Category Archives: Guidance

Lead The Blind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Isaiah 42:16 - I Will Lead The Blind - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Isaiah 42:16 – I Will Lead The Blind – Growing As Disciples

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)

Unfamiliar Paths

I’m not a fan of unfamiliar paths. I have never wanted to blindly enter a situation. I would like to know where I am going. I would like to know what I should be doing. I don’t like uncertainty. You know that I have wanted you to give me a roadmap with each step of my way marked out for me. Yes, I am aware of what you have wanted from me. Do you think I will ever give you a roadmap with every step of your marked out for you? No, I don’t think that you will ever give me a roadmap marking out every step of my way. Why is that? I have never heard or seen of you doing that for anyone. That’s right. Why won’t I ever give you a step by step roadmap to follow? I’m not sure. If I gave you a step by step road map would you follow me or the roadmap? That’s a very good question. We both know that if I had a roadmap through life I would follow that roadmap. That’s right. It is not my plan for you to follow a roadmap. It is my plan for you to follow me. I want you to live in a vital and intimate relationship with me. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, I want to live a vital and intimate relationship with you. That’s very good.

What can you be certain of as you follow me? I can be certain that you will lead me by ways that I have not gone before. You will guide me on unfamiliar paths. You will lead me through rough places that I probably would not have chosen for myself. That sounds like a dramatic understatement. Yes, it is, I have wanted to walk on well-marked and familiar paths. I have not wanted to travel through difficulty. You have wanted a smooth path that is well lit and easy to follow. Yes, that’s right. Let’s talk about that. Why do you think I will lead you on unfamiliar and difficult paths? You want me to come to rely on you. You want my faith in you to grow. You want to do in and through me what I could have never done by myself. Those are very good answers. What kind of path has caused you to rely on me? When has your faith in me grown stronger? When have you know with the greatest certainty that I was working in and through your life? All your questions have one answer. You have worked powerfully in and through my life when you have led me on a difficult path. That’s right. What else can you also be certain of as you follow me? You will always be with me. You will never forsake me. You will shed light on my path. You will smooth out the rough spots that are ahead of me as I love, follow and serve you. That’s right. I will lead you through life as you follow me every step of your way.

Lord, I will hold on to your hand through dark places along unfamiliar paths to unknown places. I know you will give me light to guide my way and smooth out the rough spots ahead of me. I will trust in you every step of my way as I follow you. Amen

Key Question… What are some dark, unfamiliar and unknown paths that the Lord has helped you to walk through?

Living It Out… Rely on the Lord to lead you by the hand along unfamiliar paths to unknown places, giving you light along the way.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will give you light in darkness and guide you along unfamiliar paths and to unknown places.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has given you light and smoothed out your path through life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to lead you on unfamiliar by ways that you have not known.

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

Guidance – Isaiah 42-16 – Lead The Blind – 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

Every Good Path

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Proverbs 2:6-9 - Every Good Path - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Proverbs 2:6-9 – Every Good Path – Growing As Disciples

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair–every good path. Proverbs 2:6-9 (NIV) 

Guard And Guide

Do you want what I want to give to you? What do you want to give to me? I will give you wisdom. I will give you knowledge and understanding. Yes, I desperately want your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. What must I do if I want to receive your wisdom, knowledge and understanding? You have already taken your first step toward receiving what I want to give to you. I’m not sure what you mean. You must want my wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The key word in your first step is “wanting”. You didn’t say that you were interested in my wisdom, knowledge and understanding. You didn’t say that you were curious about my wisdom, knowledge and understanding. You didn’t indicate that you would give my wisdom, knowledge and understanding your strong consideration. You did not say that you may or may not follow my wisdom, knowledge and understanding. No, I did not. You have expressed a strong desire to receive what I want to give you. You said you were desperate to receive my wisdom, knowledge and understanding. That’s right, I did. That’s your first step to receiving what I want to give to you. What are my next steps?

What will you do because you desperately want my wisdom, knowledge and understanding? I will regularly ask for your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. That’s right. How often will you ask for my wisdom, knowledge and understanding? I will ask you for it everyday. I will ask you multiple times in every day. I will continually rely on you to give me your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. That’s a good second step. What will you do with my wisdom, knowledge and understanding once you have received it from me? I will put your wisdom, knowledge and understanding into practice in my daily life. That’s very good. If you want my wisdom, knowledge and understanding and ask for it and put it into practice then you will really be receiving all that I want to give you. You can count on that.

What will my wisdom, knowledge and understanding do for you? Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding will guard and guide my life. It will be a shield that protects my life. It will help me to walk according to your will and your ways. It will lead me on the path of life as I follow and serve you. It will help me to know and do your will. It will lead me in victory. Yes, it will.

Lord, open my ears to hear your words of wisdom, knowledge and understanding so that I will walk uprightly, blamelessly, justly and faithfully with you. Guard and guide my life on the path that you have laid out for me. Amen

Key Question… When have you asked the Lord to give you wisdom to guide the course of your life?

Living It Out… Rely on wisdom, knowledge and understanding from God to guard and guide the course of your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will guard and guide your life as you receive wisdom, knowledge and understanding from Him

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has guided you to do what is right and just and fair.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding to guard and guide your course in life.

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

Guidance – Proverbs 2-6-9 – Guard And Guide – 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.

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

So I Say Live By The Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Galatians 5:16-18 - So I Say Live By The Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Galatians 5:16-18 – So I Say Live By The Spirit – Growing As Disciples

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Feast And Famine

Do you want to live your life for me? Yes, I want to live my life fully and completely for you. What must I do since I want to live my life for you? You know the answer to your own question. You tell me. I must do two things in living my life for you. That’s right. I must live by your Spirit. How will you live by my Spirit? I must listen to you. I must follow you to where you lead me. I must do all that you ask of me. How will you go about listening to me? How will you receive guidance from me? I will set aside a time and a place to meet with you in your word. I will allow you to speak your word into my life. I will let your word dwell in me richly. Your word will do its work in me. How so? Your word will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, it will. Your Spirit will take your word and use it as a sword to fight in me, with me, and for me. Your word will make me able to stand against temptation. Your word will strengthen my desire to live by your Spirit. Your word will give me a hunger to know you and a desire to walk in your ways. Your word will make me able to resist the desires of the sinful nature. Say more about that. 

I mentioned that I must do two things if I want to live my life for you. Yes, you did. I have talked about living by your Spirit. At the same time that I am living by your Spirit I must also refrain from gratifying the desires of the sinful nature. Living by your Spirit and gratifying the desires of sinful are in opposition to each other. Yes, they are. How will you refrain from gratifying the desires of the sinful nature? In answer to your question I think of two words. I think of the words feast and famine. I will feast on your word and the new life in the Spirit that you have for me. I will put gratifying the desires of the sinful nature on a famine diet. How will you do that? As I am living my new life in the Spirit I will separate myself from anything and everything that feeds the desires of the sinful nature. Then I will live my life fully and completely for you. That will be very good.

Lord, I will separate myself from whatever feeds temptation and sinful desires within me. Instead I will take part in what helps me to live by the Spirit. For example, I will allow the Spirit to use your word to help me to stand against temptation and sinful desires. Amen

Key Question… When have you made a decision to live by the Spirit rather than to gratify the desires of the sinful nature?

Living It Out… Make a choice to live by the Spirit so that you will not be gratifying the desires of the sinful nature.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you live by the Spirit you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how living by the Spirit has kept you from gratifying sinful desires.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live by the Spirit so that you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

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

Guidance – Galatians 5-16-18 – So I Say Live By The Spirit – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Many Advisors

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Proverbs 11:14 - Many Advisors - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Proverbs 11:14 – Many Advisors – Growing As Disciples

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.  Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)

Wise Counsel

Do you want to be able to make wise decisions? Do you want to spare yourself the pain of making dumb mistakes? Do you want to know what wise people might have to say about a decision you are going to make or a course you are going to take? How many times have you seen someone about to make a bad decision that would most likely end in disaster? When have you known someone, who thought they knew it all and needed no wise counsel from others? When have you watched a stubborn person fail to benefit from wise counsel and make dumb decisions and stupid mistakes? That sounds a lot like me. I have not been the best listener. I have not been entirely open to wise counsel from others. There have been many times when I felt completely capable of making my own decisions without any help and advice from anyone. I thought I knew it all. I thought I had considered every possibility. I thought I had accounted for every eventuality.  I felt so confident and sure that I was making a good and wise decision. How has that worked out for you? I was wrong. I could not see what others could see. I did not know what others already knew. I had only my perspective. That has not been enough. I needed help. I needed counsel. I needed advice. I didn’t want it. I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t receive it. So, I have made many dumb decisions and stupid mistakes that have been costly in life. I’ve noticed. 

What have you learned? What have your dumb decisions and stupid mistakes taught you? What will you do now that you would not do before? I have learned that it is my pride that has made me unwilling to ask for and receive wise counsel from others. It has been my pride that has told me that I could make all my decisions alone without help from others. It has been my pride that has made me so falsely confident and unreasonably sure. What will you do with your pride? I will set my pride aside. I will acknowledge that I need all the help and wisdom I can receive from others. I will know without a doubt that I do not know it all. That’s good.

Do you know that I want you to be able to make wise decisions? I want to counsel you. I want to guide you. I want to guard you from the pain that stupid decisions and dumb mistakes has caused you. You must listen to my counsel. You must receive counsel from wise advisors that I will bring into your life. Will you listen to me? Will you listen to wise counselors that I bring into your life? Yes Lord, I will listen. You have my full attention. That is very good.

Lord, help me to listen to the wise counsel you want to make available to me. Protect me from making quick decisions before I consult with you. Guide me by your word as well as fellow believers that you have brought into my life. Amen

Key Question… When has God given you wise counsel through fellow believers?

Living It Out… Be willing to receive counsel from wise advisors that the Lord brings into your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God does speak through wise advisors that He has brought into your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group a time when you have received wise counsel from another person?

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen to counsel from wise advisors that God brings into your life.

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

Guidance – Proverbs 11-14 – Many Advisors – 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

A Way That Seems Right

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Proverbs 14 - A Way That Seems Right - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Proverbs 14 – A Way That Seems Right – Growing As Disciples

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

Wrong Way

How often has what seemed right to you not ended up being right for you? I’m not sure what you mean. How often have you made decisions that were based solely on your own thoughts, opinions and values? I have made a lot of decisions based solely on my own thoughts, opinions and values. Why is that? My thoughts, values, and opinions seemed right to me at the time. Is that all? No, that is not all. I have made my own decisions because I have not wanted any advice from anyone else. I have wanted to be my own boss. I haven’t wanted anyone telling me what to do. That’s true. You have been a very strong willed and independent person. You have been wise in your own eyes. You have thought that you knew it all and needed no help or counsel from anyone else. Is this true? Yes, you know that it is true. What has been your track record when you have made decisions based solely on what seemed right to you? I have made a lot of dumb decisions and unwise mistakes. I have suffered quite a bit as a result my dumb decisions and costly mistakes. I have ignored warnings. I have failed to heed cautions. I have raced head long into one painful disaster after another. Has the pain and suffering of your dumb decisions and unwise mistakes gotten your attention? What do you mean by that? Are you doing anything differently now? 

There is one mistake I have not made. What mistake haven’t you made? The pain of all my little mistakes has gotten my attention. I have turned away from the path that seemed right to me. The path that I was on was bad enough in the here and now. Had I stayed on that path it would have led me completely away from you. It would have led to my complete destruction. I have gotten off that path to destruction. I have turned my life over to you. I am no longer strong willed and independent. I no longer think that I know it all. I need help. I need wise counsel. I am listening attentively to all that you have to say to me. I am following you to where you lead me. I am doing what you ask of me. I no longer want my will and my ways. I want your will and your ways. I have stepped on to the path of life with you. Yes, you have. You are my Savior and Lord. Yes, I am.

Lord, take my hand and lead me along the road that leads to life now and forever. I will hold on to you. Help me to steer clear of the wrong road that leads to destruction. I will reject that road when it tempts me to walk on it. Amen

Key Question… When have you discovered that you were walking down the wrong road in life?

Living It Out… Make a decision to walk with the Lord on the road that leads to life as you reject the road that leads to destruction.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will lead you along the road that leads to life now and forever with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are walking with the Lord on the road that leads to eternal life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow the Lord on the path that He lays out for you to walk.

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

Guidance – Proverbs 14-12 – A Way That Seems Right – 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

Refuge In The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Psalm 118:8-9 - Refuge In The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Psalm 118:8-9 – Refuge In The Lord – Growing As Disciples

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Psalm 118:8-9 (NIV)

Your Trust

You have a choice to make. What kind of choice do I have to make? You have a choice of trusting in me or you have a choice of trusting in someone or something else. That seems like a clear and easy choice to make. It does, really? Have you always chosen to trust in me? No, I have not always trusted in you. I thought you said you had a clear and easy choice to make. I did. Just because I said the choice was clear and easy to make does not mean that I have always made it. Perhaps the choice is not as easy as you think. Probably so, otherwise I would have always made it.

Who have you chosen to trust in when you haven’t chosen to trust in me? I have chosen to trust in myself. I have thought that I did not need your wisdom or instructions or guidance. I have thought that I knew where to go and what to do, without your help. I have been self-sufficient. I have been self-centered. I have been strong willed and independent. I have been stubborn and determined and certain. How has all that worked out for you? Being self-reliant has never served me well. Being self-sufficient has often led to disaster. Why is that? I don’t know it all. I can’t see the future. I haven’t known where I should go and what I should do in life. So, I have made a lot of mistakes. I have taken wrong turns. I have gone where I should not have gone and done what I should not have done. I have wasted time and energy and resources when I have trusted in myself. That’s not good. No, it is not.

What else have you trusted in when you haven’t chosen to trust in me? When I haven’t trusted in you, I have also chosen to trust in other things or people. Like what? Like who? Well, I have trusted in money. I have trusted in power and prestige and influence. I have trusted in my own education and training. I have trusted in my own gifts, talents and resources. I have trusted in family and friends. I have trusted in people who I thought were older and wiser and smarter than me. You name it, I have tried trusting in it. What have you found out? I have found out that you are the only one worthy of all my faith and hope and trust. Sooner or later everything and everyone other than you will fail me. There is not one thing or any other person worthy of all my faith and hope and trust. You will never fail me. You will never forsake me. You are my rock. You are my fortress. You are my deliverer. I can take refuge in you. Yes, you can. That is what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I have trusted in many people and in many things. No one and no thing is worthy of my faith and trust. You alone are my place of refuge. When the storms of life come, I know that I will not be disappointed for having placed all my faith and trust in you. Amen

Key Question… When have you been disappointed by placing your faith and trust in yourself or others?

Living It Out… Exercise your faith and trust in the Lord by relying on Him to guard and guide your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is worthy of your placing all your faith and trust in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are placing all your faith and trust in the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you place all your faith and trust in the Lord.

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

Guidance – Psalm 118-8-9 – Refuge In The Lord – 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

Careful To Follow

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51060163 – test word with long shadow over a wooden ruler to illustrate measuring in an experiment or evaluation

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.  Deuteronomy 8:1-2 (NIV)

It’s A Test

You have been through many trials and troubles in life. You have experienced great difficulty. You have faced difficult challenges. You aren’t telling me anything new, that’s for sure. It doesn’t sound like you have enjoyed going through trials and troubles. It doesn’t seem like you are a fan of difficult challenges. No, I am not, not at all. Do you know anyone that is? No, I don’t.

You may not have realized it, but your trials, troubles and difficult challenges in life have tested you. How so? You and I have been able to see what was in your heart as you have gone through trials, troubles and difficult challenges in life. What is in my heart? You tell me. I don’t know if I can tell you. I will help you by asking you some questions. That would be great. Have trials, troubles and difficult challenges caused you to give up? Have you quit following me? Have you become bitter or better? Has your faith grown weaker or stronger? Do you trust me more or less? Have you relied on yourself or have you come to rely more on me? Are you thankful for what trials, troubles and difficult challenges have accomplished in your life? Have you come to see trials, troubles and difficult challenges as your bitter enemies or your best friends? Do you deeply regret what you have gone through or are you especially thankful for every test that you have faced in life? That’s a lot of questions. Do you have some answers? Yes, I do.

I haven’t given up. I haven’t quit following you. I haven’t grown bitter. My faith hasn’t grown weaker. I trust you more and rely on myself far less. I wouldn’t sign up to take any of these tests of mine again. I wouldn’t ever wish that my tests had never come my way. You have used every trial, trouble and difficult challenge to draw me close to you. You have never left me. You have never forsaken me. You have taught me to hold on to you as you have held on to me. You have shown me that I have a heart to follow you. I want to go wherever you lead me to do whatever you ask of me. I am thankful for how you have tested me. You have given me a hunger to know you and a desire to walk in your ways. I will love you and follow you and serve you with all my heart. That is very good.

Lord, I am not a big fan of wilderness journeys in life. I don’t like the trials, and troubles that have come my way. I am thankful that you have been with me to help me through every difficulty. You have humbled my heart and caused me to come to rely on you. Amen

Key Question… When in your life have you felt like you were walking through a wilderness?

Living It Out… Humbly allow the Lord to lead and guide you through wilderness experiences you will go through in life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that when God leads you through a wilderness in life, He will be testing you to see what is in your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has humbled you as you gone through a wilderness in life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be careful to follow the Lord to where He leads you to do all that He asks of you.

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

Guidance – Deuteronomy 8-1-2 – Careful To Follow – 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

Preserve My Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Psalm 119:33-37 - Preserve My Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Psalm 119:33-37 – Preserve My Life – Growing As Disciples

Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Psalm 119:33-37 (NIV)

Help

Are you asking for my help? Yes, I am asking for your help. What kind of help do you want from me? What are you asking me to do for you? I’m asking you to preserve my life. How do you want to preserve your life? I want you to help keep me on the right track. I want you to help keep me focused on what is worthwhile and valuable. I don’t want to get caught up in chasing after what will end up being worthless. I don’t want to pursue selfish gain. I don’t want to live only for what this life has to offer. I want you to help me to keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. I want to pursue the life that you have called me to live. I want to listen to your instructions. I want to follow your guidance. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. That is very good. 

Where will you find my instruction and guidance? How will you hear what I want you to hear? How will you see what I want you to see? What will keep your heart and mind and life focused on me? I will draw near to you. I will quiet myself before you. I will meet with you in your word. I will consider deeply all that you have to say to me. I will take your word into my heart and mind and life. I will let your word dwell in me richly. I will allow your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. I will read your word. I will study your word. I will meditate on your word. I will memorize your word. I will pray your word. I will put your word into practice. Then you will delight in my word. Then you will be given understanding. Then you will know how to keep my word in your heart and obey it in your life. Then you will walk on the path that I have laid out for you. Then you will follow me to where I lead you, to do what I ask of you. That is what I want. That is the desire of my heart. That is very good.

Lord, it is you that teaches me by your word. Your word has changed my heart and given me the desire to follow and obey you. Direct my life by your word. Turn me toward you and away from selfish gains and worthless things. Amen

Key Question… How has God’s word guided, protected and preserved your word as you have followed and obeyed Him?

Living It Out… Allow God to change your heart and mind and course of your life as you spend time with Him in His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will teach, direct and preserve your life as you obey His word and follow Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word has given you a desire in your heart to obey Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life be preserved by God’s word.

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

Guidance – Psalm 119-33-37 – Preserve My Life – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

For God Does Speak

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Job 33:12-18 - For God Does Speak - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Job 33:12-18 – For God Does Speak – Growing As Disciples

“But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than man. Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man’s words? For God does speak–now one way, now another– though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. Job 33:12-18 (NIV)

Speak

I do speak. I am speaking. I will speak to you in many ways. I will speak to you at various times in different seasons. The crucial question is not “Do I speak?” or “Will I speak?” What is the crucial question? The crucial question is, “Will you listen?” Will you make yourself attentive to my words? Will you be listening when I am speaking to you? Will you recognize my voice? Will you notice my activity all around you? I’m not sure how to answer your questions. You can answer my questions by asking me your own questions. Is that some sort of hint? Yes, it is.

How can I make myself attentive to your words? How can I make myself receptive to all that you have to say to me? How can I notice your activity all around me? Those are the questions that I wanted you to ask me. Now, I will let you answer those questions. Really? Yes, really. I wouldn’t ask you to answer those questions if I did not know that you already know the answer to them. So, let me hear your answers.

I can make myself attentive to your words, receptive to what you want to say to me and aware of your activity all around me when I seek you with all my heart. If my heart and mind and life are focused on you I will not miss a word of what you want to say to me. If I give you my full attention, I will not fail to notice your active all around me. There is one thing that is absolutely certain. What’s that? I will find you when I seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. You will certainly draw near to me when I draw near to you. You are right. You have asked good questions that you have answered well. Will you seek me with all your heart? You will focus your heart and mind and life on me? Will you draw near to me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. Then you will hear from me. Then you will notice my activity all around you.

Lord, thank you for speaking to me in so many various ways. Help me to be attentive to your voice so I am ready to listen to all that you have to say to me. When I hear you speaking to me, I will joyfully respond to you with a thankful and obedient heart. Amen

Key Question… How strongly do you desire to know God and hear what He wants to say to you?

Living It Out… Make adjustments in your life to meet with God so that you can hear what He has to say to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God does want you to know Him and what He has to say to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has spoken, and made himself known, to you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be attentive to the voice of God so you can hear Him speaking to you.

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

Guidance – Job 33-12-18 – For God Does Speak – 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

If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - James 4-13-15 - If It Is The Lord's Will We Will Live And Do This Or That - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – James 4-13-15 – If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That – Growing As Disciples

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15  (NIV)

 Ask Of Me

Do you have big plans? What makes you think that you have time to accomplish them all? There is something a little strange about the roadmap that you have laid out for yourself. What’s that? I don’t recall you inviting me in on your little planning process. You have a good point there. Why did you do that? Well, I wasn’t getting a roadmap from you, so I decided to forge ahead on my own. Without me? Now that you put it that way, my action does seem really misguided. You got that right. Your efforts are not only going to be misguided by you, but unguided by me. Don’t you want me to guide and direct your life? Yes Lord, I do. But, you’re impatient. It’s hard for you to wait for instructions and ask for help, isn’t it? Yes, it is.

Haven’t you done this before? What? Forged ahead without me, with your own roadmap and plans? I guess that I have. Is that really a guess? No, I know that I have ventured out ahead of you with my own plan. How has that worked out for you? Not so well. What’s happened? Any number of undesirable outcomes have occurred. Like what? I’ve gone the wrong direction, had to turn around and retrace my steps, for one thing. That sounds like a big waste of time. It is. But you like that better than waiting for my instructions? At least I feel like I am doing something. You know what they say about feelings, don’t you? What’s that? You can’t rely on them.

Anyhow, you felt like you were doing something? Yes, I did. Why did you turn around? I realized that I had made a mistake. How was that? I may have thought that I was doing something but I knew for sure that you were not. I could tell that you were not in the plan I was pursuing. How could you tell that? I really had no power or ability to accomplish what I was attempting to do. It was just a lot of tiresome self-effort on my part. That sounds very exhausting. It was, that’s for sure. What have you learned by forging ahead without me? I’ve learned that it is better to wait for instructions from you so that I will be able to move forward with your plan and rely on your power to accomplish it. You’ve learned a very important lesson, don’t you think? Yes, I have and for that I am very thankful.

It seems to me that there is one missing element we have not considered. What’s that? Well, so far we’ve talked about plans and power. You’ve learned that you want my plan and power rather than your own. Yes that’s correct. We have not talked about purpose. What is the purpose of your plans? Will the purpose of your plans standup in light of eternity? What do you mean by that? Let’s say it’s 10,000 years from now and you’re looking back from eternity, will you be pleased with the purpose of your plans? Probably not. Why is that? The purpose of my plan was too centered around me and what I wanted in that moment of my life. I will have wished that I had asked you to show me your purposes and plans so that I could accomplish them with your power. There is no need to wish. Why is that? You can come and ask that of me right now.

Lord, I’m sorry that I have made big plans without consulting you. I don’t want my plans in life. I want your purposes and plans to be accomplished through my life, by your power, for your kingdom and glory.  Thank you that I can serve you.   Amen  

Key Question… When have you waited for the Lord to show you His purposes and plans?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to show you His purposes and plans for your life so that you can do what He wants you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will show you His purposes and plans and give you the power to accomplish them.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when God has given you His power to accomplish His plans.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you pursue the Lord’s plan for your life.

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

Guidance – James 4-13-15 – If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That – 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