Category Archives: Prayer

What Do You Want Me To Do?

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Mark 10:51-52 - What Do You Want Me To Do?- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Mark 10:51-52 – What Do You Want Me To Do?- Growing As Disciples

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:51-52 (NIV)

Want?

What do you want me to do for you? That’s a good question. I’m not sure what I want you to do for me. How will you be able to ask me for what you want if you don’t even know what you want? I can see the problem. Let me start with what I know I want right now. I want to know you. I want to love, follow, and serve you. I want to live my life passionately for you. I want to be on fire for you. I want to shine brightly for you as your witness in the world. I want to do what pleases you. I want to do the good works that you have prepared in advance for me to do for you. When I say that I don’t know what I want, these things are not in question. I am certain that I want all of these things. That is very good.

Can I ask what you want for me? Yes, you can ask that question. You can ask me any question. My answer won’t surprise you. Why is that? The things that you want are what I want for you. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. If you had everything that you were certain you wanted from me would that be enough for you? Having all that I am certain I want from you would be more than enough for me. I would want or need nothing else. I would be completely satisfied both now and forever. There is something else that I want from you. What’s that? I want you to come to ask me for all that you want and need. Ask me for these things you know you want now. Ask me for all that you will need as you live your life with and for me.

Will you come to ask me for all that you want? Will you ask me specifically for all that you need? Yes Lord, I will come to ask you for all I want and need. What do you want to ask me for right now? I want to ask you to help me to know, love, follow and serve you. I want to ask you to set me on fire for you so I can passionately serve you as a bright and shinning witness in the world. I want to ask you to help me to know and do what pleases you. I want to ask you to make me able to do the good works that you have prepared in advance for me to do for you. I want you to help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Most of all I want to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I am now asking you for all these things. These are all excellent prayers. Do you believe that I will hear and answer all these prayers of yours? Yes Lord, I believe that you will hear and answer all these prayers of mine. That’s very good. I will.

Lord, my prayers have been so general. Sometimes I’m not even sure what I was asking you to do for me. Teach me how to pray by asking you for specifically what I need. When you meet my specific need I will know you have heard and answered my prayer. Amen

Key Question… What are some specific needs you would like to make known to the Lord right now?

Living It Out… Cry out to the Lord in prayer to make your specific needs known to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith to keep on praying for the Lord to meet your specific needs.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group a specific need that you are asking the Lord to meet.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask the Lord for what you specifically want and need from Him.

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

Prayer – Mark-10-51-52 – What Do You Want Me To Do?- 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

Pray To Your Father

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Pray To Your Father - Matthew 6:6 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Pray To Your Father – Matthew 6:6 – Growing As Disciples

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  Matthew 6:6 (NIV)

In Secret

Here I am Father. I have shut the door to my room. There are no distractions. I have closed myself off to all the noise and demands of the world. This time we have together has been carved out of my schedule and set aside for the sole purpose of meeting with you. At first it was a challenge to make this time to be with you a regular practice in my life, but now it’s not at all. Why is that? For a very long time I let all the loudest voices scream for my attention. What do you mean by that? Well, there were voices of duty and my “to do” lists which demanded my attention and were never completed. I foolishly thought I didn’t have time to meet with you. Somehow, I thought that at some point I would get around to meeting with you during the day. But you usually never did. That’s right. What changed for you? I’m not sure exactly. I guess I just got weary and felt very unfruitful in my life. I was getting a lot done. But, I began to wonder how important were all the things that I was getting done. I began to ask myself, “What will all these ‘accomplishments’ add up to in light of eternity? What answer came back to you? The answer was “not much” or maybe even, “next to nothing”. So, out of a sense of futility a desire grew within me to meet privately with you. Where do you think that desire came from? I know now that you gave me this desire to withdraw from the world to a time of being with you in your presence. Yes, it was me. Tell me now how this time with me all began with you. I already know, but I want others to hear your story. 

One day it occurred to me to set aside just a few minutes to meet with you to pray and read your word every day. How did that work out? It worked great. How so? I think you guided me to select a specific time and place that could become sacred for us. When and where was that? It was in my room and just before I went to bed at night. At night, that seems a little odd, doesn’t it? Not really, I knew that nothing would ever compete with this time and place so I dedicated it and myself to meeting with you then and there. What happened then? As you know, we began to meet together every night. Out of this time, my hunger and thirst for you grew like never before. I began to taste your goodness, mercy, and love. I began to understand better your will and what you wanted to do in and through my life. What was that? You wanted to change me into the person that you had planned that I would become. Have I been doing that for you? Yes, you most certainly have. You have also been showing me how you want to use me for your kingdom and glory. I now have a sense of purpose and hope that comes from you. I now know that I am bearing fruit through my life, with your help, that will last for eternity. Do you believe that the promise of secretly meeting with me has come true for you? Have I been rewarding you as you have met with me? Yes, Father, you most certainly have been rewarding me as I have met with you. Now I would not trade our time together for anything else in all of life. It is my joy to be in your presence. Just to know you and love you is reward enough.

Father, I know that you have been waiting for me to come to you in prayer. I have been busy and distracted by many things. Sorry, that I have kept you waiting. I am here now to wait and to listen to all that you have to say to me. Amen

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

Matthew 6-6 – Pray To Your Father – 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                                                               http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Failing To Pray For You

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - 1 Samuel 12:23 - Failing To Pray For You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – 1 Samuel 12:23 – Failing To Pray For You – Growing As Disciples

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 1 Samuel 12:23 (NIV)

Start Praying

Do you want me to teach you how to pray? Do you have a passionate desire to learn how to pray? Will you do what is necessary so that you can learn how to become a person of prayer? What is necessary for me to learn how to become a person of prayer? That is a great question. What do you think is the answer to your question? To learn how to pray I must begin praying. If I want you to teach me how to pray, I will come to meet with you in prayer. That’s right. If I have a passionate desire to learn how to pray I will keep on meeting with you in prayer. My training in prayer will come minute by minute, day by day, month by month and year by year. If I want to become a person of prayer I will never give up. I will never quit. I will keep on moving forward with you. Staying with you in the classroom of prayer will determine if I will ever become a person of prayer. There is no quick and easy way to become a person of prayer. That’s right. 

Do you want to be faithful in prayer? Will you keep on praying the prayers that you have been given to pray? Will you pray until your prayers have been heard and answered? Yes, I want to be faithful in prayer. Yes, I will pray prayers that I have been given to pray. Yes, I will pray prayers until they are heard and answered. Your questions do overwhelm me. I have answered each one of them largely with a heart filled with faith. But, I’ve got to tell you, I have no idea of where to begin. You want to know how to start praying? Yes, I do. That’s a fair question, with an easy answer. Pick a time and a place every day to meet with me in prayer. Does that sound easy enough? Yes, it does. Don’t be fooled. Your hardest challenge, at first, will be to start and then remain faithful to meet daily with me to pray. Do you have a special time and place for us to meet daily in prayer? Yes, I do. How about right here, right now? Will this work for you, day in and day out? Yes, it will. This will be great.

So, what are your first prayers? I want to thank you for inviting me to pray. I want to thank you for being my teacher. I want to thank you for inviting me into your prayer classroom. I want to thank you for giving me prayers to pray. I want to thank you in advance for helping me to be faithful in prayer. I will prayer the prayers you give me to pray. I will keep on praying with the power and strength that you give to me. I will learn all that you want to teach me, as I continue to meet with you in prayer. That will be very good.

Lord, help me to be a person of prayer. Give me the desire to pray. Teach me to pray. Show me who and what to pray for. Help me to never give up in spite of circumstances I might see. Help me to pray through until I have an answer from you. Let’s start now. Amen

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

Prayer – 1 Samuel 12-23 – Failing To Pray For 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.

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

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

Confess Our Sins

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - 1 John 1:8-10 - Confess Our Sins - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – 1 John 1:8-10 – Confess Our Sins – Growing As Disciples

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10 (NIV)

Claim

It will never be my claim that I am not a sinner. Why is that? It is obvious to me and to anyone that knows me that I am a sinner. I don’t think that I am unique in this regard. You are not unique in this regard. It would be a foolish mistake for me to deny or try to hide my sins from you. Why is that? I know that carrying around unconfessed sin will be of no help to me. How will carrying around unconfessed sin harm you? If I fail to confess my sins to you I will remain distant from you. I will not feel comfortable drawing near to you. I will not want to meet with you in your word. I will not want to draw near to you in prayer. Unconfessed sin, in my life, will make me want to hide from you. Yes, it will. I have no desire to hide from you. I want to know you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. That is very good. 

How will you confess your sins to me? I’m not exactly sure how to answer that question. Will you vaguely confess that you are a sinner or will you specifically confess your sins to me? That depends. What does that depend on? If I want some vague idea that you have forgiven my sins and cleansed my unrighteousness then I will vaguely confess my sins to you. Is that what you want? No, not at all. Then what will you do when you know that you have sinned? I will confess my specific sins to you so that I can know that you have forgiven my sins and cleansed my unrighteousness. That will be very good. 

When will you confess your sins to me? Is any time better than another? You tell me. I could confess my sins to you at any time when I become aware of them. That would be good. I could also confess my sins to you at the end of each day. I could ask you to show me if there are any sins that I need to become aware of so that I can confess them to you. That would be every good as well. With both practices, I would never be carrying around unconfessed sin. Is that what you want? Yes, I want to live a life of confessing my sins and receiving your forgiveness and cleansing of my unrighteousness. I don’t want anything to hinder my relationship with you. That will be very good. You have been forgiven, you are forgiven and you will be forgiven of all your sins and cleansed of all your unrighteousness.

Lord, I will not deny or try to hide my sins from you. What an impossible and worthless effort that would be. No, instead I will come to freely confess all my specific sins to you. Thank you, that you will hear my confession and forgive and cleanse me of all my sins. Amen

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

Prayer – 1 John 1-8-10 – Confess Our Sins – 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

Remain In Me

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - John 15:7 - Remain In Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – John 15:7 – Remain In Me – Growing As Disciples

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. John 15:7 (NIV)

Hear And Answer

Would you like to pray prayers that are according to my will and ways? Would you like to pray prayers that I will hear and answer? Yes, I want to pray prayers that are according to your will and ways. Yes, I want to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. How can I know that I am praying prayers that are according to your will and your ways? How will I know if I am praying prayers that you will hear and answer? Those are very good questions. If you remain in me and my words remain in you then you will be able to pray prayers that are according to my will, that I will hear and answer.

Your answer leads me to two more questions. How can I remain in you? How can your words remain in me? I think you know the answer to both of your questions. Tell me what you think. If I want to remain in you I will live in an intimate, vital and connected relationship with you. I will walk with you throughout my life. I will live in constant fellowship with you. My life of prayer will consist of one long dialogue with you. I will listen to your voice. I will treasure your words. I will put into practice all that you teach me. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will live my life fully and completely with and for you. That’s right.

How will you make sure that my words are abiding in you? How will you make sure that you are living in an intimate and vital relationship with me? I will set aside a time and a place to meet with you every day so that I can hear from you. I will withdraw from the busyness and noise of life so that I can meet with you in your word. I will hide your word in my heart. I will allow your word to change the thoughts of my mind and the prayers of my heart. In every way, I will allow your word to guide and guide my life. I know that you will give me your thoughts to think. I know that you will give me prayers to pray. You will teach me to pray according to your will and ways. You will guide me to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. Yes, I will.

Lord, I will remain in you and allow your words to remain in me. Use your word to guide the thoughts of my mind and the prayers of my heart. Help me to pray prayers that are according to your will so that they can be heard and answered. Amen 

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

Prayer – John 15-7 – Remain In Me – 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

All Those In Authority

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - 1 Timothy 2:1-4 - All Those In Authority - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – All Those In Authority – Growing As Disciples

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)

First Of All

Those are three words that I want you to think about. What’s that? I want you to think about what is of first importance. I want you to think about what is worthy of being a priority in your life. I want you to consider what is of utmost importance. I want you to decide what you place “first of all” in your life. Do you know why I want you to think these thoughts? I need to prioritize what is most important in my life. If I don’t establish priorities, then I will most likely misspend my life on what is not a priority. Why is that? Life gets busy. Life is hectic. Life is full of demands that could pull me in a hundred different directions. Others might have a thousand different priorities that they would like to establish for my life. If I don’t establish priorities for my life, then others certainly will try to establish them for me. That’s right.

What do you want to be the priority of your life? I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to live my life in constant dialogue with you. I want to talk to you about everything. I want to pray prayers that you have given me to pray. I want to pray prayers that are pleasing to you. I want to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. I want to pray prayers that will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Those are very good desires. What will you do to live out those desires. I will establish prayer, “first of all”, as the priority of my life. That will be very good.

Do you have a prayer that you would like to pray right now? I would like to ask you to teach me how to pray. Teach me how to pray prayers of supplication. Teach me how to pray prayers of intercession. Teach me how to pray prayers of thanksgiving. Show me how I can pray for the leaders you have placed over my life. Help me to live a quiet, godly and holy life that is pleasing to you. Help me to pray prayers so that others will come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. Those are the prayers that I want to pray right now. Those are prayers that I will hear and answer.

Lord, I have had different priorities in my life. Help me now, to make a life of prayer, the priority of my life. I am thankful for what you are already doing in me. But, fan the flame of desire in me to come and pray to you. Teach me how to faithfully pray for others. Amen

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

Prayer – 1 Timothy 2-1-4 – All Those In Authority – 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

His Harvest Field

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Study - Prayer - Matthew 9:37-38- His Harvest Field- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – Prayer – Matthew 9:37-38- His Harvest Field- Growing As Disciples

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV) 

Workers

You have heard my call. You have answered my request. You have gone to where I have sent you. You are doing what I have asked of you. Yes, I have heard your call and answered your request. I have gone where you have sent me and I am doing what you have asked of me. Have I asked too much of you? Do you resent the fact that I have asked you to go and do something for me? You have not asked too much of me. In no way do I resent that you have asked me to go and do something for you. Just the opposite is true. I am so very thankful that you have called me into your service. It is my joy to be a laborer in your harvest field. That is what I thought. That is what, I am glad to hear you say. 

You have been weary. You have been worn out. Those are not questions. Those are statements. Yes, I have been weary and worn out. There is a lot of work to do in your harvest field. The need is great. The workers are few. That is true. Do you think I want you to work all the harder because the need is great and the workers are few? Do you think that I want you to work yourself weary and run yourself ragged in my harvest field? I don’t think so. Why is that? I am not a very good witness for you when I am weary and worn out. That is right. What else? You want me to rely on you for all the work I do in your harvest field. Keep going. Praying is a large part of the work that you have given me to do for you. All my work for you, no matter what it is, is meant to be accompanied with prayer. My prayers, asking for your help, is how I will be relying on you. That’s good. You don’t want me to work harder, you want me to rely on you more, as I pray to you. That’s true. So, what will you pray for when there are not enough workers in the harvest field? I will ask you to send out more workers in your harvest. Will you do that instead of working harder? Will you do that instead of relying on yourself? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. That will be a prayer that I will hear and answer.

Lord, help me to see clearly the harvest field that you have called me to labor in for you. Give me a heart of love and compassion for the lost. Help me to rely on you in prayer for more laborers to work in the harvest field with me. Use us Lord for your glory. Amen

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

Prayer – Matthew 9-37-38 – His Harvest Field – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

A Discerning Heart

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - 1 Kings 3:7-9 - A Discerning Heart - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – 1 Kings 3:7-9 – A Discerning Heart – Growing As Disciples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:7-9 (NIV)

My Help 

What do you want from me? What would you like to ask of me? What do you think you need? How can I help you? I am so glad that you are asking me these questions. Why is that? The task that you have given me to do for you is overwhelming. I will start by saying that I am so glad that you have called me into your service. I couldn’t be more pleased to be given something significant to do for you. It is the desire of my heart to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I will give you every ounce of my effort to do all that you are asking of me. I am completely at your disposal. I also know that I can’t possible do what you are asking of me without your help. If I tried to serve you with my own efforts alone, I would fail miserably. Yes, you would. I am very pleased that you know that you cannot serve me with only your own efforts. You know that you desperately need my help. Why do you think I have given you such a large assignment? You have given me such a large assignment so that I will know for sure that I must rely on you for your help. You want me to pray for your help every step of the way as I serve you. Yes, I do. That’s right. Can you think of any other reason why I might have given you such a large assignment? I have told you that I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. Bearing an abundance of fruit requires a large assignment. A small assignment would bear a small amount of fruit. Your giving me a large assignment is an answer to my prayers. Yes, it is. Can you think of any other reasons why I might have given you such a large assignment? You want me to know for sure that you are working in and through my life. You want me to know that you are using me to bring glory to your name. That is also correct. Can you think of one more reason why you have been given a large assignment that is beyond your abilities? You want everyone to know that it is you who has been working in and through my life. You want me to be a bold and bright witness for you in this world. Only you can help me to do what I cannot do. That’s right. Others will be drawn to you as they see that you are working in and through my life. You will receive all the glory as you work in and through me. Yes, I will. Will you rely on me completely as I work in and through your life? Will you continually ask for my help? Yes, Lord, I will. 

Lord, thank you for rescuing me from my old way of life. You have given me a new heart and mind. It is now my joy to love and follow and serve you. I ask for your wisdom and power and all that I will need to faithfully and fruitfully serve you. Amen

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

Prayer – 1 Kings 3-7-9 – A Discerning Heart – 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

For Those Who Persecute You

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- Prayer - Matthew 5:43-44 - For Those Who Persecute You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Matthew 5:43-44 – For Those Who Persecute You – Growing As Disciples

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV)

Enemies

If you had asked me, I would have said that I did not have any enemies. It certainly is my goal to not have any enemies. I don’t want to regard anyone as my enemy. I don’t want to harbor anything against anyone. I want to love everyone. I want to serve everyone. I want to pray for everyone. Those are all good desires. Do you know that I also had all those desires in my heart? I am certain of that it was your desire to love, serve and pray for all your enemies. That’s right. But, what makes you so certain that I wanted to love, serve and pray for all my enemies? Beyond, what you have said in your word? Yes, beyond what you can read in my word. The desires of my heart come from you. It is only because I have drawn near to you and as I am coming to know you, that these thoughts have become the desires of my heart. Prior to coming to know you, I was certain that I had enemies. Prior to coming to know you, I wanted to get revenge against every one of my enemies. I hated my enemies. I wanted to pay each one of them back with the same evil that they committed against me. You can be sure, that in those days, I kept a close score and a precise recall of everyone who had harmed and hurt me. That’s not good. I know.

I did have enemies, you know that? Yes, I know that you had many enemies. At times, it must have seemed like the whole world was against you. Yes, it did. Why do you think I had enemies? You were in this world. You were not of this world. You lived a righteous life in an evil world. Evil hates good. Darkness hates light. Lies hate the truth. The world is everything you were not. The world rejected you, your words and your deeds. Yes, it did. As you become more and more like me, do not be surprised when the world hates and rejects you. Don’t wonder how or why you could possibly have any enemies. I won’t. 

What will you do when you recognize that you do have enemies? I will do what you did. What did I do? You loved your enemies. You went out of your way to serve your enemies. You prayed for your enemies. You laid down your life for your enemies. You made it so your enemies could one day come to you, to be your friends and followers. Yes, I did. I was once one of your enemies. Yes, you were. You loved and prayed for me, so I could come to you. Yes, I did. I will love and pray for my enemies, so that they can also, one day, come to you. That will be very good.

Lord, I didn’t think I had any enemies. Now, I know that I have enemies. Help me to know how to love my enemies. Show me how I can pray for my enemies. Help me to be your witness in the world. Help me turn my enemies into your and my close friends. Amen

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

Prayer – Matthew 5-43-44 – For Those Who Persecute 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

Wrong Motives

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - James 4:1-3 - Wrong Motives - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – James 4:1-3 – Wrong Motives – Growing As Disciples

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 (NIV)

Motive

I know that I have had plenty of wrong desires. I have wanted something that I did not get. I have often coveted what I could not have. I know that my wrong desires have created conflict within me. I have been discontent. I have been discouraged and disappointed. I have been upset and angry. I have not given thanks to you for all the good things you have given to me. I have been ungrateful. Forgive me. You are forgiven, you know that. Yes, I do. I am thankful for your forgiveness of all my sin. I am grateful for your cleansing of all my unrighteousness. That’s good.

How have your wrong desires motivated your prayers? I have prayed for the wrong things. Like what? I have asked for everything I wanted. I have prayed for everything that would bring comfort and pleasure to my life. I have asked that every burden would be lifted and every inconvenience would be removed. I have asked for smooth and happy sailing every day of my life. My prayers have revolved around me. I am tired and weary praying for me and my wants and needs and desires. It is not wrong to pray for your wants and needs and desires. It is my delight to meet your needs and wants and desires. Yes, I know. You have richly blessed my life. But, I want to pray prayers that will make a difference in the world. How so? I want to pray prayers that come from you. I want to know your will. I want to walk in your ways. I want to do what is pleasing to you. I want to ask for what you want. What do you want me to pray for? That is a very good question. Yes, I want that question to dwell richly in my heart and mind and life. Keep on coming to me. Keep on asking me that question. I will guide your motives and give you prayers to pray. Your prayers will make a difference in the world. Do you know why that is? I’m not positive. I will give you prayers to pray that I will hear and answer. I will give you prayers to pray that will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. That is what I want. That is my desire. That is the motive of my heart and mind and life. Yes, I know. That is very good.

Lord, I want to pray according to your will. I want to have right desires within me. I don’t want to covet what I can’t have. Help me to pray according to your will. Help me to ask for what you want to give to me. Help me to pray prayers you will hear and answer. Amen

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

Prayer – James 4-1-3 – Wrong Motives – 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