Category Archives: Transformation

Renewing Of Your Mind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - Romans 12:1-2 - Renewing Of Your Mind - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – Romans 12:1-2 – Renewing Of Your Mind – 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)  

New Mind 

Are you weary of the thoughts that you have been thinking? Do you want to think new and different thoughts? Would you like to think higher and better thoughts? Do you want to leave your old life and its pathetic thoughts behind you? Do you know that it is your thoughts that will guide the entire course of your life? Everything that you think, say and do starts out as a thought in your mind. If you want to live a new and different life you will need to stop thinking old thoughts and start thinking new and different and higher and better thoughts. If you want your life to be fruitful and bring glory to my name you will need to think my thoughts. If you want to know and do my will you will need to know my thoughts and then put them into practice. So, what do you want your life to look like? How will the course of your life unfold? What thoughts will you think? What words will you speak? How will you feel? What will you do with your life? 

I will give my life to you. Only you can change my thoughts. Only you can transform and renew my mind. I can’t stop thinking old thoughts and start thinking new thoughts without your help. No, you cannot. Do you want my help? Will you ask for my help? Will you do what I ask of you when I show you how I will help you? What will you ask of me? What do you want me to do? If you want to think my thoughts and know and do my will you must come to meet with me in my word. It is my word that will transform and renew your mind. My word is the only tool that will renew and transform your mind. As you meditate on my word, my thoughts will push your old thoughts out of your mind. My word will make you able to know and do my will. My word will teach and train you. My word will guard and guide you. My word will sustain and strengthen you. My word will make you able to be fruitful and bring glory to my name. So, I will ask you again. Will you do what I ask of you? Will you come to meet with me in my word? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will have a new and transformed mind.

Lord, I give myself to you. All that I have, am, and hope to be is yours. Use all of me according to your purposes and plans. Transform and renew my mind with your word so I can think your thoughts and do your will for your glory. Amen

Key Question… How is God’s renewal and transformation of your mind helping you to know and do His will?

Living It Out… Spend time meditating on God’s word daily so that He can use it to transform and renew your mind.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will use His word to transform and renew your mind.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word is transforming and renewing your mind.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to use His word to transform your mind so that you can know and do His will.

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

Transformation – Romans 12-1-2 – Renewing Of Your Mind – 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

Your Attitude

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - Philippians 2:5-7- Your Attitude - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – Philippians 2:5-7- Your Attitude – Growing As Disciples

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7 (NIV)

An Example

You have said that you want to be like me. You may not have that same thought after we are done talking today. Why is that? I did not lay claim to what was rightfully mine. I did not assert my own rights. I did not demand to be treated with honor and respect. I didn’t seek my own comfort. I did not pursue my own pleasure. I was not self-sufficient. I was not self-absorbed. I thought more about the needs of others than of my own. I did not seek my own will. I did not try to accomplish my own plans. I left the comfort of heaven to come into the world. I allowed myself to become a man. I went about doing my Father’s will. I went where my Father sent me. I did everything my Father asked of me. In everyway I lived to please Him.

I could have chosen a prideful self-seeking life. I did not. I made a choice to humble myself and serve the needs of others. It was not easy.  I experienced pain. I felt sorrow. I was rejected. I loved those who did not love me. I gave expecting nothing in return. I got little thanks. I received much abuse. It was a lonely path on which I walked. Who would want it? Who would follow it? This is where you can speak up.

You have set an example for me to follow. I want to walk on the same path on which you walked. I want to live the life that you lived. Your life had meaning. Your life had purpose. You lived to know and do your Father’s will. It brought you great joy to serve Him. You did the good works that He prepared in advance for you to do. You had no regrets. You made no retreats. You left nothing in reserve. You emptied yourself to humbly serve your Father by doing all that He asked of you. It cost you everything. But, knowing and doing your Father’s will was worth it all. You accomplished all that you were sent to do in this world for Him. You bore an abundance of fruit for His kingdom. You brought glory to His name. What could be better than that? Just as you did your Father’s will so I also want to do my Father’s will. I want no regrets. I will not retreat. I will leave nothing in reserve. Help me to know and do the Father’s will. Help me to serve like you served. Yes, I will.

Lord, I have had a “me first” attitude. I have thought that I was better than others. I have pridefully felt that others should serve me rather than me humbly serving them. Forgive me. I will take on your attitude. I will have your mind. I will joyfully serve others. Amen

Key Question… What joy have you found in taking on Christ’s attitude and humbly serving others?

Living It Out… Take on Christ’s attitude by humbling living a life of serving others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you have been called to take on Christ’s attitude by humbling serving others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are taking on Christ’s attitude by humbly serving others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take on the attitude of Christ by humbling serving others.

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

Transformation – Philippians 2-5-7 – Your Attitude – 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

Salt Of The Earth

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - Matthew 5:13 - Salt Of The Earth - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – Matthew 5:13 – Salt Of The Earth – Growing As Disciples

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

My Salt

You are the salt of the earth. Do you have any idea what that means? I’m not sure, but I have some ideas. Let me hear them. Salt adds seasoning to what might otherwise be bland and tasteless. You salt just about everything you eat, don’t you?  Yes, I do. How can you add flavor and seasoning to everything that you think, say and do in this world? On my own, I can’t add any salt seasoning to anything.  Why is that? It is only you living inside of me that makes me able to bring flavor and seasoning to others in this world. I’m glad that you know that. Will you rely on me to use you as flavoring and seasoning in the world?  Yes Lord, I will.

What do you think my salt seasoning looks and tastes like? Your salt is nothing like the salt I use to flavor my food. Your salt dramatically stands out from all the blandness and tastelessness of the world. Your salt is in short supply in the world. When people see the pouring out of your salt, it gets noticed. Your salt changes the hearts and minds and lives of people. Your salt is attractive and highly desirable. People are drawn to you when they experience a taste of your salt.  Once someone tastes your salt, they want nothing else. There is no real substitute for your salt. The excess salt that I eat may harm my body.  Your salt brings health and healing to me and to anyone else it touches. 

I crave your salt.  I want to live in your salt. I want your salt to cover me from head to toe.  I want to be used to spread your salt to everyone I meet.  I want your salt to penetrate all that I think, say and do. There is nothing I want to think, say or do unless it has your salt on it.

You know the words that describe my salt, don’t you?  You know where my salt comes from, don’t you?  You know that my salt will be poured out from your life, don’t you?  Yes, I do. Your salt comes from your Holy Spirit living inside of me. Your salt comes in a variety of flavors. You want me to be a dispenser of your salt seasoning in all that I think, say and do. You want me to season the world with the salty flavors of your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control. Yes, that’s right.  Pour your salt into my life so that it can pour out of my life.  Is that your prayer? Yes, it is.  I will hear and answer your prayer.

Heavenly Father, thank you for making me to be a salty witness for Christ in a bland and tasteless world. Send me to where you want me to go and guide me to what you want me to do for you. Use me according to your plan so others will be drawn to Christ. Amen

Key Question…How has God’s word helped you to be a salty witness for Christ in a bland and tasteless world?

Living It Out… Always be ready to do what God asks of you so you will be able to season the world with the saltiness of Christ in you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will use the saltiness of Christ that is in you to season a bland and tasteless world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has used you to season the world with the saltiness of Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be a salty witness for Christ in a bland and tasteless world.

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

Transformation – Matthew 5-13 – Salt Of The Earth – 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

Crave Pure Spiritual Milk

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - 1 Peter 2:1-3 - Crave Pure Spiritual Milk - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – 1 Peter 2:1-3 – Crave Pure Spiritual Milk – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)

Crave

“Crave”, now that is quite a word. What does the word crave mean to you? When I crave something, I can’t live without what I am craving. When I crave something, it is constantly on my mind. I can think of little, maybe even nothing else, when I am craving something. Exactly! Could you hold on to deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander in your heart and mind when you are craving my word? No, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander are very far from my mind when I am craving your word. Why is that? I can’t let my craving for your word go unfed. When I am craving your word, I feed that craving by feasting on your word. When I am feasting on your word, your word has all my attention and focus. I want to hear and obey your word. I want to know and do your will. I want to walk in your ways by putting your word into practice. Feasting on your word has had the effect of completely pushing deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander completely out of my heart and mind and life. I will tell you what. What? There are many other very negatives and sinful thoughts, attitudes and actions that your word has pushed completely out of my heart and mind and life. That is very good. Yes, it is. I am so very thankful for how your word has been changing my heart and transforming my mind. I can’t tell you how many negative and sinful thoughts, attitudes and actions that are no longer in my heart and mind and life because your word has pushed them right out of me, as I have feasted on your word. You could tell me. Yes, I could. But, I already know. I’m sure of that.

What else has craving and feasting on my word done for you? As I have feasted on your word I have tasted of your goodness. I have come to know and love you more and more every day as I have met with you in your word. It is now the desire of my heart to love you with all my heart and mind and soul in strength. Above all else in life, I want to know and love and follow and serve you. There is nothing I wouldn’t do or no place I wouldn’t go to serve you. I want to know and do your will. I want to accomplish your purposes and plans. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to completely grow up in you and fully live the life that you have given me to live. That is very good.

Lord, I crave your word. I hunger for your word. I want to feast on your word. Every day I want to take in a steady diet of your word. Help me to hear and obey your word. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind so I can grow strong in you. Amen

Key Question… How has feeding on God’s word helped you to rid yourself of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy or slander?

Living It Out… Crave God’s word and feed on it daily so that you will be able to grow up in Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you crave God’s word and feed on it daily you will grow up in Him

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are craving and feasting on God’s word daily.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you crave God’s word allowing yourself to be feed by it so that you grow up in Him.

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

Transformation – 1 Peter-2-1-3 – Crave Pure Spiritual Milk – 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

Made Us Competent

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 - Made Us Competent - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 – Made Us Competent – Growing As Disciples

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 (NIV)

Rely On Me

You have heard my call? Yes Lord, I have heard your call. You are asking me to do something for you. Yes I am, but you seem reluctant, why is that? I don’t feel like I am able to do what you are asking me to do for you. I’m not surprised one bit, not at all, even in the least. Why is that? You feel like you may be incompetent, insufficient, inadequate and unable to do what I am asking of you. Yes, that’s right. Do you know why you have those feelings? No. I don’t. If I knew then maybe I wouldn’t have them. I wish that I didn’t have them. You have these feelings because you really are incompetent, insufficient, inadequate and unable to do what I am asking you to do for me. Great, I thought that you might give me a word of encouragement. I thought that you might affirm all my gifts, talents, and abilities. I would rather tell you the truth. What is the truth? The truth is that all your gifts, talents and abilities do not add up to you being able to accomplish all that I have given you to do for me. Why is that? Only I can make you competent, sufficient, adequate and able. If you rely solely on your gifts, talents and abilities you will fall flat on your face. That sounds like it would hurt a lot. Yes, it does hurt. You should know. Why is that? Haven’t you relied on yourself and fallen flat on your face plenty of times? Yes, by now I probably should have callouses on my face. That’s pretty funny. Flat on your face is not a bad place to be is it? Why do you say that? What have you done when you have fallen flat on your face? I have cried out to you for your help. Yes, you have.

You want me to use you, don’t you? Yes Lord, I do. Then you must rely on me completely. Apart from me you can do nothing. When you rely on me completely I will make you able to accomplish all that I have asked you to do for me.

Is there anything more important to you than to be used by me to minister to others? No, there is nothing more important to me than to serve you. Will anything make you more thankful than to know that I have made you able to minister to others? Will anything give you more confidence and hope than to know that you have done what could not be done because you relied on me? Will anything give you more joy than to know that others have given their lives to me because of how I have worked in and through your life? No Lord, nothing will make me more thankful, confident, hopeful and joyful than to know that you have used me according to your purposes and plans. Will you rely on me completely to do my work in and through you? Yes Lord, I will. Very good, then I will make you completely competent, fully sufficient, totally adequate, and surely able to serve me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, so often I have relied solely on my gifts, talents and abilities to try to accomplish what you have asked me to do for you. That has never worked. Help me to rely on you for all that I need to serve you. Make me able, I pray. Amen

Key Question… When has the Lord made you able to accomplish something for Him that was far beyond your abilities?

Living It Out… Make it your practice to rely on the Lord so that you will be able to do all that He asks of you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will enable to do all that He asks of you so that you can bear fruit for His kingdom and glory.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group something difficult that the Lord has asked you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord to make you competent and able to do all that He asks of you to do for Him.

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

Transformation – 2 Corinthians 3-3-6 – Made Us Competent – 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

Put On The New Self

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - Ephesians 4:20-24 - Put On The New Self - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – Ephesians 4:20-24 – Put On The New Self – Growing As Disciples

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NIV)

Set Free

What happened to the old life that you once lived? It is dead and gone. It was left behind when I turned away from it and began to follow and serve you. You took me from being dead in my trespasses and sins and made me alive. I am now alive to you and dead to the sin I once lived in. Are you completely dead to sin and fully alive to me? That is a good question that I don’t fully understand. What don’t you understand? When I turned away from sin you made me alive in you. Yes, I did. Your Spirit came to live and dwell inside of me. Yes, He did. The power of sin over my life was broken. I was set free to live my life for you. Yes, you were. Your question is coming, isn’t it? Yes, it is. How come I still struggle with sin? It doesn’t seem completely dead to me. I know that I took off the old clothes of my sinful life. Yes, you did. Why then do I sometimes feel tempted to put those old and stinky clothes of the sinful life back on? It is like my old life and my new life are at war with each other. Yes they are, but I have already won the victory for you. You still live in a sin filled, broken world, that is filled with temptations. The world, sin and the devil will never stop waging war against you. Temptations will come your way. They came my way. You must stand against them. How will I do that? I’m sure that you already know the answer to your question.

You tell me, what have I given you to strengthen you so that you will be able to stand against temptation? You have given me your word. Yes, I have. What has my word done for you? Your word has been transforming and renewing my mind. Yes, it has. What has the world, sin and the devil been attempting to do? They are continually trying to corrupt my mind. Yes, they are. You must separate yourself from all their corruption and immerse yourself in my word. Let my word dwell in you richly. My word will set you free. My word will strengthen you against every attack of temptation and evil. My word will help you to put on the new life that I have given you to live. My word will transform and renew your mind so that you can think my thoughts and be able to know and do my will. Is that what you desire? Yes Lord, it is my delight and desire to live my life completely for you.

Lord, thank you for helping me to turn around and walk away from my old life when I came to know you. You helped me to set aside my old life as you renew my mind and help me put on the new life you have given me to live for you. Amen

Key Question… How has the Holy Spirit been renewing your mind and helping you to live your new life in Christ?

Living It Out… Allow the Holy Spirit to use God’s word to renew your mind and empower you to live your new life In Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ has made it possible for you to set aside your old life and live your new life in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has been helping you to live your new life in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you quietly and anonymously and generously give to others.

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

Transformation – Ephesians 4-20-24 – Put On The New Self – 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

Sanctify Them By The Truth

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - John 17:17 - Sanctify Them By The Truth - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – John 17:17 – Sanctify Them By The Truth – Growing As Disciples

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  John 17:17 (NIV)

Fully Complete

I have sanctified you. You have been set apart by me. You are mine. That sounds wonderful to me. It is my joy to be all yours. It is good that you have used the word all. Why is that? My sanctification and you being set apart for me includes every aspect of your life. There is nothing about who you are or what you do that is outside of the sanctifying work I have done and will continue to do in your life. Your sanctification of me is not just a one-time deal? No, it is not. Let me explain this to you. You were bought with a price. My Son’s death on the cross paid for all your sins. You have been made clean by His blood being shed for you. You have been made new and my Holy Spirit lives inside of you. You and I have a restored and new relationship with each other. I am your Father. You are my child. In all these ways your sanctification is complete. But, that does not mean that my work in you is complete. I will be molding and shaping your life right up until the moment that you come to live forever with me in heaven. Only then will my work of sanctification be fully complete in you.

What kind of sanctifying work can I expect that you will do in me between now and then? That is a very good question. I am very glad that you asked it. Why is that? It is very good for you to anticipate that I will be molding and shaping your life on a daily moment-by-moment basis.

What will you use to sanctify my life and mold and shape me according to your purposes and plans? That is another very good question that I want you to answer for me. Right now? Yes, right now. I think that you will use everything that comes my way to mold and shape my life. Like what? You will use people, circumstances, fellow believers, trials, and tests of all kinds to mold and shape my life. Yes, I will. But, you have left out the most important tool that I will use to mold you into who I want you to be. Yes, I know. You will use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, I will. How will I do that? Your Holy Spirit will take your word and apply it to my life. Your word and the power of your Holy Spirit will help me to think your thoughts and do your will. Yes, He will. I welcome Him to do your work in my life. I want to be everything you want me to be for you. That is very good.

Father, thank you for word. Your word has set me apart to live my life fully for you. Your word is changing my heart and renewing my mind. You are helping me to think your thoughts and do your will as I follow and serve you. Amen

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

Transformation – John 17-17 – Sanctify Them By The Truth – 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

Overflow Of His Heart

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - Luke 6:43-45 - Overflow Of His Heart - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – Luke 6:43-45 – Overflow Of His Heart – Growing As Disciples

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:43-45 (NIV)  

Good Fruit

Do you want your life to bear good or bad fruit? That is an easy question to answer. Of course, I want my life to bear good fruit. Who, in their right mind, would want to live a life that bore bad fruit? It is the desire of my heart to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You have heard me say that many times. Yes, I have heard you say that repeatedly. I will never tire of hearing you say that to me. I’m glad about that.

You have a very large role in determining the quality and the amount of fruit you will bear for me. How is that? What you store up in your heart and mind will come out of your life. What do you mean by that? How can I store up things in my life? Everything that you take into your heart and mind gets stored up in you. Everything that you hear and see will be stored in you. Everything that you think, say and do gets stored in you. I didn’t realize that.

You may not be aware of it, but, there is a daily battle in a war going on over your heart and mind and life. What does that mean? The battle and war that I am referring to can be expressed with one question. What is that question? What are you allowing to be stored up in you? I’m not sure what you mean.  Are you allowing my word to be stored up in you? Are you allowing what is good and right and true to be stored up in you? Are you thinking thoughts that are pleasing to me? Are you going and doing what I ask of you? Are you putting into practice all that I am showing you? These are all ways to store up good things in my heart and mind. That’s right. If I store up all these good things in me, I will bear an abundance of good fruit for your kingdom. Yes, you will. If I do just the opposite and store up a lot of garbage in my heart and mind I will not bear good fruit for you. In fact, my life will bear bad fruit. That’s right. Whatever I store up in my heart and mind will one day come out. That’s true. Will you store up good things in your heart and mind so your life can bear good fruit for my kingdom? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, In the past I have stored up a lot of garbage in my heart. Help me to guard my heart. Help me to store up your word in my heart. I want all the good that has been stored up in my heart to come out. I want to bear an abundance of good fruit for you. Amen

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

Transformation – Luke 6-43-45 – Overflow Of His Heart – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

All Who Are Thirsty

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - Isaiah 55:1-3 - All Who Are Thirsty - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – Isaiah 55:1-3 – All Who Are Thirsty – Growing As Disciples

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. Isaiah 55:1-3 (NIV)  

Are You Thirsty?

Are you thirsty? Are you hungry? Am I hungry and thirsty for what? Are you hungry and thirsty for a new kind of life? What do you mean by that? Perhaps, I should ask you several more questions to help you to know what I am talking about? That would probably be very helpful. Alright then, I will ask you these questions. Are you weary? Are you worn out? Does your life lack hope and meaning and purpose? Do you feel lost and without direction in life? Do you feel like your life is running on empty? Have you tried to fill that emptiness? Have you discovered that chasing after all the world has to offer will never satisfy your soul? Do you know that this world will never supply what will refresh your life? That’s probably enough questions. I have a very good idea of what you are talking about. That’s good.

How will you answer my questions? Do you have any answers? I know what you are talking about. You do? You are talking about me. You know me. Yes, I know you. You know that I have chased after all that the world has to offer. You know that I have tried to fill the emptiness inside of me. Yes, I do. You know that I am out of gas. You know that I am weary and worn out. I have let my life get too busy. I have chased after what is not important. I have neglected what is vital. What is vital? That is such an important question. I need to ask myself that question every day. What is unimportant and what is vital? That question should be ever before me. The things of this life that will one day all pass away are ultimately unimportant. My relationship with you is vital. Living in an intimate relationship with you is vitally important. Only you can refresh and satisfy my soul. In your presence, I can find peace and rest. You are the one who gives hope and meaning and purpose to my life. You will fill me up. You will keep me from running on empty. With you, I will never run out of gas. That’s true. That’s right. That is for sure.

So, what will you do? I will draw near to you. I will come to rest in your presence. I will listen to you. I will hear your voice. I will walk with you through life. I will live out the moments of my day with and for you. I will live my life in a constant dialogue with you. That will be very good. 

Lord, I’m thirsty for you. My soul is weary. I have made the mistake of pursuing what will not satisfy. I have chased after all the things of this world. I will return to you. I will come to live in an intimate relationship with you, so you can refresh and satisfy my soul. Amen

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

Transformation – Isaiah 55-1-3 – All Who Are Thirsty – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Will Of God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - 1 John 2:15-17 - The Will Of God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – 1 John 2:15-17 – The Will Of God – Growing As Disciples

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)

Do Not Love The World

I won’t do that. What won’t you do? I won’t love the world. That is much easier said than done. How is it that you won’t love the world? The world and all that is in it is seeking your affection. The world and all that is in it is wanting your devotion. The world is continually bombarding your heart and mind and life with all its thoughts and opinions and values. How will you resist it? How will you overcome it? Your heart and mind and life are in a battle with the world. How will you defeat it? Do you think it will be enough to simply state your resolve? Certainly not. I don’t have the power within myself to overcome and defeat the world. I would be foolish to think that my resolve would be enough for me to not love the world. You got that right.

My resolve is only a statement of faith. My resolve is only the beginning of a prayer. What prayer is that? I am here and now telling that I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is your love for me and my love for you that will prevent me from loving the world. Your love will overcome, overpower and defeat the world’s attempts at securing my love of it. You will draw me close to you. You will fan the flame of love in me for you. My love for you will burn white hot in me. I will live the life you called me to live. My heart and mind and life will be focused on you. I will hear your voice. I will follow your commands. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. I will not love the world. I will love you instead of the world because you be with me to help me every step of the way, on every day of my life. You will help me to keep on walking with you now and forever. Yes, I will.

Heavenly Father, thank you that you have set me free to love you rather than the evil that is in the world. Guard my heart and mind and life from all the evil desires that are in the world so that I will be able to love you as I do your will and walk in your ways. Amen

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

Transformation – 1 John 2-15-17 – The Will Of God – 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