Category Archives: Be

Found By You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Jeremiah 29:11-14a - Found By You- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Jeremiah 29:11-14a – Found By You- Growing As Disciples

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD,  Jeremiah 29:11-14a (ESV)

Seek Me 

What will you find if you seek me with all your heart? How are you going about seeking me with all your heart? How has seeking me with all your heart become the priority of your life? Those are all good questions. I usually ask good questions. Yes, you do. If I seek you with all my heart, I will find you. I will find the close and intimate relationship that I have always wanted to have with you. I will come to know you. You will come to know me. I will hear your voice. You will hear my voice. You will hear my questions. I will hear your answers. I will be praying to you. You will be hearing and answering my prayers. Yes, I will. As I seek you with all my heart, I will learn your will and your ways. As I follow you, with all my heart and mind and soul and strength your plans for my life will unfold before me. You will help me to know and do your will. Yes, I will. As part of seeking you with all my heart I have set apart a time and a place to meet with you every day in your word. I am sitting before you. I am listening to you. I am receiving your instructions. I am following your guidance. You are leading me to where you want me to go and giving me what you have asked me to do for you. You are helping me to know your purposes and plans for my life. You are helping me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That’s right. 

What do you have as you are seeking me with all your heart? As I seek you with all my heart I am filled with hope for the plans you have for my life. I am not stumbling around in his world. I am not trying to figure out the meaning of life. You are my hope. You are my meaning in life. You are my peace. In you, I have everything that I have ever hoped for, wanted or needed. It is my joy to seek you. I love you with all my heart and soul and strength. It Is my joy to live my life with and for you. That is very good. You are my Savior and Lord. Yes, I am. I will continue to seek you with all my heart every day of my life as I follow and serve you. That will be very good.

Lord, I will seek you with all my heart. I want to know you. I want to know your will and your ways. Help me to live out the life and the plans you have for me. I want to go where you guide me to do all that you ask of me. Use me according to your purposes Amen

Key Question… How are you going about seeking the Lord with all your heart?

Living It Out… Seek the Lord with all you heart so you will know Him and His plans for your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has good plans in store for you that will unfold as you follow Him.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you seek the Lord with all your heart so you can know Him and His plans for your life.

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

Be – Jeremiah 29-11-14a – Found By You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Constant In Prayer

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Discipleship Study - Be - Romans 12:12 - Constant In Prayer - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – Be – Romans 12:12 – Constant In Prayer – Growing As Disciples

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12 (ESV)

Constant

That is the word that I would like to describe my prayer life with you. What word is that? I would like to be constant in prayer with you. What do you mean by that? I want to live in a constant dialogue of prayer with you. I want to be talking to you constantly. I want to be listening to you constantly. That is a very good desire.

I know that you would like me to be joyful. I know that you would like me to rejoice in the hope that I have in you. Yes, that’s true. I think there is only one way for me to be joyful and rejoicing in the hope I have in you. How is that? If I want to be full of joy and rejoicing in you I will need to keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. This is a broken world. This world is filled with trials. I will face pain and suffering and difficulty in this life. This world will do its very best to discourage and defeat me. If I keep my heart and mind and life focused on the difficulties of this life I will not be filled with joy. I will not be able to rejoice in the hope I have in you. No, you will not. Only as I keep my heart and mind and life focused on you will I be joyful and rejoicing in the hope I have in you. That’s true. So, I need you to do a work in me. What kind of work do you want me to do in you?  I want you to help me to be constant in prayer. I want you to strengthen my ability to live and walk in a daily, moment by moment dialogue of prayer with you. I want to be able to hear your voice. I want you to hear my voice. I want to be able to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. I want to pray prayers that are according to your purposes. I want to pray prayers that are part of your plan. Only you can make me able to be constant in prayer. Only you can teach and train me to live and walk with you in a dialogue of prayer. Will you do this for me? Will you teach me to be constant in prayer? Yes, I will.

I know that you want me to be patient in tribulation. Yes, I do. I have not been patient. I am not a patient person. I have been especially impatient in tribulation. I’ve noticed. Do you have any idea how you might be able to be patient in tribulation? Yes, I do. As you teach me to be constant in prayer I will not only become joyful and rejoicing in the hope I have in you, I will also become patient in tribulation. As you teach me to be constant in prayer you will be accomplishing both these purposes in me. Yes, I will. I welcome you to begin your work in me now. That is very good.

Lord, I do want to live my life in a constant dialogue of prayer with you. I will draw near to you. I know you will draw near to me. Guide the thoughts of my mind and prayers of my heart. Help me to rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation as I follow you. Amen

Key Question… How are you praying about the trials you are going through right now?

Living It Out… Live a life of constant prayer so you can rejoice in hope, and be patient in tribulation through the trials of life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer throughout life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are remaining constant in prayer through the trials of life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer as you go through trials in life

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship study guide click here:

Be – Romans 12-12 – Constant In Prayer – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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Individual users may save the Discipleship 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

Filled With The Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Ephesians 5:15-18 - Filled With The Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Ephesians 5:15-18 – Filled With The Spirit – Growing As Disciples

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:15-18 (ESV) 

Look 

That is a very important word. What word? Look, I want you to look carefully how you walk through life. I understand the word look. I hear what you are saying to me. I’m just not sure what I am supposed to look at that will help me to walk carefully through life. I will ask you a few questions to help you to understand. I’m listening. How well have you walked through life when you have looked to yourself for wisdom and understanding? I can easily answer that question. When I have looked to myself for wisdom and understanding I have not walked carefully through life. I have made huge mistakes. I have taken gigantic missteps. I have gone completely the wrong direction. I have wasted a tremendous amount of time. My own weak understanding and faulty wisdom has led me to sin against you in my thoughts, words, and deeds. I have done what I should not have done. I have failed to do what I should have done. So, your own wisdom and understanding has not helped you to walk carefully through life or make the best use of your time. That’s right.

Are you ready for another question? Yes, I am. How has looking at the wisdom and understanding of the world helped you to look and walk carefully through life. Looking to the world for wisdom and understanding has been no better and probably far worse than looking to my own. Why is that? The world’s wisdom and understanding stands in direct opposition to you. Yes, it does. I would never be able to live the life you have called me to live if I looked for advice from the world. So, you have ruled out following the wisdom and understanding of the world. Yes, I have. That’s good. 

So far, you have ruled out following your own and the world’s wisdom and understanding. That’s right. What else does that leave? I will look to you to follow your wisdom and understanding. That’s good. Where will you find my wisdom and understanding? I will find your wisdom and understanding in your word. Yes, you will. I will meet with you in your word. I will listen carefully to everything you want to say to me. I will look to guidance and direction from you in your word. Who will help you to understand and apply my word to your life? Your Holy Spirit will help me to understand your word. Your Holy Spirit will apply your word to my life. Your Holy Spirit will help me to make the best use of my time by living the life that you have called me to live. That’s right. That’s what I want. That’s what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, help me to walk carefully through life. Help me to live a wise life. I want to know and do your will. I will walk away from evil. I will make the very best use of the time you have given to me. Holy Spirit, empower me to live the life I have been called to live. Amen

Key Question… What have you wisely walked away from because you were being careful how you walked?

Living It Out… Allow the Holy Spirit to help you to lead a careful and wise life of knowing and doing God’s will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that The Lord will make you able to live a wise life of knowing and doing His will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are making the most of the time you have been given.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be filled with the Spirit so that you walk carefully and make the best use of your time.

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

Be – Ephesians 5-15-18 – Filled With The Spirit – 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

Able To Give Instruction

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Titus 1:9 - Able To Give Instruction - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Titus 1:9 – Able To Give Instruction – Growing As Disciples

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Titus 1:9 (ESV)

Hold On

Those are two words that I want you to deeply consider. What words? Hold on, how are you holding on to my word? What would it look like for you to hold on to my word? What would, holding on, to my word require of you? Would you be holding on to my word if you only passively listened to it? Would you be holding on to my word if you never let it penetrate your heart and mind? Would you be holding on to my word if you never let it guide your life? Would you be holding on to my word if you never put it into practice? Will looking into my word once a week be enough for you to get a grip on my word so that you can hold on tightly to it? What would you do with my word, if your life depended on it? What would you do with my word, if it were more valuable than silver or gold? What would you do with my word, if it is the tool with which I want to change your heart, transform your mind and guide your life? What would you do with my word, if I told you that it was your defense against false teaching and worldly ideas? What would you do with my word, if there was no other way for you to begin to think my thoughts and know and do my will? What would you do with my word, if I told you that you will come to know me only as well as you come to know my word? Those are all very good questions. I am sure that none of them are hypothetical. No, they are not. I will come to meet with you in your word. I will listen carefully to everything you want to say to me. I will allow your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. I will meet with you every day in your word. I will hunger and thirst for your word. I will let your Holy Spirit take your word to use it to fight in me, with me, and for me. I will allow your word to strengthen me so that I can stand against temptation. I allow your word to form my thinking so that I can recognize and refute false teaching and worldly ideas. I will pray that you will teach and train me with your word so that I can encourage and teach others all that I have learned by holding on to your word and putting it into practice. That will be very good.

Lord, I will hold on tightly to your word. Daily, I will meditate on your word. I will allow your word to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Use me to teach others your word. Help me to refute false teaching and worldly ideas with your word. Amen

Key Question… When has God used you to teach others what you learned by holding on tightly to God’s word?

Living It Out… Make it the pattern and practice of your life to hold on tightly to God’s word so you can be encouraged and taught by it.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will be encouraged and taught by God’s word every day as you hold on tightly to it.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are holding on tightly to God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hold on tightly to God’s word so you can use it to both exhort and refute others.

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

Be – Titus 1-9 – Able To Give Instruction – 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

Of One Mind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - 1 Peter 3:8 - Of One Mind - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – 1 Peter 3:8 – Of One Mind – Growing As Disciples

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8 (NLT)

Humble Attitude

You don’t know it all. You don’t have it all. You are not independent. You are not self-sufficient. Life does not revolve around you. You are not to be self-centered. You are certainly not to be self-indulgent. You will do well to think about others. You will do well if you live your life with a humble attitude. I am calling to live your life with and for others. Be on guard about thinking too much about yourself. You will know that you are in treacherous territory when you are continually thinking all about your wants and needs and desires.

What is safe territory? How will I know if my thoughts are lining up with your thoughts? I already mentioned that I want you to live your life with a humble attitude. I heard that. How will living with a humble attitude play out in your life? I will listen more and talk less. I will meet with you in your word. I will allow your word to change my heart. I will allow your word to transform my mind. I will allow your word to guide my life. I will listen attentively to everything you want to say to me. I will also carefully consider whatever my brothers and sisters in the faith are saying to me. I know that you have placed in a body of believers so that I can both encourage others and be encouraged by them. I will seek counsel from my fellow brothers and sisters. I will listen to their advice. I will follow their directions. I will not be argumentative. I will seek to be in unity of thought with all your followers. I will seek to be a peacemaker so I can live in your peace. Even if I do disagree, I will not be disagreeable. I will be approachable. I will be open and tenderhearted. I will make time to listen to others. I will be sympathetic to others when they are going through difficulties in life. I will encourage others. I will pray for others. I will help carry the burdens that are too heavy for others to carry. I look to the interests of others above my own. Above all else, I will love others just like you loved me. I will give like you gave. I will serve like you served. I will go and do whatever you ask of me. I will be at your service every day of my life as I follow and serve you. That will be very good.

Lord, I have been proud. I have been argumentative. I have been self-centered. Forgive me. Help me to live a humble, tender hearted life in unity of thought and peaceful harmony with fellow believers. Help me to be kind, compassionate and loving toward others. Amen

Key Question… How is having a humble attitude helping you to live in peaceful harmony with others?

Living It Out… Live a humble tender hearted life of humble unity of thought and peaceful harmony with fellow believers.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will enable you to live in humble unity of thought and peaceful harmony with fellow believers.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are living in unity of thought and harmony with others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you have unity of mind and live in brotherly love with your fellow believers.

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

Be – 1 Peter 3-8 – Of One Mind – 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

Imitators

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - 1 Corinthians 11:1 - Imitators - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – 1 Corinthians 11:1 – Imitators – Growing As Disciples

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)

Imitation

I have never thought of imitation as being a positive word. There are very few people that I thought were worthy of imitation. I certainly have never been worthy of imitation. I wouldn’t even want someone to imitate me. Why is that? I know that I am a flawed individual. I am a sinner. I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. Examples of my sins are not long ago, from some distant past. I am currently a sinner. Isn’t your attitude and confession of your sins worthy of imitating? You are not trying to hide your sin. You are not falsely claiming that you are not a sinner. You are not proudly pretending to be something you are not. No, I am not doing that. Yes, being willing to admit and confess my sins to you is a worthy example to follow. Yes, it is.

You can probably guess where we are going to go with this conversation. Yes, I think I know where we are headed. Where is that? You are going to point out other behaviors and attitudes within me that are worthy of imitation. Yes, I am. You have turned away from your old life. You are allowing me to use my word to change your heart and transform your mind. You are putting on the new life that I have given you to live. Is this something others can imitate? Yes, it is. Let’s keep going. You have set apart a time and a place to meet with me in my word. You are allowing my word to dwell in you richly. You are meditating on my word day and night. You are hiding my word deeply in your heart and mind and life. Is this something others can imitate? Yes, it is. You are drawing near to me as I draw near to you. You are resisting the devil and he is fleeing from you. You are allowing my Holy Spirit to take my word and use it to fight in you, with you and for you. Are these things that are worthy of imitation? Yes, they are. It is your passionate desire to know me. You want to walk in my ways. You want to go wherever I guide you. You want to do whatever I ask of you. Are these desires worthy of imitation? Yes, they are. You want to become like me. You want to serve like I served. You want to give like I gave. You want to love like I loved. What do you have to say about this goal? It is worthy of imitation. Yes, it is. Finally, the most important thing you want to accomplish with your life is to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Are any life goals worthier of imitation than these? No, there are no life goals worthier of imitation than these. That’s right. Keep on living the life that I have given you to live and you will give others plenty to imitate. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that my life, on my own, is not worthy of imitation. Only as I draw near to you and imitate your life can I offer any kind of example that is worthy for others to follow. Use my life, help me to imitate you and be a worthy example others can follow. Amen

Key Question… Who have been role models in your life that have been worthy of your imitation?

Living It Out… Draw near to Jesus Christ so that others can imitate you imitating Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you draw near to the Lord you will be able to imitate Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how others have been able to imitate you imitating Jesus Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you imitate Jesus Christ so that you can become like Him.

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

Be – 1 Corinthians 11-1 – Imitators – 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 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

Fruitful

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- Be - John 15:4 - Fruitful - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- Be – John 15:4 – Fruitful – Growing As Disciples

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:4 (NLT)  

With And For Me

Do you want to be able to bear fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? Yes, I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. Yes, I want to bring glory to your name. Who would say no to such questions? Who wouldn’t have those desires foremost in their heart and mind? You would be surprised. Many do not want to know me. Many have no desire to live in a relationship with me. Many will never come to rely on me. They will never know my will. They will never accomplish my purposes or fulfill my plans. They will live their live by themselves and for themselves. They will have no larger perspective or greater purpose than what they can dream up on their own. They will live lives that will accomplish nothing that will last. By last, do you mean, last for all eternity? Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Do you want to bear fruit that will last for all eternity? Yes, I do. You don’t even have to ask me, I desperately want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. In every way and on every day, I want to live my life with and for you. That will be very good. I’m sure of that.

How can I be certain to bear fruit for eternity and bring glory to your name? That is a very good question. Do what you want to do. Do what I want to do? Yes, you have already told me that you want to live your life with and for me. That is what you want to do, isn’t it? Yes, it is. How will you live your life with and for me? I will come to you. I will draw near to you. I will listen to all that you want to say to me. I will listen to your instructions. I will follow you to wherever you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. Then you will certainly bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. I will do in and through you, what you could never do by yourself, with your own strength. You will know that I am with you to help you. You will know that my hand is on your life. You will know that I am working in and through your life. You will shine brightly in the world for me. I am so excited about living my life with and for you. Loving, following and serving you is a like the best of dreams coming true for me. Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do in and through my life for your kingdom and glory. I am your servant. Use my life for according to your purposes and plans. Yes, that is exactly what I will do. 

Lord, I will abide in you. I will remain in your presence. I will rely on you. You are my source. You are my sustenance. Fill and refresh my life. Make me fruitful in your service. Help me to fulfill your purposes and accomplish your plans. I want to bear fruit for you. Amen

Key Question… What fruit has your life born as you have remained in Jesus Christ?

Living It Out… Remain in Jesus Christ so you can bear fruit for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will bear fruit as you remain in Jesus Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what fruit your life has born as you have remained in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you remain in Christ so you can bear fruit for Him.

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

Be – John 15-4 – Fruitful – 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 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

Careful To Live Properly

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - 1 Peter 2:12 - Careful To Live Properly - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – 1 Peter 2:12 – Careful To Live Properly – Growing As Disciples

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. 1 Peter 2:12 (NLT) 

Spotlight

You are being watched. Your life is under close scrutiny. Your behavior is being constantly evaluated. I know that you see all things. Nothing goes unnoticed by you. Nothing can be hidden from your view. You are correct. However, I am not now talking about me. I am not now telling you that I am constantly watching you. I am not now saying that your life is under my close scrutiny and constant evaluation. What are you saying to me? People who do not yet know me, are watching your life. Your life is under close scrutiny by others in the world. Everything that you think, say and do is being constantly evaluated by those who have not yet come to believe in me. That makes me more than a little uncomfortable. Why is that? I know that I am not perfect. I have sinned against you and others in my thoughts, words, and deeds. I have made mistakes. I have taken missteps. I have done what I should not have done. I have not done what I should have done. I have no idea how I will measure up to the close scrutiny and constant evaluation of those who have not yet come to know you. I want to be a bold witness for you in the world. I want others to be drawn to you through the testimony of my life. I don’t want anything that I might think, say, or do to be a barrier to those who might want to come to know you. That’s very good.

You know now that the spotlight is on you. Yes, I do. What will you do differently to make sure that your life serves as a bold and bright witness for me in the world? I will be very careful to live an honorable life before you and unbelievers in the world. I do know one thing for sure. What’s that? I cannot live an honorable life that is a bright witness for you in the world, without your help. Without your help, my light would offer nothing to anyone living in the world. I need you to change my heart and transform my mind. I need you to help me to think your thoughts and do your will. I need you to shine brightly in and through my life. You are the only light that I can offer to the world. Yes, I am. Are you asking me to make you able to be a witness for me in the world? Are you asking me to shine my light in and through your life? Yes Lord, I am. Those are my prayers. I will hear and answer your prayers. Many will come to know me through the bright witness and bold testimony of your life.

Lord, I am not perfect. Far from it. I am a sinner in my thoughts, words, and deeds. Forgive me of all my sin. Cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. Help me to live a good and honorable life that serves as a bold and bright witness to unbelievers in this world. Amen

Key Question… How carefully are you guarding your behavior so that you will be a good witness to unbelievers?

Living It Out… Live an honorable life in all that you think, say and do so you will be a good and honorable witness to unbelievers.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to live an honorable life that will serve as a witness to unbelievers in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how someone has come to know Christ through the witness of your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be careful to live an honorable life so that you will be a good witness to unbelievers.

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

Be – 1 Peter 2-12 – Careful To Live Properly – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Comforted

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Matthew 5:4 - Comforted - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Matthew 5:4 – Comforted – Growing As Disciples

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

Mourning 

What breaks your heart? What causes you to mourn? What has brought sadness into your life? Sadness and mourning has come into my life when I have experienced loss. I have discovered that I don’t like change nearly as much as I thought I did. How so? I mourn the loss of relationships. I mourn the loss of what once was but can never be again. I mourn the passage of time. I mourn the passing away of friends and family. I mourn the loss of opportunity. I mourn the fact that I am aging. I mourn the loss of my youth. I mourn my own sin. I mourn sin and suffering and evil that is in the world. What has all your mourning caused you to do? My mourning has caused me to come to you. My mourning has caused me to draw near to you so you can draw near to me. That is very good. That is a good result of mourning, isn’t it? Yes, it is. You have allowed me to bring my comfort into your life when you have been mourning. It is very good that you mourn over your own sin. What do you do when you mourn over your sin? I confess my sins to you. What do you receive when you confess your sins to me? I receive your comfort, forgiveness and cleansing. What do you do when you mourn over sin, and suffering and evil that is in the world? I work against sin, suffering and evil in the world. I go where you guide me. I do what you ask of me. You allow me to see sin, and suffering and evil in the world so that you can use me to stand against it. Yes, I do.

Your perspective on mourning is not all good and positive. What do you mean by that? You mourn parts of life that have gone by. It would be better to rejoice and be grateful over what you have enjoyed in life rather than to mourn that past days are gone. Do you think that the best of life is all behind you? Is that why you mourn? Is that what you think? Yes, my perspective has not been good. I have good days ahead. I have eternal life with you in front of me. That should be a great source of comfort and joy for you. Yes, it is. What will you do differently because you know that you have eternal life, with me, ahead of you? I live my life with more urgency and expectancy. Why is that? I know that I have very little time left to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to make the best use of the time. So, you don’t have much time to mourn, do you? No, I do not. Be comforted with the life I have given to you now and forever. Let me use you with the time you have left in this life. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I hope my heart breaks over what breaks yours. I want to mourn when you mourn. I mourn over my sin and will confess it. I mourn over sin, suffering and evil in the world and will work against it. Comfort me when I mourn so I can also comfort others. Amen

Key Question…How has the Lord come to comfort you when your heart and mind and life was filled with mourning?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to comfort you when you are mourning.

Seeing It Happen…Have faith that the Lord will comfort you when you are mourning.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has comforted you when you were mourning.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you receive the Lord’s comfort when you are mourning. 

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

Be – Matthew 5-4 – Comforted – 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

Shown Mercy

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Matthew 5:7 - Shown Mercy - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Matthew 5:7 – Shown Mercy – Growing As Disciples

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 (NIV) 

Merciful

I want to be like you. I want to live like you lived. I want to go where you went. I want to do what you did. What exactly do you have in mind? That is a good question. I want to have your heart and mind. I want to love others like you loved. I want to think your thoughts. I want to know and do your will. You have shown me your kindness, mercy and love. I know that it is your will that I become like you. I know that you want me to do what you did. I know you want me to go where you went. I know that you want me to become like you. So, I am telling you that I want what you want. That is very good.

What will you do with those who have hurt and harmed you? How will you respond to those who are less fortunate than you? What attitude will you have to those who are feeble and weak? How will you act toward those who are full of pride and arrogance? How will you relate to those who are self-indulgent, self-sufficient and self-centered? Those are all good questions. Each one of those questions places a test before me. In every case, I will need to affirm my commitment and desire to live like you lived and do what you did. That’s right. Without your help, I would not pass these tests. I cannot love like you loved without your love living in me. I would not be able to show others your mercy without being grateful and thankful for the mercy that you have shown to me. I have not earned your forgiveness. I do not merit your love. You have shown me your kindness, mercy and love even though I have certainly not deserved it. You have not shown me your anger and judgement even though I have deserved it. I am thankful. I am grateful. I know that I love you because you first loved me. Oftentimes, you have used others to show me your love. Your kindness, mercy and love overflowed others’ lives and allowed them to be a witness in the world for you. I am someone else’s fruit. I came to you partly through you living in and through the lives of others. Yes, you did. Well, that’s exactly how I want you to use me. I want your kindness, mercy and love to flow through me, so that others can be drawn to you. Help me to be merciful to others just as you have been and continue to be merciful to me. That is a very good prayer that I will certainly hear and answer.

Lord, you have shown me your kindness, mercy and love. You have forgiven my sins and cleansed all my unrighteousness. You have not given me what I deserved. You have given me what I did not deserve. Help me now to show your abundant mercy to others. Amen

Key Question… How has being merciful towards others allowed you to be a witness for God in the world?

Living It Out… Make it your regular practice to show God’s mercy to others so that you will also receive His mercy.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will receive God’s mercy as you show it to others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are regularly showing God’s mercy to others.

Prayer To Bless Others…May you show others mercy so that you will also receive mercy.

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

Be – Matthew 5-7 – Shown Mercy – 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