Category Archives: Life

If It Is The Lord’s Will

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - James 4:13-17 - If It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – James 4:13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will – 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.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.  James 4:13-17 (NIV)

My Plans 

That’s quite a plan you have there, did you come up with that all on your own? Yes, I did.  This plan is all original and all mine. I didn’t ask anyone for help. No one gave me any advice. From start to finish this is my very own plan. No one will be able to share in the brilliance of this little plan of mine. I shouldn’t use the word little. Why is that? This plan is huge, don’t you think? Yes, I can see that you have tried to think of everything. Obviously, you didn’t want to leave any detail uncovered. That’s for sure. It’s too bad really. You went to all this time and effort. You have worked so long and so hard to implement your plan. What’s too bad? It sounds like you think that I might have wasted my time. You did leave out one very important detail in all your planning and in all your work. What’s that? What detail have I missed? You have left me out of your plans and all your work. You didn’t ask me what I thought. You didn’t seek my counsel and guidance. You just ran off in this direction on your own all by yourself. You don’t like my plan? Isn’t this plan according to your purposes and plans for my life? Isn’t this something that you want me to do? Couldn’t I serve you in this way? I’m asking all these questions of you now. Isn’t now a little too late? If what I am doing is not your plan then I have wasted my time. I have done my own thing.  These huge plans of mine might result in a huge failure. Yes, they might. They might also teach you a very valuable lesson.  

What could I learn from such a huge mistake and colossal failure? You tell me. I have been following my own counsel and pursuing my own plans. Yes, that’s true. Apart from you I can do nothing. Nothing? I can do nothing that will stand the test of time and last for all eternity. Only you can do that kind of work in and through my life. Yes, that’s right. I want my life to count for something. I want you to use my life for your kingdom and your glory. I want to know your will and do your will. Then what must you do? Then I must ask you to show me your will. Then I must ask you to help me to do your will. That’s right. What must you not do? I must not run off in thousand different directions following my own counsel and pursing my own plans. You’ve got that right. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I have run off in a thousand different directions based on my ill-conceived plans. I thought I had good ideas and great plans. I was foolish. No idea is good or plan great that doesn’t consult you. I want to know and do your will. Amen

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

Life – James 4-13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will – 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

Futility Of Their Thinking

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Discipleship Study - Life - Ephesians 4:17-19 - Futility Of Their Thinking - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Ephesians 4:17-19 – Futility Of Their Thinking – Growing As Disciples

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. Ephesians 4:17-19 (NIV) 

Mind, Heart And Life

What have I done with your mind? How have I changed your thinking? You have transformed my mind. You have changed all my thoughts. How so? Your word has been like a scrub brush in my mind. At one time, I was darkened in my understanding. I was futile in my thinking. I was living a sensual and impure life that continually lusted for more and more that was not pleasing in your sight. I was living for my own comfort and pleasure. My life was separated from the life that you wanted me to live. But you rescued me. You saved me. You helped me to turn my life over to you. You forgave and cleansed me of all my unrighteousness and put your Holy Spirit in me. Yes, I did. Your Holy Spirit has given me a hunger and thirst for you and your word. It is my delight to sit in your presence to be taught by you. As I consider your word and meditate on it day and night you are washing my mind. All the old garbage that was on my mind and in my thoughts is being replaced by new thoughts that you have given me to think. I believe that I am thinking your thoughts. Yes, you do have a different mind.

What have I done with your heart? How have I changed your desires? As you are transforming my mind you are also changing my heart. I once had an ignorant and hard heart. I was self-reliant, self-sufficient, self-absorbed and just plain selfish. I didn’t think I wanted or needed anything from anyone. My life revolved around myself. I was the center of my own universe and my own god. No one could teach me anything. I thought that I knew it all. How about now? None of that is now true of me. I am relying on you and not on myself. I need all the help that I can get from whoever is kind enough to help me. I am living to serve you and others. I want to be used for your kingdom and your glory. I don’t want or need credit for whatever you want to do in and through my life. I am not my own. I am yours to use however you see fit. I welcome you to use me. I don’t know it all. It is my delight to sit at your feet to be taught by you. Yes, you do have a different heart. 

What have I done with your life? How have I changed your future? In the past I had no hope. I was living just for all that this life had to offer. I had no meaning and purpose. I had no goals or plan. I was living a bruised, battered and broken life caused by my sin. I was being paid the wages of my sin, which is death. But, that all changed. With the transformed mind and the changed heart that you are giving to me comes new meaning and purpose. I do have a future and a hope. You are my future and my hope. Yes, I am. You have a purpose and plan for my life. You want me to serve you now and bear fruit for all eternity. Yes, I do.  One day I will come to live with you forever in heaven. Yes, you will. You have made everything new for me. I have a new mind, heart, and life all because of what you have done, are doing and will do for me. Yes, you do.

Lord, my mind was darkened in understanding. I did think thoughts that were futile. I was ignorant. I did have a hard heart. I was living a life separated from you. You rescued me. You saved me. Thank you for transforming my mind and changing my heart. Amen

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

Life – Ephesians 4-17-19 – Futility Of Their Thinking – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Life In His Name

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - John 20:30-31 - Life In His Name - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – John 20:30-31 – Life In His Name – Growing As Disciples

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31 (NIV)

Believing 

What have I done for you? What can you share with others about your faith in me? How will what I have done for you encourage others to put their faith in me? Your work in my life is like a message that speaks out to others in need. There is nothing dramatically special about me. I certainly did not merit or earn your favor. Yet, you chose to draw me to you. You forgave and cleansed me of my sins. You healed me within. You mended my bruised, battered and broken life. You made me your child. You are my father and I am your son. Yes, you are. I live each day in fellowship with you. You guard and guide my life. You have given me purpose, meaning and hope. It is my joy to love, follow and serve you. We walk together through life. I am not exempt from pain and suffering. I have experienced difficulties, trials, hardships and setbacks. In all of these I know that I can hold on to you. I also know that you are holding on to me. Yes, I am.

We live in a relationship together. I talk to you and you talk to me. You know me and I know you. I can hear your voice. It’s not an audible voice. It’s a quiet voice that I hear when I draw near to meet with you. There is no place that I would rather be than in your presence. There is nothing I would rather hear than you speaking to me. Sometime I would like you to surprise me. I would like to hear your audible voice. Is that necessary? No, it is not. Can I wait till we meet each other face to face? Yes, I can. My faith in you is strong. My faith in you is being kept and guarded by your power. Yes, it is. Your written word speaks to me. I know that you meet me in your word. Yes, I do. You take your word and apply it to my life. You are transforming my mind and changing my heart with your word. You are helping me to know you. You are helping me to think your thoughts. You are allowing me to feel what you feel. Your word is changing who I am, what I think, what I say and what I do. Yes, it is.

How did you come to faith in me? How have I used others to speak into your life? You used many people as your hands and feet and eyes and ears and mouth on my behalf. People went out of their way to minister your love to me. They told me about you. They shared the life that they had with you with me. Many times I thought that I was in the presence of angels. But, no, they were regular people that you were working in and through. They were people who knew and loved you. They shared all that you had done for them. I was drawn to what I saw of you in them. I wanted what they had. I wanted to know and love you too. So, I gave my life to you. Is that a miracle? Yes, it certainly is. Is giving your life to me something that you would like to tell others about? Would you like your life to draw others to me? Yes Lord, I would.

Lord, you have done miraculous things for me. You came into this world to save me. You rescued me from a life without you. You made it so I could come to believe in you. You are using me now to share my faith. You have given me new life in your name. Amen

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

Life – John 20-30-31 – Life In His Name – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

In Him Was Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - John 1:1-5 - In Him Was Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – John 1:1-5 – In Him Was Life – Growing As Disciples

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  John 1:1-5 (NIV)

Listening To You

How did I speak into your life? How did I draw you into a relationship with me? All kinds of random thoughts came to mind when you asked me those questions. Let me hear them. It’s amazing that you were able to break into my life and speak so I could hear you. I know you are God and you are all-powerful.  But, I was so strong willed and so independent. My stubbornness made it hard for me to listen to anyone. I thought that I knew it all. You sure did. You noticed?  I certainly did. What happened? You got my attention. How did I do that? You let my sinfulness run its course. Yes, I did. It was a painful course. My own sin led me into darkness. I suffered the consequences of my sin. How so? My sin left me bruised and battered by life. Yes, it did. Soon enough I had enough. I cried out to you. I asked you to show yourself to me. You asked? O.K., I screamed. Yes, you did. I’ll bet you didn’t even realize that your scream was a prayer. No, I did not. I heard that prayer didn’t I? Yes, you did. After you screamed what were you ready to do? I was ready to listen to you. Anything else? I was ready to give my life to you. Yes, you were.

What did I say to you when you were ready to listen to me? Did I judge you? Did I shame you? No, you did not. You welcomed me to you with wide-open arms. You showed me your love. You healed my hurts.  Yes, I did. It was as if you were watching and waiting for the moment that I would turn away from my sin to follow you. Do you know why it seemed that way? You actually were watching and waiting for me to turn to you. Yes, that’s right. There was a big celebration in heaven on the day that you gave your life to me. There was? Yes, there was!

What did I do for you once you turned from your sin to follow me? You broke me free from the power that sin and darkness had over my life. You set me free to live a new life. You gave your life so I could have a new life in you. Your life paid for my sin. You forgave me and cleansed me of all my unrighteousness. Yes, I did. You set a new course for my life. I would no longer live for myself. You have made it my joy to love, follow and serve you as my Savior and Lord. It is now my desire to know and do your will. Yes, it is.

What do you think I want to do in and through your life now that you are following me?  You want me to know you. You want me to love you. You want me to live out the new life that you have given me to live with you. Yes, I do and what will that look like? My new life in you will look like a lot of listening to you as I go where you guide me to do what you ask of me. Yes, it will. Listen to me. Rely on me. Live in your new relationship with me. Yes Lord, I will. I will guide your life.

Lord, you are the word of God that drew me into a relationship with you. You broke the power of darkness over my life. You gave your life so I could have a new life in you. Your light guides me through darkness as I love, follow and serve you. Amen

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

Life – John 1-1-5 – In Him Was 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

To Live Is Christ

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - Philippians 1:20-21 - To Live Is Christ - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Philippians 1:20-21 – To Live Is Christ – Growing As Disciples

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.   Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV)

Work To Do

What eager hope and expectation do you have for your life? It is my eager hope and expectation that I will serve you well. I want to do the work that you have given me to do for you. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and your glory. I don’t ever want to look back from heaven with regret to wasted opportunities that I had to serve you while I was living on the earth. I want to be able to hear you say to me, “ well done good and faithful servant”. I want to live a life that is pleasing in your sight. These are very good desires that you have in your heart. I believe that they come from you. Yes, these desires do come from me. 

What do you think will make you able to bear an abundance of fruit for me?  I know that only you can make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and your glory. Apart from you I can do nothing.  You have given me gifts, talents, and abilities that you will no doubt use. But, it would be a terrible mistake for me to rely on anything or anyone other than you. So, you won’t be relying on yourself to bear fruit for my kingdom and glory? No, I won’t, I’ve tried that before and that approach does not work.  You want me to join you in the work that you have given me to do for you. You will give me your help to do everything that you ask me to do for you. Yes, I will.

Why will you need my help to do what I ask you to do for me? You have this habit of giving me tasks that are far larger than I can handle by myself. Yes, I do and do you know why that is? There is one thing you want me to do and there is one thing you want me to know. What’s that? You want me to rely on you. Yes, I do. You want me to know that you are the one that is helping me to bear fruit for you. Yes, I do.

How much time do you think that you have to serve me in this life of yours? Life is short. It is like a snap of the fingers or a blink of the eye. Life is racing by faster than I could ever imagine. So, your days are short and they are numbered, aren’t they? Yes, they are. What does the shortness of your life and limited number of days suggest to you? I need your wisdom to know how to use my time. I need to be focused on the work that you have given me to do for you. I need to live in close communion with you so that I can hear your voice and be guided by you in the work that you have given me to do for you. Yes, you are right. 

Why do you want to serve me?  I want to serve you because I love you. There is no other reason? No, there is not. It is my joy to serve you because I love you. It is my desire to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory because I love you. I want to make the best use of the time you have given to me because I love you. When my time is up and I come to live forever in heaven with you it will be the happiest day of my life because I love you.  I look forward to that day with great eagerness and expectation. So do I.

Lord, I would like to keep on following and serving you in this life. I believe that you have given me important work to do for you. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. Then I will be ready to come to live forever in heaven with you. Amen

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

Life – Philippians 1-20-21 – To Live Is Christ – 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

Meditates Day And Night

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life- Psalm 1:1-3 - Meditates Day And Night - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life- Psalm 1:1-3 – Meditates Day And Night – Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

Instead

Do you want to live a blessed and happy life? Yes, of course, who wouldn’t want that kind of life? There really isn’t some big hidden secret about how you can have a blessed and happy life. I would like to know more. How can I live a blessed and happy life? What does my word tell you? I think your word really says don’t do one thing but do something else instead. What’s that? Your word basically says don’t hang out with evil. Don’t walk with evil. Don’t stand with evil. Don’t take a seat with evil. Yes it says all of that. What does not walking, standing or sitting with evil mean to you? I need to be on guard against evil. I can’t allow myself to become comfortable around evil. I must separate myself from evil. How will you do that? I know evil situations, circumstances and influences when I see them. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what doesn’t please you and isn’t helpful to me. I need to remove me from everything that might try to steal, kill and destroy the life you have given me to live. Life stealers can be situations, circumstance and influences from ungodly and wicked people that will try to lead me on a path away from you. I need to run away from all of these. Why is that? Evil can be very tempting and alluring. It’s better to quickly run away than to hang around and succumb to evil. Yes it is.

A happy and blessed life doesn’t just include running away from evil. No, it does not. That’s why I said you want me to run from evil and then do something else instead. Tell me about what I want you to do instead. You want me to meditate on your word day and night. Yes, I do. What will happen to you as you meditate on my word day and night? Meditating on your word day and night will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, it will. Your word will help me to think your thoughts and do your will. Your word will strengthen me against evil and it’s temptations. Yes, it will. Your word will help me to run from evil even more quickly. Why is that? Your word will help me to more clearly recognize evil in all its many forms. Your word will increase my desire to live my life for you. Yes, it will. In desiring to live my life for you I will not hang around evil to let it entice me. No, you will not.

A happy and blessed life doesn’t just include running from evil and meditating on my word. No, it does not. Your word feeds and sustains me. Your word refreshes my life and makes me alive in you. Your word helps me to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. Yes, it does. Al three of these; running from evil, meditating on your word, and bearing fruit for your kingdom and your glory are what constitute a happy and blessed life. I can think of no greater joy than being changed and transformed by your word and bearing fruit for your kingdom and your glory. That exactly what I want. That is my prayer to you. This is the desire of my heart.  This is what I will give to you.

Lord, I will not walk in the counsel of the wicked. I will not stand around with sinners. I will not sit down with mockers. I will meditate on your word day and night. Feed, sustain and refresh my life by your word so that I can bear and abundance of fruit for you. Amen

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

Life – Psalm 1-1-3 – Meditates Day And Night – 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

Crown Of Life

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - James 1:12 - Crown Of Life - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – James 1:12 – Crown Of Life – Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV)

Trials And Tests

How have you been able to persevere and withstand the trials and tests of life? I’m not sure how to answer that question. Why is that? I’m not sure if I really have persevered and withstood the trials and tests of life. How can you think and say that?  Am I wrong? Yes, you are wrong. You may not have passed all the trials and tests of life in a way that most benefited you. But, you are here right now talking to me. You haven’t run away. You haven’t abandoned your faith. You have held on to me through all the trials and tests that you have faced in life. I could have held on to you a little more tightly. I could have relied on you a little more completely. Yes, that is true. 

What has happened to you as you have taken a hold of my promises? Your promises have sustained and strengthened me. Your promises have given me hope. Your promises have given me joy even in the midst of trials and tests in life. Your promises have helped me to persevere and withstand whatever trail and test that has come my way. Most of all my love for you has grown as I have relied on you and your promises. Do these words of yours sound like someone that has not been persevering and withstanding the trials and tests of life? I guess not. Guess again. No, these are the words of a person who has been sustained and strengthened by you. Yes, that’s right.

Where have I been when you have been in the midst of the trials and tests in life? You have been right there with me in the middle of my trials and tests. It has taken a long time and many trials and tests for me to realize that I have never been alone. Maybe that has been the real test. Say more about that. Maybe my trials and tests have been meant to teach me to trust you. Maybe my trails and tests have been meant for me to rely on your strength. Maybe my trials and tests have been meant to develop my relationship with you. Maybe my trials and tests have been meant to cause me to look to you and the future I will have forever in heaven with you. That’s a lot of maybe, are you really that uncertain? No, I am certain that all my trials and tests have and were meant to accomplish all these purposes.

Do you wish that you wouldn’t have had so many trials and tests in life? That’s a difficult question to answer. Why is that? I have never been a fan of trials and tests. They have been painful for me to endure. But, if I had not gone through so many trials and tests I would trust and rely on you less. If I had not gone through so many trials and tests I wouldn’t know you like I do. If I had not gone through so many trials and tests I would not have my eyes so focused on my life forever in heaven with you. Most of all, if I hadn’t gone through so many trails and tests I might not love you as much as I do. You have been with me to help me through every trail and test in life. Yes, I have been.

Lord, I love you. I know you love me. I am certain that you will help me to persevere and withstand the trials and tests of life. Sustain and strengthen me as I joyfully hold on to you and your promises through trials and tests in life. Amen

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

Life – James 1-12 – Crown Of 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 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