Category Archives: The Prayer Filled Life

Stay Awake At All Times

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Prayer Filled Life - Day 112 - Luke 21-34-36 - Stay Awake At All Times - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 112 – Luke 21-34-36 – Stay Awake At All Times – Growing As Disciples

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.  For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 (ESV)

Be Watchful

That is what you must be. What must I be? You must be watchful and prayerful. You must live with the constant anticipation of my imminent return. You must not allow yourself to be caught off guard or taken by surprise. One way or another the time is very short. It should not matter to you whether my return to you or your return to me is imminent. One or the other is imminent. That is an absolute certainty. You must live your life with urgency. You must make the best use of your time. You must make the best use of your gifts, and talents, and abilities in serving me. The time is now for you to bear fruit for my kingdom. The time is now for you to store up treasure in heaven with me. The time is now for you to shine brightly in the darkness of this world. The time is now for you to bring gory to my name. Do you understand? Yes, I understand. I get it. I only have one life to live. My time on this earth is like a snap of the fingers or a blink of an eye. I am like a mist that is here in the morning and gone by afternoon. The permeance of the things of this life is like a mirage on a sun scorched highway just ahead. The things of this life will all quickly fade away. Living for the things of this life is no treasure but is rather a trap. I will not pursue what this life offers. I will not chase after the things that I can see. No, I will live my life with and for you. I will live to do your will. I will go where you send me. I will do what you ask me. I will use all that you have given me to serve you. I will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I will store up treasure in heaven with you. I will live a life without regret. I will not be caught off guard. I will not be taken by surprise. I will be living my life with and for you when either you return to me, or I return to you. Help me to always be prayerful and watchful. That I will do. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, we live in perilous and troubling times. Could the time of your return be coming soon? Help me to always be prayerful and watchful so I am not caught off guard or taken by surprise. Help me to best use the time as I anticipate your imminent return. Amen 

Key Question…  Why should you always live your life with expectant anticipation of the Lord’s return?

Living It Out…  Always be prayerful and watchful as you anticipate the Lord’s return.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to be prayerful and watchful at all times, as you anticipate His return.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are being prayerful and watchful as a follower of Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be prayerful and watchful at all times as you anticipate the Lord’s return.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 112 – Luke 21-34-36 – Stay Awake At All Times – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

A Grip On Hope

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life - Day 113 - Lamentations 3-21-27 - A Grip On Hope - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 113 – Lamentations 3-21-27 – A Grip On Hope – Growing As Disciples

But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:  GOD’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.  They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!  I’m sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.  GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks.  It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from GOD.  It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times. Lamentations 3:21-27 (MSG)

Call To Mind

Do you want to have a firm grip on all the hope that you have in me? Do you want to be able to hold together when you go through difficult times? Would you like me to sustain and strengthen you when you are in great difficulty? Yes, of course I want all these things to be true for me. Yes, I want you to give me a firm grip on hope. Yes, I want you to hold me together when I am in great difficulty. Yes, I want you to sustain and strengthen me thorough every twist and turn and up and down in life. Is there something required of me for these things to be true for me. Is there something I must do if I want to have a firm grip on all the hope, I have in you? You are wise to ask such a question. You are correct there is something that will be required of you. There is something that you must do. What is must I do? What will be required of me? Meet with me in the morning. Seek me with all your heart and mind and strength. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Wait patiently and quietly in my presence. Be still before me. Rest in my presence. Remember who I am. Remember all that I have done for you. Consider my kindness and mercy and love for you. Review how I have met your needs. Consider how I have sustained and strengthened you.  Remember how I have been with you to help you. Never forget. My love for you is never ending. My love for you will never cease. My love for you will be refreshed and renewed every morning. Day by day, and moment by moment, you will come to better know my love for you as you meet with me. You will be more aware of all my kindness and mercy and love for you. You will indeed have a grip on hope as you meet with me in the morning and call to mind who I am and all I have done for you. That I will do. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will meet with you in the morning. I will wait quietly and patiently before you. I will diligently seek you. I will call to mind your kindness and mercy and love for me. They are new every morning. Help me to have a firm grip on all the hope I have in you. Amen

Key Question…  How is recalling the Lord’s love for you helping you to have a firm grip on hope?

Living It Out…  Call to mind the Lord’s love for you so you can have a firm grip on hope.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord’s love and compassion never runs out and is new every morning.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how recalling the Lord’s love for you gives you hope.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you call to mind the Lord’s love for you so you will have a firm grip on hope.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 113 – Lamentations 3-21-27 – A Grip On Hope – 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

According To His Will

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Prayer Filled Life - Day 109 - 1 John 5-13-15 - According To His Will - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 109 – 1 John 5-13-15 – According To His Will – Growing As Disciples

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:13-15 (NIV)

My Will

Do you know my will? That is a very good question. Often times, I do not know your will. Would you like to know my will? That is also a very good question. Why is that? I can think of times when I liked my will. What does that mean? It means that I didn’t want to know your will if it differed from my will. I preferred my will over your will. That’s honest, that is wise to acknowledge. How about now? I want to know and do your will. If my will is not in alignment with your will, I want to know. I will change my will to line up with your will, that is my desire, plan, and goal. I want to love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. I want to go and do whatever you ask of me without any wavering or hesitation. That is very good. Let’s take a step back for a moment. I have a few questions for you. I’m listening. When you wanted your will, what kind of prayers did you pray? I prayed prayers that were according to my will. What kind of answer could you expect from me when you prayed prayers according to your will? I could expect that they would not be heard or answered. If they were answered, the answer would have been no. Why is that? You wanted and still want my will and my prayers to be in accordance with your will. You want me to be in alignment with you in my thoughts and words and actions. You want me to pray prayers that you can hear and answer. Yes, I do. So, if you don’t know my will what will you do? If you do not know how to pray what will be your course of action. I think it would be wise to assume that I don’t know your will or how to pray. Why is that? Then I will draw near to you in prayer. Then I will draw near to you in your word. Then I will draw near to you in praise and worship. When I seek you with all my heart, I will know you and your ways. When I draw near to you, you will draw near to me. You will give me prayers to pray. You will guide me to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. Yes, you can be sure of that. Will you draw near to me in prayer, in my word and in praise and worship? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. Then I will surely hear and answer your prayers. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, looking back over time, I can recall prayers I prayed that were clearly not according to your will. They were according to my will, but not yours. Help me to prayer prayers that are according to your will. Help me to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. Amen

Key Question…  When has God heard and answered your prayers in a way that you did not anticipate?

Living It Out…  Pray prayers that are in accordance with Gods will, that He can hear and answer.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will hear and answer the prayers you pray that are in accordance with His will.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what prayers you are now praying to God.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you pray prayers, in accordance with His will, that He can hear and answer.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 109 – 1 John 5-13-15 – According To His Will – 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

I Will Instruct You

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Prayer Filled Life - Day 110 - Psalm 32-8-9 - I Will Instruct You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 110 – Psalm 32-8-9 – I Will Instruct You – Growing As Disciples

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Psalm 32:8-9 (ESV)

The Way You Should Go

Do you want to know the way you should go? What is the alternative? That is an excellent question. Why is that? You could stumble through life bouncing from one meaningless, unfruitful endeavor, to another. You could misspend your life and waste it on what will amount to nothing of value, especially in light of all eternity. You could live and be guided solely by your own thoughts, opinions, and values. You could miss out on my plan and purpose for your life. You could one day live with deep regret over what you could have been and could have done. Now, I understand the importance and gravity of your question. I most certainly want to know the way that I should go. That’s good.

What will help or hinder me from knowing the way I should go? That is also a very good question. Pridefully thinking that you know the way you should go is your biggest danger. Thinking that you don’t need or want my wise counsel would be your most tragic mistake. Relying solely on yourself for wisdom and guidance and instruction would be the height of foolishness. I need no convincing. Why is that? I have made many foolish decisions. I have chosen the wrong course of action far too often. I have indeed bounced around from one meaningless, unfruitful endeavor to another. I have suffered the pain and suffering that comes from self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Without a doubt, I know that I need your wisdom and counsel and instruction. That knowledge will serve you well.

How will knowing that you need my wisdom and counsel and instruction guide your actions? I will draw near to you. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in your word. I will meet with you in worship. My entire being will be focused on you. I will listen to you. I will listen to and act on all the wisdom, counsel, and instruction I receive from you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. Then you will know the way you should go. Then you will live a fruitful life without regrets. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know I have been stubborn. I have been like a mule with my own headstrong ideas and plans. Forgive me. I will listen to you. I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in your word. Teach and guide me in the way I should go. I will follow you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making it your daily practice to meet with the Lord so you can receive guidance from Him?

Living It Out…  Listen to and act on all the wise counsel you receive from the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will give you wise counsel to guide your life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are following wise counsel you have received from the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen to and act on wise counsel you receive from the Lord.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 110 – Psalm 32-8-9 – I Will Instruct You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Praise The Lord O My Soul

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Prayer Filled Life - Day 105 - Psalm 103:1-5 - Praise The Lord O My Soul - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 105 – Psalm 103:1-5 – Praise The Lord O My Soul – Growing As Disciples

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,  who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,  who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV)

Praise You

That is what I will now do. What will you now do? I will give all my praise and thanks to you. With all my heart and soul and entire being I will pour out praise and thanks and worship to you. With will gratitude, and not halfhearted words, I give you thanks and praise and worship for who you are and what you have done for me. What have I done for you? Who am I to you? You are my redeemer. You redeemed my life from the pit. You pulled my life out of the muck and mire. You rescued me from a life without you. You are my healer. You have healed me of my diseases. You revived, refreshed, restored, and healed my bruised and battered and broken life. Now, I can walk and not grow weary. Now, I can run and not faint. Now, I can soar with you like an eagle. You have given me your power and strength with which I can and will love and follow and serve you. You are my Heavenly Father. You have made me to be your child. You have adopted me into your family. You have made me to be your very own. You have crowned my life with you love and compassion. You are my provider. You have both given and granted to me the desires of my heart. What is the greatest desire of your heart? It is the greatest desire of my heart to know and love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. I could not want or ask for anything better. But you have also given me far more than I could have ever asked for, dreamed of, or even imagined. The best of which is, one day I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Yes, you will. In the meantime, I will remember you for who are and what you have done for me by giving to you all my thanks and praise and worship. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord! Praise you, Lord!

Lord, you have been so good to me. You have showered my life with your blessing. You have redeemed my life. You have forgiven my sins and healed my diseases. You have shown me your love and compassion. You have renewed my life. You have all my praise! Amen 

Key Question…  Why is it critically important that you continue to remember and give thanks to God for all His benefits?

Living It Out…  Make giving praise and thanks to God a daily part of your life with Him

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will revive, refresh, and restore your soul as you give praise and thanks to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has satisfied your desires and given you good things.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you give praise and thanks to the Lord for who He is and what He has done.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 105 – Psalm 103-1-5 – Praise The Lord O My Soul – 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

My Thoughts

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Prayer Filled Life - Day 104 - Isaiah 55-6-9 - My Thoughts - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 104 – Isaiah 55-6-9 – My Thoughts – Growing As Disciples

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV)

My Thoughts And Ways

Do you want to know my thoughts? Do you want to live according to my ways? Do you want to be able to know and do my will? Yes, I do. What must I do for me to be able to know your will and walk in your ways? That is a good question. Wanting to know my will and walk in my ways is a very good step. It however is not the first step. What is the first step? You must be willing to turn from your own thoughts and ways. As long as you hold on to your old thoughts and ways you are not ready to be guided by my thoughts and ways. Many of your thoughts and ways are in direct conflict with my thoughts and ways. You must not think that it is you who will decide what are the correct thoughts to think or the right ways to walk. You must set aside your thoughts and ways to follow me. That is the very first step. You must turn away from the thoughts and values and opinions of the world if want to be able to know and do my will. Is that clear? Yes, it is quite clear. I will turn away from my old way of thinking and speaking and acting. I will receive your kindness and mercy and love. I will welcome your forgiveness of my sin and cleansing of my unrighteousness. You are my Savior and Lord. I will love and follow and serve you. That is very good. Now, you are beginning to talk about the next step you must take if you want to know my thoughts and walk in my ways. I’m not sure what I said that constitutes my next step? You said that I am your Savior and Lord and that you will love and follow and serve me. Your next step is that you will seek me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. That is how you will come to know my thoughts. That is how you will be able to walk in my ways. Now do you more fully understand? Yes, I do. Do you believe that I will tell you my thoughts and show you my ways as you earnestly seek me? Yes, I do, without a doubt. Will you seek me with all that is within you? Yes, I will. That is very good. Then you will know my thoughts and walk in my ways. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will forsake my thoughts and ways.  I will turn to you. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Thank you for your kindness and mercy. Thank you for your pardon. Tell me your thoughts. Help me to live according to your ways. Amen

Key Question…  How are you seeking God with all your heart so you can know His thoughts and live according to His ways?

Living It Out…  Seek God with all your heart so that you can know His thoughts and live according to His ways.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will tell you His thoughts and show you His ways when you seek Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has told you His thoughts and shown you His ways.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you seek the Lord so you can know His thoughts and live according to His ways.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 104 – Isaiah 55-6-9 – My Thoughts – 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

He Rewards Those Who Earnestly Seek Him

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Prayer Filled Life - Day 103 - Hebrews 11-6 - He Rewards Those Who Earnestly Seek Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Prayer Filled Life – Day 103 – Hebrews 11-6 – He Rewards Those Who Earnestly Seek Him – Growing As Disciples

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

Faith In Me

What does it mean for you to have faith in me? How is your faith in me guiding the course of your life? How are your thoughts and words and actions different because you are placing all your faith in me? How have your opinions, values, and priorities changed because you believe in me and are seeking me with all your heart? There is not one area of my life that has not been dramatically transformed since the day I came to believe in you and accept you as my Savior and Lord. How so? I left my old sinful life in the world so that I could begin to love and follow and serve you with all my heart. I have thrown off anything and everything that has hindered me from living my life with and for you. Am I doing this perfectly? No, not hardly. But my heart and mind and life are focused on you. I am no longer pursuing what this world offers. I am pursuing you. I am fully devoted to you. I am listening attentively to you. I am following you to where you lead me. I am doing whatever you ask of me. Am I in this effort alone? Absolutely not. Does my success or failure in seeking you depend entirely on me? Certainly not. You are with me to help me. You are working in me, for me, and though me. You are using your word to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. You are helping me to think your thoughts. You are making me able to speak your words. You are guiding me to take your actions. You are the one who is molding and shaping me into the person you want me to become. Your hand is on me to help me to live the life you have called me to live. Now, there is no place I would rather be than in your presence. Now, there is nothing I would rather do than your will. It is very good that you know that I am with you to help you. It is very good that you know that I am guarding and guiding your life. It is very good that you know that I will keep on working in you, for you, and through you as you keep on placing all your faith in me as you seek me with all your heart. It is my hope and desire and plan to live my life in an intimate relationship with you. Now, I know that nothing could be more rewarding than living my life with and for you. Keep on seeking me. Keep on following me. Keep on living your life with and for me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will earnestly seek you. I will seek you with everything that is within me. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will live my life with and for you. Amen

Key Question…  What has helped or hindered you in seeking the Lord with all your heart?

Living It Out…  Earnestly seek the Lord with all your heart.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will reward you as you earnestly seek Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are earnestly seeking the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live a godly life filled with prayers that the Lord will hear and answer.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 103 – Hebrews 11-6 – He Rewards Those Who Earnestly Seek Him – 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

Teach Us

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 102 - Psalm 90-12 - Teach Us - 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 102 – Psalm 90-12 – Teach Us – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

Heart Of Wisdom

That is what I want. That is my desire. That is my prayer. What do you want? What is your desire? What is your prayer? I want a heart of wisdom. What would you do with a heart of wisdom? Where would a heart of wisdom lead you? What would a heart of wisdom give you to do? Those are great questions that are worthy of my deepest thoughts. Fortunately, they are not new questions or new thoughts to me. You have put those questions before me in many ways and at various times before. So, what are your deepest thoughts in answer to my questions? A heart of wisdom will help me to live a life without regrets. A heart of wisdom will help me to know and do your will. A heart of wisdom will guide the entire course of my life. A heart of wisdom will help me to make the wisest use of every day that you have given me to live. A heart of wisdom will help me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You have answered well. I have only answered well because the heart of wisdom you have been giving to me. It pleases me that you know this to be true.

Let’s talk more about your receiving all that you are asking of me. Let’s talk more about you gaining a heart of wisdom. I’m listening attentively to you. Well then, you have answered one of my questions without my asking it of you. Listening attentively to me is how you will gain a heart of wisdom. Of that, I have no doubt. How will you make yourself available to me? How will you listen attentively to me? That is a condition of my receiving what I am asking of you, isn’t it? It would be foolish to think that you would give me a heart of wisdom if I failed to listen attentively to you. That is correct. So, I will set aside a daily time and place to meet with you in prayer. I will set aside a daily time and place to meet with you in worship. I will set aside a daily time and place to meet with you in your word. In this set time and place, I will listen to all that you have to say to me. My listening to you will not stop in our set time and place of meeting. I know that you will use our set time and place of meeting to help me to hear your voice guiding through the moments of my day. You are correct, as you keep on listening to me, I will give you a heart of wisdom and teach you to number your days and wisely live the life I have given you to live. Thank you, Lord. I will keep on listening to you. That will be very good.

Lord, I will stop to listen to you. I will wait for your teaching. I will receive your instruction. I will follow your guidance. I will rely on you completely. Give me a heart of wisdom. Teach me to number my days so that my life will be wisely spent in your service. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making it your practice to listen attentively to the Lord teaching you?

Living It Out…  Rely on the Lord to teach you so you will have a heart of wisdom.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will teach you and give you a heart of wisdom as you rely on Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been teaching you and giving you a heart of wisdom.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the Lord to teach you so you will have a heart of wisdom.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 102 – Psalm 90-12 – Teach Us – 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

Had Not Confessed Sin

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 87 - Psalm 66-16-20 - Had Not Confessed Sin - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 87 – Psalm 66-16-20 – Had Not Confessed Sin – Growing As Disciples

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.  For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke.  If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. Psalm 66:16-20 (NLT)

Confess

How will you make that a regularly part of your prayer life with me? How will I make what a significant part of my prayer life with you? When will you confess your sins to me? Why is it important for you confess your sins to me? What will happen to your prayers if you fail to confess your sins to me? I will confess my sins to you as I begin my prayers to you. I will not hide my sin. I will not deny my sin. I will regularly ask you to forgive my sins and cleanse my unrighteousness. Do you mean that you will generally confess that you are a sinner and that you will ask for my general forgiveness? No, that is not what I mean, not at all. You and I will review my day. I know that you will help me to see my sin when I come to you. I will make it my daily practice to confess my specific sins to you. Then as I confess them to you, I know that you have forgiven my sin and cleansed my unrighteousness. Yes, I will. As I confess my sins to you, I know that nothing will stand between us. I will be able to live in an intimate relationship with you. Nothing will prevent you from being able to hear and answer my prayers. Yes, that is true.

Why is it important that you confess your specific sins to me? It is important for me to identity and turn from my sin. It is important for me to ask you to help overcome specific sins in my life. It is important for me to know that you have forgiven my specific sins. It would be of little help and encouragement for me to have a vague and general idea that I have been forgiven of my sins. Then I would only be vaguely encouraged or vaguely grateful or vaguely joyful. What power would there be in vaguely knowing that I have been forgiven. What clarity would there be in my testimony if I could only tell others about what you had vaguely done for me? How joyous would my praise to be if I only had a vague idea of what you had done for me? No, just as in all my prayers, you want to hear specifics. It is only in specific prayers, that I can know without a doubt, that you have heard and answered me. That’s true. That’s it exactly.

Lord, thank you for your kindness, mercy, and love. Thank you for forgiving my sins as I confess them to you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayers. It is my joy to tell others about all you have done for me. Your praise will continually be on my lips. Amen

Key Question…  How has confessing your sins to God becoming a starting point in your prayers to Him?

Living It Out…  Make confessing your sins to God a significant part of your life of prayer with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will hear and answer your prayers as you confess your sins to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how confessing your sins is part of your life of prayer with God.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you confess your sins so that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 87 – Psalm 66-16-20 – Had Not Confessed Sin – 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

Learn To Know God Better And Better

Posted on by
Reply
The Prayer Filled Life - Day 91 - Colossians 1-9-14 - Learn To Know God Better And Better - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 91 – Colossians 1-9-14 – Learn To Know God Better And Better – Growing As Disciples

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.  We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:9-14 (NLT)

Don’t Stop Praying

That I won’t do. What won’t you do? I won’t stop praying. I will keep on praying. What kind of prayers will you pray? I will prayers that you lay on my heart to pray. What kind of prayers will I lay on your heart? I will pray for others to come to know your will and gain spiritual wisdom and understanding.  I will pray that others will live lives that will honor and please you. I will pray that others will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I will pray that others will come to know you better and better. These will be very good prayers to pray. What will happen to you as keep on praying for others? I will receive what I am praying for others. You will help me to know your will and gain spiritual wisdom and understanding as I draw near to you in prayer. You will help me to live a fruitful life that will honor and please you as I remain in your presence. You will help me to know you better and better as I keep on praying. Yes, I will do all these things for others and for you as you remain persistent in your prayers. For that, I will be grateful and thankful. That will be very good.

We are not finished with our conversation. I’m listening. What else will you pray for others? I will pray that others will be strengthened by your glorious power so that they will have all the endurance and patience that they need. Do you need endurance and patience? Do you need my power at work in your life? Yes, desperately so. Then keep on drawing near to me in prayer. Keep on praying for others. Keep on receiving what I want you and others to receive. Keep on asking for all you and others need from me. That I will do. That will be very good.

There is something that you are especially lacking. What is that? I don’t need to tell you, but I will. You are lacking in joy and thankfulness. It is my will and desire that you be filled with joy. I want your life to radiate joy and thankfulness. I do too. You have much for which you can be joyful and thankful. Yes, I do. Tell me what gives you joy. Tell me why you are thankful. They are one in the same. You are my father, and I am your child. You love and care for me. I have an eternal life and a forever future with you. I have an inheritance in heaven awaiting me. All this because you pulled me out of darkness to walk in the light with you. All this because you purchased my freedom and forgave all my sins. You are now helping me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Keep on giving thanks and praise to me. Keep on remembering all that I have done for you. Then joy and thankfulness will radiate from your life. Pray for others to do this as well. Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will keep on praying for others to come to know you better and better. I will also pray that they will come to complete knowledge of your will and have spiritual understanding so they can live a fruitful life that pleases you. Do this work also in me. Amen

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 91 – Colossians 1-9-14 – Learn To Know God Better And Better – 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