Category Archives: The Prayer Filled Life

That The World May Believe

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 101 - John 17-20-23 - The World May Believe - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 101 – John 17-20-23 – The World May Believe – Growing As Disciples

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:  I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23 (NIV)

Complete Unity

I know that this is your prayer. I know that this is your will. What is my prayer? What is my will? It is your prayer and will that we will be brought to complete unity. Who will be brought to complete unity? Your followers, your church, will be brought to complete unity. How do you know that it is my prayer and will that my followers, the church, will be brought into complete unity? Just before you left this earth you prayed this prayer. It was obviously of utmost importance to you. You are correct. Do you know why I prayed this prayer and why unity among my followers is of utmost importance to me? I think so. Go ahead, tell me your answer. Unity among believers will be a bright and shining witness for you in the world. In the world there is disunity and divisiveness of every kind. Love and unity amongst your followers is countercultural. Love and unity amongst your followers stands out like a bright light in the darkness of this world. When unbelievers see love and unity amongst believers, they will become convinced that you are who you said you were. When unbelievers see love and unity amongst believers, they will know that your Heavenly Father sent you into the world to be its Savior and Lord. Unbelievers will be drawn to you. They will want to turn their lives over to you. They will be drawn into the love and unity that can only come from you. That is true. That is correct. That is certain.

I have a few questions for you. I’m listening. Is my prayer and my will of utmost importance to you? Now that you know my prayer and my will, how will you live your life? What will you make sure is true of you? I will make sure that I am living in unity with others. I will be on guard against thinking or speaking or acting in ways that bring disunity into your church. I will not allow myself to become divisive in your body of believers. I will make sure that my love for and my complete unity with my fellow believers serves as a bright witness in the world. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for praying for me. Thank you for making your will so clear. I will live in unity with my fellow believers so that we can all be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Help us all to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question…  How are you living in unity with fellow believers so you will be an attractive witness in the world?

Living It Out…  Make sure that you are living in unity with fellow believers so you can be a bright witness for Christ in the world.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you and your church will bear fruit for the kingdom of God as you live in unity.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how living in unity has helped you to be a bright witness for Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live in unity with your fellow believers so those in the world may come to believe in Jesus Christ.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 101 – John 17-20-23 – That The World May Believe – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Pray For Those Who Hurt You

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 88 - Luke 6-27-31 - Pray For Those Who Hurt You - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 88 – Luke 6-27-31 – Pray For Those Who Hurt You – Growing As Disciples

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.  If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.  Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.  Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:27-31 (NLT)

Reaction

That would not be my first reaction. What would not be your first reaction? It would not be my first reaction to love my enemies. It would not be my first reaction to do good to those who hate me or to bless those who curse me. Praying for those who hurt is not something that naturally occurs to me. So, that is not one of my first reactions either. I like your honesty. You are making a true confession. Well yes, I am. I am not proud that I have such poor first reactions to my being mistreated. I want to be able to think and speak and act like you. I want to pattern my life after yours. I want to love like you loved. I want to serve like you served. I want to give like you gave. And I especially want to pray like you prayed. I will confess fully, right now, that I have fallen far short of these goals. I have missed the mark, by a wide margin. Forgive me. You are forgiven.

So, I see that you are willing to listen. You will follow my instructions. You will receive my guidance. Yes, I will. Then I will tell you that there is no blessing in seeking revenge. There is no reward in getting even. Nothing is to be gained by getting paid back for the evil that has been done against you. If you are continually hoping that the score will be made even or that you will receive full justice in this life, you are going to be disappointed. Justice and the score being made even, or your being paid back in this life should not be your concern. What should be my concern? Do to others what you would like them to do to you. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who hurt you. Make this your one and only reaction. With this reaction, you will be my bright witness in a dark and broken world. With this reaction, you will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. With this reaction, you will reap great rewards in heaven. Will this be your one and only reaction? Yes Lord, it will. That will be very good.

Lord, I am listening. I will follow your instructions and receive your guidance. I will love my enemies. I will do good to those who hate me. I will bless those who curse me. I will pray for those who hurt me. I will do to others what I would like them to do to me. Amen

Key Question…  How are you regularly and continually praying for those who hurt you?

Living It Out…  Love your enemies, do good, bless, and pray for those who hurt you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that there will be great rewards for loving and praying for those who hurt you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are praying for those who hurt you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 88 – Luke 6-27-31 – Pray For Those Who Hurt You – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Earnestly Seek You

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 90 - Matthew 18-19-20 - Gathered In My Name - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 90 – Matthew 18-19-20 – Gathered In My Name – Growing As Disciples

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:1-4 (NIV)

Seek You

I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will seek you with all that is within me. I will seek you in the morning, I will seek you in the noon time. I will seek you in the evening. I will seek you all day long. Why is it that you so passionately and persistently and consistently want to seek me? You have placed this desire within me. This desire that is within me has been given to me as a gift. There could be no greater gift than to have a heart that seeks you. I could not have dreamed up this desire. I could not have created this desire within me. Yet here it is. The thirst I have for you is like a thirsty person crawling across a sun scorched desert floor in search of water. I can’t get enough of you. I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to follow and serve you. I want to live my life with and for you. And not just a little bit either. My desire for you is all consuming. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. There is nothing I would rather do than be with you. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask of me. If I have overstated my passionate desire for you or my willingness to do whatever you ask of me; then I ask that you will make what I have said to be absolutely true. Help me to know you intimately. Help me to walk with you closely. Do you believe that I will hear and answer your prayer? Will I do for you what you ask of me? Yes, I do believe. Why would you not start what you have begun? You have made me this way. You have placed these desires within me. Surely, you will complete this good work that you have begun in me. There is no doubt within me that if I seek you with all my heart, I will find you. You will show yourself to me. You will allow me to know you intimately. Yes, I will hear and answer this prayer of yours. For all of this, I give you all honor and praise and glory. I will lift up my hands to you as I bow down to worship you. You are my God and Father. Yes, I am. I am your child. Yes, you are. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, you are my God. Yes, I will earnestly seek you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I will seek you with all that is within me. Because your love is better than life, praise and glory to you will be on my lips as I raise my hands to worship you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you been seeking God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily pattern and practice to seek God with all your heart.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will find God as you seek Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are earnestly seeking God with all your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others…May you earnestly seek God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 90 – Psalm 63-1-4 – Earnestly I Seek You – 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

Gathered In My Name

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 99 - Matthew 18-19-20 - Gathered In My Name - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 99 – Matthew 18-19-20 – Gathered In My Name – Growing As Disciples

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV)

Gathered

That is a critically important word. What is a critically important word? “Gathered” is critically important word. Why is “gathered” such a critically important word? Think of the opposite of the word gathered. That would be scattered. That is correct. Do I want you to live a life that is gathered or scattered? I’m not sure what you mean. Should you live a life that is distant and scattered, and separate from others? Were you made to live on your own, by yourself, independent from others? Now, I am being to understand what you mean. Now, I am seeing where you are headed. What do I mean? Where I am headed. It has never been, nor will it ever be, your will for me to live my life, as one of your followers, off by myself, all alone, without a regular and consistent gathering together with fellow believers. How do I want you to gather? When do I want you to gather? For what purpose will you gather? What will I accomplish in and through you as you gather together with fellow believers? The answers to these questions will be quite lengthy. Go ahead, get started, I’m listening. You want me to gather in worship. You want me to gather in the hearing and proclaiming of your word. You want me to gather in prayer. You want me to gather in fellowship. You want me to gather in serving you. You are correct. There are many ways in which I want you to gather. Let’s talk more about gathering in prayer. That is our main topic for today.

Why do I want you to be gathered in prayer with others? You want me to be spurred and encouraged as I gather with others to pray. You want my prayer life to grow and develop as I gather with others to prayer. You want me to know how to pray according to your will, purposes, and plan as I gather with others to pray. You want me to powerfully sense your presence as you are in our midst as I gather with others to pray. You want my faith and trust in you to grow as I gather with others to pray. You want me to know that our Heavenly Father is hearing and answering our prayers as we gather to pray in your name. You need to say no more. You need to go now farther. I can wait no longer to say, “Yes, I want all these things for you.” “Yes, all these things will be true as you gather together to pray with others.” Will you gather together with others to pray prayers, in my name, to your Heavenly Father? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. Then your prayers will be heard and answered. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will gather with others to agree on and pray prayers to our Heavenly Father. Thank you for your promise to be in our midst as we pray. I know you will guide us as we pray. Thank you that our prayers will be heard and answered as we pray in your name. Amen

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 99 – Matthew 18-19-20 – Gathered In My Name – 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

We Continually Remember

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 97 - 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3 - We Continually Remember - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 97 – 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3 – We Continually Remember – Growing As Disciples

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.                                  1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)  

Continually Remember

I am going to need help on this. You are going to need help on what? I am going to need help on continually remembering to pray for others. Why is that? Continually doing anything with great consistency does not come naturally to me. Even if I did continually remember when to pray, I am certain that, on my own, I would not know how to pray. So, you will need my help on both when and how to continually pray for others. That’s it. Do you know why you would not be successful on either one, without my help? I’m not sure. I’m not certain. You used the phrase, “on my own”. Yes, I did. Will prayer of any kind be something that you will do on your own, without my help? You are pointing out something that I need to continually remember. What’s that? You will give me prayers to pray. You will teach me when, and where, and how to pray. You will help me to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. Prayer doesn’t start with me. It is you that both gives and grants prayers to pray. It is your spirit living and dwelling in me that will guide my prayers. That is correct. So, I am never alone, all on my own, when I am praying. No, you are not. I will always have your help when I am praying. Yes, you will. As I draw near to you in prayer, you will draw near to me. Yes, I will. You will teach me. You will train me.  Yes, I will.

Let’s talk about how you can pray. I’m listening. Can you pray that other’s faith in me will lead to their doing good works for me? Yes, I can. Can you pray that other’s love for me will result in their engaging in joyous labor on my behalf? Yes, I can. Can you pray that other’s hope in me will have great endurance in serving me? Yes, I can. These are great places for you to start in your praying for others. Can you give thanks for all those who love and follow and serve me? Can you give thanks for all those who bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes, I can. Start praying for others in these ways. As you continue in prayer, as you keep on listening to me, I will show you how to pray even more specifically for those who are loving and following and serving me. Will you do this? Will you meet with me in prayer? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, help me to continually remember in prayer those who love, follow, and serve. I will pray that their faith produces good work, their love prompts joyful labor, and that hope will inspire their endurance. Help us all to bear much fruit for your kingdom. Amen

Key Question…  How are you continually remembering in your daily prayers those who love, follow, and serve the Lord?

Living It Out…  Continually pray for the specific needs of those who love, follow, and serve the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer the specific prayers you pray for those who love, follow, and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are praying for those who love, follow, and sere the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you continually remember and pray for others as they love, follow, and serve the Lord.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 97 – 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3 – We Continually Remember – 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 re

A Still Small Voice

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 96 - 1 Kings 19-11-12 - A Still Small Voice - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 96 – 1 Kings 19-11-12 – A Still Small Voice – Growing As Disciples

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV) 

Speak To Me

That is what I want. What do you want? I want you to speak to me. I want to hear your voice. Why do you want me to speak to you? Why do you want to hear my voice? I want to know you. I want to know your will. I want to walk in your ways. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to walk through life with you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to live the life you have called me to live. Would any of that be possible if I never heard from you? Would my own thoughts guide me to where I should go? Would my own ideas give me what I should do? What do you think? I’m more interested in what you think. What have I already said to you? You have said that apart from you, I can do nothing. Do you believe that to be true? I know that to be true. So, are you really ready to listen to me? Yes, I am. That is very good.

What else have I already said to you? You have said that I will find you when I seek you with all my heart. Do you know that to also be true? Yes, I do. That is also very good. What does that tell you about seeking me? What does that tell you about listening to my voice? Seeking you and listening to you is not an occasional, part time, half-hearted effort. If I really want to seek you and hear from you, I must be fully devoted to you. All my heart and mind and life must be focused on you, to both seek and hear from you. That is correct.

What are you prepared to do as your part in seeking and hearing from me? I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of life. I will quiet myself in your presence. I will meet with you in your word. Why is all this important? You will not shout to get my attention. I am very unlikely to hear your still small voice over the noise and busyness of life. That is true. What is also true? I am more than a little hard of hearing. Hearing your voice does not come naturally or easily to me. Hearing your voice seems like a habit to be practiced and a skill to be developed. Yes, it is. As I continue to meet with you in your word, I will learn to hear you speaking to me. I will follow you to where you lead me and do what you ask me. I will then be able to live the life you have called me to live. Of that, you can be certain. Keep on drawing near to me. I will draw near to you. You will hear from me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, this life is busy. This life is noisy. I know that it will be unlikely that I will hear your voice over the noise and busyness of life. So, I will withdraw to quiet places so I can hear from you. I will focus my heart, mind, and life on you. Lord, speak to me. I’m listening. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making a habit of withdrawing from the noise of life so you can hear the Lord’s voice?

Living It Out…  Meet with God in His word and listen to His still small voice speaking to you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will speak to you as you listen carefully to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are making it a habit to listen carefully to the Lord’s voice.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord speaking to you.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 96 – 1 Kings 19-11-12 – A Still Small Voice – 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 re

Humble Themselves And Pray And Seek My Face

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 93 - 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Humble Themselves And Pray And Seek My Face - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 93 – 2 Chronicles 7:14 – Humble Themselves And Pray And Seek My Face – Growing As Disciples

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

I Called You By Name

This applies to you. I did this for you. What did you do for me? I called you by name. Yes, you did. For that, I am so very thankful and grateful. That’s good. How did you respond to me when you heard my call? Maybe, at the time, you did not even realize that I was calling you by name. But you did respond to me. What did you do? What was required of you? There was only one adequate response to your call on my life. I humbled myself before you. I turned my life over to you. I told you that I was going to forsake my wicked ways and sinful life. I said that I was going to leave my old life in the world so that I could love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. I said that I would follow you to where you lead me to do what you ask of me. I gave myself to you, without hesitation, without reservation, and without qualification. I made myself fully available to you. I placed myself at your disposal. Was your response a one time offer? No, not at all, it was a onetime commitment, to be reaffirmed day by day as I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. This commitment meant that I would continually seek to know you and do your will. That is very good.

I want to tell you something. I’m listening attentively to you. This commitment you made, your seeking me with all your heart, and mind. and soul, and strength is the ground on which you can know that I will hear and answer your prayers. Do you know why that is true? I’m not positive. As you live in an intimate relationship with me, as you walk through life with me, as you listen attentively to me, I will both give and grant you prayers to pray. You will know how to pray. You will know what to ask for in prayer. And I will hear and answer your prayers. I would like nothing better than to pray prayers that are according to your will. I want to pray prayers that you will hear and answer. And so, you shall, as you seek me with all your heart. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will humble myself before you. I will turn from wicked ways. I will seek your face with all that is in me. I will pray the prayers you give me to pray. I will pray for the healing of our land. Hear my prayers. Answer our need. My faith, and trust is in you. Amen

Key Question…  What prayers are you now praying for the healing of your land?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily practice to humble yourself, turn from wicked ways and pray to God.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will hear your prayers as you humble yourself, turn from wicked ways, and pray to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group the prayers you are now praying for the healing of our land.

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 93 – 2 Chronicles 7-14 – Humble Themselves And Pray And Seek My Face – 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 re

For This Is God’s Will For You

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 89 - 1 Thessalonians 5-16-18 - For This Is God's Will For You.

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 89 – 1 Thessalonians 5-16-18 – For This Is God’s Will For You.

Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

My Will

Is there any mystery here? Is there a lack of clarity? Is there any room for misunderstanding? Is there a mystery, lack of clarity, or potential misunderstanding about what? About my will. Do you know what is my will for you? Do you know the attitude that I would like you to maintain? Do you know the continual activity that I would like you to be engaged in? Do you know how I would like you to respond to all the twists and turns and ups and downs in life? No, there is no mystery, lack of clarity or room for misunderstanding your will. What is my will for you? You want me to be joyful, thankful, and prayerful throughout all the circumstances of life. That is correct.

What will happen to you as you remain joyful, thankful, and prayerful throughout life? What will be the outcome of your knowing and doing my will? With a joyful and thankful attitude and prayerful action, I will come to know you more intimately. How so? My heart and mind and life will be focused on you. In fact, the only way for me to remain joyful, thankful, and prayerful is to have my heart and mind and life focused on you. You alone can make me joyful, thankful, and prayerful through every adversity in life. You alone are the sole reason why the circumstances of life should never steal my joy and thankfulness or hinder me from praying to you. Why is that? I have a hope and joy and thankfulness in me that far surpasses whatever negative circumstance could come my way in this brief life. I have a hope and joy and thankfulness that is far larger and more comprehensive. This life is like a snap of the fingers or a blink of an eye or a morning mist that quickly passes away. I have an eternal hope and a forever future in you. One day, very soon, I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Yes, you will. So, I need to keep that in the forefront of my heart and mind and life when trouble comes my way. Yes, you do. What else? With a joyful, thankful, and prayerful attitude I will be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Others will be drawn to you because they will see your life being lived out, in and through me. Others will want to come to know and love and follow and serve you because of the joy and thankfulness and prayerfulness they see in me. Yes, they will. I will be able to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name as I remain joyful, thankful, and prayerful. Yes, you will. Will you remain joyful, thankful, and prayer throughout all the circumstances of your life? Yes, I will. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I want to know and do your will. In this case, I do clearly know your will. It is your will that I am joyful, thankful, and prayerful throughout all the twists and turns, and ups and downs of life. Help me to think and speak and act according to your will. Amen

Key Question…  When have you been able to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful in a difficult circumstance?

Living It Out… Live out God’s will by being joyful, prayerful, and thankful in all circumstances.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that it is God’s will for you to always be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful in all circumstances.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are joyful, prayerful, and thankful in all circumstances.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you always be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful in all circumstances.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 89 – 1 Thessalonians 5-16-18 – For This Is God’s Will For You – 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

For Everyone Who Asks Receives

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 98 - Matthew 7-7-11 - For Everyone Who Asks Receives - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 98 – Matthew 7-7-11 – For Everyone Who Asks Receives – Growing As Disciples

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV)

Will You?

Will I what? Will you make your wants and needs known to me? Will you come and ask for my help? Will you rely on me? Will you ask until you receive? Will you seek until you find? Will you knock until doors open for you? Now, do not be so quick to answer my questions. Think deeply about what I have asked of you. Consider the implications of each question. Now? Yes, now. Jump right in, get started, tell me what you think. I think prayer is essentially relying on you. If I don’t make my wants and needs known to you, then I am not relying on you. I think prayerlessness is rooted in pride. If I don’t make my wants and needs known to you, I must think that I can meet them all by myself. That would be foolish. That would be misguided. That would be prideful. I will rely on you. I will humbly make my wants and needs known to you. That is very good. Keep going, tell me more. I will be persistent and consistent in my prayers. I will not pray one and done prayers. I will keep on praying for what I want and need, not only for myself, but also for others. I will only stop when I have received an answer from you. And I know that, “no” is sometime the best answer you can give me. You are far wiser than me. You know what is best for me. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for prayer requests that you said, “no” to. It is wise of you to understand why I have sometimes said “no” to one of your prayer requests. I’m not finished. Yes, keep going. There are two things that I will be continually seeking from you. What’s that? I will be seeking to know you. And I have no doubt that you will help me to know you more and better as I seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. Yes, you can count on that. I will also seek to know and do your will. I will allow you to guide the entire course of my life. Yes, I will guard and guide your life as you follow and serve me. Of that, I have no doubt of either. That’s good. I’m not finished yet. Yes, I know. I will keep on knocking. I will keep on asking you to open doors of opportunity. What kind of doors of opportunity will you ask me to open for you? I will ask you to open doors of opportunity for me to serve you. I will ask you to open doors of opportunity for me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I will ask you to open doors of opportunity for me to store up treasure in heaven with you. These are doors of opportunity that I will gladly open for you. Keep on asking. Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking. Yes, Heavenly Father, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I will make my wants and needs to you. I will seek until I find. I will knock until doors open. I will ask until I receive. I know you give very good gifts. I know that you will hear and answer my prayers as I persistently and consistently pray to you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you come to trust your Heavenly Father’s manner and timing in answering your prayers?

Living It Out…  Be persistent and consistent in making your wants and needs know to your Heavenly Father.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will hear and answer your prayers in His manner according to His timing.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what prayers you are persistently praying to your Heavenly Father.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you keep on asking God for what you need.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 98 – Matthew 7-7-11 – For Everyone Who Asks Receives – 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

Investigate My Life

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 92 - Psalm 139-23-24 - Investigate My Life - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 92 – Psalm 139-23-24 – Investigate My Life – Growing As Disciples

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalm 139:23-24 (MSG)

Examine Me

That is what I want you to do. What do you want me to do? I want you to examine my life. I want you to a long and hard and close look at my life. Aren’t you worried about what I will find? Not at all. You are that confident? Yes, I am that confident. Wait, let me be clear, I am not confident in myself, that would be ridiculous. My confidence is in you. What kind of confidence do you have in me? I am confident that you love and care for me. I am confident that you are molding and shaping my life. I am confident that you are and will continue to make me into the person you want me to become. I am like a lump of clay in your hands. So, I am positive that you will see many things that need to be changed in me when you take a long and hard and close look at my life. I know it is silly and foolish for me to speaking in this way. You know more about me than I know about myself. You know what needs changing in me even before the thought of asking you to examine me entered my mind. Yes, I do. Why then bother asking me to examine your life? It is the asking that you want from me. It is my welcoming you to examine my life that is pleasing to you. It is my willingness to submit myself to you that brings you joy. Yes, it does. You must know more than you have already said. Yes, I do. Tell me what you know. You have been and are and will continue to do a good work in me. You are helping me to become like you in my thoughts and words and actions. What else? Nothing, but good can come out of my inviting you to examine my life. I will never regret that you examined my life. I will never regret when you change me in ways that please you. I want what you want. I want to live the life you have called me to life. I want to be the person you have called me to be. These desires that you have placed in me will only occur as you examine my life and do your good work in me. So here I am, and I will say it again, “examine me”. Yes, I will. Yes, I will continue to do my good work in you. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, examine my life thoroughly. Test me. Do your work in me. Mold and shape me. Make me to be like you. I want to think, speak, and act like you. Lead me as I walk through life with you. Guard and guide me as I live out the eternal life you have given me. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making it your daily practice to ask the Lord to investigate your life?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to examine your life and make changes in you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will examine your life and make changes in you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has examined your life and made changes in you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the Lord to investigate your life and make the changes He wants to make in you.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 92 – Psalm 139-23-24 – Investigate My Life – 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