Category Archives: Character

Unwholesome Talk

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character- Ephesians 4:29 - Unwholesome Words - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character- Ephesians 4:29 – Unwholesome Words – Growing As Disciples

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.        Ephesians 4:29

Your Words

This is going to be a challenge for you. What is going to be a challenge for me? Do you want to be able to build others up with your words? Is that one of the ways that you want to use me? Yes, it is. Well, I want what you want. I will do whatever you ask of me. Why will building others up with my words be such a challenge for me? I know that you already have a pretty good idea why building up others with your words will be a real challenge for you. But, I will explain it to you.

How well do you listen? Do you focus your complete attention on what others have to say to you? Do you allow yourself to become distracted? Are you thinking more about what you might say next rather than carefully listening to what others are saying to you? Do you let your mind wander on to different subjects while others are speaking to you? Lord, you know me. Listening has not been my strongest quality. I have not been a good listener. I do let my mind wander. I do think more about what I want to say than what is being said to me. I’m usually thinking about a topic that interests me more than what others are discussing. Often times, I would never be able to repeat back what has just been said to me. That’s not good. I know.

If you want to be able to build others up with your words you will need to become a good listener. This will be a challenge for me. It will be more of a challenge than you think. Why is that? You will need to become a good two-way listener if you want to be able to build others up with your words. I don’t even know what a two-way listener is. Yes, I know you don’t know what a good two-way listener is. That’s why we are having this conversation. You will need to learn to listen attentively to both the person that you are talking to and to me at the same time. As you listen to the person talking you will better understand their needs. By listening attentively to them you will be fully engaging in their life. By listening attentively to me you will know what I would like you to say to them. The words that you speak will not be your own words. The words that you will speak to build others up will come from me. I get it. Now, do you understand why this will be a real challenge to you? Yes, I do. Will you listen attentively to others? Yes, I will. Will you listen attentively to me? Yes, I will. Then I will give you the words that I want to use to build others up. Then my words will become your words. That is what I want.

Lord, no longer will I let unwholesome words linger in my mind and come out of my mouth. Help me to listen carefully to you so that I can hear wholesome words to speak to others in order to build them up according to their needs. Amen

Key Question… When have you been built up or torn down by the words of another person?

Living It Out… Allow the Holy Spirit to help you speak words that will build others up according to their needs.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will use your words to build others up according to their needs.

Get Ready To Share…Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has used your words to build others up.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you use your words to build others up according to their needs.

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

Character – Ephesians 4-29 – Unwholesome Talk – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Not Become Weary

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Galatians 6:9 - Not Become Weary - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Galatians 6:9 – Not Become Weary – Growing As Disciples

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) 

Don’t Give Up 

I have given you work to go and do for me. My hand is on you. I will use you to bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. You will reap a rich and bountiful harvest for me. I want to go and do whatever you have given me to do for you. I want to accomplish your purposes. I want to fulfill your plans. I am very thankful and glad to hear that your hand is on me. It is my joy to know that you will use me. Nothing would thrill me more than to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to reap a rich and bountiful harvest for you. That is very good.

Having heard all that you have said to me, a question does come to my mind. What question do you have for me? I couldn’t help but wonder if there was an “if” that was part of all that you said to me. Is there anything that is required of me that is part of receiving these promises from you? That is a very good and wise question. What is your answer? Yes, something is required of you to receive all these promises from me. If you want to bear fruit for my kingdom and reap a rich and bountiful harvest you must not give up. You must not grow weary. You must not faint. You must not quit. I understand.

Let’s talk about this a little more. I’m listening. You will never have enough of your own strength to go and do all that I ask of you. If you rely on your own strength you will grow weary, you will become faint and you will want to give up and quit. Remember, that I said that my hand would be on you. I said that I would use you. I remember. You must rely on me for all the strength you will need to go and do all that I ask of you. I will work in you and through you. You will go and do what you could have never do without my help. So, there are really two, “ifs” to receiving all these promises from you? I will bear fruit for your kingdom and reap a rich harvest for you “if” I rely on you and “if” I don’t give up. Is that right? Yes, that’s right. Will you rely on me? Will you never give up? Will you keep on serving me? Yes Lord, I will. 

Lord, I will not grow weary. I will not become faint. I will not give up. Instead, I will rely on you for all the strength I will need to keep on doing whatever you ask me to go and do for you. Help me to reap a rich and bountiful harvest for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord strengthened you to go and do what He has given you to do for Him?

Living It Out… Keep on serving the Lord by continuing to go and do what He has given you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will reap a rich and bountiful harvest because you have kept on serving the Lord.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are not growing weary of continuing to serve the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you never grow weary of going and doing what the Lord has given you to do for Him.

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

Character – Galatians 6-9 – Not Become Weary – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Think About Such Things

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Philippians 4:8-9 - Think About Such Things - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Philippians 4:8-9 – Think About Such Things – Growing As Disciples

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)  

Think, Speak, Act

Do you want my peace to come into your life? Yes, of course I want your peace to come into my life. How can I welcome your peace into my life? What must I do if I want to live in your peace? It is a good thing that you are asking me these questions. Why is that? If you want my peace in your life there is something that you must do. What’s that? You must think my thoughts. How can I think your thoughts? What kind of thoughts am I thinking right now? Is there something wrong about my thoughts? Am I not thinking your thoughts? How are your thoughts formed? Where can you learn of my thoughts? Where do thoughts that are not of me come from? I can learn of your thoughts from your word. That’s right. Your thoughts from your word will change my thoughts. You will replace my thoughts that come from the world with your thoughts that come from your word. You got it. As I think your thoughts I will begin to experience your peace. Yes, you will.

Do you want my peace to come into your life? Didn’t you just ask me that? Didn’t we just go over that question? Yes, we discussed how my peace would begin to come into your life. I’m guessing there is more. That would be a good guess. If you want my peace to come into your life then you will not only begin to think my thoughts but you will also begin to speak my words. The words that come out of your mouth will show you and everyone else what is in your heart and on your mind. You will think and speak words that are filled with my peace. I got it. Not quite yet you don’t. There is more? Yes, there is more.

Do you want my peace to come into your life? I knew you were going to ask me that question again. I’m welcoming your peace into my life by allowing you to change my thoughts and words. What else would you like to change? It is not enough for your thoughts and words to be changed if you want to live in my peace. You must allow me to change your actions. How do you want to change my actions? I want you to put into practice all that I have been teaching you. I don’t want you to be just a hearer and speaker. I also want you to be a doer. I want you to go where I guide you. I want you to do all that I ask of you. Will you think my thoughts, speak my words and do my deeds? Yes Lord, I will. Then my peace will live and dwell in you.

Lord, I know that the world and all that is in it will never bring me peace. The world does not think your thoughts, speak your words, or do your deeds. Help me to think, speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you so that your peace can come into my life. Amen

Key Question…  How has thinking Godly thoughts brought the peace of God into your life?

Living It Out…  Allow God’s peace to come into your life as you think His thoughts, speak His words and do His deeds.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will bring peace into your life as you think His thoughts, speak His words and do His deeds.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how Godly thinking, speaking and acting has given you His peace.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May God’s peace come into your life as you think His thoughts, speak His words and do His deeds.

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

Character – Philippians 4-8-9 – Think About Such Things – 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

My Example

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - My Example - Philippians 3:17 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – My Example – Philippians 3:17 – Growing As Disciples

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.  Philippians 3:17 NIV

Being Watched

You are being watched. I am, by who? All those that are around you are watching you. Every person that you come into contact with has their eyes and ears tuned into you. They see all that you do. They hear all that you say. I’m not sure that I wanted to know that. Why not? Doesn’t that place a pretty heavy weight of responsibility on me? Yes, it does and probably even more so than you realize. What do you mean by that?

Your life is a message. It is, what kind of message is my life sending? Your life is suggesting to others an example of how they can live their life. There are those who are imitating you. Your life is serving as a pattern for others to follow. Now, I really feel a weight of responsibility. Why is that? I know that I am not living a perfect life. I make mistakes. I have setbacks. I sin. I am a sinner. How could I ever be a good example for others to follow?

Those admissions you just made are good examples to follow. You know that you are a sinner. You are not hiding that fact. You know that you need my forgiveness. You’re not thinking that you have or can live a sinless life. You know that you have made mistakes and have setbacks. Yet you are moving forward with me. Isn’t that also a very good example to follow? Yes, it is.

We are having this conversation together right now. Isn’t that something that sets a worthy example for others to follow? Yes, it sure is. Why do you and I have these daily conversations? We have them because you love me and I love you. I want to spend time in your presence. I want to know you and your will for my life. I want to talk to you about all the details of my life. Why is that? I don’t have all the answers. I need your guidance. I need you to teach and instruct me on how to live my life as your follower. Isn’t this also a very good example for others to follow? You are admitting to me that you need and want my help. Yes, I am. Would you be happy or sad for someone else to make the same requests of me? I would be very happy if I had any role in encouraging others to come to you for all that they need.

Do you still feel a heavy weight of responsibility knowing that others are following your example as you follow me? No, I feel more excited and encouraged. Why is that? I now know that all my life has to say is, “ follow me as I follow you.” The weight of responsibility isn’t on me at all. It is you that will mold and shape my life so that I am an example and pattern that others can follow. Yes, I will. How do you feel about that? I feel incredibly grateful that you will use my life to point others to you. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that.

Lord, only you can make my life an example that has any worth for others to follow. The only example that I can set is to rely on you completely to do all that you want to do in and through me. Use me as your witness in the world. Amen

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

Character – Philippians 3-17 – My Example – 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

Run With Perseverance

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Hebrews 12:1-3 - Run With Perseverance - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Hebrews 12:1-3 – Run With Perseverance – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Perseverance

You know quite a bit about running. You know a lot about perseverance. Yes, I know a lot about running with perseverance. Tell me what you know. To run with perseverance, motivation is needed at the very start. With rock solid motivation, training can begin. One cannot run well, with perseverance without daily training. Perseverance is built little by little, day by day through consistent and ongoing training. Each day of training builds upon the prior day of training. Running well, with perseverance begins with one step followed by thousands upon thousands of subsequent steps. Will you allow me to train you as you run on the course that I have laid out for you? Yes Lord, I will. That is very good. 

Let me ask you a question about what you have said so far. Go right ahead. What is your motivation to run well in your life of faith with me? You showed me your love. You saved me. You forgave all my sins. You cleansed me of all my unrighteousness. You rescued me from a life without you. You adopted me into your family. You are my Father. I am your child. I now love you because you first loved me. You gave yourself to me. So, I now want to give myself to you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. There is no place I wouldn’t go or nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I want to live my life fully with and for you. I want to live a life that is pleasing in your sight. So, as you can see, I am highly motivated to run well in my life of faith with you. I can see that quite clearly.

I have another question about motivation. What’s that? What else motivates you to run well in your life of faith with me? Many of your followers that have gone before me have run well in their race of faith with you. Many of your followers who now surround me are running well in their race of faith with you. I am encouraged by their example. They have thrown off everything that might have hindered them from running well. They have run or are now running with perseverance the course that you have laid out for them. They have not grown weary. They have not lost heart. I want to run with that same perseverance so I can be an example for others to follow. That is very good.

One more question. I’m listening. What will help you to run strong and finish well? To run strong and finish well, I will need to keep my eyes fixed on you. A good runner does not look side to side or to the rear. They keep their eyes looking forward. That is what I will do. I will keep my eyes fixed on you as I run the race of faith you have laid out before me. You will keep me running. You will help me to run well and finish strong. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that.

Lord, I will throw off everything that hinders, entangles, and slows me down in the life of faith you have given me to live with and for you. With a joyful heart, I will keep my eyes fixed on you as I run with perseverance. Help me to run well and finish strong. Amen

Key Question…  How will fixing your eyes on Jesus Christ enable you to run with persevere and finish strong?

Living It Out…  Throw off anything from your life that hinders, entangles, or slows you down from running well and finishing strong.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that Jesus Christ will help you to run with perseverance as your keep your eyes on Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group the joy that you have in running the race Christ has set before you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you keep your eyes on the Lord as you run with perseverance the race He has set before you.

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

Character – Hebrews 12-1-3 – Run With Perseverance – 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

Humble Yourselves

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - 1 Peter 1:5-6 - Humble Yourselves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – 1 Peter 1:5-6 – Humble Yourselves – Growing As Disciples

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)

 Due Time

I have lived a backwards life. What do you mean by that? I have thought that life should revolve around me. I have thought that I should be the center of everyone’s attention. I have tried to earn the notice, respect and admiration of those around me. I have chased after honors. I have sought after awards. My pride has led me to seek the esteem and the applause of the crowd. That sounds like an exhausting life to live. Have you ever received enough recognition? Have you ever been able to satisfy your pride filled empty life? No, I have worn myself trying to prove to myself and to others that I was somebody special.

Now, I want to live a completely different kind of life. What kind of life do you want to live? I want to live a life that revolves around you. I want you to be the center of my life. I want my heart and mind and life to be focused on you. I want to know your will and walk in your ways. I want to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to know you intimately. I want to hear your voice. I want to receive your guidance. I want to follow your direction. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do all that you ask of me. I will humbly follow you. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to do what is pleasing in your sight. That’s quite different from your old life. Yes, it is.

What has brought you to this point? Your old life was filled with pride. Your new life is filled with humility. Your old life was spent serving yourself. Your new life is being spent serving others. I discovered the poverty of my old life. I have discovered the riches of the new life you have given to me. In my old life, I could accomplish nothing of real and eternal value. In my new life, you are making me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. In my old life, I proudly tried to elevate myself before others. In my new life, you are helping me to humble myself before you. In my old life, I was worn out, discouraged and empty. In my new life, I am energized, excited and full. You have brought me to this place. You have given me this new life to live. Yes, I have and in due time you will be lifted up as you continue to humbly serve me. 

Lord, I have been filled with pride. I have thought I was a big deal and quite special. I have thought a lot of myself and very little of others. Forgive me. I will humble myself before you. I will rely on you for all I need. I will allow me to use me to serve others. Amen

Key Question…  May you walk humbly with God so that He can exalt you in due time.

Living It Out…  Live a life of humility so that the Lord can exalt you in due time.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will you exalt you in due time as you live your life humbly before Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are humbly following and serving the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live a godly life filled with prayers that the Lord will hear and answer.

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

Character – 1 Peter 5-6 – Humble Yourselves – 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

Seek Peace

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character- 1 Peter 3:10-12 - Seek Peace - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character- 1 Peter 3:10-12 – Seek Peace – Growing As Disciples

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12 (NIV)

Peacemaker

Do you want to live the life that I have called you to live? Yes, of course I want to live the life that you have called me to live. Do you want to enjoy life and see many good days? Yes, who would not want that? Do you want me to hear and answer your prayers? Most of all I want you to hear and answer my prayers. Why is that? I want to know you. I want to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to know and do your will. In every way I want to do what pleases you. When you asked, “Do you want me to hear and answer you prayers?” I was not thinking that you asked, “Do you want me to give you everything you ask for?” What were you thinking? I was thinking of living in a back and forth conversation with you. My prayers are a conversation with you. I want to draw near to you. I want you to draw near to me. I want to talk to you. I want you to talk to me. That is very good. Isn’t that a desire that you have put into my heart? Yes, it is.

There are some things that you must do with your life if you want to live in a close and intimate relationship with me. You have my full attention. Oh no, you have my full attention. You tell me what you must do. I thought you might say that. I must turn away from evil and do good. How will that be demonstrated? I will keep a very close guard over the words of my mouth. I will keep my lips from speaking evil. I will use the words of my mouth for doing good. How will that be demonstrated? The words of my mouth will be an expression of seeking and pursuing peace. I will not allow my words to fan flames of conflict. My words will lead to peace. You will use my words to bring about peace. Yes, I will. What else? I’m not sure what else there is to say. I know that turning away from evil and pursuing peace will allow me to love life, see many good days and live the life that you have called me to live. Yes, it will. There is more. You will hear my prayers. Yes, I will. Many of our conversations will be about you using me as a peacemaker in the world. You want me to be a peacemaker. Yes, I do. That is how I will use your life. That is how you will learn to love life and see many good days. You will be a peacemaker for me.

Lord, I will turn away from evil and do good. I will seek peace and pursue it. I will keep a close guard over the words that come out of my mouth. I want to love the life you have given me to live with and for you. Hear and answer my prayers as I follow you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you turning from evil, doing good, and seeking and pursing peace in all your relationships?

Living It Out… Turn from evil and do good as you seek and pursue peace in all your relationships.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you good days as you turn from evil, do good, and seek peace and pursue.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you turn from evil and do good as you seek and pursue peace.

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

Character – 1 Peter 3-10-12 – Seek Peace – 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

Trust In The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Proverbs 3:5-8 - Trust In The Lord- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust In The Lord- Growing As Disciples

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)  

Trust Me

The entire course of your life will be guided by how you answer one question. Are you ready to hear that one question? Yes, I am ready to hear the question that you want to ask me. Will you trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Let that question sink into your heart and mind before you give me your answer. Don’t rush to give me a quick answer. You answer must come from all that is within you. You must not say one thing and do another in answer to my question. What do you mean by that? You must not say that you will trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength and do just the opposite. That would not be good. No, it would not.

What would happen if you said you were going to trust me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength and then you did the opposite? Before I answer that question, I think I need to better understand what doing the opposite of trusting you would look like. If I don’t really trust you, who or what would I trust? That is a good question for you to think through and answer for yourself. Why is that? It will be important for you to recognize when you aren’t trusting me. So, go ahead and answer your question. If I don’t trust you I suppose I would start to trust everything and anyone other than you. I would trust myself most of all. I would pridefully rely on my own understanding. I would foolishly rely on the wisdom of others. How has relying on yourself and others worked out for you? Relying on myself and others has led me on a crooked path. I have foolishly wandered from one unproductive thing to another. I have suffered disastrous defeats and stunning setbacks. I have wasted a lot of time and effort on things that have not amounted to anything of value. I have worn myself out trying to live a self-indulgent, self-centered, and self-reliant life. I have gone nowhere and done nothing of lasting value as part of that life. That’s not good.

You have seen the error of your ways. You have turned away from the foolishness of your old life. You have turned away from evil. You are now loving, following and serving me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, I am. So, I can, will and have been answering your question with my thoughts, words and deeds. I am not saying one thing and doing another. I am trusting you with all that is within me. I am giving to you all that I am, all that I have and all that I hope to be. Living the life that you have given to me is bringing health to my body and healing to my bones. I am walking on the path of life with you. You are leading and guiding my life. Yes, I am. That is very good. Yes, it is. 

Lord, so often, I have relied on myself. My own understanding has led me on a crooked path. I have wasted time and wandered from one thing to another. I want you to guide my life. I will trust in you with all my heart. Make my path straight as I follow you. Amen

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

Character – Proverbs 3-5-8 – Trust In The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Love Is

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Love Is - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love Is – Growing As Disciples

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

Work In You

How has love caused you to bear all things? How has love helped you to believe all things? How has love given you hope in all things? How has love strengthened you to endure all things? Those are tough questions. Why is that? I have not love liked you love. I have not followed your example. I have not lived like you lived. Would you like to love like I loved? Would you like to follow my example? Would you like to live like I lived? Yes, I want to follow your example. I want to become like you. I want to do what you did. I want to live like you lived. I want to love like you loved. Do you have this power to love within you? Do you mean can I love like you loved with my own strength. That is not what I asked. But, go ahead and answer that question. No, I certainly cannot love like you loved with my own strength. Neither can I lived like you lived or become like you with my own strength. That’s true, you have answered me correctly on that question. But, let’s go back to my original question. Do I have the power within me to love like you loved? Yes, you could expand that question to include, live like I lived, follow my example, and become like me. Before you answer, let me give you a clue. What’s that? Don’t say, “no.” That’s quite a clue. Do I have the power within me to love like you loved, live like you lived and follow your example? That is the question under consideration. The answer is not no. The answer is yes. How can the answer be yes? I know. Your Holy Spirit is living and dwelling inside of me. Yes, He is. Your Holy Spirit is living and working inside of me. Yes, He is. Your Holy Spirit will make me able to love like you loved and live like you lived. Your Holy Spirit will make me able to follow your example so that I will become like you. Yes, He will. I should expect that your Holy Spirit will make me able to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things as I love, follow and serve you. That’s right. Will you allow my Holy Spirit to do His complete work in you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have not been patient. I have not been kind. I have been arrogant and filled with pride. I have been self-seeking. I have kept a record of wrongs. I want no more of this kind of self-centered life. I want to follow your example. Help me to love like you loved. Amen

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

Character – 1 Corinthians 13-4-7 – Love Is – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Your Heart Will Be

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Discipleship Devoional Study Guide - Character - Matthew 6:19-21 - Your Heart Will Be - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Matthew 6:19-21 – Your Heart Will Be – Growing As Disciples

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)  

Store Up 

What has your attention? How do you spend your time? How are you using the life you have been given? Are you pursuing all that the world offers? Are you seeking your own comfort and pleasure? Are you living for yourself? Are you living for others? Are you living for me? Those are all good questions. I know that my answers to those questions have changed over time. How so? At one time, I was living for myself. I was seeking my own comfort and pleasure. The world and all that it offered had my complete attention. I was like a kid in a candy store. I wanted it all. Just like having too much of a good thing in a candy store will make you sick, so will living for all the comforts and pleasures of this world. Just like having the latest greatest and greatest toy in the store will never satisfy, nor will the next comfort and pleasure of the world. What the world offers is temporary. It will not satisfy. It will not last. It cannot be taken with you when you leave this world. It is a foolish expenditure of a life to chase after all the candy and toys of this life. These are things that I have learned and am learning as I go through life following you. That’s good. 

I want to invest my life. I want my life to be well spent. I’m done trying to store up earthly treasures that will waste away. I want to invest my life in what will count for all eternity. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. I want to be used by you. I want to store up treasures in heaven with you. I want people to great me in heaven and say that they are there because you used me to reach out to them. I want to know that you are using me to bring others to you. I want to be a worker in your harvest. Will you use me? Will you enable me to bear fruit for you? Will you help me to store up treasure in heaven with you? Are these the desires and prayers of your heart? Yes, these are the desires and prayers of my heart. Do you know what I do with desires of your heart? Yes, you both give and grant them. Yes, I do. Yes, I will help you to bear fruit for my kingdom. Yes, I will help you to store up treasures in heaven as you follow and serve me. Lead on, I will follow and serve you. That will be very good.

Lord, I have spent plenty of time, talent and resources trying to store up treasures on the earth. What a wasteful expenditure. Help me now to bear fruit for your kingdom. I will follow you. I will serve you. Use me now to store up treasure in heaven with you. Amen

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

Character – Matthew 6-19-21 – Your Heart Will Be – 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