Category Archives: Character

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

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

Be Kind To Everyone

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - 2 Timothy 2:24-26 - Be Kind To Everyone - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – 2 Timothy 2:24-26 – Be Kind To Everyone – Growing As Disciples

And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV)

Yes

Do you want to have abundant opportunities to minister to others? Do you want to bear fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? Do you want to shine as a bright witness for me in the world? Do you want to be used by me? Do you want to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans? Who would say no to any one of your questions? You would be surprised at how many are unwilling to do what is necessary to be able to say an emphatic and resounding yes to my questions. Many will say yes in their minds and no in their hearts to the questions that I have asked of you. What does that mean? What must I do to say an emphatic and resounding yes to your questions? How can I answer your questions with a yes in both my mind and heart? Those are very good questions.

Let me ask you some more questions. I’m listening. What will hinder your ability to be used by me? What will open doors of opportunity for you to be used by me? If I love like you loved I will be used by you. If others can see your life being lived in and through me doors of ministry will be opened to me. That’s right. If I fail to live like you lived then that will hinder my ability to be used by you. What might that look like? If I was unkind, no one would want to give me the time of day. If I was harsh, no one would have any desire to listen to me. If I was filled with pride and full of resentment, others would make every effort to stay far away from me. That’s right.

Now do you know what it will require of you to say an emphatic and resounding yes in your heart and mind to my questions? I think so. Let me hear your answer. If I really want to be used by you, I will need to take on the form of a servant. Life will need to cease to be all about me. I will need to set aside my privileges and rights. In doing so, I will give of myself to others. I will love like you loved. I will give like you gave. I will do what you did. I will be loving and kind and gentle. I will make it my purpose, plan and goal to win others over to you. I will allow you to use my life to help others escape the devil’s grasp. That will be very good. Then you will be saying an emphatic and resounding yes to me. Then I will use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name.

Lord, I know that being quarrelsome will make me an ineffective and unfruitful witness for you in the world. Instead of quarreling I will treat everyone with your gentleness, kindness, mercy and love. Help me to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and glory. Amen

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

Character – 2 Timothy 2-24-26 – Be Kind To Everyone – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Remains In Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - John 15:5 - Remains In Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – John 15:5 – Remains In Me – Growing As Disciples

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)

Well Done

My life has not been particularly fruitful. That sounds like a dramatic understatement to me. The truth is, my life has been like a barren wasteland. I have worked extremely hard and accomplished very little. Oh sure, I can point to achievements that the world might recognize and applaud. But, at the end of the day, at the end of my life, what will stand the test of time and last for all eternity? That is a very good question. Many go through their entire life without asking any questions like that. You want your life to have mattered. You want your life to have made a mark. You want to be able to look back over your life and see that it was well spent. Most of all, you want to hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Have I heard you correctly? Is all that I have said about you true? Yes, I want my life to count. I want to make a mark. I want my life to have been well spent.

How will you know if your life counted, made its mark and was well spent? That may sound like a difficult and unanswerable question. It is an easy question for me to answer. Really, let me hear your answer. I will know if my life counted, made its mark and was well spent if I went and did your will. How will you know my will? How will you be able to go and do my will? Again, that is not a difficult question to answer. I will know your will if I have listened to you. To listen to you I must live in an intimate relationship with you. I must spend time in your presence. I quiet myself before you. I must wait for your instructions. I must receive your guidance. I also know that you will ask me to do what I cannot possibly do without your help. Why is that? You want me to live a life of relying on you. You want me to follow you to where you lead me. You want me to do what you ask of me. You want me to rely on your power and strength to help me to do what only you can do in and through me. As I go where you guide me and do what you ask of me, I know that I will be accomplishing your purposes and fulfilling your plans. That’s right. If I keep on loving, following and serving you, I will one day hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Yes, you will. 

Lord, I know that apart for you I can do nothing. My life has been an example of working hard and accomplishing nothing of eternal value. I want to be fruitful for you. Help me to remain in you so I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

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

Character – John 15-5 – Remains In Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Shine Like Stars

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Philippians 2 - Shine Like Stars - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Philippians 2 – Shine Like Stars – Growing As Disciples

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV) 

Work To Do

I have given you work to do for me in this world. I have a purpose and plan for your life. I have called you to go and do my will. I want you to be my bright and bold witness in the world. I want you to shine like a star in the universe.  This comes as welcome news to me. I want to know and do your will. I want to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. I want to shine like a star in the universe so that others will be drawn to you through my life. That is very good.

What might hinder me from being a bold and bright witness for you in the world? That is a very good question. I am glad that you asked it. However, I do think that you know the answer to this question. I will listen to what you can say to me in answer to your own question. I must confess that I have been a complainer and an arguer. I have complained about the difficulty of life and the work you have given me to do for you. I have argued with you about your purposes and plans for my life. I have said that the work was too difficult and that I am unable, unqualified and unprepared to do what you have asked me to do for you. That’s not good. I know. Why is it not good that you have been a complainer and arguer? Complaining and arguing are the ways of the world. Complaining and arguing is standard practice in the world. If I let myself be a complainer and an arguer then there will be no way that I will be able to shine as a bold and bright witness for you in the world. No, you will not. What else? If I continue to complain and argue I will never accomplish the purposes and plans you have for my life. Why is that? What you ask of me will require faith. For me to be able to do what you ask of me I will need to come to rely on you. If I come to you to complain and argue, my faith will not grow. If I continue to complain and argue, I will never rely on you to go and do what you ask of me. That’s true. So, I will stop complaining and arguing. I will place all my faith in you. I will come to rely on you. I will allow you to use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans so that my labor will never be in vain. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to be a bold, bright, pure, and vibrant witness for you in the world. Help me to do what you have given me to do without complaining or arguing. Help me also, to be holding out your word of life to others in the world so they can come to know you. Amen

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

Character – Philippians 2-14-16 – Shine Like Stars – 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

To Say No

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Titus 2:11-14 - To Say No - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Titus 2:11-14 – To Say No – Growing As Disciples

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)

Yes And No

You have said yes to me. You have asked me to come into your life. You have asked me to be your Savior and Lord. You have told me that you have had enough of your old life. You no longer want to live according to the patterns, values and practices of the world. You have told me that you want to leave your old life of sin behind you. You have said that you want to live a completely new life in me. Do I have this correct? Is what I am saying true? Yes, I want to live a completely new life in you. You are my Savior and Lord. I no longer want my life to conform to the world. I want to live the new life that you have called me to live with and for you. That is very good.

Your decision to follow me was a one-time decision that will be followed up with many affirmations. You will live a life of continually saying yes to me and no to the world. These affirmations will come moment-by-moment and day-by-day. You will be tested and challenged and tried in and through the circumstances of life. You will be asked again and again if you will continue to leave the world behind you. You will be asked over and over if you will continue to love, follow and serve me.  You will be asked to live an upright and godly life that will shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world. You will not be alone in answering these questions. I will be with you to help you. I will continue to teach you to say “no” to ungodliness as you continue to say “yes” to me.

I have redeemed your life.  I have forgiven you of your sins. I have cleansed you of your unrighteousness. You are mine.  I will teach you. I will train you. I will change your heart. I will transform your mind. I will mold and shape your life. Don’t grow weary. Don’t become faint. Keep your heart and mind and life on me. I will sustain you. I will strengthen you. Will you be eager to go where I guide you? Will you be eager to do what I ask of you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for your grace that made salvation available to me. You have taught me to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions while saying “yes” to living the life you called me to live. I eagerly await the day of your return and final redemption. Amen

Key Question…  Why is saying “no” to worldliness and “yes” to godliness something that you eagerly do?

Living It Out…  Say “no” to worldly passions so you can say “yes” to living the life Christ has called you to live.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will teach you to say “no” to worldly passions as you keep on saying “yes” to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has taught you to say “no” to the world and “yes’ to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you say “no” to worldly passions so you can say “yes” to living your life for Jesus Christ.

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

Character – Titus 2-11-14 – To Say No – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

God’s Will

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - God's WiIl - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – God’s WiIl – Growing As Disciples

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Stayed Focused

What has your attention? What has your focus? I’m not sure what you mean. What is occupying your thoughts? Can you be a little more specific? Are your thoughts set solely on the things of this life? Is your perspective entirely earthly? You do realize that this life is fleeting? You are just passing through this life. You are here today. You will be gone tomorrow. Your life on this earth will go by like a blink of an eye or a snap of your fingers. Are these thoughts supposed to help me in some way? Am I supposed to be encouraged by these thoughts? I thought that my current circumstances were bad enough. Now, the brevity of my life is getting added on to my dismal circumstances. This does seem like too much weight to bear. Think again.

You are missing the point. This life is like a mist or a vapor that will quickly pass away. You might even say that this life is like a mirage. What you see now seems so real. What is before you will soon disappear. This life is not all that there is. You have so much more to look forward to. You are thinking earthly thoughts from an earthly perspective. You could be thinking heavenly thoughts from a heavenly perspective. Thinking heavenly thoughts would entirely change your perspective. How so? You have eternal life to look forward to. The pain and suffering of this temporary life is nothing compared to the joy and splendor that you will experience forever in heaven. That is a game changer for my thoughts. Yes, it is.

Your future in heaven should also be a game change for your actions. How so? Time is short. There is much work for you to do in this life. The harvest is plentiful. The workers are few. I want you to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. How so? You can go where I send you. You can do what I ask of you. You can be a bright and shining light for me in the world. I can use you to draw others to me. That’s what I want. That is my desire and hope and prayer. I am sure of that. I can see that in you. You will shine brighter and bear more fruit for me if you stay focused and remain joyful, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. That, I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you that you have given me so much for which I can be thankful. As I go through difficult circumstances I will keep my heart and mind focused on the life I have with you now and forever. Help me to be joyful, prayerful and thankful as I follow you. Amen

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

Character – 1 Thessalonians 5-16-18 – God’s Will – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Be

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

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

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV)

Help 

On my own I can be none of these things. What things? I cannot be joyful in hope, patient in affliction or faithful in prayer. Why do you say that? On my own I have been the opposite of each of these. I have been unhappy in discouragement. I have been impatient in affliction. I have been unfaithful in prayer. So, your track record tells you that you will need my help and strength and endurance to be all these things. That’s right. Do you feel like you are on your own? Do you believe that I will be with you to help you? Do you know that I am molding and shaping your life? Do you know that I will make you into the person that I have called you to be? I know that I am not alone. I believe that you are molding and shaping my life. That’s good.

Are you encouraged to know that I am working in your life? Can you have hope and joy in knowing that I am like an artist molding and shaping you and making you into one of my masterpieces? Do you trust my work? Do you trust my skill? Do you trust my hand? Can you rely on my timing? Yes, I trust you. I can have hope and joy, knowing that I am the work of your hands. That’s good.

You know that you will experience pain and suffering and affliction in this life. I suffered, you will suffer. I felt pain, you will feel pain. I was afflicted, you will be afflicted. Does any of this surprise you? No, it does not. You also know when you have grown the most in life. You also know when you have drawn near and grown closest to me. Yes, I do. When is that? When have you made the most progress in your life? When have you drawn nearest to me? Both, have happened when I have gone through pain and suffering and affliction in life. That’s right. Can you then, be patient in pain and suffering and affliction? Yes Lord, I can be patient. That’s good.

You mentioned to me that you will need my help and strength and endurance. Yes, I did. How will you go about receiving help and strength and endurance from me? I’m not sure what you mean. What must you do if you want to receive strength and hope and endurance from me? I must ask you for these things if I want to receive them. Will your prayers for these things be one and done prayers of yours? No, I will continually come to ask you for all that I need. Will you be faithful in prayer? Yes, I will be faithful in prayer. That will be very good.

Lord, I will keep on following you. I will be completely devoted to you. I will follow you to wherever you lead. I will do whatever you ask of me. With all your help and strength, I will be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. I will rely on you. Amen

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

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

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

Grace Given Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Romans 12:3 - Grace Given Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Romans 12:3 – Grace Given Me – Growing As Disciples

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3 (NIV)

Humbly Serve

Who do you think that you are? That is a good question Yes, it is. It is important for you to have a balanced assessment of who you are. I’m not sure what you mean by that. Have you ever thought too highly of yourself? You’ve got to be kidding me. I can’t believe you are even asking me that question. Why is that? I have had a major problem with thinking that I am better than other people. I would never say that out loud. I might even try to stifle that thought in my mind. I might, in my less self-aware moments, deny that it is true. You have had some indications that it is true, haven’t you? Yes. I would like you to tell me what has helped you to see that you have had a pride filled assessment of yourself. How do you know for sure that you have thought you were better than others? What could possibly explain my tendency to interrupt people? Why do I often dominate conversations by talking too much? Why do I often focus on what I am about to say, rather than, listening to what others are saying? Do I think my thoughts are more important? Do I think that my words have more to add to the conversation? Am I more interesting? I don’t like these questions. I like the answers even less. I could go on. Why am I so poor at remembering other people’s names? Are others unimportant? Are others not special? Yes, I can see that you are deeply concerned with the self-important attitude that have had in your life. That’s an understatement.

What attitude would you like to have about yourself? I would like to think that I am special. I am not more special than others. I am equally special. You made uniquely made me. You uniquely made others. You have given me special gifts and talents and abilities. You have given others equally special gifts and talents and abilities. You have called me, along with others, to be a humble servant. I want to love and serve you and others with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to be used by you. I want to be able to recognize how you are using others. I want to know that I have something very valuable to contribute as I serve you and others. I want to be able to recognize how others are valuably contributing what they have, to serve you and others.

I don’t want to stand out from others in serving you. I want to stand with others in serving you. That is a very good attitude for you to have about yourself and others. Where do you think this attitude has come from? It comes from you. You are helping me to know your thoughts and walk in your ways. Yes, I am.

Lord, on one hand, I know I am no big deal. I am not better than others. My gifts, and talents and abilities are not superior to what others have received. Yet, I am special to you. You have called me to humbly serve you and others. For that, I am so thankful. Amen

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

Character – Romans 12-3 – Grace Given Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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