Category Archives: The Mind

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

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

Take Every Thought Captive

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - Take Every Thought Captive - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – Take Every Thought Captive – Growing As Disciples

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)

Thoughts Have Power

Your thoughts have power. Your entire life will be guided by the thoughts you allow yourself to think. There is nothing you have done, are doing or will do that you haven’t thought about first. You will become who you are based on the thoughts of your mind. It is vitally important that you think very carefully about what you allow yourself to think. You must take control of what you allow yourself to think. That sounds very difficult, maybe even impossible. How can I ever take control of my thoughts? I can’t simply tell myself that I am no longer going to think certain thoughts anymore. I’ve tried that. In my effort to stop thinking certain thoughts I have only thought about them more. My efforts have left me worse off. You can control what you think. This may seem impossible to you. With me all things are possible. Would you like my help? Yes, I want your help.

Your mind is like a battleground. Every day your mind is being bombarded with principles, patterns, and practices that come from the world. The world is seeking to conform you into its image. If you do nothing at all your heart and mind and life will be entirely conformed to the world. You will be ensnared in its evil. You will think worldly thoughts. You will live a worldly life. The world and all that is in it is under the power and control of the devil and all his evil. The world is filled with his evil strongholds, false arguments and proud pretensions. You will want no part of any of these. No, I do not. I want to think your thoughts. I want to walk in your ways. That is very good.

You have powerful weapons at your disposal.  You have a powerful tool that will help you to think my thoughts and walk in my ways. My word is that powerful tool. If you let my word dwell in you richly your heart will be changed. If you meditate on my word day and night your mind will be transformed. My word will push worldly thoughts out of your heart and mind and life. As you feast on my word you will be changed. My Holy Spirit will take my word and fight in you, with you and for you as you take a stand against evil in the world. My word will tear down evil strongholds, false arguments and proud pretensions that have had power over your life. If you remain in my word you will be able to live the life that I have called you to live. You will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Is this what you want? Yes Lord, I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I will let your word dwell in me richly. I will meditate on your word day and night.  I will feast on your word. I will let your word remain in me. Then you will be able to take every one of your thoughts and make them captive to me. My thoughts will become your thoughts. My will, will become your will. My ways will become your ways. That is exactly what I want.

Lord, thank you for giving me powerful weapons that set me free to live my life for you. Demolish any arguments, pretensions, and strongholds that attempt to set themselves up over my life. Help me take every one of my thoughts captive to you. Amen

Key Question…  What battles have you fought with strongholds of ungodly thinking in your own mind?

Living It Out…  Allow yourself to be armed with divine weapons provided by God so you can demolish strongholds of evil.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God’s power will allow you to demolish arguments, pretensions and strongholds of evil over your life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has broken up strongholds of evil over your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow God’s word to help you take every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

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

The Mind – 2 Corinthians 10-4-5 – Take Every Thought Captive – 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

Meditates Day And Night

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

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

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

A Blessed Life

Do you want to live a life that is blessed by me? Yes, I want to live a life that is blessed by you. What must I do if I want to live a life that is blessed by you? You tell me. How can I tell you? Your answer is right here in my word.

If I want to live a life that is blessed by you I won’t walk in the counsel of the wicked. What does that mean to you? I won’t pay attention to advice from wicked people. I won’t listen to their counsel. I won’t accept their thoughts, opinions and values. I won’t allow my mind to be conformed to their way of thinking. I won’t walk in the way that they walk. I won’t follow them on their path in life. I won’t walk to where they are going. Their purposes, plans and schemes will mean nothing to me. Instead, I will walk with you. That’s good. What else?

If I want to live a life that is blessed by you I won’t stand in the way of sinners. What does that mean to you? I won’t hang around with sinners. I won’t live in the way that they live. I won’t adopt their ways as my own. I will not do what sinners do. I will not live a life that is disobedient to you. I won’t rely on myself. I won’t allow myself to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. I won’t elevate myself to be my own god. I will live humbly before you. Instead, I will stand with you. That’s good. What else?

If I want to live a life that is blessed by you I won’t sit in the seat of mockers? What does that mean to you? I will not mock what is holy.  I will honor what you honor. I will value what you value. I will want what you want. I will bow down to worship you. I will acknowledge you in all that I think, say and do. In every way I will live to please you. My seat will be far away from those who mock you. Instead, I will take my seat with you. That’s good. What else?

If I want to live a life that is blessed by you it will not be enough to not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers. No, it will not. I will also meditate on your word day and night. Your word will be my counselor. Your word will be guide. Your word will be my teacher. Your word will bless my life. Your word will make me able to live my life with and for you. Your word will cause me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That is what I want. That is what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, show me the people, places, things and activities that you want me to separate myself from. Help me to meditate on your word day and night. Bless and refresh my life with your word. Use your word to cause my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and glory. Amen

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

The Mind – Psalm 1-1-3 – Meditates Day And Night – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Test Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Psalm 26:2-3 - Test Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Psalm 26:2-3 – Test Me – Growing As Disciples

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)

Examine Me

Do you really want me to test your life? Are you really asking me to closely examine your heart and mind? Are you confident that your life will pass my test? Do you think that your heart and mind will be able to stand up under my close examination? Only you can make it so my life will pass your test. Only you can make my heart and mind stand up under your close examination. Do I feel confident that I will pass your test? Do I think that my heart and mind and life will stand up under your close examination? I know with certainty that I am not perfect. I am far from perfect. Why then would you ask me to test your life by examining your heart and mind? There is no closer scrutiny than this test. Do you have no fear in me testing your heart and mind and life? Those are good questions.

I know that you love me. I also love you. You want me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. Yes, I do. You don’t want anything to hinder our relationship with each other. No, I do not. I want to live my life in every way that is pleasing to you. I want to know you. I want to walk in your ways. I want to follow you to wherever you lead me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. I don’t want to lag behind or run ahead of you. I don’t want to wander to the left or right of you. I want to walk closely with you as you lead me through life. Your love for me makes me unafraid of your testing. Your love for me makes me unafraid of your close examination. My love for you welcomes and invites your testing and close examination of my heart and mind and life. I accept your welcome and invitation. I know that you will work in my life according to your purposes and plans. You will do what needs to be done. You will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, I will. You will remove anything my heart and mind and life that is not pleasing to you. Yes, I will. That is what I am asking for. That is what I want. Do your work in my life so that I will be able to walk closely with you. Yes, I will.

Lord, go ahead and test my life by examining my heart. I want to know your will. I want to walk in your ways. I want to live my life in ways that are pleasing to you. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. Help me to walk closely with you. Amen

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

The Mind – Psalm 26-2-3 – Test Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Being Like Minded

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Philippians 2:1-2 - Being Like Minded - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Philippians 2:1-2 – Being Like Minded – Growing As Disciples

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)

Singleness of Purpose

What have you received from me? That sounds like an impossible question to answer. Why is that? I have received so much from you. Then you will have plenty with which to answer my question. That’s right. I have received your love. I have received your mercy. I have received your forgiveness. I have received your comfort and encouragement. I have received your tenderness and compassion. You have allowed me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. Yes, you have generously and abundantly received all of this and much more from me.

What do you think I want you to do with all that I have generously and abundantly given to you? I’m not sure what you mean. Have I given you a little bit of my love? Have I given you a small sample of my mercy and forgiveness? Have I given you a little taste of my comfort and encouragement? Have I given you just enough of my tenderness and compassion? No, you have generously and abundantly given these and much more to me. Why do you think that is? There is no limit to your kindness, goodness, mercy and love. That’s true. What else? You want me to generously and abundantly give to others all that you have given to me. Yes, I do.

Will it be hard for you to give to others all that I have given to you? No, it will not be hard to give to others all that you have given to me. Why is that? There are a couple reasons. I’m listening. All that you have given to me has changed me. How so? Your love has made me loving. Your mercy has made me merciful. Your forgiveness has made me forgiving. As I live in a close and intimate relationship with you I am becoming more like you. Yes, you are. I want to do what you have done. I want to live like you lived. I want to give like you gave. I want to love like you loved. You are giving me the desire and ability to do for others what you have done for me. Yes, I am. It is now my joy to be like-minded with you, having the same singleness of purpose that you had in loving and giving yourself to others. That’s what I want. That is what I am doing and will continue to do in and through your life as you follow and serve me.

Lord, thank you for all the encouragement, comfort and love I have received from you. Help me to share with others all you have given to me. Help me to live in spirit enabled like-minded unity and singleness of purpose with fellow believers. Amen

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

The Mind – Philippians 2-1-2 – Being Like Minded – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

With Thanksgiving Present Your Requests To God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Philippians 4:6-7 - With Thanksgiving Present Your Requests To God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Philippians 4:6-7 – With Thanksgiving Present Your Requests To God – 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)

Trust In Me

Don’t be anxious about anything. That’s a lot harder than it sounds. Why is that? I have a lot to worry about. Why is that? I have a lot of concerns. I have a lot of pressures. I have a lot of things to try to figure out. Do you like worrying? Is worrying some sort of hobby of yours? No, I don’t like to worry. It’s not a hobby of mine.

Is everything in your hands? Is everything under your control? No, I feel out of control. Most of the outcomes I worry about in life are out of my control. That is when I worry the most. I have some news for you. What’s that? You are not in control. The world around you is not in your hands. There is very little in the world around you that you can control. You really have two choices. What are my choices?

You can be filled with worry and carry a heavy burden of anxiety or you can place all your trust in me. Do you believe that I am with you? Do you believe that I will watch over you? Do you believe that I love you? Do you believe that I will help you? Lord, I believe that you are with me to help me. I believe that you love me and will watch over me. How would I ever know that is what you believe? I’m not sure what you mean. If you believe all that you say that you do, will you place all your trust in me? How can I demonstrate that I am placing all my trust in you? What does placing all my trust in you require? What will I do if I really am trusting fully in you? Those are all very good questions.

Placing all your trust in me requires that you come to me. If you are really trusting in me you will talk to me about all your worries. You will turn every one of your worries into a prayer to me. You will ask me for all that you need. You will give thanks to me because you trust that I will hear and answer your prayers. You will allow me to relieve you of your anxiety and fill you with my peace. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, I want to be filled with your peace. I want to be relieved of all my anxiety. I want to let go of all my burdens. I will turn every one of my worries into a prayer to you. That will be very good.

Lord, instead of worrying and a carrying a weight of worry I’m going to turn all my burdens over to you in prayer. Thank you that you are with me in the midst of difficulty, guarding my heart and mind and giving me your peace. Amen

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

The Mind – Philippians 4-6-7 – With Thanksgiving Present Your Requests – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

Consider Carefully What You Hear

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Mark 4:24-25 - Consider Carefully What You Hear - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Mark 4:24-25 – Consider Carefully What You Hear – Growing As Disciples

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” Mark 4:24-25 (NIV) 

Hearing

What do you hear? That sounds like an unusual question to me. I will rephrase my question. What are you allowing yourself to hear? That doesn’t help me much. Do you think I have control of what my ears hear? That’s exactly my point. You do have control over what you allow your ears to hear. I want you to carefully consider what you allow your ears to hear. I want you to monitor everything that comes into your heart and mind through your ears. I want you to place a guard over your ears. Why is that important? That’s a very good question that I will let you answer.

What I hear will either help or hinder me. The words that come into my mind will either build me up or tear me down. The words that I listen to will either strengthen or weaken me. The words that I consider will either increase my faith or cause me to doubt. I am facing a battle over my heart and mind. That battle over my heart and mind will be won or lost based on the words that I allow myself to think. I can listen to all that the world wants to say to me. I can live my life according to the principles, patterns and practices of the world or I can live my life according to your will and your ways. If it is my hope and desire to live my life according to your will and ways, then I must carefully consider your word. That’s right. Only as I carefully consider your word will I grow in the understanding that you want to give to me. That is also right.

How will you place a guard over your mind? I will closely monitor all that I am allowing my ears to hear. I will withdraw my heart and mind from all that the world wants to say to me. I will not accept the principles, patterns and practices the world has to offer to me. Will that be enough to protect your heart and mind? No, I must also to meet with you in your word. I must listen carefully to all that you have to say to me. Then I will grow in understanding. Then I will come to know you. Then I will be able to know your will and walk in your ways. Yes, you will.

Lord, for too long I have allowed junk filled words to come into my heart and mind. Help me to guard what I hear. Instead, I will listen attentively to your word so you can change my heart and transform my mind as you give me understanding. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making yourself available to hear what will help you in your walk with the Lord?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to God’s word so you will be able to hear and apply what He is saying to you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be given more understanding as you hear and apply God’s word to your life?

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has given you understanding as you have listened to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen carefully to the Lord so you can understand all that He is saying to you.

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

The Mind – Mark 4-24-25 – Consider Carefully What You Hear – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Deceptive Philosophy

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind - Colossians 2:8 - Deceptive Philosophy - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Colossians 2:8 – Deceptive Philosophy – Growing As Disciples

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NIV) 

Hear Me

How will I ever be able to make sure that I am not taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy that is based on human tradition that comes from the world’s principles? That is a very good question. On your own, with your own strength you will easily fall prey to hollow and deceptive philosophies. Without my help, you will come to adopt traditions and principles from the world. Without my teaching and training, you won’t even be able to realize that your life is in danger of being conformed to all the patterns, practices and values that are of the world. On your own, you will think that you are wise, while you live out a foolish life. I don’t want that. I don’t want that for you either.

What must I do if I want my life to be built on your principles? That is another very good question. You must let me teach you. You must let me train you. You must let me guide you. How will I do that? You will listen attentively to my word. You will meet me with me in my word daily. Daily, Your life is being bombarded with worldly thoughts and opinions and values. You must let me speak into your life. My word is stronger than the words that you will hear from the world. But, in order to hear my word, you must set a part a time and a place to meet with me in my word. You will need to quiet yourself before me. You will need to consider carefully all that I will say to you. As you hear my word you will know the truth. The truth of my word will set you free. I will use my word to change your heart. I will use my word to transform your mind. You will begin to think my thoughts. You will begin to walk in my ways. You will be able to know and do my will. My word will make you able to recognize what is false. You will know what principles, values and practices are from the world. You will reject what is false and hold on to what is true. I am the way, the truth and the life. You will hold on to me. I will lead you through life. Hear me, follow me, and obey me. Yes Lord, I will hear and follow and obey you. I will hold on to you and your word. That will be very good.

Lord, help me to be on guard so that my mind is not taken captive by any of the deceptive and hollow philosophies of this world. Help me to evaluate and weigh every thought by your word so that I will be able to live in your truth. Amen

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

The Mind – Colossians 2-8 – Deceptive Philosophy – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

Enemies In Your Minds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Colossians 1-21-22 - Enemies In Your Minds- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Colossians 1-21-22 – Enemies In Your Minds- Growing As Disciples

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation– Colossians 1:21-22 (NIV)

Your Enemy

That is for sure. What is for sure? At one time I was living as your enemy. I thought, said and did what was evil in your sight. I lived for my own comfort and pleasure. I went my own way and did my own thing. I had no time for you. I had no desire for you. I had no thought of you. I did not want or need you in my life. What happened? Well, I can tell you that I was sadly mistaken. Life without you is meaningless. Life without you has no purpose. Life without you has no direction. Without you, I wandered to where I shouldn’t have gone.  Without you, I did what I should not have done. Without you, there is only one place my life could end up. Without you, my life ended up being bruised and battered and broken. That is the certain result of living a dark and sin-filled life apart from you. A life of sin pays its own wages. Those wages are a bruised and battered and broken life that will one day end in death and final and permanent separation from you. That’s true. 

But you would not leave me in that condition. You would not let me live a life without you. You pursued me. You sought me out. You would not let me go. No, I would not. So, when I had reached the end of the road, you gave me somewhere to turn. You gave me a hope to have. You gave me words to pray. You put a cry in my heart and mind and life that you would hear and answer. Yes, I did. What hope did you have? What cry was in your heart? What prayer did you pray? I cried out to you. I asked you to show yourself to me. I asked you to rescue me from a life without you. I asked you to forgive my sin. I asked you to cleanse my unrighteousness. I asked you to come into my heart and mind and life. I said that I wanted you to be the Savior and Lord of my life. I told you that I would follow you to wherever you led me. I told you that I would do whatever you asked of me. Did I hear and answer every one of your prayers? Yes, you did. That’s right. You have been forgiven of all your sins. You have been cleansed of all your unrighteousness. You are holy in my sight. I have healed your bruised and battered and broken life. I am your Savior and Lord. I am leading and guiding you. You are now following me and living the new life that I have given you to live. Yes, I am. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, there is no doubt I was a rebellious sinner completely alienated from you. I thought, said and did what was evil. But, you sought me out and rescued me from a life without you. You died for my sins, reconciled me to God and gave me a new life to live. Amen

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

The Mind – Colossians 1-21-22 – Enemies In Your Minds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

United In Mind And Thought

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - 1 Corinthians 1:10 - Humble Yourselves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – 1 Corinthians 1:10 – Humble Yourselves – Growing As Disciples

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)  

United

How can I stay united with my fellow believers?  There are bound to be differences of opinion. Everyone has a slightly different take on how they see the world. Each person sees life from the lense of their own experience. Everyone has a different make-up. Each one of us is unique. How can I possibly have the same mind and thought with others? I have different experiences. I have different perspectives. My background and make-up and experiences are unique. I don’t even like the idea of agreeing with others. I don’t really want to think like others think. The idea of having my mind in sync with others is not a pleasant thought to me. I want to be different. I want to be creative. I don’t want to color within the lines. I want to do things that are outside the box. I like change. I don’t want to live with what is comfortable and familiar. I can’t accept the way that things are. I want to dream about how things could be. I want new and different experiences. I don’t want to conform. I don’t want to live up to other’s expectations. I don’t want to come under someone else’s judgement. I want to use all the gifts and talents and abilities you have given to me. I don’t want to live under any restrictions. I don’t want to live under someone else’s constraints. I want to boldly go and do what ask me to do. You sound just like the person that I created you to be. Really? Yes, really.

Let me ask you some questions. I’m listening. You have my complete attention. Do you want others to live the life that I have called them to live? Can you wish for others what you want for yourself? Do you want others to live out their uniqueness? Will you encourage others to live the life that I have called them to live? Yes, I can wholeheartedly support all of these things. So, will you be comfortable when other’s thoughts and words and deeds look and sound different than yours? You will not place any restrictions and constraints on others? No, I will not. Can you see how there can be unity amongst all the beautiful diversity that I have created? Yes, I can. Will you pray for unity of thought and mind among your fellow believers, as they live out the unique lives that I have given them to live? Yes, I will. That’s good. That is the unity that I desire. That is the unity that will be a bold and bright witness for me in the world. That is what I want. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know that disunity among believers is a prideful and ugly thing that is a poor witness to the world. Help me to not be a part of any disunity among believers. Help me to pray for unity in the church that will be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Amen

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

The Mind – 1 Corinthians 1-10 – United In Mind And Thought – 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