Category Archives: The Virtuous Life

The Truth Will Set You Free

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The Virtuous Life - Day 197 - John 8:31-32 - The Truth Will Set You Free - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 197 – John 8:31-32 – The Truth Will Set You Free – Growing As Disciples

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NIV)

Hold To My Teaching

How will you do that? How will I do what? How will you hold to my teaching? Wait, before answering. I would like to ask you a few more questions. Go ahead, I’m listening. Why do you want to hold to my teaching? Why do you believe in me? Are you really one of my disciples? Now, you may start answering my questions. I do want to hold to your teaching. I want to hear and know and follow and obey your word. I want to put your word into practice. Why, you may ask. I might. I want to hold to your teaching because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is no burden for me to follow and obey your word. Loving you means that I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want to be and am fully devoted to you. Without hesitation, without reservation, I want to give all that I am and hope to be to you. That is very good. I can take no credit for coming to believe in you. I can take no credit for coming to know you. I can take no credit for the love I have in my heart for you. It is you who first loved me. It was you who drew me to yourself. It is you who saved me. You helped me to come to receive you as my Savior and Lord. You have forgiven me of my sins. You have cleansed me of my unrighteousness. You are now using your word to guard and guide the course of my life. Yes, I am. You have also made me to be one of your disciples. That is true.

Let’s get a little more specific about how you will hold on to my teaching. How will you take my word into your heart and mind and life? How will you allow my word to change your heart, transform your mind, and guide your life? How will you allow my word to mold and shape you? How will you allow me to use my word to set you free? I will meet with you in your word. I will listen attentively to you. I will make meeting with you in your word a daily priority in my life. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will study your word. I will pray your word. I will sing your word. I will teach and proclaim your word. In every way possible I will take a firm hold of your word so that your word will take a firm hold of me. That will be very good. In doing so, you will be my disciple. In doing so, you will surely be set free. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I believe in you with all my heart. As your disciple, I will hold to your teaching. I will take your word deep into my heart and mind and life. Help me to know the truth of your word. Cause me to be set free by your word as I love and follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you been set free by God’s word as you have heard it and put it into your daily practice?

Living It Out…  Make it the priority of your life to hear and put God’s word into practice, so by it, you can be set free.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be set free by the power of God’s word as you hear it and put it into your daily practice.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God uses His word to change your heart and transform your mind.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you hear and know and follow and obey God’s word so you can be set free by it.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 197 – John 8-31-32 – The Truth Will Set You Free – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Meditate On These Things

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The Virtuous Life - Day 196 - Philippians 4:8-9 - Meditate On These Things - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 196 – Philippians 4:8-9 – Meditate On These Things – Growing As Disciples

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV)

My Thoughts

Can I really control my thoughts? Am I able to tell my mind what to think? Those are two very good questions. Why is that? Many do not believe that they can control the thoughts of their mind. Many do not think that they can tell their mind what to think. From these verses you should know that you can control your thoughts and choose what you will allow your mind to think. They key word I have used is the word, choose. What will you choose to think? Will what you choose to think eliminate and even push other thoughts and words out of your mind? Like, if I chose to think what is true, I won’t think about what is false. Exactly. Or, if I chose to think what is noble and just and pure, I will not think what is ignoble or unjust or impure. Or, if I think about what is lovely and of good report or virtuous or praiseworthy, I will not be thinking of their opposites. You got it. If you control your thoughts in this way you will be halfway on your way to living a life filled with the peace, I want to give to you. Halfway, what else must I do to receive the peace you want to give to me? Not only must you hear and meditate on my word if you want my peace, but you must also put my word into practice. What you have heard and learned and seen and received from me you must also put it in practice. Hearing and meditating alone, although a very good start, will not bring you my full measure of peace, without your putting my word into daily practice. Do you understand? Yes, I understand quite clearly. I do however want to make one more thing quite clear to you. Both hearing and doing my word go together. Hearing and meditating on my word will change your heart and transform your mind and guide your life. As you hear and meditate on my word, I will make you able to put it into practice. Hearing and meditating on my word will fill you with desire to do what is pleasing to me. When you hear and do my word, your life will be filled with my peace. That I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that my mind is a battle ground. I also know that I can choose what I allow myself to think. I will choose to meditate on your word. I will think about what is virtuous and praiseworthy. I will put your word into practice so I can live in your peace. Amen 

Key Question…  What conditions, according to these verses, must be met for God’s peace to be with you?

Living It Out…  Meditate on and put God’s word into practice so you will be filled with the peace of God.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will be filled with peace as you meditate on and put God’s word into practice.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how meditating On God’s word is changing your heart and mind.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you meditate on what is virtuous and praiseworthy.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 196 – Philippians 4-8-9 – Meditate On These Things – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Righteousness God Desires

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The Virtuous Life - Day 195 - James 1:19-21 - Righteousness God Desires - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 195 – James 1:19-21 – Righteousness God Desires – Growing As Disciples

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. James 1:19-21 (NLT)

Planted In You

Do you want to live the righteous life I desire? Do you want to think, and speak, and act in ways that are pleasing to me? Do you want to live the life I have called you to live?  I will give an emphatic and passionate yes to all three of your questions. Yes, I want to live the righteous life you desire. Yes, I want to think, and speak, and act in ways that are pleasing to you. Yes, I want to life the life you have called me to live. That is very good. How can I live such a life? How will you make be able to live the righteous life that you desire for me? Let me break down your question, which is very good. First, it is I, that will make you able to live a righteous life. And it is true, it is my desire for you, that you live a righteous life. Both are true. Now for the main thrust of your question which was, “How can I make you able to live the righteous life I desire for you?” Yes, that’s it. You must draw near to me. You must come into my presence. You must meet with me in my word. You must humbly allow me to plant my word deeply in you. My word will change your heart. My word will transform your mind. My word will guide your life. That I will do. That is not all. As you allow me to humbly plant my word in you, there is something else you must do. What is that? You must remove any filth and evil from your life. Will that be difficult? Will that be troublesome? Will that be painful? It could be. It may be. On your own, without my help, it would be impossible. But as you draw near to me and allow my word to be deeply planted in you, your heart and mind and life be changed and transformed. You will welcome my work in you. We will be on the same page. You will want what I want. You will want, with all your heart, to live the life I have for you. Yes, I will. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will humbly allow your word to be deeply planted in me. Use your word to produce in me the righteous life you desire. Remove any filth and evil from my life. Use your word to help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Amen

Key Question…  What work has God done in you as you have humbly allowed His word to be deeply planted in you?

Living It Out…  Allow God’s word to be deeply planted in you so you can live the righteous life He desires.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the God’s word being deeply planted in you will help you to live the righteous life He desires.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God’s word to be planted deeply in you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you humbly allow God’s word to be deeply planted in you so you can live the righteous life He desires.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 195 – James 1-19-21 – Righteousness God Desires – 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

Do Not Conform

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The Virtuous Life - Day 194 - Romans 12:1-2 - Do Not Conform- Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 194 – Romans 12:1-2 – Do Not Conform- Growing As Disciples

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

Transformed

Is that what you would like? Is what would I like? Would you like to be transformed? Would you like to have a new mind? Would you like to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me? Would you like to be able to know and do my will? Yes, I would like to be transformed. Yes, I would like to be able to know and do your will. Yes, I would like to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. Why do you have this desire in you? I have tasted of your kindness and mercy and love. Because of all that you have done for me, I now want to live my life with and for you. I would like to give myself completely to you as a living sacrifice, as a spiritual act of worship. I want to love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. That is very good. 

There is a problem. What is the problem? You live in a world filled with sin and darkness and evil. You are in danger, at all times, of being conformed to the pattern of the world. If you do nothing, you will think and speak and act like everyone else in the world. If you allow yourself to be conformed to the world you will never be able to know and do my will. If you allow yourself to be conformed to the world, you will never life a life that is pleasing to me. Do you understand? A battle is constantly raging over your heart and mind. Yes, I understand. What must I do to have a transformed mind? You must allow me to use my word to transform your mind. You must take my word deeply into your heart and mind. My word will make you able to know and do my will. My word will make you able to think and speak and act in ways that please me. My word will prevent you from ever being conformed to this world. Will You take my word deeply into your heart and mind? Will you allow me to use my word to transform your mind. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know this world is continually trying to conform me to its pattern. I know if I do nothing, I will think and speak and act like everyone else in the world. That is not going to happen. I will allow you to use your word to completely transform my mind. Amen

Key Question…  How is God’s word transforming your mind so that you can think, say, and do what is pleasing to Him?

Living It Out…  Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind so you can know and do God’s will.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will transform your mind so you can know and do His will.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God to use His word to transform your mind.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you not be conformed to this word but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 194- Romans 12-1-2 – Do Not Conform – 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

Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled

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The Virtuous Life - Day 193 - 1 Peter 1:13-16 - Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 193 – 1 Peter 1:13-16 – Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

Mindset

What is your mindset? I’m not sure what you mean by that question. What is your mind set on? What are you allowing yourself to think? That is a very important question, I would guess. You would be guessing correctly. Your mindset will direct the course of your life. All your thoughts and words and actions will flow out of your mindset. All your opinions and values will be come from your mindset. If your mind is set on worldly things, you will then think and speak and act in worldly ways. All the conduct and character of your life will be guided by your mindset. Now, do you understand the importance of your mind set? Yes, I do. You have made that quite clear to me. That’s good.

I know that you want to become like me. I know that you want to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me.I know that you want to be holy just as I am holy. Am I correct? Are these the true desires of your heart and mind and life? Yes, you know the desires of my heart. I am also confident that you have placed these desires in me. They have come to me as a great and gracious gift, from you to me. I also know that you have and are continuing to fan the flame of these desires in me. Yes, I am. It is wise that you recognize what I have, am, and will continue to do in you. The only wisdom that I have comes from you. That is also true.

Will you continue to set your heart and mind and life on me? Will you keep on turning away from worldly thoughts from this world? Will you continue to allow me to prepare your mind for action so that you will be able to think and speak and act like me? Will you allow me to make you into a bold and bright witness for me in the darkness of this world? Yes Lord, I will. I will draw near to you. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. The focus of my attention will be on you. I will listen attentively to you. I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. That will be very good. Then the desires of your heart, and mind and life will be fulfilled. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will prepare my mind for action. I will set my heart and mind and life on all the hope that I have in you. Help me to be self-controlled. Help me to think and speak and act like you. Help me to be holy in all I think, say, and do. Make me to be like you. Amen 

Key Question…  How is setting your mind on Christ helping you to be holy in all you think, say, and do?

Living It Out…  Set your heart and mind and life on Christ so you can become like Him in all your thoughts, words, and actions.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to be holy in all that you think and say and do.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing the Lord to make you like Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be holy in all you think and say and do.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 193 – 1 Peter 1-13-16 – Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled- 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide.pdf

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

Run With Perseverance The Race

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The Virtuous Life - Day 192 - Hebrews 12:1-3 - Run With Perseverance The Race - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 192 – Hebrews 12:1-3 – Run With Perseverance The Race – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

Focused On Me

Do you want to run well and finish strong on the course that I have marked out for you? Do you want to stay on course and not become entangled in what would hinder you in your race of faith? Do you want to keep on running so you will not grow weary and lose heart? Yes, I want to run well and finish strong. Yes, I want to stay on course and not become entangled in what would hinder me in my race of faith. What will help me to stay on course? What will help me to run well and finish strong? What will prevent me from growing weary and losing heart? Those are all good questions. You are wise in knowing that much will be much required of you if you want all these things to be true for you in your race of faith. I’m listening. What must I do? What will be required of me? First, you must receive encouragement. You must realize that many, a multitude really, have gone before you. Look at the examples of all those who have run the race of faith before you. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witness. Emulate their lives. Follow their example. Let their lives and their godly character inspire you. Know that this cloud of witnesses is not silent. They are behind you, they are beside you, they are in front of you. They are cheering loudly for you. Do what they did. What did they do? They threw off anything and everything that would prevent them from running well. They did not let themselves become entangled in sin. Nothing distracted them. Nothing diverted them. Will you follow their example? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

We are not done yet. There is more? There is much more. Those who stayed on course, have run well, and finished strong have one thing in common. What is that? They kept their eyes on me. I was the focus of their attention. They wanted to follow me to where I was leading them. They wanted to do what I was asking of them. This single-hearted and single-minded focus kept them from growing weary and losing heart. As they lived in an intimate relationship with me, they were continually refreshed and revived and strengthened. They ran with all the strength I gave them as the relied on me. As they remained in me, they lived a fruitful life. They stayed on course. They ran well. They finished strong. Will you keep your heart and mind and life focused on me? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will throw off anything that hinders me from running well on the course you marked out for me. I will not let sin entangle me. I will fix my eyes on you. Help me to endure any opposition with perseverance. Keep me running well. Help me to finish strong. Amen

Key Question…  How is keeping your eyes focused on Jesus helping you to not grow weary and lose heart?

Living It Out…  Fix your eyes on Jesus as you run the race of faith that is marked out for you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you will run well and finish strong as you keep your eyes focused on Jesus.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are throwing off every hindrance to your race of faith.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you fix your eyes On Jesus and run the race He has set before you

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 192 – Hebrews 12-1-3 – Run With Perseverance The Race – 4 Page Discipleship 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

Blessed Is The Man

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Virtuous Life - Day 191- Psalm 1-1-3 - Blessed Is The Man - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Virtuous Life – Day 191- Psalm 1-1-3 – Blessed Is The Man – Growing As Disciples

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

My Word

What will my word do for you? How will my word counsel you? How will my word guide you? How will my word guard you? How will your heart be changed, and your mind transformed as you meditate on my word day and night? What will be different about you as you allow my word to dwell in you richly? I don’t know where to begin. I don’ know where to stop. What won’t your word do for me? As I meditate on your word day and night, I will come to know you. As I meet with you in your word, nothing about me will remain the same. The thoughts of my mind, the words of my mouth and the deeds of my life will be molded and shaped and guarded and guided by your word. My once unfruitful life will become like as you say, “a tree planted by a stream of water”. Instead of a life that is weary and worn out, and dry and unproductive, I will be fresh and alive, briming with life, ready and willing and able to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and glory. Your word will make me new inside an out.. Your word will set a new course for my life. Your word will help me to resist temptation and stand against evil. No longer will I find myself in the wrong places, with the wrong people, in the wrong circumstances. Your word will make me able to shine brightly for you in the darkness of this world. Your word will make me able to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Your word will make me able to know and do your will. No longer will I wander from one fruitless endeavor to another. No longer will I wonder where you want me to go or what you want me to do. My life will have hope and meaning and purpose as I grab hold of your word and put it into practice. Yes, my word will do all these things for you. Will you meditate on my word day and night as you love and follow and serve me? Yes, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will meditate on your word day and night. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Use your word to revive, refresh and restore my life. Use your word to make me able to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question…  How is meditating on God’s word changing your heart, transforming your mind, and guiding your life?

Living It Out…  Meditate on God’s word so He can use it to change your heart, transform your mind, and guide your life.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your life will be blessed as you mediate on God’s word day and night.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how meditating on God’s word has changed the course of your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you delight in God’s word and meditate on it day and night.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 191 – Psalm 1-1-3 – Blessed Is The Man – 4 Page Discipleship 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