Category Archives: If

Hears My Voice

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Revelation 3:20 - Hears My Voice - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Revelation 3:20 – Hears My Voice – Growing As Disciples

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Open The Door

Are you standing outside the door of my heart? Are you waiting for me to hear your voice? Do you want me to open the door to intimate fellowship with you? I’m sure that you know the answers to those questions. There is nothing I want more than to live in intimate fellowship with you. Do you think that you will invite me into your heart one time? Do you think that you will hear and answer my call today for tomorrow? Do you think that you will open the door to intimate fellowship with me once and for all time? I’m not sure what you are asking me. You have invited me into your heart. You have opened the door to intimate fellowship with me. You do hear my voice speaking to you. What about today? What about right now? What about tomorrow and the next day after that? Will you keep asking me into your heart? Will you keep listening to my voice? Will you keep opening your heart to intimate fellowship with me? Yes Lord, I will. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. I want to live in intimate fellowship with you everyday. I want to hear your voice speaking to me everyday. I will open the door to intimate fellowship with you every day.

How will you keep on opening the door of your heart to me? How will you keep listening to my voice? How will you keep living in intimate fellowship with me? I knew those questions were coming. They are very important questions. I know. It is easy for me to become distracted. It is easy for me to wander away from intimate fellowship with you. It is easy for me to be distracted from being able to hear your voice. Why is that? This world that I live in is a busy and noisy place. It is full of distractions. It is full of alluring enticements that cry out for my time and attention. I am constantly being bombarded with the thoughts and values and opinions of this world. If I am not very careful I will become just like the world and all those who live in it. You are in this world, but you are not of this world. I know. That is why I must make time and set apart a special place where I can meet with you. As I meet with you, I will be opening my heart afresh to you. As I meet with you, I will be listening to all that you have to say to me. As I meet with you, I will be enjoying the intimate fellowship you want me to have with you. Yes, you will. That is what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not leave you standing outside the door of my heart. I hear you knocking. I hear you speaking. I am listening to your voice. I will invite you into my heart. I want to live in intimate fellowship with you. Come in now. Amen

Key Question… How are you making yourself attentive to hear the voice of Christ speaking to you?

Living It Out… Open the door of your heat to the Lord so you can live in intimate fellowship with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will have intimate fellowship with the Lord when you open the door of your heart to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group the joy you have had living in intimate fellowship with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hear open the door to intimate fellowship with the Lord.

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

If – Revelation 3-20 – Hears My Voice – 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

Shrinks Back

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Hebrews 10:38-39 - Faith Over Fear - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Hebrews 10:38-39 – Faith Over Fear – Growing As Disciples

But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:38-39 (NIV)

Faith Over Fear

Can you hear my voice? Are you making yourself attentive to me? Are you listening to all that I want to say to you? I can hear your voice. I have set a time and a place to meet with you. Yes, I am making myself attentive to you. Am I listening to all that you have to say to me? That’s a good question. I want to say yes. I doubt that I am hearing all that you want to say to me. I am straining to hear you. I am listening carefully to you. It is my delight and joy hearing you speak to me. I don’t want to miss out on one word that you have to say to me. I have something that I want to say to you right now. I’m listening. You have my full attention. That’s good.

There is something that I want you to know. There is something that I want you to be able to recognize. There is something that I don’t want you to be surprised by. There is something that I want you to come to expect. Now, I’m really curious. What is this something that you are talking about? You will be faced with a choice throughout your life. This choice will appear again and again and over and over as you follow me. This choice will never be a one and done kind of choice. Tell me more. You first made this choice when you came to believe in me. You turned away from your sin and told me that you were going to follow me as your Savior and Lord. Yes, I did. I am your Savior and Lord. On the day, you turned your life over to me your life of salvation began. My being your Savior and Lord is a settled question. You being my follower is a settled question. Your future in heaven forever with me is a settled question. Is this all clear to you? Yes, I have no doubt that you are my Savior and Lord and that I am your follower. One day I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Good, let’s go back to the choice that will keep repeating itself in your life. Let’s talk about the choice that you will be required to answer again and again and over and over. I want to know more about this choice. You will have the choice of faith over fear. I’m not exactly sure what you mean. Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean. When have you been afraid? When have I asked you to choose faith in me over your fears? When have I asked you to go and do something for me that caused you to face one of your fears? I get it. Will you have faith in me? Will you keep following me? Will you move forward with me? Will you do what I ask of you? Will you allow me to overcome your fears and grow your faith in me? Will you choose faith over fear? Yes Lord, I will choose faith in you over my fears. That will be very good.

Lord, I have been faced with the choice of faith over fear many times. Forgive me for not always making the right choice. Thank you for allowing me to hear your voice leading me through life. I will follow you as my Savior and Lord. I will move forward with you. Amen

Key Question… What has helped you to choose faith over fear as you have followed the Lord?

Living It Out… Listen to the voice of God leading you forward as you follow Him in faith as your Savior and Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will hear the voice of God leading you forward to follow Him in faith as your Savior and Lord.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when you came to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you hear the voice of God leading you forward as you follow Him as your Savior and Lord.

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

If – Hebrews 10-38-39 – Shrinks Back – 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

You Love Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - John 14:15 - You Love Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – John 14:15 – You Love Me – Growing As Disciples

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.  John 14:15 (NIV)

Obey Me 

You do want to obey me. I can see that quite clearly. Do you know why you want to obey me? I haven’t always wanted to obey you. There were times when obeying you was the farthest thing from my heart and mind. I was more interested in obeying my own passions, lusts and desires. I lived solely for my own comfort and pleasure. I pursued my own thoughts and goals and dreams. I was so full of myself that I had no room for you in my heart and mind. Even the idea of obeying you was completely foreign to me. I didn’t think that I wanted or needed you in my life. I was completely self-reliant and self-sufficient. I felt so sure that I had all that I would ever want and need. What happened? I was wrong. The self-centered and sinful life that I was living can only end in brokenness. It didn’t take long for me to become bruised and battered and broken by the life I was living. Soon enough, I cried out to you for help. I asked you to rescue me from the life I was living. I turned myself over to you. I asked you to come into my life. I asked you to forgive my sin and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. I said that I would follow you as my Savior and Lord. Yes, you did. You rescued me from a life without you. Yes, I did.

You still haven’t fully answered my question. What’s that? Why do you want to obey me? You love me. You did not turn away from me when I cried out to you. You did not reject me. You did not shame me. You threw your arms around me and welcomed me into your family. You made me to be your child. You forgave me of all my sin. You cleansed me of all my unrighteousness. You healed my bruised, battered and broken life. You filled me with your Spirit and set me on the path of life following you as my Savior and Lord. Yes, I did. Now, I love you because you first love me. Day by day I am living in your love. Moment by moment my love for you grows stronger. My heart and mind are captivated of thoughts and filled with desires to do what pleases you. It is no inconvenience or burden for me to obey you. I want what you want. I take pleasure and have great joy in doing your will. In every way I want to become like you. I want to know you. I want to walk in your ways. I want to love you just as you have loved me. That is the desire of my heart and mind and soul. I want nothing else. I want nothing less. You have answered me well.

Lord, I do love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. My heart and mind are captivated by thoughts of doing what pleases you. It is my joy and pleasure to do whatever you desire. I will go where you guide me to do all that you ask of me. Amen

Key Question… How is your love for the Lord captivating your thoughts and motivating your desire to obey Him?

Living It Out… Allow your love for the Lord to captivate your thoughts and motivate your desire to obey Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your love for the Lord will captivate your thoughts and motivate your desire to obey Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your love for the Lord is motivating your desire to obey Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your love for the Lord always motivate your desire to obey Him.

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

If – John 14-15 – You Love Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Ears To Hear

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Mark 4:21-25 - Ears To Hear - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Mark 4:21-25 – Ears To Hear – Growing As Disciples

He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” Mark 4:21-25 (NIV)

Hearing

Do you have ears that are hearing? Don’t be quick to answer that question. I know that you have ears. I also know that your ears are in working order. The question is, “ Are you really hearing all that I want you to hear?” I would guess that I am not hearing all you want to say to me. I am pretty sure that I am not hearing and receiving and learning all you want to teach me. That is a very good guess. Why do you think that is true? There are plenty of times that I have heard what you wanted me to hear and then a short time later I have forgotten what you said to me. Did my words really go in one of your ears and out the other? Yes, they did.  Those words did not stay in you long enough to change your heart or transform your mind. No, they did not. Did you really learn anything from me then? No, I did not. That’s not good. That’s not what you and I both want is it? No, it isn’t, I want your words to change my heart and transform my mind.

What is the source of the problem? Why are my words sometime going in one of your ears and out the other? Do you think I know the answer to that question? I know that you know the answer to that question. I think that I am failing to carefully consider your words. What does that mean to you? I’m not meditating on your word. I’m not letting your word sink deeply into my heart and mind. I not taking enough time or making a full enough effort to grab hold of your word. Maybe, it’s the other way around. Maybe, I’m not taking enough time or making a full enough effort to let your word grab ahold of me. I’m racing right by your word. I’m lightly considering it. What would help you to more full consider my word? I think two things would help me to more fully consider your word. Tell me your thoughts. I need to carefully consider how to put your word into practice. That would help me to better hear all that you are saying to me. Yes, it would. What else? I also need to consider how I can share with others all that you have been teaching me from your word. You don’t want me to hide or keep quiet about what you have been teaching me. No, I do not. I can shine brightly like a light in the world as I share your word with others. Yes, you can. Putting your word into practice and sharing it with others will make me able to carefully consider your word. Yes, it will.

Lord, I will take time and make a full effort to carefully consider all that you want to say to me from your word. I will be a light in the world and richly and boldly share with others all I have heard and received and learned from you. Amen

Key Question… How are you taking time and making an effort to carefully consider what you hear in God’s word?

Living It Out… Share with others what you have heard, received and learned from the Lord as you have carefully considered His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will receive from the Lord as you take time and make an effort to carefully consider His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are taking time to carefully consider God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take time and make an effort to carefully consider all that the Lord wants to teach you from His word.

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

If – Mark 4-21-25 – Ears To Hear – 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 Has Given You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Romans 12:6-8 - God Has Given You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Romans 12:6-8 – God Has Given You – Growing As Disciples

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:6-8 (NLT)

Gifts

I have designed you. I have made you. I am molding and shaping you. I have given you gifts with which you can serve me. I have given you gifts with which you can serve others. You are a tool in my hand. My hand is on your life. I will use you for my purposes. I have a plan for your life that is very good. You will know me. You will walk in my ways. You will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom as you allow me to work in and through your life. That sounds very exciting to me. I want to be used by you.

Do you have any questions? I have several questions. How will I know the gifts that you have given to me? How will I understand how you want to use me? How will I know what to go and do for you? You will follow me. You will listen to me. You will go where I guide you. You will do what I ask of you. As you serve me you will begin to know the spiritual gifts that I have given to you. As you serve me you will also begin to know what are not your spiritual gifts. You must learn to say yes to me. You must learn to say yes to what fits the way I have designed you and will make use of the gifts I have given to you. Don’t think that you will always be doing what ideally suits you. You will serve me in many different ways as you follow me. It will be just as important for you to learn what does not fit you as what does fit you. Once you begin to know your spiritual gift, allow me to grow and develop and refine the spiritual gifts that I have given to you. Give yourself fully to growing in the use of your spiritual gifts. Do you understand what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I understand.

I have one more thing to say to you. What’s that? I know you. Don’t look around and compare yourself with others. Be thankful for the gifts that I have given to you. Don’t wish you had the gifts that others have. I will powerfully use you with the gifts that I have given to you. You will have great joy as you bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You can count on that. Yes Lord, I will. 

Lord, thank you for helping me to discover my spiritual gifts. Guide me to where I can use my spiritual gifts. Grow and develop my spiritual gifts so I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Thank your for the joy I have in serving you. Amen

Key Question… How are you allowing God to grow and develop the spiritual gifts that He has given to you?

Living It Out… Use the spiritual gifts God has given you to bear fruit for His kingdom and bring glory to His name.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God has given you spiritual gifts so you can bear fruit for His kingdom and bring glory to His name.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are using your God given spiritual gifts to serve Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you faithfully use all the gifts God has given you to serve Him.

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

If – Romans 12-6-8 – God Has Given You – 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

Any Man Builds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 - Any Man Builds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 – Any Man Builds – Growing As Disciples

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

Testing Your Work

One day your life’s work will be tested. I will examine how you have spent the life that you have been given to live. We will have the opportunity to see the fruit that you have born for my kingdom and the glory that you have brought to my name. I’m looking forward to that day. You seem quite confident. Yes, I am very confident. My confidence is in you. If my confidence were in myself I would have absolutely none. Tell me more about your confidence in me. You are the foundation of my life. All that I think and say and do is founded on you. I want to think your thoughts. I want to speak your words. I want to do your deeds. In everyway I want you to be guided by you. I know that you will use my life according to your purpose and plans as I follow you. I can’t go wrong if I go where you lead me and do all that you ask of me. So, I am listening attentively to you. I don’t want to miss out on one word that you have to say to me. I am following you closely. I don’t want to run ahead or lag behind you. If I keep in step with you I will certainly know and do your will Yes, that’s right. That’s why I can say that I have confidence in you.

There is more that I want to say on this subject. Go ahead, I’m listening. I don’t have a mild desire to know you and do your will. My heart aches within me to know you and do your will. I have no other desire in my life that comes remotely close to wanting to know you and do your will. Nothing gives me more joy than to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. It is my constant prayer that you will use me according to your purposes and plans. I want to do everything that you have prepared for me to do for you. If I do lag behind, if I do run ahead, I asking that you will help me to get to exactly where you want me to be to do exactly what you want me to do for you. When we look back over my life I want to be surprised by the joy that we can share together. I don’t want to regret something that I left undone. So, it is my prayer that you will fully use me. Do you believe that I will hear and answer this prayer of yours? Yes Lord, I believe with certainty that you will fully use me so that I can bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, I will hear and answer this prayer of yours.

Lord, you are the foundation of my life. I will follow, obey and serve you. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. Make my life’s work able to stand the test of time and bear abundant fruit for all eternity for your kingdom and glory. Amen 

Key Question… What of your life’s work will stand the test of time and bear fruit for all eternity?

Living It Out… Allow your life and work to be founded on Jesus Christ as you follow and obey and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will ask you to do work for Him that will stand the test of time and bear fruit for all eternity.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group about the fruitful work that the Lord has asked you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life’s work be built on Jesus Christ and continue to directed by Him.

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

If – 1 Corinthians 3-10-15 – Any Man Builds – 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

You Want To Enjoy Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 1 Peter 3:10-12 - You Want To Enjoy Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 1 Peter 3:10-12 – You Want To Enjoy Life – Growing As Disciples

For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do well. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12 (NLT)

Enjoy Life

I want you to be able to enjoy the life that I have given to you. That makes two of us. I want to enjoy the life that you have given to me. I also want you to see many good days. That sounds good to me as well. I especially want to be able to hear and answer your prayers as I watch over your life. I can’t imagine anything better than you hearing and answering my prayers as you watch over my life. Is there anything that I must do to enjoy life and see many good days? Is there anything that would make it so my prayers would not be heard and answered? It pleases me that you have asked these questions. Yes, there are several things you must do if you want to enjoy life and see good days. The quality of your life and the goodness of your days depend a lot on your own behavior. How so? What does my word say? If I want to enjoy life and see good days I will need to place a guard on the words that come out of my mouth. I must speak good words that will bless the lives of others. My words must also tell the whole and complete truth. Speaking evil and telling lies will rob me of joy and prevent me from enjoying my life and seeing many happy days. That’s exactly right. What else? I must turn away from every evil to do whatever is good in all my thoughts, words and deeds. In all my relationships I will need to seek and maintain peace. Nothing will rob my joy and ruin my days more quickly than living in continual conflict with others. You want me to be known as a peacemaker. Yes, I do. Thinking, speaking and doing evil will also hinder my prayers. Yes, it will. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to do what pleases you. I want to know and do your will at all times. I will do all the good things that you have asked me to do for you as I turn away from every evil. That will be very good.

Lord, I know the life you have called me to live. You want me to turn away from every evil thought, word and deed. You want me to bless others with all I think, say and do. You want me to seek and maintain peace in all my relationships. This is what I will do. Amen

Key Question… How are you seeking and working to maintain peace in all your relationships?

Living It Out… Turn away from every evil thought, word, and deed so you can enjoy the good life God has given you to live for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your life as you do the good He has given you to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are living the good life God has given you to live for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you turn away from evil and do good so you will be able to enjoy life.

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

If – 1 Peter 3-10-12 – You Want To Enjoy Life – 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

My People

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 2 Chronicles 7:14 - My People - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 2 Chronicles 7:14 – My People – Growing As Disciples

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

Turn

Would you like to live in a close and intimate relationship with me? Would you like me to forgive your sin and cleanse you of all your unrighteousness? Would you like my healing to come into your life? Do you want me to hear and answer your prayers? Yes, I want to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. Yes, I want you to forgive my sin and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness.  Yes, I want your healing to come into my life. Yes, I would like you to hear and answer my prayers. What must I do if I want all of this to be true in my life. That is a very good question. If you want all of this to be true you must turn in two different directions. What two directions must I turn?

You must turn away from evil if you want to live the life that I have called you to live. You must leave your wicked ways behind. You must separate yourself from your old way of thinking, speaking and acting. You must remove yourself from what was once so enticing. You must leave what was once so alluring. This all sounds very difficult, maybe even impossible. I’m not sure that I will have the strength to turn away from every evil. I don’t know that I can do what you are asking of me. I’m not finished yet. It will not be enough for you to turn away from evil. It will not be adequate for you to remove yourself from what was once so enticing and alluring. You are right to think that this would be impossible for you alone to accomplish. You certainly will not have the strength within yourself to turn away from every evil. But, so far, we have only talked about your turning in one direction. Once you have turned away from evil you must turn yourself toward me. I will make you able to turn away from every evil as you turn yourself toward me. As you turn and seek me with all your heart I will bring my healing into your life. I will forgive you of your sin. I will cleanse you of all your unrighteousness. I will make you able to live in a close and intimate relationship with me. Then I will hear and answer your prayers as you seek and follow me with all your heart. Is this what you want? Yes Lord, this is what I want. Will you turn away from evil and turn yourself toward me? Will you seek me with all your heart? Will you humble yourself so you can meet with me in prayer? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I am humbling myself before you so I can come to meet with you in prayer. I have turned away from evil so I can seek you with all my heart. Thank you for forgiving my sin, hearing my prayers and bringing your healing into my life. Amen

Key Question… How has humbling yourself made you ready to come to meet with God in prayer?

Living It Out… Humble yourself and turn from evil so that you can pray and seek the Lord with all your heart.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will forgive your sin and bring His healing into your life as you seek Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have turned from evil to seek the Lord with all your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you humble yourself, turn from evil and seek the Lord with all your heart.

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

If – 2 Chronicles 7-14 – My People – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

You Are Faithful

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Luke 16:10-12 - You Are Faithful- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Luke 16:10-12 – You Are Faithful- Growing As Disciples

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? Luke 16:10-12 (NLT)

Little Things

You would like to have large responsibilities. You would like to be in charge of many things. You would like me to use you in significant ways. You would like your life to make a large impact. You would like your life to bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. You would like to bring glory to my name. Is all of this true? Yes, all of this is true.

If you want these desires and prayers of your heart to come true, is there a price you must pay? That sounds like a good question. What price must I pay if I want to be powerfully used by you? You must learn to be faithful in little things, if you want me to give you large responsibilities. You must show me that you can handle little details, if you want me to use you in significant ways. You must be willing to do work that goes unnoticed. You must be willing to do jobs for which you will receive little or no recognition. You must humble yourself and take on the form of a servant. You must learn to serve like I served. You must learn to give like I gave. No task will be too small for you. No job will be below your station in life. You must learn to go where I guide you. You must be willing to do whatever I ask of you. Will you go where I guide you and do all that I ask of you? Yes Lord, I will.  That will be very good. But there is more.

What else are you asking of me? You must give up on the idea of being powerfully used by me. You must stop thinking of doing great things for me. You must give up on the idea of doing and being great. These thoughts are too dangerous for you. These desires are too tempting for you. Think about doing all the little things I ask of you. Do the one little thing after another that I will give you to do for me. All the little things I give you to do for me will bring glory to my name. All the little things I give you to do for me will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. Will you also do all the little things that I ask you to do for me? Yes Lord, I will do whatever you ask of me, whenever you ask it of me, however and wherever you ask it of me. Then you will know and do my will. Then these prayers and desires of your heart will be heard and answered. Then I will powerfully use you for my kingdom and glory.

Lord, I need your wisdom, power and strength. I want to be faithful and trustworthy in all my responsibilities. I’m sure that I have done what did not need to be done and left undone what needed to be done. Help me to be completely faithful and trustworthy. Amen

Key Question… When has forgiving someone released you from a heavy burden that you were carrying?

Living It Out… Make it the rhythm of your life to forgive others just as you have been forgiven.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will help you to forgive others just as you have been forgiven.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group hoe you are forgiving others who have sinned against you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you forgive others just as you have been forgiven by your Heavenly Father.

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

If – Luke 16-10-12 – You Are Faithful – 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

Tasted The Kindness Of The Lord

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Discipleship Study - If - 1 Peter 2:1-3 - Tasted The Kindness Of The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – If – 1 Peter 2:1-3 – Tasted The Kindness Of The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NASB)

Grow Up 

Do you want to continue to grow up in your salvation? Do you want to become mature in your faith? Do you want to taste of my goodness? Do you want to live the life that I have called you to live? Yes, I want to grow up and become mature in my faith. Yes, I want to continue to grow up in my salvation. I want to taste of your goodness. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want nothing less than all that you have for me. What must I do if I want to continue to grow up in my salvation and mature in my faith? How can I keep on tasting of your goodness? Those are very good questions. 

There are two things that you must do if you want to grow up in your salvation and mature in your faith. There are two things that you must do if you want to live the life that I have called you to live. There are two things you must do if you want to receive all that I have for you. There are two things you must do if you want to keep on tasting of my goodness.

What things must I do? You must rid yourself of evil and leave it behind you. That sounds very difficult. Actually, that sounds impossible. If it were up to you and your efforts it would be impossible for you to rid yourself of evil and leave it behind you. But, you have tasted my goodness. You have received my grace and mercy. You have turned from your sin to follow me. On the cross I broke the power of sin over your life. You now have a new life to live in me. You are now dead to sin and alive to me. I know this is all true. I have given my life to you. I know that I have a new life to live in you. I know that you have broken the power of sin over my life. Yet, I have had a very difficult time ridding myself of evil and leaving sin behind me. There is something else that you must also do, that you haven’t been doing. What’s that? You must feed on my word. You must desire my word like a newborn baby. As you feed on my word you will continue to taste of my goodness. As you feed on my word your hunger and thirst for me and the life I have for you will grow. As you feed on my word I will change your heart and transform your mind. You will no longer want the evil that is in the world. You will want to rid yourself of every evil. You will want to leave evil behind you. As you meet with me in my word you will taste of my goodness, grow up in your salvation, mature in your faith and be able to rid yourself of evil and leave it behind you. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, that is what I want.

Lord, thank you for your word. Your word has helped me to rid myself of evil. Feeding on your word has allowed me to taste your goodness. Feeding on your word and tasting your goodness has caused me to continue to grow up in my salvation. Amen

Key Question… How has daily feeding on God’s word allowed you to taste the goodness of the Lord?

Living It Out… Leave evil behind you and feed on God’s word so that you can continue to grow up in your salvation.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will grow up in your salvation as you leave evil behind you and feed on God’s word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are leaving evil behind and feeding on God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rid yourself of all evil and desire God’s word so you can grow up in your salvation.

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

If – 1 Peter 2-1-3- Tasted The Kindness Of 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