Category Archives: 365 Days Of Becoming Like Christ

Parable Of The Sower

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 245 - Matthew 13:18-23 - Parable Of The Sower - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 245 – Matthew 13:18-23 – Parable Of The Sower – Growing As Disciples

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23 (NIV)

Abundant Fruit

That is sort of the bottom line. What is the bottom line? I want to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom. I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. I don’t want my life in you to be choked off by the worries and cares of this world. I don’t want to wilt under heat of the troubles and trials of this life. I want to be able to fight against every evil and withstand all temptation. I want to be able to endure any persecution. I don’t want to get caught up and entrapped by wealth and the pleasures of this life. I want my heart and mind and life to be entirely focused on you. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. You have good and right and pure desires in you. Well, they did not originate in me. Any good and right and pure desires in me certainly come from you. Yes, they do.

How will you be able to live a faithful and fruitful life that is good and right and pleasing to me? How will you be able to know and do my will? How will my good and right and pure desires that are in you, be fulfilled? Not by my own strength, that is for sure. Not by my trying harder, of that I am certain. What then? Only you can make me faithful. Only you can make me fruitful. How will I make you both faithful and fruitful? You will use your word to make me both faithful and fruitful. I meet with you daily in your word. Then and there, you will plant your word deeply into my heart and mind and life. Yes, I will. You will use your word to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Your word will accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans in and through my life. I will allow you to use your word to do your work in me. That will be very good. Then your life will bear abundant fruit for my kingdom and glory. Thank you, Lord. 

Heavenly Father, I will meet with you daily in your word. I will listen carefully and make myself attentive to what you want to teach me. Plant your word deeply in my heart, mind and life. Allow your word to flourish in me so I can bear abundant fruit for you. Amen

Key Question… How has the growth of God’s word in you made you able to bear abundant fruit for Him?

Living It Out… Meet with God in His word on a daily basis so He can plant His word deeply in your heart and mind and life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your life will bear abundant fruit for God as you take it deep into your heart and mind and life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God’s word to be planted deeply in you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow your Heavenly Father to plant His word deep into your heart and mind and life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 245 – Matthew 13-18-23 – Parable Of The Sower – 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

Go

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 244 - Jonah 1:1-3 - Go - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 244 – Jonah 1:1-3 – Go – Growing As Disciples

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV)

Say Yes

That is what I always want to say to you. What do you always want to say to me? I always want to say, “yes” to you. Will it always be easy for you to say “yes” to me? It is the desire of my heart to always say “yes” to you. That is my hope and plan. You have a good desire and hope and plan. But you haven’t yet answered my specific question. Yes, I know. I’m thinking about your question. Tell me your thoughts. I know that I have not always said, “yes” to you. Sometimes, I have ignored your requests. Sometimes, I have delayed responding to your requests. Other times, I have run away from what you have asked me to do for you. Why would you ever run away from a request of mine? Your requests are not always easy. Sometimes you have asked me to leave the familiar to do what is uncomfortable. In fact, using the words, “sometimes” or “uncomfortable” or “unfamiliar” might be a bit of an understatement. Why is that? You often ask me to do things that are beyond my ability. Why would I do that? Sometimes, your requests have seemed outright scary to me. How could my requests scare you? You want to grow my faith as I rely on you to work in and through me. You want to do in and through me what only you can do. Do you have a problem with that? No, I don’t generally have a problem with that. I will confess that I have not always gone and done the difficult, unfamiliar and uncomfortable assignments you have given to me. Forgive me for that. You are forgiven.

How do you want to live your life? I’m not sure what you mean. Do you want to live with fear and doubt? Do you want to accomplish little or much? Do you want to have great or little faith? Do you want your life to bear much or little fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring a little or a lot of glory to my name? I see where all your questions are headed. I understand their meaning. I have only one answer. I want what you want. I will say “yes” to you. I will do and do whatever you ask of me, with all the power and strength you will give to me. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I know you will ask me to go and do things for you. What you ask may be uncomfortable and unfamiliar or difficult and challenging. Help me to always say yes to you. I want to be able to both give and receive your blessings as I serve you. Amen

Key Question… When have you wanted to run away from something that the Lord asked you to do for Him?

Living It Out… Go and do what your Heavenly Father asks of you so you can both give and receive His blessings.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will help you to go and do what He asks of you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have gone and done what your Heavenly Father asked of you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you go and do what your Heavenly Father asks of you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 244 – Jonah 1-1-3 – Go – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional  Study Guide

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

Listens To Advice

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 243 - Proverbs 12:13-18 - Listens To Advice - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 243 – Proverbs 12:13-18 – Listens To Advice – Growing As Disciples

An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble. From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:13-18 (NIV)  

Listening 

I have a growth opportunity of that I am sure. What is your growth opportunity? As you know, I have often been strong willed and opinionated. I am also one of those that is energized by the heat of a good debate. There is no doubt about that. I have not developed great skills at listening. I am afraid that I have often sent off signals that I am not always ready and willing and able to receive and act on wise advice whether it comes from you or from some wise person you have brought into my life. I know one thing for certain. What’s that? A person who fails to listen to wise advice is a fool. A person who cannot receive or act on wise advice lives in constant danger. They live with warnings never received or acted on. They think foolish thoughts, speak foolish words and take foolish actions. They suffer the natural pain and suffering of thinking and speaking and acting foolishly. I don’t want that to be me. It won’t be you, trust Me.  I have more to say. I’m listening. In the little more distant past, I have also been easily annoyed and unlikely to overlook an insult. Yes but, you have allowed me to work in you and through you so that now you are more likely to ignore and overlook an insult. I am thankful for all the progress you are making in me. That’s good. I am also thankful that I am still your work in progress. Yes, you are my work in progress. You will never stop molding and shaping me into the work of your hands. Yes, you are my masterpiece. I’m sure that you have a lot of work yet to do in me.  That’s true, but don’t be impatience or discouraged, my hands are on you. My favor rests on you. I will make you able to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me. It is hard to think of myself as your masterpiece. Try harder. I will. That’s good. So, I will make listening my goal. I will be listening well to you. I will be listening well to wise people you bring into my life. I will receive and act on all that you want me to hear and do. That will be very good.

Lord, I have not always listened well. I have been strong willed and opinionated. I have sent off strong signals that I have not been ready or willing or able receive and act on advice. Forgive me. I will listen attentively to any wise advice you want to give me. Amen

Key Question… How does your life send signals that you are ready and willing and able to listen and act on advice?

Living It Out… Be ready and willing and able to receive and act on wise advice from the Lord and those He brings into your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord and others He brings into your life will give you wise advice to receive and act on.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are ready and willing to receive and act on wise advice.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be ready, willing and able to receive and act on wise advice.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 243 – Proverbs 12-13-18 – Listens To Advice – 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

Asked For This

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 242 - 1 Kings 3:10-12 - Asked For This - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 242 – 1 Kings 3:10-12 – Asked For This – Growing As Disciples

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 1 Kings 3:10-12 (NIV)

Request

I know that you delight to hear my prayers. I know that I can bring any and all my prayer requests to you. I know that there is no prayer that is too small or too large to for you to hear and answer. I know that you want me to live my life in a constant and ongoing dialogue of prayer with you. I know that, you want to me to know you intimately and follow you passionately. Yes, I want all of these things for you. That’s good and for that I am very thankful.

I am thinking a related but different thought. I’m listening. You asked Solomon what he wanted from you. Yes, I did. If you were to ask me what I wanted from you, I have an answer. If you were to give me the answer to one very large request, I know what I would ask of you. I like where you are headed in or conversation. So, you want me to make my request? Yes, absolutely. Make your request. I am listening to your every word. Well, my words will not be eloquent. My request won’t be complicated. But here goes. I want to know you. That’s it? Yes, that’s it. Now, I should clarify my request. Yes, say more. I don’t want to know you a little bit. I want to know you intimately and follow you passionately. You already know that I want that for you. Yes, I do. I am affirming that I want what you want. That is very good. We are in agreement. Without a doubt. Do you believe that I will hear and answer this prayer of yours? Yes, I do, with all my heart. You are correct. This is a prayer that I will hear and answer. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

There is much more that you know that you are not saying. That is true. Tell me what is on your heart and in your mind. If I come to know you, I will also come to love you. If I come to love you, then I will also follow and serve you. If I follow and serve you, I will also bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. All of this adds up to me living a life that is wise and good and right and true and pleasing to you. I will be able to know and do your will. Yes, it does. Yes, you will. So, I have no greater request or no more passionate desire than to come to know you. That is my prayer. That is my request. You have made a very good and wise prayer request to me.

Heavenly Father, I know for certain that wisdom does not come naturally to me. Left to my own thoughts, I will make dumb decisions and foolish mistakes. It will be my continual, ongoing prayer to ask you for wisdom so I will be able to know and do your will. Amen

Key Question… When have you asked God for wisdom so you could know and do His will?

Living It Out… Make it your continual and ongoing daily prayer to ask God for wisdom so you can know and do His will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will give you wisdom so you can know and do His will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has given you wisdom to know and do His will.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask your Heavenly Father for wisdom so you can know and do His will.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 242 – 1 Kings 3-10-12 – Asked For This – 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

God Intended It For Good

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 241 - Genesis 50:19-21 - God Intended It For Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 241 – Genesis 50:19-21 – God Intended It For Good – Growing As Disciples

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21 (NIV)

Unique Position

Here I am. I’m right here. I could have never predicted that I would end up in this place. My life has taken so many twists and turns and up and downs to arrive in this unique position. Do you have any comments to make? Not at the moment, right now, I’m enjoying listening to what you have to say. I will continue then. That will be very good. For a very long time I could not figure out what was going on in my life. How so? My course had changed and not entirely by own choosing or liking. I particularly did not like the bumps and bruises I experienced along the way. My attitude was not always positive and pleasant. That sounds like an understatement to me. I suppose so. I was crabby, wasn’t I? That’s true. I don’t like to be uncomfortable. I don’t like to be inconvenienced. I particularly don’t like to be misused, abused or mistreated. How about undervalued? Yes, I especially don’t like that much either. Another understatement. That’s for sure. Anyhow, in all of these twists and turns and ups and downs in my life it was hard for me to recognize when and where and how you were working in my life. Sometimes, I may have doubted that you actually were working in my life. I don’t know if I did or not. I will tell you one thing for certain. What’s that? My faith wasn’t strong. I was filled with doubt. I felt a little like Joseph must have felt. How is that? He had one setback after another. He was misused, abused and mistreated. He was certainly undervalued. He was literally in a dungeon of darkness. His dreams must have seemed like a distant memory. He must have asked, “Why me?” He must have wondered what he did to deserve what He was going through. There is no record of him thinking or speaking in these ways. I’ll bet he did on occasion. Maybe I’m right, maybe I’m wrong. There is one point of which I am absolutely certain. What’s that? At some point he recognized that your hand was on him. He came to know that all the adversity he had gone through had not gone to waste. He came to understand that you had been preparing and placing him in a unique position to serve you. Have you come to realize these things for yourself? Yes, I know that your hand is on me. You want to use me. You have been preparing and placing me in a unique position to serve you. I could not have arrived where I am today without traveling the course you have laid out for me. Looking back over my life I can see that you have never left me. You have always been with me to help me. You held on to me. You helped me to hold on to you. Yes, I have done all of these things for you. Now, I have only a couple of things to say. What’s that? Thank you, for how you have been working in and through my life. Use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Yes, I have. Yes, I am. Yes, I will. Thank you, Heavenly Father. 

Heavenly Father, sometimes I have not understood what was going on in my life. I wondered where and how you were working in and through me. Thank you, for helping to look back over time to understand how you have uniquely placed me to be used by you. Amen

Key Question… Where has God uniquely placed you to accomplish His purposes and fulfill His plans?

Living It Out… Allow God to use you, in the unique position He has placed you, to accomplish His purposes and fulfill His plans.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God has placed you in a unique position to accomplish His purposes and fulfill His plans.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group where God has uniquely positioned you to be used by Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to use you in the unique position He has placed you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 241 – Genesis 50-19-21 – God Intended It For Good – 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

Sacrifice

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 239 - Genesis 22:2 - Sacrifice - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 239 – Genesis 22:2 – Sacrifice – Growing As Disciples

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Genesis 22:2 (NIV) 

Your Promises 

I know something about your promises. What do you know about my promises? I know that your promises are true. I know that your promises are reliable. I know that your promises are trustworthy. I can place all my faith in your promises. You know some very important things about my promises. Can you say more? I know that you made a promise to Abraham. Yes, I did. You promised that out of Abraham you would make a great nation. You said that all the nations of the world would be blessed through him. You said that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand on the seashore. Yes, I promised all of this to Abraham. This tells me more about your promises. What does this tell you? Sometimes, my belief in your promises will be tested. How so? Why do you come to this conclusion? If Abraham didn’t have a son, it would be impossible for your promises to come true for him. If he did not have a son, then he would have no descendants. His descendants would not be as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand of the seashore. That’s true. Yet, you tested his faith in you. You tested his belief in your promises. Yes, I did. So, I ask myself these questions, “If you tested Abraham’s faith in you and his belief in your promises, will I not also be tested as I love, follow and serve you throughout my life?” “Will I not also need to place my faith in you?” “Will I not also need to rely on your promises?” Those are all very good questions to ask yourself.  What is your answer to these questions? My faith in you and my belief in your promises will certainly be tested. I will need to place all my faith in you when I go through dark and difficult days. I will need to come to fully rely on your promises. Why else do you know this to be true? It was not only true in Abraham’s life. It has been true in the lives of all who have followed you. It has already been true in my own life. I have had days where all I could do to move forward with you was to place my faith in you and keep on believing in your promises. That is true. How has that worked out for you? You have never left me all alone. You have always been with me to help me. I have never regretted placing my faith in you and relying on your promises. That is very good. Yes, you and your promises are very good. For that you have my never-ending thanks and praise and worship. Keep me moving forward with you. Keep helping me to hold on to you and your promises. Yes, I will. 

Heavenly Father, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am fully devoted to you. All my faith is in you. I will hold on to your promises as I go through dark and difficult days. I know you will accomplish your purposes and plans in my life. Amen

Key Question… When has one of your God given hopes and dreams and desires faced adversity?

Living It Out… Rely on the promises of God as you go through dark and difficult days.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will fulfill His promises to you as you love, follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on the promises of God has you follow Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the promises of God as you go through dark and difficult days.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 239 – Genesis 22-2 – Sacrifice – 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

That They May Have Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 238 - John 10:10 - That They May Have Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 238 – John 10:10 – That They May Have Life – Growing As Disciples

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV) 

Abundant Life

Not one day of my life has been the same. What are you taking about? Your life has never been the same as what? Not one day of my life has been the same since the day that I came to know you as my Savior and Lord. I’d like to hear more about this from you. My life was a complete and total mess before I gave my life to you. I was bruised and battered and broken. I was discouraged and depressed. It seem like my life was one long stream of disastrous misadventures. If something could go wrong, it did. If I could experience any more pain or suffering or loss, I did. I don’t know how I could have felt more hopeless. I may be exaggerating. Maybe, I am being melodramatic? No, I don’t think so. I agree with you, your life was a mess. So, would you also say that I had reached rock bottom? Yes, your life was at rock bottom, on that we have agreement. That was a very good place for you to be. Why do you say that? It didn’t feel like a good place to me. I would like to ask you a couple of questions to help you to answer your own question. I’m listening. Would you have cried out to me if your life had not reached rock bottom? Would you have asked for my help? Would you have been willing to turn your life over to me? Would you have told me that you wanted to follow me as your Savior and Lord? Certainly not, I was a strong willed and independent person. I thought I didn’t need or want anything from anyone, including you. I wanted to live my life, my way, all by myself. No one could tell me anything. I was absolutely full of myself. Being at rock bottom stripped me of my prideful independence. Being at rock bottom caused me to cry out to you to ask for your help. Being at rock bottom showed me that I wanted more and something else. I now know I wanted you. I wanted to know and love and follow and serve you. I wanted to live my life with and for you. So, being at rock bottom was a good place for you to be after all? Yes, it was a very good place to for me to be.

So now, I am thankful beyond measure. You have given me a completely new life to live. You have helped me to come to love you with all my heart and mind and strength. You have given me a passionate desire to know and do your will. You have made it my joy to walk with you through life. You are the focus of my life. You are at the center of all that I think and say and do. That is why I can confidently say that my life has never been the same since you became my Savior and Lord. That is very good. Yes, it is unimaginably good. You have given me an abundant life to live with and for you. Yes, I have. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, thank you for giving me fullness of life. You have forgiven me and freed me from my old life. You have accepted and adopted me into your family. You have filled my life with hope and meaning and purpose. You have given me a bright future now and forever. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord given you a life that is filled with hope and meaning and purpose?

Living It Out… Live out the fullness of life that the Lord has given to you both now and forever.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to live the fullness of life that He has given you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is helping you to live the fullness of life He has given you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live out the fullness of life that the Lord has secured for you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – John 10-10 – Have Life – 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

Wait For The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 237 - Psalm 130:5-6 - Wait For The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 237 – Psalm 130:5-6 – Wait For The Lord – Growing As Disciples

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6 (NIV)

Waiting

That does not come naturally to me. What does not come naturally to you? Waiting does not come naturally to me. Running and racing comes naturally to me. Busyness and being constantly in motion or on the go comes naturally to me. Impatience and worry and anxiety come naturally to me. How has being constantly busy and always in motion worked out for you? Not well, not well at all. Why not? I can’t tell you how mistaken my thoughts and words and actions have been because I rushed into them. There is an irony here. Really, what’s the irony? I’m sure I have thought that if I run faster and harder, I will accomplish far more and that being busy is far better than waiting. That is clearly not the case. Why is that? Failing to wait on you as I put my hope in your word has left me with only my own thoughts and words and actions. I have not received your instruction. I have not followed your guidance. I have not been able to know and do your will because I haven’t waited on you or listened to your word. So, I have wasted time and talent and resources by doing what seemed right in my own eyes. The problem is that my eyes do don’t have your perspective. Without waiting, I will never have your wisdom. So, in my life of busyness and constant motion I have made a ton of mistakes. That is not good. No, it is not. It is no fun to have to stop and turn around and start over. No, it is not. 

So, what do you want to do differently? I want to wait for you. How will you wait for me? I will draw near to you. I will rest in your presence. I will listen to all that you have to say to me. I will allow you to speak into my life. I will meet with you in prayer. I will live my life in a constant dialogue with you. I will meet with you in worship. I will bow myself down before you. I will give you all my thanks and praise. I will meet with you in your word. I will allow your word to change my heart and transform my mind. I will eagerly and expectantly wait for you to guide my life. I will go where you guide me to do what you ask of me. I will follow word and put into practice whatever you show me. In every way and on every day, I will be waiting before you. That will be very good. Yes, it will.

Lord, I will quiet myself before you. I will make myself fully available to you. I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in worship. I will meet with you in your word. I will eagerly wait to hear from you. My expectant hope will be fully in your word. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your daily practice to wait and meet with the Lord in His word?

Living It Out… Make it your daily practice to wait for the Lord as you put your hope in His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can wait for the Lord as you put your hope in His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you wait for the Lord as you put your hope in His word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you wait for the Lord as you meet with Him in His word.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 237 – Psalm 130-5-6 – Wait For The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Blessed To Give

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 236 - Acts 20:35 - Blessed To Give- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 236 – Acts 20:35 – Blessed To Give- Growing As Disciples

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.‘” Acts 20:35 (NIV) 

Time, Talent, And Resources

That is what I will generously and joyously give to others. What will you generously and joyously give to others? I will give my time, talent and resources to others. Why are you willing to do that? You have given me an example to follow. I want to become like you. I want to do what you did. I want to follow your example. How have I given you an example to follow? You came into this world to give yourself in service to others. You have up all your rights and privileges. You took on the form of a servant. You came into this world to live and die for me. You made it so I could be forgiven of my sin and cleansed of my unrighteousness.  You rescued me from a life without you. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You made it so I could live in an intimate relationship with you. You gave yourself joyously and generously even though you knew that you would be despised and rejected and ultimately put to death on the cross. Yes, I did all these things for you even though I knew the pain and suffering I would go through. You were doing the will of your Heavenly Father. That’s right. I had joy set before me. Was that the joy of knowing that you were doing your Heavenly Father’s will? Was that the joy of being the author and perfecter of my faith? Was that the joy of giving me an example to follow? Yes, it was.

Well, I want to go and do the will of my Heavenly Father. I want to do what you did. I want to take on the form of a servant. I want to give to others what you have given to me. What have I given to you? Everything I am, everything I have, and everything I hope to be has come to me as a gift from you. So, I want to give my time and talent and resources to others. I want you to use my life to draw others to you. I want to shine brightly for you in this world. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Use all that I am and all that I have in your service. Yes, I will. 

Lord, you have given me an example to follow. You came into this life to serve others. I want to become like you. I want to love like you loved, serve like you served and give like you gave. Bless me as I generously give my time, talent and resources to others. Amen

Key Question… What blessings have you received as you have generously given to others?

Living It Out… Generously and joyously give your time, talent and resources to others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your life will be blessed as you give your time, talent and resources to others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how giving to others has richly blessed your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you give your time, talent and resources to others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 236 – Acts 20-35 – Blessed To Give – 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

An Ever-Present Help

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 235 - Psalm 46:1-3 - An Ever-Present Help - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 235 – Psalm 46:1-3 – An Ever-Present Help – Growing As Disciples

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)

No Matter What 

I’m thinking about those words. What words? The words, “no matter what” have come to mind. I would like to hear what you have to say about those words. I would be happy to share my thoughts with you. Although, I do know that you already know my thoughts. Yes, but it will be enjoyable to hear you say your thoughts out loud. Alright then, here goes. No matter what, you are with me to help me. No matter what, you are my refuge and strength. No matter what, you are my shelter in the midst of a storm of troubles. No matter what, I can place all my faith and hope and trust in you. No matter what, I can draw near to you. You will guard me. You will guide me. You will protect me. Yes, I will, have no doubt about that. No matter what, I have no need to fear. No matter what, my future in heaven is secure. You have a place in heaven that is being kept and guarded for me. Yes, I do, you can be absolutely sure and certain of that.

How does knowing that your future in heaven with me is secure put the troubles of life into proper perspective? I know that this life is incredibly short. The years, race by. A whole life is here today and will be gone tomorrow. One day, the whole collection of my troubles in life will be far less than even a distant memory. I am sure that once I come to live forever in heaven with you, I will not give the troubles of this life a second of thought. If I have any questions about why this or that happened or why I went through such and such, I’ll bet that I will forget those questions. Being in your presence will surely erase from my mind all the difficulties I had in this very short life. On that day, and on every day forever after that there will be no sickness or suffering or pain or tears. I will live forever in joy with you in your heavenly kingdom. Yes, you will. So now, I will not be afraid. I will not be discouraged or depressed or defeated. I will place all my faith and hope and trust in you. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I know you are my refuge and strength. No matter what happens I know you will be with me to help me in all the troubles of life. I will not fear. I will draw near to you. I will take shelter in you. I will allow you to be my refuge and strength. Amen

Key Question… How has allowing God to be your refuge and strength kept you from succumbing to fear?

Living It Out… Allow God to be your refuge and strength at all times and in the midst of any trouble.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will always be your refuge and strength in the midst of trouble.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has been your refuge and strength in the midst of trouble.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to be your refuge and strength in the midst of all your troubles in life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 235 – Psalm 46-1-3 – An Ever-Present Help – 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