveal the condition of your heart. How so? Whatever is in your heart will be revealed by your words. If you heat is full of faith, then your words will be full of faith. If your heart is filled with doubt, then your words will be filled with doubt. If you are kind and loving your words will bless the lives of others, according to their needs. If you are bitter and angry your words will curse the lives of others. I see. So, what does all that I am saying to you tell you? I need to guard both my heart and my words. Is that a task that you can handle all by yourself? Not hardly, not at all, really. What do you need? I need your help. I need you to change my heart. I need you to transform my mind. I need you to help me to think your thoughts and speak your words. Do you believe that I will change your heart and transform your mind so that you can think my thoughts and speak my words? Yes, I do believe you will do that work in me, for me, and through me. That’s good. That is exactly what I do in you, for you, and through you, so you can think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have made many mistakes, taken missteps, and sinned with the words that have come out of my mouth. Forgive me. Help me to guard my heart and my mouth. Help me to speak only life-giving words that will richly bless others according to their needs. Amen

Key Question…  How are being careful to guard both your heart and the words that come out of your mouth?

Living It Out…  Rely on the Lord to help you to guard your heart and the words of your mouth.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to guard your heart and the words of your mouth.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to guard your heart and mouth.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you guard both your heart and the words that come out of your mouth.

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

Promises – Day 307 – James 3-1-5 – We All Make Many Mistakes – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Shown Me Much Love

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 306 - Luke 7:44-48 - Shown Me Much Love - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 306 – Luke 7:44-48 – Shown Me Much Love – Growing As Disciples

Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.  You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.  “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”  Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:44-48 (NLT)                               

How Much?

How much? How much what? How much have you been forgiven? That is a very good question. I will say this without a doubt, “I have been forgiven far more than I can imagine.” It seems to me that day by day, as I love and follow and serve you, I become more aware of how much I have forgiven. Having said that, I know that I will never fully comprehend how much I have been forgiven. Your forgiveness is complete. Your forgiveness covers all my past and all my present and all my future. You have not only forgiven me of my sins, but you have also cleansed me of my unrighteousness. You have made it so I am righteous in your sight. My sin, which once was an uncrossable barrier between me and you has been torn down once and for all time. I can now live in an intimate relationship with you. You have filled me with your Spirit. You have given me a new and fresh and clean life to live. You are leading and guiding me through life. You have richly blessed me. Your favor is upon me. You are using me as an instrument in your hands. You are now allowing me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You have secured a place in heaven that is being kept and guarded for me. All this is part of the great gift of forgiveness that you have given to me. So how much have I been forgiven is not the only question to be asked. You could also ask me how much I have been given. Your salvation includes both forgiven and given. Yes, it does.

With all this in mind, I want to tell you that I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I love you with all that is within me. Even being able to love you and to be fully devoted to you is a great gift. Only you made it possible for me to want to love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. For all you have done, are doing and will do for me, I give you all my thanks and praise and love and devotion. That is very good. Thank you for being my Savior and Lord.

Lord, I have been forgiven much. How much? That is a good question. Day by day, as I love and follow and serve you, I become more aware of how much I have been forgiven. Thank you for your kindness, mercy, and love toward me. I love you with all my heart. Amen

Key Question…  How has your understanding of how much you have been forgiven grown as you have followed the Lord?

Living It Out…  Allow your gratitude for being forgiven much to well up into loving thankfulness to the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord has forgiven you of much which has given you the desire to love Him much.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how being forgiven much has caused you to love much.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you show your love and devotion to the Lord because of all that He has done for you.

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

Promises – Day 306 – Luke 7-44-48 – Shown Me Much Love – 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

Let Us Worship And Bow Down

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 305 - Psalm 95:6-8 - Let Us Worship And Bow Down - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 305 – Psalm 95:6-8 – Let Us Worship And Bow Down – Growing As Disciples

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,  for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!  The LORD says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness. Psalm 95:6-8 (NLT)

Bow Down And Worship

Will you bow down and worship me? Will you kneel before me? Yes, I will bow down and worship you. Why will you bow down and worship me? Do I need a reason to bow down and worship you? I don’t ask that question with any disrespect. What is on your mind? What are you thinking? Without coming up with reasons, I know that it is the desire of my heart to bow down and worship you. You created me to have this desire in me. I want to bow down to worship you. Those all sound like reasons why you want to bow down to worship me. I suppose that is true, yes, they are reasons to want to bow down to worship you. Can you also come up with additional reasons why you want to bow down and worship me? Yes, I can come up with many reasons to bow down and worship you. Let me hear them. You love and care for me. You are my Good Shepherd. You sought me out when I wandered away from you. You brought me to yourself. You healed my bruised and battered and broken life. You have revived and refreshed and restored me.  I have been and am now like a sheep that is under your care. You are my Savior. You came into this world to live and die for me. You turned my life around. You made it so I can be forgiven of my sin and cleansed of my unrighteousness. You made it so I could be righteous in your sight. You filled me with your Spirit. You pulled me out of darkness and have allowed me to walk in the light with you. You have been guarding and guiding me through life. You rescued me from a life without you both now and forever. You have a place secured for me in heaven. For all these reasons, with a heart full of joy and gladness and thanksgiving I will bow down and worship you. That is very good. Do you have any other ideas? Do you have anything more to say? I will bow down and worship you because you are my Lord. I am at your disposal. I am ready for your use. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. My life is in your hands. For that I am grateful. For that I am thankful. For that I am filled with unending joy. That is very good. Yes, it is. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, you are my maker. You created me with the desire to bow down and worship you. You are my Savior and Lord. It is my joy to submit myself to your leadership over my life. With a glad heart, I will love and follow and serve you all the days of my life. Amen 

Key Question…  How does knowing that you are under the Lord’s care fill you with desire to bow down and worship Him?

Living It Out…  Bow down and worship the Lord, your maker, so you can hear His voice leading and guiding you through life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you hear the Lord’s voice leading and guiding you through life as you bow down to worship Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how bowing down to worship the Lord has helped you to follow Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you bow down and worship the Lord, your maker, because He loves and cares for you.

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

Promises – Day 305 – Psalm 95-6-8 – Let Us Worship And Bow Down – 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

This Is God’s Will For You Who Belong To Christ

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 304 - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18- This Is God's Will For You Who Belong To Christ - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 304 – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18- This Is God’s Will For You Who Belong To Christ – Growing As Disciples

Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

Joyful, Prayerful, Thankful 

Are you joyful? Are you thankful? Not nearly enough, of that I am sure. Why is that? What is the problem? I’m not sure. I’m not positive. But you do have an idea? Yes, I do have an idea. Tell me what is in your heart and on your mind? I don’t often prayerfully consider how you have so richly and abundantly blessed my life. I think that I often take your blessing for granted. I know that is sad to say and even harder to admit. I am sure that it true. I am also sure that it is a sin. So, I will confess it to you. That’s good. You are forgiven. How would you like to live your life differently? I want to live a life of ongoing and intimate prayer with you. I want to engage in a constant dialogue of prayer as I walk through life with you. I want to talk to you about anything and everything. I especially want to remember and reflect on and give thanks for your kindness and mercy and love towards me. I will take nothing for granted. I will remember all that you have done, are doing, and will do for me. That’s good. What do you think I want? I think you want what is now in my heart and on my mind. Why do you think that? You have put these desires in me.  The desire that I have, to live in an intimate relationship with you is a gift from you. The passion I have, to live my life in a constant dialogue of prayer with you is a gift beyond compare. Who has these desires? Who has these passions? Certainly not me, not unless you have planted them within me. You are correct. I have planted this desire and passion within you. What will I do with a desire and passion that I have planted in you? You will make it grow and flourish. You will bring it into full bloom. You will fully develop the fruit of a life that is joyful, and prayerful, and thankful, no matter what happens, in all the circumstances of life. Can you be all these things because I am doing this work in you. Yes, I can. Yes, I will. Do your work within me! Yes, I will. You can be sure of that. You will be joyful, prayerful, and thankful as you walk through life with me. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will remember how you have richly blessed my life. I have a multitude of reasons to give thanks and praise to you. Help me to live a life of intimate and ongoing prayer, filled with joy and thanksgiving, as I remember your kindness, mercy, and love to me. Amen 

Key Question…  What thankful and joyful prayers would you like to offer to the Lord right now?

Living It Out…  Live an intimate and ongoing life of prayer with the Lord that will fill your life with joy and thanksgiving.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you have a multitude of reasons to pray joyful and thankful prayers to the Lord.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your life is filled with joyful and thankful prayers to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be joyful, thankful, and prayerful in all the circumstances of your life.

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

Promises – Day 304 – 1 Thessalonians 5-16-18 – This Is God’s Will For You Who Belong To Christ – 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

Guard Your Heart Above All Else

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 303 - Proverbs 4:23-27 - Guard Your Heart Above All Else - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 303 – Proverbs 4:23-27 – Guard Your Heart Above All Else – Growing As Disciples

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.  Look straight ahead,  and fix your eyes on what lies before you.  Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.  Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:23-27 (NLT)

Safe Path

Do you want to walk on a safe path? Do you want to walk on the path of life? Do you want to keep from being sidetracked? Do you want to keep your feet from following evil? Yes, I want to walk on the path of life with you. Yes, I want to walk on a safe path that is the path of life? How can I walk this way and live this life? That is a very good question. Do you want to answer that question, or should I? I would prefer that you answer this question for me. That I will do. If you want to walk on the path of life you must, above all else, guard your heart. The condition of your heart will guide the entire course of your life. Make no mistake about it, the world, the flesh, and the devil will try to corrupt and pollute your heart and mind and life. You must distance yourself from evil of every kind. You must avoid perverse talk. You must stay away from corrupt speech. How will I ever be able to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil? Is that a battle I can fight? Is that a war I can win? What do you think? Under my own power, with my own strength. I will never be victorious. That thought is correct. Do you think that I am asking you to fight with your own power and strength? No, I do not. Why is that? You would never give me a battle I can’t fight or a war I can’t win. No, I would not. What must you do? I must rely on you. That is correct. If you want to walk on a safe path, that is the path of life, you must keep your heart and mind and eyes focused on me. I will lead you. I will guide you. I will guard and protect you. Keep looking straight ahead. Follow me to where I lead you. Do what I ask of you. Live the life I have given to you. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will, above all else, guard the condition of my heart. I will not wander off the safe path. I will avoid perverse and corrupt talk. I will look straight ahead and keep my heart, mind and eyes firmly fixed on you. I will keep on loving, following and serving you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you keeping your eyes firmly fixed on the Lord as you walk through life with Him?

Living It Out…  Above all else, guard your heart so you can stay on the safe path with the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to guard your heart so you can stay on the safe path with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are guarding your heart to stay on the safe path with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you, above all else, guard your heart so you can stay on the safe path with the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 303 – Proverbs 4-23-27 – Guard Your Heart Above All Else – 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

Whoever Watches The Wind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 302 - Ecclesiastes 11:4 - Whoever Watches The Wind - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 302 – Ecclesiastes 11:4 – Whoever Watches The Wind – Growing As Disciples

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NIV)

Bold And Timely Steps Of Faith

Will you wait for my guidance? Will you follow my instructions? Will you listen to my counsel? Will you neither run ahead of me or lag behind me? Will you go where I guide you? Will you do what I ask of you? Will you take bold and timely steps of faith with me? Yes, I will wait for your guidance, follow your instructions, and listen to your counsel. I won’t run ahead of you or lag behind you. I will go where you guide me to do what you ask of me. But I do have a question. What’s that? What is a bold and timely step of faith? That is a good question. It is wise that you didn’t quickly pass over those words. Why is that? I will ask you a few questions. Have you always gone and done what I asked you without delay? Have you sometimes procrastinated by waiting for perfect conditions? Have you ever lost an opportunity because you did not act without delay? Those are tough questions. Why is that? I have delayed doing what you have asked of me. I have waited for more perfect conditions before I took an action. I have lost opportunities because I did not act without delay. That is true.

Now, I want to caution you here. How so? What have you done more often? Have you more often lagged behind me, or have you more often run ahead of me? I have more often run ahead of you without consulting you. That is true. I want you to neither run ahead of me or lag behind me. I want you to wait for my guidance, follow my instructions and listen to my counsel. If you do that you will know when to wait and when to act. If you do that then you will not wait for perfect conditions before you act. Do you understand? Yes, I understand.

I will ask you a few more questions. I am listening. Have the conditions ever been perfect when I have called on you to act?

Have you ever felt completely ready and totally prepared to go and do what I have asked of you? Have I asked you to take bold and timely steps of faith as you have followed and served me? No conditions have ever been perfect, nor have I ever felt completely ready and totally prepared to go and do what you asked of me. Taking a bold and timely step with you has always required faith in you from me. Will you take bold and timely steps of faith with me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will neither run ahead of you or lag behind you. I will wait for your guidance. I will not procrastinate by waiting for perfect conditions before I go and do what you ask of me. Help me to take bold and timely steps of faith. Use me to bear fruit for you. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord helped you to know when was the right time to take a step of faith?

Living It Out…  Make it your practice to take bold and timely steps of faith to do what the Lord asks of you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith to take bold and timely steps of faith to do what the Lord asks of you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are taking bold and timely steps of faith with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you take bold and timely steps of faith to do what the Lord asks of you.

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

Promises – Day 302- Ecclesiastes 11-4 – Whoever Watches – 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

Must Be Your Servant

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 301 - Matthew 20:25-28 - Must Be Your Servant - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 301 – Matthew 20:25-28 – Must Be Your Servant – Growing As Disciples

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave–  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)

True Greatness

Admit it, you have this desire within you. I have what desire within me? You have the desire to be great in you. That is an interesting thought. I suppose I do have the desire to be great in me. Is that a bad desire? I’m not sure. I know I would never go around telling people I want to be great. That would seem prideful and self-centered, of that I have no doubt. But should I desire to be less than great? Should I desire to be average or even below average? That doesn’t seem like sound thinking to me either. It’s not. Do you know why you have the desire to be great in you? Yes, that would be very helpful. I created you to have the desire to be great in you. Is that shocking? Does that sound off and incorrect in some way? Yes, it does, I have always thought the desire to be great and being prideful were one and the same. I know for sure that you do not want me to be prideful. You want me to live a life of humility. Yes, that is true. Let me ask you a few questions. I’m listening. Do you think I lived a life of greatness? Did I think and say and do great things? No one has or ever will live a more important life filled with greatness than you. Did I live a life of greatness as the world would define it, or do you think I redefined greatness? You redefined greatness. You were humble. You took on the form of a servant. You lived to serve others in all that you thought, said, and did. You went where your Heavenly Father guided you. You did what your Heavenly Father asked of you. You bore fruit for His Kingdom and brought glory to His name. You served Him and others with all that was within you. In that way, you lived a life of true greatness far exceeding any worldly definition of greatness. Yes, I did. Let’s get back to you. What about you? Will you live the same life of greatness? Will you do what I did? Will you live as I lived? Will you follow my example? Will you become like me in all that you think and say and do? Will you serve me and others with all that is within you? Will you live the life of true greatness that I have laid out for you? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for redefining true greatness. I want to be great, by your definition. I want to live as you lived. I want to do what you did. I want to serve others in all I think, say, and do. Help me to bear fruit for your kingdom as I live to serve you and others. Amen

Key Question…  How has Jesus Christ redefined what constitutes true greatness in the way He thought, spoke, and acted?

Living It Out…  Follow the Lord’s example by serving others in all you think, say, and do.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you can live a life of greatness by following the Lord’s example of serving others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are following the Lord’s example by serving others.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you follow the Lord’s example by serving others.

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

Promises – Day 301 – Matthew 20-25-28 – Must Be Your Servant – 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 Do You Want Me To Do For You?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 300 - Mark 10:51-52 - What Do You Want Me To Do For You? - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 300 – Mark 10:51-52 – What Do You Want Me To Do For You? – Growing As Disciples

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”  “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:51-52 (NIV)

What Do You Want?

Should I ask you that very same question? What question? What do you want me to do for you? I’d like that. Well, consider that question as being asked of you, not just today, but every day. What does that mean? It means I am always ready and willing and able to hear and answer your prayers. Equally important questions are, “Are you ready and willing and able to pray prayers to me?” Will you tell me what you want and need? Do you believe that I will hear and answer your prayers? Will you pray faith filled prayers to me as you walk through life? Will you live your life in an ongoing dialogue of prayer with me? Before you answer, consider the alternatives. What are the alternatives? You tell me. The alternatives would be the opposite, I suppose. Let me hear you say them out loud. I could seldom or hardly ever make my wants and needs known to you. I could try to solve my own problems and meet my own needs. I could rely entirely on my own power and strength. I could follow my own counsel and live by my own rules. I could walk on a path that led away from you rather than toward you. I could have a distant or nonexistent relationship with you. I could never expect that you would hear and answer my prayers. I could on rare and desperate occasions cry out to you with doubt filled prayers for which I could rightfully expect nothing in return. How do all these alternatives sound to you? I don’t want to live a life that is distant from you. I want to live and walk through life with you. I want to follow you to where you lead me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. I want to have an intimate relationship with you. I want to pray faith filled prayers that you will hear and answer. I want to make all my needs known to you. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. I will hear and answer your prayers as you make your wants and needs known to me. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know I have not often asked you for what I need. At least, not nearly enough, I’m sure. That is changing. Now, I will passionately and persistently, with a heart filled with faith, make my needs known to you. Thank you for answering my prayers. Amen

Key Question…  How passionately and persistently are you making your needs known to the Lord?

Living It Out…  Keep on passionately and persistently making your faith filled prayers known to the Lord for what you need from Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your faith filled prayers to Him.

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

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you, with a heart filled with faith, ask the Lord for what you need from Him.

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

Promises – Day 285 – Mark 10-51-52 – What Do You Want Me To Do For You? – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

We Have Peace With God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 299 - Romans 5:1-5 - We Have Peace With God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 299 – Romans 5:1-5 – We Have Peace With God – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

Rely

That is a key word. That is a word for you to deeply consider. What word are we talking about? What word do I need to deeply consider? The word we are talking about is “rely”. I am your Savior and Lord. You have placed all your faith and hope and trust in me. You have turned away from your old sinful life in the world. You are now living the new life I have given to you. You are seeking to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me. You want to go where I send you. You want to do what I ask of you. Am I correct? Have I said anything about you that is not true? No, you are correct. I want to live my life just as you have described. That’s good. So, what do you want me to do with that word, “rely”? Let me ask you a few questions? I’m listening attentively. I won’t miss a word. Who do you rely on when you go through suffering? Do you rely on me or do you rely on yourself? What is your attitude when you go through suffering? Do you whine and moan with a “poor me” attitude or do you consider suffering an opportunity to draw even closer and rely more fully on me? Is suffering something horrible to be avoided at all costs or is it an opportunity for me to develop perseverance and character and hope in you? Has suffering deepened your prayer life and made our relationship more intimate or has it caused your life to become frenzied and filled with your efforts to solve your own problems and meet your own needs? I see where our conversation has gone. I am getting your point. What is my point? You want me to rely fully on you. You want suffering to do its good work in me. You want me to draw near to you and ask for your help as I go through difficulties in life. You want me to stop relying on myself and start relying fully on you. Yes, I do. Will you rely fully on me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for all you have done for me. You are my Savior and Lord. I will allow you to fill my life with peace and joy even as I go through suffering in this life. Develop perseverance, character, and hope in me, as I rely fully on you in the difficulties of life. Amen

Key Question…  When has going through suffering helped you to know the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit?

Living It Out…  Live a joyful life, filled with peace and hope, as you rely on Jesus Christ, even as you go through suffering.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that relying on God, as you go through suffering, will develop perseverance, character, and hope in you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are always placing your faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you have hope and peace and joy in the Lord as you rely on Him through all the difficulties of life.

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

Promises – Day 299 – Romans 5-1-5 – We Have Peace With God – 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

Meditation Of My Heart Be Pleasing In Your Sight

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 298 - Psalm 19:14 - Meditation Of My Heart Be Pleasing In Your Sight - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 298 – Psalm 19:14 – Meditation Of My Heart Be Pleasing In Your Sight – Growing As Disciples

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Pleasing To You

That is what I want. That is how I want to live my life. That is the way that I want to think and speak and act. What do you want? How do you want to live your life? How do you want to think and speak and act? I want to think and speak and act in ways that please you. I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want to know and do your will. I want to think your thoughts. I want to speak your words. I want to take your actions. You have chosen a very good goal. You have a very good desire in you. What is your plan? How will you be able to live this kind of life? That is a very good question. I know one thing for certain. What’s that? I will never be able to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you without your help. My own efforts will result in dismal failure. Only you can make me able to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. That is true. How do you plan on relying on my help? I will turn my life over to you. You are in charge. You are my rock and my redeemer. You are my Savior and Lord. You have broken the power of sin over my life. I no longer need to think and speak and act in worldly ways. I am now dead to sin, the world and all its evil. You have made me alive to you. I have turned away from the world. I have turned toward you so I can love and follow and serve you. I will keep fleeing evil as I pursue you. I will draw near to you. I will enter your presence. I will meet with you in your word. I meditate on your word day and night. Your word will always be before me. I know that you will use your word to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Yes, I will. You will use your word to help me to think your thoughts. You will use your word to help me to speak your words. You will use your word to help me to take your actions. Yes, I will. You have given me a completely new life to live. You are making my thoughts and words and actions pleasing to you. Yes, I am. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I want all my thoughts and words and actions to be pleasing to you. I know that my mind is the battleground over how I will think and speak and act. I will meditate on your word. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Amen

Key Question…  How is meditating on God’s word helping you to think, speak, and act in ways that please Him?

Living It Out…  Meditate on God’s word so that your thoughts and words actions will be pleasing to Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will make your thoughts, words, and actions pleasing to Him as you meditate on His word.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are making it your practice to meditate on God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your thoughts and words be pleasing to the Lord.

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

Promises – Day 298 – Psalm 19-14 – Meditation Of My Heart Be Pleasing In Your Sight – 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