Category Archives: Spiritual Warfare

More Than Conquerors

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Romans 8:37-39 - More Than Conquerors - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Romans 8:37-39 – More Than Conquerors – Growing As Disciples

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)

More Than A Conqueror

I have not always felt like I am more than a conqueror. It has not often seemed like I have been walking in victory. I have faced many depressing and discouraging and defeating circumstances. I have gone through many crushing trials. I have suffered through accusations. I have received condemnation. I have been under attack. Does any of this surprise you? Shouldn’t these things surprise me? You tell me. Your question leads me to think that none of these things should surprise me. Why is that? Well, I do live in a broken world. I live in a world that has been devastatingly damaged by sin. Nothing in this world is quite like you intended it to be when you created it. There is pain and suffering in this world. There is darkness and evil in this world. There is accusation and condemnation in this world. I could go on and on. No need. Your question has helped remind me of the kind of world I live in.  t would be foolish to think that I might be exempt from the pain and suffering that is part of this life. Why is that? You experienced pain and suffering in this life. You were attacked by every evil of this world. Yes, I was. You were not exempt from the worst that this world has to offer. No, I was not.

Do you wonder where I am when you are going through the difficulties of life? I did at one time. I don’t any more. Why is that? I have learned to draw near to you when I am going through the trials of life. I have learned that you are with me to help me. You will lead me through every trial and trouble I will go through. You will bring good out of the worst that life has to offer. There is no difficulty that I will go through that you can’t use to make me to be more like you. You have and will continue to use every darkness in life to make me shine brightly for you. Your love will sustain and strengthen me. Your favor will rest on me. You will make me to be more than a conqueror as I come to rely on you. Yes, I will. Yes, I am. Yes, I have.  

Lord, you have been with me as I have gone through discouraging, and defeating circumstances. In great difficulty, you have been with me to help me. You have strengthened me. You have shown me your love and favor. You have led me into your victory. Amen 

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

Spiritual Warfare – Romans 8-37-39 – More Than Conquerors – 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

Guard Your Hearts And Your Minds

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Philippians 4:4-7 - Guard Your Hearts And Your Minds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Philippians 4:4-7 – Guard Your Hearts And Your Minds – Growing As Disciples

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

Unexplainable Peace

You are a very gifted worrier. That doesn’t sound like a compliment. It’s not. You have the ability to worry about things from every angle. You can see problems long before they will become problems, if they ever will. Do you like to worry? No, not at all, worry stresses me out. Yes, I can see that it does. When would you like to make a commitment to stop worrying? I’d like to make that commitment right now, but I don’t know where or how to begin. Would you like my help? Yes, I would. That’s good because you will never be able to stop worrying by your own efforts.

Let’s start with a question. Go ahead. Who is in charge of your life? What do you mean by that? Who controls your future? Is it you or is it me? I’d like to say that it is you. You’re cautious with that answer. Yes. I am. Why is that? I think that my worrying is a pretty good sign that I think I’m in charge of my life and it’s destiny. Yes, it does. You have a choice. Of what? Who are you going to trust? Are you going to trust me or are you going to trust yourself? I want to place all my trust in you.

Trusting me will require a change in your thinking, attitudes and actions. I’m willing to change. I’m sure that I will need your help to change. Yes, you will. Lets talk about where you will need to change. What would you like to change about my thinking and attitudes? I want you to consider who I am and all that I have done for you. You have been given so much. Yes, I know. I have done so much for you. Yes, you have. What do you think will happen when you think deeply about all the blessings that you have received from me? I think that I will be filled with joy, gladness and thanksgiving. Yes, you will. As you give joy filled thanks and praise to me, what will you become more aware of? I will become more aware of your presence with me. Yes, you will. You will know that I am right by your side and ready to help you. With my help you won’t be tempted to take control and worry about your life.

Before something becomes a worry for you, I want you to do something. What’s that? When you start to have a concern about something I want you to turn that concern into a prayer. Can you do that? Yes, I can. Your past worries have been pretty specific haven’t they? Yes, they have been.  I want your prayers to be even more specific than your past worries have been. Why is that? I want you to know that I am hearing and answering your prayers. I also don’t want you to leave any room for worry. Give all the details to me. Do you know what will happen then? Yes, I think that I do. What’s that? I will have a peace from you that will defy all explanations. Yes, you will because your heart and mind will be guarded in Christ Jesus. For that I am eternally thankful.

Lord, thank you that I can bring to you in prayer anything that causes me anxiety. I know you are with me to help me through every difficulty in life. Thank you for loving-kindness. You give me joy and peace that is unexplainable! Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Philippians 4-4-7 – Guard Your Hearts And Your Minds – 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 Will Recognize Them

Posted on by
Reply

 

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Matthew 7:15-20 - You Will Recognize Them - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Matthew 7:15-20 – You Will Recognize Them – Growing As Disciples

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV) 

Good Fruit 

What does good fruit look like? I’m not sure what you mean by good fruit. That is why we are going to have this conversation. You know that I have said, “apart from me you can do nothing” and that if you want to bear fruit for me you must abide in me. Yes, I member those statements quite well. Have you ever wondered about those statements? How so? Have you ever thought that you have done some good things when you weren’t abiding in me. Yes, I have had that exact thought. I know your thoughts, my asking you about them should not surprise you. Will those good things you have done, without abiding in me, last for all eternity? At the end of time, will those good efforts of yours have made an eternal difference? No, they will amount to nothing, in light of all eternity. So, they are not real and true examples of bearing eternally good fruit are they? No, they are not. You will need to ask yourself a question. What’s that? If your good efforts will not last for all eternity are they really good at all? It is my plan that you will bear fruit that will last for all eternity. If your good efforts have kept you from doing my will, are they truly good? No, they are not. 

You have also done something things that you regret. You have gone and done things that were not pleasing to me. You have done some things that were sinful. What can you call these things that you have done? I can call them bad fruit. Bad fruit will always reveal a life that is not being lived for you. That’s true. What can I call things that appear to be good fruit but really are not of any lasting or eternal value? You tell me. I could call them false fruit. Yes, you could. What type of fruit is most dangerous to you? Both are dangerous. Both are to be avoided. That’s true. But, false fruit that is of no lasting and eternal value seems most dangerous to me. How so? I could waste my entire life doing what will have been of no lasting and eternal value by doing simply what seemed to be good to me. That would be tragic. Yes, it would. 

How do you want to be recognized? I want to be recognized as one of your followers. I want to be recognized as someone who is bearing an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. One day, I want to be able to look back, with you, over my life to see all the fruit that you have enabled me to bear. That is my prayer. That is my hope. That is my desire. This is what I am asking from you. That is what you will have from me. I have been and will be hearing and answering this prayer of yours. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, help me to be on guard against what is true and false and good and bad fruit. Use your word and your Holy Spirit to teach and me what is of you and what is not. May I and your people bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Matthew 7-15-20 – You Will Recognize Them – 4 Page Discipleship Study Devotional 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

Be Like God

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Genesis 3:2-6 - Be Like God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Genesis 3:2-6 – Be Like God – Growing As Disciples

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:2-6 (NIV)

Enticed And Allured

What looks good to you? That is quite a broad question. I’m sure that you know what I have in mind. There is no reason to play dumb with me. I will ask you the same question a little less broadly.  How are you most likely to be enticed by evil and allured into sinning. Don’t think that is an unimportant question. It is a vitally important question. Why is that? You tell me. I do know my own vulnerabilities. I do know when and where and how I am most likely to be enticed and allured into sinning. Only an unthinking fool would not know when and where and why and how they are most likely to be enticed and allured into temptations to sin. Tell me more about that. First of all, I know that enticing and alluring temptations will come through my senses. Something evil may look or sound or feel good. Next, enticing and alluring temptations will try to enter into my heart and mind. Once enticing and alluring temptations have been able to enter into my heart and mind the battle is mostly over. How so? I don’t have the power and strength to hang around temptation. It will never be wise for me to engage in an enticing and alluring conversation with evil. Why is that? It is very unlikely that I will ever be able to walk away from alluring and enticing conversations with evil. Once the conversation and debate has been allowed to grow in my heart and mind I‘m done. I will have been taken captive by evil. I will have given into temptation. I will have entered into sin. Temptation is that powerful? Evil is that enticing and alluring? It is a deadly mistake to think otherwise. That sounds like your voice of experience. It is.

What will you do instead of entering into a conversation with evil? First, I will not knowingly allow myself to be in obviously tempting situations. I won’t go where evil is poised and ready to attack me. Next, I will run away from evil when I see it approaching. I will not give evil one second to check it out. Where will you run? That’s a good question. Why is that? It is simply not enough to run from evil. Evil can run to. Evil can fine me. So, I will run to you. I will run to you, so I can come under your protection. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. As I do, I will resist evil and it will flee from me. Yes, it will. You can be very sure of that. For that, I am very thankful. That is very good.

Lord, I know that if I hang around and engage in a conversation with evil and temptation I won’t win. Something alluring about the temptation will entice and trap me. Instead of hanging around evil, I will run away from it. I will run to you for your protection Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Genesis 3-2-6 – Be Like God – 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

Endure Hardship

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - 2 Timothy 2:3-7 - Endure Hardship - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – 2 Timothy 2:3-7 – Endure Hardship – Growing As Disciples

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs–he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:3-7 

All That You Ask Of Me

What does a good soldier look like to you? A good soldier is well trained. Have I been training you? Yes, you have. What else? A good soldier is strong and determined to complete his mission. He has a singular focus and is not distracted by civilian affairs. His desire is to please his commanding officer by following the orders that he has been given. No amount of adversity or hardship will cause him to withdraw from what he has been called upon to do. He will never give up. How about you? Are you this good soldier? Will you follow me with that kind of determination? Don’t answer me yet. I have more to ask of you.

What does an elite athlete look like to you? An elite athlete has a vigorous and balanced training regime that includes exercise, rest and healthy nutrition. How balanced has your training schedule been as you have followed me? I have had a hard time staying in balance. What do you mean by that? There have been many times when I have over trained and allowed myself to become weary and worn out. That’s where you are right now isn’t it? Yes, I suppose that it is. There have been plenty of other times when I have not trained hard enough. I’ve been pretty lax about my growing, following and serving you. But, not now? No, not now.  Aren’t you missing something that almost all elite athlete’s have? What’s that? Don’t they all have a coach to help guide them in their training? Yes, they do. Who is your coach? You are my coach. Yes, I am. Will you allow me to guide your training as you follow me? Yes, I will. Are you sure? Yes, I am. You won’t try to take control of your own training? No, not anymore. I’ve tried that and it doesn’t work out very well.

What does a diligent farmer look like to you? A diligent farmer labors with great perseverance until he receives a crop. He keeps patiently working until he sees the fruit of his labors. He is patient because he knows that he will reap what he sows in due time. Do you have the patience of a diligent farmer? I’m afraid that I don’t. So often I want more immediate results. It’s hard for me to wait until the time of reaping. Do you believe that one day I will reward you for all the labor that you have done for me in this life?  Yes Lord, I do.

So let me ask you these questions. Go ahead. Will you serve me with the singleness of mind of a good soldier so that you will be able to fight the good fight of faith? Will you allow me to coach and train you so that you will be able to run the race I have laid out for you? Will you persevere as a diligent farmer so that you will be able to reap a rich harvest and enjoy the fruit of your labors? Yes Lord, I will. I know that I can rely on you to help me to be and do all that you are asking of me. Yes, you can.

Lord, it is you that gives me strength to endure hardship. Help me to keep moving forward with you like a focused soldier, a committed athlete and a hard working farmer. I want to live a life bearing an abundance of fruit for you. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – 2 Timothy 2-3-7 – Endure Hardship – 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

Keep On Praying

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Ephesians 6:18-20 - Keep On Praying - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 6:18-20 – Keep On Praying – Growing As Disciples

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:18-20 (NIV)

Alert And Praying 

Are you alert to me? What does that mean? Are you watching? Are you waiting? Are you listening? Are you praying? Are you expecting me to guide you? Do you want me to direct you? Those are all very good questions. You are obviously trying to get my attention right now. Yes, I am. You wouldn’t be asking me these questions if I were intently watching and waiting and listening. No, I would not.

What more do you want me to do? How do you want me to be more intently watching and waiting and listening to you? I am glad that you are asking me that question. I want you pay attention. I want you to be fully alert. I want you to expect that I will speak to you in and through the circumstances of life that are going on all around you. Sharpen your eyes. Incline your ears. Watch and listen intently. Keep your eyes and ears on what is happening all around you as you keep your eyes and ears on me. Expect that I will speak to you. Plan on my guiding you. I will shut doors that I don’t want you to go through. I will open doors of opportunity that I want you to seize with all the power and strength I will give to you. Do not think that you will be able to recognize an open or shut door with your own eyes and ears. You must rely on me. You must ask me to help you to see and hear what I want you to see and hear. You must keep on living in an intimate prayer filled relationship with me. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will.

How might I expect you to speak to me? What can I expect that you will show me? Expect that I will give you opportunities to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Expect that I will give you opportunities to share with others the reason for the hope that you have within you. Expect that I will guard and guide your life so you will be able to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. Expect that my hand will be on you. You will have my favor so you can go and do all that I ask of you. Thank you, Lord.

Holy Spirit, I will be alert and listening to you. Guide and give me the prayers that you want me to pray as I and others go through spiritual battles. Open my mouth so that I will be able to fearlessly declare the gospel to a lost world. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 6-18-20 – Keep On Praying – 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

Opportune Time

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Luke 4:13 - Opportune Time - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Luke 4:13 – Opportune Time – Growing As Disciples

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:13 (NIV)

 Opportune Time

When might there be a weak moment in your life? When would be the most opportune time for the devil to come to attack with evil temptations? Are there people or places or circumstances that you need to avoid? Is there anything for you to be on guard against? I almost don’t know where to begin. Yes, there are people and places and circumstances that I need to avoid. There is a lot for me to be on guard against. Let me hear more about this from you.

When are you weak and most likely to be open to an attack by the devil and all his evil? I am weak when I am worried or worn out. I am weak when I am tired and hungry. I am weak when I am discouraged and depressed. I could be weak after either a discouraging defeat or tremendous success. Anything that depletes me spiritually, emotional or physical could leave me wide open to attack. That’s not all. What else? I would be at my very weakest when I am self-reliant, self-centered, and self-absorbed. Anything that causes me to take my eyes off of you would set me up for failure when the devil and all his evil comes to attack me. That’s true.

What have I given you so that you will be able to stand up against the devil and all his evil attacks? You have given me your word. You have given me your Holy Spirit. What will you do with my word? I will take your word into my heart and mind and life. I will allow your word to dwell in me richly. I will read and study your word. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will pray your word as I put it into practice. I will take a hold of your word so it can take a hold of me. That will be very good.

How will my Holy Spirit use my word in your life? Your Holy Spirit will take your word and use it like a sword to fight in me, with me and for me. Your word will change my heart. Your word will transform my mind. You word will guide my life. That’s true. Your word will keep me out of trouble. Your word will help me to know where I should not go. Your word will help me to know what I should not do. Your word will feed my desire to passionately do what is pleasing to you. Yes, my word will do all these things for you. Will your allow my word and my Holy Spirit to fight in you, with you and for you? Will you allow my word to strengthen you in your weak moments so you will not leave yourself open to attack? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that attacks of temptation and evil will never end in this life. The devil will always be looking for an opportune time, when I am weakest, to launch an attack against me. Help me to rely on your strength so I can stand up against attacks at all times. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Luke 4-13 – Opportune Time – 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

Stand Your Ground

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Ephesians 6:13-14 - Stand Your Ground - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 6:13-14 – Stand Your Ground – Growing As Disciples

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, Ephesians 6:13-14 (NIV)

Stand

That’s exactly what I want to do. What do you want to do? I want to be able to stand my ground. I want to be able to stand against evil. I want to be able resist temptation. How will you be able to do that? Not with my own power and strength, that is for sure. That sounds like the voice of experience. It is. I have failed miserably trying to stand against evil and resist temptation. Why is that? I am weak. I desperately need your help. Yes, you do. Is that what you are asking for? Are you asking me to make you able to stand against evil and resist temptation? Yes, I am. That’s good. I do have a question for you. Go ahead, ask me, I’m listening.

Why do you want to stand against evil and resist temptation? That seems like an odd question, coming for you. Why is that? Don’t you want me to stand against evil and resist temptation? Yes, I most certainly do want you to stand against evil and resist temptation. But, I want to know what you want. That is a good question. Why do you think so? Well, at one time I think my heart and mind were divided. How so? If I were to be honest with you and with myself, I would say that a part of me enjoyed sinning. A part of me did not fully want to stand against evil and resist temptation. For a time it was fun to enjoy sin. It was pleasurable to give into temptation by engaging in evil. What changed your heart and mind? The pleasures of sin are for a very short time. The long term wages of sin is death. Sin and evil and temptation caught up with me. How so? I began to feel the painful sting of sin. A life that keeps on sinning becomes a bruised and battered and broken life. There is no joy in a life of giving into temptation by engaging in evil. No, there is not.  

So, the brokenness of your life is what caused you to completely change your mind about engaging in the short term pleasures of sin? No, I wouldn’t say so. What would you say? I would say that the sting of sin and the death it brought into my life got my attention. What really caused me to want to resist evil and stand against temptation was something else that I wanted. What was that? I wanted to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. You first loved me. I wanted to love you back. I have come to want what you want. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. So, you are asking me to help you to put on my full armor so you can stand against evil and resist temptation, so you can be used by me as my witness in the world. That’s right. That is very good. I will hear and answer your prayer.

Lord, I cannot stand against evil and resist temptation solely with my own power and strength. If I rely solely on myself, I will certainly fail. I need your help. I will put on your full armor. I will rely on you. Make me able to stand against evil and resist temptation. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 6-13-14 – Stand Your Ground – 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

Submit Yourselves, Then, To God

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - James 4:7-10 - Submit Yourselves, Then, To God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – James 4:7-10 – Submit Yourselves, Then, To God – Growing As Disciples

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10 (NIV)

Submit and Resist

Do you want to be able to stand against evil? Do you want to be able to resist temptation? Do those two questions seem silly to even ask you? I think that is a trick question. Why is that? No question that you would ask me could ever be silly. The question may seem silly to me. The question may seem unnecessary to ask. But the question is not silly and not unnecessary to ask. Why is that? First of all, if I want to stand against evil and resist temptation that must be my firm desire. What do you mean by that? If I like doing evil and living in sin, then I will have no hope of standing against evil and resisting temptation. If my heart and mind are divided on the subject of standing against evil and resisting temptation, I will never have victory over them. Isn’t that obvious? Yes, it is, but not to everyone.

Where must you begin if it is your firm desire to stand against evil and resist temptation? Now, that is a very good and important question. It sounds like you are about to speak from the voice of experience. Yes, I am. I will tell you one thing. What’s that? Victory over evil and temptation does not begin with me. My own power and strength and efforts will never give me victory over evil and temptation. That’s true. If I want victory over evil and temptation I must submit myself to you. I must draw near to you. I must seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I must live in an intimate relationship with you. Your love for me and my love for you will make me want to live in victory over evil and temptation. Why is that? As I keep on drawing near to you, I will continually want to do what is pleasing to you. I will want what you want. I will want to live the life that you have called me to live. That’s true. When I am living in an intimate relationship with you standing against evil and resisting temptation will be the desire of my heart and mind and life. Yes, it will. 

What must you do when you see and feel that evil and temptation are attempting to ensnare you? I must run from them. I must run to you. I must keep on submitting to you. I must keep on drawing near to you. I must continue to live in an intimate relationship with you. Then evil will lose its’ power to draw me into temptation and sin. Will you keep on submitting yourself to me? Will you keep on drawing near to me? Will you continue to live in an intimate relationship with me? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will live in the victory I have secured for you. Thank you, Lord.

Heavenly Father, it is my joy and delight to draw near to you. Thank you that you also draw near to me. There is no place that I would rather be than in your presence. I submit myself to you. Guide, guard and protect my life so that the devil must flee from me.  Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – James 4-7-10 – Submit Yourselves, Then, To God – 4 Page Discipleship 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

Meditate On It

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Joshua 1:8-9 - Meditate On It - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Joshua 1:8-9 – Meditate On It – Growing As Disciples

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 (NIV)  

Meditate  

Will you meditate on my word? That is a fairly straight forward and direct question. It requires a simple yes or no answer. Really, that’s it? Well no, that’s not it. Meditating on your word will require far more than a simple yes or no answer. Like what? A yes answer will require a lifetime of action. How so? You are asking me to meditate on your word day and night, are you not? Yes, I am. There will be nothing easy about that. That will require a significant commitment of my time and energy. That will require a concrete plan with actual actions steps. Yes, it will. What do you have in mind? I will set a part a special time and place to meet with you in your word. Without such a commitment, I doubt that I will ever come to meditate on your word. That’s true. What else? I will carry your word with me wherever I go. I will carry your word with me in whatever I do. That will be very good.

What is my word doing for you? I know that your word is changing my heart, transforming my mind and guiding my life. Your word is giving me new thoughts to think, words to speak and deeds to do. Your word is giving me wisdom and courage and strength so that I am able to both know and do your will. Your word is protecting me. How so? Your word is making me able to stand against evil and resist temptation. Yes, it is.

I would like to correct something that I have said. What’s that? I said that there would be nothing easy about meditating on your word. Yes, you did. Were you wrong? In a way, I was wrong. Meditating on your word does take significant discipline and effort. However, it has become my joy to meditate on your word. It is my delight to hear from you. It is has become my passionate and on-fire desire to come to know you. How can I know you apart from your words? How can I come to know you, if I don’t stop to take time to listen to you? How can I go and do your will, if I don’t listen to your instructions? So, here I am right now. I am meditating on your word in our time and place. I will carry your word with me wherever I go and in whatever I do today. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for your word. It is my delight to meditate on your word. I know that your word is changing my heart, transforming my mind and guiding my life. Your word gives me wisdom, courage and strength to do everything you ask me to go and do for you. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Joshua 1-8-9 – Meditate On It – 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