Category Archives: The Mind

All Things Are Pure

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Titus 1:15-16 - All Things Are Pure - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Titus 1:15-16 – All Things Are Pure – Growing As Disciples

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:15-16 (NIV) 

Influences 

Be careful about the influences you allow into your life. What do you mean by that? I’m sure that you have a very good idea about the meaning of my question.  I would like to hear your thoughts about what influences you are allowing into your life. Do you think I have a lot to say on that subject? Yes, I do. I want to hear and you need to hear what you have to say on this subject. At one time, there was no guard over the influences that I allowed to come into my life. I allowed anything and everything from the world to speak into my life. I equally accepted the good and the bad. I was willing to listen to everything the world had to say to me. My life was shaped by both the good and the bad that I took into my life. Unfortunately, the world spoke far more of its corruption and impurity into my life. On top of that, the world has a habit of elevating what is corrupt and impure while it also ridicules what is good and right and pure. So, as I was following the values, patterns and practices of the world I was becoming more and more corrupt as I allowed the world to mold and shape my life. My heart and mind and life were becoming more and more corrupt as I followed the ways of the world. I approved of what was evil. I ridiculed and mocked all that was good and right and pure. That’s not good. No, it is not.

What happened to you? How did you change your course? How did you turn away from the evil influences of the world?The impure and corrupt life I was living left me bruised and battered. I began to suffer the consequences of my self-centered, self-indulgent and self-sufficient life. I hurt others and others hurt me. I felt weary, worn out, empty and hopeless. That is when I cried out to you. I asked you to come into my life. I asked you to change the course of my life. I’m sure that I am incorrectly expressing what happened. Why is that? I know that you were pursuing me. I know that you were seeking me out. I know that you were calling me to come to you. I deserve no credit for crying out to you. It was you that brought me to yourself. Yes, I did. 

What about now? How are you guarding the influences that come into your life? I am separating myself from what is corrupt and impure. I am very careful about what I allow to speak into my life. As I have left my old life behind I am allowing you to change my heart and transform my mind with your word. I am allowing you to mold and shape my life as I love, follow and serve you in the new life that you have given me to live. That is very good. Now, you are using me to be an influence for what is good and right and pure. You are using me to speak what is good and right and true into the lives of others. Yes, I am. 

Lord, at one time all my thoughts, words, and actions were corrupt and impure. Thank you that you are purifying my thoughts, words and actions as I follow and serve you. May all I think, say and do be a testimony that brings glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… What new perspectives has God given you regarding people and situations you encounter in life?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to purify all your thoughts, words and actions as you follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will change your thoughts, words and actions from impure to pure as you follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God is changing your thoughts, words, and actions.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to change your thoughts, words and actions as you follow and serve Him.

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

The Mind – Titus 1-15-16 – All Things Are Pure – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Mind Stayed On You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Isaiah 26:3 - Mind Stayed On You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Isaiah 26:3 – Mind Stayed On You – Growing As Disciples

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Perfect Peace

Do you know why you worry? I have a lot to worry about? No, that’s not it. That’s not the correct answer. Try again. I worry because I think that I am in control. I think that by worrying about something I can devote my thinking to it and solve my problem so that I will have no need to worry. That’s a much better answer. That answer is much closer to the truth. Has worrying helped you to solve a lot of your problems? No, not really. Maybe, worrying is one of your bigger problems. I think that worry is one of my biggest problems. You have a bigger problem than worry. You have a big problem that is the source of all your worries. I can’t even begin to guess what you are trying to tell me. I will help you to know what I am trying to tell you. That would be great. When you are worrying, who is in control of your life? When I am worrying, I am in control of my life or at least that’s what I think. Why do you think that you are in control? That’s a good question. I’m not really in control. I want to be in control. Why do you want to be in control? What makes you think that you are in control when you really are not in control? I think that I’m beginning to get what you are trying to tell me. Tell me what you are thinking. My pride makes me think that I am in control. My pride makes me want to be in control. My pride tells me that I should be in control. What does your pride lead you to do? My pride leads me to worry. That’s right. You got it. Great, I’ve got a lot of worry. We’re not done yet.  

Would you like to have my perfect peace instead of your worry? Yes, I would. If you want to have my perfect peace what must you do? I must give up on the idea that I am in control. I must let go of my pride and relinquish control of my life over to you. Instead of focusing my mind on my problems I must turn my thoughts to you. You will fill me with your perfect peace. Yes, I will. You will take care of me. Yes, I will. You are in control and I am not. Yes, I am. I can turn all my problems over to you. Yes, you can.

Lord, instead of allowing myself to be filled with worry and anxiety I am going to trust you. I will turn what worries me and causes me to be anxious over to you. You are my everlasting rock that I can trust now and forever. Amen

Key Question… When have you been able to turn your worries and anxieties over to the Lord?

Living It Out… Keep your thoughts on God instead of on your difficulties so that you will have His perfect peace.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you will have perfect peace that comes from God as you keep your thoughts on Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how keeping your thoughts on God has given you His perfect peace.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you set your mind on the Lord and the life He has for you so you can live in His peace.

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

The Mind -Isaiah 26-3 – Mind Stayed On You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Aim For Perfection

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 2 Corinthians 13:11 - Aim For Perfection - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 2 Corinthians 13:11 – Aim For Perfection – Growing As Disciples

Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

Aim 

What is your aim in life? What goal would you like to complete? What mission must you accomplish for you to consider your life to be a success? Fulfilling what purpose would give your life meaning? These are very important questions for me to consider. If I do not carefully consider these questions I might end up living an aimless life that would be without a goal to complete or a mission to accomplish. Without answering these questions, I might live a life without meaning and purpose. If I don’t take time to answer these questions I would have no way to evaluate if I am making any real progress in life. That’s right. Your answers to these questions will alter your course in life. Your answers to these questions will give you an aim, goal, purpose and mission in life.  

Do you have any answers to these questions? Yes, I do. My aim in life is to know and love you. There is nothing more that I want in life than to know and love you. Knowing and loving you will change me. If I come to know and love you, I will become like you. I will think like you think. I will do what you did. I will speak like you spoke. There is nothing about my life that will not be changed and transformed by knowing and loving you. Knowing you will change my heart. Knowing you will transform my mind. All my thoughts, words, and deeds will be completely different because I will have known and loved you. If I know and love you I will be able to know your will. If I know and love you I will be able to walk in your ways. If I know and love you my life will be filled with hope and meaning and purpose. I will want to go where you guide me. I will want to do all that you ask of me. I will not live my life for myself. I will live my life for you. I will live my life for others. Knowing and loving you will form every one of my thoughts. Knowing and loving you will guide every one of my words. Knowing and loving you will direct every one of my deeds. Knowing and loving you will make me into the person you have designed me to be. If I have known and loved you, I will become mature and complete in you. This is what I want. This is my aim. That is my goal. This is my mission in life. Knowing and loving you is my hope that gives me meaning and purpose in life. That is very good. You have answered my questions well. You will have what you desire as you love, follow and serve me.

Lord, it is my desire and aim to grow into complete maturity as your follower. I know that I have fallen far short of that goal. Holy Spirit, give me the strength and power to think, act and live in accordance with God’s word and will. Amen

Key Question… What efforts are you making to grow mature and complete in Jesus Christ?

Living It Out… Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to grow mature in Christ for the glory of God.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will help you to grow mature in Christ and experience His peace as you trust and obey Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to grow mature and complete in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you make it your aim to grow mature and complete in Jesus Christ.

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

The Mind – 2 Corinthians 13-11 – Aim For Perfection – 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

Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Proverbs 3:5-6 - Lean Not In Your Own Understanding - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Proverbs 3:5-6 – Lean Not In Your Own Understanding – Growing As Disciples

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Give Up

You have walked a path that has been filled with twists and turns and ups and downs. You have bounced from one thing to another. You have gone one-way and then another. You have gone forward and backward. There has been nothing straight about your path. No wonder you have been weary and worn out. No wonder you have been bruised and battered and broken by life. Why has your path led you to wander from one thing to another from one day to another? I have been relying on my own understanding. I have been doing what has seemed right to me. I have been doing my best to live my life in ways that I had hoped would be good and right. I have made mistakes. I have made bad choices. I have hung out with the wrong crowd. I have accepted bad advice. I have gone down dark and dreary paths that led nowhere to nothing good. I have had enough. I am fed up with my life. I want something more. I want something different. I want something else. I want something far better than what I have had in my life up to this point. I feel like I’m stuck. I don’t know where to turn. I don’t know where to go. I don’t know what to do. My own understanding has failed me miserably. I need help. I need help right now. Are you asking me for my help? Yes, I am asking you for your help. Are you ready to give up? Yes, I’m almost ready to give up. I will come back later when you are really ready to give up. What do you mean by that? Do you want me to give up? Yes, I want you to give up. I want you to give up on your own understanding. I want you to give up control of your life. I want you to give up and walk away from the crooked, dark and dreary path you have been on. As long as you are not ready to give up on your old life you are not ready to turn your life over to me. No, I’m ready to give up on my old life. I ready to give up on my own understanding.  I’m ready to turn my life over to you. I want to follow you. I want you to lead and guide my life. Forgive me of all my sins. Cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. Make me new and clean in you. You be the Savior and Lord of my life. Lead me on the path that you have laid out for me. I will follow you. I’m giving up. I am giving all of me to you right now. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, my path has had many twists and turns and that I wish I had not taken as I relied on my own understanding. I want to make a change of leadership. You are now in charge. I will trust you with all my heart as I follow you. Amen

Key Question… When has relying on your own understanding led you down the wrong path into difficult circumstances?

Living It Out… Trust in the Lord with all your heart and mind so that He can guide the course of your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will guide the course of your life, as you trust in Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are trusting in the Lord to guide the course of your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you trust in the Lord with all your heart so He can guide the course of your life.

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

The Mind – Proverbs 3-5-6 – Lean Not On Your Own Understanding – 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

Minds For Action

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 1 Peter 1:13 - Minds For Action - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 1 Peter 1:13 – Minds For Action – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

 Prepare Your Mind

Prepare your mind for action. That’s quite a thought. How will you prepare your mind for action? How will you prepare your mind so you will be able to go where I guide you to do what I ask of you? What will help you to hear my voice? What will help you to answer my call? What will make you unprepared and not ready to take on an assignment from me? I need to set my mind on you. I need to set my mind on loving, following and serving you. If my mind is focused on you and all the hope that I have in you I will be prepared and ready to go wherever you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. That’s right.

What might distract you from setting your mind on me? What will make it hard for you to hear my voice? What will prevent you from answering my call? I need to be very careful about what I allow my mind to think. I need to be very cautious about where I go and what I do in life. How so? The world and all that is in it is clamoring for my attention. It would be easy for me to become distracted by the allure of all that is in the world. Why is that? The world shouts for my attention. The world and all its evil offer powerful and sinful enticements. Every day I will be faced with a choice. What choice is that? Will I listen to the appeals from the world? Will I chase after all that it offers. Will I pursue all the comfort and pleasure of the world? Will I get lost in all its noise and busyness? Will I allow my life to become a frantic pursuit of more? Will I be led to pursue the latest and greatest thing that the world tells me I must have if I want to be happy? All those questions are part of one choice. Will I follow the world? Following the world will make me unprepared, unwilling and unready to follow you. I will not be prepared for action. I certainly will not have a heart and mind and life that are ready to follow and serve you. No, in this case you would not. But, this is not your choice. No, this is not my choice. My choice is to listen attentively to you. My choice is to draw near to you. I want to hear your voice. I want to answer your call. I will be watching and waiting and listening for you to speak to me. My mind will be ready for action so I will be able to go wherever you guide me to do whatever you ask of me. Yes, it will.

Lord, I will guard my thoughts. I will not allow my mind to be conformed to the evil that is in this world. I will set my thoughts fully on the hope that I have in you. Help me to be self-controlled. Prepare my mind for the action you want me to take. Amen

Key Question… Why is it foolish to set your hope on anything other than the grace that you have in Jesus Christ?

Living It Out… Guard your thoughts and allow the Lord to prepare your mind for action as you place all your hope in Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will guide your thoughts and prepare your mind for the action He wants you to take.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped your mind to be prepared and ready for action.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you set your thoughts fully on the hope you have in Jesus Christ so your mind will be prepared for action.

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

The Mind – 1 Peter 1-13 – Minds For Action – 4 Pages 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

Think About Such Things

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Think About Such Things - Philippians 4:8-9 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Think About Such Things – Philippians 4:8-9 – Growing As Disciples

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

Fix Your Thoughts

What do you think about? I think about a lot of things. Are there thoughts that you wish you would not think? Yes, there are quite a few thoughts that I wish I would not think. Like what? You know. Yes, I do but I would like you to tell me. Sometimes I have thoughts of fear and doubt. Sometimes I have thoughts of worry and rejection. Do you like thinking these thoughts? No, not at all. Do you know that you have the ability to choose what you will think about? It doesn’t seem like it. These thoughts just seem to pop into my head. I didn’t invite them into my mind. It is like they barge in without invitation. I know that it seems like you have no control over the thoughts of your mind but you really do. How is that?

Each day you make a multitude of decisions of what you want to think about. If your mind is weak you really have no control over what you’ll think about. But, you can train your mind.   Your mind can be strengthened. Just as your body can grow stronger by lifting weights so also your mind can be strengthened by what you think deeply about. But you will have to begin to make choices about what you subject your mind to. How do I do that? Think for a minute about all that you allow yourself to see and hear. Is all of it helpful? No, not at all. How many unhelpful, unhealthy and sinful things are you allowing yourself to hear and see? Quite a bit I guess. Those go directly into your mind and become your thoughts. Your thoughts become who you are and determine how you will live and act. Can you see how important it is to place a guard on what you think about? Yes, I can now.

I want you to do two things. What is that? First, cut it out. Cut out what? Cut out of your life all the sources of unhelpful, unhealthy and sinful material that is feeding your mind. If you have any confusion about what these might be, just ask me. Usually if you have to ask, you will have your answer even before you ask. But I don’t mind you asking me one bit. What else? This is the most important part. Without this second part, you will not be successful. So pay careful attention. Get ready to grab a hold of this thought. I’m ready. I want you to fill your mind with my word. I want you to take it in and meditate on it on a daily basis. Meditating on my word will be like weight lifting for your mind. My word will strengthen and transform your mind. This will be a process that will start now and continue throughout your entire life. So don’t expect immediate results. But don’t give up. Sooner than you can imagine, my word and my thoughts will change not only your thoughts but also the way that you live and act. In no time at all, people will begin to notice that you are a different person. You may be the last one to realize how much I have transformed your mind and changed your heart. But, a day will come when you will realize that many of the battles you once had in your mind are gone. Why is that? My word will have so filled and strengthened your mind that your thoughts are fixed on me and the life I want you to live. How does that sound? It sounds great. Are you ready to begin? Yes Lord, I am.

Lord, change my heart and transform my mind by your word. Help me to think and act according to your will. Train me to put into practice all I have heard, learned and received from you so that I will be able to live in your peace. Amen

Key Question… What feeds ungodly thoughts and how can you eliminate them from your life?

Living It Out…Allow God’s word to fill your heart and mind so that you will be able to put into practice all that He shows you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will have God’s peace as you think and act according to His will.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how thinking and acting according to God’s will has brought you peace.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you think excellent, pure and praiseworthy thoughts so you can do God’s will and live in His peace.

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

The Mind – Philippians 4-8-9 – Think About Such Things – 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

Double Minded Man

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - James 1:6-8 - Double Minded Man - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – James 1:6-8 – Double Minded Man – Growing As Disciples

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:6-8 (NIV)

Ask For More

It does no good to pray prayers filled with doubt. Why would you even bother praying to me if you did not believe that I would hear and answer your prayers? That’s a good question. There is the opposite side of that question. What’s that? If you believe that I will hear and answer your prayers why don’t you come and ask me for more? You want me to ask you for more than I am already asking of you? Do you think that you have been asking for a lot from me? That’s what I thought. Isn’t that something? You think you are asking for a lot from me. I think you are asking for very little from me. Who do you suppose is right? There is no chance that I am right. If you say that I am asking for very little from you then that has to be right. Why do you suppose you haven’t been asking me for more? That’s a good question.

I know that my prayer life is weak and not very well developed. I’ll start right there. I want you to enroll me in your school of prayer. I want you to teach me how to pray. I want you to guide my prayers. I want your help to know how to pray. I want to be able to pray powerful and effective prayers that bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be able to pray faith filled prayers that you hear and powerfully answer. I want you to fully develop a prayer life within me. I want to be able to hear your voice. I want you to be able to hear my voice. I don’t want anything to stand in the way. I don’t want anything to come between us. I don’t want anything to hinder my prayer life with you. I want to continually live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I want to know you. I don’t want to sort of know you. I want to really know you. I want to do your will. I don’t want to sort of do your will. I want to fully do your will. That’s very good.

Lets talk about being double minded. I’m listening. I don’t want any of that. I want to be fully devoted to you. I want to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I don’t want to hold anything in reserve. I don’t want to ever retreat. I don’t want to live with any regrets. There is one thing I know for certain. What’s that? I will need your help. You can make me faithful. You can help me to walk intimately with you. You can keep me on track. Yes, I can.

There is another thing I want to ask from you. What’s that? I want my faith to be strong. I don’t want to have a weak and wimpy faith. I want to have a giant amount of faith in you. I want to be able to do whatever you ask of me. There is one more thing. What’s that? I do believe that you will hear and answer these prayers of mine. I have no doubts. I have no questions. I will also start asking for more from you. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that you hear and answer prayer. I believe that you will hear and answer my prayers. Help me to keep on coming to you to pray for all that I need from you. I will be patient and persistent in my prayers. I will believe and not doubt, as I trust you. Amen

Key Question… What can you expect to receive from the Lord when you prayers that are filled with doubt?

Living It Out…  Pray faith filled prayers to the Lord asking all that you need from Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you can ask and receive from God all that you need from Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group answers to prayer that you have received from the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you pray faith filled prayers to the Lord to ask for all that you need from Him.

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

The Mind – James 1-6-8 – Double Minded Man – 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

Have This Mind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Mind - Philippians 2:5-7 - Have This Mind - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Mind – Philippians 2:5-7 – Have This Mind – Growing As Disciples

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.          Philippians 2:5-7 (ESV)

Your Rights

What rights do you have? Do you have a right to be treated with honor and dignity? Do you have a right to be treated with courtesy and respect? Are you someone special that others should notice and hold in high regard? Should everyone take note of what you desire and make every effort to meet your every need and want so you can be made completely comfortable? I’m not sure that I like this line of questioning. Why is that? It would be quite embarrassing to admit that I have ever held any of these kinds of thoughts in my mind. Do you think that these are some of your deep dark secret thoughts that no one would ever be able to guess that you have held in your mind? That sound like a sarcastic question to me. It might have been. So, my own pride has not been very well hidden has it? Only one person has been completely unaware of your pride. I’m guessing that one person is me. You got that right.

I don’t want to be filled with pride. I don’t want the world to revolve around me. I don’t want to live for my own comfort and pleasure. I don’t want my thoughts to center on my needs and desires. What do you want? I want to be like you. How so? You gave up all your rights. You had the right to be worshipped. You had the right to be honored. You had the right to be served. You never asserted your rights. You never demanded respect. You didn’t live to be the center of attention. Instead of demanding to be served you chose to give yourself fully to serving the needs of others. You emptied yourself of all your rights and took on the form of a servant. Yes, I did. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, that’s what I want.

What are you willing to do? Where are you willing to go? How can I use you to serve others? I am willing to do whatever you ask of me. I am willing to go wherever you send me. My life is in your hands. I am completely at your disposal. I want to be used by you. I want your love to flow through me in service to others. I want others to be drawn to you because of what they see of you in me. Go ahead, you can use my life however you desire. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that.

Lord, in theory I have been ready to lay down my rights so that I can love and serve others. Accepting a theory is easy. Help me to actually show your love to others by serving them in very specific ways. Make this real in my life. Amen

Key Question…  How is Jesus Christ your model for the attitude you want to have toward serving others in life?

Living It Out…  Ask the Lord to show you very specific ways that you can love and serve others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to lay down your rights so you can be His servant to serve others in this world.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has led you to show His love to others by serving them.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you have the same attitude of Christ by allowing Him to use you as His servant in the world.

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

The Mind – Philippians 2-5-7 – Have This Mind – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Renewing Your Mind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Romans 12:1-2 - Renewing Of Your Mind- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Romans 12:1-2 – Renewing Of Your Mind- Growing As Disciples

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Conformed Or Transformed

Let’s talk about your mind. I’m listening. Your mind is a battleground. How so? All that you think, say and do in life will be guided by your mind. There is not one thing that you have thought, said or done that hasn’t started in your mind. Your mind is being bombarded daily by all that is in the world. The world is continually trying to conform your heart, and mind and life according to its patterns and practices. If you do nothing at all you will think and speak and act like all those who are in the world. You will think worldly thoughts. You will speak worldly words. You will live a worldly life. None of this kind of living is pleasing to me. None of this kind of living is according to my will and my ways. This kind of thinking, speaking and living is the way of the world. I don’t want to live my life according to the patterns and practices of this world. I want to know and do your will. I want to live in ways that are pleasing to you. That’s good.

If you want to know and do my will then you must know my thoughts. How can I know your thoughts? You must meet with me in my word. My word will change your heart and transform your mind. You must meditate on my word day and night. You must let my word dwell in you richly. Instead of letting the world conform you, you must allow my word to transform you. My word will change the way that you think, speak and act. My word will make you able to know and do my will. My word will make you able to live in ways that are pleasing to me. That’s what I want. That is the desire of my heart.

How often do you think it would be good to meet with me in my word? How often do you want to grow in your knowing my will and walking in my ways? How often do you want to be made able to live in ways that are pleasing to me? How often is the world trying to conform you to according to its patterns and practices? There is one word that answers all of these questions. I want to meet with you in your word everyday. I want your word to be working in my heart and on my mind every day. That will be very good.

Lord, for so long my heart and mind were in the grip of this world as I was being conformed to its patterns, values, and practices. Thank you, for changing my heart and transforming mind by your word so I can know you and do your will. Amen

Key Question…  How has God used His word to transform your mind so you could know Him and do His will?

Living It Out…  Allow God’s word to transform your mind so you will be able to know Him and do His will.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will use His word to transform your mind so you will be able to know Him and do His will.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God is helping you to both know Him and do His will.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to change your heart and transform your mind so you can know Him and do His will.

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

The Mind – Romans 12-1-2 – Renewing Of Your Mind – 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

Search Me, O God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Psalm 139:23-24 - Search Me, Oh God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Psalm 139:23-24 – Search Me, Oh God – Growing As Disciples

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Change Me

You know me. There is nothing that I have thought, said or done that is a secret to you. You know me from the inside out. Nothing about me has escaped your notice. You know me better than I know myself. You know what I will say or do even before I have spoken a word or done a thing. That’s right. I have a question for you. Go ahead, I’m listening. If you know me so well what sense does it make for me to ask you to search me? You have already searched me. You already know me. Yes, I do. Your invitation is what is important to me. Your invitation tells me even more about you. Like what?

Your invitation for me to search your heart and mind and life tells me that you want to live in ways that are pleasing to me. You could have tried to hide yourself from me. That would make no sense. Such an effort would be ridiculously impossible. Nothing can be hidden from you. That’s right. From the Garden of Eden and the fall of mankind onward many have tried to hide themselves and their sin from me. Many have fearfully tried to run away from their sin, guilt and shame. That is not pleasing to me. That is not my desire. That is not my plan. My son came into the world so that sin could be forgiven. He wiped away guilt and shame for all those who received His forgiveness and cleansing. You have received my Son as your Lord and Savior. Yes, that’s true. You are living the new life that you have been called to live. Yes, I am. It is your desire to live in ways that please me. Yes, it is. As part of your desire to live in ways that please me, you are asking me to search your heart and mind and life. Yes, I am.

Why are you unafraid for me to search your heart and mind and life? Are you living a perfect life? Will I find nothing in your life that is not pleasing me to me? No, I’m sure that you will find things that I have thought, said or done that are not pleasing to you. I’m inviting you to not only search me. I am inviting you to change me. I want you to mold and shape me into the person you have called me to be. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I’m trusting that you will change me. I believe that you will work in and through me. My life is in your hands. Yes, it is. I will search you. I will change you.

Lord, search my heart and mind and life. Show me if there are any thoughts or ways in me that are offensive to you. I want to live my life in every way that is pleasing to you. Lead me in your way everlasting. Help me to calmly live my life according to your will. Amen

Key Question…  What benefit would there be for God to find and point out an offensive way in your heart and mind?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to search your heart and mind to show you if there is any offensive way that He would like to remove.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will search your heart and mind and life so that He can lead you in His everlasting way.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has removed an offensive way from your heart and mind.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you stop and turn to the Lord to give thanks to Him for all the ways He has blessed your life.

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

The Mind – Psalm 139 -23-24 – Search Me, O God – 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