Category Archives: The Sacramental Life

Let Us Draw Near

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The Sacramental Life - Day 330 - Hebrews 10:19-25 - Let Us Draw Neat To God - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 330 – Hebrews 10:19-25 – Let Us Draw Neat To God – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,  by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)

Draw Near

There is nothing I would rather do than draw near to you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. In your presence, there is hope and joy and peace. In your presence, there is rest and renewal and restoration. In your presence, there is power and strength. In your presence, there is a place of refuge from every storm. In your presence, there is instruction and guidance and direction. In your presence, there is health and healing and wholeness. I need to draw near to you. I want to draw near to you. I have needs that can only be met by you, as I live in an intimate relationship with you. Is that what you will do? Will you draw near to me? Will you live in an intimate relationship with me? Yes, I will. That is very good.         

You have more to say on this subject. You have more to ask of me? Yes, I have more to say and more to ask. I wonder why drawing near to you doesn’t come easier. I know how much I want to draw near to you. I know how much I will benefit as I draw near to you. Why am I so distracted? Why is drawing near to you so difficult? Why does drawing near to you require such effort and discipline on my part? Why must I schedule a time and place to meet with you? Why will I not draw near to you if I don’t make doing so the priority of my life? How could I let trivial things of much less value crowd you out of my life? Why am I so allured by the demands of this life? Why don’t I automatically choose what is far better and more important? Why am I so strongly tempted to focus on earthly and temporal things over heavenly and eternal things? Do you want an answer? Do you need an answer? I know that I live in a sin broken world. I know that this world is always attempting to mold me into its pattern. I know that I need to be careful and focus my attention so that I am not allured and distracted by the things of this life. I will focus my attention on you. I will draw near to you. I will live in an intimate relationship with you. I know that doing so will require my very best effort and my full commitment. Drawing near to you is now and will forever be the priority of my life. That is very good. You will never regret making this choice. Yes, I know. Thank you, Heavenly Father for allowing me to draw near to you and live in an intimate relationship with you. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son into the world to pay for my sins. I have been forgiven and cleansed. The way to you has been opened. I am acceptable in your sight. I can draw near to you. Help me to live in and intimate relationship with you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you taking daily advantage of your new privilege and opportunity to draw near to God?

Living It Out…  Daily draw near to God so you will be able to live in an intimate relationship with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you have been given the privilege and opportunity to draw near to God.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are daily drawing near to God.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you draw near to God and live in an intimate relationship with Him.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 330 – Hebrews 10-19-25 – Let Us Draw Near – 4 Paged Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart

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The Sacramental Life - Day 329 - Proverbs 3:5-8 - Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 329 – Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart – Growing As Disciples

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)

Trust You 

That is what I will do. What will you do? I will trust you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will trust you with all that is within me. Very well then, there is no problem. I wouldn’t say that. Why wouldn’t you say that? Well, it sometimes seems harder to trust in you than it is to rely on myself.  Really, have you had a good result when you have relied on yourself? Do you have a great track record of success when you have leaned on your own understanding? No, not at all, I have not had a good result or a great track record when I have relied on myself. In fact, relying on myself or being wise in my own eyes has usually met with disaster. Then what seems so easy about relying on yourself? That is a good question. I don’t know why I have ever thought relying on my own understanding or being wise in my own eyes has ever been a good idea. Taking such a course or implementing such a strategy has led me on a crooked path. I have bounced from one unproductive and unfruitful endeavor to another. I was wasted a great deal of time and energy following the course that I have laid out for myself. That is not good. I know. What would you like to do differently? I would like to live out my confession. I would like to rely fully on you. I would like to acknowledge you in all my ways. I would like to fear you and shun evil in every form. That will be very good. What will happen to your life as you trust in and acknowledge me fully? What will happen to you as you fear me and shun evil? I will live a fruitful and productive with and for you. I will walk a straight path to where you lead me. I will walk a straight path to do what you give me to do. My life will be filled with health to my body and nourishment to my bones. I will live the life that you have called me to live. Yes, you will and that will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will trust in you with all my heart. I will not rely on my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge you. I will not be wise in my own eyes. I will fear you and shun evil. Lead me on a straight and fruitful path. Fill my bones and body with health. Amen

Key Question…  When have you found it hard to trust in the Lord and easy to rely on your own understanding?

Living It Out…  Trust in the Lord with all your heart rather than relying on your own understanding.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will make your path straight and fruitful as you acknowledge and rely on Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are trusting the Lord rather than relying on your understanding

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 329 – Proverbs 3-5-8 – Trust In The Lord – 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

Had Been With Jesus

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The Sacramental Life - Day 328 - Acts 4:13 - Had Been With Jesus - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 328 – Acts 4:13 – Had Been With Jesus – Growing As Disciples

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NIV)

Become Like Me

Do you want to become like me? Is that even a possibility? Is that even a legitimate question? Would I ask you an illegitimate question? Would I ask you to consider something that is impossible? No, you would not ask me an illegitimate or impossible question. How can I become like you? How can I think and speak and act like you? Isn’t the answer obvious to you? Not real obvious to me, no. I do know how I will never become like you. How is that? I will never become like you as a result of my own efforts. I cannot make myself to be like you. I cannot become like you by trying harder to be better. Believe me I have given by best self-efforts. I have failed miserable at trying harder and harder to be like you. That certainly is not the answer. No. it is not. You can give up on that. You can quit trying harder to be like me. That sounds odd to me. I can understand how it might.

Here is the truth, only I can make you to be like me. I can teach you. I can train you. I can mold and shape you. I can change your heart. I can transform your mind. I can guard and guide your life. You can do none of these things for yourself. I know that to be true. Now, before you think that you have no role in becoming like me, I want to quickly correct your thinking. You have a critical role in becoming like me. What is my role? Your role is to draw near to me. Your role is to come to me. Your role is to remain in my presence. If you do not fulfill your role, you will never become like me. In my presence, you will be changed. In my presence, you will be transformed. Can you see how vital your role is in becoming like me? You can choose to be everywhere and anywhere else but in my presence. With that choice you will never change. With that choice you will never become like me. You will never come to know me. You will never be able to think and speak and act like me. You will never be able to know and do my will. I do see my vital role in becoming like you. I will draw near to you. I will come to you. I will remain in your presence. That will be very good. Then you will become like me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will come to you. I will draw near to you. I will rest in your presence. I will listen attentively to you. As I remain in your presence change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Make me to be like you in all that I think, and say, and do. Amen

Key Question…  How is remaining in the Lord’s presence giving you courage and enabling you to be a bold witness for Him?

Living It Out…  Spend time with Jesus so you can become like Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be changed as you spend time with Jesus.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are being changed as you spend time with Jesus.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you spend time with Jesus so you can become like Him.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 328 – Acts 4-13 – Had Been With Jesus – 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

Being United With Christ

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The Sacramental Life - Day 327 - Philippians 2:1-4 - Being United With Christ - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 327 – Philippians 2:1-4 – Being United With Christ – 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.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)

Motivation

What is your motivation? I’m not sure that I know what you are asking me. What motivates the way that you think and speak and act toward others? That is a very good question that is causing me to evaluate my behavior. Do I think and speak and act out of my own self-interest?  I am living to please myself? Am I listening attentively to others? Am I aware of what those around me want and need? I strongly suspect that you want me to ask and answer those questions, am I correct? You are correct. I will say this, I want to follow your example. I want to think like you thought. I want to speak like you spoke. I want to act like you acted. In every way I want to live as you lived. I could also say that I want to be able to know and do your will. Do you know why you have these desires in you? You are my Savior and Lord. Your Holy Spirit lives and dwells inside of me. I am united with you in living the new life that you have given me to live. Day by day you are molding and shaping my life. It is your purpose and plan to make me to be like you in all that I think, say, and do. You have answered well. You do have a band new life to live in me. I am molding and shaping your life. You are like clay in my hand. Will you keep on welcoming my work in you? Will you continue to live as I lived? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

What will your new life that is united in me look like? I will do nothing out of vain conceit. Selfish ambition will not be the motivation of my life. I will treat others with tenderness and compassion. I will love others just as you have loved me. I will live in unity with others, being one in spirit with them, seeking to accomplish your common purposes. In humility, I will consider others as better than myself, so that I can serve them well. It could almost go without saying that I will look not only to my own interests but also to the interest of others. This is how living my new life in you will look. Living this new life in you will be my motivation. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for giving me a brand-new life to live. Keep on transforming the way I think, speak, and act toward others. I humbly consider others as better than myself. I will look not only to my interests but also to the interests of others so I can serve them. Amen

Key Question…  How has being united with Christ transformed your thoughts, words, and actions?

Living It Out…  Allow your being united with Christ to transform the way you think and speak and act towards others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that being united with Christ will transform the way you think and speak and act.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your being united with Christ is transforming your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be united with Christ and like-minded with Him.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 327 – Philippians 2-1-4 – Being United With Christ – 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                          

He Will Be Called

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The Sacramental Life - Day 326 - Isaiah 9:6-7 - He Will Be Called - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 326 – Isaiah 9:6-7 – He Will Be Called – Growing As Disciples

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

As Described

There is no doubt about that. There is no doubt about what? You are as described. You are as you are called. You are as you are named. How am I described and called and named? You are the Son that has been given. You came into this world to be the Savior of the world. You came into this world to be the Lord of all who would receive as their Savior. Most importantly, at least in my opinion you came into this world to be my Savior and Lord. You lived and died for me. Your death of the cross paid for my sin. Your blood cleansed my unrighteous. You made it so I could be righteous in your sin. You set me apart, so I could love and follow and serve you as my Savior and Lord. On top of that, as a guarantee of my inheritance in heaven with you, you filled me with your Holy Spirit. So now, I am receiving your wonderful counsel. You are guiding me through life. You are leading me to where you want me to go and giving me what you want me to do for you. In that I delight. It is my joy and pleasure to follow and serve you. That is very good. I am not finished answering your question. Keep on going. You are Mighty God and Everlasting Father. That is an awesome combination. How so? As Mighty God, you are all powerful, all knowing and ever present. Nothing escapes your notice. Nothing takes you by surprise. Nothing is out of your control. As Everlasting Father, you love and care for me. You hear and answer my prayers. You are my refuge in life. You are my shelter in every storm. You lead me through every twist and turn and up and down in life. As Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace, I can take comfort in you. You are the gracious and generous giver of wisdom. You fill me with your peace, that is incomprehensibly beyond explanation, even as I go through trials and adversity in life. You are guarding and guiding me as I walk through life with you as I eagerly await the day that I will come to live forever in your Heavenly Kingdom. That will be a great and glorious day! Yes, it will. Thank you, Lord, for being as described. 

Lord, thank you for coming into this world to be my Savior. You are my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. I know I can rely on your help throughout my life. I look forward to coming to live forever in heaven with you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you welcomed, the Son who was given, into your life as your Savior and Lord?

Living It Out…  Give thanks to the Lord for who He is and all that He has done and will do for you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on the Lord’s mighty power to help you in life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you rely on who the Lord is, has done, and will do for you.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 326 – Isaiah 9-6-7 – He Will Be Called – 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

Who Is This Man?

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The Sacramental Life - Day 325 - Matthew 8:23-27 - Who Is This Man? - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 325 – Matthew 8:23-27 – Who Is This Man? – Growing As Disciples

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.  Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm.  The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27 (NLT)

Storms Of Life

You will go through many storms in life. This should come as no surprise to you. In the storms of life, you will have one choice to make. Will you place your faith in me, or will you place your faith in yourself? That doesn’t sound like much of a choice, or rather should I say, that does seem like a difficult choice to make? Is that what you think? Do you think you have an easy choice before you? Well, not exactly. I may have an easy choice to make but the follow through or living it out or putting it into practice is much more difficult. How so? I could quickly and easily say that I will always place my faith in you through all the storms of life. I could continue by saying that I will never place my faith in myself as I go through storms in life. But would my thoughts and words and actions be consistent with my placing all my faith in you? What if I were afraid and filled with worry in the middle of all the storms of life? What if I were to tell myself that I wasn’t going to make it, that I was going to drown? What if I took every possible action, by myself, to get around or remove myself from every storm that came my way? Wouldn’t those thoughts and words and actions tell me where my faith was placed? If these were my thoughts and words and actions in the storms of life it would be obvious that I had placed my faith in myself. You have made a very good point.

How do you want to respond to the storms of life? I want to come to you. I want to place my faith in you. I want you to be my shelter. I want you to be my refuge in every storm. I want to have complete hope and faith and trust in you. I want to meet with you in prayer when trouble swirls around me. I want to be filled with your peace even when storms rage all around me. I want to know without a doubt that you are with me to help me. You will bring me through every storm. So, that is what I will do. I will place all my faith in you. I will hold on to you as you hold on to me in all the storms of life. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have gone through many storms in life. At times I have thought I might drown. I don’t ever want to go through another storm without you. I will place all my faith in you. I will not be afraid because I know that you will always be with me to help me. Amen

Key Question…  How has your faith in the Lord grown stronger as you gone through storms with Him?

Living It Out…  Place all your faith in the Lord as you go through storms in life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will be with you to help you when you go through storms in life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you go through storms in life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you place your faith in the Lord as you go through all the storms of life.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 325 – Matthew 8-23-27 – Who Is This Man? – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Remain In Me And I Will Remain In You

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The Sacramental Life - Day 323 - John 15:1-4 - Remain In Me And I Will Remain In You - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 323 – John 15:1-4 – Remain In Me And I Will Remain In You – Growing As Disciples

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:1-4 (NIV)

Fruitful

Do you want to live a life that is fruitful? Do you want to bear fruit for my kingdom? Do you want to bring glory to my name? Do you want to shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world? Would you like to live a life that I can use? Do you want to others to be drawn to me through the witness and testimony of your life? Would you one day like to hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant?” Yes, I want all of this. How can I live this kind of life? What will be required of me for this to be true of me? You must do one thing if you want to live this kind of life. You must do one thing if you want these things to be true of you. You have my full attention. I am listening very carefully to you. What one thing must I do? You must live in an intimate relationship with me. You must make living in an intimate relationship with me the priority of your life. Does that sound simple? Does that easy? Before you answer, I will answer for you. No, it will not be simple. No, it will not be easy. Living in an intimate relationship with me will require everything from you. Does my answer surprise you? No, not really. Why is that? I know that the world, my flesh, and the devil will make every effort to prevent me from living in an intimate relationship with you. I know that the hurry and noise and busyness of life will make every attempt to distract me from living in an intimate relationship with you. I know that the thoughts and opinions and values of the world will try to conform to its pattern and mood me into its shape. But I will have none of this. I have had enough of this fruitless and barren life. I will have no more of living at a distance from you. Now, there is no place I would rather be than in your presence. Now, there is nothing I would rather do than bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Living in an intimate relationship with you may not be easy or simple but neither is it hard. Why is that? I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to live a life of pleasing you. Nothing will bring me greater joy or pleasure than living in an intimate relationship with you. Giving myself to you completely is the desire of my heart. Here I am, I am all yours. I will live in an intimate relationship with you. That is very good. Yes, it is.

Lord, I know I have gotten caught up in the hurry, noise, and busyness of life. This is not a life of abiding. This is no way to remain in you. This is the opposite of living in an intimate relationship with you. Help me to live an abundant, fruitful life of abiding in you. Amen

Key Question…  What commitment will be required of you if you want to live in an intimate relationship with the Lord?

Living It Out…  Make it your daily priority to meet in prayer with the Lord so you can remain in Him and bear fruit for His kingdom.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will bear an abundance of fruit for the kingdom of God as you abide in Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group what spiritual disciplines have most helped you to abide in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you remain in Christ so you can bear an abundance of fruit for Him.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 323 – John 15-1-4 – Remain In Me And I Will Remain In 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

Understands And Knows Me

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The Sacramental Life - Day 322 - Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Understands And Knows Me - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 322 – Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Understands And Knows Me – Growing As Disciples

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,  but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)

Know Me

Do you want to know me? Yes Lord, I want to understand and know you. I don’t want to know you a little bit. It is my hope and dream and desire and goal and prayer that I will come to know you intimately. I want to walk through life with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to follow you to where you lead me. I want to do what you ask of me. This is quite a change within you. Yes, at one time I had very different priorities. You might have heard or seen me boasting in my wisdom or strength or maybe even in my riches. I did. Oddly enough, I’m not sure how any of those could have ever been my boast, I had so little of any of them. Nevertheless, I still placed my faith in myself. I trusted in my own wisdom, strength, and riches. What foolishness. There is no surer road to discouragement and defeat and depression than in relying on oneself. That was me. That is what I did. That is how I lived. What happened? What turned your life around? You turned my life around. You showed me the foolishness of my own ways. You brought me to yourself. You forgave my sin. You cleansed my unrighteous. You filled me with your Spirit. You gave me a new life to live. You caused me to hunger for you. You allowed to taste of your kindness and mercy and love. You drew me into a relationship with you. You lavished me with your love. You poured out your blessing on me. I now love you because you first loved me. Now, because I love you, I want to live in ways that delight you. What delights me? My thinking and speaking and acting like you brings you delight. My living as you lived brings you delight. My exercising kindness, justice, and righteousness, as you do, brings you delight. My bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name delights you. My living in an intimate relationship with you brings you delight. Yes, these all bring me delight. Me too. I love to live in your delight. That is very good.

Lord, it is my desire, goal, and prayer to come to understand and know you. Nothing is a close second. I will never boast in wisdom or strength or riches. They will always fail me. As I come to understand and know you, help me to live in ways that will delight you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you made it your desire, goal, and prayer to understand and know the Lord?

Living It Out…  Make it your desire, goal, and prayer to come to understand and know the Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be able to live in ways that delight the Lord as you come to understand and know Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to come to understand and know Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you understand and know the Lord so you can live in ways that delight Him.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 322 – Jeremiah 9-23-24 – Understands And Knows Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

This Is The Message

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The Sacramental Life - Day 317 - 1 John 1:5-10 - This Is The Message- Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 317 – 1 John 1:5-10 – This Is The Message – Growing As Disciples

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.  So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.  But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.  If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.  But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.    1 John 1:5-10 (NLT)

The Message

You got the message.  The message was declared to you. In me there is no darkness at all. I am light. You cannot live in an intimate relationship with me and go on living in spiritual darkness. Following me required you to turn away from darkness and leave your old life of sin far behind you. It would have been a tragic mistake for you to maintain that there was no sin in you. To think or say that would only be foolishness on your part. The only person being fooled would have been yourself. But that was not what you thought or did. You did not deny your own sinfulness. You did not try to hide your own unrighteousness. You did what you needed to do.  You acknowledged and confessed your sin to me so you could receive forgiveness of your sin and cleansing of your unrighteousness Then you have kept on walking in the light with me. Then you have not turned back. You have kept on moving forward with me, living in daily fellowship with me and with your fellow believers.  You have been and are now allowing me to change your heart and transform your mind. You are allowing me to do my good work in you. And you are a work in progress. Moment by moment and day by day, I am molding and shaping you. I am removing from you what is not pleasing to me. I am making you to be more like me. My work in you will not end in this life, of that you can be certain. When will I complete my work in you? Only when you see me will you fully become like me, because you will see me as I am. In that moment you will be completely changed. How does all this sound to you? Keep on doing your good work in me. Keep on purifying my heart and mind and life. Keep on making me to be like you. I have heard the message. I will walk in the light with you! That is very good.

Lord, I have turned away from darkness and confessed my sin to you. Thank you for forgiving my sins and cleansing my unrighteousness. Help me to walk in the light with you. Help me to live in an intimate relationship with you and fellow believers. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making it your decision to turn away from darkness to walk in the light with the Lord?

Living It Out…  Confess your sins to the Lord so you can be forgiven and cleansed of your sins as you walk in the light with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will forgive and cleanse your sins as you confess them, as you walk in the light with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are confessing your sins, as you walk in the light with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live in the light as God is in the light.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 321 – 1 John 1-5-10 – This Is The Message – 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