Category Archives: Character

Living Sacrifices

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Romans 12:1 – Living Sacrifices – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Devoted 

I consider it to be no sacrifice to wholeheartedly offer myself to you. You don’t, why is that? If I didn’t want to offer myself to you and I did, that would be quite a sacrifice. But, I am happy to offer myself as a sacrifice to you. You are, why is that? I am grateful. I am thankful. You have done so much for me. Like what? You rescued me from a life without you. I was walking a dark and sin filled path, away from you. I was living as your enemy. I am sure there were times when I mocked your followers. I am positive that I took your name in vain. I thought I didn’t want you. I was sure that I didn’t need you. I was self-centered. I was self-reliant, I was self–sufficient or so I thought. But, I was wrong. I was foolish. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was living a bruised and battered and broken life. Soon enough, I became desperate. I was wounded. I was hurt. I was empty and all alone, or so I thought. But, you were there. You were watching. You were waiting. You were welcoming. You called me to come to you. Yes, I did. You bound up all my wounds. You healed my body and restored my soul. You forgave my sins. You cleansed me of my unrighteousness. Yes, I did. You gave me a new life of salvation to live with you. So now, I love you because you first loved me. I want to live my life with and for you. I want to follow you to where you lead me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. My heart and mind and life are filled with thankfulness. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul. In every way on every day I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. It is my pleasure and joy to give myself to you. That is why I consider it to be no sacrifice to give myself wholeheartedly to you. Every day, I want to offer my whole self to you as a living sacrifice. I want all my thoughts, words and deeds to be an expression of worship to you. That is very good. That is very pleasing to me. I will lead you. I will guide you. I will use you. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will.

Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me your mercy. You offered your salvation to me as a gift. I now love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am wholeheartedly devoted to you. I will go where you guide me and do what you ask of me. Amen

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

Character – Romans 12-1 – Living Sacrifices – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Be Strong And Courageous

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Discipleship Study - Character - Joshua 1:8-9 - Be Strong And Courageous- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – Character – Joshua 1:8-9 – Be Strong And Courageous- Growing As Disciples

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 (NIV)  

My Promises

How will you be encouraged? How will you be strengthened? What will make you courageous? How will you be careful to go and do everything I ask of you? What will help you to be prosperous and successful? What will you hold on to through all the ups and downs and twists and turns of life? I know what I will not hold on to. What’s that? I will not hold on to my gifts and talents and abilities. I will not hold on to my education and training. I will not hold on to my money and material possessions. I will not hold on to my strength and health. I will not hold on to my past accomplishments. Not one of these things will sustain me through all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life. That’s true.

You know quite clearly what you will not hold on to when you go through trials in life. Yes, I do. That’s good. Do you know what you will hold on to when you face all the storms of life? Yes, I do. I will hold on to you. I will hold on to your promises. I will hold on to your word. How will you do that? I will hide your word in my heart. I will store your word in my mind. I will meditate on your word day and night. I will allow your word to guide my life. Your word will train me. Your word will instruct me. Yes, it will. Your word will teach me what I need to know. What do you need to know? I need to know that you will be with me. You will help me. You will lift me up and encourage me. You will strengthen me. You will make me courageous. You will help me to be prosperous and successful. You will make me able to go and do your will. Yes, I will. That’s not all. What else? Your word will help me to do what I need to do.  What do you need to do? I need to trust you. I need to rely on you. I need to put your word into practice. I need go and do whatever you ask of me. Yes, you do. That is what I will do. I will rely on you. I will hold on to your promises. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will meditate on your word day and night. Your word will be in my heart, on my mind and lived out in my life. I will think, speak and act on your word. Help me to be careful, strong and courageous. Be with me wherever I go and in whatever I do for you. Amen

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

Character – Joshua 1-8-9 – Be Strong And Courageous – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

Love Must Be Sincere

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Romans 12:9-10 - Love Must Be Sincere - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Romans 12:9-10 – Love Must Be Sincere – Growing As Disciples

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10 (NIV)

Lovingly Devoted

What does real love look like?  How do you know if you sincerely love other people? Is it enough to have a loving attitude without taking any action? I’m not sure how to answer these questions. Why is that? I’m not sure that I have loved others sincerely. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I haven’t loved others sincerely. What makes you think that? Those words “be devoted” are staring me in the face. I’m not sure how devoted I have been to serving others. Are you kidding me? Can’t you see how much of your time and energies are being devoted to serving others? It looks to me like you are devoting your life to serving others. Really, it does? Yes, it does. 

Look at how much of your life is being spent in service to others. Would you say that you use a little bit or most of your time in service to others? I don’t want to take credit or pat myself on the back. I know you don’t want that. You have just the opposite problem. What’s that? You aren’t encouraged by the fact that you are devoted to serving me and others. Your devotion to me and others should bring you joy and peace. Instead, you have this false guilt that you can and should be doing more. I will ask you to do more for me. You can be sure of that. But, I don’t want you to carry false guilt that you haven’t done enough.  Do you know what this false guilt will do to you? No, not really. It will discourage you and make you want to give up and quit. You will lose the peace and joy of being devoted to serving me and others. Your work will become hard labor that you will not be able to sustain. Guilt induced hard labor is an evil that you must hate and reject. Love motivated devotion to me and others is a joy to be welcomed and savored. This kind of love and devotion will lift you up and encourage and strengthen you to do even more for me and others. But the desire to do more will not come from guilt or a sense of obligation. You can’t make yourself to be lovingly devoted to serving me or others. That is something that I will do in, for, and through you. I’d like that. Yes, I know.

My love is going to do a new work in you. How is that? I want you to grow in the way that you honor others above yourself. You may have noticed that I have already been teaching you how to take a step back so that others can take a step forward. Yes, I’ve noticed. I want you to encourage others in their love and devotion to me.  I want you to show others how they can be devoted to serving me. I want them to see you honoring others above yourself because you are devoted to serving me. There is one more thing that I also want others to see in you. What’s that? I want them to see the joy and peace that is yours because you are lovingly devoted to serving me. Will you allow me to do this work in and through your life? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will hate what is evil and hold on tightly to what is good. I will pursue the life you have called me to live. I will devote all my efforts to loving and honoring others deeply from my heart. Use all my thoughts, words and deeds to bless the lives of others. Amen

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

Character – Romans 12-9-10 – Love Must Be Sincere – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

With All Your Heart

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Colossians 3:23-24 - With All Your Heart - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Colossians 3:23-24 – With All Your Heart – Growing As Disciples

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Serving Me 

Do you want to serve me? Yes, I want to serve you. Who would say otherwise? You would be very surprised who would say otherwise by the inaction of their lives. Many do not really want to serve me. They may say otherwise but not back up their words with action. Many are sitting on their hands, with no idea of how to serve me. How will you serve me? I’m not sure what you mean? Will you pick and choose how you will serve me? No, I will go wherever you guide me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will be ready to go where you guide me to do whatever you ask of me, at a moment’s notice. You won’t find me passively sitting on my hands, resting on my laurels. That’s good.

How will you know how where I am leading you? How will you know what I am asking of you? That’s a good question. I will need to be watching and waiting for my opportunities to go and serve you. I will need to be expectant rather than reluctant. What do you mean by that? I will need to be predisposed to action rather than sitting passively, on my hands. I know that you will have a much easier time guiding me if I’m ready to be put in motion. You may only give me a quiet whisper or a soft nudge to go and serve you. That’s true. If I’m not expectantly watching and waiting, I may miss your guidance to go and serve you. That’s right.

What kind of effort will you give when you go and serve me? I will give you my very best effort. I know that all my labor in this life is for you. How hard and well I work will either be a good or bad testimony to others in this world. I want others to clearly see that you are working in and through my life. I want my service to you to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. I want the way that I go about my work to bring glory to your name. I want to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. So, I will always be ready to go and serve you with everything that is within me. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not sit around doing nothing. I will not give half-hearted efforts in serving you. I will go and do all that you ask of me with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Bear eternal, lasting fruit through my life. Use me to accomplish your purposes. Amen

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

Character – Colossians 3-23-24 – With All Your Heart – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Heart Reflects

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Proverbs 27:19 - Heart Reflects - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Proverbs 27:19 – Heart Reflects – Growing As Disciples

As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

Your Heart

Lord, what do I look like? How can I know? Is that a hard question? You have looked down into water many times. Yes, I have done that many times. What have you seen? I have seen my reflection looking back at me. That’s right. Does your reflection give you a good or poor picture of what you look like? My reflection gives me a very precise picture of what I look like. Yes, it does. You can trust what your reflection from the water is showing you about what you look like. Yes, I can. I doubt that you were wondering what you looked like physically. No, I wasn’t. I want to know what look like as a person. What do you mean by that? I want to know about who I am. I want to know more about my character.  Do you want to know the condition of your heart? Yes, that’s exactly what I want to know. Are you sure? Yes, I’m sure.

Just as water reflects your face, your thoughts, words, and deeds will reflect the condition of your heart. You can know the condition of your heart by the thoughts that you think. You can know the condition of your heart through the words that you speak. You can know the condition of your heart through the actions that you take. Your thoughts, words and deeds will give you a very clear picture of the condition of your heart. Just as you trusted your reflection on the water to give you a physical picture, you can also trust that your thoughts, words and actions will give you a spiritual picture of the condition of your heart. Oh, that’s great. You don’t sound too excited. I’m not. Why not? 

If my thoughts, words and actions are giving me an accurate picture of the spiritual condition of my heart then I am in desperate need of your help. Why is that? I am not entirely happy with the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and actions of my life. I have thought, said and done things that I deeply regret. You say to me that you have sinned in your thoughts, words and actions? Yes, without a doubt. Have you confessed these sins to me? Yes, I have confessed these sins to you. Then you are forgiven and cleansed of all your sins. I have made you clean.  I have given you a clean heart. You have a fresh start. You have a new life to live. Don’t ever think that you will be able to live a perfect life. You have and will sin in your thoughts, words and actions. Keep on confessing your sins to me. Keep on allowing me to cleanse your heart and mind and life. Keep on following me to where I lead you. Keep on doing what I ask of you. I will be changing your heart, transforming your mind and guiding your life every day as you love, follow and serve me. You will live the life that I have called you to live. Your heart will reflect that I am working in you, for you and though you. Now that, is exciting! Yes, it is.

Lord, I know all my thoughts, words and actions reflect the condition of my heart. Thank you, for forgiving my sin and cleansing me of all my unrighteousness. Keep changing my heart and mind. Let my heart reflect that you are working in, for and through me. Amen

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

Character – Proverbs 27-19 – Heart Reflects – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

We Know

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Romans 5:3-5- We Know - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Romans 5:3-5- We Know – Growing As Disciples

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)  

Know What?

What do you know? What do I know about what? What do you know about difficult trials and painful suffering? I know that I would like to avoid difficult trials and painful suffering as much as possible. How about a more serious answer? I am serious. I don’t like difficult trials and painful suffering. I get that. How about a more realistic answer? You do know that you will go through difficult trials and painful suffering in life? I went through difficult trials and painful suffering. You will too. Difficult trials and painful suffering are part of life in this sin broken world that you live in. Yes, I know. That doesn’t mean that I must like or enjoy difficult trials and painful suffering, does it? That is a very good question. You didn’t think it was a good question when you asked it, did you? No, I did not.

What has happened to you when you have gone through difficult trials and painful suffering? I have drawn near to you. I have relied on you to help me through difficult trials and painful suffering. Have I helped you? Yes, you have been very near to me when I have gone through trials and suffering. Have you come to know me in a deeper way during your trials and suffering in life? Yes, I have come to know your love for me in a deeper way. Is that something to rejoice about? Can you give thanks because you have come to know me in a deeper way through trials and suffering? Yes, I can. Then trials and suffering are not all bad? I can bring great good even out of trials and suffering? Yes, you can. I’m glad that you know that.

What else have I developed in you as you have gone through difficult trials and painful suffering? You have made me stronger as I have faced resistance. You have developed perseverance within me. As you have developed perseverance in me you have also strengthened my character. What has grown in you as your perseverance has developed and your character has been strengthened? Hope has grown in me. Why is that? I have had hope grow in me, because I have known that you were working in my life to make me into the person you have called me to be. To do that, what have I been using? You have been using my trials and suffering to mold and shape my life. Yes, I have. Why would I do that? You are molding and shaping my life because you love me. Yes, I do. You can rejoice in that, can’t you. Yes, I can. Yes, I will. Yes, I am. That is very good. 

Lord, I am not a fan of trials and suffering. Help me to endure every one of them. Develop perseverance, character and hope in me as I rely on you. I will rejoice in the work you will do in me, through every difficulty. Make me into the person you want me to be. Amen

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

Character – Romans 5-3-5 – We Know – 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

Forgiving Each Other

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Philippians 4:32 - Forgiving Each Other - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- Character – Philippians 4:32 – Forgiving Each Other – Growing As Disciples

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) 

Forgiven And Forgiving 

Do you want to be like me? Will you do for others what I have done for you? Do you want to be my witness in the world? I want to be like you. I want to do for others what you have done for me. I want to stand out from the crowd. Yes, I want to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Then you will need to do what others, in the world, will not do. You must be willing to do what is difficult. I’m not sure what you are asking of me. Can you be more specific? Yes, I can be very specific. 

You have been mistreated. Others have harmed and hurt you. You have ben spurned and rejected and betrayed. Is what I am saying true? You know that all you have said is true. I have some deep wounds and painful memories. What have you wanted to do to those who have harmed and hurt you? To be honest, I have wanted to get even. I have wanted revenge. I have wanted to pay others back for the pain and suffering that they have caused me. Would that help you in any way? Would that make you feel better? Would healing come into your life by paying back evil with evil? Would you be completely free of anger and bitterness because you took revenge and got even? No, I can see that there is no benefit for me to pay others back for the wrongs they have committed against me. That’s right. Seeking revenge and paying back evil with evil is what happens in the world. If you want to pay others back for the wrongs that they have done to you, you will never be a witness for me in the world. That would not be good. I desperately want 32to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Yes, I know you do. 

There are some other things that I know you want. Like what? You want to become like me. You want to know my will and walk in my ways. You want to live like I lived. You want to do what I did. You want to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Am I right? Yes, I want all these things as well. Then you must forgive others just like I forgave you. Can you forgive others? Will you forgive others? Yes, I will forgive others just like forgave me. Then you will be like me and that will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for forgiving me of all my sin and cleansing me of my unrighteousness. Help me to have your attitude of compassion and kindness toward others. Help me to forgive others just as you have forgiven me. Use me as your bold witness in the world. Amen

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

Character – Ephesians 4-32 – Forgiving Each Other – 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

Despises His Neighbor

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Proverbs 14-21 - Despises His Neighbor - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Proverbs 14-21 – Despises His Neighbor – Growing As Disciples

He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy. Proverbs 14:21 (NIV) 

Attitude And Action

What attitude will you have toward your neighbors? I’m not sure what you mean. Will you be kind to your neighbors or will you despise them? Why would I despise my neighbors? Sooner or later your neighbors will do something that you don’t like. Sooner or later your neighbors will do something that will make you uneasy or uncomfortable. They will cross a boundary. They will make a mistake. They will do something that you won’t appreciate. Your neighbors will never live up to your expectations.  Are you surprised by what I am saying to you? No, not at all. There is a flip side to what I have said. What’s that? You will never live up to your neighbor’s expectations either. You will do something they don’t like. You will cross one of their boundaries.  You will make them uneasy and uncomfortable. You will do something they won’t appreciate.  Is this hard for you to imagine? No, not at all.

You will be faced with two decisions. What are they? You will be forced to decide your attitude toward your neighbors. Will you love or despise your neighbors? That is the question you must answer.  There is a good and a bad time to answer that question. I don’t understand. It will be best to decide now if you will love or despise your neighbors before they disappoint you. Deciding to love your neighbors now will help you to love them when they don’t live up to your expectations. Now, I understand. What will it be? What is your decision? I will love my neighbors. Will you love your neighbors when they cross boundaries, make mistakes and fail to live up to your expectations? Yes Lord, I will love my neighbors regardless of their behavior. That is a good decision. Why are you making such a decision? I am following your example. I want to love like you love. That is very good. 

You mentioned that I would be faced with two decisions. Yes, I did. What is the second decision I must make? You have already decided that you will love your neighbors. That is an attitude. Yes, it is. Your second decision will be to decide what action will you take toward your neighbors. What do you mean by that? Your neighbors will have needs. Will you ignore the needs of your neighbors? Will you let the needs of your neighbors go unmet? Will you meet the needs of your neighbors? I cannot say that I will have a loving attitude toward my neighbors if I am unwilling to take action to help meet their needs. Both my attitude and action must go together if I am to be truly loving. That’s true. Why are you making such a decision? I am following your example. I want to serve like you served. That is very good.

Your life will be richly blessed as you love your neighbors with both your attitude and action. That is what I want. That is what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I have not always gotten along well with all my neighbors. I have liked some and sinfully despised others. Forgive me. I want you to bless my life as I am kind to those in need. Help me to show love to all my neighbors by helping them with their needs. Amen

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

Character – Proverbs 14-21 – Despises His Neighbor – 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