Category Archives: Faith

Nothing Is Impossible With God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Luke 1:37-38 - Nothing Is Impossible With God- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Luke 1:37-38 – Nothing Is Impossible With God- Growing As Disciples

For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:37-38 (NIV) 

Your Servant

I am your servant. I will go where you send me. I will do what you ask of me. I will not second guess your word. I will not doubt your command. It is my wholehearted desire to know and do your will. It is my prayer to fulfill your purposes and accomplish your plans. I know that you can do the impossible. Nothing is too hard for you. You can and will do what I cannot possibly do by myself. With your guidance, I will know what to do for you. With your direction, I will know where to go for you. With your power and strength, I will be able to do whatever you ask of me, of that I am certain. Apart from you, I can do nothing that will amount to anything that would last for all eternity. That’s true. But, you will make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom. You will cause me to bring glory to your name. Yes, I will of that you can be sure.

How will you know where I am guiding you? How will you know what I am asking of you? How will you receive all the power and strength that you will need from me? I will wait in your presence. I will listen to your voice. I will follow your instructions. I will not run ahead of you. I will not wander away from you. I will not lag behind you. I will follow you to wherever you lead me. I will join you in the work that you will give me to do for you. I will rely on you for all that I need to do your will. I will not rely on my own power and strength. To do so would be a tragic mistake that would result in certain failure. Yes, that’s true. 

Why are you so willing to follow me? Why are you so committed to serving me? I want to follow and serve you because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am on fire with passion to live my life fully and completely with and for you. There is no place I would rather go, nothing I would rather do, than go to where you lead me to do what you ask of me. I want what you want. My life is in your hands. Use me however you desire. I am all yours. I am your servant. Yes, you are and yes, I will use you according to my purposes and plans.

 Lord, I will say yes to you no matter what you ask of me. I will believe and trust in you even when you ask me to join you in doing what seems impossible. I know you are God and there is nothing impossible that you can’t do. Amen

Key Question… What is God asking you to do for Him right now that seems nearly impossible to you?

Living It Out… Say yes to God by following and serving Him wherever He leads you to do whatever He asks of you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can wholeheartedly trust God’s will and plan for your life as you follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has asked you to participate in doing what seems impossible.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you say yes to God to join Him in what He wants to do in and through you even when it seems impossible.

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

Faith – Luke 1-37-38 – Nothing Is Impossible With God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

Measure Of Faith

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Romans 12:3 - Measure Of Faith - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Romans 12:3 – Measure Of Faith – 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) 

Self-Evaluation 

What do you think about yourself? What kind of question is that? It is a very important question. Why is that an important question? What difference does it make what I think about myself? You are willing to admit that you do think about yourself? Yes, of course I think about myself. How much do you think about yourself? I’m sure that I think about myself far too often. Why is that? I think about myself all the time. What kind of thoughts do you think about yourself? I ask myself a lot of questions. Like what? I ask myself if I’m having fun. I ask myself if I am enjoying life. I ask myself if I am happy with all the decisions that I have made. I wonder if I will have any regrets. Do you have any regrets? I have a lot of regrets. Why is that? I have made a lot of dumb mistakes. I have wasted a lot of time. I have gone where I shouldn’t have gone. I have said what I shouldn’t have said. I have done what I shouldn’t have done. What do you think about yourself and all the mistakes that you have made? Sometimes, I think of myself as an idiot and a loser. Sometimes, I wallow in my past mistakes and become quite depressed about them. Do you think that I think you are a loser? Do you think that I wallow in your past mistakes and become quite depressed about them? Those are very interesting questions. Why is that? I’m asking myself why I would allow myself to think thoughts about myself that you certainly don’t think about me. That is a very good question to ask yourself. Now, you are beginning to see how important it is to consider what you are thinking about yourself. Yes, I am.

What do you think I would like you to do with your thoughts about yourself? I think you want me to let you guide the thoughts I think about myself. You don’t want me to think too highly of myself. You want me to have a humble heart and mind and life. You want me to know that everything that I am and hope to be has and will come to me as a gift from you. That’s right. You don’t want me to think too lowly of myself. You want me to know that I am special. I am your child. You are working in and through my life. The past is gone. You have redeemed and renewed my life. I no longer need to live under any condemnation. I have been forgiven of all my sins and cleansed of all my unrighteousness. That’s right. You have given me a new life to live in you. I am your workmanship. I am your masterpiece. You will accomplish your purposes and plans in my life. You will help me to know and do your will. Yes, I will. These are the thoughts that I want you to think about yourself. Hold on to these thoughts as you love, follow and serve me. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I give thanks and praise to you because all I am, have done, will do and hope to be has come to me as a gift from you. You have made me who I am. You are molding and shaping my life so that I will be able to do all that you will give me to do for you. Amen

Key Question… Who has permission to give you feedback to help you to honestly evaluate yourself?

Living It Out… Give thanks and praise to God for how He has made you and how He is using you to bear fruit for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that all you are, have done, will do, and hope to be has come to you as a gift from God.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your faith in God has helped you to properly evaluate yourself.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you humbly evaluate yourself with the knowledge that everything you have and hope to be comes from Him.

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

Faith – Romans 12-3 – Measure of Faith – 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

Comes From Hearing

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith- Romans 10:17 - Comes From Hearing - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith- Romans 10:17 – Comes From Hearing – Growing As Disciples

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  Romans 10:17 (NIV)

Hear And Do

Do you want to grow in your faith? Do you want to have a strong and vibrant faith? Do you want to have the kind of faith in me that will allow you to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Do you want to have the kind of faith that will make you a bold and courageous witness for me? Do you want to have the kind of faith that will make you able to stand against temptation and evil? I want this kind of faith. I want my faith in you to be able to accomplish all that you have described. How can I grow strong in my faith? How can I have the kind of faith that you will powerfully use to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name? Those are very good questions. 

If you want to have the kind of faith that I have described you must do two things. You have my full attention. I’m listening very carefully to what you are about to say to me. What I am about to say to you is not complicated and hard to understand. What I am about to say to you is actually quite simple. First you must hear my word. You must listen attentively to all that I have to say to you. Hearing my word is not something you can do casually. Hearing my word is not something you can do occasionally. If you want to hear my word you must let it dwell in you richly. My word will teach you. My word will train you. My word will mold and shape you. My word will change your heart and transform your mind. My word will make you able to know my will and walk in my ways. My word will strengthen you as you meditate on it day and night. Your faith will grow strong as you meet with me in my word. Think of a body builder. A body builder lifts great weight to strengthen their muscles. A body builder would never become strong by lifting light weights here and there and now and then. Just as a body builder allows himself to be trained by lifting heavy weights, you also must allow yourself to be trained by my word. Do understand what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I understand.

What else must I do for my faith to grow strong? In addition to hearing my word you must also put my word into practice. Imagine a body builder who read everything they could about lifting weights. How much stronger would he be if after studying bodybuilding he never actually lifted any weights? He would be no stronger. All of his studying of bodybuilding would have not benefited his life at all. If you only hear my word and do not put my word into practice you will never grow stronger in your faith. Will you hear and do my word? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, thank you for helping me to grow in my faith as I have met with you in your word. I will make it my daily pattern to set aside time to hear your word. Mold and shape my life with your word. Help me to put your word into action as I follow and serve you. Amen 

Key Question… How has hearing and putting God’s word into practice caused your faith in Him to grow?

Living It Out… Make it your daily pattern to set aside time to hear and put God’s word into practice so you can grow in your faith.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will grow in your faith as you make it your daily habit to hear and put God’s word into practice.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your faith in God has grown as a result of hearing God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your faith in God continue to grow as you hear His word.

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

Faith – Romans 10-17 – Comes From Hearing – 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

Building Yourselves Up

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Jude 1-20-21 - Building Yourselves Up - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Jude 1-20-21 – Building Yourselves Up – Growing As Disciples

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21 (ESV)

Built Up In Your Faith

You can take steps with me to build yourself up in your faith. How so? Are you mildly curious or is being built up in your faith in me a priority in your life? I am not mildly curious about being built up in my faith in you. Living in an intimate relationship with you is the priority of my life. I want to know you. I want to love and follow and serve you. I want to live my life with and for you. I want to go and do whatever you ask of me. I want to live a life filled with faith in you. That is very good. Being mildly curious or being half-heartedly interested in being built up in your faith will be of no benefit to you. Of that, I have no doubt. That’s good.

What steps will you take so you can be built up in your faith? I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will draw near to you in worship. I will meet with you in your word. I will pray in the Spirit all the prayers that you give me to pray. I will follow you to wherever you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will be at your service. I will allow you to work in and through me. I will allow you to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans that you have in mind for my life. I will place all my faith and hope and trust in you. I will join you in the work that I see you doing all around me. That is an important thought. That is a key word. What is an important thought and key word? Seeing is an important thought and key word. Keep your eyes open. Focus your attention on me. See what I am doing and join me. I will give you prayers to prayer. I will guide you to where you should go. I will give you what you should do. Love, follow and serve me. Then you will continually be built up in your faith. That I will do. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will take steps with you so you can build me up in my faith. I will meet with you in prayer and worship. I will meet with you in your word. I will go and do whatever you ask of me. Help me to live in an intimate relationship with you all the days of my life. Amen

Key Question…  What steps can you take with the Lord to build yourself up in your faith?

Living It Out…  Take steps each day that will allow the Lord to build you up in your faith.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will build you up in your faith as you live in an intimate relationship with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing the Lord to build you up in your faith.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live in an intimate relationship with the Lord so you can be built up in our faith.

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

Faith – Jude 1-20-21 – Building Yourselves Up – 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

God Intended It For Good

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Genesis 50:20 - God Intended It For Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Genesis 50:20 – God Intended It For Good – Growing As Disciples

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

Preparation

Well, this life has been no cake walk. What do you mean by that? This life has not been easy. How so? I have suffered significant setbacks, great defeats and miserable trials. I’m not complaining. I’m not venting. I am merely observing. I see. What have you also observed? There have been times that I thought I was all alone in my setbacks, defeats and trails. There have been times I have wondered when and if you would help me. There have been times I have questioned when you would come to my aid and answer my cries for help. Why are you merely observing? Why aren’t you complaining? Why aren’t you venting? I see things quite differently now. How so? I have been quite mistaken. I have surely been wrong. You have never left me all alone. You have always been with me to help me. I could see no purpose or plan or reason for my setbacks, defeats and trials. I couldn’t fathom how you could ever use the bad things that were happening to me for any good purpose or plan. Yet, that is exactly what you have done. Let’s talk more about that. I’d like that.

How have I been able to use the setbacks, defeats and trials you have gone through in life? You have developed my character and strengthened my faith in every difficulty you have led me through. You have used every trying circumstances to mold and shape me into the person you have wanted me to become. You have been preparing me for the work you have given me to do. You have had purposes and a plan I could not see. Even now, I don’t see your purposes and plan perfectly. I could not then and cannot now know how you plan to fully use me. But, I can see enough to know that nothing I have gone through has gone to waste. I know that you have not been the author of any of my pain and suffering. You have not brought difficulties on me. This sin broken world brings these in abundance to us all. But, not only am I not complaining or venting I am just the opposite. How so? I am thankful beyond measure for how you have been, are now, and will be working in and through my life. So, I welcome you to continue your work. Help me to know you and your purposes and plan for my life. I am thankful that my life is in your hands. I am grateful for your incredible goodness to me. It is my desire to love you with all my heart and soul and strength. It is my hope to be fully used by you. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That is very good. Keep on working in and through my life. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that.

Lord, I have suffered significant setbacks, great defeats and miserable trials. Sometimes, I have wondered where you were. Sometimes, questioned when and if you would help me. Now, I can clearly see that you have been with me to help me all along. Amen

Key Question…  When have you wondered how the Lord would work good out of something bad that had happened to you?

Living It Out…  Look back over your life to see how God has been able to use something bad to accomplish something good in your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be able to use what seems bad to you for His good purposes and plan for your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used what seemed bad to you for His good purposes.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you have faith to believe that the Lord will use what seems bad to you for His good purposes and plan.

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

Faith – Genesis 50-20 – God Intended It For Good – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Imitate Their Faith

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Hebrews 13:7 - Imitate Their Faith- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Hebrews 13:7 – Imitate Their Faith- Growing As Disciples

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)

Worth Imitating

Well, that would be something. I can’t see how that would be possible. What are you talking about? The idea that someone should imitate me seems pretty far-fetched. Why is that? I am not living a life that is worthy of being imitated. Are you sure? Are you absolutely positive that your life is not worth imitating? When you start asking me questions like that I’m not sure of anything. Why is that? You have a way of teaching me something new that starts out with you asking me a lot of questions. In many cases, at many times, your questions are your way of challenging my thinking. I’m glad that you have started to notice a little bit of a pattern. You must want to teach me something new, am I right? Yes, you are right.

You are living a life that is worthy of imitating. How can that be? Are you ready for me to ask you a lot of questions? Yes, I am. You confess your sins to me, isn’t that true? Yes, I do confess my sins to you. I don’t deny or try to hide my sins from you. That would be foolish. I need your forgiveness and cleansing. Yes, you do. You have left your old life of sin behind and are determined to follow and serve me, isn’t that true? Yes, there is nothing I would rather do than follow you to where you lead me to do what you ask of me. You are following and serving me because you love me, isn’t that true? Yes, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I love you because you first loved me. It is my joy to follow and serve you because I love you. That’s very good.  You are making it your daily practice to draw near to me as I draw near to you. Every day, you are meeting with me in my word, isn’t that true? Yes, I am drawing near to you to meet with you in your word. I also draw near to you in worship and prayer. You are discovering your spiritual gifts and are using them to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name, isn’t that true? Yes, it is the desire of my heart to fulfill your purposes and accomplish your plans. One day, I want to her you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s great. Are you starting to see why your life is worth imitating? But, I’m not perfect. No, you are not perfect. If you thought you were perfect your life would not be worth imitating. Will you rely on me to make your life worth imitating? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for bringing spiritual leaders into my life to share your word with me. Their witness has encouraged and spurred me on in my faith. Help me to follow their example so I can encourage and spur others on in their faith. Amen

Key Question… How has remembering the life of one of your spiritual leaders encouraged and spurred you on in your faith?

Living It Out… Remember the spiritual leaders that have had an influence in your life so that you can be encouraged by their faith.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has brought spiritual leaders into your life to encourage and spur you on in your faith.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are remembering and imitating the faith of spiritual leaders.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live a life of faith that is worthy of being imitated.

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

Faith – Hebrews 13-7 – Imitate Their Faith – 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

Built An Ark

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Hebrews 11:7 - Built An Ark - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Hebrews 11:7 – Built An Ark – Growing As Disciples

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.  Hebrews 11:7 (NIV)

An Assignment

Would you take on a very long and difficult assignment from me? Would you do what I asked of you even if you didn’t fully understand everything that I was asking of you? Would you continue to do the work that I had given you to do with little or no affirmation from others? Would you keep on working for me in the face of ridicule, scorn and rejection? Are you going to ask me to work on an assignment like this? You know that I am. You know that I will. You know that I have already asked you to take on such an assignment. Then I must have already said yes to you. Yes, you did.

If I have already said yes to taking on a very long and difficult assignment from you why are you asking me these questions now? You already know the answer to that question. I do? Yes, you do. So you tell me why I have asked these questions of you. You want to remind me that the assignment I have taken on comes from you. You want me to be encouraged and strengthened in the work that you have given me to do for you. You don’t want me to become discouraged. You don’t want me to give up. You want me to know that your hand is on me. You want me to remember that you are working in and through me. You want me to know that you are using me according to your purposes and plans. Yes, all of this is true. 

Why is the work so long and difficult? Why is the assignment so large and demanding? You asked for this kind of assignment. You said that you wanted me to use you. You said that you wanted to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You said that you wanted me to use you however I saw fit. You said that you were completely at my disposal. You didn’t want some small assignment from me. You said that you didn’t want to give me anything less than your fullest wholehearted effort. Have I misheard you? Did I get something wrong? No, you have not gotten anything wrong. You have not misheard me. I am fully at your service. I am thankful that you are using me. I am encouraged that your hand is on me. Nothing will please me more than to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I will keep doing the work that you have given me to do. That will be very good.

Lord, help me to listen to your voice so that I will be able to hear and obey you. Give me courage, strength and faith so I will be able to continually do all you are asking me to do for you. Use me according to your purposes and plans. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord asked you to do something for Him that required you to have faith in Him?

Living It Out…  Say yes to the Lord and be faithful to do all that He asks you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will ask you to do things for Him that will test and grow your faith in Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what the Lord has asked you to faithfully do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you continue to do whatever difficult thing the Lord has asked you to do for Him

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

Faith – Hebrews 11-7 – Built An Ark – 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

Out Of The Boat

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Matthew 14:29-31 - Out Of The Boat - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Matthew 14:29-31 – Out Of The Boat – Growing As Disciples

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:29-31 (NIV)

Eyes On Me 

I’m calling you to come. It’s time to get out of the boat. Step out in faith on the water with me. Leave the comfort and safety of the boat. Let go of what you have always done. I want to do a new thing in and through your life.

Keep your eyes on me. Yes, the wind will blow and the waves will beat against you. Pay no attention to them. Hold on to me as I hold on to you. I will never let you go. You are firmly in my grip.

Take one step at a time with me. You don’t need to know everything about your destination. If you did you might turn back. If you did you might think that you don’t need my help. That seems unlikely to me. Just follow me to where I’m leading you.

Listen to me. Be attentive to my voice. Turn your ears to hear what I am saying to you. Don’t let the noise from the world and the busyness of life drown me out.

Watch everything that I am showing to you. Take time to notice what I want you to see. Keep your eyes open. Don’t race right on by what is important.

Call on me for help. You will not be able to do what I’m asking of you with your own power and strength. You must learn to rely on me and not on yourself.

I have so many questions. I want to know more. I’m excited and can hardly wait for what you are calling me to be and do for you.

Be patient. Don’t race ahead of me and don’t lag behind me. Remain right by my side. I will give you everything you need. I will show you everything you need to see. I will speak to you everything you need to hear.

Ask for everything you need from me. Have faith that I will answer you. Do not doubt or be afraid. I am with you to help you.

Lord, help me to “get out of the boat” to follow and serve you. I will go where you guide me to do all you ask of me. Help me to hold on to you as you hold on to me when the “wind and waves” beat against me in the storms of life. Amen

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

Faith – Matthew 14-29-31 – Out Of The Boat – 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

Mature And Complete Not Lacking Anything

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - James 1:2-4 - Mature And Complete Not Lacking Anything- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – James 1:2-4 – Mature And Complete Not Lacking Anything- Growing As Disciples

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)  

Finish The Work

Are trials a joy to you? Are you able to see their benefit in your life? Do you know that the testing of your faith will develop perseverance in you? Those are good questions. I often cannot see the benefit of a trial until after I have gone through it. Sometimes it has taken a great length of time and hindsight for me to understand how a trial has benefited my life.

When have you cried out to me in a trial? Do you know that I am with you in and through every trial that you face? You can ask me for wisdom as you go through trials in life. I will not reject you or your requests. It gives me great joy to help you to grow stronger in perseverance and faith as you trust and rely on me. It is foolish to go through trials without my help. Forgive me Lord for the times when I have thought I could “tough it out” and go through trials on my own. My own self-efforts have not been successful. My own efforts have left me bitter, angry and discouraged when I have been in the midst of trials. Yet, somehow you have been able to use even trials and tests that I have failed. Yes, I have.

I do have joy in knowing that you are using all of life including trials and tests to mold and shape my life. It is encouraging to know that you have never or will ever give up on me. No, I will not. I am sure that I have had to go through similar tests and trails more than once because I did not learn or receive their full benefit the first around. Yes, you have.

I want to grow strong in my faith and trust in you. I want to persevere so that I will become the person you want me to be. So, I give you permission to do whatever it takes to make me mature and complete. Help me to rely on you through every trail I face. Give me your wisdom in abundance so that I will have all that I need to persevere and grow strong in my faith in you. It is the desire of my heart for you to finish the work that you started and want to complete in me. I don’t want to lack any good thing that you want to give me or do in and through my life. In every way I want my life to glorify your name and bear fruit in your kingdom.

I know that you will hear and answer this prayer of mine. Yes, I have heard your prayer and you can be certain that I will answer it.

Lord, use whatever it takes to grow my faith in you. I will consider it pure joy when I go through various trials because I know you are developing perseverance in me. I want to be mature and complete and not lacking anything as I follow and serve you.  Amen

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

Faith – James 1-2-4 – Mature And Complete Not Lacking Anything – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

On God’s Power

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - On God's Power - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 – On God’s Power – Growing As Disciples

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NIV)

Your Power

I no longer want to operate under my own power. I know what that looks like. I know what that feels like. I know what that accomplishes. Tell me. My power is weak. My power is feeble. My power accomplishes nothing. So what? I have had enough of disappointing results. I am tired with accomplishing very little. What do you want? I want to be able to both know and do your will. I want to be able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to be powerfully used by you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That’s good. I want people to be drawn to you by the demonstration of the power of your Holy Spirit working in and through my life. I don’t desire this for myself. I am not desiring to make a name for myself. I am desiring to be used by you. I want to be an instrument in your hands. You have good desires that in your heart and on your mind. I can see that you want to serve me. Yes, I do.

If you want to be used by me what must you be willing to do? I must be willing to do whatever you ask of me. It would be silly for me to ask you to use me and then be unwilling to go and do what you ask of me. That’s true.  It would also be foolish to ask for your power to work in and through me to do what you have not asked me to do for you. That is also correct. Have you ever worked long and hard hours and fruitless hours on an assignment that I had not given to you? Yes, I have done that many times. What does that tell you? I must ask you to show me what you want me to do for you. I must not rush into tasks that you have not asked me to do for you. So, I must wait for your guidance and direction. I must know what you are calling me to do for you. What else? Once I have received an assignment, I must be willing to go and do it for you. I should not hold back. I should not be half-hearted. You want me to be fully engaged in the work you have given me to do for you. Yes, I do.

But, you are still missing something. What’s that? You tell me. After I have received your assignment. I must come to rely on you to help me accomplish it. I must ask for the power of your Holy Spirit to work in and through me Even if I know my assignment and am willing to go and do it, that is not enough. I must rely on you at all times to accomplish your work in and through me. Will you rely on my Holy Spirit to work in and through you, as you do my work? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I know when I have operated under my own power. My efforts have been feeble. I have not been able to do the work you have given me to do for you. Help me to rely on you to do your work in and through me by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen

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

Faith – 1 Corinthians 2-4-5 – On God’s Power – 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