Category Archives: heart

Set Apart Christ As Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart - 1 Peter 3:15-16 - Set Apart Christ As Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – 1 Peter 3:15-16 – Set Apart Christ As Lord – Growing As Disciples

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV) 

Hope In You

What is the reason for why you have hope in you? Why can you have joy in you when everything does not go your way? What keeps you going in the face of disappointment? Why will you not be deterred by setbacks. What do you have to look forward to even when you are in the deepest of valleys filled with discouragement? Those are all good questions for which I have one sure, rock solid answer. What’s that? I have you to look forward to. I can keep my eyes fixed on you. You are my Savior and Lord. You are my God and King. You are my future and hope. You love and care for me. You lead and guide me through life. You lift me up when I have been brought down. You revive and refresh me when I am weary and worn. You are my refuge and strength in every storm. You are my hiding place in every difficulty. No matter what I go through, no matter what hardship I experience, no matter what setbacks I encounter; you are always with me to help me. When I have been unable to go further, you have carried me forward. When I have been hungry you have fed me. When I have been thirsty you have satisfied me. You have drawn near to me as I have drawn near to you. There is no place I can’t go or nothing I can’t do with you helping me. You are my power and strength. I will rely on you. I will look to you. You are my hope and future. You have filled me with your Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing that one day soon, I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Yes, you will.

Will you tell others about the hope that you have in you? Will you let the light that is in you shine like a star in the universe for me? Will you allow your life to speak a message of hope to those who need me? Yes Lord, I will. When will you begin? I will begin right now. I will keep my eyes and ears open to every opportunity I have to share with others the hope that I have in me, which is you.  That will be very good.

Lord, in my heart I have set you apart as my Lord. In all that I think, say, and do I want to please you. Help me to guard all my thoughts, words, and actions. Make me able to share the reason for all the hope that I have in you. Amen

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

Heart – 1 Peter 3-15-16 – Set Apart Christ As Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Fools Says

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart - Psalm 14:1 - The Fool Says - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – Psalm 14:1 – The Fool Says – Growing As Disciples

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.  Psalm 14:1 (NIV)

Say What?

Why would someone be so foolish as to say that there is no God? Why would someone live their life as if there is no God? Are you asking me those questions? Yes, I am. Well, I would like you to answer those questions for me. Why is that? You have some experience in the matter. I would like to hear what you can say.  Didn’t you once live as if I did not exist? Didn’t your life proclaim that there was no God? You are right about that. Tell me more.

I once lived entirely for myself. I did what I wanted when I wanted. I sought my own comfort and pleasure. I lived for all that the world had to offer. I didn’t want anyone placing limits on my life. I didn’t want anyone telling me what I should or should not do. I was the master of my own destiny. I charted my own course. I did not want or need advice. I did not accept anyone’s counsel. There is something you have not yet said. What’s that? You know what you don’t want to say.  Go ahead and spit it out. I won’t be offended by what you are about to say. I wanted to be my own god. I was my own god. As long as you were your own god there was no room in your life for me to be your God, isn’t that right? Well, it isn’t right, but it was true. You were hoping I didn’t exist. Yes, for a time, I was hoping that you did not exist. How does that sound to you now? It sounds incredibly foolish. Why is that?

You have turned my life around. You have forgiven me of my sin. You have cleansed me of all my unrighteousness. You have shown me the error of my ways. You have set me on a new course. You have given me a new destiny. You have adopted me into your family. Yes, I did. You are my God and Father. Yes, I am. You have made me to be your child. Yes, you are. Now, you are the pursuit of my life. Now, I want to know you and walk in your ways. Now, I want to live my life in ways that please you. I am sorry that at one time I lived as if you did not exist. I am sorry that my life once proclaimed that there was no God. Forgive me. You are forgiven.  Now, I want every second and minute of my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Use my life to proclaim that there is a God. Use my life to help bring others to you. I am all yours. I am at your disposal. Yes, you are.

Lord, at one time I lived my life as if you did not exist. I did what was evil and failed to do what was good. I lived for myself and my own comfort and pleasure. Forgive me. Help me now to live every moment of my life for you. Amen

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

Heart – Psalm 14-1 – The Fool Says – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

A Cheerful Giver

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart - 2 Corinthians 9:7 - A Cheerful Giver - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – 2 Corinthians 9:7 – A Cheerful Giver – Growing As Disciples

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

Giving

Who benefits most when you give to others? I’m thinking that the obvious answer is probably wrong. What’s the obvious answer? The obvious answer is that the recipient of my gift benefits most by what I give to them. You are right, that is the obvious and wrong answer. Why is that? You tell me. I don’t know. Oh, I think you can figure this out. Tell me what you know about giving. Tell me what you know about me. I know that you are a giver. You came into the world as an act of giving. You humbled and gave yourself fully so that I could have a new life and relationship with you. Your giving made it so I could be adopted into your family and become your child. Your giving made it possible for my sins to be forgiven. Your giving made it so I will be able to come and live forever in heaven with you. That’s right, I am a giver. Do you want to become like me? Do you want to go and do what I did? Do you want to do what is pleasing in my sight? Yes Lord, I want to be like you in every way. Yes Lord, I want to go and do what you did. Yes Lord, I want to do what is pleasing in your sight. So, when you give, you become like me in all these ways. Yes, that’s true. Now, does whatever gift you can give to someone seem as beneficial to them as it is for you to become a giver? No, not at all. That’s right. 

Let’s talk more about giving. Alright. In response to my giving myself to you, what have you done? I have given myself to you. That’s right. We could say that there has been good fruit because I gave myself to you, couldn’t we? Yes, we could and not only to me, but to all those who have come to believe in you. That’s true. Do you want your life to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes, I do. How will you bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name by becoming a giver. That’s right. Is that what you will do? Yes Lord, I will become a cheerful giver. That will be good and pleasing to me.

Lord, in the past I ignored deciding in my heart and making a commitment to give to others. When I gave, I gave reluctantly and under compulsion. Forgive me. Help me now to be a cheerful giver who gives joyfully to you and to all those who are in need. Amen

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

Heart – 2 Corinthians 9-7 – A Cheerful Giver – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

Delight Yourself In The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart - Psalm 37:4 - Delight Yourself In The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – Psalm 37:4 – Delight Yourself In The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NIV) 

Delight And Desire

I delight myself in you. You are my Savior and Lord. You are my God and Father. You are my refuge and strength. You are my guard and my guide. You are my hope and joy. You have lavished me with your love. You have allowed me to taste your goodness. Your hand is on me. You have been with me to help me. You will never leave or forsake me. You have blessed my life. You created just as I am. You gave me a heart that seeks after you. You gave me a desire to live my life with and for you. I want to live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There is nothing I would rather do than your will. I want to do what is pleasing to you. I want to go wherever you guide me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. One day I want to hear you say, “well done, good and faith servant. These are the desires of my heart.

What will I do with the desires of your heart? You will grant me the desires of my heart. Why are you certain that I will grant you the desires of your heart? You gave me the desires of my heart. If the desires of my heart came from me, then I would not be certain that you would grant them. Why is that? In the past, I have had many desires in my heart that I know were worldly. They were fleshly desires that revolved around seeking and fulfilling my own comfort and pleasure. I wanted the best of all that the world had to offer. I had an earthly rather than a heavenly perspective. I am not asking you to fulfill the desires that were in my heart before I came to know you. I do not want all that the world offers. I am not seeking my own comfort and pleasure. I want what you want. I want to love, follow and serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to be fully devoted to you in all my thoughts, words and deeds. Do I believe that you will grant these desires of my heart? Yes, I do. I am positive without a doubt that you are both a giver and granter of desires in my heart. You will certainly grant any desire that has come from you. Yes, I will. I only ask that you keep on giving and granting desires that you want me to have in my heart. That I will do, you can be certain of that.

Lord, here I am. It is my delight to sit and wait quietly, stilly and patiently here in your presence. You have both given and granted to me the desires of my heart. You have made me content with how you have richly blessed my life. Amen

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

Heart – Psalm 37-4 – Delight Yourself In The Lord – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Renewed Day By Day

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Renewed Day By Day - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – Growing As Disciples

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) 

Fix Your Eyes

I want you to have the proper perspective. How can I have the proper perspective? Am I thinking about life incorrectly? Are my values misplaced? Is my attention focused in the wrong direction? Do I have improper priorities? What exactly do you want to tell me? I want to fix your eyes. What does that mean? You are looking at the wrong things. What am I looking at? You are looking at yourself. You are worried about the brevity of life. As you are aging, you have become concerned that your outward body is slowly but surely wasting away. You’re right, I don’t even like hearing the sound of that. I’m definitely not a fan of aging. It is true, I have let myself become discouraged and depressed about the brevity of life and seeing my body get old and continue to as you say, “slowly and surely waste away.” I have not liked watching the passage of time. I have been saddened by the loss of what once was. Yes, I have noticed. There is no need to be discouraged or saddened or depressed. Why is that?

This life is not all that there is. This life is like the snap of the fingers or the blink of an eye. Your life is like the morning mist that quickly burns off when the sun rises in the sky. You will be here today and gone tomorrow. This is supposed to encourage me? This life is like a mirage. Your real life is forever, in heaven, with me. What are your years on this earth compared to your life with me, forever in eternity? Maybe, this life is like less than a blink of an eye or a snap of the fingers. Maybe, my life on this earth is like less than the mist that appears on the ground, in the morning. That’s right.

You said you want me to fix my eyes. Yes, I did. By that, I meant I want to change your perspective. Yes, I’m starting to understand what you wanted to tell me. Now, I want you to fix your eyes. Now, you have me confused. What do you mean you want me to fix my eyes? You have changed your perspective. You are no longer looking at this life as all that there is. Yes, that’s correct. Now, I want you to fix your eyes on me. I want you to fix your eyes on heaven. I want you to see this life and your remaining days on earth from my perspective. I want you to know that even as your external body wastes away, I am renewing you inwardly day by day. I am renewing you and reviving you and refreshing you, so I can use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Will you fix your eyes on me? Will you allow me to use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, my eyes are fixed on you and the things of heaven. I will not grow weary, lose heart or give up as I go through difficulties in life. As my body wastes away I know that day-by-day you are renewing me on the inside. Use me in your service for your glory.  Amen

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

Heart – 2 Corinthians 4-16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

Going Astray

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart- Hebrews 3:10 - Going Astray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart- Hebrews 3:10 – Going Astray – Growing As Disciples

“ That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ Hebrews 3:10 (NIV)

Time And Place

If I said that I wanted to speak to you would you listen to me? Of course I would listen to you. No really, how attentively would you listen to me? Would you set apart a time and a place to meet with me so that you could hear my voice? Yes Lord, I would set apart a time and a place to meet with you to hear your voice. What would you do if I said I wanted to meet with you everyday? Then I would set a time and a place to meet with you every day. Very good, that’s what I want. I want to speak to you everyday.  So, I will let you set the time and pick the place for us to meet together. Alright then, I will. You’re serious? Yes, I am very serious. So, am I.

What do you think will happen if you don’t hear and listen to my voice? I’m not really sure. Go ahead, take a guess. If I don’t hear and listen to your voice I won’t know you very well. I won’t know your will or your ways. That’s a very good guess, or is it a guess? No, I’m speaking from the voice of experience. The only way that I will really know you is to meet with you, to hear what you want to say to me. That’s right.  So, you intend to meet with me in my word, is that right? Yes, it is.

What else will happen to you if you don’t hear and listen to my voice? There’s more? Yes, there is. Take another educated guess. If I don’t hear and listen to you I will stray away from you. Where will you stray? I will stray off into the world and all that it has to offer. Will the world offer you what will benefit your soul?  No, the world will offer thoughts, values and practices that are very far away from your will and ways. Yes, it will. If you allow yourself to be conformed to the world what will happen to your heart? My heart will begin to enjoy the deceitfulness of sin. I will learn to hate your will and ways once I have tasted of all that the world has to offer.  I will begin to think that your will and your ways are standing in the way of me enjoying myself. What will you really be enjoying? I will be enjoying the pleasures of sin. What are the ultimate wages of sin? Sin brings death both in this life and in the life to come. Yes, it does. You don’t want that. No, I don’t.  I want my heart to be turned toward you.  I want to hear all that you have to say to me. I want to live the life you have given me to live. I want to know you. I want you to know me. That’s very good. So, what are you going to do? I am going to set apart a time and a place to meet with you every day. That will be very good. I’m looking forward to that. So, am I.

Lord, thank you for your word that speaks to me and keeps my heart and mind on you. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me so that I can know your ways and do your will as I enter into your peace and rest. Amen

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

Heart – Hebrews 3-10 – Going Astray – 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

Guard Your Hearts

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart - Philippians 4:6-7 - Guard Your Hearts - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – Philippians 4:6-7 – Guard Your Hearts – Growing As Disciples

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

On Guard 

Are you on guard? Am I on guard over what? Are you on guard over your heart? What does that mean? How can I guard my heart? What do I need to be on guard against? Can something attack my heart? What might put my heart in danger? Those are very good questions. I think it would be very helpful for you to answer your own questions. I know that you have a good idea of what will endanger your heart. I would like to hear your answers. You talk, I will listen.

It seems to me that my heart is under constant attack from the world. The world is a noisy chaotic place. It shouts for my ear and demands my attention. Life in this world is filled with worries of every shape and size. There are financial worries. There are physical worries. There are emotional worries. It would be easy to allow my life to become paralyzed by worry. Have you ever let your heart become paralyzed by worry? You know the answer to that question. I have frequently let my heart and mind and life become paralyzed by worry. How will you guard your heart against worry? That seems like an odd question to me. Why is that? Aren’t you the one who will guard my heart? Aren’t you the one who will fill my heart and mind and life with your peace? Won’t your peace guard my heart? Yes, my peace will guard your heart under certain circumstances. Under what circumstances will your peace guard my heart and mind and life? That again, is a question you can answer. If you want my peace to guard your heart and mind and life you must answer that question with both your words and actions. I get it. I must turn all my worries into prayers to you. I must come to rely on you. I must ask for your help. I must present all my requests to you. I must believe that you will hear and answer my prayers. When I pray to you, I must thankfully consider your help as a certain and settled matter. You will hear me. You will help me. When I rely on you I will have your peace. Your peace will be with me in and through every twist and turn and up and down in life. I will be able to hold on to you as you hold on to me. I will be able to live in your supernatural peace that will guard my heart and mind and life. Yes, you will. 

Lord, too often I have carried my worries and anxieties on my own all by myself. Help me now to turn all my worries and anxieties into thanksgiving filled prayers to you. Guard my heart and mind with your unexplainable peace. Amen

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

Heart – Philippians 4-6-7- Guard Your Hearts – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Pour Out Your Heart To Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart - Psalm 62:8 - Pour Out Your Hearts To Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – Psalm 62:8 – Pour Out Your Hearts To Him – Growing As Disciples

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8 (NLT)

Our Dialogue

You have two choices of what you will do with what is in your heart. I’m not sure what two choices are before me, regarding my heart. You can hold on to what is in your heart or you can pour out what is in your heart. Now, I understand why there are only two choices before me, regarding my heart. Each choice is the opposite of the other one. That’s right. What will happen if I hold on to what is in my heart? That is a good question. You tell me. If I hold on to what is in my heart I will not pour out my heart to you. That is obvious, say more. If I hold on to what is in my heart I will never live in an intimate relationship with you. I will not tell you what is in my heart. I will not cry out to you when my heart is filled with difficulty and pain and suffering. I will not ask for your help. I will not rely on you. I will live with anguish and turmoil. I will live a weary life. I will carry a heavy weight of burdens throughout my life. I will not receive your comfort. I will not be filled your peace. I will not release all my worries and burdens to you. I will carry a heavy heart if I never pour it out to you. That’s right. Isn’t there some middle ground? Couldn’t you pour out your heart a little bit here and there? Couldn’t you make a daily decision about when and where you would pour out your heart to me? That sounds a little ridiculous. How so? It would be like saying, “I only want a little peace and comfort today. I only want you to carry some of my burdens. I will hang on to the rest of my burdens so I can only be partially helped.” Who would be so foolish? Would give themselves such poor advice? Maybe you? Well, if that is what I have been doing then I will stop it immediately. Forgive me for not fully pouring my heart out to you. You are forgiven. I will tell you whatever is in my heart. I will share my joys and my sorrows with you. I will talk to you when I am exceedingly happy and incredibly sad. You will be my refuge. You will be my strength. You will be my confidant. Help me to develop an intimate relationship with you. I want to live and walk in a constant dialogue with you. I want to hear from you. You will hear from me. I will pour my heart out to you every day as I walk through life with you. That will be very good.

Lord, so often I have made myself weary because I have trusted in myself. Not today. Not now. Not again. From here on out I will place all my trust in you. I will pour out my heart to you. You are my refuge and strength and hope. Amen

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

Heart – Psalm 62-8 – Pour Out Your Hearts To Him – 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